A mother of two undergoes a medical nightmare, complete with a misdiagnosis and an unneeded surgery. In September 2024, Rhian Butlin, 32, suffered “excrutiating” stomach pain. However, her symptoms were dismissed as polycystic ovary syndrome. Two months later, she was rushed to the emergency room in agony and abdominal swelling so severe she looked nine...
Earlier this month, a student posted an upsetting photo on Reddit. It featured a large cluster of spindly black mushrooms sprouting out of an indoor baseboard and up a nearby window pane. The original poster (OP) wrote they had found it growing in the shared bathroom of their university. They added, “The growth spans around...
Despite covering about 70% of Earth’s surface, the ocean has gone mostly unexplored. As of June 2024, only 26.1% of the world’s seafloor has been mapped, according to the NOAA. That leaves so much to be explored, from undiscovered species to unique geological formations and many more phenomena. However, researchers have created a new way...
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is no stranger to overpromising. One example is his plan to start manufacturing the Cybertruck in 2019, although it actually began in 2023. The billionaire entrepreneur has admitted this fault, calling himself a pathological optimist but the important thing is that he eventually delivers. However, one overambitious promise can’t be fixed...
Foodborne illnesses commonly come with stomach upset, vomiting, and fevers. However, they can become serious, leading to other health issues, like meningitis, kidney damage, arthritis, brain and nerve damage. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every year about 48 million Americans get a foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die....
From June 2024 until March 2025, beekeepers witnessed a severe honeybee die-off in the United States. This was found through a survey by Project Apis m. involving 702 respondents who account for about 1.835 million colonies, roughly 68% of the bees in the U.S. The survey made a horrifying revelation: Commercial beekeepers reported an average...
Constipation is fairly common but it’s never comfortable. Its symptoms include fewer than three stools a week, hard and dry stools, and straining or pain when trying to pass them. It’s a common side effect of medications and unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as dehydration and a diet low in dietary fiber. Fortunately, it can be...
For almost a decade, experts have hotly debated the implementation of a meat tax. In concept, the tax would be levied on meat and potentially other animal products. The goal is to cover the environmental and public health costs that result from animal products. Research shows that livestock contributes to the climate crisis, and red...
Cats are peculiar creatures. Even their die-hard fans admit they tend to have a cold-and-hot nature. Some felines are open books who love cuddles and basically everyone they meet. But they are the exception. Most cat owners are tasked with trying to understand their finicky behavior. However, learning feline body language can make it easier...
People studying for their drivers licenses may be confused when they come across a blue stop sign. But the fact is, most people are when they see them in the United States and other countries. Stop signs have become practically synonymous with red. After all, the color is bright, hard to miss, and perfectly suited...
The body is remarkably good at healing. However, some parts of it are more adept than others. One example is cartilage in the knee. It has no direct blood supply, making it harder to mend, and some tears can’t recover without surgery. Now, surgery can stimulate repair or replace cartilage in the knee from another...
The night sky is due for a wondrous display: the Lyrid meteors. Meteors are also known as shooting stars (despite not being stars) and they create bright, colorful streaks of light as they hit the Earth’s atmosphere. On a regular, clear night, sky watchers can see up to 10 meteors an hour. But during a...
