Body language can offer a lot of information during social interactions, but it is far from an exact science. Experts can explain the meaning behind certain behaviors and hand gestures, but context matters. For instance, they say that if you’re standing and talking to someone, look at their feet. If both feet are pointed toward...
In June, a drone flew over Hawaii and dropped biodegradable pods into the forests. Each pod contained about 1,000 mosquitoes. This may sound like something out of a horror sci-fi movie, but this wasn’t some sort of attack on humans. Firstly, the mosquitoes are male, and therefore do not bite people. Second, they were reared...
Animal lovers know the turmoil of watching a nature documentary. There’s the adorable prey trying to hide, and the majestic predator trying to hunt. Both are trying to survive, and you are rooting for both of them to succeed. Yet the conclusion is always emotionally conflicting. Yes, the prey got away but now the predator...
In 2021, an animal was hit by a car and brought to an animal rehabilitation center in Brazil. As they treated it, the veterinarians noticed certain strange behaviors. It looked and barked like a dog but had longer and more pointed ears. However, it refused dog food and ate rats. It also climbed bushes, which...
The appendix is a small organ situated between the small and large intestines. For a long time, scientists didn’t know its function and deemed it useless. In fact, it was seen as potentially dangerous. The appendix is famous mostly because of appendicitis, which can be deadly if it causes a rupture. In these cases, doctors...
The end of a friendship isn’t discussed as much as romantic breakups. The latter is more defined. Even if the partners stay friends, there’s a strong sense of finality. Friends can have dramatic breakups too, but they mostly happen slowly and almost accidentally. Sometimes it’s a “death by a thousand cuts” as small insults go...
Peanut allergies affect about 2% of U.S. residents, and that number is only growing. In July, this population was put at risk when a food product didn’t disclose the allergen. Unsuspecting shoppers may have bought accidentally Ritz peanut butter cracker sandwiches since the box claimed they were cheese crackers. On July 8, Mondelēz Global LLC...
If you visit a farm, you probably expect sweeping fields of growing crops. What you don’t expect is a lone tree towering over them. It looks out of place, like it arrived at a party after it was over. Plus, more land means more produce and more income, so it seems strange to waste precious...
An adult died from listeriosis after eating contaminated food during a listeria outbreak. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed nine cases due to ready-made meals sold in Tesco, Centra, Aldi, and SuperValu. Officials reviewed the manufacturer, Ballymaguire Foods, and detected Listeria at one of their production plants. After recalling the prepared meals and...
Health experts recommend adults get about seven to nine hours of sleep every night, but this rule has a huge asterix. The truth is everybody’s sleep needs are different. It’s more important to experiment with lengths and routines that optimize your health instead of sticking to a pre-conceived rule. However, research has uncovered helpful guidelines,...
People say you are what you eat, but you also smell like what you eat. There are some obvious odor-causing foods most people think of, such as their breath after coffee or the bathroom after beans. But smells also come through sweat and compounds on the skin. Keep in mind, body odor isn’t necessarily a...
Gabapentin is an FDA-approved prescription anticonvulsant that is primarily used to treat nerve pain and control epileptic seizures. But it is also prescribed “off-label” as a painkiller or treatment for fibromyalgia, sciatica, insomnia, anxiety, hot flashes, and lower back pain. It’s a popular choice since it’s not as addictive as opioids. Like all medications, gabapentin has...
