The phrase ‘blood slave’ has some shock value. It sparks fear and this uneasy feeling that something awful is happening far away, where we can’t really see it. So when a Chinese man said he was kidnapped in Cambodia and forced to give blood again and again, the story spread across social media almost instantly....
A U.S. teenager landed in the hospital this January after secretly vaping for 3 years. 17-year-old Brianne Cullen was taken to the hospital after she began to struggle breathing during cheerleading practice. She was diagnosed with “popcorn lung”, also known as bronchiolitis obliterans. The condition is rare; however, it is chronic and irreversible, causing permanent...
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine under President Vladimir Putin has brought global fears of a possible nuclear war. This geopolitical crisis’s escalation has also brought back serious discussions about the devastating consequences that could unfold if tensions escalate into nuclear warfare. The threat of nuclear warfare currently seems distant to many Americans; however, experts warn that...
Some people feel genuinely happier at home than anywhere else, and psychological research now offers clear explanations for why. The preference for staying in goes beyond introversion or shyness. It involves how individual brains process social interaction, how much mental energy different environments demand, and what kinds of rest actually restore a person’s capacity to...
In the world of biomechanics and medicine, there are challenges in the designing microrobots that are effective in drug administration. Properly managing factors such as biocompatibility, size, biodegradability, and magnetic properties is required to control the microrobots effectively. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a microrobot that promises to revolutionize medicine delivery inside the...
Amid chronically online, right-wing leaning spaces, a new transphobic conspiracy theory has expanded over the past 8 years. This conspiracy theory is akin to other right-wing conspiracy theories, such as QAnon and “Pizzagate”. “Transvestigation,” which is the theory that many famous celebrities, public figures, and politicians are secretly transgender. This theory uses “armchair phrenology”, a...
Every start of the school year, particularly as the weather turns cool, cases of pediatric flu, aka flu in children, rise. This year, however, the influenza surge sweeping through communities is not just any bad flu season. It is the most severe pediatric crisis many have witnessed since the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic. Reports from the...
Controversy spreads so fast these days that it almost feels unreal, and one Idaho bar owner learned that lesson deeper than he ever wanted. His promotion, which he said was meant to support ICE, hit the internet and flipped his life around. He offered free beer to people who helped identify undocumented immigrants so ICE...
When a thunderstorm rolls in, anything plugged into a wall becomes more vulnerable than most people expect. Lightning does not need to strike your home directly to cause damage, since a surge traveling through power or cable lines can reach your devices in an instant. Most people only worry about a direct hit, but the...
President Trump’s tariffs on imported goods forced many companies to make a difficult choice this year. They could absorb the extra costs and watch their profits shrink, or they could pass those costs along to shoppers. Most chose the latter. Tariffs work like a tax on imports, and while the government collects the money from...
Human beings are not the only ones with a sweet tooth. Fruit bats are named after their love of sugary fruits. In fact, they can eat double their body weight in fruit, which is their main source of food. Unfortunately, a similarly sugar-rich diet is unhealthy for people. It can cause blood glucose levels to...
Cancer researchers have chased the idea of a universal cancer vaccine for decades. The promise sounds bold and almost impossible at first. One platform would help the immune system recognize many different tumors and attack them more effectively. Recent work at the University of Florida now brings that vision a little closer to reality. The...
