JPL Tech In Space And On Ground Helps Save Lives After Disaster

Medicine & Technology May 09, 2015

Technology from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) helped search-and-rescue teams find and save four men buried in rubble following the Nepal Earthquake. FINDER, a device no larger than a carry-on suitcase weighing less than 20 pounds, detected the heartbeats of the victims through 10 feet of wood, mud, and brick.

Andromeda's Halo and Its Gaseous Glow

May 09, 2015

Thanks to the latest from the NASA Hubble Space Telescope astronomers may now be poised to understand the origins of our galaxy more clearly. A team of scientists led by astrophysicist Nicolas Lehner of the University of Notre Dame used the Hubble to find a massive gas halo surrounding the Andromeda Galaxy, our closest neighbor.

A Promising Vaccine May Reveal an End to West Nile in the States

May 08, 2015

The first human trials of an investigational vaccine against West Nile virus have begun. Researchers will evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine in the clinical trials which are taking place at Duke University. Currently there is no approved vaccine for use in humans.

How's the Carbon Stacking Up? NOAA Says CO2 Has Passed Its Mark

May 08, 2015

The latest human first has chilling consequences for our species, and all others: for the first time since scientists began tracking global carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere, we have surpassed 400 parts per million worldwide.

Man's Next Endeavor In Space-Keeping Mankind Alive on Mars

May 08, 2015

As more news about Mars enters our scientific community each day, the importance of making survival on Mars a priority is thrown into sharp relief. No longer remote, science-fiction the goal of transforming Mars for ourselves with technology is at the core of our next endeavor in space.

Finding Signs of Life From Space—NASA Rescues Few in Nepal

May 08, 2015

After days of being pinned beneath up to 10 feet of rubble, four men were rescued in Nepal thanks to NASA search-and-rescue technology. This marks the first real-world use of NASA's advanced sensing technology.

Vegetable Compound PEITC May Fight Cancer Stem Cells

May 07, 2015

Your mother was right: eating your green veggies, not to mention your apple a day, might keep the oncologist away. Researchers have found that chewing up cruciferous vegetables transforms a precursor compound and enzyme they contain into a powerful cancer-preventing compound called phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC).

How Can Soil Erosion Cause Our Doom? Loss of Nutrients Poised to Cause Massive Famine

May 07, 2015

It's not as colorful in an action movie as invaders from other galaxies, for example, but it seems that soil erosion might be just as deadly to humans. Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley warn that human food security is at risk from the accelerating rate of soil depletion.

How An Instagram Picture Can Bring Hope, and A Pair of Shoes

May 07, 2015

TOMS Shoes is best known for their uniquely charitable "one for one" sales model; based on this model the company donates one pair of shoes to a needy child for each pair of shoes it sells. Now TOMS is making an even greater impact by leveraging the Instagram platform.

Pathologist Warns Measles Outbreak Threatens Herd Immunity

May 07, 2015

Gary W. Procop, MD, a fellow of the College of American Pathologists (FCAP), wants the public to better understand the benefits of herd immunity-and to realize that they will not work if too many people refuse to vaccinate.

From Single Cells to Us—The Tale Of Evolution As It's Told At Deep-Sea Vents

May 07, 2015

In the search for the origins of life, scientists have found a striking new link between lone cells and complex creatures like humans. The connection comes from observing life under the harsh conditions that exist near volcanoes more than a mile below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

A Wintry Affair—How Oregon's Lost Lake Disappears

May 06, 2015

The volcanic roots of Oregon's Mount Hood National Forest become evident each year when the mysterious Lost Lake vanishes. Near the Hoodoo Ski Area, the water of Lost Lake escapes through a hole on the north shore like water down a drain.

With Inspiration from Tesla New iPhone Cases Pull Energy Out of Thin Air

May 06, 2015

In a nod to the original Tesla, Nikola Labs now announces that they have created a device that can convert radio waves into useable DC power for smart phones. If they are correct, our smart devices may be able to fully transition into the 21st century, no longer stuck with 19th century charging conventions.

Why Whales Are Known To Have Some Nerve

May 06, 2015

Marine biology researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have discovered a unique nerve structure that allows massive rorqual whales to fish effectively. The nerves within the tongues and mouths of these whales can "stretch" to more than twice their resting length and then snap back into position effortlessly.