Each and every day, one billion people on this planet ingest a particular psychoactive substance. This chemical has fairly profound physiologic effects: it increases levels of nitric oxide in the blood, leads to vasodilation, and, of course, makes you feel more awake. The substance comes in many forms, but almost always in a liquid medium....
Death is glorified in all cultures with rituals that often don’t make any sense they are often a signal to the rest of the world that an individual is grieving. One such custom for Brahmins (Hindus) is a Tonsure head with a wisp of a pony for the males when they are bereaving a close...
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE is one of the most dramatic natural disasters in recorded history, yet so many of the actual records from that moment in time are inaccessible. Papyrus scrolls located in nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum, for example, were almost instantly scorched by the volcanic blast, then promptly buried under pumice and ash. In 1752, excavators uncovered around 800 such...
Every adult generation has its version of a “kids these days” lament, labeling the up-and-coming generation as less resilient or hardworking compared to their own youth. But Gen Z—currently middle school age through young adulthood—is challenging that notion with their career readiness. Take Abigail Sanders, an 18-year-old college graduate. Thanks to a dual enrollment program...
On November 26, 2021, my life changed. What seemed like a normal day after Thanksgiving turned into a day that genuinely affected my life forever. I’m not sure if it’s the same for everyone, but for my family, the day after Thanksgiving is like another mini-Thanksgiving. The celebration isn’t over yet and is overall a...
Our bodies serve as vigilant messengers, using a complex network of signals to alert us when something is wrong. These cues can range from pain to changes in mood or energy levels. Understanding these signs is crucial for maintaining our health and well-being. In this exploration, we’ll dive into how our bodies communicate distress and...
These new creatures were discovered thousands of feet under the Pacific. Our oceans are vast and discovering new and lost species are among some of the most exciting discoveries in the big blue. An international team of scientists may have found more than 100 new species, during a mission to explore seamounts off the coast of Chile. These creatures who...
All this mom wanted to do was tell her young daughter that she loves her. However, the 13-year-old’s response shocked her and broke her heart. In a TikTok video, the mother, Shari, whose username is @gen3raleducation, explained that her young daughter was home while she was away at work, which was about an hour away. She just wanted...
A 14-year-old in San Diego, California, was named the grand prize winner of this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation’s premier middle school science competition. Leanne Fan developed Finsen Headphones, a low-cost headphone device that uses machine learning and blue light therapy to detect and treat mid-ear infections in children—potentially preventing up to 60%...
Many things cause our skin to age. Some things we cannot do anything about; others we can influence. One thing that we cannot change is the natural aging process. It plays a key role. With time, we all get visible lines on our face. It is natural for our face to lose some of its...
A massive cargo ship retrofitted with a pair of nearly 125-foot-tall “wing sails” has set out on its maiden voyage, potentially providing a new template for wind-powered ocean liners. Chartered by shipping firm Cargill, the Pyxis Ocean’s journey will take it from China to Brazil in a test of its two, rigid “WindWings” constructed from the...
It was not long ago that if a parent admitted they were fans of smoking pot, it could draw concern from friends and family members. Fast-forward to 2021 and many countries across the world have decriminalized cannabis. However, some of the social stigmas around the use of cannabis still remain, especially when it comes to...