Bioengineering scientists working to produce the entire human gastrointestinal system in the laboratory reported that pluripotent stem cells were used to create a human esophagus. This is the first time scientists have been able to grow human pluripotent stem cell (PSC) esophageal tissue, cells that theoretically can form any type of body tissue. Published in the Cell Stem Cell diary, the study presents the latest innovatotion from researchers...
Infrared radiant heating panels are being promoted aggressively recently. Marketeers say about these device that they represent a safe way to reduce the heating bill. Some will go one step further and say that they have "miraculous therapeutic effects". Of course, all these alleged health benefits does not have a reputable scientific study to back the claims but hey... if it is cheap and it works, people will buy them regardless. Among the...
NASA has released a warning on an asteroid that is considered to be "potentially dangerous". The space object is called 2016 NF23 and it will pass near our planet on August 29, at a distance of 13.4 times the distance between the Moon to Earth. That's more than three million miles (4.8million km) or just 0.03377 astronomical units In astronomical terms, this means that it will pass near us, hence the cataloging of the asteroid as "potentially...
Due to global warming, the permafrost (the soil that should always be frozen) in the Arctic does not freeze anymore during winter. Thus, it remains damp and humming. Researchers have noticed this phenomenon and they draw attention to the danger this phenomenon pose. Permafrost stores billions of tons of carbon, which will reach the atmosphere in the form of greenhouse gases: methane and carbon dioxide. The release of these gases will have add an...
A team of scientists at the University of Toledo in the United States has revealed that prolonged exposure to blue light triggers the release of toxic molecules in photoreceptor cells that, in time, could lead to vision issues. In time, this can lead to macular degeneration, an ophthalmic disorder that causes destruction of central vision. In other words, the blue light, which has a shorter wavelength and emits more energy compared to other...
Researchers have concluded that average temperatures across the globe could be abnormally high between 2018 and 2022. The most important factor underlying this estimation is the multiplication of "extreme heat events" at the surface of the earth and water. The study was conducted before the heat waves that led to the record temperatures that we've endured this year. But the unusually hot weather was correctly predicted by researchers who...
When it comes to airplanes, white is the primarily preferred color because it reflects the sun's rays and radiation. Thus, since it is painted white, the airplane does not heat up inside as much. Also, this reduces the cost of cooling the cabin. White paint acts as a sort of "sunscreen lotion," according to an aviation expert. Moreover, this color is better preserved over time. Another reason why this color is preferred is the need to protect...
A new study led by scientists at Washington University in St. Louis Louis has shown that it is possible to modify plants in order for them to create their own fertilizer. This breakthrough could have a revolutionary effect on agriculture and could help billions of people. The study, led by Himadri Pakrasi and Maitrayee Bhattacharyya-Pakrasi, was recently published in the mBio magazine. The traditional method of creating fertilizer is costly and...
Novichok, the nerve agent that was used on the former former agent Serghei Skripal and his daughter, Julia, is a much stronger chemical weapon than VX, the substance used in the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the North Korean dictator's step-brother. Unlike other known neurotoxins which are used in the form of vapor or liquid, Novichok is mostly used as an ultra-fine powder. How does this chemical weapon work? Novichok is made up of two...
A new study brings unprecedented information about the coldest temperature in the world. Researchers at Colorado-Boulder University have found that in some Valleys located in the eastern plateau in Antarctica, the minimum temperatures are even lower than it was originally estimated. For this study, the specialists used only data provided by satellites in the period between 2004-2016. This is because the East Antarctic Plateau, located at an...
Researchers at Columbia University and Wisconsin-Madison University have conducted a study that shows how much the duration of a day has changed in time. Thus, 1.4 billion years ago, one day on Earth was not 24 hours, but only 18 hours. At that time, the Moon was much closer to Earth, and its gravity was stronger, influencing the planet's rotation and its axis. Since the moon is steadily moving away from the Earth at about 3.82 cm per year, this...
A meteorite crashed in Botswana. The impact took place on Saturday night. A small asteroid called 2018 LA (ZLAF9B2) crashed in Botswana on 06.02.2018, 16:53 UT local time. The object was about 2 meters in diameter and it was observed very late, just 7 hours before it entered the athmosphere. Researchers at Catalina Sky Survey, Arizona, realized that the meteorite will crash on Earth and they've managed to calculate the possible impact areas....
