Rachel K Wentz

Attenborough, and the Evolution of Life, Continue to Intrigue

Anyone who knows paleontology, knows the older the sediment, the greater the potential for documenting the evolution of life on earth. I guess the same can be said of certain naturalists, namely David Attenborough, who has been exploring life on our planet for almost 90 years.

Fierce Aftershock Compounds Recovery Efforts in Nepal

In the midst of digging out from the magnitude 7.8 quake that struck Nepal just three weeks ago, residents of Kathmandu find themselves once again in recovery mode. A powerful aftershock, with a preliminary magnitude registering 7.3, struck just east of Nepal's capital on Tuesday, sending an already rattled community running for cover yet again.

Egyptian Mummified Animals Contain Hidden Surprises

For over twenty years, scientists have used modern technology, in the form of CT scans and X-rays, to virtually unwrap mummified remains. These powerful tools, which allow researchers to peer inside mummies, provide information as to cause of death, burial treatment, and individual traits of the deceased. But now, this technology is being used to explore a new breed of Egyptian mummies: animals that were preserved to accompany the dead. And perhaps the greatest surprise is what's missing from these mummified treasures.

‘Brainy’ Robots May Revolutionize Underwater Exploration

Exiting news out of MIT: underwater robots just got smarter. Inspired by Star Trek's Enterprise, the folks at MIT have developed a new program that gives AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) greater decision-making capabilities.

On the Ebola Front, Good News for Liberia, Caution for Neighboring Countries

A year later and over 4,000 dead, Liberia can finally breathe a sigh of relief as The World Health Organization (WHO) declares the country Ebola free. "The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia is over," according to a WHO statement given at the emergency command center in Monrovia, as reported by The New York Times. But this doesn't mean Africa is in the clear. In fact, if the countries surrounding Liberia are included, the death toll from the past year's outbreak soars to more than 11,000, making the current outbreak five times deadlier that all previous outbreaks combined.

Uber Hopes to Bank on Purchase of Nokia’s Here Mapping Tools

Standing on the threshold of being one of the highest-valued private startups of all time, the app-driven taxi service, Uber, is now positioning to purchase Nokia's Here mapping business, with whispers of a bid approaching $3 billion.

China Hikes Cigarette Tax in Hopes of Curbing Consumption

If you're a smoker in China, you'll be paying about a penny more per puff, now that the Chinese government has decided to hike taxes on cigarettes. In an effort to curb the public's avid consumption, while at the same time raise tax revenue, the government announced Friday they will be increasing taxes on cigarettes from 5% to 11%, beginning May 10.

For the Mom Who has Everything, How About a Martian Crater?

Forget the cards and flowers. If you want to be truly original this Mother's Day, the space-funding company Uwingu will let you purchase a name, in honor of dear old Mom, for one of the 600,000 craters on the Martian surface.

Spiders Sprayed with Graphene Weave Futuristic Webs

One of the most amazing materials in nature has got to be spider silk. Although thinner than a human hair, it is stronger by weight than steel, can be stretched up to four times its original length, and is about as durable as Kevlar - of bullet proof vest fame. Yet Italian scientists have recently improved on Mother Nature by applying the latest in nanomaterials technology to those notorious web spinners. Introducing the graphene spiders.

How to Avoid Chocolaty Fat Blooms? X-rays Reveal the Answers

When Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen first stumbled upon X-rays in his laboratory at Wuerzburg University in Germany back in 1895, he probably never imagined that his revolutionary technology, used for decades to glimpse the inner workings of the body, would one day be used on chocolate.

New Research Finds Measles Weakens Immune System for Up to Three Years

If the advocates for immunization didn't have a strong enough case already, they can now add another arrow to their quiver. It turns out children who contract measles not only suffer a potential life threatening illness, but their immune system takes a whack for up to three years afterwards.

Is Virtual Reality Finally Getting Real?

Gamers all over the world are squealing in delight following the news that the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality consumer headset has finally been scheduled for release in early 2016. The announcement of a consumer model was first promised in November of 2012 and after two and a half years’ anticipation, it appears the dream of a virtual reality headset built for everyday consumers might finally be coming true.
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