Lab Error Leads CDC to Suspect Health Officials May Be Infected With Ebola

Medicine & Technology Dec 29, 2014

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report saying a number of its scientists may have been exposed to the deadly Ebola virus. The scientists are said to have transferred a live Ebola sample to another lab by mistake.

Tesla Updates Out-of-Production Roadster – 400 Miles to the Charge

Dec 27, 2014

Announced via Twitter on Christmas by Elon Musk with details to follow on the Tesla blog, Tesla Motors says they will be releasing some major updates for the Roadster. The Roadster was the electric vehicle maker's very first model. It was also the world's very first vehicle in production to actually use a lithium ion battery. The hype about the fully electric vehicles back then was as justified as the hype about these updates are now.

Scientists Use Human Skin Cells to Develop Gametes

Dec 27, 2014

In a significant development in the science world, scientists have used human skin cells and embryonic stem cells to create gametes. This breakthrough at the University of Cambridge is the first for human cells.

10 Year Anniversary of Indian Ocean Tsunami, What Researchers have Done to Prevent Future Devastation

Dec 26, 2014

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami was able to take so many lives due to the lack of warning system in the Indian Ocean. Those in the affected areas had little-to-no warning and no time to evacuate. Since then, it has been an international effort to develop and put into practice a reliable warning system.

First Caramel Apples, Now the Ice Cream May be Infected—Listeria Epidemic

Dec 26, 2014

First it’s the caramel apples, now it’s contaminated ice cream. Where will the CDC draw the line? In a recent international outbreak of bacterial infection Listeria, health officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have investigated recent deaths and sourced the outbreak back to potentially bad batches of pre-made caramel apples sold in retail stores such as Safeway over the past few months. But now, as the holiday season is in full bloom and more cases are popping up day after day, CDC officials are finding other sources, as well, and are now putting a warning on ice cream potentially infected in some areas of the nation.

After CDC Warning, Safeway Pulls Caramel Apples From Shelves

Dec 25, 2014

U.S. consumers are being advised to avoid eating caramel apples that have been commercially produced. This recommendation follows an outbreak of listeriosis in several states across the U.S. that has been linked to commercial caramel apples. Now, Safeway has withdrawn from its shelves caramel apples in response to the latest warning issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), along with a few threats of lawsuits looming around the corner.

Early Man and the Issue of Weak Bones: How Sedentary Lifestyle Led to Now

Dec 25, 2014

The age of agriculture brought stable food supply to the human population―but it also brought weak bones.

Cones & Rods Fossilized in Ancient Fish Eyes, What they Tell Us About the View from the Past

Dec 25, 2014

The newest discovery of fossilized fish, whose eyes have remained largely intact, has provided the proof that the human eye's ability to see in color developed hundreds of millions of years ago.

Lava Flow Stalls 700 Yards away from Shopping Center

Dec 24, 2014

Officials at the Hawaii County Civil Defense expected to see the lava reach the Pahoa Shopping Center on or around Christmas. Fortunately, the flow seems to have come up short. According to the Associated Press, civil defense administrator Darryl Oliveira said on Tuesday that the lava appears to have stalled and hardened just 700 yards away from the island's biggest shopping center.

VIDEO: NASA Captures Spectacular Solar Flare Light Display

Dec 24, 2014

The best place to check out Christmas lights this year is up in the sky. Late Friday afternoon an extremely active area of the sun, known as Active Region2242, erupted in a gigantic solar flare.

Recently Invented Gecko Gloves Excite both Children and NASA

Dec 23, 2014

Stanford Graduate student Elliot Hawkes took on the task of creating a Gecko-inspired controllable adhesive for part of his dissertation project. The resulting product is causing excitement far beyond the mechanical engineering department at Stanford.

Making Sense of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)

Dec 23, 2014

As stated by the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the primary benefits of operating an FCV are that they provide, "provide customers with a no-compromise electric-drive vehicle with longer range, quick refill, high performance and comfort along with zero emissions and a low-carbon and potentially renewable fuel."

New Study of the Brain Reveals Smartphone Use Changes It

Dec 23, 2014

Ever think your electronics may change the way your brain functions? Well as it so happens a new study shows that smartphone usage leaves a mark on the part of your brain that processes touch, although it actually makes you smarter. Swiss researchers were curious about the effect of using digital devices on the digits doing the swiping and tapping, and now according to the study published in the journal Current Biology, all of the typing with your thumb and swiping with your index and middle fingers may be training your brain's somatosensory cortex.

Tick-Bourne ‘Bourbon Virus’ Wreaks Havoc on Kansas

Dec 23, 2014

While these little arachnids are not much to look at, ticks are the carriers of a myriad of diseases, which makes them of great importance to researchers. History has shown that they can cause sepsis, this past summer researchers discovered that the Lone Star tick can create a severe allergy to red meats, and now health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that a new tick-borne virus can even cause multiple organ failure.

Keurig Recalls more than 7 Million Coffee Makers Due to Burn Risk

Dec 23, 2014

This morning, after receiving over 200 reports of hot liquid spraying from the brewer of their single-serve coffee makers, Keurig (produced by Green Mountain Inc.) issued the recall of over 7 million machines as consumers entered the final leg of the holiday season. And while the reports may not seem like a cause for concern, over 90 burn-related injuries, the company is taking every precaution to recall the faulty equipment.