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VIDEO of the Day: The Science Behind Disposable Diapers
Latest OSS Blog Articles:
The making of Ice Cream varies in different countries. Why?
Why is it that in hot countries we put salt on ice in the ice cream makers to keep the ice from melting, while in cold countries we put salt on ice to melt it? In both cases, the answer is based on the fact that adding salt to an ice water mixture in equilibrium, lowers the freezing point (or melting point) of the equilibrium. Read more
Can dangerous material be made with a rock tumbler?
This should be a harmless activity in that all that is happening is an automatic way to grind down minerals that often result in polished and sometime quite beautiful stones. Read more
Are plastic kettles dangerous?
In terms of the situation with plastic kettles- it is one that is answered “it depends”... Read more
Are the new Smart Meters from Hydro Quebec safe? Are they different from a cordless or cell phone when it comes to RF emissions?
Cell phones, microwave ovens, wi-fi, smart meters. What do they have in common? They all emit radiation in the radiofrequency range. Read more
Did You Know?
Fear of Killer Bees
In about 1956, biologists in Brazil imported a number of queen honeybees from Tanzania, intending to crossbreed them with local honeybees to produce a strain that made more honey and was better adapted to tropical conditions. In 1957, the Sfrican bees escaped into the wild, and the original plan backfired. Not only did honey production in the region drop sharply, but according to a 1965 report, hundreds of Brazilian dogs, pigs, and chickens were stung to death. In 1986, a Costa Rican student reportedly died after an estimated 8,000 killer bees stung him. The U.S. news media reacted with alarm, and Hollywood gave us such classicas as [made for TV movie] Killer Bees (1974), The Swarm (1978), The Bees (1978), and Killer Bees (2002). Even Saturday Night Live, countered this grim trend with a series of skits about killer bees, featuring the entire cast in striped bee costumes (50 Health Scares that Fizzled, 2011).
For more interesting facts, please make sure to check out our "Did You Know?" section.
In Other Science News:
UC Santa Barbara scientists discover cinnamon compounds' potential ability to prevent Alzheimer's
Cinnamon: Can the red-brown spice with the unmistakable fragrance and variety of uses offer an important benefit? The common baking spice might hold the key to delaying the onset of –– or warding off –– the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
Simple Vision Test Predicts IQ
A simple visual test is surprisingly accurate at predicting IQ, according to new research. The study found that people's ability to efficiently filter out visual information in the background and focus on the foreground is strongly linked to IQ.
NIH scientists discover molecule triggers sensation of itch
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health report they have discovered in mouse studies that a small molecule released in the spinal cord triggers a process that is later experienced in the brain as the sensation of itch.
NIH Researchers conduct first genomic survey of human skin fungal diversity
While humans have harnessed the power of yeast to ferment bread and beer, the function of yeast or other types of fungi that live in and on the human body is not well understood.
