Things Worth Noting
CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) explores black holes, sparking curiosity in particle physics and cosmology. The LHC’s high-energy collisions, analyzed by ATLAS and CMS detectors, aim to uncover phenomena like the Higgs boson and dark matter, while testing theories of micro black holes. These tiny black holes, tied to extra dimensions and quantum gravity, would […]
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a powerful neuromodulation therapy targeting the vagus nerve, a key player in the autonomic nervous system. It regulates heart rate, digestion, and inflammation via the gut-brain axis. Invasive VNS, using an implanted pulse generator and electrode, treats refractory epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression, with FDA approval. Non-invasive transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) stimulates […]
Pharmaceuticals pollute oceans, harming marine life and ecosystems. Drug residues, like antibiotics and hormones, enter through wastewater, sewage, and runoff, contaminating water and accumulating in fish and shellfish. These chemicals disrupt hormones, alter fish behavior, and damage coral reefs. Microplastics worsen the issue by carrying drugs, increasing bioaccumulation. To reduce harm, we need better wastewater […]
Bill Gates funds solar geoengineering to combat climate change, sparking debate over “blocking the sun.” His support for Harvard’s SCoPEx project, which tests stratospheric aerosol injection using calcium carbonate, aims to cool Earth by reflecting sunlight, mimicking volcanic eruptions like Mount Pinatubo. Critics, including Indigenous groups, warn of environmental risks, ozone depletion, and crop failure, […]
Adrenochrome, a violet-colored compound from adrenaline oxidation, sparks scientific and conspiratorial intrigue. Discovered in 1856 by Alfred Vulpian and isolated in 1937, it’s chemically unstable, forming melanin and raising concerns about cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. In the 1950s, Abram Hoffer and Humphry Osmond’s debunked hypothesis linked it to schizophrenia, suggesting hallucinogenic effects. Culturally, it appears in […]
Zero-point energy (ZPE) is the lowest energy a quantum system can have, rooted in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. It arises from the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, causing quantum fluctuations in the vacuum, even at absolute zero. The Casimir effect proves ZPE, showing plates attract due to vacuum energy pressure. The Lamb shift, a shift […]
Storing food oils and fats in plastic containers is common, but is it safe? Food-grade plastics like PET, HDPE, and PP are designed to minimize chemical leaching, meeting strict FDA and EU standards. However, concerns about BPA, phthalates, and other compounds migrating into oils persist, especially with heat or long storage. Oils can extract chemicals […]
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, murdered their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in 1989 in Beverly Hills using shotguns, aiming for a $14 million inheritance. Their 1993 trial ended in a mistrial, but in 1996, they were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. They claimed self-defense, alleging sexual abuse by […]
Nebraska faces a high rate of pediatric cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and brain tumors, especially in rural areas with heavy farming. Studies link these cancers to nitrate and atrazine, a weed killer, in groundwater and surface water. Nitrate from fertilizers and atrazine from corn fields contaminate wells and rivers, raising cancer risks in children. These […]
Fluoride, found in water, toothpaste, and food, may impact the endocrine system, particularly the pituitary and thyroid glands. It could disrupt the pituitary’s hormone production, like thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), affecting thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) that control metabolism. Fluoride might compete with iodine, potentially causing hypothyroidism, especially in iodine-deficient people. Studies suggest high fluoride levels […]