On July 26th, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a database of information on drinking water quality that contains about 30 million records from 2010 to 2015, mostly from state agencies. They’ve created an easy-to-use tool that allows anyone to enter their ZIP code and get a report on the…
The design of urban intersections is particularly difficult because cars, bicycles, and pedestrians all use intersections differently. However, at most intersections in the United States and Canada, cyclists must merge with car traffic. This causes unsafe riding conditions and in turn reduces the number of people who are willing to…
The prevalence of food allergies in the developed world is rising at an alarming rate. In the United States alone, food allergies currently affect 15 million people. That number is expected to skyrocket because between the years 1997 and 2011, the number of children identified with food allergies rose by…
In 2010, retail sales of vitamins, minerals, and supplements (VMSs) totaled $28.1 billion in the United States. A little less than half (47.7%) of U.S. residents use VMSs, which averages out to $187.33 per person spent each year. With such a large industry, one would assume that VMSs are an…
The pH level of the Puget Sound has been acidifying, along with the rest of the Earth’s oceans. Ocean acidification is a serious problem because it could lead to the collapse of the food chain. In fact, shellfish farmers only starting testing the waters of the Puget Sound for acidity…
Growing grey hairs from stress is an old adage, however, it is well documented that high levels of stress does greatly affect your health. New research from the University of California at San Francisco sheds light on how major stressful events like losing a job or going through a divorce…
For years, researchers have used gene-altering techniques to try to produce a fuel, drug, or crop with a specific quality, but a new technology called ‘gene drive’ is not nearly so limited in scope. It is conceived of as a way to alter the world outside the lab or beyond…
Dr. Miia Kivipelto conducted a study involving 1,260 older individuals who were at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Within this group, she randomly assigned individuals to continue their normal levels of healthcare or to participate in a lifestyle intervention focused on improved diet, exercise, and social interaction. After only two…
A new study links a class of agricultural insecticides called neonicotinoids with a fall in bird populations. Ominously, these same chemicals are the prime suspect behind the collapse of bee colonies throughout the world. The insecticides are sprayed on food crops to kill pests, but they also leach into water and soil…
A new round in the vaccination debate has begun with the release of a study that finds vaccination side-effects to be extremely rare. The journal Pediatrics published the report on Tuesday. Some of the findings include: Newer evidence confirms a link between the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and fever-triggered seizures. The seizures…