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ScienceHealthU.S. Mosquitoes Are Laying ‘Time Capsule’ Eggs That Can Outlast Colder Winters
Mosquitoes didn’t become the most prolific animal killer of humanity by being lazy. A new study this week suggests that a common disease-causing species in the U.S. has learned how to lay dormant eggs that can survive harsher winters in the North. The Asian tiger mosquito, or Aedes albopictus, is thought to have first invaded … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealthSome Cellphones Reportedly Exceed FCC Radiation Limits—but Don’t Flip Out Just Yet
A new Chicago Tribune report on cellphone radiation sure sounds alarming: Popular smartphones were found to emit higher-than-allowed levels of radiation. But while some of the findings are definitely worth investigating further, there’s no reason to be freaked out about health risks for now. The Chicago Tribune, according to its comprehensive report, brought 11 new, … Continued
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ScienceHealthTo Pet Owners, a Dog’s Whimpering Sounds Just as Sad as an Infant’s Cry
Devoted pet owners are often said to treat their furry friends like children. A new study out Wednesday seems to show that’s not too far from the truth. The study found, among other things, that pet owners rated the sounds of a dog whimpering to be as sad as cries coming from a human baby. … Continued
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ScienceHealthResearchers Are Closer to Understanding the Strange Meat Allergy Caused by Ticks
Scientists at the University of Virginia have seemingly come closer to unraveling the mystery behind a strange red meat allergy caused by certain tick bites. They report finding a way to trigger the allergy in lab mice—an important step for studying the condition. And with the help of animal experiments, they also claim to have … Continued
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ScienceHealthAir Pollution From Cars Linked to Degenerative Eye Disease
The effects of pollution on human health are often subtle yet wide-reaching. Case in point, a new study out Tuesday seems to show that heavy exposure to certain automobile fumes can raise the risk of developing a degenerative disease that steadily erodes eyesight. The disease is known as age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. AMD is … Continued
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Tech NewsDespite Child Flu Deaths, U.S. Government Refuses to Vaccinate Children Detained in Border Camps
Families detained along the U.S.-Mexico border in cramped holding centers are being left completely vulnerable to the flu, CNBC reported Thursday. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is currently not vaccinating detainees against the viral disease, nor do they plan to before the upcoming flu season this fall. The stated policy comes despite an earlier plea … Continued
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ScienceHealthThe UK Just Lost Its Measles-Free Status, and the U.S. Could Be Next
Progress in fighting measles in Europe has taken a substantial step back. This week, the World Health Organization stripped the UK of its measles-free status, just two years after it commended the country for eradicating the virus locally. The UK’s fate could very well be a harbinger of what will happen to the United States … Continued
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ScienceHealthMDMA-Assisted Therapy Shows Promise as Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
Supplementing psychotherapy with small doses of MDMA could be an effective strategy to prevent relapses of alcohol addiction in patients, an ongoing small clinical trial suggests. The research is yet another example of how scientists and doctors are finding or rediscovering therapeutic uses for recreational and illicit drugs. MDMA-assisted therapy is actually an old idea, … Continued
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ScienceHealthA Woman Lived with a ‘Twin’ Inside Her for 17 Years Without Knowing
A young woman in India unknowingly lived with one of the rarest and most unsettling medical conditions for nearly two decades, her doctors say. According to a case report out this week, the woman had a sac containing her still-growing “twin” lodged in her abdomen for 17 years. The twin had hair, teeth, and even … Continued
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ScienceHealthThe FDA Is Previewing Some Grisly New Cigarette Warnings
The federal government wants to scare the living hell out of you—at least if you’re thinking about smoking. This week, the Food and Drug Administration previewed a series of new warnings that it plans to have plastered on all cigarette products and advertisements. And they’re a doozy. The proposed warnings, 13 in total, feature much … Continued
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ScienceHealthScientists Say They’ve Found a New Organ in Skin That Processes Pain
It’s not common that researchers discover what could be an entirely new part of the human body. But a team in Sweden claims to have uncovered an intricate network of cells underneath skin that helps process certain kinds of pain. The find could broaden our conceptions of how we feel pain, as well as how … Continued
By Ed Cara -
Tech NewsThese Robotic Shorts Make Walking and Running Easier
Exosuits—wearable robotic technologies that enhance our physical abilities—are slowly but steadily leaving the world of comic books and becoming a practical reality. This week, scientists introduced an exosuit that seems to reach a new milestone, helping users both walk and run with less effort. The exosuit is the result of a collaboration between researchers from … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealthScientists Have Created a Vaccine for Cat Allergies, but You Can’t Have It Yet
People unjustly kept away from feline companionship due to an allergy are rejoicing this week, after news resurfaced of a potential vaccine that makes cats less able to cause allergies. But while this research is promising, a finished product won’t be available at least until 2022. The vaccine in question is being developed by Swiss-based … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealthA Chlamydia Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Human Trial
A vaccine for the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the U.S.—the bacterial disease chlamydia—is now a substantial step closer to reality. On Monday, researchers reported that two of their vaccine candidates were found to be safe in a phase 1 clinical trial of 35 women. Though the trial wasn’t meant to prove their … Continued
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ScienceHealthMassachusetts Man Reportedly in a Coma After Contracting Brain Infection From a Mosquito
A rare, sometimes fatal viral infection spread by mosquitoes has resurfaced in Massachusetts—and has likely sent at least one man into a coma. Over the weekend, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported that a local resident contracted the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus. Dozens of communities remain at critical or high risk for the … Continued
By Ed Cara -
ScienceHealthA Man’s Dentures Got Stuck in His Throat During Surgery, Leaving Him Bleeding for Weeks
Here’s a story that’ll haunt you into your golden years. Doctors say their elderly patient endured a nightmarish week of his throat bleeding out and weeks more of surgeries and hospital care, all because surgeons had forgotten to remove his dentures—dentures that then became lodged in his throat. According to one of the 72-year-old man’s … Continued
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ScienceHealthA Dangerous Algae Is Killing Our Dogs—and Climate Change Is Going to Make It Worse
A pair of tragic stories reported this past weekend are raising awareness of a threat to both people and animals in the water: algae. At least four dogs in two states along the Southeast U.S. have reportedly died from swimming in freshwater lakes and ponds filled with toxic blue-green algae. And as the climate warms, … Continued
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ScienceHealthIs Cleaning Your Ears With Cotton Swabs Really That Dangerous?
A real-life horror tale that’s gotten renewed media attention this week is sure to make you think twice about digging earwax out of your ears. An Australian woman says she developed a life-threatening infection that ate away parts of her skull after years of swabbing her ears with cotton. But how likely is that scenario—and … Continued
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ScienceHealthA Woman’s Vaginal Steaming Left Her with Second-Degree Burns
A 62-year-old Canadian woman ended up with painful second-degree burns on her genitals after she attempted an at-home vaginal steaming, according to a case report. Ultimately, it delayed the reconstructive surgery she needed to treat an earlier vaginal injury. The women’s tale was detailed by her doctor in a report published online last October in … Continued
By Ed Cara
Ed Cara
Ed Cara is a Brooklyn-based writer and pug enthusiast. He spent his early twenties performing theater at various stages across the tri-state area, including off-Broadway. But he eventually caught the reporting bug and transitioned into science journalism, publishing his first feature article at the magazine Pacific Standard (RIP) in 2014. Ed has since written for the Atlantic, Newsweek, Undark Magazine, and Vice, before landing at Gizmodo in 2017. Ed enjoys digging into the latest health advances, the weirdest medical cases, and the occasional animal news. He also still performs regularly in the city as a sketch and improv comedian.
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