Month: October 2016

If you own a home, you know that bugs can be a big problem. While some, like fruit flies and ants, are merely a nuisance, others can be completely destructive. For example, termites are responsible for creating $1 billion to $2 billion of property damage each year. While we opt to place a call to the exterminator to get rid of creepy crawlies here in the U.S., other countries rely on more natural means. For instance, in the Philippine province called Palawan, residents call in a different kind of expert: pangolins. You might know the pangolin by its other name -- the anteater. But these little guys eat more than just ants. In fact, they are the termite's number one enemy. There are other predators who eat termites, but only pangolins are credited with controlling the termite populati...

Hospitals as well as 80% of urgent care centers are equipped to treat broken bones as well as minor fractures. While ultrasounds, a technology generally used for medical imaging, has been believed to actually speed up fracture treatments, a new study shows that the treatment may not be effective at all. Fracture of the tibia, a bone in the lower leg, is the most common long bone fracture. A broken tibia is generally treated with surgery and the insertion of nails to help the bone heal and reunite properly. After surgery, the bone requires between three and six months to heal, but in some cases, it can take longer. Since 1994, ultrasound has been an approved method of treatment for broken bones in North America. Low intensity pulsed ultrasound, or LIPUS, is often prescribed by doc...

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, obese children have different kinds of bacteria living in their digestive tracts than leaner children. Earlier research has shown a link between gut bacteria and obesity in adults. However, little has been known about the role of these microbes in children. This new study, led by Nicola Santoro, M.D., analyzed the gut bacteria and weight of 84 children and teenagers ranging in size from healthy weight to severe obesity. What they found was that eight groups of gut bacteria were associated with the levels of fat in a child’s body. These specific microbial groups were more prevalent in obese kids than in their peers. “Our findings show children and teenagers with obesity have a different c...

Being chosen as host city for the Olympics is seen as a badge of honor. It can highlight the wonders of a city and bring immense excitement to the region. Even playing host for the Olympic team trials, like Eugene, Oregon (aka "TrackTown USA") did in 2016, can be a thrilling event. But with great honor comes great responsibility -- and that often includes immense financial responsibility, sometimes beyond what a given city can handle. The next Olympic games are to take place in Tokyo, but experts have warned that unless key cost-cutting measures are taken, the cost of the 2020 Olympic Games could top $30 billion. This could present an impossible financial hardship for taxpayers. Newly elected Tokyo governor, Yuriko Koike, was one of the first to raise concerns about the growing cost of ...