Trending Science

Listen as Radio

Montana Allows Doctors to Prescribe Experimental Drugs Unapproved by FDA

Montana has passed a controversial new bill allowing doctors to prescribe experimental drugs that have only completed Phase 1 clinical trials, bypassing the traditional FDA approval process. This legislation, known as SB 535, expands upon existing "Right to Try" laws, which previously permitted access to unapproved treatments for terminally ill patients, now allowing any patient to seek such options. Proponents argue that this could position Montana as a hub for medical tourism, attracting those seeking cutting-edge therapies. However, critics, including bioethicists, warn that the lack of comprehensive testing could expose patients to unforeseen risks without guaranteed benefits. The bill has sparked a debate about patient autonomy versus safety, with some advocates acknowledging the potential dangers while still supporting the freedom to explore experimental treatments. As Montana becomes a pioneer in this area, the implications of the legislation will be closely monitored. sources

Published:
May 17 2025, 10 am

Childbirth vs. Kicked in the Balls: Which Hurts More?

In the ongoing debate over which gender experiences more pain, the focus often falls on childbirth versus the agony of being kicked in the testicles. Childbirth is notorious for its intense discomfort, with contractions causing significant physical strain as a baby is forced through a narrow birth canal, often leading to long hours of labor and potential complications. Conversely, a blow to the testicles can induce immediate, excruciating pain that radiates throughout the abdomen, with the evolutionary design of the testicles ensuring they are highly sensitive and vulnerable. Experts suggest that while both experiences are painful, the subjective nature of pain makes it difficult to declare a definitive winner. Ultimately, the conclusion is a tie, highlighting the unique and intense suffering associated with both childbirth and testicular trauma, leaving individuals to appreciate the complexities of human pain. sources

Published:
May 17 2025, 6 am

Dolphin vs. Sloth: Who Holds Breath Longer?

In a surprising twist, sloths can hold their breath for an astonishing 40 minutes, far surpassing dolphins, which manage around 10 minutes. This remarkable ability stems from their exceptionally slow metabolism, allowing them to significantly reduce their heart rate and extend their underwater endurance. While sloths are often perceived as the slowest creatures on land, they exhibit surprising agility in water, swimming three times faster than their terrestrial pace. Their unique physiology also provides buoyancy, thanks to gas-filled stomachs from fermenting leaves. However, sloths are not the champions of breath-holding; elephant seals can last up to two hours, and the record-holder, a curved beak whale, managed an incredible 3 hours and 42 minutes. Despite their gentle appearance, sloths are also impressively strong, being three times stronger than the average human, showcasing their unexpected capabilities beyond their sluggish reputation. sources

Published:
May 16 2025, 5 am

Scientist Drops Alligators, Discovers New Bone-Eating Creature

In a groundbreaking study published in PLOS One, researchers from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) revealed the results of an unprecedented experiment where they dropped alligators 2,000 meters onto the ocean floor to observe deep-sea scavengers. Conducted in February 2019, the study aimed to understand how marine life in the Gulf of Mexico would respond to an unusual food source, as alligators are typically found in freshwater. The findings showed that giant isopods quickly penetrated the alligator hides, consuming one carcass within 24 hours. Another alligator was stripped of all soft tissue in just 51 days, revealing a new species of bone-eating worm, the first of its kind identified in the Gulf. Meanwhile, the fate of a third alligator remains a mystery, as it vanished, likely taken by a large shark. The research highlights the adaptability of deep-sea creatures in their quest for food. sources

Published:
May 15 2025, 5 am

Voyager 1 Thrusters Activated After 21 Years of Silence

NASA engineers have achieved a remarkable milestone by successfully reviving the backup thrusters of Voyager 1, which is currently nearly 25 billion kilometers (15 billion miles) from Earth. The thrusters had been inactive since 2004, but with a communication pause looming due to upgrades at Deep Space Station 43 in Australia, the team re-evaluated the issue. They suspected a circuit disturbance might have caused the malfunction and, after careful planning to avoid potential risks, managed to reactivate the main thrusters. Voyager 1, launched on September 5, 1977, has long surpassed its original mission of studying gas giants and is now the farthest human-made object in space. The successful revival of the thrusters, once deemed irreparable, has boosted team morale, with mission propulsion lead Todd Barber calling it "yet another miracle save for Voyager." sources

Published:
May 16 2025, 2 am

Scientists Expose Human Cells to 5G: No Effects Found

A recent study conducted at Constructor University in Germany has found that human skin cells exposed to electromagnetic frequencies significantly higher than those emitted by 5G towers showed no adverse effects. The researchers subjected keratinocytes and fibroblasts to electromagnetic waves at frequencies of 27 GHz and 40.5 GHz, with intensities up to ten times above the recommended exposure limit, for periods of two and 48 hours. Utilizing rigorous methodologies, including whole-genome RNA sequencing and control groups, the study concluded that there were no significant changes in gene expression or DNA methylation patterns in the exposed cells. This research challenges widespread conspiracy theories linking 5G technology to health risks, reinforcing previous assessments by the World Health Organization and the National Toxicology Program. The findings aim to clarify misconceptions surrounding 5G and its effects on human health, as detailed in the journal PNAS Nexus. sources

Published:
May 17 2025, 2 am

Experiment Confirms 66-Year-Old Penrose-Terrell Effect Theory

An experiment has successfully visualized the Penrose-Terrell Effect, a phenomenon predicted 66 years ago that describes how objects, such as a spacecraft, appear when traveling near the speed of light. According to the theory, while an observer sees a moving object, like a rocket, as shorter due to length contraction, the object itself perceives its length as normal. The effect also suggests that non-spherical objects appear rotated to an observer. Researchers at TU Wien used high-speed cameras and laser pulses to simulate this effect, demonstrating that a cube appears twisted while a sphere retains its shape, albeit with a shifted North Pole. This groundbreaking visualization confirms the predictions made by physicists Roger Penrose and James Terrell in 1959, shedding light on the complexities of relativistic motion. The findings are detailed in the journal *Communications Physics*. sources

Published:
May 15 2025, 9 pm

"Endangered Penguins' Unusual Breeding: 1.5 Eggs at Once"

Erect-crested penguins (_Eudyptes sclateri_), often referred to as the "forgotten penguins," exhibit a unique breeding strategy by laying an average of 1.5 eggs each year. Found only on New Zealand's Antipodes and Bounty Islands, these penguins are the least studied of their kind. Research led by Lloyd Davis in 1998 revealed that the first egg laid is significantly smaller and rarely survives, often rolling away from the nest. This phenomenon, termed "extreme reversed egg-size dimorphism," results in the first egg being neglected, as parents focus on incubating the larger second egg. The study observed that about half of the penguin pairs do not incubate the first egg, likely due to food scarcity, prompting them to invest more in the second egg. This unusual reproductive behavior highlights the challenges faced by these endangered birds in their remote habitats. sources

Published:
May 16 2025, 11 pm

"42: The Ultimate Answer to Life and the Universe"

In Douglas Adams' 1979 classic, *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*, the enigmatic answer to the "Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything" is humorously revealed to be 42, yet the actual question remains elusive. This number has since sparked intrigue across various fields, from mathematics—where it represents the number of partitions of 10—to its surprising correlation with human happiness, peaking at ages 40 and 46, with 42 marking a low point in life satisfaction. Interestingly, 42 also aligns with the average age of a midlife crisis, as noted by Spotify data. In cosmology, the Hubble Constant, crucial for understanding the universe's expansion, has been measured at approximately 42 km/s/Mpc, further intertwining this number with existential inquiries. As astrophysicist Ethan Siegel notes, while the universe's fate remains uncertain, the significance of 42 continues to resonate in both scientific and philosophical realms. sources

Published:
May 14 2025, 2 pm

The Great Pyramid of Giza: More Than Four Sides?

The Great Pyramid of Giza, often thought to have four sides, actually features eight due to its unique concave design, a detail only confirmed from aerial photographs taken in 1926. This subtle indentation along the pyramid's faces, as explained by Akio Kato from Kanagawa University, enhances its stability and longevity, allowing it to withstand natural forces over its 4,500-year existence. Kato's research suggests that the pyramid's structure, with its inclined layers and reinforced base, is better equipped to endure gravitational compression, earthquakes, and rainstorms, which have occurred more than 500 times throughout its history. While the Ancient Egyptians demonstrated remarkable engineering skills, some internal corridors and rooms may have been abandoned due to instability, leaving it uncertain whether the pyramid's eight-sided design was intentional or a fortunate outcome. The ongoing exploration of the pyramid continues to reveal its mysteries and the ingenuity of its builders. sources

Published:
May 18 2025, 8 pm

For the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews

End of news stories. Come back in an hour!