There are a lot of things that you might expect to see at an Australian high school. Backpacks filled to the brim with books? Sure. Forgotten pencils and half-finished pages of homework? Definitely. But a stone slab stamped with dozens of fossilized dinosaur tracks? That might be a little lower on your list.As surprising as it may seem, however, Biloela State High School in Queensland has long been home to one of Australia’s most footprint-filled stones from the Early Jurassic period. Describe ...read more
Art and literature have often depicted the creation of life with big, dramatic moments — often involving electricity.Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein got zapped into action. Michelangelo’s God (after six REALLY busy days) seemed to send an invisible but palpable spark into Adam’s extended finger, waking him into existence on the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling.The same is true for one scientific theory of life’s creation on Earth.Lightening and Life CreationThe theory states that a lightning bol ...read more
If humans could hijack photosynthesis — essentially, plants’ food factory — they could, in theory, capture carbon and produce hydrogen, both potentially helpful in fighting climate change. Absorbing carbon could slow climate change, and manufacturing hydrogen efficiently could create an alternative to CO2-producing fossil fuels.Figuring Out How to Harness PhotosynthesisPlants’ natural “factory” is both elegant and efficient: they absorb energy from the sun to process carbon dioxide a ...read more
When it comes to good overall health, the teeth are often overlooked. We tend to think of teeth as primarily cosmetic when in reality, oral health is linked to physical health and the risk of a number of chronic conditions. The mouth is a gateway to the rest of the organs, and when it becomes diseased, so too can the body.“Your mouth is the primary way bacteria enters your body. Bacteria can travel from areas like infected gums through the bloodstream to other parts of your body,” says Shash ...read more
Climate change has already begun to alter the environment in many ways, but scientists are also vigilantly watching for the ripple effects that will spread to human health. Now, they’re raising the alarm about exposure to viruses lingering in sewage as the world gears up for more frequent storms this century. A new study published in the journal Water Research warns of virus transmission through sewage systems, a public health risk that could grow in severity as wastewater continues to spill ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine