Cooking oil is an ingredient that most of us use every day, but disposing of it in an environmentally friendly way is pretty tricky. This is because the consistency of oil can leave an oily residue on plants that makes it more difficult for them to absorb oxygen. Plus oil negatively impacts wildlife, too. Even cooking oils that might be better for your body aren’t better for the environment. That said, disposing of oils in the safest way possible can help minimize their impact. Firstly, what not to do Before we get into what you should do with cooking oil, let’s make one thing clear: never th ..read more

It is a wonder looking up at space, seeing the continuum of the cosmos in beautiful celestial bodies exploding, reforming, and shining brightly in the night sky.  In this stellar life cycle, scientists have discovered the brilliant birth of a new star created from the collision of two dying ones.  Two white dwarfs collide  Researchers found that the luminous new giant was made by the collision of two diminishing white dwarfs. One of them was full of helium, and the other had plenty of oxygen and carbon. After orbiting each other for a long time, the helium-rich dwarf consumed i ..read more

If you’ve ever practiced mindfulness, you’re probably already aware of the many benefits it offers for the dedicated practitioner. When we open ourselves to this practice, we create the potential for our lives to be transformed in ways that might seem subtle but are truly life-altering. Take communication, for example. Using mindfulness in our communication with others can improve our relationships and help us navigate even the most difficult conversations. Haven’t noticed the presence of mindfulness in your communication? No worries! There are five simple steps you can follow to bring about ..read more

For the first time ever, scientists have recorded the activity of a dying brain, and their discoveries have given some legitimacy to the common idea that our whole lives “flash before our eyes” before death. The remarkable thing is that the scientists weren’t planning on measuring the brain’s activity around the time of death. That was just a coincidence. At the time, the researchers were actually continuously monitoring the brain waves of an 87-year-old epilepsy patient to look out for seizures, but during the treatment, the patient ended up having a sudden heart attack and died. As a result ..read more

How scientists decide to name new animal species they discover doesn’t follow a prescribed set of rules. Some aim to go for a humorous approach like the flatworm Ramisyllis kingghidorahi which was named after Godzilla’s enemy, King Ghidorah. Some name the novel creature after a human, like the rain-frog Pristimantis gretathunbergae, named after climate activist Greta Thunberg. This time scientists decide to name a worm in honor of the ones we have lost in the pandemic, Humbertium covidum. “The specific name covidum was chosen as homage to the numerous casualties worldwide of the COVID-19 pand ..read more

Desalination offers a lot of promise to communities that may face water scarcity in the future. For some, the problem is compounded by the potential scarcity of reliable electricity. As such, it has been the aim of many researchers to develop solar-powered desalination devices, which is a difficult balance to strike.  However, a team of MIT researchers have recently developed a desalination system that is solar-powered and inexpensive.  Issues with desalination  A common problem in the development of desalination systems has been the accumulation of salt. This is particularly p ..read more

It’s no secret that regular exercise is good for our health—physical, mental, and emotional. However, during the week our schedules can get pretty hectic, which leaves us hunched over our desks, visualizing all the work that’s piling up in our minds, all the while talking ourselves out of the quick afternoon power walk we had planned. Don’t worry, I can make up for it with a three-hour stroll on Saturday we tell ourselves. However, does this really work? Do our extra-long catch-up walks give us the same health benefits as the recommended half-hour of daily movement? Here’s what Sidney Glasofe ..read more

It’s common knowledge in the emoji world that fruits and veggies (peaches and eggplants) have a sexy rep—but could the sexiness of plant-based foods translate to real life? The answer is yes. We’ve shared many stories about how eating more plants is better for the planet and our bodies, but did you know that vegetarian and vegan diets can also give us a boost in the bedroom? According to a 2020 survey, 84 percent of vegetarians say that they are satisfied with their sex lives, compared to only 59 percent of satisfied meat-eaters. However, it seems like vegans are reaping the most benefits, wi ..read more

“Going wireless is the future for just about everything!” That is a quote from scientist Sreekanth Chalasani, and we can’t help but agree. Wireless medical inventions like bone-health monitors and pacemakers are catching on, as well as the possibility of universal car chargers. We also can’t forget the biggest wireless dream of all: Nikola Tesla’s wireless power transmission. It just makes sense! Wireless means less waste and more efficiency. Realizing this, a team of scientists have made a revolutionary breakthrough toward wirelessly manipulating mammalian cells using sound, in a technique c ..read more

Every year the cold winter weather doesn’t only put frost on the grass, it also brings an increased chance of getting sick. And that’s even before our new friend coronavirus came along! In recent years, people have been putting in the effort to ensure their immune system is as healthy as possible to fight off any illness that comes their way. Even though we are hopefully coming out of the global pandemic, keeping our immune system in fighting shape should still be a top priority. Studies have shown that a weak immune system increases levels of inflammation in the body, linking to a myriad of ..read more