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Self-Destructing Syringes Advocated by World Health Organization
Every year, about 16 billion injections are administered across the world, but the needles and syringes aren’t always properly disposed of afterwards. Consequently, 1.3 million people die each year as a result. Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) is looking to change that. The agency is launching a new policy on injection safety in an…
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How College Education is Evolving
Stanford University professor of education Mitchell Stevens has stated that he believes the traditional four-year on-campus experience of many college students is not the best way for them to learn. Part of the problem is that colleges and universities aren’t as well regulated as lower-grade schools, so it can be difficult to tell which institutions…
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Officials Warn Public About Roof Collapses as Snow Continues to Build Up in New England
As New England continues to be battered by historic snow and blistering cold, public officials are warning the public to find a safe way to clear snow off their roofs. Steven Boucouvalas, the emergency management director in Saco, ME, said that rooftop snow and ice removal “is extremely critical and can’t be over-emphasized,” in a…
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Oil Rigs Across North America Plagued by Layoffs and Accidents
The number of active oil rigs in the United States has dropped dramatically in the past week from 1,223 to 1,143, according to the latest Baker Hughes North American Rotary Rig Count. The number of natural gas rigs has fallen as well. Texas and North Dakota lost the most rigs last week. Texas is down…
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Rising Cost of Gold Hurts Wallets and Rainforests
Researchers from the University of Puerto Rico have discovered a growing threat to rainforests in South America. Approximately 1,680 square kilometers of rainforest were destroyed by gold mining between 2001 and 2013, with a noted acceleration of deforestation in 2007. While the amount of forest lost was less than 1%, the destroyed forest was located…
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How Researchers Used 3,000-Year Old Technology To Create Energy-Free, Room-Cooling Bricks
The heating and cooling industry seems to be making new technological advances faster than anyone can keep track of — but the newest product on the market, called “Cool Bricks,” already makes energy-efficient air conditioners and solar power heating units look ancient. Cool Bricks, produced by the company Emerging Objects, may be just as effective…
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New Discovery Shows How Giant Humboldt Squids Use Flashes of Color To Communicate and Camouflage
Thanks to a new technology called a “Crittercam,” scientists from the Stanford University Hopkins Marine Station have gotten the unprecedented ability to see how marine animals, most recently three giant Humboldt squids, interact with and respond to their environments. Although researchers have known that Humboldt squids are capable of “flashing” red and white colors on…
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Wearable Device Tricks Back Pain Sufferers into Exercising
Devices are everywhere these days, and they are becoming more and more wearable (think Google Glass or smartwatches). Though they could raise the concern of digital over-saturation in our daily lives, wearable tech devices are also emerging as a helpful way for people to exercise their way to a healthier lifestyle. Take Valedo, which is…
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Illinois Changes Law Banning the Word “Urgent” from Urgent Care Center Names
Over the past several years, urgent care facilities have become an integral part of the American healthcare system. As emergency rooms and doctors offices have grown more crowded, these walk-in clinics have helped patients access needed treatment for non-life-threatening conditions. Today, many urgent care centers offer medical care for everything from asthma to abdominal pain, as…
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Officials Remind Residents to Review Transportation Safety Measures as Cold Weather Hits VT
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather warning for the Rutland area, with readings falling to “far below zero,” according to the Rutland Herald. As of this article’s writing, the current temperature was -5, with wind chill bringing that figure down to -16 degrees. Temperatures will rise slightly in the next few days according to…