laurahelmuth

laurahelmuth, 7 days ago to random

"Emerging research suggests that women may have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke at a lower blood pressure than men, even when their blood pressure falls in the range that is currently considered healthy." https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-blood-pressure-guidelines-be-different-for-women-and-men/ by @LizSzabo on Scientific American

laurahelmuth, 7 days ago to random

Hubble is entering one-gyroscope mode, which should allow some science to continue through this decade https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa-rejects-hubble-space-telescope-rescue-mission-and-trims-its-science/

laurahelmuth, 8 days ago to random

A new COVID variant called FLiRT could be causing an increase in cases https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-flirt-covid-variants-could-be-driving-an-uptick-in-cases-heres-how-to/

laurahelmuth, 9 days ago to random

Yes, of course, there absolutely IS science to support the advice to stand six feet or more away from people who might be infected with a deadly respiratory virus https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greenes-attacks-of-fauci-over-covids-six-foot-rule-not-based/ by @tanyalewis

laurahelmuth, 9 days ago to random

When kids are taught about their ADHD, dyslexia, autism or other learning conditions, they feel empowered and are able to self-advocate, leading to better school performance and mental health. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/neurodivergent-kids-flourish-when-theyre-taught-how-their-brains-work/

laurahelmuth, 9 days ago to random

New research suggests that a "personality cult" has been essential for Trump’s political success. Here's what that means and how they studied it: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trumps-personality-cult-plays-a-part-in-his-political-appeal/

laurahelmuth, 9 days ago to random

There's a lot of bad news in the world, but this is nice*: researchers found the skull of a 500-pound bird species and realized it's part of the waterfowl family and named it a Giga-Goose 🧪
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/500-pound-prehistoric-bird-was-a-giga-goose-fossils-reveal/
*only it went extinct shortly after humans arrived in Australia

laurahelmuth, 10 days ago to random

New diseases have always been followed by conspiracy theories -- too many people want somebody to blame. This lab-leak analysis is from 2022, but the evidence hasn't changed and it's newly relevant before Tony Fauci's testimony https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-lab-leak-hypothesis-made-it-harder-for-scientists-to-seek-the-truth/

laurahelmuth, 10 days ago to random

These are incredibly dangerous people and it's worth understanding just how wrong and wrong again they are (conspiracy theories, ableism, filthy lucre, reckless parenting, disgracing family name, on and on) https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-jr-s-vice-presidential-pick-drawn-in-by-debunked-autism-conspiracy/ by @stevesilberman on Scientific American

laurahelmuth, 12 days ago to random

Fun: newfound fossils show that a hot spring spa kept trees alive during the last Ice Age https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fossils-from-an-ice-age-tree-spa-discovered/

laurahelmuth, 13 days ago to random

The massive sunspot cluster that caused solar flares & auroras earlier in May just rotated back toward the Earth and it's still going strong https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-sunspot-cluster-behind-the-recent-auroras-is-back/

laurahelmuth, 16 days ago to random

Black holes can form directly out of a gas cloud--no stars necessary. "We are in this amazing time in history where you can make a prediction and within your lifetime it can be validated or invalidated. It’s precisely why people say we’re living in the golden age of cosmology." https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-first-big-black-holes-may-have-formed-without-stars/

laurahelmuth, 18 days ago to random

Every few million years, a supernova happens close enough to Earth to shower us with radioactive debris https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-often-do-supernovas-strike-earth/ by @badastro on Scientific American

laurahelmuth, 18 days ago to random

The t-test of statistical significance was invented by the head experimentalist at the Guinness brewery https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-guinness-brewery-invented-the-most-important-statistical-method-in/

laurahelmuth, 19 days ago to random

The anti-reality industry pushes lies about abortion, climate, COVID, gender-affirming care, race, sex, evolution, education & more, and it's all connected https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-must-face-down-the-expanding-anti-reality-industry/ @SeattleBryn traces the intersectional awfulness on Scientific American

laurahelmuth, 19 days ago to random

This is a fun story about counting crows (seriously, it turns out crows can count) and I hope you enjoy any ear worms or memories the story evokes https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/crows-rival-human-toddlers-in-counting-skills/

laurahelmuth, 21 days ago to random

How do microplastics get in the body?
"Eating, drinking and breathing."
Where have they been found in the body?
"There hasn’t been a body part that people have looked but haven’t found microplastics in" https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-the-microplastics-found-in-testicles-a-health-danger/

laurahelmuth, 22 days ago to random

This is a clear story about something that's legitimately confusing and has gotten confusing coverage: Could Neosporin in the nose block covid? The answer is: maybe! Here's where the research stands, why it could work, and how this could fit in with other protections against covid. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/could-putting-neosporin-in-your-nose-fend-off-covid/

laurahelmuth, 23 days ago to random

This is a great conversation with @deborahblum about food safety. "If I could persuade people not to think of regulation as a pejorative term, my life’s work would be done." https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-sordid-history-of-u-s-food-safety-highlights-the-importance-of/ by @tanyalewis on Scientific American

laurahelmuth, 23 days ago to random

Strawberries have eight (8!) sets of chromosomes (we have two) & hybridize ridiculously easily & isn't evolution delicious? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strawberries-have-8-sets-of-chromosomes-to-thank-for-their-survival/

laurahelmuth, 26 days ago to random

Derelict satellites pass within 1,000 kilometers of each other 1,000 times a year, and any collision would instantly double the amount of space debris. A space rush is filling up orbit with unregulated satellites, mostly from private companies, and we need better protections https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/there-is-too-much-trash-in-space/

AskPippa, 26 days ago (edited 26 days ago) to random

I used to get bothered all the time on buses -- until one day I learned a trick that for some reason discouraged them. I would pull out a copy of Scientific American. Maybe they thought I was going to hit them with it (though other magazines didn't have this effect), or even scarier, talk science at them.
In fact, in high school I started carrying one around just for this use!

@sciam @laurahelmuth

laurahelmuth, 28 days ago to random

Anthony Comstock was even worse than you might imagine. His soldier-of-Christ, misogynistic work to punish the fallen and blasphemous never really ended, and now it is having a horrifying revival https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-comstock-act-originated-with-disregard-for-womens-lives-it-still-does/

laurahelmuth, 29 days ago to random

Homeschooled children have basically no protection in most of the U.S. They deserve federal standards to make sure they are being educated and are not being abused https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/children-deserve-uniform-standards-in-homeschooling/

laurahelmuth, 29 days ago to random

This is important and hasn't gotten as much attention as it should: a massive heat wave across Asia, from Gaza to the Philippines, was more likely and more extreme due to climate change https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/april-heat-waves-from-gaza-to-the-philippines-were-made-worse-by-climate/