Author: Prentice, the Science Platypus

Prentice is the mascot of Insanitek.

Why a platypus? Well, why not? It's unusual, somewhat crazy, and evolution pretty much smashed a bunch of concepts together and said, "Try that."

electronic cigarette, e-cig, cigarette

Are There Cancer-Causing Chemicals in E-Cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes have been called everything from trendy to helpful cessation devices, but little has been known about these products until now. As more research pours in about e-cigs, scientists are uncovering both the good and the bad. Recently, a group of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco wanted to look in how …

Keep going...

23andMe Will Now Test for Breast Cancer-Causing Genes

23andMe, the DNA-testing kit service, has announced that it will now begin telling customers about the three mutations in the breast-cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 (“Authorization for Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Test on Cancer Risk,” 2018). “Being the first and only direct-to-consumer genetics company to receive FDA authorization to test for cancer risk without a prescription is …

Keep going...

Light Up The Sky: Man Made Meteor Shower Planned

Editor’s note: This post has been updated and broken links removed. Please see our policy on broken hyperlinks for more. The skies over Japan will light up with a spectacular display of shooting stars in 2019. Do we know this because scientists have studied the astronomical and atmospheric conditions? Nope. We know this because the meteor shower …

Keep going...

pills, medication, health, depression

Study: Prazosin No Better at Helping PTSD Patients with Nightmares

Prazosin is a common drug prescribed for blood pressure, but it is also prescribed to some post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients to deal with nightmares. Now, new research suggests that it may not be doing much good. In a recent study known as PACT, researchers looked at Prazosin and how it may affect individuals with …

Keep going...

peanuts, nuts

Is There Finally an Answer to the Peanut Allergy?

There may finally be a cure for the dreaded peanut allergy, which affects approximately 21 million Americans (“Peanut Allergy Statistics,” 2018). One company called Aimmune Therapeutics claims it has created capsules that can potentially desensitize children to the nut. In a study, the company gave increasingly larger doses of peanut protein powder sprinkled on food …

Keep going...

apples, fruits, vegetables, food

Could Eating Slowly Help Prevent Obesity? Maybe, Say Researchers

If you’re the type of person who chows down meals in a short amount of time, you might not be doing your body any favors. At least this is according to a new study, which suggests that eating quickly may contribute to conditions, including obesity (“Eating slowly may help prevent obesity, say researchers,” 2018). Researchers …

Keep going...

Who is Most Likely to Suffer from Depression?

Depression is a mental health condition that affects millions of Americans, but did you know that its prevalence varies according to individual traits (“Facts and Statistics,” 2018)? This is what one new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently discovered (“Prevalence of Depression Among Adults Aged 20 and Over: United States, …

Keep going...