People are always interested in trying new diets in hope of improving their overall health, but some stick around longer than others. The gluten-free diet is one that celiac disease patients have to adhere to in order to maintain their overall well-being, but what about everyone else? Should we consider going without gluten? New research …
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."
How Much Caffeine is Really Too Much?
How much caffeine is too much? Depending on how much (or how little) sleep you get every night, you might feel like you need an ample amount of caffeine to function. However, a new study suggests that you might want to steer clear of energy drinks to get your fix. To determine exactly how energy …
Canada’s Experimental Lakes
There are drawbacks, of course, to doing environmental experiments in a laboratory setting. Small-scale experimentation may not yield the same results as a large-scale, real-world experiment. In a sterile lab, scientists may not be able to predict the impact of other environmental factors. A more accurate way of conducting research would be to experiments in …
The Life and Death of Cassini, the Saturn Probe
Cassini has been in the news as of late, and if you know anything about it, you’re likely aware of its ties to Saturn. As the NASA spacecraft ends its mission to the ringed planet, many people are torn over its eventual end – Cassini is expected to plunge itself into Saturn’s atmosphere, essentially self-destructing …
Can Frog Mucus Help Your Body Fight Off the Flu?
They say you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince. Now, you might have to do it to avoid the flu. At least this is what some scientists are hinting with the findings in a new study. According to their research, certain molecules found in frog mucus can potentially combat the …
Study: This is Your Brain on LSD
What happens when your brain is on a hallucinogenic drug like LSD? As it turns out, scientists say it can help you achieve a higher level of consciousness. This comes from scientists at the University of Sussex, The University of Auckland, and Imperial College London. The researchers wanted to measure the consciousness levels of humans …
Less Trans Fats Means Less Hospitalizations, But Why?
A new study recently suggested that there may be a link between hospitalizations in regions where there are few regulations on trans fats, compared to their counterparts. To draw their conclusions, researchers analyzed data on 3.3 million people from 25 counties in New York without trans fats restrictions. To compare, they looked at 8.4 million …
American Chestnut: An American Comeback Story
The story of the American chestnut tree reads a bit like the plot of a good comeback story. The once mighty champion falls on hard times and is nearly defeated until a devoted team of supporters rallies around to stage a triumphant return. In this case, the champion is the American chestnut, once the mighty …
Record Number of Right Whales Visit Cape Cod
They may be endangered, but that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to spot in the wild. The North Atlantic right whales are in Cape Cod Bay, feeding on plankton and putting on a show for locals. According to an aerial survey team, there are 112 of them swimming between the Cape Cod Canal and Provincetown, Massachusetts. …
Mice Were “Domesticated” About 15,000 Years Ago By Humans
You might say “Eek!” when you think of a mouse potentially residing in your house, but what if you knew that these little creatures were actually domesticated by humans? They might not be your standard household pet, but mice have been groomed over time to live alongside us in our humble abodes. At least this …