If a real-life zombie apocalypse broke out, would you prepared to take on the undead? Most of us know at this point that zombies are a work of fiction, but scientists wanted to determine if humans could actually fight off the creatures in a worst-case scenario. A study published in the University of Leicester’s Journal …
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."
About 3.4 Tons of Pangolin Scales Were Seized in Shanghai, But What Are They?
At the end of December 2016, Chinese officials honed in on an illegal trafficking operation involving pangolin scales. In total, about 3.4 tons of pangolin scales were seized at a port in Shanghai. According to Chinese media, it was the largest seizure of its type in the history of the country – but what are …
19 Dinosaur Skeletons Have Been Found – What Do They Tell Us About their Evolution?
Dinosaur discoveries always give us more to consider when we look back on the evolution of today’s animals. The recent unearthing of 19 skeletons in the Gobi Desert of China is no different. On Dec. 22, scientists published new findings in Current Biology, detailing 19 skeletons they found while searching in the Gobi Desert. The …
Report: Your Breath May Tell You How Prone You Are to Disease
What if you could find out which diseases you may have through a breathalyzer test? As it turns out, scientists believe we may not be far off from this possibility. As researchers explain in a report published in ACS Nano, exhaled breath contains nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and small traces of more than 100 other …
Report: Depression is More Common Among Pilots Than Previously Thought
Pilots need to maintain their well-being just as much as everyone else, but too often, their demanding schedules make it challenging. Whether it’s outside stressors or the pressure of the job, the world has seen some tragedies occur at the hand of people in dire need of help. This is what inspired a group of …
NASA Scientist: We Could Be in Big Trouble if a Comet Flies Too Close to Earth
Could our planet be in trouble if a comet heads in our direction? One NASA scientist believes this may be the case, but a lot of factors will come into play. Dr. Joseph Nuth, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, made his opinion known while speaking at the annual meeting of the American …
Christmas is for the Birds: Let the Bird-Counting Season Begin!
Bird counting might seem like a needless, time-consuming hobby, but many people look forward to it annually around the holiday season. Thanks to the National Audubon Society, bird enthusiasts can collectively come together to count birds in their local areas each year. The Christmas Bird Count, as it’s been titled, is an event held every …
Report: 1 Cigarette Per Day is Enough to Shorten Your Lifespan
One cigarette can’t hurt, right? As it turns out, a new study has discovered just that – it only takes one cigarette to have a negative impact on your health. This means that even if you only consider yourself to be a “social smoker,” you might want to quit while you’re ahead. Researchers from the …
As Antarctic Ice Melts, Scientists See Polar Bear Numbers Dropping in the Arctic
As scientists continue to watch the North and South poles evolve, they are finding more research indicating that ice melting may be more severe than previously thought. At the end of November, NASA worked on wrapping up its annual study on Antarctic ice. Operation IceBridge, as it’s known, is in its eighth year. As a …
Study: Sleep Deprivation is Costing the U.S. Economy $400 Billion Annually
We don’t get enough sleep. No, really – research shows that we don’t. A study recently published by the RAND Corporation set out to find out not only how little we sleep, but how it’s impacting the economy. They centered their research on this key fact from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: …