Wuhan coronavirus: Is this outbreak worse than the SARS and MERS outbreaks?
Wuhan coronavirus: Is this outbreak worse than the SARS and MERS outbreaks?

The disease caused by coronavirus has killed 26 and sickened over 800 after being first detected in Wuhan City
Wuhan coronavirus: No vaccine or treatment yet for deadly infection, may take months to develop one
Wuhan coronavirus: No vaccine or treatment yet for deadly infection, may take months to develop one

The National Institutes of Health and other institutes are working towards developing a vaccine; those infected should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms, says CDC
Wuhan coronavirus: China was warned in 2017 that a deadly virus could escape its level 4 biohazard lab
Wuhan coronavirus: China was warned in 2017 that a deadly virus could escape its level 4 biohazard lab

After the 2003 SARS epidemic, China constructed the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory (Level 4) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 2015. The aim was to prepare for and respond to future infectious disease outbreaks
Stress can turn your hair gray and you can blame it on body's fight-or-flight response, say scientists
Stress can turn your hair gray and you can blame it on body's fight-or-flight response, say scientists

Stress activates nerves that are part of the fight-or-flight response, which causes permanent damage to pigment-regenerating stem cells in hair follicles
World's oldest crater found in Australia is 2.229 billion years old, may have ended ice age, say scientists
World's oldest crater found in Australia is 2.229 billion years old, may have ended ice age, say scientists

'The age of the Yarrabubba impact matches the demise of a series of ancient glaciations'
Fitbit data on heart rate and sleep duration could help predict flu outbreaks in real-time, says new study
Fitbit data on heart rate and sleep duration could help predict flu outbreaks in real-time, says new study

This information could be vital to enact timely outbreak response measures to prevent further transmission of influenza cases during outbreaks, say researchers

Vaginal rejuvenation surgeries are far more dangerous than doctors think: Study
Vaginal rejuvenation surgeries are far more dangerous than doctors think: Study

Nerves responsible for sensation and orgasm are at a huge risk of injury from such surgeries as doctors do not know the female anatomy well, say researchers. They found these nerves are located a few millimeters below the surface of the clitoral hood
Over 2 million people with heart disease have used marijuana, finds study suggesting alarming link between the two
Over 2 million people with heart disease have used marijuana, finds study suggesting alarming link between the two

According to a review, as more US states legalize marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use and usage increases nationwide, doctors should advise patients about the potential risks, including effects of marijuana with some commonly prescribed cardiovascular drugs.
Adorable potoroo on the brink of extinction as Australian bushfires destroy 6 million hectares of its habitat
Adorable potoroo on the brink of extinction as Australian bushfires destroy 6 million hectares of its habitat

Approximately 70 nationally threatened species have had at least 50% of their range burnt, while nearly 160 threatened species have had more than 20% of their range burnt, says a new report.
15% of Americans do not engage in any leisure-time physical activity, Southerners fare the worst: Study
15% of Americans do not engage in any leisure-time physical activity, Southerners fare the worst: Study

Inadequate levels of physical activity are associated with $117 bn in annual healthcare costs, say CDC experts
‘13 Reasons Why’: No evidence series led to increase in suicides among US adolescents, says study
‘13 Reasons Why’: No evidence series led to increase in suicides among US adolescents, says study

The findings contradict a 2019 study which said the series was associated with 28.9% increase in suicide rates among 10-to 17-year-olds in the US in the month (April 2017) following the show's release

Baltimore ranks first among US cities with the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases: Report
Baltimore ranks first among US cities with the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases: Report

Drug use, poverty, stigma, which can reduce access to STD prevention and care, decreased condom use among vulnerable groups, and cuts to STD programs at the state and local level, are multiple factors that drive the continued increase in STDs, say CDC experts.
Climate change: Last decade turns out to be the hottest ever recorded while 2019 stands as second warmest
Climate change: Last decade turns out to be the hottest ever recorded while 2019 stands as second warmest

An increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, thanks to human activities, is largely driving the rise in temperatures, say experts
Scientists may have discovered the impact site of one of the largest meteorites to have ever hit Earth
Scientists may have discovered the impact site of one of the largest meteorites to have ever hit Earth

A buried crater in southern Laos might be the long-sought source of a strewn field of glassy blobs, or tektites, produced by the meteorite impact approximately 790,000 years ago covering more than one-tenth of Earth's surface, says study.
Nearly one million seabirds starved to death due to severe marine heatwave off the West Coast of USA
Nearly one million seabirds starved to death due to severe marine heatwave off the West Coast of USA

Unprecedented numbers of common murres died between 2015 and 2016 and 62,000 carcasses were discovered
Is mid-life crisis real? New study says it's perfectly natural and people are unhappiest around the age of 47
Is mid-life crisis real? New study says it's perfectly natural and people are unhappiest around the age of 47

In developing nations people are most miserable at the age of 48.2 years, says the analysis
7-billion-year-old stardust in meteorite that crashed 50 years ago is the oldest material ever found on Earth
7-billion-year-old stardust in meteorite that crashed 50 years ago is the oldest material ever found on Earth

The study shows proof contrary to what scientists believe that the rate of star formation is constant. It is direct evidence that there was a time before the start of the solar system when more stars formed than normal.
Earth's oceans have absorbed heat equal to 3.6 billion Hiroshima atom bombs in 25 years, finds study
Earth's oceans have absorbed heat equal to 3.6 billion Hiroshima atom bombs in 25 years, finds study

2019 has been the hottest in terms of global ocean temperature and this has had disastrous effects on marine life
Five years after abortion, over 96% women say it was the right decision, finds study
Five years after abortion, over 96% women say it was the right decision, finds study

Relief was the most prominent emotion reported at the end of the study, just as it was at every time point in the study; this debunks the idea that most women suffer emotionally from having an abortion, say experts.
Wolf Moon: The first full moon of 2020 rises this Friday with a spectacular lunar eclipse also on the cards
Wolf Moon: The first full moon of 2020 rises this Friday with a spectacular lunar eclipse also on the cards

The full moon in January is said to have got its name because wolves were more often heard at this time
NASA spots 'Godzilla Galaxy', 2.5 times wider than the Milky Way with 10 times as many stars
NASA spots 'Godzilla Galaxy', 2.5 times wider than the Milky Way with 10 times as many stars

Located 232 million light-years away in the northern constellation of Perseus, scientists refer to UGC 2885 as the 'gentle giant' since it looks as if it has been quietly sitting for billions of years
NASA planet hunter TESS spots its first Earth-size exoplanet in habitable zone
NASA planet hunter TESS spots its first Earth-size exoplanet in habitable zone

Discovered by the TESS and dubbed TOI 700 d, it is one of the few Earth-size planets found in potentially habitable zones.
US sees largest-ever one year drop in cancer death rates thanks to advancement in lung cancer treatment
US sees largest-ever one year drop in cancer death rates thanks to advancement in lung cancer treatment

The continuous decline since 1991 has resulted in an overall drop of 29%, translating into approximately 2.9 million fewer cancer deaths. Declines in lung cancer deaths have accelerated, including a 2.2% drop from 2016 to 2017, spurring the largest ever single-year drop in overall cancer deaths.
Astronomers spot young stars at the edges of the Milky Way, which is usually home to the galaxy's oldest stars
Astronomers spot young stars at the edges of the Milky Way, which is usually home to the galaxy's oldest stars

These newborn stars, which probably formed from material from two dwarf galaxies known as the Magellanic Clouds, could unravel new insights into the Milky Way's history
Basic BMI measurements more effective than genetics in predicting how obese you will be in future, says study
Basic BMI measurements more effective than genetics in predicting how obese you will be in future, says study

Researchers found that baseline BMI in young adulthood explained 52.3% of a person's BMI 25 years later
Giant wave of interconnected stellar nurseries, largest gaseous structure in Milky Way, discovered
Giant wave of interconnected stellar nurseries, largest gaseous structure in Milky Way, discovered

The new map reveals a long, thin structure, about 9,000 light-years long and 400 light-years wide, with a wave-like shape, cresting 500 light-years above and below the mid-plane of our Galaxy's disk. 
Folic acid and zinc supplements not helpful in infertility treatments, nor do they boost sperm count: Study
Folic acid and zinc supplements not helpful in infertility treatments, nor do they boost sperm count: Study

The findings do not support the use of folic acid and zinc supplementation by male partners for the treatment of infertility, say researchers.

Former smokers who switch to e-cigarettes two times more likely to have a stroke, finds study
Former smokers who switch to e-cigarettes two times more likely to have a stroke, finds study

Young adults who smoke cigarettes, as well as use e-cigarettes, are also nearly two times more likely to have a stroke compared to current cigarette-only smokers and nearly three times more likely than non-smokers, says the study
Venus could have active volcanoes as new evidence suggests its lava flows may only be a few years old
Venus could have active volcanoes as new evidence suggests its lava flows may only be a few years old

The finding regarding Earth's nearest neighbor could help astronomers understand the evolution of planets, say experts
Warmest part of Indo-Pacific ocean expanding yearly by an area the size of California, impacting rains in US
Warmest part of Indo-Pacific ocean expanding yearly by an area the size of California, impacting rains in US

Scientists have observed a doubling in the size of the warm pool of water spanning the western Pacific and the eastern Indian Ocean in recent years
Climate change making storms stronger and more dangerous in the US, shows analysis of Hurricane Florence
Climate change making storms stronger and more dangerous in the US, shows analysis of Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence brought 10% more extreme rainfall and was 9 km larger in diameter (or a 1.6% increase in storm area) due to climate change
In 2019, 15 climate disasters wreaked havoc around the world causing damage of more than $1 billion each
In 2019, 15 climate disasters wreaked havoc around the world causing damage of more than $1 billion each

From Southern Africa to North America and from Australia and Asia to Europe, floods, storms, and fires brought chaos and destruction; The most financially costly disasters are wildfires in California, which caused $25 billion in damage, followed by Typhoon Hagibis in Japan ($15 billion)
Climate strikes to vaping deaths: Science and health stories that shaped 2019
Climate strikes to vaping deaths: Science and health stories that shaped 2019

Here are some of the top science stories that made the headlines in 2019
NASA astronaut Christina Koch sets longest spaceflight record by a woman after spending nearly 300 days in space
NASA astronaut Christina Koch sets longest spaceflight record by a woman after spending nearly 300 days in space

When she arrives back on Earth in February 2020, she will have surpassed former station commander Peggy Whitson's record
NASA gifts scientists 50-year-old Moon samples to unwrap this holiday season and help unravel space secrets
NASA gifts scientists 50-year-old Moon samples to unwrap this holiday season and help unravel space secrets

Nine teams have been selected to study Moon samples that have been sealed for half a century. By studying them for the first time, a new generation of scientists will help advance our understanding of the Solar System and how it evolved
Opioid crisis: 7 out of every 1,000 babies born in the US has to be treated for opioid withdrawal
Opioid crisis: 7 out of every 1,000 babies born in the US has to be treated for opioid withdrawal

The US spent $572.7 million in 2016 to treat children born with this condition called neonatal abstinence syndrome, which occurs when a baby withdraws from certain drugs he/she was exposed to in the mother’s womb.
First-ever image of a black hole that stunned the world is Science’s 2019 Breakthrough of the Year
First-ever image of a black hole that stunned the world is Science’s 2019 Breakthrough of the Year

Black holes are very small by cosmic standards and by definition emit no light, which is why until recently few astronomers imagined such an image was even possible
Coastal wetlands will survive rising seas to act as a buffer and offset carbon dioxide emissions, shows analysis 
Coastal wetlands will survive rising seas to act as a buffer and offset carbon dioxide emissions, shows analysis 

Though coastal wetlands only cover 2% of the ocean surface, scientists estimate they sequester 50% of carbon captured by the ocean each year. The study says that salt marshes must be able to build up sediment naturally to remain effective as carbon sinks
Trump administration's national preparedness report ignores climate change
Trump administration's national preparedness report ignores climate change

FEMA’s 60-page report mentions disasters, wildfires, and hurricanes omits the role of climate change. And this is despite multiple reports last year warning how climate change and global warming are intensifying natural disasters, making floods and hurricanes stronger and more intense.
NASA astronaut on board ISS develops blood clot in space, gets treated by doctors on Earth
NASA astronaut on board ISS develops blood clot in space, gets treated by doctors on Earth

This was the first time a blood clot had been found in an astronaut in space, so there was no established method of treatment in zero gravity; Blood clot expert Dr. Stephan Moll, professor of medicine in the UNC School of Medicine, consulted NASA on how to treat the US astronaut.
Weight of American beauty: Victoria's Secret models shrink as average US woman's size increases over 2 decades
Weight of American beauty: Victoria's Secret models shrink as average US woman's size increases over 2 decades

In parallel with this trend, the percentage of women seeking cosmetic surgeries has gone up dramatically, with butt and lower body lift increasing by 4295% and 256%.
Opioid crisis: Number of children ending up in emergencies with acute painkiller poisonings goes up
Opioid crisis: Number of children ending up in emergencies with acute painkiller poisonings goes up

This trend of children ending up in intensive care is being fuelled by suspected suicide cases among under-19s who have overdosed on legal or prescription opioid drugs
Obesity in pregnant women can lead to lower IQ and impaired development in boys later, study shows
Obesity in pregnant women can lead to lower IQ and impaired development in boys later, study shows

The researchers measured the children's motor skills and found that maternal obesity during pregnancy was strongly associated with lower motor skills in boys
California woman suffers severe neurological damage from highly toxic mercury in skin lightening cream
California woman suffers severe neurological damage from highly toxic mercury in skin lightening cream

The cream contained methylmercury, a form of organic mercury, making it the first known case of such poisoning in the US
Air pollution from traffic increases risk of hypertension among pregnant women, finds study
Air pollution from traffic increases risk of hypertension among pregnant women, finds study

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy refer to a range of clinical conditions, all of which include high blood pressure during pregnancy. Such disorders complicate more than 10% of pregnancies worldwide and are a leading cause of maternal and fetal illness and death
Stomach cancer cases increasing among younger Americans as study finds it spreads slower in older patients
Stomach cancer cases increasing among younger Americans as study finds it spreads slower in older patients

Traditional risk factors for developing stomach cancer among older Americans, such as smoking tobacco or binge drinking, did not appear to correlate with its early onset counterpart
Mutations in a father’s sperm could predict the risk of autism in children: Study
Mutations in a father’s sperm could predict the risk of autism in children: Study

Mutations were present in up to 15% of the sperm cells in fathers, information that could not be determined through other means, such as blood samples, say experts
Brisk walking and other physical activities for 2.5-5 hours every week reduces risk of 7 types of cancer
Brisk walking and other physical activities for 2.5-5 hours every week reduces risk of 7 types of cancer

Engaging in recommended amounts of leisure-time physical activity was associated with a significantly lower risk for breast, colon (men only), endometrial, kidney, myeloma, liver cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (women only).
Vaping patients at risk of death and rehospitalization, warns CDC after 7 deaths and 31 readmissions
Vaping patients at risk of death and rehospitalization, warns CDC after 7 deaths and 31 readmissions

CDC has issued an updated clinical guidance which recommends that patients be clinically stable before discharge and calls for follow-up with a clinical provider within 48 hours of hospital discharge
Giving antibiotics like penicillin to infants can increase the risk of developing allergies later in childhood, finds study
Giving antibiotics like penicillin to infants can increase the risk of developing allergies later in childhood, finds study

Researchers found that every additional exposure to a unique class of antibiotics significantly increased the associated development of allergic disease. The reason could be that exposure to multiple antibiotics may negatively affect the gut bacteria of an infant

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