Some nail polish removers are advertised as containing no acetone. These products use ethyl acetate as the solvent because it has less of a tendency to dehydrate and discolour nails. Dehydration is...
Nitric oxide is a messenger chemical used by the body to relax blood vessels and has therefore been studied for its potential to treat angina and high blood pressure. One way to increase levels in...
The Pitohui of New Guinea is the only known bird that produces a poison. Its feathers contain batrachotoxin, a nerve toxin also found in South American poison dart frogs. The Pitohui rubs its eggs...
Ali Maow of Somalia has the distinction of being the world’s last recorded victim of smallpox, a disease he acquired in 1977. For the first time ever, through a program of vaccination and...
During Magnetic Resonance Imaging the patient is placed inside a giant magnet and is exposed to radio waves. Hydrogen nuclei in the body behave as tiny magnets and orient themselves with the...
Nutmeg is a spice introduced to Europe by the Arabs during the middle ages. Its essential oil has been used topically to treat arthritis pain and orally with small amounts of honey or sugar, to...
Cranberries are commonly associated with Thanksgiving but in early America they played a varied role. Besides the berries serving as food, the plant’s leaves were commonly used for tea or as a...
Xylitol often appears in candies and gum as a low calorie sweetener. It has the added benefit that unlike sugar it does not support the growth of bacteria that can cause cavities. Xylitol’s name...
For animals wanting to find the healthiest mate, cortisol (stress hormone) levels in their mates could have big implications. Luckily, it appears that animals detect cortisol levels through its...
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