THE NAKED SCIENTISTS - Mice are genuinely fearful of cats; and when they encounter the aroma of a feline, they freeze and then scarper. This happens thanks to an accessory smell system called the vomeronasal organ, or VNO. One of its roles is to detect pheromones, and its wiring into the limbic system enables it...
STUDY FINDS - A simple yogurt supplement could help protect people from the hidden dangers lurking in everyday household items. A groundbreaking study from the University of California-Riverside is offering hope for those worried about our exposure to pervasive fire-retardant chemicals. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are everywhere. They’re in your couch, a child’s car...
HEALIO - Vaping devices with games are creating an even bigger challenge when it comes to convincing adolescents not to vape, posing dangers of nicotine addiction and gaming disorder, according to a press release. In a paper published in Tobacco Control, Man (Jon) Wong , lab assistant at University of California - Riverside, and Prue...
NEW YORK POST - A new e-cigarette with built-in video games is being illegally sold in New York and other parts of the United States, critics warn. The disposable “smart vapes” are available in catchy-named flavors like “merry berry” and “cherry pop,” and have built-in, high-definition screens preloaded with multiple games, including ripped-off versions of...
LOS ANGELES TIMES - Introduced as battery-powered sticks that emit nicotine-infused vapor, vape pens have transformed into increasingly sophisticated entertainment devices. And that, researchers say, is a potentially huge problem. Disposable vapes gained small illuminated displays last year, typically to show how much battery life remained. In about six months, though, the displays grew to...
THE MIRROR - Vapers have been warned of the risks as chemicals in e-cigarettes enhance the chances of catching Covid, a new study found. University of California scientists have shown that two chemicals, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, enhanced Covid infection through different mechanisms. And they found that adding benzoic acid, a chemical compound, to...
SCIENCE ALERT - Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic kicked off, we've been far more aware of our sense of smell. Now, new research shows that odors – like those emanating from ripening fruits or fermented foods – can lead to changes in how genes are expressed inside cells far beyond the nose. "That exposure to...
LAIST.COM - Good news for mosquito haters across Southern California: It's still too early in the year for most mosquito species to thrive, despite all the recent record-setting rain that the pesky insects thrive on. However, UC Riverside biologist Anandasankar Ray said he couldn't rule out the possibility that some mosquitoes will use the wet...
THE DAILY MAIL - There are more benefits to following a healthy low-fat diet than shedding pounds and dropping a few pant sizes. Now, scientists have discovered eating less fat could also help protect you against infectious diseases like Covid-19. Researchers from the University of California - Riverside found 'concerning' changes in gene expression -...
IFL SCIENCE - Chemicals commonly used in flame retardants can lead to diabetes in the offspring of female mice exposed to them, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The substances are known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). For the study, the scientists exposed mice to low levels of PBDEs during their pregnancy and...