Author Archives: wesleyb

Diabetes equipment, used by patient

New treatment for Type 1 Diabetics Gives Hope to University of Chicago Patients

Before insulin was first used in the 1920s (barely 100 years ago), a patient with Type 1 Diabetes was expected to live less than 2 years after being diagnosed. After insulin, diabetics began living longer and longer. Type 1 diabetics today can expect to live into their late 60s or early 70s—but doing so requires a lot of medicine, devices, and thoughtful care. However, a new treatment option is currently being tested that may make care easier and help patients live even longer.

Jefferson Memorial with fireworks in Washington, DC

30 New Year’s Superstitions to Bring You Good Luck in 2025

If you’re looking for a few extra ways to cultivate good fortune for 2025, check out this list of New Year’s Eve superstitions that includes customs from across the globe. Make like the Danes and jump off a chair, wake to see the run rise like they do in Japan, or eat twelve grapes (no more, no less) at midnight, just as they do in Spain. This list will give you many good ideas for your celebrations!

9 Virtual Tours of Shakespearean Spots

William Shakespeare is widely considered to be the greatest writer in the English language and now, thanks to modern technology, you can explore some of the most iconic places from the playwright’s life, and the locations said to have inspired him, from the comfort of your own home.

Boris Karloff in Frankenstein

Germany’s hottest Halloween party at Frankenstein Castle

Did you know that Frankenstein’s castle is a real place? Not only that, but it throws Germany’s biggest Halloween party every year!
Thousands of people from all over come to tour the castle, dance, eat, compare costumes, and spend the spookiest night of the year in one of Europe’s spookiest locations!

Silhouette of father and son looking through telescope at sunset

The 10 Most Intriguing Science Breakthroughs of 2023

It’s too early to know what the greatest scientific discoveries and achievements of 2024 will be, but now that we’ve had some time to reflect on last year, here is one site’s opinion on what the Top 10 most intriguing advancements of 2023 were. Which ones do you agree with? Are there any you think should have made the list?

Beautiful woman touching air during the VR experience isolated on white.

Ryan Coogler talks Afrofuturism in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Hear the creative artists behind the Black Panther movies, including director and writer Ryan Coogler, discuss Afrofuturism and how it influenced their superhero films to create a world unlike anything seen on the big screen before—and how those films would go on to shatter box office records and start a discussion about an art movement many had never heard of before then.

Male radiologist doing CT-Scan on female patient in examination room

Scientists Say They’ve Discovered A New Human Organ

Quick! How many organs are there in the human body?
Don’t worry, I can’t remember, either. But whatever that number is, some scientists are proposing that we add one more to the list—a newly discovered system of fluid-filled tissue that goes throughout the body called the interstitium. And understanding it may open up brand-new options for treating everything from cancer to immune disorders to gum disease!

Woman Afraid of something in the Dar

18 Halloween-themed Phobias You Might Have

A “phobia” is an extreme, uncontrollable fear of a specific item, activity, or setting. The word “phobia” comes from the Latin word phobos, meaning fear or flight (as in running away from something). There are hundreds of phobias people may have, ranging from a fear of spiders to a fear of flying to a fear of meeting new people. Here are some phobias closely related to Halloween. Do any of them scare you?

Fire Pit

This year’s Olympic flame isn’t a flame at all—and that’s a good thing

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris had a goal of being the most environmentally-friendly games in history. One way to meet this goal was by asking the question: “What if the Olympic flame looked like a flame, but wasn’t one?” Learn how engineers came up with the illusion at the heart of the Olympic Games

French passport and money

Paris Olympics ticket scams rise ahead of the summer games. Here’s what to look out for.

Anytime an event like the Olympics brings together large groups of people,many of whom are international tourists, scams are sure to follow. From fake tickets to fake souvenirs to the dangers of public wi-fi networks, here are some of the scams you should look out for when going to the Olympics—or any other large public event.

Boy winning spelling bee

96th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee Ended in a Sudden, Rapid-Spelling Tiebreaker

What does it take to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee? Nearly 250 students from all 50 states found out in a competition that lasted three days, covered fourteen rounds, and ended in a rapid spelling tiebreaker, with the winner spelling 30 words in only 90 seconds!