Author: Marie

Jenga—that game that needs careful use of agile and deft fingers, as well as careful consideration of which block can be removed without toppling the tower. Yup, that game! A robot can play that game. Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a self-learning robot with a soft-pronged gripper, a force-sensing wrist cuff, and an external camera, which it uses to see and feel the structure of the Jenga tower and its individual blocks. The details of the Jenga-playing smart machine were published in the journal Science Robotics. The machine-learning approach of the Jenga-playing robot could help robots in assembling…

Cancer is one of the most deadly diseases that leave most people hopeless. According to the National Institutes of Health, for every 100,000 people, there are 439.2 new cases of cancer every year. Meanwhile, for every 100,000 people, there are a total of 163.5 cancer deaths per year. Researchers at the Salk Institute had a new discovery about the mechanisms of cancer. A cellular recycling process called autophagy—which was generally thought to fuel cancer’s growth—can actually lead to its death, thus preventing cancer before it starts. The Telomeres In the paper published in the journal Nature, researchers investigated molecular tips…

One of the problems parents might face at one point is difficulty in connecting with their children. This might be brought by various causes like busy work schedule, rebellion in early adolescence, and others. However, it is never too late to repair your connection and relationship with your children. Here are some effective tips: 1 Make Conversations This is one of the most basic tricks that never get old. Try to talk and listen to them—about anything really. From how their day went to some interesting and unforgettable memories that you both of you can laugh about. This is the…

When someone slipped, there might be a banana peel. That’s what we commonly see in most television shows especially in animations for children. Oh, how many cartoon characters have once had mishaps due to the ever-powerful banana peels… But aside from that, how much do you know about banana peels? Here are 6 uses of banana peels which will make you regret ever throwing them in the trash cans: 1 Make Your Teeth Sparkling White Dental care products are so pricey, so why not use cheap banana peels? Just rub your newly brushed teeth with the inner white side of…

We’ve learned about the widely known benefits of exercise. It enhances and maintains your overall health and wellness as well as physical fitness. It can also help in increasing body growth and development, strengthening muscles, weight loss, preventing cardiovascular diseases and aging. But if you think that’s all there is to exercise, you are largely mistaken. A new study reveals it may benefit the brain function in older adults, and prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Brain Effects of Exercise In a paper published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Diseases, researchers revealed that exercise was associated with a change…

Have you ever found yourself asking why your electricity bills seem to be increasing even as your consumption remains the same? You are not alone. That is a problem that brings headaches to many homeowners. While there are many ways to save on electricity to lower the bills, there as just as many outside factors that spike electricity costs that you cannot control. In the US, the price of electricity has increased for an average of 33 percent over the last 10 years. Factors that may affect electricity rates include the cost of generating fuel, utility expenses of the company,…

When we breathe in polluted air, it irritates our respiratory system and we may experience breathing difficulties. In the long run, exposure contaminated air and smoke produced by industries and vehicles can lead to decreased lung function, diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly other cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as cancer. Now another health problem might be added to the list—childhood obesity. Impacts of Obesity in Children Looking at the many severe diseases linked to air pollution, obesity seems a little insignificant. However, this condition should not be overlooked. Obesity affects up to 15-20 percent of children…

With the non-stop technological advancements and industrialization, it is getting more and more difficult to find a breath of fresh air especially in busy cities filled with bustling traffic and pollution. But did you know that there are several places in the world that are completely car-free? Here are some cities and villages which are completely free of honking horns and exhaust gas for your next travel: 1 Bald Head Island, North Carolina, USA Located at the east side of the Cape Free River in Brunswick County, Bald Head Island, or formerly Smith Island, is a remote area with a…

Potatoes are considered staple food in almost every country. They can be added to many recipes or they can be simply boiled, mashed, baked, roasted, or fried by themselves. They are very delicious and contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, however, the uses of potatoes to do not stop at your plate. Here 1 Polish Silverware You just noticed that the necklace you would be wearing in the evening party is discolored. No need to rush to the hardware store. The answer is just seating in your kitchen. Just boil some potatoes and after they are cooked, remove them…

Chicken eggs are good, nutritional food sources on their own. However, if we can make them to be more useful, why not? Scientists genetically modified chickens to produce human proteins in their eggs. This breakthrough can offer a new cost-effective method for producing high-quality drugs with cheaper ingredients. Genetically Modifying the Chickens According to the researchers, the project was initially aimed at creating high-quality proteins that can be used for scientific research. However, they soon found that drugs created using these proteins. This is not the first time eggs have shown their usefulness in drug production. Previously, eggs were used…