Troy Oakes

Was There a Big Bang?

I’m sure most people have heard of the Big Bang Theory, and how that was the very beginning of the universe. Physicists Ahmed Farag Ali and Saurya Das are not so convinced. With their new model that has quantum correction terms that complement Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, it shows that the universe has existed forever. The model also takes into ...

Troy Oakes

Combined NASA images simulating the idea of the Big Bang.

How Can You Stop the Sensation of Being Tickled?

Have you ever wondered why you can’t tickle yourself? Do you hate being tickled? Well, an expert in molecular biology and genetics has the answers. There are thousands of nerve endings under your skin, and when a person’s touch stimulates these, the nerves send a message to your brain. The effect of a light tickling touch is the ...

Troy Oakes

A happy mother tickling her daughter.

Kwoneksamach, the Lake That Disappears Every Year

Every year, an entire lake just disappears. Native Americans in the Cascades region call this place Kwoneksamach, or “unknown.” Up in the mountains of Oregon approximately two hours southeast of Portland is where this mysterious lake sits. The first documented accounts by European Americans said that they had found it difficult to find their way, so they named the lake “Lost Lake” ...

Troy Oakes

A lava tube draining the water out of Lost Lake.

6 Signs That Indicate Your State of Health

With our lives getting busier and busier every day, we tend to put our health on the back burner. It isn’t until you are too sick to work that you really start to pay attention to your state of health. Your body can and does tell you when something is wrong; you just need to look for the signs. This can ...

Troy Oakes

Young man and woman out jogging.

Is War in Space Inevitable?

With other nations now wanting their own space stations, the U.S. is ramping up its anti-satellite testing. One general is saying there is a need to prepare to win a possible war in space. The United States needs disruptive new technologies, new ways of acquiring equipment and bandwidth, and closer ties with global allies to stay ...

Troy Oakes

Earth seen from a viewport in the International Space Station.

Is Your Plastic Really Biodegradable?

Most of us who buy a “biodegradable” plastic product expect it to break down, thus making it better for the environment. But some of these plastic products are not living up to their claims, according to new US research. With rising concerns over the amount of plastic pollution, some manufacturers of plastic have been advertising that their products ...

Troy Oakes

Disposable plastic cups with lids and straws containing different drinks sit on a table with napkins and sliced fruit.

Are You Aware of the Incredible New Stonehenge Theory?

A renowned museum director and historian, Julian Spalding, has a new Stonehenge theory. It has been long believed that it was a semi-circle. But after a remarkable discovery that numerous stones had been removed, we now know that it was a full circle. Spalding now believes he knows what the 5,000-year-old mysterious stone circle was used for. It does make ...

Troy Oakes

Stonehenge with blue sky and white clouds in the background.

Do We Need to Change the Way We Deal With Our Plastic Waste?

It is hard to believe that we have to talk about the plastic waste that is still going into the world’s oceans. Researchers from the University of California have found that more than 4.8 million metric tons of plastic waste end up in the oceans each year. A metric ton is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, or 2,205 ...

Troy Oakes

Plastic waste in the oceans and around the globe.

Antibiotic Resistance Could Kill 300 Million People by 2050

A report commissioned by the UK government estimates that by 2050, antibiotic resistance will kill 300 million people if no action is taken. The annual global death toll will reach 10 million, and up to US$100 trillion (£64 trillion) will be lost to the global economy by 2050. The issue goes far beyond health policy, and on ...

Troy Oakes

Blister packs containing pink and white capsules stacked with blister packs containing blue and white capsules.

Are Genetically Modified Mosquitoes a Bad Idea?

Are genetically modified mosquitoes a good idea or not? This question has been going on for a long time. The British-based company Oxitec is waiting for FDA approval to be able to release them in the U.S. The mosquitoes have a modified gene that kills their young before they can fly. Only female mosquitoes bite, so the aim is to release only modified ...

Troy Oakes

A mosquito biting a person.