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Monday, October 27, 2025
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More Kids Are Ingesting Hand Sanitizer

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two bottles of hand sanitizer

More kids are getting sick after ingesting hand sanitizer.

Hand sanitizer may provide a good solution for cleaning your hand while on the go, but that doesn’t mean it does not have any dangerous effects, especially if ingested by children. A new report from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that an increased number of children keep getting sick after ingesting the alcohol-based solution.

The report showcases more than 70,000 cases were children below the age of 12 years old, ingested liquid hand sanitizer either as an accident or on purpose. Most sanitizers like the popular brand Purell, contain between 60 to 90 percent isopropyl or ethanol alcohol. In order to give them a pleasing aroma, instead of standard alcohol smell, the solution is infused with various other substances which pose additional health risks if ingested.

The CDC report also reveals that children who ingested hand sanitizer exhibit various conditions like eye problems, breathing difficulties, and in some extreme cases falling into a coma. Intentional ingestion of sanitizers is more common for older children with ages between six and twelve years old. Furthermore, kids in this age group also experience more severe adverse health effects than younger children.

According to the researchers, these findings suggests that some kids may deliberately ingest the alcohol-based sanitizers. The situation is getting increasingly worse as the popularity of hand sanitizers continues to grow.

Cynthia Santos, the lead author of the study and a researcher with the CDC National Center for Environmental Health, and her colleagues analyzed children sickness data from 2011 to 2014. They discovered more than 70, 000 cases of hand sanitizer ingestion in that period alone. The vast majority of cases, 91 percent, involved children below the age of five, with around 6, 200 involving kids above six years and up to twelve.

The scientists warn that their findings only include reported cases and that the number of all hand sanitizer ingestion situations by children may be much worse than what it was identified. The researchers recommend that parents keep a close watch on the bottles of hand sanitizers and keep it away from children’s reach. They also recommend avoiding them as much as possible and keep washing their hands the old fashioned way, with soap and water.

Image source: Flickr

Wireless Patch Might Ease Migraine Pain

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wireless patch ease migraine pain

The drug-free alternative for migraine pain is a wireless patch.

Migraine pain is one of the worst things. You can’t concentrate and the pain is unbearable. There are a lot of drugs on the market that can ease the pain, but many people prefer to take as fewer drugs as possible. The drug-free alternative for migraine pain is a wireless patch.

This smartphone controlled patch might be able to reduce the pain caused by migraines. A new study shows that it can be as effective as any drug. The wireless patch can be worn on the arm. This device blocks the pain signals from getting to the brain. In order to do so, it uses electric stimulation.

The device uses a chip on an armband and rubber electrodes. Like most of the devices nowadays, this wireless patch can be controlled by a smartphone app. This is the first wireless stimulating system that can help people with migraines. Until now this type of tech has been used but it needed wires and it was attached to the head.

The wireless patch is a better alternative for people who don’t want to take drugs. The researchers mentioned that the device is easy to use and very effective in a short period of time. In order to see the benefits of the wireless patch scientists analyzed 71 people. All of them had episodic migraines. They suffered from 2 to 8 attacks every month.

The participants did not take any medication for this problem for two months. All of the people who participated in the study were asked to wear this wireless patch as soon as the migraine pain started. They needed to wear the device for at least 20 minutes. The participants were not allowed to take any migraine drugs for 2 hours.

The patches were programmed to give stimulation or placebo. Participants did not know what they were going to get. These stimulations were designed not to be painful. The researchers mentioned that almost 300 migraine pains were eased.

The experts noticed that, in order for the device to ease the pain, people should opt for the long stimulation because the sham did not help people who suffered from migraines. Short stimulation helped only in a few cases.

What is your opinion about this wireless patch?

Image source: Wikipedia

The Thorny Skate Is Not an Endangered Species Yet

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a thorny skate specimen

The thorny skate does yet warrant the protection of the Endangered Species list.

Despite the fact that the populations of the thorny skate have declined in the last few years, the federal government agencies have ruled that the species will not be added to the Endangered Species list, at least not yet.

The ruling came in opposition with the assessments made by a number of environmental groups which believed that the recent population loss of the thorny skate in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, was just significant enough so that it warrants the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

Unfortunately, the US National Marine Fisheries Service disagreed with the assessment made by conservation groups, who were hoping to see the implementation of a marine protection habitat for the bottom-dwelling species of fish.

The Federal Register published documents on Friday, which reveal that the federal agency concluded that the thorny skate species is currently not in any danger of extinction in all or a significant portion of its habitat range. The agency also reports that the species will not become endangered anytime soon, while at the same time it agreed with reports from environmental groups showing the decline of the fish’s population.

The National Marine Fisheries Service’s report states the population of the species is just five percent lower than what it was in when it reached its recorded peak back in the 1970s, as they thorny skate still remains quite numerous in a large part of their habitat range, located between Greenland and South Carolina, with hundreds of millions of specimens.

The petition to add the thorny skate to the Endangered Species list was started by the Animal Welfare Institute and Defenders of Wildlife, which sought to implement new fishing restrictions and habitat protection for the species.

The call to protect the species, especially those living in the Gulf of Maine, which is a commercial fishing area, has been met with resistance from a number of fishing groups. While the thorny skate has been protected for being harvested commercially since 2003, it is being caught as bycatch in other fisheries, which mostly capture cod and other types of skates.

What do you think about the federal agency’s conclusion about the population of the fish species?

Image source: NOAA

Sonos PlayBase Wireless Speaker Has Leaked

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White Sonos PlayBase

The Sonos PlayBase wireless speaker has leaked online.

Sonos seems keen on expanding into the home theater market in the recent period with products which are easy to set-up and use, but they are not as compact. However, one of the music streaming company’s upcoming products, the Sonos PlayBase has been leaked online.

The Sonos PlayBase consists of a wireless speaker meant to sit under your TV. While rumors regarding this product have been swirling around for some time now, this is the first time that interested customers can get their first look of the upcoming product. The company initially filed the name of the product with the USPTO in 2014.

The new information about the Sonos PlayBase comes courtesy of both a BH photo listing, which has been removed and a few Twitter leaks. The initial listing showcased the product in both white and black colors, with a price tag of $699. The retailer revealed that the wireless speaker is expected to launch in the early day of March.

Overall, the leaked images show a very simple yet stylish and compact design with a matte finish. Many peopled likened the Sonos PlayBase with the PLAY:5 speaker, and it is expected to feature the same touch controls as that speaker. However, unlike other sound bars, the PlayBase only includes an optical digital audio input instead of HDMI.

The other two connection are for power and the Ethernet one, in case you like cables more than wireless connectivity.  The speaker also comes with a button on its side, which is meant to facilitate pairing with other Sonos products. Furthermore, the PlayBase may even include a microphone for voice-controlled activation and use, but nothing has been confirmed at this point.

It is also unclear if the Sonos PlayBase is meant to completely replace the company’s current soundbar, the PlayBar. The new product will surely appeal to new customers, which only have a standalone TV and want a speaker that is compact and stylish under their screen.

However, it is very likely that both products will remain for sale, despite the fact that the PlayBase inherit most of the PlayBar’s functionalities, minus the ability to be mounted on the wall and the ability to switch its speaker configuration automatically.

Image source: BH

Ceres Revealed Significant Traces Of Life’s Building Blocks

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ceres

Ceres, the dwarf planet revealed traces of life’s building blocks, traces detected by the Dawn spacecraft.

A recently released study came with some significant news involving Ceres. The dwarf planet revealed traces of life’s building blocks, traces detected by Dawn. This latter is a NASA spacecraft.

For years now, science has been scouting the outer space in search of planets capable of holding life. Or at least ones which present it’s building discovery. According to a new study, they may have just found such a planet. On a somewhat unlikely space body.

Ceres is a dwarf planet, the 33 largest known space body of our Solar System. It is located within the asteroid belt situated between Mars’s and Jupiter’s orbits. It is also the belt’s largest object.

The dwarf planet seemed an unlikely location mostly due to its componence. This space body is composed of ice and rock. With an icy mantle and rocky core, it may have once held an internal liquid water ocean. And apparently, Ceres has many more secrets in store.

Back in 2007, NASA launched the Dawn space probe. Ever since then, the spacecraft has been studying the planet. Ceres is one of its two targets. Dawn is also studying Vesta, another well-known protoplanet.

And now, scientists released a new study about Ceres. This was published in the Science journal. Available online since February 17th, the paper was titled as follows. “Localized aliphatic organic material on the surface of Ceres”.

According to the research, Dawn revealed some interesting elements. Which show that Ceres might be hosting life’s building blocks. Or more exactly, it reported the presence of indigenously formed organic compounds.

These were detected by using Dawn’s equipment. The spacecraft has, amongst others, an infrared and visible mapping spectrometer. This revealed the following.

A very small area located in Ceres’s Inamahari crater may be holding organic compounds. This is located some 250 miles from the Ernutet crater. Which also revealed traces of such material.

Organic compounds were detected in an about 400 square miles area near the crater. Both Ernutet and Inamahari are situated in the planet’s northern hemisphere.

Simone Marchi went to offer additional details. One of the study co-authors, Marchi is also a Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado senior research scientist.

He stated as follows. Dawn’s discovery is very intriguing. Especially so as it traced a locally high concentration of organic materials. This could lead to strong implications in the astrobiology community, according to Marchi.

Ceres revealed traces of the following elements. It presents water ice, salts, and carbonates. And also ammonia-bearing hydrated minerals. Organic materials will now also be added to the list.

Dawn’s discovery also points out the following. Ceres sports the key ingredients for the development of life.

According to Marchi, the organic materials most likely have an internal source. They are unlikely to have arrived on an external impactor. The organic-rich areas also include materials which are endogenous to Ceres. More exactly, ammoniated and carbonate species.

Reportedly, the Ernutet crater rims are also apparently fresh. Which is in contrast to the overall region which seems to be ancient. And which is also heavily cratered.

Another element also supports the potential internal source of the organic material. Previous observations spotted fluid mobility on Ceres. And also presented the clear signatures of a pervasive hydrothermal activity.

Nonetheless, the formation process of Ceres’s organic material is currently unknown. More research on the matter will be needed.

Image Source: Wikimedia

Facebooks Enables Job Postings on Pages

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Facebook logo on screen

Facebook has started to roll out its job postings feature for business Pages.

Before LinkedIn fully integrates within Microsoft and develops a strategy to further develop and improve the service for a larger number of users, Facebook is trying to capitalize on a number of opportunities previously neglected by the company.

The social network has finally enabled page admins to post job openings as a way to help lower-skilled worker find a job more easily, as well as present new opportunities for those who aren’t actively searching for a new job. The job posting on Pages feature was previously revealed last year, but only now has Facebook decided to roll it out.

As any Facebook user knows, the social network is a great way to keep in touch with a company, its products, and activity, through the Business Pages feature. Thanks to the new job postings feature, companies can easily find new employees among those who are actually interested in the company.

More specifically, a business can issue any number of job postings through their status update composer, which will appear in the News Feed of its followers. All the job openings are hosted in specially designated Jobs tab on the company’s Page. When users see the job posting, they can apply for it directly from their news feed through the Apply Now button. This instantly sends an application through the Facebook Messenger.

Regarding the application, Facebook will pre-fill some of the details with information from the user’s profile, such as name, location, birth date, and even includes your profile picture, in order to speed up the application process. The job postings feature is currently live in the US and Canada.

The new feature represents another ad revenue stream for Facebook, as it enabled companies to pay in order to have their posts turn into ads, which in turn could reach more people. Furthermore, users can easily share job postings with their friends, which could help the recruitment efforts of the business.

The feature is mainly designed for small businesses, which have trouble hiring, but it can be used by any company. It also presents a great way to find a job you never knew you wanted for a better salary, or in a better location.

Image source: Pixabay

Scientists Found That Warm Pacific Water Led to Large Seabird Deaths

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common murres resting on shore

Scientists believe that warm Pacific water led to the mass die-off of seabirds.

Whether we like to admit it or not, climate change is gradually making its presence felt throughout the world. It’s latest confirmed effect is that it led to the death of thousands of seabird deaths due to the warming of the Pacific water which in turn affected the fish the birds eat to survive.

Last year, scientists revealed that several thousand common murres, a prevalent North Pacific seabird, were found starved on the eastern shores of the United States, from California to Alaska. Since then, scientists have been trying to explain how that situation came to be.

Now, scientists believe that the elevated temperatures of the Pacific water affected not only the seabirds but whole marine ecosystems. However, the common murres are an indicator of the overall health of the region.  The explanation consists in the fact that because fish populations are gradually declining, seabirds and other animals have nothing to eat which leads to starvation.

While the effect of the warm Pacific water affects two major marine ecosystems along the US’ West Coast and Canada, the deaths of the seabirds also were also multiplied due to winter storms in the Gulf of Alaska.

The birds have fast-acting metabolism meaning that they have to eat a lot of to maintain their body mass. This also leads the birds to drop to the critical threshold for starvation in only just three days. The favorite prey of the seabirds includes small fish like pollock, capelin, which are also used in the fast-food industry in fish sandwiches. Their populations were extremely low in number during a survey taken in the summer of 2015.

As a result of the depleting food source, around 52,000 common murres were found dead throughout the West Coast, with 46,000 just in Alaska alone. To make matters worse, scientists believe that this number of deaths represent only a small fraction of the casualties, most of which never reached the shore. Some scientists estimate that around 500,000 common murres died in that period. The birds likely died from excruciating deaths, either starvation or drowning.

What do you think about this situation? Should we take more drastic action against climate change to prevent other similar situations?

Image source: Wikimedia

Google Maps Adds Traffic, Transit and Places Tabs

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Google Maps tabs

Google Maps has new places, transit, traffic information tabs.

Google Maps has received a new update which includes new traffic and transit information spread across three easily accessible tabs, alongside a slew of new features and improvements. This new update only consolidates the status of Google Maps as the best navigation app.

The new update allows the user to easily access, just with a swipe up, some of the most frequently-used information on the app. Swiping up from the home screen provides users with a lot more information regarding the current traffic conditions in their vicinity, as well as schedules of various public transit services. You can also see and find out more about the closest places to drink or eat, pharmacies, ATMs, and other public locations.

Alongside the newly released update for Google Maps, the company also published a blog post explaining that the new features are meant to provide users with helpful everyday information, near their current location.

The new interface can be accessed from the home menu with just a simple swipe up. This will bring up three different tabs for traffic, transit, and places.  The first tab is reserved for showing you all the nearby locations and places such as select restaurants, cafes, bars, and more. All the places are organized under various categories like “cheap eats”, best dinners”, and more. This list of places was developed by Google for over a year and it was first introduced in the Explore section of Google Maps.

The tab also provides important information and a short description of the neighborhood where nearby stores like pharmacies, gas stations, grocery stores, and ATMs are located in.

The second tab provides users with estimated time of arrivals to their destination in real-time, based on the condition of the traffic, as long as you have the addresses saved in the app. The update also adds a feature to alert users about upcoming delays in traffic without providing detailed information about their route.

The last tab coming in the new Google Maps update shows users the best way to reach their destination via public transit. It has the full schedule of transit services, updated in real-time. It also provides an ETA for arrival at your destination.

While most of these features already existed in Google Maps, the new update makes them more accessible.

Image credit: Google

Willis Tower In Chicago Will See A $500M Renewal

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willis tower entrance

Earlier this week, Blackstone announced that it will be investing about $500 million in renovating Chicago’s Willis Tower.

Earlier this week, the Blackstone Group LP announced that it will be investing about $500 million in renovating and updating the iconic Willis Tower in Chicago.

Willis Tower is also known as the Sears Tower. Situated in Chicago, it was once the tallest building in the world. It held the title for almost 25 years. Presently, it is the second-tallest building in the United States. And the 14-th in the world.

The Willis Tower opened in 1973. It is a 1,450-foot tall building. The building has 110 stories. It is one of the most visited local landmarks. Over one million people are estimated to reach its observation deck each year. And now, the building will be going through a renewal.

Presently, the skyscraper is administered by the Blackstone Group LP. On February 01, the company released an announcement. In it, it stated its wish to invest in a renewal of the Sears Tower.

They are planning on investing an estimated $500 million in the skyscraper. Blackstone also offered some renovation details. The Willis Tower will be going through its first major renovation.

It will also be the company’s largest investments in one of its buildings. This is according to Jon Gray. He is the chief real estate officer.

Blackstone is planning on reconfiguring some of the existing spaces. This will target an almost 460,000 square feet area. The space already hosts various services. It includes event spaces and lounges. And even one of the resident fitness centers.

Following the renewal, the Willis Tower will also expand. It will be gaining over 300,000 square feet. These new areas will host different services. A new retail will be added. And also new entertainment and dining areas. These 300,000 square feet will be added at the base of the skyscraper.

The building will also feature a new, 30,000-square feet outdoor garden and deck area. Still, the existing outdoor spaces will not be forgotten. Sears Tower’s Skydeck Chicago will also see some improvements.

This latter is one the tower’s main attraction. It is situated on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower. According to the statement, it receives 1.7 million visitors each year.

A new glass structure will be added to the entry plaza. The project proposes a three-story tall such structure. Beneath it, there will be three underground floors. These will be organized around a new winter garden.

The Willis Tower will go through a quite serious renewal. According to the Blackstone statement, the company is hoping to attract new visitors. And it is also trying to attract new tenants.

Currently, 85 percent of the building is occupied. United Airlines is its largest tenant. The airline company moved in back in 2013.

Blackstone acquired the Willis Tower back in 2015. It offered $1.3 billion for the skyscraper. This was a local record sum paid for an office building. The skyscraper received its current name in 2009. Until then, it was officially called the Sears Tower.

Now, it is called the Willis Tower after the Willis Group. The company has a lease on a part of the tower. The fate of the “Universe” statue is as yet unsure. Designed by Alexander Calder, it does not appear in the presented renovation plan. An official mention as to its fate has yet to be released.

Image Source: Wikimedia

Vespa Creator Launches A Cargo-Carrying Robot Named Gita

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Vespa

Piaggio gave up Vespa to build Gita, a cargo-carrying robot

Piaggio is known for its Vespa motor scooters. Now the company designed a different device that is going to make shopping a lot easier for us. Did you ever buy too many things and couldn’t carry them? Well, you won’t have that problem anymore because of the cargo-carrying robot.

Piaggio just launched a cargo-carrying robot named Gita. You can now buy more stuff because you have something that is going to carry everything. The company reinvented itself and entered another market, that of robots.

They designed Gita in order to make it easier for people to carry everything they want while they are walking or shopping. They believe that they can make people give up their cars and start walking when they are doing grocery shopping. This cargo-carrying robot is a round ball that has wheels.

Gita is designed to follow you anywhere you want it to. It can carry more than 20 kg of grocery while you walk home after doing shopping. The cargo-carrying robot is going to follow you no matter how fast you walk. It can reach a speed of 35 km/h.

The device can carry your supplies in a store or even outdoor. The company that designed Gita mentioned that they are building these devices in order to have a better environment. This is a greener alternative to scooters and cars.

With the help of Gita people won’t need their cars when they go shopping. They can walk while Gita carries the grocery back home. The fact that the robot is small is great because it won’t disturb other people in the shop or outside. This “suitcase” has a diameter of 66cm.

The company announced that they are planning on launching this cargo-carrying robot on Feb 2nd in Boston. The best feature of this robot is that is can work autonomously. Delivery companies can use these devices in order to send items where they want.

This robot can be a great alternative from people who usually buy a lot of things when they go shopping. It can also be a great device for small business. We’ll have to wait and see how it works when Piaggio releases it.

Would you buy this type of device? Do you think that it is useful?

Image source: Wikipedia

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