Nora Vastag

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Articles by Nora Vastag

Global Warming is Causing Dengue Cases to Soar

Nora Vastag

Global Warming is Causing Dengue Cases to Soar

Whether it's stress and uncertainty from forced displacements from wildfires, rises in sea level, or fear and hunger from poor nutrition in places where people can’t grow food, climate change is one of Earth’s biggest threats. Recent scientific discoveries show that mosquito-induced Dengue cases are set to double in the next 25 years, especially in warmer areas like the Americas and Asia, and could potentially affect over 250 million people. “It’s evidence that climate change already has become a significant threat to human health and, for dengue in particular, our data suggests the impact could get much worse,” says Dr Erin Mordecai, an infectious disease ecologist at Stanford University.

The Great Hunt

Nora Vastag

The Great Hunt

Imagine hunting a species that is ten meters larger than you. Well, that is what a pod of killer whales are doing in the Gulf of California. Last year, marine biologist, Erick Higuera, and his colleagues researchers uncovered the killer whales to have learned a series of unique skills to hunt down whale sharks, the world's largest fish.

Ancient Writing Discovered in Syria

Nora Vastag

Ancient Writing Discovered in Syria

Imagine writing a gift tag, only for it to be discovered and marvelled at thousands of years later. Recently, at the American Society of Overseas Research meeting held in Boston, archaeologists presented evidence for the world's oldest writing on a clay cylinder found in a 4,400-year-old Syrian tomb. The cylinder, described as an ancient gift tag, bore the word “Silanu,” which researchers speculate could be a name. This discovery was revolutionary as it both showed signs of humans experimenting with communication technologies and also showed a different perspective that the word may be alphabetic letters rather than another type of writing system.

Life on Mars?

Nora Vastag

Life on Mars?

Imagine a secret colony of talking creatures inhabiting Saturn or purple and rose-coloured aliens living on Jupiter. Whether life exists beyond Earth is one of the most intriguing and debated topics in science, and a recent discovery on Mars might answer the debate. A discovery in July of 2024, conducted by NASA scientists, uncovered a vein-filled rock on Mars that featured chemical signatures and structures that could have been formed by microbial life billions of years ago. This discovery suggests that there is a high possibility that life once inhabited Mars.

Cool Water Saving a Wonder of the World?

Nora Vastag

Cool Water Saving a Wonder of the World?

Great Barrier Reef, AUS -- Daddy bear’s porridge was far too hot. Mummy bear's porridge was far too cold. Baby bear’s porridge, however, as just right. This familiar tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears is a parallel to the current problem of Great Barrier reef coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is a significant problem for the great barrier reef; however, researchers have recently discovered cold patches of water that keep some coral reefs not as badly bleached, due to upwelling.

Genetically Engineered Fruits

Nora Vastag

Genetically Engineered Fruits

Genetic Engineering has sparked debates and interests. It has the power to modify the building blocks of life, while also increasing income, agricultural efficiency and potentially even reducing food waste. Technologies for genetically modifying foods offer dramatic responses for meeting some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.