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Researchers have figured out how a commonly used general anesthetic drug induces unconsciousness by causing brain activity to become increasingly unstable. The findings could lead to better anesthetic control in the operating room and treatments for conditions like depression and schizophrenia. · A patient’s level of consciousness is very relevant in healthcare and is sometimes considered a vital sign indicative of a patient’s medical or…

No creature in the history of planet Earth sparks the imagination quite like Tyrannosaurus rex. But how do we separate the movie-monster myth from the actual animal? Victoria the T-rex, a traveling exhibition currently visiting Melbourne Museum in Australia sets the record straight with recent discoveries about what T-rex looked and sounded like, how it sensed the world, and how it hunted. · Discovered in South Dakota, USA, in 2013, Victoria is…

If you find yourself being more impatient than ever before when interacting with people in customer service roles — or if you’ve noticed other people having a shorter fuse and snapping more quickly — you’re not alone. · Recent news stories have shed light on how toxic customers are causing employees to reach their breaking point. The resulting epidemic of “quiet quitting” and resignations is further fuelled by a post-pandemic labour shortage in…

As the world recovers from Friday's massive IT outage, who will pick up the bill for the damage? From airlines to financial services, a huge number of industries were affected. · After the chaos of Friday's global IT outage - without doubt the worst the world has seen - questions are starting to be asked about who, if anyone, will pick up the bill. · Somewhat surprisingly, particularly given its share price has doubled during the year and was…

Using biowaste from cassava plants, scientists have created a coating that virtually eliminates friction in metal parts. The breakthrough has the potential to deliver better fuel economy, extend the lifespan of moving parts, and deliver enormous savings in myriad industries. · For all they can do for us, moving parts inside machinery come with an inherent problem: friction. · According to a research paper just released by scientists from…

People living with diabetes might have a new hope. Scientists have tested a new drug therapy in diabetic mice, and found that it boosted insulin-producing cells by 700% over three months, effectively reversing their disease. · Beta cells in the pancreas have the important job of producing insulin in response to blood sugar levels, but a hallmark of diabetes is that these cells are either destroyed or can’t produce enough insulin. The most…

On June 29, 2014,  Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi stood at the podium of the al-Nuri Mosque, in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. · He spoke to the world, declaring the establishment of the 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' (ISIS), and called for Muslims across the world to escalate a war against what he termed "the enemies of god". · Just weeks before Al-Baghdadi made his declaration, the terror group had taken Mosul when a few hundred ISIS men chased…

The headlines coming out from around the world as some countries grappled with extreme heatwaves  have been alarming. · A weather station in Delhi recorded a temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius, which, if confirmed, would be a national record.  Animals have died, students have fainted at schools and drinking water taps have dried up. A labourer reportedly died of heatstroke on Thursday. · It's not only India. Mexico is in the grip of a heatwave…

Fast Track Approvals Bill & Racism · Martin Luther King made the famous statement:- · “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.” · By and large for many years New Zealand was this type of nation where universal suffrage had given the right to vote to all citizens regardless of gender, colour or creed. · New Zealand…

While fake news is not a new phenomenon, its proliferation today is unprecedented. But disinformation goes beyond the mere fabrication of invented news stories. It often includes genuine material used out of context or manipulated content.  · The pervasiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) has complicated the task of verifying authentic news, contributing to a decline in trust in journalists. · Edelman's 2024 Trust Barometer, a global survey…