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New study shows that e-cigarettes may damage DNA
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied HealthcareThe attractions and availability of electronic cigarettes have long been known to influence adolescents and teenagers to take up vaping and smoking. Along with an increase in use comes an increased risk of harm to health. A recent study has identified an additional, previously unidentified, threat to health with the use of electronic cigarettes. The study found that the use of electronic cigarettes and inhaling the vapors alters saliva DNA.
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New approach to mapping tuberculosis paves way for new treatments
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareMore than 10 million people worldwide became infected with tuberculosis (TB) in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and there were 1.7 million deaths associated with TB that year. Despite the significant effect TB has on human health, researchers know relatively little about the transmission and pathogenesis of tuberculosis. A group of researchers recently provided a new look at an old adversary. The team discovered interactions between tuberculosis and human proteins that could someday help in the development of new approaches to combating TB infection.
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IoT implementation sails into wind power
Joseph Zulick EngineeringA wind energy structure in the North Sea lost its main turbine housing earlier this year, prompting engineers to determine that all 206 units of this size in the sea might need to be examined and refitted. The North Sea is the most violent wind and current area to have giant turbine farms in trouble like this, but other regions are having maintenance problems as well. The role of predictive maintenance in design engineering for these giant pieces of infrastructure jumps up the importance ladder every time a customer adds megawatts to the overall scheme.
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Detecting kidney cancer with a blood test
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareOne of every four deaths in the United States is due to cancer. Kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. It is commonly a disease of older people, as the average age of diagnosis is 64 years. Importantly, kidney cancer has the potential for cure with surgery when diagnosed at an early stage. Recently, scientists have discovered a marker in the blood that could help predict a person’s risk of kidney cancer.
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Colorado gets its first spaceport
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveA seven-year wait has paid off for a general aviation airport near Denver, as it has received approval to become only the 11th commercial spaceport in the country. However, not all parties are as pleased with the news and its potential impact. Front Range Airport, less than 8 miles from Denver International Airport, is a two-runway general aviation field with no airline service but a number of based aircraft and private operators. The airport has now been renamed Colorado Air and Space Port following approval by the Federal Aviation Administration, which spent 180 days reviewing the application.
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8 great American air and space museums
Dave G. Houser Recreation & LeisureAs the very birthplace of flight — and as the world leader in aviation development and space exploration — the United States is quite naturally home to the world’s biggest and best aviation and aerospace museums. These museums showcase everything from the Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer to NASA’s recently retired space shuttles. Those famous shuttles — Atlantis, Discovery, Endeavour and Enterprise — are on display, or soon will be, at museums across the country. Read on to learn more about eight of America’s finest aviation and aerospace museums.
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Study: Human waste could be resource-rich fertilizer for global agriculture
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalWell, if this isn’t a load of … then nothing is. But, that’s what we’re talking about: human waste. While the subject is often taboo, human waste actually is full of nutrients that can be recycled into products to promote agricultural sustainability and better economic independence for some developing countries. Used properly, our own waste may be nothing more than the animal manure that makes the foods we grow so abundant, and our gardens so strong and attractive.
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Marijuana breathalyzer technology remains elusive, despite progress
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityCurrently, there are no roadside breath tests when marijuana-influenced driving impairment is suspected. Canada recently approved use of a roadside test using saliva, but a sensitive test using breath has yet to be available. Dr. Tara Lovestead, a research chemical engineer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S., described one of the problems with this goal, "Picture cutting a raisin into a trillion parts and trying to detect one of them."
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Infographic: How do Americans feel about online privacy?
John Mason Science & TechnologyIt appears that the majority of Americans fear attacks by hackers, while 26 percent are worried about the collection of their data from major corporations. Another underlying fear of many Americans is a general mistrust in key institutions to protect their data. Due to the deluge of data breaches in 2017 and 2018, people feel as if it’s only a matter of time before their data is exposed to cyberattackers. However valid those fears may be, Americans still take no precautionary steps to protect their data, which begs the question: What will it take for Americans to prioritize internet security?
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Opportunity alert: GSA CAMEO Recompete
Lisa Pafe Civil & GovernmentGet ready for the General Services Administration’s (GSA) CIO Application Maintenance, Enhancements, and Operations (CAMEO) Recompete effort. GSA held an Industry Day Aug. 7 to introduce the procurement, which as they reiterated, is early in the process and industry feedback is welcome. The program is generating a lot of attention, with more than 230 companies attending Industry Day.
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