Last week, Mother Jones published a really fascinating article arguing that the crime wave that swept through America between the 1960s and 1980s can largely be blamed on leaded gasoline — and the subsequent lead poisoning of an entire generation of Americans. For more background on the dangers of leaded gas, I suggest reading this post by Deborah Blum. Essentially, it's an excerpt from her fantastic book, The Poisoner's Handbook. In it, she tells the story of the history of leaded gas — a substance that was known to be dangerous even in the 1920s — and the conspiracy to sweep that danger under the rug.
"Looney gas" and lead poisoning
Study: games and video-watching correlate with kids getting smarter, social media a wash
On the impact of digital media on childhood intelligence, games and watching videos were consistent with cognitive benefits. Socializing digitally, however, had no consistent effect. Here we estimated the effect of each three types of screen time (Watching TV and online videos, Socializing via social media, text, and video chat, and Gaming) on intelligence after… READ THE REST
This may be a piece of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs
Last month, we learned that researchers excavating North Dakota's Tanis fossil site found an incredibly well-preserved leg of a dinosaur. The creature—and others at the site—were likely killed by the impact of the 12 kilometer-wide Chicxulub asteroid that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico 66 million years ago and eradicated 80% of Earth's animals. Turns… READ THE REST
First image of the black hole at the center of our galaxy
The first image of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way was revealed today by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, a team of researchers working with a worldwide array of radio telescopes. The blurry yet impressive image evokes a celestial cheeto. This result provides overwhelming evidence that the object is indeed a… READ THE REST
This powerful electric toothbrush can last up to 28 days on one charge
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Are you searching for a premium toothbrush? Then you might want to upgrade to an electric toothbrush. For one, they're a whole lot better at fighting nasty grime like food particles and… READ THE REST
With a deal on a vaccum like this, spring cleaning can continue right into summer
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. From your roommate that doesn't know how to use a plate to your dog that manages to track every inch of dirt from the backyard every time it comes back in… READ THE REST
Pour Over Gooseneck Coffee Kettle will give you a pep in your morning step
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. We simply cannot function without the roasted nectar of the gods passing our lips first thing in the morning. If you're a pour-over type sipper, you know the true importance of… READ THE REST
