ERA

Dec 06 2024HEALTH

Health Insurer Anthem Drops Plan to Limit Anesthesia Payments After Criticism

Health insurance company Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has decided not to go ahead with a policy change that would have put a limit on how much they pay for anesthesia during medical procedures. This change was announced after the company faced weeks of criticism from doctors and healthcare professi

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Dec 06 2024HEALTH

Changing Humidity Levels for Preemies: A Study

Scientists recently studied how quickly lowering humidity in incubators affects tiny, extremely preterm babies. They wanted to see if suddenly stopping or slowly reducing the humidity caused temperature issues, like getting too cold or hot, or problems with their body's salt balance or skin. The stu

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Dec 06 2024ENVIRONMENT

Polar Bear Attack: A Husband’s Bravery and Changing Climates

In the remote community of Fort Severn, a man showed incredible courage when he leaped onto a polar bear to protect his wife. The attack happened early Tuesday morning. The bear was in their driveway and lunged at the woman, causing her to fall. Her husband quickly jumped on the bear to stop it. Sad

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Dec 06 2024SCIENCE

Unlocking Ash Secrets: A Better Way to Measure Metal Levels

Digging into solid waste incineration ash, scientists found that current methods to measure heavy metals and elements like calcium (Ca) and aluminum (Al) weren't cutting it. Why? Because the structure of the ash, especially the silicon dioxide (SiO2), was tough to break down. Using hydrofluoric acid

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Dec 05 2024FINANCE

Bitcoin's Surge: How Jerome Powell's Take on Crypto Matters

You might not expect the Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, to influence bitcoin's value. But during a recent talk with CNBC, Powell’s comments gave bitcoin a boost. He revealed he doesn't own any crypto and noted that the Fed can't control it. But when he compared bitcoin to gold, people took no

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Dec 05 2024HEALTH

Kind and Cruel: Mixing Treatments for HPV-Positive Throat Cancer

Did you know that HPV, the same virus that causes warts, can also lead to throat cancer? Scientists are exploring a new way to treat this kind of cancer, using a mix of methods. One treatment is called TORS, which is like a robot-assisted operation to remove the tumor from the throat. Another is giv

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Dec 05 2024HEALTH

Injectable Treatment for Opioid Addiction: What's Holding Us Back?

Injectable opioid agonist treatment, or iOAT, is a game-changer for people struggling with opioid addiction. It's patient-focused and backed by solid evidence. But there's a catch. We don't know much about what makes iOAT work or what stops it from being successful. This study dives into the challen

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Dec 05 2024HEALTH

Uveal Melanoma: Unveiling New Treatment Hopes with Single-Cell Sequencing

Did you know that uveal melanoma, a rare eye cancer, is actually the most common type of eye cancer? It forms when melanocytes, the cells that give our eyes color, go rogue. Local treatments work well, but the real trouble starts when the cancer spreads. More than half of patients face this scary sc

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Dec 05 2024SCIENCE

Mosquitoes in Germany: Chikungunya Virus Carriers with Limited Movement at Low Temperatures

You might have heard of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV). It's a virus spread by mosquitoes, and its cases have been on the rise globally due to changes in climate and increased travel. One of the mosquitoes that can carry this virus is called Aedes albopictus, and it's not native to places like Centra

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Dec 05 2024WEATHER

Bracing for a Cool Weekend: Columbia's Weather Rollercoaster

Get ready, Columbia! Today is breezy and normal, but a cold front is on its way. Expect a chill tonight, with temperatures dropping to the 20s. Friday will be even colder, with highs in the 40s and lows in the teens. But don't worry, the weekend brings warmer days. Saturday should hit the 50s, and S

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