BBC: Bright city lights exacerbate air pollution, according to a study by US scientists. Their research indicates that the glare thrown up into the sky interferes with chemical reactions. These reactions would normally help clean the air during the night of the fumes emitted by motor cars and factories during the day. The study was… Read More

(CNN) — More cell phones have more features and capabilities than ever — but often the tradeoff is shorter battery life. This is especially true of smartphones. I know many, many users of all kinds of smartphones, and it’s rare that they get a full day of use out of a full charge. So it’s… Read More

Coffee contains a complex mixture of chemical compounds. Some components, particularly those related to the aroma, are produced during roasting of the green beans. The substances which during “brewing” dissolve in water to form the beverage are classified as nonvolatile taste components (including caffeine, trigonelline, chlorogenic acid, phenolic acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, and minerals) and… Read More

The majority of spiders found in the US are harmless. The two most common exceptions are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider, which are both dangerous to humans. The black widow and brown recluse spiders are more common in the southern states of the US and prefer warm, dry climates as well… Read More