News Archive

What’s the difference between a spicy meal and being tickled? Not much, from your lips’ perspective. A new study reports that Szechuan pepper activates the same nerves that respond to a light physical touch. A National Geographic article by Amanda Fiegl, dated September 10, 2013 and titled “How Spice Tickles Your Lips,” discusses how a compound in Szechuan pepper activates the same nerves as a light touch:...

“Hydraulic fracturing in the United States began in 1949. According to the US Department of Energy, as of 2013 at least two million oil and gas wells in the US have been hydraulically fractured, and currently about 95% of completed oil and gas wells in the US are being hydraulically fractured. Hydraulically fractured wells make up 43% of the oil and 67% of the current natural gas production in the United States. Environmental...

In a University of Houston news release by Lisa Merkl, a UH researcher says that a massive underwater shield volcano rivals the largest in the solar system. The article, posted September 5, 2013 and titled “Scientists confirm existence of largest single volcano on earth,” goes on to state: A University of Houston (UH) professor led a team of scientists to uncover the largest single volcano yet documented on Earth. Covering...