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AI-Driven Bullet Vending Machines Launch in Oklahoma & Alabama

July 7, 2024 by Martha A. Lavallie

Image Credit: dropthepress@gmail.com/DepositPhotos

There’s a revolutionary retail platform that has arrived in Oklahoma and Alabama: vending machines that dispense bullets using artificial intelligence (AI). These machines reflect the country’s high gun ownership rates, with nearly half of Americans reporting living in a household with guns.1 Developed by American Rounds, these machines are stationed in supermarkets and leverage cutting-edge technology like AI and facial recognition to guarantee buyers meet the legal age requirements for purchasing ammunition.2 Technology behind the Machines American Rounds’ vending machines use a combination of AI, card scanning, and facial recognition to verify the buyer’s age. The AI system analyzes the …

Study Reveals Arsenic & Lead in Common Tampon Brands

July 7, 2024 by Martha A. Lavallie

Image Credit: Albina_M/Shutterstock

A recent study has found that many popular tampon brands sold in the U.S., U.K. and European Union contain toxic metals like arsenic and lead ¹. The presence of these harmful substances in menstrual products used by millions of people each month is raising serious concerns about potential health risks. What the Researchers Found Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University tested 30 tampons from 14 different brands for the presence of 16 metals, including lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury. The results were concerning: This study marks the first time metal concentrations have been measured in tampons, …

America’s Favorite Pain Relief Drug Linked to Risky Behavior

July 7, 2024 by Nancy Maffia

Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

You’ve probably reached for acetaminophen countless times to relieve a headache or reduce a fever. But did you know this common over-the-counter medication might be influencing your behavior in unexpected ways? Recent research suggests that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol and many other pain relievers, could increase your willingness to take risks. The Study: Acetaminophen & Risk-Taking Researchers at The Ohio State University conducted a series of experiments involving over 500 university students to investigate how acetaminophen affects risk perception and behavior.(ref) Here’s what they found: These findings, published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, suggest that …

Consultants are Charging Up to $10,000 to Help Parents Name Their Babies

July 7, 2024 by Martha A. Lavallie

Image Credit: kryzhov/Shutterstock

Choosing a baby name is no longer a simple task. Instead of flipping through baby name books, parents can now hire baby naming consultants! These professionals research popular names, trends, and offer personalized suggestions for the perfect name. While this service used to be exclusive to the wealthy, it’s now becoming more popular. This shift is driven by parents’ desire to give their children unique and special names. However, this personalized service comes with a price tag, sometimes as high as $10,000.1 Unusual Baby Names: A Growing Trend Influencer Francesca Farago recently shared unconventional baby name options like Heart, Orca, …

Scientists to Pump Carbon Dioxide into Ocean Hole in $60 Million Effort to Tackle Climate Change

July 7, 2024 by Martha A. Lavallie

Illustration: Image Credit: zaferkizilkaya/Shutterstock

Did you know that a major solution to the climate crisis may lie at the bottom of the ocean?1 Across the globe, vast deposits of basalt rock on the seafloor hold the potential to trap and permanently store carbon dioxide, the very gas that researchers say is driving our planet’s warming.2 This natural phenomenon could be a game-changer in our fight against climate change. Turning CO2 into Rock A team of scientists is proposing an innovative project called Solid Carbon, which involves building floating rigs at strategic offshore locations. Unlike traditional offshore rigs that extract oil, these futuristic platforms would …

Finally, Online Passport Renewal is Available— Here’s the Process

July 5, 2024 by Martha A. Lavallie

Image Credit: Jeff McCollough/Shutterstock

Renewing your U.S. passport is about to get a whole lot easier. The U.S. Department of State recently launched a new online renewal program.1 However, before you jump online, there are a few things you should know. The program is still in its beta phase, which means there are some limitations on who can use it and how it works. Who Can Renew Their Passport Online? As of right now, not everyone can renew their passport online. There are a few restrictions to the beta program: When the program rolls out more fully, some of the restrictions above may change, …

Unearthed 1,500-Year-Old Artifact May Hold Clues to the Past: Possibly tied to Moses & Ten Commandments

July 5, 2024 by Martha A. Lavallie

Image Credit: Courtesy of Universität Innsbruck / University of Innsbruck

What untold stories could it reveal about life, faith, and artistry in ancient times? Archaeologists in Austria have unearthed a fascinating 1,500-year-old reliquary, an ornate container designed to hold sacred objects.1 This ancient find offers a glimpse into a world long gone. Marble Shrine & Ivory Box On August 4th, 2022, archaeologists led by Gerald Grabherr unearthed a remarkable artifact within an early Christian church in southern Austria. Concealed beneath an altar in the Burgbichl municipality of Irschen, a marble shrine containing a fragmented ivory pyx, or reliquary, was discovered. This ornately decorated pyx, typically removed when a church is …

FDA Bans Soda Additive Previously Thought to Be Safe, Putting Big Soda on Notice

July 5, 2024 by Nancy Maffia

Image Credit: DuxX73/DepositPhotos

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just dropped a bombshell on the beverage industry, banning a once-common additive called brominated vegetable oil (BVO) due to its toxic effects.1 This decision, long overdue according to many, puts big soda companies on notice and raises questions about the safety of other ingredients we’ve long considered harmless. What is BVO? BVO, simply vegetable oil modified with bromine, has been used in foods since the 1920s. It acts as a stabilizer for fruit flavorings, particularly in citrusy beverages, preventing separation and floating. The FDA’s long-awaited proposed ban on BVO arrived just weeks after …

New Overtime-Pay Rule Brings Pay Increases for Millions of American Workers

July 5, 2024 by Martha A. Lavallie

Image Credit: AndreyPopov/DepositPhotos

New overtime pay regulations, passed by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) under the Fair Labor Standards Act, went into effect on July 1st.1 This significant change aims to extend overtime protections to millions of salaried workers. A Pillar of Fairness for American Workers According to the recent press release, “For more than 80 years, the 40-hour workweek has been a pillar of fairness for American workers,” said Julie Su, acting Labor Secretary. “It’s the promise of going home to loved ones after putting in your time, not endless hours for flat pay.”(ref) The new rule seeks to restore balance …

The Record-Breaking Gold Nugget: Weighing in at 159 Pounds

July 5, 2024 by Martha A. Lavallie

Image Credit: domnitsky/Shutterstock

In the heart of Victoria, Australia, an extraordinary discovery left an indelible mark on gold mining history. On February 5, 1869, Cornish miners John Deason and Richard Oates unearthed the “Welcome Stranger,” the largest gold nugget ever found. Weighing a staggering 159 pounds, this monumental find captured global attention during the peak of the gold rush era. A Treasure Unearthed in Victoria, Australia John Deason discovered the nugget while working near the roots of a tree in Bulldog Gully, Moliagul. At first, Deason thought he had struck a rock, but upon further inspection, he realized it was a massive gold …