Author: James Dorman

Increasingly, industries are looking at different, greener alternatives to traditional methods of generating energy. Wind turbines are one such green energy innovation. Now the landscape of wind turbine tech in the U.S. could be changing, quite literally. New turbines being tested may be virtually unrecognizable to some, but they potentially have major advantages. Traditional Turbines Source: Phiteros/Wikimedia Commons If you think of wind turbines, a very clear image probably pops into your head — large structures with long arms sticking out to the side resembling a windmill or a large propellor. These large turbines are useful for generating electricity as…

Scientists have been able to create fairly complete pictures of the evolutionary origins of many species, but doing so tends to depend on having a number of well-preserved fossils. Without these fossils, there can be huge gaps in our evolutionary understanding. This was the case with our scientific understanding of prehistoric snakes, but an incredible new fossil discovery in Wyoming may now give incredible insight into the elusive history of ancient snakes. The White River Formation Source: James St. John/Wikimedia Commons Fossilized snake remains were found in the White River Formation, a layer of rock that was deposited in the…

The mysterious Stone Circle at Stonehenge has stood for thousands of years, fascinating and puzzling those who visit it and those who research it in equal measure. Just when scientists believed they had solved one mystery — the location of where most of the stones came from — new research completely upended previous understanding and created a whole new host of questions. Each Stone Has Its Own Story Source: Stefan Kuhn/Wikimedia Commons The Stone Circle at Stonehenge has stood since the Neolithic era of around 2500 BC. Roughly 80-plus stones still stand on the site, each with its own characteristics,…

The year is 1982. A new road is being constructed, and during its construction, a backhoe operator has just unearthed a miraculous, macabre discovery. Though he doesn’t know it yet. He sees the first indication of what he’s dredged up — what he thinks is a small, pale rock. Picking it up, he discovers it is in fact a human skull. So begins decades of investigation of one of the most remarkable archaeological projects of the late 20th century. The Windover Bog Discovery Source: ROY KLOTZ MD/Wikimedia Commons Further investigation into the area revealed that this construction worker had dug…

Hundreds of thousands of patients, typically older patients, may face a big change in their health insurance heading into next year. As associated medical costs increase, private Medicare Advantage providers are being forced to reassess the profitability of providing Medicare Advantage plans. This includes Humana, the second-largest Medicare Advantage insurer. Medicare Advantage Source: Wikimedia Commons Medicare Advantage (also known as Medicare Part C) is a health plan offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. While they don’t have to strictly cover every single benefit covered by Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage plans do need to provide coverage that meets…

Part of the attraction of superstores like Walmart, and why such brick-and-mortar stores continue to enjoy success in the age of online shopping, is the fact they provide a complete, varied retail experience.  For years, this has included in-store fast food outlets like McDonald’s, Taco Bell and all the usual suspects. Expect to see a few new names too as Walmart refreshes its food offerings. Staying Relevant in the Modern Age Source: Timothy Holdiness/Wikimedia Commons A narrative that has affected many traditional retailers has been the change in consumer habits to favor online marketplaces and ditch traditional physical retailers. It’s…

The American school system is facing a crisis. Chronic absenteeism among students is a challenge being faced by educators in virtually every state. The problem is particularly intense in California. It’s a difficult issue to tackle as the reasons behind it are so multifaceted. California educators are trying a range of approaches, including financial incentives. AWOL Students Source: Nico Smit/Unsplash The COVID-19 pandemic completely upended American schooling. We may be a few years removed from the height of the pandemic, but schools are still feeling its impact. According to data collected by the Associated Press and Stanford University economist Thomas…

Physical traits can indicate if people are closely related. Look at siblings, and you’ll see similar characteristics in their features — possibly features they’ve inherited from their parents. Maybe they have their “mother’s eyes.” Our understanding of genetics has improved our understanding of relatedness. A new study suggests that all people who have blue eyes may be very closely genetically related. New Research Source: Sangharsh Lohakare/Unsplash Research conducted by the University of Copenhagen delves into the origin of blue eyes in humans by examining the genetic underpinning of eye color. Professor Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular…

Archaeologists and researchers often search far and wide for hidden treasures from our past. These treasures may be buried beneath centuries or even millennia of human development and need to be literally unearthed. A recent Christian artifact, one of the most significant finds of modern times, is particularly remarkable for one peculiar reason — it had been hiding in plain sight for centuries. A Pivotal Point in Christian History Source: Wikimedia Commons July 15, 1149 is one of the most important dates in the modern history of the Christian faith. It marked exactly 50 years since European Crusaders had conquered…

Just a few years ago, Finland enjoyed a unique and enviable link with China in terms of tourism and, most crucially, trade. The European geopolitical upheaval of the last few years brought about by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has significantly impacted this once-growing trade relationship between China and Finland. Finland Affected By Russian Sanctions Source: Wikimedia Commons There was a time when Finland enjoyed a thriving trade route with China, thanks in part to its physical proximity to Russia. All this changed in the aftermath of the Ukraine war starting. Trade and travel links between Russia and Finland…