Survival Stuff #2 Archives - Weird News, Santa Fe, NM

Nanotextured coating material shreds viruses on contact

Samples of the antiviral material up close. Image courtesy of the researchers – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2026 Apr 26 – It doesn’t take much to pick up a viral infection in spaces we share with other people – whether it’s from tiny droplets in …

What the Declaration of Independence does – and doesn’t – say about God

A Croome & Brightly engraving shows John Nixon reading the Declaration of Independence after its passage in Philadelphia. From The New York Public Library via Wikimedia Commons – By Thomas Tweed, Professor Emeritus of American Studies and History, University of Notre Dame Published: 2026 …

Boom in cremation hides surprising truths about what Americans really want when they die

A striking 51.7% of Gen Z respondents ranked casket burial as their first choice, compared with just 27.1% of baby boomers. Ashley Cooper/The Image Bank via Getty Images – By Tanya D. Marsh, Professor of Law, Wake Forest University Published: 2026 Apr 24 – …

Asexual Reproduction – Dragons and Lizards

A Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) sticks out his tongue at the Cincinnati Zoo. Photo by Mark Dumont CCA 2.0 – Article by A.I. 2026 Apr 24 – Asexual reproduction is a fascinating biological phenomenon where organisms produce offspring without genetic contribution from a …

Rotavirus cases in children are rising – but a highly effective vaccine has slashed hospitalizations from the virus by 80% in 2 decades

One of rotavirus infection’s main symptoms is diarrhea, which can lead to severe dehydration that needs to be treated in the hospital. hxyume/E+ via Getty Images – By Annette Regan, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles Published: 2026 Apr 22 …

Placebo effect can work as well as real medicine – but your body may need permission to use it

From empty pills to homeopathy to sham surgery, placebos have powerful effects on the body. Irina Marwan/Moment via Getty Images – By Phil Starks, Associate Professor of Biology, Tufts University Published: 2026 Apr 21 – The first time the placebo effect really got …

Intimate partner homicide has clear warning signs – and is often preventable, research shows

Taking away access to firearms is one of the few effective interventions for reducing intimate partner homicide. Nastco/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Kathryn Spearman, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Penn State Published: 2026 Apr 20 – Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax was an accomplished …

Robot smashes human record in half-marathon – as another self-destructs

There was no stopping Lightning – nor the Honor team, which took the top three spots with its humanoid models. Xinhua via China Daily – View 6 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Apr 19 – The era of us laughing at humanoids playing …

Cooler-size survival cube purifies saltwater as well as fresh

This reverse osmosis machine is said to be able to handle both freshwater and saltwater sources. Vital Lyfe – View 4 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2026 Apr 17 – California-based startup Vital Lyfe says its first product, a portable battery-powered filtration system, can …

As renaissance fairs become big business, can they retain their counterculture roots?

King Richard’s Faire in Carver, Mass., was inaugurated in 1982 and is the longest-running renaissance fair in New England. Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images – By Katrina Stack, Ph.D. Candidate in Human Geography, University of Tennessee And by Reagan Yessler, Adjunct Professor …