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A new study has claimed that clouds are playing a bigger role in the rapid melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the second largest ice sheet in the world. Almost one-third of global the sea level rise has been attributed to this phenomenon.

The latest finding is in sharp contrast to previous studies conducted by scientists wherein they had concluded that clouds may not play that big a role in sea level rise.

Published on January 12, 2016, in Nature Communications, the study was led by the University of Leuven in Belgium.

Air Force is expecting several rockets from diverse groups to be launched in 2016 from the more launch pads and even a runway compared to 2015. The Space Coast is likely to witness nearly 30 such launches. It will also welcome some space vehicles, including a classified military mini-shuttle’s touchdown, which will be the first for Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Also, in line are attempts by SpaceX to land more Falcon rocket stages, after it successfully landed its first booster on December 21, 2015.

Scientists at the Stanford University have revealed a new technique that will be able to avoid explosion incidents in lithium-ion batteries. The technique is capable of shutting off the battery if it reaches a certain temperature level and resumes operations once the temperature falls.

The solution that scientists have found is the use of polyethylene film. This new technique will eventually hap in limiting the number of recalls that take place due to the fire accidents in battery-powered devices like recliners, computers, navigation systems and hoverboards.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suggested that though in the United States most middle and high school students have never smoked tobacco nearly 50% of this group of never-smokers has exposure to secondhand smoke.

The findings belonged to the 2013 CDC National Youth Tobacco Survey, which included over 18,000 adolescents from grades 6 to 12 in public and private schools countrywide.

The students were asked to fill written questionnaires regarding whether they have used tobacco products such as pipes, hookahs, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco.

Experts reported that after crossing from Latin America, Zika virus has now reached Texas. It is a mosquito-borne infection believed to result into microcephaly in little ones delivered by infected mothers.

Investigations by Harris County, Texas, health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed the Zika case in a traveler recently returned from El Salvador. The case will probably result in major fresh surveillance and vector-control initiatives.

In a small Indiana community, two out of every five residents are considered highly vulnerable to HIV infection. Now, the community has reached out to BC experts in hope of help.

Austin, Ind. has faced an unprecedented outbreak of the disease. Diane Janowicz, assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine said that it has a population of 4,200, out of which 10% are presently injecting prescription opioid drugs every day. Around 184 new HIV infections have been identified since last year.

Dr. Janowicz said that 39% of the population has been identified as high risk, which is an extremely high prevalence in comparison to other parts in the US.