Imrul Hasan, Author at Revlox

Naegleria fowleri: The Deadly Amoeba Lurking in Tap Water

23Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Earth, Nature

Naegleria fowleri: The Deadly Amoeba Lurking in Tap Water

In recent years, a silent but deadly threat has been making headlines across the United States — Naegleria fowleri, the so-called “brain-eating amoeba.” Once thought to be confined mostly to warm lakes and rivers, this microscopic organism has now been detected in tap water systems in multiple regions. A recent and tragic case in Texas has renewed attention on the risks. A healthy woman lost her life after using tap water in a nasal irrigation device, leading to primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) — an aggressive brain infection that is almost always fatal. The Texas Case: A Tragedy Unfolds The woman used tap water in a nasal irrigation device — a common practice for sinus relief. Within four days, she began experiencing severe neurological symptoms: headaches,...

Coca-Cola and Big Brands Named Top Global Plastic Polluters

21Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Nature

Coca-Cola and Big Brands Named Top Global Plastic Polluters

Plastic pollution has become one of the defining environmental crises of our time. From ocean gyres swirling with debris to microplastics found in human blood, the scale of the problem is staggering. And according to a major new study, the sources of this pollution are far from evenly distributed. Just 56 global brands — led by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria — are responsible for more than half of all branded plastic waste found worldwide. The Numbers Behind the Problem Researchers analyzed branded plastic collected across multiple countries and ecosystems, tracking the waste back to its producers. What they found was startling: Coca-Cola emerged as the single largest contributor, with packaging frequently identified in cleanup efforts across Asia, Africa...

Amy Adams Birthday Tribute: Celebrating Hollywood’s Brightest Star and Her Timeless Career

21Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Hollywood, Movies, Personalities

Amy Adams Birthday Tribute: Celebrating Hollywood’s Brightest Star and Her Timeless Career

Every so often, Hollywood gives us an actor whose range, charisma, and humanity shine so brightly that they redefine what it means to be a star. Amy Adams is one such rare gem. Beloved by fans and critics alike, Adams has built a career spanning two decades, balancing lighthearted musicals with intense dramas, blockbusters with indie treasures, and commercial hits with artistic triumphs. On her birthday, it’s the perfect moment to look back at her life, her rise to fame, and why she remains one of the most respected and adored actresses of our time. Early Life: From Italy to Colorado Amy Lou Adams was born on August 20, 1974, in Vicenza, Italy, where her father was stationed with the U.S. Army. She grew up in a large family, one of seven children, and later moved to Castle Rock,...

Music as Medicine: The Astonishing Effects of Sound on Cancer Cells

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Medical Science, Music

Music as Medicine: The Astonishing Effects of Sound on Cancer Cells

For centuries, music has been recognized as a source of emotional and psychological healing. Now, scientists at the Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, have discovered that music may also have physical healing properties, potentially offering a novel approach to cancer treatment. Led by Dr. Márcia Alves Marques Capella, the research team has been investigating how different musical compositions affect cancerous and healthy cells. Their findings suggest that music might one day play a role in non-invasive cancer therapy, opening up an entirely new frontier in medicine. How Music Affects Cancer Cells: A Groundbreaking Study 1. The Experiment The research team exposed cancer cells and healthy cells to different musical compositions and...

Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker (1979): A Haunting Meditation on Faith, Desire, and the Unknown

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Hollywood, Movies

Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker (1979): A Haunting Meditation on Faith, Desire, and the Unknown

Few films transcend the boundaries of their genre to become philosophical and existential explorations of the human condition. Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker (1979) is one such film—an enigmatic and hypnotic science fiction film that defies the conventions of sci-fi, opting instead for deep, spiritual introspection. Loosely adapted from Arkady and Boris Strugatsky’s novel Roadside Picnic, Stalker transforms a simple premise—a journey into a mysterious forbidden zone—into a profound meditation on human longing, belief, and the unknown. Over four decades since its release, Stalker remains one of the most influential and debated films in cinema history, celebrated for its lyrical cinematography, haunting atmosphere, and deep existential themes. The Plot: A Journey into the Zone Set in...

Felix Baumgartner: The Man Who Fell Faster Than the Speed of Sound

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Weird World

Felix Baumgartner: The Man Who Fell Faster Than the Speed of Sound

On October 14, 2012, Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner did something no human had ever done before—he broke the sound barrier without any aircraft, engine, or external propulsion, using nothing but his body in freefall. Jumping from a balloon capsule 24 miles (120,000 feet) above Earth, he reached 760 mph (1,223 km/h), surpassing the speed of sound. His record-breaking leap, part of the Red Bull Stratos project, was not just a feat of human courage but also a scientific experiment that pushed the limits of physics, aerodynamics, and space exploration. The Jump That Made History Baumgartner’s mission was to simulate a high-altitude emergency bailout—a situation astronauts or pilots might face if they ever had to escape from the edge of space. Dressed in a pressurized spacesuit, he a...

Corsets: From Vintage to Vamp – Embracing the Timeless Allure

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Fashion

Corsets: From Vintage to Vamp – Embracing the Timeless Allure

Few fashion pieces have endured the test of time like the corset. Once synonymous with restrictive Victorian elegance, corsets have transcended their original function to become a symbol of sensuality, strength, and rebellion. Today, they are more versatile than ever, seamlessly blending vintage aesthetics with modern, daring designs. From the cinched waists of Renaissance fashion to the bold, vampy statements of contemporary style icons, corsets have evolved into a fashion powerhouse that defies conventions. Let’s explore the captivating journey of corsets from vintage charm to vampy chic and discover how to wear them with confidence and flair. A Brief History of the Corset The corset’s journey is one of reinvention and rebellion. Originally designed to shape and support the to...

The Woman in the Sign: How a Homeless Stranger Secretly Lived Above a Michigan Grocery Store for a Year

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Crime

The Woman in the Sign: How a Homeless Stranger Secretly Lived Above a Michigan Grocery Store for a Year

In April 2024, an unusual discovery in Midland, Michigan, stunned locals, baffled authorities, and sparked nationwide conversations about homelessness, ingenuity, and survival. When contractors at a Family Fare grocery store climbed onto the roof to investigate a peculiar extension cord, they expected to find maybe a faulty connection or a maintenance oversight. Instead, they stumbled upon a hidden world—a makeshift home tucked inside the store’s illuminated sign. Inside this cramped, elevated space lived a 34-year-old woman who had managed to reside there—undetected—for nearly an entire year. What followed was a wave of shock, fascination, and debate over how someone could live in plain sight yet remain invisible for so long. The Discovery: A Routine Check Turns into a Surreal F...

Science Confirms What Dog Lovers Have Always Known: To Your Dog, You’re Family

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Pets & Animals

Science Confirms What Dog Lovers Have Always Known: To Your Dog, You’re Family

For generations, dog owners have spoken with unwavering conviction about the depth of their pet’s affection. They’ll tell you how their pup greets them with unmatched enthusiasm, senses their moods, and stays loyally by their side through life’s ups and downs. While skeptics have often dismissed this as mere anthropomorphism—projecting human traits onto animals—modern neuroscience has now provided striking evidence: your dog really does love you. A groundbreaking fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) study led by neuroscientist Gregory Berns at Emory University, published in Nature Scientific Reports and reported widely by National Geographic, reveals that when dogs smell their owner, a unique and powerful response is triggered deep within their brain. This response is not just rec...

The Appendix: From “Useless Organ” to Guardian of Gut and Brain Health

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Medical Science

The Appendix: From “Useless Organ” to Guardian of Gut and Brain Health

For more than a century, the appendix was considered nothing more than a medical nuisance. Textbooks described it as a vestigial remnant—an evolutionary leftover from our plant-eating ancestors. Surgeons routinely removed it, often alongside unrelated abdominal procedures, believing it served no function. If it became inflamed, it was immediately cut out, its removal deemed inconsequential. But groundbreaking research out of Duke University and other medical institutions is rewriting that narrative. The appendix is not useless at all. In fact, it may be one of the most underrated organs in the human body, playing a crucial role in immunity, digestion, microbiome health, and even brain function. Far from expendable, the appendix may be a guardian of your gut and an important node in the gu...

How a Fetus Can Heal Its Mother’s Heart: The Astonishing Science of Maternal-Fetal Healing

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Medical Science

How a Fetus Can Heal Its Mother’s Heart: The Astonishing Science of Maternal-Fetal Healing

For centuries, pregnancy has been regarded as one of the most mysterious and miraculous processes of human biology. The idea that two beings can share a body, exchanging nutrients, hormones, and even emotions, has long fascinated scientists and philosophers alike. But modern research is uncovering something even more extraordinary—during times of crisis, a fetus can actually help heal its mother. One of the most remarkable discoveries in this field is that during a heart attack or heart injury, a pregnant woman’s fetus can send stem cells to the damaged area of the mother’s heart, contributing to repair and regeneration. This incredible phenomenon not only deepens our understanding of pregnancy but also highlights the profound biological unity between mother and child. The Discov...

Blue Whales Are Going Silent — A Warning Signal from the Ocean’s Giants

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Nature, Wildlife

Blue Whales Are Going Silent — A Warning Signal from the Ocean’s Giants

For centuries, the hauntingly deep songs of blue whales have echoed across the world’s oceans, traveling hundreds of miles beneath the waves. These powerful vocalizations — some of the loudest sounds produced by any living creature — are more than just acoustic wonders. They are lifelines of communication, enabling whales to find mates, coordinate movements, and navigate vast marine landscapes. But now, scientists are hearing something alarming: the songs of blue whales are growing quieter. According to a new study from Cornell University’s K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, the intensity of blue whale songs has dropped by nearly 40% over recent decades. This decline is more than a curious trend. It may be a warning signal — not o...

Holy Basil and Stress Relief: How This Ancient Adaptogen Rapidly Lowers Cortisol

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Lifestyle, Medical Science

Holy Basil and Stress Relief: How This Ancient Adaptogen Rapidly Lowers Cortisol

Stress has become one of the defining challenges of modern life. Deadlines, high-pressure meetings, digital overload, and emotional strain leave the body stuck in overdrive, often reflected in elevated levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. While long-term lifestyle changes are crucial, what if there were a natural compound that could dial down stress signals within less than an hour? A new study suggests exactly that. Researchers have found that Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum or Tulsi), an adaptogenic herb revered in Ayurvedic medicine, can reduce cortisol levels by up to 36% within 40 minutes of ingestion. This discovery positions Holy Basil as one of the fastest-acting natural stress regulators known today. The Study: A 40-Minute Cortisol Reset In a controlled clinical t...

Nerve Tape®: The FDA-Approved Medical Device Revolutionizing Nerve Repair

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Medical Science

Nerve Tape®: The FDA-Approved Medical Device Revolutionizing Nerve Repair

For decades, repairing severed or damaged nerves has been one of the most challenging tasks in surgery. Peripheral nerve injuries—common in trauma, hand surgery, and reconstructive procedures—can lead to chronic pain, loss of function, and long recovery times. Traditional repair methods, which rely on microsutures, often carry risks of additional tissue damage, misalignment, and scarring that limit full functional recovery. Now, a groundbreaking medical device called Nerve Tape®, developed by the biotech company Axogen, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This breakthrough innovation is set to transform the way surgeons approach nerve repair by eliminating the need for sutures and introducing a faster, less invasive, and potentially more effective solution. ...

Octopuses Are Rewriting Their Own Genetic Code — And It’s Making Them Smarter Than Evolution Intended 🐙🧬

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Nature, Wildlife

Octopuses Are Rewriting Their Own Genetic Code — And It’s Making Them Smarter Than Evolution Intended 🐙🧬

Octopuses have long captivated human imagination. They solve puzzles, escape aquariums, wield tools, and even recognize individual people — feats of intelligence rarely seen outside of primates. But how did these soft-bodied invertebrates, with brains so different from ours, become so astonishingly clever? The answer, it turns out, may be that octopuses are literally reprogramming their own brains in real time. Recent research has revealed that octopuses and their close relatives (squid and cuttlefish, collectively known as coleoid cephalopods) engage in a massive amount of RNA editing — a process by which genetic instructions are rewritten on the fly to produce proteins that aren’t encoded in their DNA. Unlike most animals, which treat RNA editing as a rare glitch-correction system, oct...

China’s New Palm-Scan Payment System: Convenience or a Biometric Privacy Gamble?

18Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Technology

China’s New Palm-Scan Payment System: Convenience or a Biometric Privacy Gamble?

China has once again pushed the boundaries of financial technology. In a move that could redefine how we pay for everyday purchases, the country has launched a palm-scan payment system that allows users to make direct transactions by simply hovering their hand over a scanner. Using the unique vein patterns in a person’s palm, the system eliminates the need for wallets, bank cards, or even smartphones. The innovation promises speed, convenience, and frictionless transactions — but it also raises profound questions about privacy, security, and the implications of embedding biometric data into financial systems. How the Palm-Scan Payment System Works Unlike fingerprint or facial recognition systems, which rely on surface-level features, palm-scan technology maps the internal vein p...

HMS Dreadnought: The Battleship That Changed Naval Warfare Forever

15Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

History

HMS Dreadnought: The Battleship That Changed Naval Warfare Forever

In the early years of the 20th century, the world’s oceans became the stage for one of the most significant technological revolutions in military history. The launch of HMS Dreadnought by Britain’s Royal Navy in 1906 was not just the unveiling of a new battleship — it was the beginning of a new era. This single warship rendered all existing battleships obsolete and triggered an international naval arms race that reshaped geopolitics in the years leading up to World War I. The World Before HMS Dreadnought Before 1906, most major navies followed the "pre-dreadnought" design. These ships featured a mixed-caliber armament: a few large guns for long-range engagements, supported by a variety of smaller guns for medium and short-range combat. Propulsion relied on triple-expansion steam engine...

The 2,000-Year Mystery of Grafton High’s Mummified Head — And the Face It Revealed

15Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

archeology, History, Mystery

The 2,000-Year Mystery of Grafton High’s Mummified Head — And the Face It Revealed

In 1915, something unusual appeared in the quiet town of Grafton, New South Wales, Australia. It wasn’t gold from a prospector’s pan, nor was it some rare colonial relic. It was a human head — mummified, weathered, and shrouded in mystery. Delivered to Grafton High School under circumstances no one could clearly explain, the head spent over a century hidden in plain sight, locked away in a box in the school’s library. The story of this relic — part local legend, part archaeological puzzle — would remain an unsolved curiosity for generations. That is, until 2023, when a surprising investigation finally gave the woman behind the head her voice back. And what emerged from that inquiry was not just a clearer picture of the head’s origins, but an emotional connection to a real person who lived...

The Kraken: Separating Myth from Reality in the Legend of the Deep

15Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Myths

The Kraken: Separating Myth from Reality in the Legend of the Deep

For centuries, the Kraken has loomed large in the imagination of sailors, storytellers, and scientists alike. First described in Scandinavian folklore as a monstrous, squid-like creature capable of destroying ships and dragging sailors to their deaths, this legendary beast has become a maritime icon. Its enormous tentacles, rising from the depths to wrap around vessels, inspired equal parts terror and fascination among those who dared to venture across the world’s oceans. The origins of the Kraken legend can be traced back to at least the 13th century, when Norse sailors began telling tales of a sea monster so vast that it was sometimes mistaken for an island. As these accounts spread, so too did the speculation: Was the Kraken a mythical creation born of superstition, or was it based on ...

The Strange Case of Jeremy Dewitte: America’s Most Notorious Police Impersonator

15Aug

By Imrul HasanNo Comments

Crime

The Strange Case of Jeremy Dewitte: America’s Most Notorious Police Impersonator

In the world of true crime, there are stories about high-stakes heists, unsolved mysteries, and criminal masterminds who evade the law for decades. But then there’s the strange, almost unbelievable case of Jeremy Dewitte — a man whose alleged obsession with pretending to be a police officer has made him one of the most infamous figures in Florida law enforcement circles. In February 2021, Dewitte appeared on the nationally televised Dr. Phil show, insisting that he was not — and had never been — a police impersonator. He even agreed to take a voluntary polygraph test on camera to prove his point. But when the results came in, they were damning: the test suggested that Dewitte was lying. Just a month later, in March 2021, Dewitte was arrested yet again — this time for, you guessed it, imp...