Ryan Jones

Scientists looking for ways to develop stronger construction materials have found inspiration in an unlikely source: a bug. More precisely, a beetle. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, and Purdue University report in a study published in the journal Nature that the diabolical ironclad beetle—its actual name—has a unique…

We’re fortunate in California to avoid the long, harsh winters people in other parts of the country suffer through. Nevertheless, as winter approaches, there are several ways to prepare your home for dropping temperatures that will keep the cold out, the heat in, and lessen the chances of unforeseen problems…

Words with Friends, the wildly popular Scrabble-like online game, has become a haven for fraudsters targeting older women and their bank accounts in the proliferating digital world of romance scamming. Anyone who plays WWF—as is it commonly called—or any other online game should be wary of other players who want…

Chadwick Boseman, a rising star in Hollywood who portrayed Jackie Robinson and James Brown before his breakout performance in “Black Panther,” died August 28 after a four-year battle with colon cancer, shining a light on an illness that kills tens of thousands in the United States every year but is…

Tens of thousands of youth sports leagues across the country have canceled their seasons, leaving millions of kids trying to fill that outdoor-activity void. More young people than ever are hopping on bikes, scooters, and skateboards, and cooling off in a pool or with another water activity. But accidents happen.…

Do you like having some walnuts now and then—a solid, healthy snack? Your car may feel the same way. Up until a few years ago, some manufacturers were making fuel-injected engines that, over time, have a tendency to get gunk buildup on valves, reducing engine performance in several ways: loss…

California’s summer heat is scorching most of the state just as more and more people head outdoors to get relief from pandemic-induced cabin fever. And for those exercising outside even moderately in 90-degree-plus temperatures, staying hydrated is critical—something many people often don’t do. Dehydration can lead to serious complications, including…

Life with a mask doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. And while any mask is better than no mask to help contain the spread of COVID-19, all masks are not created equal. The state’s covid19.ca.gov website puts it bluntly: “When you’re around anyone you don’t live with, you…

Change can be stressful—and there’s been a lot of that lately. The restlessness caused by change can manifest as poor sleep—but there are ways to get back on track. Staying indoors all day may affect your sleep cycle—particularly if you’re working from home for the first time. Getting outside during…

What better way to spend some time at a local park or pond than feeding the ducks some old bread, right? It’s a tradition that goes back generations. Turns out it’s bad for the ducks. Experts say there are several reasons people should not feed bread to ducks or geese.…