The current outbreak of Ebola virus disease has been all over the news lately, and of course, many rumors and much misinformation has been spread. Here are ten questions regarding the outbreak that will set the record straight about what is going on in West Africa:

What is Ebola virus disease?

Colossal penguin bones from the extinct species Palaeeudyptes klekowskii have been discovered on an island in the Antarctic Peninsula. According to a new study published in Comptes Rendus Palevol last week, these newly uncovered bones belonged to a 2-meter-long behemoth, the tallest and heaviest penguin ever described. 

Stem cells are responsible for our bodies developing into all of the different tissues we have today. Typically, they move in one direction - towards differentiation. However, recent research has uncovered that not only can differentiated cells revert back to stem cells in order to perform repairs, but they are found in an unlikely place: nerve cells of teeth. This could provide a source of stem cells to be used for research or the development of therapies without the need for embryonic sources.

Researchers studying 100 pairs of twins have identified a gene mutation that may confer a unique advantage for the carrier: the coveted ability to function normally on less than six hours of sleep a night. The genetic variant also appears to provide resistance to the neurobehavioral effects of sleep deprivation, according to new findings published in the journal Sleep this week. 

There has been a considerable amount of discussion and debate regarding the safety of genetically modified food. Though the topic has been researched over and over again, there isn’t evidence that eating conventional produce will cause disease, despite whatever the scientifically-illiterate Food Babe has to say.