S. Nicole Lane

In skijoring, competitors ski or snowboard while being pulled by horses at full gallop. It’s dizzying and dangerous – but for these athletes, it’s not their first rodeo
At first, the crowd seems incompatible. It’s as if someone took a wrong turn. Cowboy hats and helmets, saddles and ski boots, belt buckles and snowsuits – those two types of gear aren’t usually cut from the same cloth. But this weekend in the midwest, at this year’s Extreme Skijoring event, they go together like “Minnesota” an...

Some may argue that the entire 18-mile-long paved lakefront trail is the prime rollerblading spot. And sure, they may be right. However, everyone has to admit that the lakefront gets busy—and rightfully so—with hordes of tourists, bikers, or beachgoers blocking the path for smooth riding.
But there’s an area along the lakefront that doesn’t require too much swerving, dodging, or craning to see past blocked views. You can cruise the path for the entire track of Jamila Woods’s “LSD” without hit...

Researchers may have found a way to slow down ovarian aging by using a cheap immunosuppressant typically used to treat tumors and kidney transplant patients.
A new small study conducted at Columbia University, co-led by Professor Yousin Suh and Associate Professor Zev Williams, found that the drug extended fertility, delayed menopause, and improved women’s risks of age-related diseases. As a result, the drug could decrease ovary aging by 20%.
The findings are exciting for many, as ...

It may sound like something from a horror film, but yes, oral health problems during pregnancy are one of many struggles women experience. And unfortunately, loose teeth are one of the alarming side effects that come along with motherhood.
So, why do women experience loose teeth during pregnancy, and can it lead to further issues?
According to the March of Dimes, an increase in hormone levels leads to an increase in acidity in the mouth. High levels of progesterone and estrogen, tw...

Microplastics are virtually everywhere – in our drinking water, on our household products, and even in our brains. With the popular saying that “best is breast,” it’s understandable that moms-to-be are concerned about the transmission of microplastics via breast milk.
Microplastics were named by Richard Thompson, a biologist who participated in a beach clean-up in 1993. After large plastics break down, they become smaller and more minute, resulting in microplastics. Since plastic never breaks...

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder and is a chronic hormonal condition that is caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones, and there are a variety of factors behind why women with PCOS may feel depressed.
Insulin Resistance
On a clinical level, insulin resistance could be one reason. Approximately 70% of women with PCOS are insulin-resistant. Elevated blood sugars and insulin resistance are tied to depression, however, scientists aren’t entirely sure why.
A 2...

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder and is a chronic hormonal condition that is caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones, and there are a variety of factors behind why women with PCOS may feel depressed.
Insulin Resistance
On a clinical level, insulin resistance could be one reason. Approximately 70% of women with PCOS are insulin-resistant. Elevated blood sugars and insulin resistance are tied to depression, however, scientists aren’t entirely sure why.
A 2...

Don’t be fooled by the kissing ovaries’ sweet name. The condition is anything but kind, as it refers to a sign of moderate to severe deep pelvic endometriosis. Kissing ovaries are close in proximity, often touching or “kissing,” due to adhesions.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, endometriosis impacts 10% of women of reproductive age, but that number may be higher due to misdiagnosis. Symptoms of endometriosis include severe pelvic pain, painful sex, painful periods...

It resulted in 69,000 gallons of crude oil spilling onto the ground in Jefferson County, the largest oil spill in Wisconsin history. Yet the public was not informed of the size of the spill until a month later, on December 13.
Under Wisconsin law, entities that cause environmental contamination are responsible for reporting and remediating the damage.
Enbridge spokesperson Julie Kellner says, “Enbridge immediately reported the release to state and federal regulators and the National Response ...

In the 1920s, jazz kissa, or listening bars, began popping up in Japan, and by the 1950s, they had become quite popular in the country. Kissa embraced the concept known commonly as hi-fi in the United States: to immerse oneself in music and truly listen to sound. At listening bars, music is typically played on vinyl and high-quality sound equipment, while the venues themselves are small and intimate with low lighting. These aren’t bars for talking, just listening.
There aren’t many listening ...

Right now, somewhere out there, a data center is working just for you.
Anything that flows through your laptop, tablet, or smartphone is driven in part by one of these massive computing and storage facilities. Data centers—on average 100,000 square feet in size—house, process, and distribute digital information 24 hours a day.
Chicagoland’s ample land, water, and money make the area a mecca for the booming data center industry. According to a June report from real estate and investment firm C...

COVERT, Michigan — The Palisades Nuclear Generating Station, long synonymous with safety lapses and regulatory oversight, is poised for an unprecedented comeback under Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s plan to reopen the shuttered plant by 2025 — the first attempt of its kind in U.S. history.
However, in this robust agricultural region, there are fears about how reopening a problematic plant could impact area farmers and the food they produce.
Approximately 6,362 farms are within 50 miles of P...

“The truth is you’re a god, a miracle. People daydream of a big woman, a strong woman. They daydream of someone with a deep voice and a loud laugh,” writes Vera Blossom in “Remember You’re a God,” the opening piece of her debut book How to Fuck Like a Girl.
How to Fuck Like a Girl by Vera Blossom
Dopamine, paperback, 168 pp., $17.95, mitpress.mit.edu/9781635902273/how-to-fuck-like-a-girl
Blossom’s writing about raunchy bathroom sex, Craigslist meetups, and yearning for more, more, more keeps ...

Vaginal dilators come in many shapes, sizes, and even colors. They resemble a phallic-like shape, sort of like a tampon, and can come in plastic or silicone. They vary in length and thickness and are used to stretch your vaginal tissue. If you have pain during sex, pelvic floor dysfunction, menopause, or have had a gender-affirming surgery, dilators may be recommended.
What Is the Purpose of Dilators?
Dilators work to gradually make the vagina more flexible, strengthening the pelvic muscles t...

Ovarian reserve refers to the amount of eggs a woman has. Most women are born with about 2 million eggs (a newborn baby has even more – 20 million), and this reserve diminishes with time. A more rapid decline of eggs begins around age 37.
Research shows that one-third of couples have issues getting pregnant if a woman is over the age of 35., and getting your ovarian reserve checked could help you evaluate your fertility and plan for immediate or future pregnancies.
How To Test Your...