Cell Phones and Brain Tumors, Are they related?

Cell phones have been a vital part in society for many years. It allows communication to be much easier and sharing information also easier. However, scientists have suggested that cell phones can cause brain tumors because of the radiation coming out of the speakers. Cell phones use non-ionizing radiation while X-rays are more dependent on harmful radiation. Even though cell phones don't have that much radiation, it can still be harmful for your future.

Even though there aren't many justifications to support this claim, there is one that stands out. In 2010, a medical survey took a poll on a region's brain tumor history. Scandinavia has had a major increase in brain tumors since 2000. Why is this so? Scientists state that this could be because Scandinavians were exposed to cell phones in the early 1990's, and it was the first region in the world to see the cell phones similar to the ones today. Why is this important? Well, scientists say that it would take normally 10-15 years for the effect of radiation from cell phones to start. For Scandinavians, that is just around the time that they started to use cell phones. Thus, this theory grew more popular when logic was used to conclude that cell phones could relate to brain tumors in several years.

Sanjay Gupta, a world renowned medical correspondent for CNN, states that using an earpiece could be good substitute. He says that not only it can help prevent exposure to radiation to the brain, it is also mandatory when driving in a car in several states. Texting and emailing are viable substitutes as well. He also states that even if you use a cell phone, you shouldn't hold it right against your head. You should hold from 5/8 in. to a full inch away from your head. This voluntary option can even be recommended by most major cell phone companies.

People may just roll their eyes and say that it isn't possible that cell phones can cause brain tumors. Yet, it is clearly possible. Radiation can cause cancer, and cell phones use radiation.Nonetheless, cell phones can cause cancer. A cell phone does have major perks obviously, yet there are also downsides. So just be careful when you use when, that can be the best prevention of all.

Should the last smallpox virus be destroyed?

Smallpox has been one of the most dangerous and lethal infectious diseases in the history of mankind. Now, scientists have the opportunity to destroy the virus once and for all. In 1980, the WHO (World Health Organization) eradicated smallpox and thirty years later, there are only two locations where it can be found. One is at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. Another is in a remote Siberian town in Russia.

Some people who witnessed the disease firsthand have a whole perspective view on the situation. They fully believe that Variola, the virus that causes smallpox, should be destroyed. Yet, in 1993, Russian officials argued the fact that there might be a hidden stock of the virus somewhere in the world. They might unleash it for the use of bioterrorism, which can be devastating for the human race. If the virus were to be destroyed, then it would be nearly impossible to find a vaccination that would work. On the other hand, if the virus were completely destroyed, then it would be the end of one of the worst human calamities in history.

In addition, there is also the possibility that someone could bio-engineer a virus. With the advanced use of technology these days, it is possible that one day smallpox could be made superficially. Dr. Inger Damon, a scientist at the Poxvirus and Rabies branch at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is one of the few people in the world who have access to the lethal virus. She states that valuable research could be learned from the virus, such as future prevention and maybe research for a future disease similar to smallpox.

Without a doubt, the WHO should keep these viruses for several reasons. First, someone can launch a bioterrorist campaign spreading out the smallpox virus. It would be much easier to make a vaccine that can handle the matter easily. Also, future research can be possible from the virus. Even though this virus has caused many problems in the past, we should clearly keep the virus because of the above reasons.