Maine has the country’s biggest cholesterol problem, new data analysis finds
WalletHub — the finance website that has become something of a central data cruncher for all sorts of statistics ranking states and cities on things like education and public safety — recently released its breakdown of how states compare in terms of obesity. The increase in obesity among Americans has been well-publicized, of course. As […]
11 animated maps showing how sea level rise could change the shapes of Maine towns
Nonprofit climate news and advocacy group Climate Central has released a series of multi-layered interactive maps designed to illustrate how various levels of sea level rise may affect coastal communities all around the United States. The group’s latest mapping tool, titled “Mapping Choices,” allows you to enter any zip code or U.S. city and compare — side-by-side […]
Interactive map shows where Mainers are getting the most sleep
The Washington Post published an interactive map today based on data findings in a new study on how much Americans are sleeping. Or, perhaps better stated, how much Americans are not sleeping. The map breaks down what percentage of people in each county reports getting insufficient sleep at least 15 of the last 30 days. […]
Two alien planets that are most like Maine
The movie “The Martian” has been critically acclaimed and opened over the weekend to a box-office topping $55 million domestic haul. Movie goers across America have been fascinated by the prospect of an astronaut — played by star Matt Damon — gardening and otherwise hashing out a sustainable life on a foreign planet. But let’s get […]
Wild blueberries help children concentrate in school, new study finds
A team of British researchers found that school children are better able to concentrate and memorize information after having consumed wild blueberries. This news has naturally been well received by wild blueberry harvesters, who can now advertise their crop as a super-student elixir at a time when children are having to overcome more and more […]
Maine still has one of the highest cremation rates in the US. Here’s how it works.
Mainers continue to be among the most likely people in America to choose cremation after death, according to new data released this month by the Cremation Association of North America. The trade group found that in 2014, 71.2 percent of Mainers who died opted to have their bodies cremated instead of buried in a coffin. That’s […]
The science behind Maine’s extreme rainstorm and why we can expect many more like it
Wednesday’s rainstorm dominated Maine headlines, setting a daily rainfall record in Portland with nearly 6 inches of precipitation and pounding Searsport with nearly 10 inches. Resultant flooding across the state of Maine, cutting off roadways and reaching almost as high as the windows of passing cars, was well documented. But for those who are still pumping out their basements […]
‘They don’t head bang past the cage doing the air guitar,’ but great white sharks do love heavy metal, researchers say
Almost every summer, there are a handful of reported great white shark sightings in the Gulf of Maine. And while many of these are later written off by experts as likely cases of mistaken identity — basking sharks can look very similar to great whites to the untrained eye — those same experts agree great whites are almost certainly […]
Should pumpkins join blueberries and potatoes as a signature Maine crop? New fall map tracks the gourds
When most people think of Maine’s signature crops, they think of blueberries and potatoes. The other food items that quickly come up are lobster and maple syrup, although they’re obviously not harvested the same way. But could an argument be made for pumpkins to join that proverbial Mount Rushmore of Maine food staples? The gourds certainly […]