Science News
Sorry, tiger: Why we should save weird species first
New Scientist - 17 Jul 2014 21:00
With more than 4000 species on the brink of extinction and limited resources to help them, conservation needs to move beyond the cuteness factor (full text available to subscribers)
80-Meter-Wide Hole Discovered In Icy Northern Siberia
IBTimes - 17 Jul 2014 04:34
A giant hole that was spotted by a helicopter flying over northern Siberia continues to perplex scientists. According to the Siberian Times, the hole is 80 meters (260 feet) wide and has an unknown depth. It is located i...
Photos: The Colorful Life of Flower Hat Jellies
Live Science - 17 Jul 2014 23:45
When it comes to mating in captivity, flower-hat jellies are just as fussy as their appearance. Scientists recently documented the life cycle of the stunning sea creatures.
Malaysia Airlines Disaster: How a Missile Could Take Down a Plane
Live Science - 17 Jul 2014 22:38
A Malaysia Airlines flight en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was downed over a warzone in eastern Ukraine today (July 17). Ukrainian government officials are suggesting a surface-to-air missile may have ...
Adding Energy Drinks to Alcohol Boosts Urge to Drink
Live Science - 17 Jul 2014 22:14
People feel a stronger urge to drink more alcohol when their drink contains an energy drink, along with alcohol, a new study finds.
Bubble wrap used for cheap blood and bacteria tests
New Scientist - 17 Jul 2014 22:14
Cheap, lightweight and sterile, the common packing material can replace pricey chemistry gear when budgets are tight
Sensor-laden smart bandages to monitor vital signs
New Scientist - 17 Jul 2014 22:00
A project called Bioscope is building a type of bandage that senses a hospital patient's heart rate, temperature, internal body noises and physical movement
Students show Wallace and Gromit 'Wrong Trousers' are scientifically possible for a short period of time
Phys.org - 17 Jul 2014 21:40
In the classic 1993 Wallace & Gromit film The Wrong Trousers Gromit receives a pair of ex-NASA robotic Techno Trousers from Wallace for his birthday which allows for its wearer to walk on walls - and physics students fro...
Updated Earthquake Map Shakes Up Risk Zones
Live Science - 17 Jul 2014 21:26
A new report from the USGS reveals the parts of the U.S. that face risk of earthquakes within the next 50 years. Some areas are now thought to be at higher risk for earthquakes than they were previously, while others hav...
Sorry, panda: Why we should save weird species first
New Scientist - 17 Jul 2014 21:00
With more than 4000 species on the brink of extinction and limited resources to help them, conservation needs to move beyond the cuteness factor (full text available to subscribers)
Future electronics may depend on lasers, not quartz
Phys.org - 17 Jul 2014 20:53
(Phys.org) --Nearly all electronics require devices called oscillators that create precise frequencies--frequencies used to keep time in wristwatches or to transmit reliable signals to radios. For nearly 100 years, these...
Physicists Use Computer Models to Reveal Quantum Effects in Biological Oxygen Transport
Phys.org - 17 Jul 2014 20:48
(Phys.org) --Physicists have created a unique combination of computer models, based on the theory of quantum mechanics, and applied them to a previously well characterised protein found in muscle to develop a new picture...
Books out, 3D printers in for reinvented US libraries
New Scientist - 17 Jul 2014 20:30
Across the US, libraries are setting up maker labs as they turn themselves into hubs for high-tech innovation and training
A new stable and cost-cutting type of perovskite solar cell
Phys.org - 17 Jul 2014 20:00
Perovskite solar cells show tremendous promise in propelling solar power into the marketplace. The cells use a hole-transportation layer, which promotes the efficient movement of electrical current after exposure to sunl...
Ultrafast X-ray laser sheds new light on fundamental ultrafast dynamics
Phys.org - 17 Jul 2014 20:00
Ultrafast X-ray laser research led by Kansas State University has provided scientists with a snapshot of a fundamental molecular phenomenon. The finding sheds new light on microscopic electron motion in molecules.
Fix farms in a few countries and feed 3 billion people
New Scientist - 17 Jul 2014 20:00
A handful of countries and crops account for most of our issues with food production – if we sort them out, we could feed far more mouths
What Sort Of Weapon Shot Down Flight MH-17?
Popular Science - 17 Jul 2014 19:43
Slovenian Soldiers With MANPADS These are SA-18 Igla Man Portable Air Defense Systems. MORS, via Wikimedia Commons Earlier today, Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17, flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over ...
Peering into giant planets from in and out of this world
Phys.org - 17 Jul 2014 19:43
Lawrence Livermore scientists for the first time have experimentally re-created the conditions that exist deep inside giant planets, such as Jupiter, Uranus and many of the planets recently discovered outside our solar s...
World's fastest humanoid robot learns sign language
New Scientist - 17 Jul 2014 19:32
The latest evolution on Honda's iconic white android, Asimo, combines athletic running with a delicate and dextrous touch
Is the universe a bubble? Let's check
Phys.org - 17 Jul 2014 19:08
Perimeter Associate Faculty member Matthew Johnson and his colleagues are working to bring the multiverse hypothesis, which to some sounds like a fanciful tale, firmly into the realm of testable science.
Climate Records Shattered in 2013
Live Science - 17 Jul 2014 19:02
The planet shattered several climate records in 2013, from greenhouse gases to roasting Arctic heat to extreme storms, a newly released report on the state of the global climate says.
Plasmon-enhanced Polarization-selective filter
Phys.org - 17 Jul 2014 18:39
As we all know, some optical devices can only work with a certain incident polarization direction. In this case, a polarizer is necessary to shift the polarization direction of linearly polarized light. A common polarize...