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Ravens can tell if someone is watching even though they don't see them

If you can see a person or an animal, then it is possible to be seen back. It's a basic caveat they train in the military when discussing camouflage. What's more, if you suspect you're being seen, you must minimize your movements. This level of abstraction was thought to be unique to humans. It's been recently shown that ravens too are capable of imagining someone is spying on them and take greater care hiding their food, as reported in Nature Communications.

Forever young: ants don't seem to age

Most people don't have that much of an issue with dying, like they do with being freaking old. Being old is a drag. You gain weight, the skin gets wrinkled, the mind and body weakens -- and it all gets gradually worse until you expire. Ants don't seem to share this human tragedy. By all accounts these particular ants don't seem to age and die in youthful bodies.

Years-worth of smoking pot might make you forget words in middle age

Researchers looked at the long-term exposure of marijuana on cognitive skills. Current users showed poorer cognitive ability across all the mediums the researchers tested. What was interesting is that among those who reported not using marijuana anymore, but used to, there was a pattern that suggested poorer verbal memory, which the ability to remember words. For every five year of cumulative marijuana use (365 days of smoking pot x 5), one in two people on average remembered one word fewer out of a list of fifteen.

Being a morning person might be coded in your genes

Some people have no trouble rising early and being productive, while others are most active during the evenings. This begs the question: are morning persons and night owls set apart by habit or biology? Habits certainly play a leading role, but all things being equal your genes might have a strong word to say in the matter.

Bushmen's poisoned arrows improved hunting but also marked shift in cognition

Augmenting the simple bow and arrow marked a significant shift in human cognitive abilities.

World's largest floating solar farm to be built in Japan

After shutting down its nuclear reactors, Japan needs to look elsewhere to generate energy. Problem is Japan is kinda crowded, so one ingenious company proposed a creative idea: install solar panels on water.

Pheonix exoskeleton wants to make wheelchairs obsolete

"Unless you've been in a wheelchair, it's very difficult to see all the various small details - what a person would actually need within an exoframe," said one Phoenix exoskeleton user. Developed by California robotics startup SuitX, this exoskeleton is the lightest on the market today. It's aim is to eventually become so cheap, durable and practical that it will make the wheelchair obsolete and the lives of millions of paraplegics a lot less daunting.

Artificial trees capture wasted kinetic energy, power sensors

To the romantic eye, a tree swaying in the wind is a testimony of nature's heart beat. An engineer might be moved by the same feeling, but he might also add: "well, that looks like a lot of wasted energy."

How the human brain gets so wrinkled: basic physics

The size of the brain isn't essential to superior cognitive abilities -- its shape and packing mechanism matter a lot, too. But while bran folding function is well established, 'the how' has been more elusive to determine. Now, researchers in the US and Europe claim they know what wrinkles the brain: basic physics.

Young gorillas learn to dismantle poachers' traps

In Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park poachers set thousands of snares to trap wildlife for meat. Inadvertently mountain gorillas -- listed as critically endangered -- get caught in the traps, and the young often die due to wounds or starvation. These sort of scenes are commonly witnessed by trackers working in the area to dismantle the snares, an uphill battle most of the time. What was startling though was a display of ingeniousness few cared to think was possible. Days after a young mountain gorilla was killed by a trap, trackers saw how a pair of four-year old gorillas worked together in coordination to dismantle a trap from the same area.

Fake moon landings would have been uncovered within a few years, same as other conspiracies

Using estimates of how many people are involved in some of the major alleged conspiracies, one scientist modeled how long it would take for them to be revealed to the public.

Our species' journey to 7 billion people, in one map

Some 2,000 years ago, there were only 170 million people in the whole planet. How did we get to 7 billion?

Relative brain size predicts intelligent behavior in carnivores

A general trend was found: those animals with the highest brain/body size ratio were better at solving a problem they had never seen before.

Extreme Antarctic fungi survives in Martian habitat, as well as space

Researchers at European Space Agency (ESA) collected fungi that live in one of the harshest places on Earth -- McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica -- then shipped some to the ISS. Here, populations were subjected to both a Martian environment and directly exposed to space. In both situations, fungi survived after 18 months though those breeding in the Martian environment proved to be far better adapted. Lichen were also tested under the same circumstances. These too survived, which gives hope that there might be a chance for life on Mars to exist.

Babylonians used advanced geometry 1,400 years before Oxford

A German astrophysicist decoded ancient Babylonian tablets stuffed with computations. His analysis reveals that these were used by the ancient scholars to predict where and when Jupiter would show up in the night's sky based on abstract computations so advanced they're indispensable to modern science. It's thought analytical geometry was invented at Oxford in the 14th century, but it seems the Babylonians had it covered more than 1,400 years earlier.

Martian settlers might have serious problems sleeping

Considering how inhospitable Mars is, given there's no air, -55C temperatures, radiation and all, you might think the quality of sleep on Mars is our last concern. A new study suggests that a permanent jet lag on Mars might come with some serious health risks, so maybe we should take this more seriously.

Is pizza really like crack? A rhetorical question for the media

Here we go again. A new study which investigated so-called addictive effects of food got picked up by the media with moronic headlines. The study in question found similar pharmacokinetic properties (e.g. concentrated dose, rapid rate of absorption) between highly processed foods and drug of abuse. The most rewarding food was found to be pizza, but in fact the researchers found cheese is actually the proxy. Apparently, cheese contains a concentrated amount of a protein known to bind to opiate receptors in the brain. Unsurprisingly, here are some of the headlines we've seen since: "Cheese really is like crack: Study reveals the food triggers the same part of the brain as drugs" (Daily Mail) or "Cheese really is crack. Study reveals cheese is as addictive as drugs" (LA Times). It goes without saying that cheese is not crack, and such headlines could be actually demeaning to crack addicts.

World's primary energy source will be renewable energy by 2030

Right now coal accounts for 39% of all the world's generated electricity, with gas coming in second but still trailing behind at 22%. King coal is dying though, as ZME Science reported earlier. In less than 15 years, the International Energy Agency estimates renewable energy will become the dominant energy source in the world. Moreover, these estimates are conservative since the report assumes many coal plants will still be online in 2030, which is unlikely.

Oddly enough, phytoplankton thrive above natural oil seeps

Marine biologists study microbes in the waters above natural oil seeps in the Gulf of Mexico stumbled upon something unexpected. They found phytoplankton, tiny organisms that comprise the bottom of the marine food chain, thrive in waters with low concentration oil. In some cases, the population is double that a couple miles off the oil seep sites.

Lonely planet is actually part of the largest planetary system in the Milky Way

Astronomers find the parent of an orphan planet. The finding makes the solar system the biggest in the galaxy.

Clay used by the First Nations people destroys fatal drug-resistant pathogens

A team at University of British Columbia claims that a type of clay found northwest of Vancouver is effective against a dangerous class of drug-resistant bacteria. The clay investigated by the Canadian researchers destroyed the ESKAPE germs, in some instances in less than 5 hours. Furthermore, the clay is completely natural and no toxic side-effects have been reported thus far.

Cheap water filter is fantastically efficient: absorbs heavy toxic metals and can recover gold

Water pollution is a big issue, and so far there isn't one single system capable of reliably filtering toxic heavy metals. These are either too small, or selectively filter certain metals when polluted water often contains a mix. Researchers at ETH Zurich claim they've hit a breakthrough. Using cheap, readily available materials they designed a filter that can retain over 99% concentration of mercury, gold cyanide or toxic potassium, to name a few. It can also absorb radioactive waste and help recycle gold.

The Human Library lets you check out people, not books

'Don't judge a book by its cover' right about sums up the Human Library Project. The concept is simple, but very powerful: instead of checking out books, you sit with a random stranger for half an hour and listen to his life story. Titles include Child Of The Holocaust Survivors, The Gypsy Tale, Iraq War Veteran, or Orphanage Boy. Just like a book, you'll be exposed to a unique experience, only you'll also interact with the author, ask questions and learn much more.

If there's anything that marks humanity's brief time on Earth, it's plastic

Before WWII, there weren't that many plastics around. Today, we use so much that we could literally plaster the planet in one giant clingfilm. A paper published in the journal Anthropocene reviews the state of plastic production, use and pollution and concludes that no place on Earth has been spared.

Tesla want to make cars so good you won't ever care about oil prices

In a time when a barrel of oil can cost less than a ... barrel, the EV market suffers. Market leader Tesla Motors saw its shares take a dive this month after it reported sales in the bottom range of its forecast for the 2015 fourth quarter. So, how can Tesla, Nissan or any other player in the EV space right now protect themselves against fluctuating oil prices. When the price is high, the EV market flourishes and, conversely, goes down with oil that sells for pennies. Tesla's boss, Elon Musk, has this covered: he wants to make electric cars that are so exceptional that you won't care anymore about how much a full tank costs.

Scientists try to replicate findings that dispute climate change: they fail

When the researchers analyzed some of the most cited contrarian climate change papers -- by other scientists or in the media -- they found these were riddled with methodological errors and not one one of them stood to scrutiny.

Acoustic tweezers levitate single cells using sound waves

Researchers found a way to manipulate single cells in three dimensions using sound waves. They devised acoustic tweezers that can position minute particles or cells anywhere within the fluid enclosure without touching, altering, deforming or labeling the particles in any way. The resolution or accuracy is between 1-2 micrometers. Work like this might enable us to design tissue implants which faithfully mimic the human tissues or organs destined to be replaced. Other methods, like 3D biological printing, alter or even destroy cells keeping them from functioning the way they ought to.

30 days past Christmas: surprisingly, retailers sell more with longer return policies

Oddly enough, one study found being more lenient with return deadlines actually reduced returns, not increased them. With this in mind, 90 days returns might be a lot more productive for retailers than the standard 30 or 60 most use.

Where elements come from: this periodic table explains it all

An altered periodic table that shows how each elements was forged.

Desert beetles inspire aircraft design that doesn't freeze

The Namib Desert Beetle lives in one of the most inhospitable and driest places on Earth, in the southwest coast of Africa. The beetle, however, employs a nifty trick: it can virtually make water out of thin air, thanks to its body whose geometry collects water droplets and directs them right into the insect's mouth. Now, engineers have adapted this design to keep ice bridges from forming and keep critical aircraft components freeze-free.

Are some people pro-social because they don't know how to selfishly help themselves?

A new study by Oxford researchers suggests that we all would like to maximize our profits, it's just that some simply don't understand the rules of the game. In other words, they act altruistic because they don't know how to be selfish, which in effect doesn't make them altruistic at all.

Brain's memory may be 10 times larger than previously thought

A groundbreaking research out of the Salk Institute suggests synapses are 10 times bigger in the hippocampus. Conversely, this means the memory capacity is 10 times larger than previously thought, given synapse size is directly related to memory. Moreover, the team found these synapses adjust in size constantly. Ever 20 minutes, synapses grow bigger or smaller adjusting themselves for optimal neural connectivity. The clues could prove paramount to developing artificial intelligence or computers that are more akin to the human brain: phenomenal computing power using minimal energy input.

Quantum knots tied for the very first time. Why this is important

Finnish and American scientist made knots out of solitary waves, or knot solitons. This was the first time this was demonstrated possible, though theoretically predicted for decades. These sort of knots are thought to play an important role in the quantum-mechanical foundations of nature, though these have remained elusive in quantum dynamics.

Containing Asia's coasts is out best bet for plastic-free ocean

Plastic bags, bottle caps and plastic fibres are among the myriad of micro plastic debris that wash out into the Pacific Ocean. These get ingested by the marine life like fish, mammals and birds which are dying from choking, intestinal blockage and starvation. Moreover, some are toxic pollutants that are absorbed, transported, and consumed in the food chain eventually reaching humans. The most effective way to contain microplastics is to raise floating nets around Asia's coats, not around the Great Pacific Garbage patch, researchers reckon.

Cosmic particles might finally explain how Egypt's Pyramids were built

Using cutting edge technology, scientists are now surveying the Great Pyramids of Giza to unravel new clues and maybe find hidden chambers.

Largest prime number is 22 million digits long. Good thing computers are around

Computers at the University of Missouri hooked up to a special software that hunts for primes found the largest yet: a behemoth 22 million digits long.

Is snow safe to eat? Not in the city

Why would you eat snow in the first place? Because it's fun and harmless. It's free ice cream. A new study, however, suggests snow isn't as pure as we care to think. Being colder, the temperature gradient leads noxious pollutants expelled from the tails of vehicles to become absorbed by the snow, and in your organism if you decide to eat it. That being said, if you're having fun in the park, it's better not to eat it. We don't know yet how harmful this is, but ingesting benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes mustn't be good.

Why cats love boxes so much

They're basically the opposite of claustrophobic.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is why you'll never be Spiderman

Geckos are the largest animals able to scale walls. They use the same mechanism as spiders and hundreds of other animals able to do so: through tiny hairs on their pads that adhere to surfaces due to molecular force interactions. But why isn't there an animal bigger than the gecko that can cling to windows and walls? For that matter, why isn't there any Spiderman?

Nanoparticles gain the upper hand on antibiotic resistance, kill 92% bacteria

Scientists are experimenting with a novel mechanism that destroys harmful bacteria that uses light-activated nanoparticles. These are called quantum dots and are typically used by the semi-conductor industry, in solar cells and other applications. When specifically tweaked in size and composition, these tiny particles interact with cells and kill over 90% of bacteria.

In 18 years, man-made heat doubled in oceans

After they studied how much man-made heat got sucked by the world's oceans in the past 150 years, researchers found the heat content doubled since 1997. In other words, the oceans absorbed just as much heat in the past 20 years or so as they did in the prior 130 years. There's more bad news. The rate at which oceans soaked the heat rose sharply since the 2000s and hasn't faltered since. This can only mean a re-doubling that comes with unforeseeable consequences in the coming decades.

Paleontologists follow the trail of tyrannosaurs: rare multi-step tracks revealed

When he was only 13 years old, Scott Persons was led to a sandstone slope right next to the Glenrock Paleon Museum, Wyoming. The museum's curator gently brushed away at an intended spot and soon enough three uncanny dinosaur tracks revealed themselves to Persons, who was dumbstruck at the sight. Many years later, Persons -- now a doctoral student in paleontology -- returned to the site, studied it extensively along with colleagues and made a scientific report of the three dinosaur tracks carved in the stone by the eons. As it turns out, these findings belong to a tyrannosaur and are absolutely unique.

The 15 most edited pages on Wikipedia

Wikipedia celebrates 15 years of feeding eager minds with knowledge and helping undergraduates turn reports on time. To mark the occasion, the website was gracious enough to post some interesting stats, among which its most edited entries. Eight years since he left office, George W. Bush tops the list to this day with 45,862 edits since the list was compiled by Wikipeda last week suggesting he's maybe the most controversial public person in recent history.

Medical marijuana halves migraine frequency

Those suffering of migraine headaches reported these occurred less frequently after they were prescribed medical marijuana. The study made by a team at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is the first to show marijuana actually turned down the knob on migraines.

Detachable airplane cabin parachutes passengers to safety: is this a smart design?

Tatarenko Vladimir Nikolaevich, a Russian inventor, has designed an audacious new safety mechanism for airplanes: a detachable passenger and cargo cabin that springs away from the aircraft in case of emergency. Once unhooked, the cabin deploys parachutes that safely touch down the cabin on land or water.

NASA awards ISS cargo duties to a third private corp that uses a mini-shuttle

There's a now a third private space entity that's been screened and granted permission to ferry cargo to and fro the International Space Station. Joining SpaceX and Orbital will be the Sierra Nevada Corp. which plans to use a reusable winged craft that looks like a mini-shuttle. The design allows for a soft landing on a runway, instead of dropping the ocean, that might prove more effective for retrieving sensitive scientific instruments.

Our ancestors probably didn't get more sleep than the average American

Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) surveyed hunter-gather communities in Africa and South America which practice a traditional lifestyle thousands of years old and found they slept an average of six hours and 25 minutes per night.

Who says incandescent bulbs have to waste energy: MIT design is more efficient than LEDs

Though incandescent light bulbs have been used to light homes for more than a hundreds years, and still do so in most of the world, these are ridiculously inefficient. This has prompted many governments to completely phase-them out, among which the E.U., Australia, Canada, Russian, as well as the United States. Their place has been taken over by fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), and the even more efficient LEDs. A team at MIT, however, has a bright idea that might revamp the unfavored bulbs. They've designed a new sort of incandescent bulb that uses a photonic crystal to recycle the waste energy. The resulting bulbs could be more power and light efficient than anything on the market right now.

In 2018 your Tesla could drive itself from L.A. to New York City, says Musk

Elon Musk is a man of bold claims, but he also walks the talk.

This electric generator is only a few atoms thin

Researchers from Columbia Engineering and the Georgia Institute of Technology report the first experimental proof of piezoelectricity and the piezotronic effect in an atomically thin material, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). This makes it the thinnest electrical generator in the world. The resulting generator is optically transparent, extremely light weight, as well as very bendable and stretchable. In the future, such generators could be used to power extremely tiny devices harnessing energy from the environment, be them remote sensors or nanotech that travels through your bloodstream.