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Ancient reptiles were warm-blooded beasts, study finds

A surprising study found that a group of ancient lizards called mosasaurs were in fact warm-blooded.

Breaking the Backlash - A take on the social psychology of discrimination

How social psychology explains, and might one day break, the hate wave that's sweeping the world.

Ancient recipes: Pullum Numidicum (Numidian Chicken)

Perhaps one of the most underappreciated aspects of archaeology is cooking. We know surprisingly little about how people used to cook in ancient times, although a few delicious recipes managed to slip through the cracks and remain recorded. Such is the case with Pullum Numidicum (Numidian Chicken), a simple, delicious and authentic Roman recipe. The dish […]

The Pentagon is investing heavily to protect its 'space real estate'

Both civilian and military applications have become heavily reliant on digital communications, which in turn are dependent on space hardware like satellites. If only two decades ago, only the biggest companies or wealthy governments could afford to launch permanent or semi-permanent satellites. Today, satellites are smaller, better and cheaper than they ever were, which is why there are more than 1,100 active satellites orbiting the planet. However, they're as vulnerable as ever, too.

A 15 year old may have discovered a hidden Maya city by studying Maya constellations... or not

A teenager from Quebec might have discovered a hidden Maya city simply by looking at the stars.

'Second skin' hides signs of aging, while also improving skin health

Developed by researchers at MIT for over a decade, the 'second skin' is a transparent, silicone-based polymer that can be layered over the human skin. Flexible and strong, the novel material can return to its original size after being stretched to over 250%, which is actually better than human skin which can only stretch to 180%.

Nestlé wants to sell you diabetes pills alongside sugary snacks

Sweets as we know them wouldn’t exist without Nestle. The company revolutionized how we eat, they made sugar a vital part of any meal and to an extent, they made the world fatter. They sell in 189 out of the 195 sovereign states, they’re Europe’s biggest company and by far the biggest food company. Their […]

Weapons of math destruction: plane delayed because university professor was writing equations

No matter how bad you are at math, you should be able to recognize an equation when you see it, right? Well, that wasn’t the case for a passenger on the plane from Philadelphia to Ontario. This passenger saw a saw a man “suspiciously” writing down a complicated looking formula on a piece of paper and notified […]

NASA releases dozens of patents, making them free in the public domain

Hold my beer while I’m going to the Moon. In a move that could greatly benefit the space industry, as well as numerous companies, inventors and research labs, NASA just released 56 formerly patented agency technologies into the public domain, making their technology freely available and available for unrestricted commercial use. “By releasing this collection into […]

British energy expert: 'oil companies have 10 years to change strategy or die'

One energy expert from the U.K. made headlines with his bold comments. He says oil companies have only 10 years to adapt and make a shift away from fossil fuels -- their primary business, after all -- otherwise these will collapse. The market will not be forgiving.

There are only 10 Royal Cambodian Turtles left in the wild

Conservation efforts have failed dramatically as this emblematic species comes closer to extinction. Four years ago, there were an estimated 200 southern river terrapins (Batagur affinis edwardmolli), or Royal Cambodian Turtles in the wild. Now, it seems the population has dwindled down by 95%, as just 10 remain in the wild. The news comes just 16 […]

If you're left-handed, you may be a bit better at math

If you’re left-handed, some of the simplest and most mundane things can be an ordeal. Scissors are awful, musical instruments are a drag and house appliances can be quite challenging. But according to a new study, being a leftie is associated with better math skills, at least for teenage boys. The link between handedness was […]

This robot sutures surgical incisions like a STAR: it's better than doctors

Thanks to robots, surgery has gone a long way since these have been introduced in the '80s making operations safer and less invasive. Now, surgical robots are starting to migrate from assistant to leading roles, which is where experts say they will really shine.

Pluto is much more planet-like than we give it credit for

Despite its demotion from the planet status, Pluto continues to surprise us. As we receive more and more information from the Deep Horizons mission, we’re understanding more and more what a complex system Pluto really is – just like a planet. The latest example comes in the form of an unexpected interaction with the solar […]

Are jetpacks finally taking off into the mainstream?

A Shenzhen startup has received 200 orders for the Martin Jetpack, what they call "the world's first practical and commercial jetpack".

New packaging keeps food fresh way longer, without any plastic

The unlikely ally is silk.

NASA releases first ever topographic model of Mercury [the planet]

NASA just released the first ever topographic model of Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun.

Reddit analysis proves Godwin's law

"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1".

Medical errors ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States

When researchers at John Hopkins factored human errors they found this was the third leading cause of death in the United States, surpassing respiratory diseases.

Why there are only three dimensions in this reality

By all account, we can only perceive three spatial dimensions: width, length and height. Everything seems more vibrant and 'real' in 3-D, compared to 2-D, but one can only wonder what things must look in four dimensions. Alas, our brains simply can't fathom a four-dimensional universe, let alone a 99-dimension universe. Moreover, it seems our Universe simply can't host more than three dimensions due to the laws of thermodynamics, physicists say.

Left-handed males have better math skills

Being left-handed isn't easy in a right-handed world. Let me tell you, though, at least you're better at math!

Gecko feet may help keep art clean

Geckos may be giving art conservationists an unexpected hand – a new way of keeping art clean. This doesn’t mean we’ll be letting hordes of geckos run rampant through the Louvre because that’s not how science works (though it could create a lovely Disney scene). Instead, researchers took inspiration from geckos, designing a material that […]

World's largest indoor vertical farm is being built just 45 minutes away from Manhattan

A company called Aerofarms is trying to change the way we grow our vegetables in cities

Japan has more electric car charging stations than gas stations

While most of the world is sluggish about EVs, Japan seems to be light years ahead. The island state's pro-electric car incentives have paid off and it's never been easier for a Japanese to drive an electric car. Officially, there are now more charging stations than gas stations in the country.

Google seems to want to build a city 'from the internet up'

There are Google self-driving cars, Google-made phones and notebooks, and soon there might also a be a Google city.

How will Elon Musk honor half a million Tesla Model 3 pre-orders?

A lot of car makers are definitely jealous of Elon Musk and his success, but how many would actually want to be in his shoes right now?

Scientists find surprising species of jellyfish near the Mariana Trench

This mesmerizing jellyfish almost looks photoshopped - but it's as real as it gets.

Designers unveil world's first 3D printed consumer wheelchair

Design studio Layer just unveiled their vision for a 3D printed wheelchair which promises to significantly improve the quality of life of users

There's a one in 10 billion trillion chance humanity is the only advanced life in the Universe

There are as many as 400 billion stars in the Milky Way alone. In this sea of light, it seems inevitable that life must have evolved on some alien planets.

It happened: U.S. Government wants to resettle the first American climate change refugees

The Isle de Jean Charles that lies on the Gulf coast of Louisiana is sinking. In less than 70 years, over the 90 percent of its landmass has washed away from erosion triggered by industry, as well public works which redirected rivers. Then there were the hurricanes.

You can now tinker around with IBM's quantum computers - straight from your couch

Quantum computing is still in its infancy, but you can test drive it yourself thanks to IBM.

Scientists image chemical reactions to improve industrial chemistry

It can be quite difficult to visualize chemical reactions in real life, but modern science is here to help us once again

Mysterious dark streaks on Mars were actually made by BOILING water

Here's something you'd never expect to happen in a place with average temperatures of -67 degrees Fahrenheit -- Mars' flowing water is boiling!

A trillion species on Earth? 99.999% species of microbes remain undiscovered, scientists say

Microbes make up the vast majority of Earth's species but we're still clueless when it comes to identifying them

Why you should microwave your sponges, according to science

The best way to keep your sponges clean is to microwave them.

The price of solar keeps falling, Dubai received the lowest ever asking bid for energy

A few days ago, India's Energy Minister Piyush Goyal announced that solar energy became cheaper to produce than coal-powered, costing roughly 6 US cents/kWh. Now, it's become even cheaper: the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) received the lowest ever asking price for solar energy, at US 2.99 cents/kWh.

Expert warns smart-cars will promote sex behind the wheel and distracted driving

Will widespread use of smart cars make roads safer or actually more dangerous? One Canadian expert is raising concerns that as automated systems take up the bulk of navigating tasks, drivers will keep their hands less on the driving wheel...and more on the person (persons?) next to them.

This small, dim star could be our best bet of finding extraterrestrial life

It's a paradigm shift.

The one-millionth solar system was installed in the United States

In April, the United States hit an important milestone in the quest for full renewable energy transition after the one-millionth solar system was installed.

The Middle East and North Africa might become uninhabitable due to global warming

Climate refugees may become more and more common.

2,000-year-old horseracing rules found in Turkey

Gentlemanly rules for an ancient sport.

The amazing bombardier beetle sprays boiling chemicals from its butt

Animals have evolved all sorts of gimmicks for either attack or defence. Some are really over the top, but that doesn't make it less effective. Take the bombardier beetle, for instance, which sprays a deadly mix of boiling chemicals from its butt. This is one insect you don't want to mess with.

9 Mathematical facts that will blow your mind [and a delicious bonus]

Many people believe math is boring, but in reality - it's anything but.

The prodigal son returns: tailless comet from Earth's distant past might hold primordial secrets

A rocky body that's neither exactly a comet nor an asteroid, may hold some interesting clues about how the planets in the solar system formed, including Earth. The tailless so-called Manx comet, named so after a breed of cats without tails, originates from the Oort cloud -- a shell of icy objects that exist in the outermost reaches of the solar system. Although it's more than a trillion miles away, this Manx comet is likely made of the same stuff that eventually coalesced to form Venus, Mars or even Earth.

Size matters: meet the world's biggest jet engine

This beast is called GE9X -- the largest jet engine ever built. Standing at 13 feet in diameter, it's wider than a Boeing 737's fuselage.

This pot harnesses photosynthesis and a USB port to charge your phone

A team of engineers piggy-backed photosynthesis using a nifty pot called the Bioo Lite. Just place almost any plant inside, add water and plenty of sunlight and you'll be able to charge your phone via the provided USB port up to three times a day. Or so they claim.

How scientists are using climate records made by 15th century Japanese monks

If you're old enough, you might remember how some flowers around where you live blossom earlier or that summers and winters are unusually harsh. In short, freak weather is more common to the point it's becoming the new norm. Human memory is fallible, which is why we keep records of things like temperature, humidity, concentration of gases in the atmosphere and so on. These record don't go back that long though -- maybe only a century. Some, however, go way back and scientists are using these to keep track of climate change over the centuries.

Fracking caused widespread contamination in North Dakota, new study finds

Wastewater spills from hydraulic fracking in North Dakota caused widespread water and soil contamination, a new Duke University study finds. Hydraulic fracking involves injecting highly pressurized fluids into subsurface rocks, creating a system of fissures through which the hydrocarbons can escape. There are many environmental issues associated with this technique, one of them being that the entire […]

Crowdfunding campaign reimagines apartment plant growing

As anyone who grows plants in an apartment will tell you, it can be quite a challenge. Space is limited, as is light and it’s so easy to make a mess – this is why I love this new project. It’s really easy to set up a small, cute garden in only minutes. It’s called Livi. […]

We still don't know which gut bacteria is beneficial, but scientists have some good hints

There's good bacteria and bad bacteria, but the gut seems to be so diverse in its bacterial offering from person to person that scientists have always found it difficult to say "hey, this is what a healthy microbiome should look like." Analyzing thousands of bacteria species in your guy is challenging and we're still not there, but a recent effort involving 4,000 participants has some good hints as to what makes a healthy gut.