Within five years, IBM's smartphone will hear, see, smell, taste, and feel
At the end of each year, IBM Research lists "innovations that will change our lives in the next five years." This year's "IBM 5 in 5" is particularly intriguing in that their braintrust is heralding...
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Five new planets discovered just 12 light-years away
Another day, another mind-bending celestial discovery. It was only yesterday that we told you about Philip Gregory's claim that there are three planets sitting inside Gliese 667C's habitable zone (his...
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Watch how the ground really moves during an earthquake
Back in 2011, geologists working for Signal Hill Petroleum and NodalSeismic conducted an extremely detailed survey to measure the 3D rock structure beneath their Long Beach oilfield. To do so, they...
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When will we finally have a world government?
Political scientists and science fiction writers alike have long been taken with the idea that humans would one day form a global government. Yet few of us take this prospect very seriously, often...
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Over a hundred research chimps are set to be rescued and moved to a sanctuary
Chimpanzee research is on the way out in the United States. The latest move in this direction is the announcement that the National Institutes of Health is set to retire 109 chimpanzees (as opposed to...
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Will we ever have cyborg brains?
Over at BBC Future, computer scientist Martin Angler has put together a provocative piece about humanity's collision course with cybernetic technologies. Today, says Angler, we're using neural...
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Phoenix's new observation tower looks like a massive honey dipper
The city of Phoenix is about to get a new landmark. Nicknamed "The Pin," the tower will be over 420 feet tall and feature a unique spiraling observation deck in the shape of a sphere. It will be...
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Will humans continue to evolve during multigenerational space missions?
Scientific American has posted an interview and podcast with Portland State University anthropologist Cameron Smith about the ways in which humans might evolve during extended missions in space. Given...
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This Nazi Christmas party must have been the worst ever
December 1941 was not a good time for Adolf Hitler — and you can see it on his face in these remarkable color photos taken by his official photographer, Hugo Jaeger. The war was supposed to have been...
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Is it really true that homosexuality can be explained by epigenetics?
Early last week we told you about a new paper published in the Quarterly Review of Biology which suggests that homosexuality arises on account of epigenetic processes rather than genetic ones (i.e....
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These gorgeous colorized photos bring famous historical figures to life
Back in September we showed you this jaw-dropping colorized photo of 29 famous scientists. Now, thanks to the work of 18-year-old artist Mars Madsen, we have some more, including the reworking of...
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That meteorite which blew-up over California last April is one of the rarest...
This past April, a 100,000 pound (45,360 kg) meteorite exploded above the skies of Sutter's Mill, California. Streaking in at a speed of 64,000 miles per hour (103,000 km/hr or 28.6 km/s) — about...
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The Great Filter theory suggests humans have already conquered the threat of...
It's difficult to not be pessimistic when considering humanity's future prospects. Many people would agree that it's more likely than not that we'll eventually do ourselves in. And in fact, some...
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Like humans, dragonflies are capable of focusing their attention
Scientists have discovered that dragonflies can do something they didn't think invertebrates were capable of. It's called ‘selective attention.' Like primates, dragonflies have special brain cells...
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The Best Science Fiction Music Videos Of 2012
What's better than our favorite music videos of the year? How about our favorite sci-fi themed music videos of the year? Here's the best that 2012 had to offer. This year's crop featured music from...
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Pope says same-sex marriage is destroying the ‘essence of humanity’
If Pope Benedict's Christmas speeches are of any indication, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the Vatican has stepped up its assault on same-sex marriage. Speaking at his yearly address to...
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Researchers create a ‘trojan-horse’ virus to eliminate cancer in mice
Scientists in the United Kingdom have developed a new therapy in which cancer-killing viruses hide inside the immune system of mice. The researchers successfully demonstrated that macrophages...
View ArticleOne small hop for SpaceX, a giant leap towards rocket reusability
SpaceX has just taken a major step closer to achieving the world's first reusable launch vehicle. The private space-firm has just released a video showing its Grasshopper Vertical Take Off and Landing...
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Why do we blink more than we need to?
Human blinking is somewhat of a mystery to scientists. While it's well known that eye-blinking is done to lubricate the cornea, these seemingly spontaneous flashes happen at a rate that's greater than...
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California's marijuana boom is wreaking havoc on the environment
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the dramatic rise in pot farms in Northern California is starting to take a toll on the surrounding environment. Agricultural practices like water-siphoning,...
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