Sci-Tech news

• Project to solve Stegosaurus mystery

  03-12-2014 23:31 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scientists have begun the most detailed analysis ever carried out on a Stegosaurus skeleton.
  
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• Meet Sophie, the most complete stegosaurus skeleton ever found

  03-12-2014 23:03 via
  
  The skeleton is 85 per cent intact and tomorrow, 'Sophie' will go on display at London's Natural History Museum, after roaming a subtropical forest 150 million years ago.
  
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• Can your FRIENDS tell you how long you'll live?

  03-12-2014 23:01 via
  
  Washington researchers say males viewed as conscientious and open to experience live the longest, while females seen as agreeableness and emotional stability lived longest.
  
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• VIDEO: How to build a stegosaurus skeleton

  03-12-2014 23:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scientists have begun the most detailed analysis ever carried out on a stegosaurus skeleton.
  
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• The time to tackle killer asteroids is NOW, warn scientists

  03-12-2014 22:48 via
  
  More than 100 leading scientists have called for action on asteroids. The London-based Asteroid Day movement says we are in grave danger from an incoming object (illustration shown).
  
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• The time to tackle killer asteroids is NOW, warn scientists: Leading experts call for urgent action to save the human race

  03-12-2014 21:35 via
  
  More than 100 leading scientists have called for action on asteroids. The London-based Asteroid Day movement says we are in grave danger from an incoming object (illustration shown).
  
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• 540,000-year-old mollusc reveals early man was smarter than we thought

  03-12-2014 21:29 via
  
  The ancient mollusc (shown), originally discovered on the island of Java, is between 430,000 and 540,000-years-old, dating to the time Homo erectus inhabited the remote volcanic outpost.
  
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• Planets orbiting dwarf stars look habitable from afar but are actually barren

  03-12-2014 21:28 via
  
  University of Washington researchers say planets around red dwarfs (illustrated) cannot be habitable, because their water is boiled away - but a thick oxygen atmosphere makes them look liveable.
  
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• Shell engraving has 'rewritten human history': 540,000-year-old mollusc reveals early man was smarter than we thought

  03-12-2014 20:06 via
  
  The ancient mollusc (shown), originally discovered on the island of Java, is between 430,000 and 540,000-years-old, dating to the time Homo erectus inhabited the remote volcanic outpost.
  
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• Mars One whittles down shortlist of hopefuls wanting to live on red planet

  03-12-2014 20:04 via
  
  The Netherlands-based group now has a shortlist of 663 candidates, from which 24 will be selected to under televised competitions to win a one-way ticket to Mars.
  
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• Coral reefs make less noise as resident fish and crustaceans die

  03-12-2014 20:04 via
  
  Researchers from the universities of Essex and Exeter recorded noise levels in healthy and declining reefs in with different levels of protection around islands in the Philippines.
  
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• Google develops a Captcha that only asks you to tick a box

  03-12-2014 20:03 via
  
  Software engineers at Google have created a new No Captcha version that replaces distorted images and words for a simple tick box.
  
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• Do our brains have a built-in GPS?

  03-12-2014 19:57 via
  
  A study by the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel has claimed that humans may have an in-built navigation system, used when a pilot is upside down (stock image shown) for example.
  
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• Are astronomers being fooled by 'mirage Earths'? Planets orbiting dwarf stars look habitable from afar but are actually barren

  03-12-2014 19:55 via
  
  University of Washington researchers say planets around red dwarfs (illustrated) cannot be habitable, because their water is boiled away - but a thick oxygen atmosphere makes them look liveable.
  
  Read more

• Kim Kardashian takes the Instagram crown for 2014

  03-12-2014 19:07 via
  
  According to California-based Instagram, the most liked image during 2014 was Kim Kardashian’s wedding post in May (pictured), that received more than 2.4 million likes.
  
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• Driverless car UK test cities named

  03-12-2014 19:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Bristol, London, Coventry and Milton Keynes are selected as the hosts of driverless car tests set to begin in 2015.
  
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• Major deltas 'could be drowned'

  03-12-2014 19:02 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Sea-level rise and river engineering "spell disaster" for many of the world's river deltas, say scientists.
  
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• Yotaphone 2 with dual displays goes on sale for £555

  03-12-2014 19:00
  
  Back in February Yota Devices unveiled the second version of its
  two-faced smartphone. A lot has happened since then in the world of
  phones -- Sony has released two new flagships in the in-between
  period alone -- but finally the YotaPhone 2 is going on sale.
  
  The phone will cost £555 in the UK and will be priced at around
  700 euros in countries across Europe. If you want to get hold of
  one you can pick one up online or in the first YotaPhone Store off
  Brick Lane in Shoreditch, London.
  By: K
  
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• Brian May: act now to stop asteroids destroying humanity

  03-12-2014 19:00
  
  Queen guitarist Brian May has warned that our obliteration is
  inevitable unless we take the threat of asteroid impacts seriously.
  May, who has PHD in astrophysics, called for a global effort to
  ensure a 100-fold increase in the detection and monitoring of
  asteroids.
  By: James Temperton, Continue reading...
  
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• Mars One whittles down its shortlist of hopefuls wanting to live on the red planet - but Chris Hadfield warns mission may never lift off

  03-12-2014 18:49 via
  
  The Netherlands-based group now has a shortlist of 663 candidates, from which 24 will be selected to under televised competitions to win a one-way ticket to Mars.
  
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• VIDEO: Rare photos: When Jobs quit Apple

  03-12-2014 18:48 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Photographer Doug Menuez, who was given rare access to the time when Steve Jobs left Apple and created Next, publishes the images.
  
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• No more wiggly words and annoying fuzzy pictures! Google develops a Captcha that only asks you to tick a box

  03-12-2014 18:38 via
  
  Software engineers at Google have created a new No Captcha version that replaces distorted images and words for a simple tick box.
  
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• GAMES NEWS: GTA 5 Online Heists leak, Xbox One Destiny fans lose out, Halo patch latest

  03-12-2014 18:32
  
  NEW details about GTA 5 Online Heists have been reportedly leaked, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is getting another matchmaking patch, and Xbox One users are set to miss out on new Destiny content.
  
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• Warner Bros kills it with Will Smith in Suicide Squad movie

  03-12-2014 18:27
  
  Suicide Squad, Warner Bros' first movie in its expanded
  DC Cinematic Universe, has finalised its cast and is set to start
  shooting in February. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the casting
  is Will Smith, who will be playing mercenary Deadshot.
  Although rumoured to be circling the film for a while, signing a
  headline name like Smith was considered something of an outside
  chance.
  
  The rest of the team of comic book supervillains is rounded out
  by Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang,&nbs
  
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• London joins coalition of cybercrime-fighting cities

  03-12-2014 18:20
  
  As crimes of a virtual nature increasingly start to affect the
  daily lives of citizens, cities world over are joining forces and
  sharing practices and expertise in a bid to build their defences
  against invisible threats. 
  
  Announced today in Singapore by the Rockefeller Foundation --
  amid 330 global contenders -- London became one of 35 new cities to
  join an already 60-strong network of global cities, all united in
  the fight against cyber-crime and emerging digital
  threats. 
  By: Em
  
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• iPhone 6 users complain to Apple about front-facing camera issues

  03-12-2014 17:44
  
  APPLE iPhone 6 users are taking to forums complaining of a new issue affecting the phone's front-facing camera.
  
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• Tax move on banks and multinationals

  03-12-2014 17:37 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A crackdown on tax breaks for banks and tax avoidance by multinational firms will raise about £5bn, the chancellor announces in the Autumn Statement.
  
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• TV box helps colour-blind viewers

  03-12-2014 16:29 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A set-top TV box that can help people with colour blindness better differentiate shades has been developed by a Cambridge firm.
  
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• Steam Broadcasting takes on Twitch

  03-12-2014 16:20 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Steam launches its own video game streaming service, creating fresh competition for Amazon's Twitch.
  
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• VIDEO: Suits you! robot retailers on trial

  03-12-2014 16:15 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A US hardware shop is testing out a new set of retail robots designed to help customers shop, find and visualise their purchases
  
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• RIP Clip Art: Microsoft is killing off its iconic picture library in favour of Bing Images

  03-12-2014 16:12 via
  
  Washington-based Microsoft made the announcement on the Office blog. Customers can still add their own photos, as well as images from Bing Search. Clip Art images pictured.
  
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• Call of Duty Advanced Warfare: Multiplayer's still king, with Havok and zombies to come

  03-12-2014 16:10
  
  WELCOME to Atlas, son.
  
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• What makes different years warmer or colder?

  03-12-2014 16:03 via bbc.co.uk
  
  What makes temperatures vary from year to year?
  
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• World on course for warmest year

  03-12-2014 16:02 via bbc.co.uk
  
  This year is in the running to be the hottest globally and for the UK since records began, early estimates show.
  
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• YouTube to upgrade view counter after popularity of Psy's Gangnam Style

  03-12-2014 15:58 via
  
  YouTube has admitted that South Korean pop star Psy’s smash hit ‘Gangnam Style’ has been viewed so many times that it has to upgrade the way figures are shown on the website.
  
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• Ed Sheeran tops Spotify 2014 list

  03-12-2014 15:50 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is the year's most-streamed artist on Spotify, with his songs played more than 860 million times.
  
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• Osborne: UK lead role in Mars mission

  03-12-2014 15:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Among the commitments to science funding in his Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne says the UK will play the "lead role" in Europe's 2018 Mars rover programme.
  
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• Kokoro Scanner monitors your pulse to tell if you're telling fibs

  03-12-2014 15:26 via
  
  Created by Tokyo-based toy company, Takara Tomy, the scanner is worn on the forehead and changes colour based on the wearer’s heart rate to reveal if they are being honest.
  
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• Steam takes on Twitch with built-in game streaming

  03-12-2014 15:13
  
  Valve's game distribution hub Steam is already the de facto face
  of PC gaming, but now it's taken another step towards becoming the
  dominating force in the field with the addition of a built-in
  livestream feature.
  
  Called Steam Broadcasting, it allows you to watch the
  gaming sessions of anyone in your friends list. When you see
  they're online and playing, a new 'Watch Game' button will be found
  next to their names, or in the drop down from the friends panel.
  Hit it, and a new window loa
  
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• #Love is 2014's Instagram winner

  03-12-2014 15:08 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Take a look at the top Instagram posts and hashtags of the year involving Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus.
  
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• Pick of the world! Why these Tottenham and Man Utd players have made FIFA 15's top spot

  03-12-2014 14:47
  
  FIFA 15 have rewarded three footy stars from the Premier League by adding them into their global team of the week.
  
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• 'Gangnam Style' had more views than YouTube could count: Site had to 'upgrade' how digits are displayed to show song's popularity

  03-12-2014 14:43 via
  
  YouTube has admitted that South Korean pop star Psy’s smash hit ‘Gangnam Style’ has been viewed so many times that it has to upgrade the way figures are shown on the website.
  
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• Aura Christmas tree lights are powered by magnetic field and controlled by iPhone

  03-12-2014 14:39 via
  
  A California-based technology company has developed lights that use a magnetic field to power LED bulbs that they say will last 20 years longer than traditional Christmas lights.
  
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• George Osborne announces 25 percent 'Google tax'

  03-12-2014 14:39
  
  George Osborne has announced a new 'Google tax' to stop
  multinational companies from dodging tax on their UK profits. The
  new 25 per cent tax was announced during the chancellor's autumn
  statement.
  By: James Temperton, Continue reading...
  
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• West Antarctic is melting at TRIPLE the rate it was a decade ago

  03-12-2014 14:38 via
  
  The 21-year study by Nasa and the University of California, Irvine, found that the Amudsen Sea Embayment lost an average 83 gigatons per year.
  
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• Nasa embarks on mission to put mankind on Mars

  03-12-2014 14:28
  
  Tomorrow, Nasa is aiming for Mars. The first test
  flight of the Orion spacecraft will see it blast some
  3,600 miles above the Earth, further than any crewed (although
  unmanned) spacecraft has been in more than 40
  years. Orion heralds a new age of human space
  exploration, with manned missions to an asteroid and
  eventually Mars.
  By: James Temperton, Continue reading...
  
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• The search for the broken bulb is over! Smart Christmas tree lights are powered by a magnetic field and controlled by iPhone

  03-12-2014 14:19 via
  
  A California-based technology company has developed lights that use a magnetic field to power LED bulbs that they say will last 20 years longer than traditional Christmas lights.
  
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• Special grey PS4 revealed for PlayStation's 20th anniversary

  03-12-2014 14:00
  
  Today is the PlayStation's twentieth birthday. Officially an
  adult in its native Japan, it can legally smoke and drink, if it
  had the necessary biological parts to poison. It doesn't, but 20
  years in the market is an impressive milestone for any console
  family. To celebrate, the company is releasing a collector's model
  of the PS4, dressed in the fetching garb of the original
  PlayStation.
  By: Matt Kamen, Continue reading...
  
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• Time-lapse video captures a young dog transform into an adult

  03-12-2014 13:53 via
  
  The film was taken by Greg Coffin from San Francisco. It shows the development of his Rhodesian Ridgeback, Sophia as she grows from two months (pictured) to three years in 23 seconds.
  
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• Nasa Orion launch to be crewed by Captain Kirk, Iron Man and T Rex

  03-12-2014 13:38 via
  
  Nasa's next generation spacecraft, which is designed to carry astronauts on missions to asteroids and even Mars, will launch from Cape Canaveral on Thursday with a very odd cargo.
  
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