Sci-Tech news

• DNA scientist to get back sold Nobel

  09-12-2014 23:57 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Russia's richest man Alisher Usmanov reveals that he bought US scientist James Watson's Nobel Prize gold medal in order to return it to him.
  
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• Russian scientist spots mountain sized asteroid heading for Earth (but don't worry - Nasa says it poses no threat)

  09-12-2014 23:27 via
  
  Vladimir Lipunov, of Moscow State University, said the space rock, named '2014 UR116', could cause an explosion 1,000 times greater than the 2013 impact of a bus-sized meteor in Russia.
  
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• The metabolism boosting drug that could REVERSE obesity and let you eat like a teenager again: Researchers find key to controlling the body's 'natural fat burning furnace'

  09-12-2014 22:08 via
  
  McMaster team found that when they removed or enzyme that makes serotonin mice fed a high-fat diet were protected from obesity, fatty liver disease and pre-diabetes.
  
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• Facebook developing artificial intelligence assistant to monitor everything you do

  09-12-2014 21:57 via
  
  The software could even warn users if someone else uploads a snap of them, Californian firm Facebook has revealed.
  It hopes the software will 'mediate' users interactions with their friends.
  
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• Three MILLION abandone wells could be contributing to climate change, study claims

  09-12-2014 20:58 via
  
  Researchers at Princeton University say abandoned wells (shown) in Pennsylvania are emitting natural gas. And as many as three million nationwide could be leaking.
  
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• YouTube reveals top 10 videos of 2014 the world has been watching

  09-12-2014 20:38 via
  
  California-based video sharing site, YouTube, has released its annual list of global top-trending videos, with the top spot going to the aptly-titled Mutant Giant Spider Dog (pictured).
  
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• People are distracted by their phone even when they AREN'T using it, study claims

  09-12-2014 19:57 via
  
  Researchers from the University of South Maine found that people were distracted by their mobile - even when it wasn't in use (stock image shown). The presence of a phone limited reaction times.
  
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• Clay composites modelled in computer

  09-12-2014 19:51 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scientists build a 'virtual lab' to predict the useful properties of clay-polymer composites from their atomic make-up.
  
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• Uber taxi app suspended in Spain

  09-12-2014 19:50 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A judge has ordered taxi booking service Uber to stop operating in Spain, after taxi associations complained it was unfair competition.
  
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• Uber taxi app banned in Spain

  09-12-2014 19:50 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A judge has ordered taxi booking service Uber to immediately stop operating in Spain, after taxi associations complained it was unfair competition.
  
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• Sir Patrick Moore's personal archive from more than 60 years made public

  09-12-2014 19:29 via
  
  The Science Museum in London has acquired hundreds of drawings, observations and notes made by Sir Patrick Moore at his home in West Sussex during his 60 year long career.
  
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• 'Giant spider dog' tops YouTube

  09-12-2014 19:24 via bbc.co.uk
  
  YouTube and Facebook have reveal their most popular content of 2014.
  
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• Game Wire: GTA 5 Online Heists level cap, Destiny races, COD Advanced Warfare online nerf

  09-12-2014 19:03
  
  THE Express brings you the best video game runours from around the world-wide-web, including GTA 5, Destiny and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.
  
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• The end of 'best-before' dates? Sensor could tell your phone when food in your fridge has gone mouldy by detecting gases

  09-12-2014 19:01 via
  
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have developed a method to detect hazardous gases and pollutants. The NFC chips could even tell when food in a fridge (stock image shown) is off.
  
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• Nasa's weird and wonderful concept planes could make supersonic travel common

  09-12-2014 18:53 via
  
  Nasa's Ames Research Center in California has been working on designing the next generation of planes that will make travelling around the world faster and more fuel efficient.
  
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• Facebook reveals the 2014 moments that got the social network talking

  09-12-2014 18:51 via
  
  The Californian social network analysed 2014 data to discover the World Cup was the most popular global topic, while the Scottish referendum racked up the most mentions by UK users.
  
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• Sir Patrick Moore's personal archive from more than 60 years of observing the stars to made public

  09-12-2014 18:36 via
  
  The Science Museum in London has acquired hundreds of drawings, observations and notes made by Sir Patrick Moore at his home in West Sussex during his 60 year long career.
  
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• McIlroy 'wiped data from devices'

  09-12-2014 18:34 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A court is told the Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy deliberately wiped clean up to eight electronic devices that may have contained important data relating to his legal action against his former management firm.
  
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• Doing the housework means men get LESS sex: Researchers reveal chores seen as feminine can put women off

  09-12-2014 18:32 via
  
  Researchers from the Juan March Institute in Madrid studied data based on relationships of 4,561 middle-aged US couples over 20 years, including their sex lives and chore habits (illustrated).
  
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• Woman, 75, loses thousands in scam

  09-12-2014 17:38 via bbc.co.uk
  
  An elderly woman in the Scottish Borders loses thousands of pounds after being targeted in a computer scam.
  
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• Clearly we've made mistakes! Sony apologise for PS4 game launch

  09-12-2014 16:42
  
  PLAYSTATION Europe boss Jim Ryan has apologised to PS4 users for the launch of DriveClub and has revealed it's getting hard to deliver games on launch.
  
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• Gene therapy that restores sight in mice and dogs could be used on humans

  09-12-2014 16:03 via
  
  A form of gene therapy that remodels eye cells into light receptors has allowed scientists at the University of California to partially restore the sight of animals with inherited blindness.
  
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• India Uber 'rape' prompts taxi ban

  09-12-2014 15:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  India's government tells all states to ban unregistered web-based taxi firms after an Uber company driver is accused of raping a passenger in Delhi.
  
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• VIDEO: 'Ecological deficit being ignored'

  09-12-2014 15:55 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Wildlife campaigners and people from the countryside head to Westminster in a bid to move nature up the MPs' agenda.
  
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• Nasa's Orion has same processor as 2003 Apple iBook G3

  09-12-2014 15:50 via
  
  Nasa's Orion spacecraft uses IBM PowerPC 750FX chips - the same as in Apple's 2003 iBook G3 - to survive harsh radiation. Yesterday it was returned to shore in San Diego by the USS Anchorage.
  
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• Extreme heatwaves AND freezing weather both more common in past 30 years, claim experts

  09-12-2014 15:47 via
  
  Researchers at the University of East Anglia blame climate change for increasing frequency of heatwaves and extreme cold weather that has been hitting many parts of the world.
  
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• Scotland, Manchester United and Ice Buckets! The most talked about topics on Facebook 2014

  09-12-2014 15:27
  
  FACEBOOK has seen its 27m daily UK users debate the big issues of the year, with Scotland, the Ice Bucket Challenge and the World Cup topping the list.
  
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• How your phone is more powerful than ORION: Computer in Nasa's Mars spacecraft has same processor as 2003 Apple iBook G3

  09-12-2014 15:22 via
  
  Nasa's Orion spacecraft uses IBM PowerPC 750FX chips - the same as in Apple's 2003 iBook G3 - to survive harsh radiation. Yesterday it was returned to shore in San Diego by the USS Anchorage.
  
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• Amazon warns US over drone rules

  09-12-2014 15:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Amazon has said it may take its drone delivery research outside the US because of strict regulation of the unmanned aircraft.
  
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• Extreme heatwaves AND freezing weather have both become more common over the past 30 years, claim experts

  09-12-2014 14:58 via
  
  Researchers at the University of East Anglia blame climate change for increasing frequency of heatwaves and extreme cold weather that has been hitting many parts of the world.
  
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• Have scientists found a cure for blindness? Radical gene therapy that restores sight in mice and dogs could be used on humans

  09-12-2014 14:43 via
  
  A form of gene therapy that remodels eye cells into light receptors has allowed scientists at the University of California to partially restore the sight of animals with inherited blindness.
  
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• 520m-year-old fossil of 'balloon-shaped' animal reveals secrets of ancient oceans

  09-12-2014 14:40 via
  
  The Nidelric pugio's fossilised remains were unearthed in Chengjiang in southern China and allow experts to see how the balloon-shaped, spiny animal functioned.
  
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• James Befurt finds way to power through profiles on Tinder

  09-12-2014 14:29 via
  
  Engineer James Befurt was tired of wasting time on Tinder, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. Using a computer programme, a clever motor setup and a stylus, he can swipe right indefinitely.
  
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• President Obama writes Frozen code

  09-12-2014 14:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The US president joined a group of middle-school children taking part in the "Hour of Code" computer education project.
  
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• What this husband did for his wife on their anniversary was amazing

  09-12-2014 14:01
  
  When Judith and Tony were planning their anniversary, the last thing she expected was to spend it looking for her phone. He knew this was part of the plan.
  
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• Wind farms 'have no significant effect' on house prices, claims study

  09-12-2014 13:41 via
  
  The study, by the University of Guelph, looked at more than 7,000 homes and farm sales in 11 townships in Ontario, Canada, and found no link between wind turbines and lower house prices.
  
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• Italy tremors are traced back to CEMENT MIXERS in factories

  09-12-2014 13:37 via
  
  Geologists in Italy have calculated that vibrations from cement factories in Italy may be responsible for shaking up to half of the country.
  
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• Where you can and can't fly a drone

  09-12-2014 13:33 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Where is it illegal for ordinary people to fly a drone?
  
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• Jerusalem Nano Bible makes nano-chip with New Testament on one fingernail-sized face

  09-12-2014 13:25 via
  
  The Jerusalem Nano Bible company says they've made the world's smallest Bible (shown). The silicon wafer chips measure just 0.19 inches (4.76mm) on each side and could fit on your fingernail.
  
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• Samsung's Gear VR headset goes on sale although you'll need a tablet to use it

  09-12-2014 13:09 via
  
  Called the Samsung Gear VR, users slip a Note 3 tablet into the $200 headset to provide the screen. It was developed with California firm Oculus.
  
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• Crime, pollution and overcrowding may be outweighing economic benefits of urban life

  09-12-2014 13:08 via
  
  The Paris-based International Council for Science has launched a programme that aims to understand how a city environment can be changed to improve the health of its residents.
  
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• Is city living making you ILL? Crime, pollution and overcrowding may be outweighing economic benefits of urban life

  09-12-2014 12:41 via
  
  The Paris-based International Council for Science has launched a programme that aims to understand how a city environment can be changed to improve the health of its residents.
  
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• Sony confirm DDOS attack after Lizard Squad claim PSN 'take down' affecting PS4 and PS3

  09-12-2014 12:18
  
  SONY have confirmed the Playstation Network was hit by a DDOS attack this week, affecting both the PS4 and PS3.
  
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• Sidewinder buggy is the world's most expensive dune buggy

  09-12-2014 12:12 via
  
  A Swedish company called Gray Designs has built the world's most expensive buggy at £157,000 (€199,000 or $246,289) which has a top speed of 93 mph (150 kph).
  
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• Images show Orion being retrieved from Pacific Ocean and taken aboard USS Anchorage

  09-12-2014 11:57 via
  
  A series of images have revealed how a combined US Navy and Nasa team recovered the Orion spacecraft onto the USS Anchorage (shown). The future Mars-bound vehicle splashed down on Friday.
  
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• Remote-controlled car? No, this is the world's most expensive dune buggy that can tackle sandy terrains at 95mph

  09-12-2014 11:55 via
  
  A Swedish company called Gray Designs has built the world's most expensive buggy at £157,000 (€199,000 or $246,289) which has a top speed of 93 mph (150 kph).
  
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• Mars rover 'solves mountain riddle'

  09-12-2014 10:35 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scientists working on Nasa's Curiosity rover think they can now explain why there is a huge mountain at the robot's landing site in Mars' Gale Crater.
  
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• Hoverfly kiss wins photo prize

  09-12-2014 09:26 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Hoverfly takes ecology photo prize
  
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• VIDEO: Dos and don'ts of flying a drone

  09-12-2014 07:05 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Sales of drones have increased rapidly in the UK and they are expected to be popular as Christmas presents, but what are the rules for using them?
  
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• Scientists focus on urban wellbeing

  09-12-2014 03:40 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A global scientific research programme is launched in China to examine the unintended consequences of urban policies on human health and wellbeing.
  
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