Sci-Tech news

• Bright spotlight on Ceres mission

  02-03-2015 22:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  As Nasa's Dawn satellite prepares to enter into orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres, scientists say they are excited to learn more about the two bright spots on its surface.
  
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• Tinder to charge over-28s more

  02-03-2015 22:28 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Dating app Tinder announces it will charge the over-28s nearly four times as much for its premium features as it does younger users in the UK.
  
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• Can you spot the astronaut? Stunning image shows the incredible size of the ISS during weekend spacewalk

  02-03-2015 22:05 via
  
  The image was revealed on Twitter by Baltimore-born astronaut Terry Virts. It shows his commander, Butch Wilmore, laying cables on Sunday to prepare the ISS for future 'space taxis'.
  
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• Did climate change trigger the war in Syria?

  02-03-2015 21:54 via
  
  Scientists at Columbia University in New York say Syria was hit by the worst drought on record in the five years leading up to the 2011 uprising against the Assad regime.
  
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• VIDEO: Japan seeks to reboot innovation

  02-03-2015 21:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Mariko Oi reports from Japan on the country's quest to rediscover its innovative spirit with "game-changing" products.
  
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• Ancient text points to First Century structure where Jesus may have lived

  02-03-2015 21:16 via
  
  Dr Ken Dark, an archaeologist at Reading University, says the 670 AD 'De Locus Sanctis' text points to Jesus' home being located beneath the Sisters of Nazareth Convent in Israel.
  
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• Satellite blows up in Earth orbit over mystery 'temperature spike'

  02-03-2015 21:13 via
  
  A US Air Force satellite has exploded 500 miles above Earth's surface (stock illustration shown). An unknown 'temperature spike' and 'loss of altitude control' caused the explosion.
  
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• AIDS was passed to humans from gorillas as well as chimpanzees

  02-03-2015 21:02 via
  
  Two of the four known strains of viruses that cause HIV have been traced back to western lowland gorillas that share 98 per cent of human DNA, Pennsylvania University scientists found.
  
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• Nasa's Dawn prepares to orbit the dwarf planet Ceres

  02-03-2015 20:35 via
  
  Nasa's Dawn spacecraft (illustrated) is due to enter orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres on Friday. ‘I am just delighted that Dawn is now right on the doorstep of Ceres,’ said Dr Jim Green in California.
  
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• Is this Jesus' childhood home? Ancient text points to First Century structure where the Messiah may have lived

  02-03-2015 20:33 via
  
  Dr Ken Dark, an archaeologist at Reading University, says the 670 AD 'De Locus Sanctis' text points to Jesus' home being located beneath the Sisters of Nazareth Convent in Israel.
  
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• MyFord Mobile app tells you if you've got enough fuel and warms your car in the morning

  02-03-2015 19:41 via
  
  The MyFord Mobile app is free for drivers of the Ford Electric and C-Max Energi plug-in electric hybrid vehicle on iOS and Android. It was unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
  
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• Countdown to Ceres: Dawn prepares to orbit the dwarf planet - but will the probe finally reveal what the mystery 'bright spots' are?

  02-03-2015 19:00 via
  
  Nasa's Dawn spacecraft (illustrated) is due to enter orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres on Friday. ‘I am just delighted that Dawn is now right on the doorstep of Ceres,’ said Dr Jim Green in California.
  
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• DNA documents ancient mass migration

  02-03-2015 18:29 via bbc.co.uk
  
  DNA analysis has revealed evidence for a massive migration into the heartland of Europe 4,500 years ago.
  
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• UK to pioneer lagoon power plants

  02-03-2015 18:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Plans to generate electricity from the world's first series of tidal lagoons are unveiled in the UK, with sites proposed in Wales, Somerset and Cumbria.
  
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• Bloodhound car begins to take shape

  02-03-2015 18:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Good progress is being made on construction of the world's fastest car - the Bloodhound supersonic vehicle, which aims to run at over 1,000mph.
  
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• Google to rank search results based on accuracy of web pages

  02-03-2015 17:27 via
  
  Researchers at Google have developed a new algorithm that searches for facts and ranks web pages based on how accurate they are rather than using the number of links from other sites.
  
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• Research suggests IQ scores are getting steadily higher

  02-03-2015 17:23 via
  
  Researchers at Kings College London looked at scores since 1950, and found average intelligence rose by about 20 IQ points. Explanations include better education (stock image shown).
  
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• The sensor that could SNIFF OUT disease

  02-03-2015 16:38 via
  
  The technology has been developed by San Francisco-based BoydSense. It recognises and analyses gases for so-called biosignatures.
  
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• Exhibition shows artists' first impressions of mysterious mammals

  02-03-2015 16:18 via
  
  Paintings of kangaroos with extraordinarily long tails and rhinos with scaly skin will be displayed at an exhibition at UCL, London, entitled ‘Strange Creatures’.
  
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• Dark matter may be reducing the sun's core temperature

  02-03-2015 16:02 via
  
  Durham University scientists have proposed a new model for the sun. They say that dark matter may be transferring heat around its interior (artist's illustration shown).
  
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• The sensor that could SNIFF OUT disease: Smartphones could one day diagnose you by detecting gases in your breath

  02-03-2015 15:56 via
  
  The technology has been developed by San Francisco-based BoydSense. It recognises and analyses gases for so-called biosignatures.
  
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• New headphones for fitness buffs track movements and calories burned

  02-03-2015 15:29 via
  
  Unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the Huawei headset has a built-in accelerometer, stores up to 1,000 songs and can make calls with Bluetooth-enabled phones.
  
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• SpaceX launches electric satellites

  02-03-2015 14:33 via bbc.co.uk
  
  US rocket company SpaceX performs a dual-launch of all-electric satellites - what is expected to become a big trend in future spacecraft design and deployment.
  
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• The Simpsons 1998 episode predicts Higgs Boson's mass 14 years before CERN

  02-03-2015 14:29 via
  
  Dr Simon Singh has found that a formula that appears on a blackboard in an episode of the long running cartoon series predicts the mass of the Higgs boson, which was finally proved to exist only in 2013.
  
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• The art of the unknown: From kangaroos to elephant 'buses,' exhibition shows artists' impressions of mysterious mammals

  02-03-2015 13:57 via
  
  Paintings of kangaroos with extraordinarily long tails and rhinos with scaly skin will be displayed at an exhibition at UCL, London, entitled ‘Strange Creatures’.
  
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• Ikea debuts phone-charging furniture

  02-03-2015 13:44 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Furniture giant Ikea has unveiled a range of furniture fitted with wireless charging spots for mobile devices.
  
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• Xiaomi launches cheap action camera

  02-03-2015 13:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has launched a cheap action camera that costs only 399 yuan (£41).
  
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• The fingerprint scanner goes ULTRASONIC

  02-03-2015 13:17 via
  
  Qualcomm unveiled its Sense ID 3D fingerprint scanner at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It is the first biometric sensor to use ultrasonic technology to capture sweat pores a finger.
  
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• Fingerprint sensor sees through metal

  02-03-2015 13:10 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Qualcomm announces a new fingerprint sensor that uses sound waves, which can scan through glass, metal and hand lotion.
  
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• SpaceX rocket lifts off with world's first all-electric satellites

  02-03-2015 12:57 via
  
  A SpaceX rocket has lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida (shown). It carried with it the world's first all-electric satellites. The two spacecraft will reach their desired orbit in August of this year.
  
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• Was Richard III buried next to a holy woman to speed his journey to heaven?

  02-03-2015 12:46 via
  
  Archaeologists discovered the bones of a woman who died in her 60s inside a lead coffin and stone sarcophagus just feet from the grave where Richard III's remains were discovered in Leicester.
  
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• Was Richard III buried next to a mysterious holy woman to speed his journey to heaven? Praying for soul of wealthy benefactor bought time out in purgatory

  02-03-2015 12:22 via
  
  Archaeologists discovered the bones of a woman who died in her 60s inside a lead coffin and stone sarcophagus just feet from the grave where Richard III's remains were discovered in Leicester.
  
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• Fujitsu iris scanner uses infrared light to unlock your phone and accounts

  02-03-2015 12:17 via
  
  The technology recognises iris patterns by shining infrared LED light onto the eyes. A prototype demo is on display at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
  
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• Blackphone 2 launched that are impossible to track

  02-03-2015 12:04 via
  
  The second-generation Blackphone 2 was announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It has a 5.5-inch screen and double the storage of the original handset.
  
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• Signs of spring 'shifting' in trees

  02-03-2015 11:54 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scientists say climate change will lead to a shift in the timing of when trees come into leaf in British woodlands.
  
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• Log into Facebook by STARING at your screen: Fujitsu iris scanner uses infrared light to unlock your phone and accounts

  02-03-2015 11:42 via
  
  The technology recognises iris patterns by shining infrared LED light onto the eyes. A prototype demo is on display at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
  
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• Has global warming had a POSITIVE impact on emperor penguins?

  02-03-2015 11:41 via
  
  Antarctic sea ice levels are currently perfect for emperor penguins, according to researchers, who have found the frozen continent has in the past been too cold for the largest penguin species
  
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• Blackphone is back! Privacy firm launches its next-generation range of 'spy' devices that are impossible to track 

  02-03-2015 11:07 via
  
  The second-generation Blackphone 2 was announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It has a 5.5-inch screen and double the storage of the original handset.
  
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• VIDEO: Baby orangutans need new mum

  02-03-2015 10:47 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Staff are hoping two Sumatran orangutans will find new mothers at Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset.
  
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• Samsung tries to get an edge on its rivals

  02-03-2015 10:37 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Rory's take on Samsung's new curved-screen phone
  
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• Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge with curved screen unveiled

  02-03-2015 09:31 via
  
  The Korean firm has ditched its plastic casing for both models and added a curved screen to the S6 Edge (Note Edge shown). Elsewhere, the phones both have 5.1-inch displays and 16MP cameras.
  
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• Ikea to launch wireless charging desks, tables and lamps

  02-03-2015 09:14 via
  
  The Swedish furniture giant revealed that the new collection will use Qi wireless technology to power-up compatible devices that are placed on or near the furniture.
  
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• Sony and Microsoft focus on price

  02-03-2015 09:02 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Sony and Microsoft reveal mid-range smartphones with features previously reserved for their top handsets at Mobile World Congress.
  
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• VIDEO: How tidal lagoon power plants work

  02-03-2015 08:57 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The BBC's Roger Harrabin has been to the site of one of six tidal lagoons planned in the UK to see how it would work.
  
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• Google camera zips along rainforest

  02-03-2015 07:55 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Google flew one of its Street View cameras down a zip wire in the Amazon rainforest to capture new images of the forest canopies.
  
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• First tree seeds for Doomsday vault

  02-03-2015 02:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Svalbard "Doomsday" seed vault, which protects the world's food crops, accepts its first consignment of seeds from forest tree species.
  
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• How do you solve a problem like the 'Beefalo'?

  02-03-2015 01:26 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The hybrid animal causing havoc in the Grand Canyon
  
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• VIDEO: 3D mapping Christ the Redeemer

  02-03-2015 01:08 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Drones and mapping software have been used to create an exact digital version of the famous Brazilian landmark.
  
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• 'Flying donkeys' coming to Africa

  02-03-2015 01:07 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Can cargo drones help plug Africa's transport gap?
  
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• Are humans getting cleverer?

  02-03-2015 01:03 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Are people getting more intelligent?
  
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