Sci-Tech news

• The Tricorder is here: Gadget that works with a phone to study the chemical makeup of ANY object will be released in June

  01-04-2015 23:19 via
  
  Unispectral Technologies and Tel Aviv University, who are behind the system, say it works by analysing a materials 'hyperspectral signature', which is its unique chemical fingerprint.
  
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• VIDEO: Snowden's smashed laptop on show

  01-04-2015 23:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The laptop used to store top-secret documents leaked by National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden has gone on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
  
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• VIDEO: Snowden's smashed laptop goes on show

  01-04-2015 23:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The laptop used to store top-secret documents leaked by National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden has gone on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
  
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• Are gifs set to be the new Emoji? App adds animated images to Facebook's Messenger

  01-04-2015 22:32 via
  
  Camoji is one of the first apps to take advantage of Facebook's decision to open up Messenger, revealed at its recent f8 conference in San Francisco.
  
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• Tropical storm Maysak photographed by ISS astronauts

  01-04-2015 22:21 via
  
  Italian Esa astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and US astronaut Terry Virts have snapped images of super typhoon Maysak (shown). They took them from the ISS while orbiting Earth.
  
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• Do YOU have 'geographic tongue'? Physicists shed light on bizarre condition that makes the tongue look like a map 

  01-04-2015 21:46 via
  
  Physicists at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel used equations to reveal how the condition can form such strange patterns such as ovals, spirals (pictured) and 'continents'.
  
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• Fossil fuels could trigger mass extinction as CO2 emissions rise

  01-04-2015 21:22 via
  
  The study, led by Southampton University, claims a catastrophic condition called 'marine photic zone euxinia' is being created by the release of CO2 from fossil fuels.
  
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• Could this 'gold mine' of galaxies explain how the universe took shape? Cosmic mystery may be answered by amazing discovery

  01-04-2015 21:02 via
  
  Data from two European space telescope missions - Planck and Herschel - has identified some of the oldest and rarest clusters of galaxies in the distant cosmos (shown as black dots in image).
  
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• 'Little Foot' fossil sheds light on early human forerunners

  01-04-2015 20:41 via
  
  Scientists have revealed a sophisticated new dating
  technique shows that Little Foot, an important fossil of an early human forerunner unearthed in the 1990s in South Africa, is roughly 3.7 million years old.
  
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• Ratchet boots make walking 7% easier

  01-04-2015 20:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Engineers create unpowered exoskeleton "boots" that use a spring and a ratchet to make human walking 7% more efficient.
  
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• Animals sing like a songbird to attract mates but humans can't hear them Duke University finds

  01-04-2015 19:56 via
  
  Male mice sing like birds to serenade prospective mates, Duke researchers have found - however, theirmusical sounds are too high pitched for humans to hear.
  
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• Conifer cousin produces insect-attracting droplets at full moon

  01-04-2015 19:48 via
  
  Experts from Stockholm University studied Ephedra foeminea (pictured) in Greece and Croatia where they found that it released sweet droplets to coincide with the full moon.
  
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• Rain DOESN'T make us miserable: Study finds sunny days are more likely to make us sad - but the effect is minimal

  01-04-2015 19:31 via
  
  Contrary to popular belief rain makes us miserable (stock image), a study from Westminster University found the weather plays a minor role in our emotions, by comparing data between 1991 and 2008.
  
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• Generous welfare benefits make people MORE likely to work, study claims

  01-04-2015 18:49 via
  
  Researchers from Oslo and Akershus University College found that the more a country paid to the unemployed or sick the more likely people were to want a job.
  
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• Could we get to Mars in 39 DAYS? Nasa selects companies to develop super fast deep-space engine

  01-04-2015 18:27 via
  
  Nasa has selected a variety of companies to work on advanced space projects, including a faster method of propulsion known as Vasimr (illustrated), developed by Ad Astra in Texas.
  
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• Apple win patent to unlock your iPhone with a SELFIE

  01-04-2015 18:27 via
  
  The patent (illustrated) was filed by the California-based firm in March 2011. It details a method of scanning a user's face using a front-facing camera when phone is moved into a certain position.
  
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• China cracks down on explicit anime

  01-04-2015 18:16 via bbc.co.uk
  
  China says it will create a "blacklist" of banned Japanese anime cartoons, and plans to punish firms that hosted violent and sexual clips online.
  
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• Ancient structure in Indonesia could be the world's oldest pyramid

  01-04-2015 17:59 via
  
  The megalithic site of Gunung Padang is nestled among volcanoes, banana palms and tea plantations, at 2,903 ft (885 metres) above sea level some 75 miles (120km) south of Jakarta, Java.
  
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• 3D scans can tell your REAL biological age

  01-04-2015 17:59 via
  
  Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing have found patterns of ageing based on certain facial features that can be seen using a camera called the 3dMDface System.
  
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• How Google makes you feel smarter than you are

  01-04-2015 17:35 via
  
  Yale researchers say the increasing reliance on Google and other search engines to answers questions is affecting our own perception of what we know.
  
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• VIDEO: Amazon's 'Dash' buttons explained

  01-04-2015 17:25 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Amazon has unveiled a button that can be placed around the home - and will replenish items when pressed.
  
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• Obama creates cyber sanctions

  01-04-2015 16:48 via bbc.co.uk
  
  President Barack Obama has ordered the creation of a programme that would allow the US government to sanction foreign hackers.
  
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• Study finds freak frequencies outside the Milky Way ALL form unexplained multiples of 187.5

  01-04-2015 16:21 via
  
  Known as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), just 10 have been discovered -and German researchers say they all contain a strange patttern.
  
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• Chart reveals how the Big Dipper will become the BIG DUCK in 100,000 years

  01-04-2015 16:09 via
  
  Graphic designer Martin Vargic from Slovakia, has created new charts for how the distinctive constellations will change over the next 100,000 years.
  
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• Scientists reveal thousands of bacteria colonies growing on coins and notes

  01-04-2015 15:36 via
  
  Students from the University of Surrey found thousands of bacteria colonies living on their money - but most of it was harmless.
  
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• Påhoj is a bike seat that doubles up as a BUGGY

  01-04-2015 15:36 via
  
  Påhoj (pictured) was made by Swedish designer Lycke von Schantz. It has a 'lightweight chassis' and is 3.2ft (1 metre) tall. The product will launch on Kickstarter next week but prices are not yet known.
  
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• China building a 'great wall of SAND' and experts warn it is a 'severe threat' to marine life

  01-04-2015 15:36 via
  
  China is creating a 'great wall of sand' in the South China Sea (one island pictured), the US Navy has claimed. The latest huge land mass is 1.5 square miles (four square kilometres) in size.
  
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• Red Lady of El Mirón bones stained in 'blood-like' paint baffle archaeologists

  01-04-2015 15:11 via
  
  The Red Lady's remains (burial site shown) were found in the El Mirón Cave in Spain. Radiocarbon dating suggests she was buried 18,700 years ago when she was between 35 and 40 years old.
  
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• Forget aliens, meet the 'INTRAterrestrials': Strange new viruses discovered beneath the ocean floor

  01-04-2015 15:11 via
  
  Scientists at the University of California Santa Barbara discovered a new virus that infects archae bacteria (shown in the graphic pictured) that live off methane below the surface of the ocean.
  
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• This money needs laundering! Scientists reveal the thousands of bacteria colonies growing on dirty coins and notes

  01-04-2015 14:48 via
  
  Students from the University of Surrey found thousands of bacteria colonies living on their money - but most of it was harmless.
  
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• The bike seat that doubles up as a BUGGY: Påhoj makes taking your children out easier

  01-04-2015 14:48 via
  
  Påhoj (pictured) was made by Swedish designer Lycke von Schantz. It has a 'lightweight chassis' and is 3.2ft (1 metre) tall. The product will launch on Kickstarter next week but prices are not yet known.
  
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• China building a 'great wall of SAND': Coral reefs are being turned into artificial islands - and experts warn it is a 'severe threat' to marine life

  01-04-2015 14:48 via
  
  China is creating a 'great wall of sand' in the South China Sea (one island pictured), the US Navy has claimed. The latest huge land mass is 1.5 square miles (four square kilometres) in size.
  
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• Google reveals computer-on-a-stick

  01-04-2015 14:31 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Google announces that a range of computer-on-a-sticks and laptops costing as low as $149 (£101) are joining its range of Chrome OS devices.
  
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• Will the iPhone 7 finally last all day? Apple recruits battery experts

  01-04-2015 14:24 via
  
  Fan site AppleInsider has spotted nine listings on the Californian firm's job site that relate to batteries. These include an iOS battery life software engineer and power systems engineer.
  
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• Glow-in-the-dark TAMPONS shed light on water pollution

  01-04-2015 14:24 via
  
  Engineers at the University of Sheffield found that the cotton products absorb chemicals commonly used on toilet paper and detergent, which glow under UV light.
  
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• Experiments reveal how collagen straightens and stretches when pulled

  01-04-2015 14:24 via
  
  Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California used skin samples from dead rabbits to study the microscopic changes that make it resistant to tears.
  
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• Third lunar eclipse of the Tetrad to make night sky glow red this weekend

  01-04-2015 14:00 via
  
  Saturday’s total lunar eclipse, which will turn the moon a burnt reddish orange, will be visible in in the skies of North America, Asia and Australia (an image from the last blood moon event is shown).
  
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• Mystery of the Red Lady of El Mirón: 19,000-year-old bones stained in sparkling 'blood-like' paint baffle archaeologists

  01-04-2015 14:00 via
  
  The Red Lady's remains (burial site shown) were found in the El Mirón Cave in Spain. Radiocarbon dating suggests she was buried 18,700 years ago when she was between 35 and 40 years old.
  
  Read more

• Tech sites lead on April Fools gags

  01-04-2015 13:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Force - the mysterious energy field used by the Jedi in Star Wars - has been 'discovered' by researchers at the Cern laboratory in an April Fools prank.
  
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• Why your skin is so tough: Revolting experiments reveal how collagen straightens and stretches when pulled

  01-04-2015 13:34 via
  
  Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California used skin samples from dead rabbits to study the microscopic changes that make it resistant to tears.
  
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• Gamers found to learn more quickly than those who don't play

  01-04-2015 13:34 via
  
  Playing video games (stock image shown) makes you better at learning tasks than non-gamers, a study by Brown University in Rhode Island has claimed.
  
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• Third lunar eclipse of the year to make night sky glow red this weekend

  01-04-2015 13:12 via
  
  Saturday’s total lunar eclipse, which will turn the moon a burnt reddish orange, will be visible in in the skies of North America, Asia and Australia (an image from the last blood moon event is shown).
  
  Read more

• Glow-in-the-dark TAMPONS shed light on water pollution: Cotton care products used with UV light detect sewage in rivers

  01-04-2015 13:12 via
  
  Engineers at the University of Sheffield found that the cotton products absorb chemicals commonly used on toilet paper and detergent, which glow under UV light.
  
  Read more

• Do video games make you SMARTER? Gamers found to learn more quickly than those who don't play

  01-04-2015 13:12 via
  
  Playing video games (stock image shown) makes you better at learning tasks than non-gamers, a study by Brown University in Rhode Island has claimed.
  
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• EU milk quota system is abolished

  01-04-2015 12:28 via bbc.co.uk
  
  EU milk quotas are scrapped, bringing an end to more than 30 years of efforts to prevent overproduction.
  
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• Easter 'blood moon' approaches: Third lunar eclipse of the year set to make night sky glow red this weekend

  01-04-2015 12:24 via
  
  Saturday’s total lunar eclipse, which will turn the moon a burnt reddish orange, will be visible in in the skies of North America, Asia and Australia (an image from the last blood moon event is shown).
  
  Read more

• Will the iPhone 7 finally last a full day? Apple launches recruitment drive for iOS battery and power experts

  01-04-2015 11:58 via
  
  Fan site AppleInsider has spotted nine listings on the Californian firm's job site that relate to batteries. These include an iOS battery life software engineer and power systems engineer.
  
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• The fault in our stars: Chart reveals how the Big Dipper will become the BIG DUCK in 100,000 years as we travel through the Milky Way

  01-04-2015 11:58 via
  
  Graphic designer Martin Vargic from Slovakia, has created new charts for how the distinctive constellations will change over the next 100,000 years.
  
  Read more

• Bees prefer cities to farmland says Reading University researcher

  01-04-2015 11:58 via
  
  We think of them as thriving in wildflower meadows and rolling fields. But new research by Reading University suggests Britain’s bees are happier near towns and cities (Paris shown).
  
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• Facebook attacks data use criticisms

  01-04-2015 11:30 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Facebook has reacted angrily to a report that said it may be in breach of EU privacy laws over its tracking policies.
  
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