Sci-Tech news

• Vulcan Aerospace to get biggest plane in history off the ground

  17-04-2015 23:56 via
  
  The company will look after anproject to launch spacecraft and probes into orbit from of a huge carrier aircraft with a wingspan of 385ft (117 metres). The aircraft is currently being built in California.
  
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• SpaceX leaked video shows rocket landing and tipping over on a barge

  17-04-2015 23:56 via
  
  SpaceX had hoped to land the booster in one piece on a drone boat a few hundred miles off Florida's northeastern coast. Its main mission to deliver supplies to the ISS was completed today.
  
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• HBO issues takedown notices after Twitter app Periscope broadcasted Game of Thrones

  17-04-2015 23:56 via
  
  HBO has sent takedown notices to Periscope after users of the Twitter-owned live-streaming app were using it to broadcast the fifth-season premiere of Game of Thrones on Sunday night.
  
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• Periscope's piracy problems: HBO issues takedown notices after Twitter's app used to broadcast Game of Thrones

  17-04-2015 23:36 via
  
  HBO has sent takedown notices to Periscope after users of the Twitter-owned live-streaming app were using it to broadcast the fifth-season premiere of Game of Thrones on Sunday night.
  
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• Leaked video shows SpaceX rocket tipping over on a barge - and reveals just how close firm got to a perfect landing

  17-04-2015 23:16 via
  
  SpaceX had hoped to land the booster in one piece on a drone boat a few hundred miles off Florida's northeastern coast. Its main mission to deliver supplies to the ISS was completed today.
  
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• The uncontacted tribe who could help us beat disease: First study of bacteria living on Amazon villagers reveal how much the modern world has changed us

  17-04-2015 22:57 via
  
  San Diego researchers say the results show just how modern lifestyles and diets have changed us -  and that thebacteria they found could be potentially beneficial to modern society.
  
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• Paul Allen launches 'Vulcan Aerospace': Microsoft founder says new company will get biggest plane in history off the ground - and it could launch astronauts into space

  17-04-2015 22:39 via
  
  The company will look after anproject to launch spacecraft and probes into orbit from of a huge carrier aircraft with a wingspan of 385ft (117 metres). The aircraft is currently being built in California.
  
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• Brain scans reveal rebellious attitude caused by separation from parents

  17-04-2015 22:14 via
  
  Scientists at the University of Southern California made the discovery after recording images of teenage brains as they responded to videos of peers and, separately, videos of their parents.
  
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• Supplement that makes frogs frisky might work in humans

  17-04-2015 22:07 via
  
  A supplement added to water has been found to boost reproduction in frogs, fish and other creatures - and London researchers say it might work for humans too.
  
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• What really goes on in a troubled teenagers head: Brain scans reveal rebellious attitude is caused by separation from parents

  17-04-2015 20:50 via
  
  Scientists at the University of Southern California made the discovery after recording images of teenage brains as they responded to videos of peers and, separately, videos of their parents.
  
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• Instagram cracks down on buttock pictures to curb porn and harassment 

  17-04-2015 20:50 via
  
  The app has banned 'close-ups of fully nude buttocks' and has also changed its rules on harassment, spelling out 'serious threats of harm to public and personal safely aren't allowed.'
  
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• Solar Impulse stuck in China as winds halt round-the-world flight

  17-04-2015 20:34 via
  
  Swiss pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg are having to wait to continue their groundbreaking flight. The plane (pictured) has been grounded in Chongqing for two and a half weeks.
  
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• Insects may be nutritious but not alternative to meat

  17-04-2015 20:25 via
  
  Scientists at the University of California, Davis, say the issue of incorporating insects into western diets is more complex than previously thought.
  
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• Did our ancestors hunt in PACKS? 1.5 million year old Homo erectus footprints hint at prehistoric hunting parties

  17-04-2015 19:56 via
  
  Researchers at the American Museum of Natural History in New York studied 99 footprints found in Ileret, northwest Kenya, that are the oldest human tracks to be discovered in the world.
  
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• New species of glass frog has transparent skin and Kermit's eyes

  17-04-2015 19:05 via
  
  The creature, named Hyalinobatrachium dianae was found in the mountains of eastern Costa Rica and has a distinctive call.
  
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• A ribbiting discovery! New species of glass frog has transparent skin to reveal its organs - and Kermit's eyes

  17-04-2015 18:26 via
  
  The creature, named Hyalinobatrachium dianae was found in the mountains of eastern Costa Rica and has a distinctive call.
  
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• Cephlopods control body and arms with different parts of their brain

  17-04-2015 17:25 via
  
  Biologists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel used high speed videos of octopuses (pictured) crawling over objects to study how the animals move.
  
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• Hubble at 25: Nasa celebrates upcoming milestone of the world's greatest telescope by releasing an image for each of its years

  17-04-2015 16:31 via
  
  Washington DC-based Nasa has revealed 25 of the the 25 greatest Hubble Space Telescope images, to celebrate its 25th anniversary in space. Shown are the Pillars of Creation, by Hubble.
  
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• Star Wars droid BB-8's ball body can move in any direction but how does it work?

  17-04-2015 16:10 via
  
  The robot, called BB-8 stars in the eagerly anticipated film Star Wars: The Force Awakens and took to the stage at Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, California.
  
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• Images show fish avoiding the jaws of a shark in their midst

  17-04-2015 16:10 via
  
  The photographs of reef sharks swimming though a shoal of fish were capturedin the shallow waters of Heron Island in Queensland, Australia.
  
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• Doctor Who movie mooted in Sony leak

  17-04-2015 16:03 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Plans for a Doctor Who movie and George Clooney's email address are among the details posted on WikiLeaks, following last year's cyber-attack on Sony Pictures.
  
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• 'Eternal' camera takes endless snaps

  17-04-2015 15:13 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A camera powered by the light it uses to take pictures has been invented by American scientists.
  
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• Demand for rubber 'threatens forests'

  17-04-2015 14:46 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The global demand for rubber tyres is threatening protected forests in Southeast Asia, according to a study.
  
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• Endure Survival Pen can light fires, launch a flare and even catch your dinner 

  17-04-2015 14:29 via
  
  The Endure Survival Pen was designed by Californian Nolan Brundige. As well as a flare launcher, the titanium pen contains a metal rod that can be used to make sparks and in turn a fire.
  
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• Dawn spacecraft captures sunlit glimpse of Ceres' north pole

  17-04-2015 14:29 via
  
  Nasa scientists in California have released new images of Ceres (shown). They were taken by the Dawn spacecraft from a distance of 21,000 miles (33,000km).
  
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• Chinese CYG-11 craft that can fly or 'float' on a cushion of air above the sea

  17-04-2015 14:12 via
  
  The Hainan Yingge Wing in Ground Effect Craft Manufacturing Company in Hainan, China, tested two prototype sea planes off the coast of Haikou that have been developed in a CNY5 billion project.
  
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• Ice formations at peak of Mount Washington rivals any landscape from Game of Thrones

  17-04-2015 14:06 via
  
  Rime ice forms the mountain in New Hampshire when water droplets freeze instantly on contact with the rock. The peak has experienced some of the highest wind speeds ever recorded.
  
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• Bear Grylls in a PEN: $100 ball-point can light fires, launch a flare and even catch your dinner 

  17-04-2015 14:06 via
  
  The Endure Survival Penwas designed by Californian Nolan Brundige. As well as a flare launcher, the titanium pen contains a metal rod that can be used to make sparks and in turn a fire.
  
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• '3D Cryosat' tracks Arctic winter ice

  17-04-2015 14:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Although Arctic sea ice set a record this year for its lowest ever satellite-observed winter extent - that was not the case for its volume, new data reveals.
  
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• Biblical character painted on 14th century document resembles Star Wars' YODA

  17-04-2015 13:47 via
  
  The medieval manuscript was written and illustrated in France between 1300 and 1340 and shows a character from the Biblical tale of Samson, which bears a striking resemblance to Yoda.
  
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• Zuckerberg defends Internet.org

  17-04-2015 13:37 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg defends the aims of his free Internet.org service after several Indian firms pull out of the project.
  
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• Inventions for 'everyday emergencies' tackle full car parks and dead phone batteries

  17-04-2015 13:27 via
  
  EXCLUSIVE: Leeds-based Direct Line is running a competition called #EverydayFix. They asked groups to design products to deal with common problems, such as locking the door (shown).
  
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• US schools seek Apple iPad refunds

  17-04-2015 12:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Schools in Los Angeles seek refunds from Apple and others over a $1.3bn (£870m) iPad-based education project that has gone awry.
  
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• Sleeping habits of the world revealed through Sleep Cycle app

  17-04-2015 12:41 via
  
  Data from 941,300 male and female Sleep Cycle app users revealed 6:09am is the earliest wake up time, in South Africa. While two thirds of countries spend the least amount of time in bed on Sundays.
  
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• Google launches handwriting for Android

  17-04-2015 12:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  If you own an Android phone, you'll now be able to handwrite a text or email using a new Google app.
  
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• The inventions for 'everyday emergencies': Designs tackle full car parks, forgotten keys and dead phone batteries

  17-04-2015 12:21 via
  
  EXCLUSIVE: Leeds-based Direct Line is running a competition called #EverydayFix. They asked groups to design products to deal with common problems, such as locking the door (shown).
  
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• Is YODA hidden in a Medieval manuscript? Biblical character painted on 14th century document resembles Star Wars hero

  17-04-2015 12:21 via
  
  The medieval manuscript was written and illustrated in France between 1300 and 1340 and shows a character from the Biblical tale of Samson, which bears a striking resemblance to Yoda.
  
  Read more

• Fewer drivers punished for mobile use

  17-04-2015 12:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The number of drivers given penalty points for using mobile phones at the wheel fell by 24% last year in England and Wales, police figures suggest.
  
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• Sleeping habits of the world revealed: The US wakes up grumpy, China has the best quality shut-eye and South Africa wakes up the earliest

  17-04-2015 11:35 via
  
  Data from 941,300 male and female Sleep Cycle app users revealed 6:09am is the earliest wake up time, in South Africa. While two thirds of countries spend the least amount of time in bed on Sundays.
  
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• US Navy's X-47B successfully completes first ever unmanned refuelling test in mid-air

  17-04-2015 11:16 via
  
  The Salty Dog 502 vehicle, one of two Unmanned Carrier Air Vehicle demonstrators, plugged its in-flight refuelling (IFR) probe into the hose of an Omega Air KC-707 tanker off the coast of Maryland.
  
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• Nasa reveals it may use sparkling dust in place of mirrors to hunt for planets

  17-04-2015 11:16 via
  
  Houston-based Nasa says it plans to use lasers to align each glitter grain in the same direction, transforming the cloud of shimmering dust into a reflective surface.
  
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• Smart waders go fishing for science

  17-04-2015 10:25 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scientists are developing smartphone-connected waders that fly-fishing enthusiasts could wear to help them find their catch, but also to collect key data about water properties.
  
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• Astronomers say Roomba gadget interferes with sensitive telescopes

  17-04-2015 10:15 via
  
  This is according to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia who is objecting to proposals by iRobot to release a radio wave-guided lawnmower.
  
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• VIDEO: Use a loo roll to keep cables tidy

  17-04-2015 10:03 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Kate Russell has a novel way to keep your appliance cables neat and tidy.
  
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• VIDEO: Dead fish problem in Rio rowing lake

  17-04-2015 08:40 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Tonnes of dead fish are being removed from a lake in the centre of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, which is due to host rowing and canoeing events at the 2016 Olympic Games.
  
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• VIDEO: Russian polar bears debut in Sao Paulo

  17-04-2015 07:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Two Russian polar bears make their debut at Sao Paulo's Aquarium, as the only members of their species in the country.
  
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• Stunning maps let you explore every crater of the moon

  17-04-2015 04:43 via
  
  The maps, compiled by cartographer Trent Hare at the US Geological Survey, include image mosaics and topographical views of lunar features such as the 'Ocean of Storms' and Mare Orientale.
  
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• The drone that never has to land: US Navy's X-47B successfully completes first ever unmanned refuelling test in mid-air

  17-04-2015 03:42 via
  
  The Salty Dog 502 vehicle, one of two Unmanned Carrier Air Vehicle demonstrators, plugged its in-flight refuelling (IFR) probe into the hose of an Omega Air KC-707 tanker off the coast of Maryland.
  
  Read more

• Could giant 'glitter' clouds help us find alien worlds? Nasa reveals it may use sparkling dust in place of mirrors to hunt for planets

  17-04-2015 03:42 via
  
  Houston-based Nasa says it plans to use lasers to align each glitter grain in the same direction, transforming the cloud of shimmering dust into a reflective surface.
  
  Read more

• VIDEO: The car that drives sideways

  17-04-2015 02:19 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC Click's LJ Rich looks at some of the best of the week's technology news
  
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