Sci-Tech news

• The biggest rocket on Earth: Watch Nasa build the engine that could take man to Mars in two minute timelapse 

  28-05-2015 23:49 via
  
  Four RS-25 engines will power NASA’s new rocket, the Space Launch System, on missions to deep space, including to an asteroid and ultimately to Mars.
  
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• Google claims new version of Android could DOUBLE your battery life

  28-05-2015 23:49 via
  
  Google made dozens of announcements at its San Francisco I/O conference, including a 'tap and pay' system for Android and a new free photo storage system.
  
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• You really CAN get the X factor: Scientists find even adults can be taught to have perfect pitch - with results lasting months

  28-05-2015 23:29 via
  
  Musicians such as Mariah Carey naturally have perfect pitch, but it can also be learned. Training at the University of Chicago involved classifying 180 piano notes in 3, 60-note blocks.
  
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• Has the mystery of Star Wars BB8 droid been solved?

  28-05-2015 23:29 via
  
  Experts claim to have discovered a patent that shows exactly how the smart droid was able to be made as a real robot, using magnets to hold its 'head' in place as it moves.
  
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• VIDEO: Highlights from Google I/O 2015

  28-05-2015 23:19 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Google has shown off some of the functions of the next version of its Android mobile operating system.
  
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• Periscope 'changing house viewings'

  28-05-2015 23:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  An estate agent using a live video streaming app to conduct home viewings says he hopes the technology will help improve his profession's image.
  
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• Massive Chinese Divine Eagle drone pictured for first time

  28-05-2015 22:59 via
  
  Named the ‘Divine Eagle’, the drone is a high-altitude UAV that can detect stealth aircraft with radar. It reportedly flew in February, but this is the first time images of the drone have emerged.
  
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• Modern humans spread out of Africa from Egypt new study finds

  28-05-2015 22:03 via
  
  Geneticists at the University of Cambridge say they have finally proved whether the first modern humans (like the reconstruction pictured) to leave Africa travelled through Egypt or Ethiopia.
  
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• Have YOU drunk dinosaur urine? Every glass of water contains almost 100% Jurassic pee, claim scientists

  28-05-2015 21:46 via
  
  This is according to science YouTube channel, Curious Minds, which explains that the amount of water on the Earth has remained roughly the same for millions of years.
  
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• Google gives first peek at Android M

  28-05-2015 21:24 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Google reveals easier-to-control privacy permissions, greater support for fingerprint sensors and longer battery life in the next version of Android.
  
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• The Egyptian in all of us: First modern humans spread out of Africa into Europe and Asia from the Sinai peninsula

  28-05-2015 20:18 via
  
  Geneticists at the University of Cambridge say they have finally proved whether the first modern humans (like the reconstruction pictured) to leave Africa travelled through Egypt or Ethiopia.
  
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• Divine Eagle revealed: Massive Chinese 'stealth hunting' drone pictured for first time

  28-05-2015 20:18 via
  
  Named the ‘Divine Eagle’, the drone is a high-altitude UAV that can detect stealth aircraft with radar. It reportedly flew in February, but this is the first time images of the drone have emerged.
  
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• Food bug 'found in 73% of chickens'

  28-05-2015 19:18 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Nearly three-quarters of fresh shop-bought chickens test positive for food poisoning bug campylobacter in year-long study.
  
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• VIDEO: 'New species' of ancient human unearthed

  28-05-2015 18:55 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A new species of ancient human has been unearthed in the deserts of Ethiopia, after 3,500,000 years.
  
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• Life on Europa and the Queen's speech: Podcast 220

  28-05-2015 18:45
  
  
  Listen this week for an entertaining 45-minute look at the most interesting technology and science stories from the last seven days, with WIRED.co.uk's Michael Rundle, Liat Clark and James Temperton.
   By: Liat Clark, Continue reading...
  
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• Google unveils its latest Android: Watch live as search giant shows off new software and reveals its virtual reality plans

  28-05-2015 18:44 via
  
  Google is set to unveil the new version of its Android operating system as well as discuss driverless cars and virtual reality when its annual I/O developer conference begins today.
  
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• Home security just got personal: Flare recognises faces and fools burglars by playing the sound of dishes being washed

  28-05-2015 18:35 via
  
  The Flare security system, which can recognise faces and will record a break in as well as making noises to deter burglars, is the brainchild of a Berlin start-up.
  
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• Not quite smooth sailing! Revolutionary LightSail spacecraft knocked out by software glitch while in Earth orbit

  28-05-2015 17:59 via
  
  LightSail (illustration shown) was designed by Californian organisation The Planetary Society. It was launched last week and was intended to test solar sail technology, but is now unresponsive.
  
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• Home security gets personal: Flare recognises familiar faces and fools burglars by playing the sound of dishes being washed

  28-05-2015 17:59 via
  
  The Flare security system, which can recognise faces and will record a break in as well as making noises to deter burglars, is the brainchild of a Berlin start-up.
  
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• Fifa 16: Why the women jokes are wrong

  28-05-2015 17:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Why "jokes" about the addition of women players get it wrong
  
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• The smart trainer is here! Shoe that shows your MOOD and gives you directions among futuristic technologies unveiled by Lenovo

  28-05-2015 17:32 via
  
  Lenovo revealed the concepts at its first Tech World event in Beijing. Among the products were a pair of smart shoes that show your mood (pictured) and a smartwatch with a viewfinder.
  
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• Swiss cheese holes mystery solved and it's down to bits of straw

  28-05-2015 17:15 via
  
  In contrast to the old wives' tale, the holes in Switzerland-produced cheeses such as Emmental are not made by nibbling mice, but rather by tiny bits of hay present in the milk.
  
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• Really? Cynics earn less than their trusting colleagues - and being sceptical could stop you getting a promotion

  28-05-2015 17:15 via
  
  Researchers from the University of Cologne said that being too suspicious could hold people back because it prevents them from taking part in teamwork and asking for help when needed.
  
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• Need a concentration boost? Just look at this picture for 40 seconds

  28-05-2015 16:45 via
  
  Researchers from the University of Melbourne said that simply looking at nature from your desk for 40 seconds can boost your brainpower - even if it's just a picture.
  
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• Don Draper effect reveals how good looking men can get away with bad behaviour

  28-05-2015 16:37 via
  
  Psychologists at Eastern Kentucky University showed 170 women pictures of attractive and ugly men. Their findings explains why Mad Men's Don Draper (pictured) was so successful with women.
  
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• Pre-orders open for Huawei's smartwatch - and it's cheaper than expected: Unofficial sites are listing the stylish device for $387

  28-05-2015 16:37 via
  
  Huawei's Watch was first unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Rumours suggested it would cost $1,000 (£650) but listings on MobileFun.com (pictured) show $387 (£250).
  
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• Lorry full of Nintendo games stolen

  28-05-2015 16:27 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A lorry transporting Nintendo's new special edition of its popular Splatoon shooter game has been stolen.
  
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• Black hole seen 'playing billiards'

  28-05-2015 16:19 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A series of images captures two vast blobs of plasma, shot out by a black hole, cannoning into each other in a nearly light-speed cosmic collision.
  
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• Light uses energy from falling weight to illuminate homes without electricity 

  28-05-2015 15:50 via
  
  GravityLight, invented by designers in London, could provide light for 1.3 billion people in the world who live without electricity. The device can be hung from a ceiling and produce light for up to 30 minutes.
  
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• The light powered by GRAVITY: Lamp uses energy from falling weight to illuminate homes without electricity 

  28-05-2015 15:31 via
  
  GravityLight, invented by designers in London, could provide light for 1.3 billion people in the world who live without electricity. The device can be hung from a ceiling and produce light for up to 30 minutes.
  
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• 'Marauders Map' lets you stalk friends using Facebook Messenger

  28-05-2015 15:31 via
  
  Aran Khanna, a Computer Science and Mathematics student at Harvard, came up with the map (pictured) to explore how much data Messenger was revealing to people he chatted to.
  
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• What gives an accent its distinctive twang? Ultrasounds reveal the subtle mouth movements created by 48 dialects

  28-05-2015 14:53 via
  
  A team of scientists led by Glasgow University used ultrasound imaging equipment to study mouth movements of English speakers with distinctive accents (pictured).
  
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• Shazam Visual lets you scan posters and other images to watch film trailers, book tickets and more using your phone 

  28-05-2015 14:53 via
  
  The London-based company has today revealed 'Shazam Visual'. Users can use the app to scan posters with a Shazam logo (shown) or QR code to book tickets for an event, for example.
  
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• Women to feature in Fifa 16 game

  28-05-2015 14:34 via bbc.co.uk
  
  England are one of 12 teams included in the latest version of the Fifa computer game as women feature for the first time.
  
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• Graphic identifies source of your allergy to help you manage hayfever misery

  28-05-2015 13:59 via
  
  The UK Met Office recommends taking steps like closing your windows at night, drying clothes indoors, and showering after being outside during the peak season of plant pollen production.
  
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• 'Moose' worm targets home routers

  28-05-2015 13:56 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A malicious worm called moose that targets poorly protected home routers has been uncovered by security researchers.
  
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• GoPro to make a quadcopter drone

  28-05-2015 13:43 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The action camera-maker GoPro reveals plans to make its own quadcopter drone, and also unveils kit to aid virtual reality filmmakers.
  
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• Scavelo wheelchair uses rubber 'tank' tracks to climb STAIRS

  28-05-2015 13:15 via
  
  The Scalevo wheelchair (pictured) was built by engineering students at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. It uses rubber tracks to pull itself up staircases backwards.
  
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• Circuits made with tree fibres could lead to bendy, biodegradable phones

  28-05-2015 13:15 via
  
  The research was led by scientists from the University of Wisconson-Madison. They broke tree fibres down to a nano-scale to make the chip (shown in image).
  
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• Google to add 'buy button'

  28-05-2015 12:42 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Google has confirmed that it is to introduce a "buy button" to its search results imminently.
  
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• Lenovo phone beams virtual keyboard

  28-05-2015 12:27 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Chinese electronics giant Lenovo has unveiled a phone with a built-in laser projector that can be used to display a virtual keyboard or display.
  
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• 'Peacocking' males who splash the cash to impress women help boost the economy: Study finds link between sexual selection and economic growth

  28-05-2015 12:12 via
  
  Mathematicians in Australia have proposed that man's need to engage in conspicuous consumption, by buying luxury goods (illustrated) drives the economy.
  
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• Bill Gates fears a Spanish flu-like disease could wipe out 33 million people

  28-05-2015 12:12 via
  
  The philanthropist (pictured) originally made the comments at a conference in Berlin. He said the world must use the lessons from Ebola to prepare for any future 'war' against disease.
  
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• New York image shows the structures that will transform the city in 2030

  28-05-2015 12:02 via
  
  Created by VisualHouse art studio, the most obvious difference between today and 2030 will be 57th Street, which will host the tallest tower in the Western Hemisphere, Nordstrom Tower.
  
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• Hashtag symbol crowned 'word of the year' as young writers express feelings

  28-05-2015 10:52 via
  
  The University Oxford Press, which analysed more than 120,000 short stories, said there had been a huge increase in the use of both the word and the symbol # among those aged under 13.
  
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• InSight Mars lander could find out what lies beneath the red planet's surface

  28-05-2015 09:43 via
  
  Testing is now underway on Nasa's InSight lander, which will be the first mission devoted to understanding the interior structure of the red planet and is due to launch in September 2016.
  
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• How hashtag is now most #popular term for children: Symbol crowned 'word of the year' as young writers use it to express feelings

  28-05-2015 09:34 via
  
  The University Oxford Press, which analysed more than 120,000 short stories, said there had been a huge increase in the use of both the word and the symbol # among those aged under 13.
  
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• VIDEO: Why the Common Dolphin is becoming more common

  28-05-2015 09:26 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The BBC's John Maguire joins a scientific expedition that is studying the Common Dolphin population off the west coast of Scotland, and trying to find out why, until recently, it was quite a rare sight.
  
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• Earthquake experts rubbish video that claims a 9.8 tremor will hit California

  28-05-2015 08:41 via
  
  Dutch researcher, Frank Hoogerbeets, says the earthquake will strike when 'no less than five planetary alignments will converge with the Earth.' But experts say this is 'literally impossible'.
  
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• Will an earthquake hit California tomorrow? Experts rubbish viral video that claims a 9.8 tremor will devastate the West Coast

  28-05-2015 03:51 via
  
  Dutch researcher, Frank Hoogerbeets, says the earthquake will strike when 'no less than five planetary alignments will converge with the Earth.' But experts say this is 'literally impossible'.
  
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