Sci-Tech news

• The AI robot that just wants to be your friend: $99 Musio can control your home, help you answer email - and even give you a hug

  01-06-2015 23:44 via
  
  Called Musio, the Android powered robot can learn its owners preferences, helping them with everything from email to keeping an apartment cool.
  
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• 8% of Americans now have a drinking problem and only Brits drink more

  01-06-2015 23:36 via
  
  The world's first comprehensive report on global addictions revealed the shocking figure, and found 68.9 per cent of in the US drank at least once a year.
  
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• Special forces soldiers to get personal drones

  01-06-2015 23:12 via
  
  Army Special Forces are testing the tiny 'black hornet' drones, which are small enough to fit onto a utility belt, and can fly about a kilometer and stay aloft more than 25 minutes.
  
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• What are these strange blue 'pools' on Mars? Esa claims mystery patches are simply an optical illusion caused by WIND

  01-06-2015 22:28 via
  
  The blue areas, which can be seen within ragged Martian craters, are actually dark sediments that have built up over time as a result of ferocious winds that can reach 60mph (100km/h).
  
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• Mysterious turquoise light shaped like a UFO appears in the sky over Holland

  01-06-2015 22:20 via
  
  Nature blogger Harry Perton was snapping pictures of a storm in Groningen in the Netherlands, when the captured a shot of what appears to be a UFO floating across the sky.
  
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• Number of animal species worldwide may have been 'greatly exaggerated'

  01-06-2015 21:49 via
  
  Experts from Griffith University, Australia used a new method of estimating species numbers by examining the body size of beetles (pictured) and insects.
  
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• Early humans piled on the fat but lost muscle mass as they evolved 

  01-06-2015 21:49 via
  
  Anthropologists at the University of California, Santa Cruz suggest early humans put on weight after their split with the common ancestor we shared with bonobos and chimps.
  
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• Britain's oldest sauropod dinosaur found in Yorkshire is called 'Alan'

  01-06-2015 21:49 via
  
  The fossilised backbone fell from a cliff in Whitby in Yorkshire and adds to existing evidence, such as Yorkshire's dinosaur tracks, that the region was once Britain’s ‘Jurassic World'.
  
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• America's alcohol crisis: Researchers warn 8% of population now have a drinking problem - and only the British drink more

  01-06-2015 21:49 via
  
  The world's first comprehensive report on global addictions revealed the shocking figure, and found 68.9 per cent of in the US drank at least once a year.
  
  Read more

• 'Explosion of organisms' on Earth may have begun earlier than first thought 

  01-06-2015 21:49 via
  
  University of North Carolina scientists say two stages in the origin of life (illustrated) occurred. Previously it was thought RNA arose by itself 3.6 billion years ago, now they think proteins played part.
  
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• 'Virgin births' spotted in endangered sawfish in Florida

  01-06-2015 21:49 via
  
  The researchers carried out DNA fingerprinting of sawfish (pictured) in a Florida estuary. This analysis revealed around 3% of the sawfish in their studies are products of parthenogenesis.
  
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• Did hunter-gatherers smoke marijuana to stay healthy? Ancient humans developed a taste for cannabis because it kill parasites, claims study

  01-06-2015 20:39 via
  
  This is according to a Washington State University study on cannabis use among the Aka foragers, a pygmy people of the Congo basin and one of the world's last hunter-gatherers.
  
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• Special forces soldiers to get personal drones: 'Elite squads' testing tiny stealth spy craft that fits in the palm of a hand

  01-06-2015 19:29 via
  
  Army Special Forces are testing the tiny 'black hornet' drones, which are small enough to fit onto a utility belt, and can fly about a kilometer and stay aloft more than 25 minutes.
  
  Read more

• Windows 10 to be released in July

  01-06-2015 19:16 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Microsoft reveals that its next-generation operating system, Windows 10, will be made available from next month - earlier than many expected.
  
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• Climate change is bringing rain to Africa, 30 years after Live Aid

  01-06-2015 19:12 via
  
  Researchers at Reading University say that an increase in man made greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has triggered a return of crucial seasonal rains to the Sahel region of Africa.
  
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• Hola rocked by botnet accusations

  01-06-2015 18:53 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Virtual private network Hola downplays concerns that its 47 million users could become part of a massive botnet used for illegal activity.
  
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• UK police data requests revealed

  01-06-2015 18:47 via bbc.co.uk
  
  British police forces made 733,237 requests to view personal text, email, phone and web search data over a three-year period, according to a new report.
  
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• Lifestyle lift could replace stairlifts in homes

  01-06-2015 18:31 via
  
  A Cheshire-based company has created a lift to use at home. Called the Lifestyle lift (shown) it costs between £13,000 and £15,000. It has a Star Trek 'look' to it and can hold two people at once.
  
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• Climate change is HELPING Africa because greenhouse gases are bringing rain to areas that have suffered drought for decades, says new study

  01-06-2015 17:43 via
  
  Researchers at Reading University say that an increase in man made greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has triggered a return of crucial seasonal rains to the Sahel region of Africa.
  
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• Self-driving SUPERCAR: Audi unveils electric R8 e-tron that reaches 60mph in 3.9 seconds

  01-06-2015 17:05 via
  
  Audi has revealed what could be the fastestself-driving car to be built at the at the Consumer Electronics Show in Shanghai. It has two electric motors and a top speed of 155mph.
  
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• Solar Impulse lands safely in Japan

  01-06-2015 17:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Solar Impulse, the zero-fuel aeroplane, lands in Japan after being forced to abort a Pacific crossing due to deteriorating weather ahead of it.
  
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• Chinese researchers at Tzekwan Technology unveil face-recognition ATM machine

  01-06-2015 16:48 via
  
  Chinese engineers have developed a cash machine that uses facial features to identify card owners. The device has passed certification and will be used in the market place soon.
  
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• Human evolution made us afraid of the night, not the dark

  01-06-2015 16:06 via
  
  Scientists in China say we are afraid of the night, not of the dark (stock image shown). They said our bodies become more vigilant and jumpy at night, a remnant of our ancestors.
  
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• 'UK's oldest' sauropod confirmed

  01-06-2015 16:02 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Britain's oldest sauropod dinosaur is identified from a fossil bone discovered on the North Yorkshire coast, experts reveal.
  
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• Star Trek-style elevator Lifestyle lift could replace stairlifts in homes

  01-06-2015 15:57 via
  
  A Cheshire-based company has created a lift to use at home. Called the Lifestyle lift (shown) it costs between £13,000 and £15,000. It has a Star Trek 'look' to it and can hold two people at once.
  
  Read more

• Millennials least religous group in recent history, study claims

  01-06-2015 15:41 via
  
  Researchers led by psychology professor Jean Twenge from San Diego State University, said their study may be the largest ever conducted on changes in Americans' religious involvement.
  
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• Intel snaps up Altera in $16bn deal

  01-06-2015 15:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The world's biggest chipmaker, Intel, has agreed to buy smaller rival Altera in a $16.7bn deal.
  
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• Will millennials be the last religious generation? Teenagers are the least god-fearing group in recent history, study claims

  01-06-2015 15:12 via
  
  Researchers led by psychology professor Jean Twenge from San Diego State University, said their study may be the largest ever conducted on changes in Americans' religious involvement.
  
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• Beam me up(stairs) Scotty! Star Trek-style elevator could replace stairlifts in homes

  01-06-2015 15:12 via
  
  A Cheshire-based company has created a lift to use at home. Called the Lifestyle lift (shown) it costs between £13,000 and £15,000. It has a Star Trek 'look' to it and can hold two people at once.
  
  Read more

• Genetic variant enhances how people react to funny - and sad - situations

  01-06-2015 15:00 via
  
  In the study by Northwestern University in Illinois, the researchers looked at short and long alleles - or variants - of the gene 5-HTTLPR.
  
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• Google overhauls privacy settings

  01-06-2015 14:48 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Google creates a new privacy settings hub and interactive tool to help users control what information it gathers about them.
  
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• LightSail spacecraft 'phones home' after losing contact in orbit

  01-06-2015 14:48 via
  
  LightSail, run by Californian organisation The Planetary Society, has successfully been rebooted in Earth orbit. The spacecraft (illustrated) had gone silent since launching on 20 May.
  
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• Archaeologists use lasers and 3D models to reveal hidden details in fossils

  01-06-2015 14:48 via
  
  US scientists are using lasers to find never-before-seen details in fossils (pictured), while archaeologists are using augmented reality, scans and 3D printers to recreate the past in a new way.
  
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• EE and BBC test app that broadcasts sporting events on mobiles from multiple angles

  01-06-2015 14:39 via
  
  The technology (shown) was tested at the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London between Arsenal and Aston Villa - and EE hopes to make it widely available in time for next year's final.
  
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• Is your CAT making your child stupid? Mind-controlling feline parasite is linked to poor memory and reading skills

  01-06-2015 14:30 via
  
  Researchers at the University of Florida Iowa and Florida International University found that children infected with Toxoplasma gondii (pictured) scored less well in key cognitive tests.
  
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• Get the giggles easily? Blame your genes: Genetic variant enhances how people react to funny - and sad - situations

  01-06-2015 14:30 via
  
  In the study by Northwestern University in Illinois, the researchers looked at short and long alleles - or variants - of the gene 5-HTTLPR.
  
  Read more

• Ben Gilliland's book describes the universe as a 'cosmic LOAF' and 95% formed

  01-06-2015 14:10 via
  
  Ben Gilliland from the UK has released a book about the universe. It details some amazing bits of science taking place in the cosmos, such as the universe is layered like a 'loaf' (illustrated).
  
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• 'Tweeting' seals chart the oceans

  01-06-2015 14:07 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A decade of information about the world's harshest seas has been gathered together from specially tagged wandering seals.
  
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• Scientists probe antelope deaths

  01-06-2015 14:03 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Around half the world's Saiga antelope have died suddenly in Kazakhstan since May 10th, possibly due to stomach bacteria turning on their hosts.
  
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• British police spy on Britons' phone records, texts and emails every TWO minutes

  01-06-2015 14:01 via
  
  Between 2012 and 2014, police forces requested access to communications data stored by mobile phone operators and internet firms 733,237 times – the equivalent of 28 requests an hour.
  
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• The exquisite pain of life-changing throwaways

  01-06-2015 13:53 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The pain of throwing away something valuable
  
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• Microsoft's Windows 10 to launch on 29 July

  01-06-2015 13:34 via
  
  The Washington-based firm said users will have one year from 29 July to take advantage of the free upgrade. The free upgrade only applies to people currently running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
  
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• LightSail is back! Revolutionary solar sail spacecraft 'phones home' after losing contact for more than a week in orbit 

  01-06-2015 13:26 via
  
  LightSail, run by Californian organisation The Planetary Society, has successfully been rebooted in Earth orbit. The spacecraft (illustrated) had gone silent since launching on 20 May.
  
  Read more

• Indiana Jones eat your heart out! Archaeologists use lasers and 3D models to reveal hidden details in fossils

  01-06-2015 13:26 via
  
  US scientists are using lasers to find never-before-seen details in fossils (pictured), while archaeologists are using augmented reality, scans and 3D printers to recreate the past in a new way.
  
  Read more

• Rare Apple I computer discarded

  01-06-2015 12:46 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A San Francisco recycling centre is seeking a woman who may have handed over a rare Apple I computer by mistake.
  
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• Tiny 'origami' robot walks, swims and self-destructs: Magnetic folding device could soon help perform surgery inside the body

  01-06-2015 12:42 via
  
  The robot, which imeasures 1.7cm (0.6 inches) long, was developed by MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
  
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• Solar Impulse 2 grounded in Japan over bad weather

  01-06-2015 12:42 via
  
  Powered by the rays of the sun alone, Solar Impulse 2 took off for the 5,079 mile flight to Hawaii from Nanjing, China, early yesterday. But bad weather in Japan has forced it to land,
  
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• Windows 10 release date revealed: Microsoft will launch its free software to 190 countries on 29 July

  01-06-2015 12:16 via
  
  The Washington-based firm said users will have one year from 29 July to take advantage of the free upgrade. The free upgrade only applies to people currently running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
  
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• Nasa's Dawn spacecraft captures its best view of Ceres yet - but the cause of the 'alien' flashes remains a mystery

  01-06-2015 12:16 via
  
  Nasa scientists in California released the shot, which was taken by Dawn from a distance of 3,200 miles (5,100km), and shows craters caused by 're-impact' (pictured).
  
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• Police try to spy on calls, texts and emails every TWO minutes

  01-06-2015 11:30 via
  
  Between 2012 and 2014, police forces requested access to communications data stored by mobile phone operators and internet firms 733,237 times – the equivalent of 28 requests an hour.
  
  Read more

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