Sci-Tech news

• Kepler space telescope spots 1,284 new planets

  10-05-2016 23:56 via go.theregister.com
  
  And nine of them are similar to Earth, says NASA It's barely been 30 years since NASA spotted its first planet outside our solar system but on Tuesday the agency reported its biggest collection of sightings to date – 1,284 confirmed planets, along with 1,327 additional probable sightings and 707 possibles.…
  
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• World's oldest hafted axe unearthed in Australia used by early Aborigines

  10-05-2016 23:44 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Researchers from the Australian National University have said the axe (pictured) dates to between 46,000 and 49,000 years ago, shortly after people first arrived in Australia.
  
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• Disney kills toys-to-life franchise 'Disney Infinity'

  10-05-2016 23:38
  
  Disney has pulled the plug on its toys to life franchise Disney Infinity, and will step out of the "self-published console games business" entirely. It will also close down the game's developer, Avalanche Software.By: Matt Kamen, Continue reading...
  
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• The way you write your emails could reveal you're hiding something

  10-05-2016 23:34 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The University of Maryland in College Park found keeping secrets causes people to become more social than normal. It also changes the types of words they use in messages.
  
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• X-37B approaches a year in space on its secret military mission

  10-05-2016 22:58 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The X-37B space plane launched from Florida on May 20, 2015. Theories have ranged from it being a space bomberto a clandestine probe on a mission to 'take out' spy satellites.
  
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• SpaceX and Blue Origin reveal new videos of their latest reusable rocket flights

  10-05-2016 22:55 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Two new videos show the SpaceX barge landing and Blue Origin's reusable rocket landing in Texas in new detail. They are the latest salvo in a battle between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.
  
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• Texting and talking is ok for adults but don't tweet from the table

  10-05-2016 22:45 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The University Of Michigan explored people's attitudes towards phone usage at the dinner table. They found it is not until someone is in their mid-20s does using a phone seem more acceptable.
  
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• Oakland experts believe staying friends with an ex is motivated by dark personality traits 

  10-05-2016 21:55 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Psychologists at Oakland University found people with dark personality traits were more likely to stay friends with an ex in case they need them for something and the chance of hooking up (illustrated).
  
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• Apple patents iPad case with its own touchscreen

  10-05-2016 21:37 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Apple’s latest patent describes an integrated iPad case. Images show it could display notifications or media controls for watching movies and transform into a Wacom-style drawing pad.
  
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• Kepler DOUBLES the amount of alien worlds it has found with 1,284 new planets as experts hail ‘new hope’ of finding a habitable Earth twin

  10-05-2016 21:13 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  In the newly-validated batch of planets, nearly 550 could be rocky planets like Earth, based on their size. Nine of these orbit in their sun's habitable zone.
  
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• Paracetamol doesn't just kill pain but it makes us less CARING

  10-05-2016 20:13 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  It's thought that by dulling the part of the brain that feels pain, we also find it harder to imagine what others are going through, say Ohio State University researchers.
  
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• VIDEO: The deadly 'red tide' killing sea life

  10-05-2016 19:53 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Chile's southern coast has been hit by the biggest ever "red tide" in history. It's caused by toxic algae which is killing sea life and damaging the local fishing economy.
  
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• More than 100 Earth-sized planets found

  10-05-2016 19:28 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Nasa announces the discovery of more than 100 Earth-sized planets orbiting alien stars.
  
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• Amazon launches YouTube rival

  10-05-2016 19:25 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Online retail giant Amazon launches a new online video service to rival Alphabet's YouTube.
  
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• Japanese artist guilty of 'obscenity' for 3D printing vagina

  10-05-2016 19:07
  
  A Japanese artist who distributed 3D printer files of her own vagina has been found guilty of obscenity charges in her homeland.By: Matt Kamen, Continue reading...
  
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• A robot has been teaching grad students for 5 months... and NONE of them realized

  10-05-2016 19:05 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Jill Watson, an IBM-designed bot, has been helping graduate students at Georgia Institute of Technology solve problems with their design projects since January.
  
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• American fighter jets and drones will be the first to fire DARPA's laser weapons

  10-05-2016 18:59 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Experts believe that US aircraft could be fitted with the so-called death rays early in the next decade once scientists have managed to reduce the size of the devices while increasing their power.
  
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• Amazon takes on YouTube with Direct Video service

  10-05-2016 18:56
  
  Amazon Direct Video lets users upload original video content and receive royalties, similar to YouTube's partner programme.By: Matthew Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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• Phone notifications cause 'ADHD-like symptoms'

  10-05-2016 18:35
  
  A study has found that when people have notifications turned on they reported "more symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity" than when their phones were on silent.By: Emily Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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• This dextrous robot can teach itself to spin a tube of coffee beans

  10-05-2016 18:27
  
  A robotic arm that can dextrously manipulate objects has been developed by a team at the University of Washington in what is being hailed as a major breakthrough.
   By: Emily Reynolds, Continue reading...
  
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• Fifth of us suffer 'separation anxiety and withdrawal symptoms' without devices

  10-05-2016 18:15 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The survey of 2,000 British adults for London-based juice company Innocent, said 30 per cent of those polled check their phone at least every 30 minutes.
  
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• Humans arrived in Arabia 10,000 YEARS earlier than thought

  10-05-2016 18:14 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Researchers in Huddersfield have discovered humans were in Southern Arabia 10,000 years earlier than first thought, and used the region as a shelter from the last Ice Age. Illustrated.
  
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• Ancient trade routes helped camels forge long-distance relationships

  10-05-2016 18:14 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Geneticists at Nottingham University have found that the genetics of modern domesticated camels has been shaped by the ancient trade routes the animals helped to transport goods along.
  
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• Women with more feminine features are seen as better leaders in the workplace 

  10-05-2016 17:58 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Researchers at the University of Cambridge found feminine-looking women may be seen as better business leaders than previously thought. Pictured is Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg.
  
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• The Robots exhibition sees machines to go on display to chart 500-year history

  10-05-2016 17:56 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The forthcoming show at London’s Science Museum will explore our obsession to recreate ourselves, revealing the remarkable 500-year-old history of humanoid robots.
  
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• Russia to test new generation of nuclear missiles capable 'blowing up FRANCE'

  10-05-2016 17:50 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Russia is preparing to test a nuclear missile which is so advanced it could get past Nato defences and destroy a huge area within seconds of launching. The RS-28 Sarmat will be deployed in 2018.
  
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• How machine learning is speeding up cancer diagnosis

  10-05-2016 17:40
  
  Machine learning algorithms can give cancer patients faster, more accurate, diagnoses by comparing DNA and suggesting treatments.By: Matt Burgess, Continue reading...
  
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• Boaty McBoatface row 'good for science'

  10-05-2016 17:18 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Boaty McBoatface row has "put a smile on everyone's face" and been "good for science", the head of the National Environment Research Council tells MPs.
  
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• Government's hacker password bid fails

  10-05-2016 17:17 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The National Crime Agency fails in its bid to force an alleged hacker to hand over the passwords to his encrypted computers.
  
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• Rising seas swallow Pacific islands

  10-05-2016 17:08 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Five Pacific islands have disappeared as a result of rising sea levels in a first confirmation of the impact of climate change on coastlines, scientists say.
  
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• Facebook dodges facial-recognition ban

  10-05-2016 17:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Facebook launches an app that uses facial-recognition technology, in the EU and Canada, working round local restrictions on the tech.
  
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• Who IS the mysterious child mummy of Siberia?

  10-05-2016 16:50 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  DNA samples from three indigenous groups in northern Siberia are to be taken. They will be matched against the child (pictured) found close to the town of Salekhard.
  
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• Is religion about to die out? Growing wealth is leading to a decline in belief in gods

  10-05-2016 16:50 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Psychologists at École Normale Supérieure in Paris said the need for moralising religions like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism is declining with growing affluence.
  
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• Hyperloop set for 'major updates' and first public demo

  10-05-2016 16:49
  
  Transport startup Hyperloop Technologies has teased some "major updates" to the high-speed transit system ahead of its first public test.By: Lee Bell, Edited by: Lee BellContinue reading...
  
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• Jets on Enceladus' surface blast with 'increased fury' when moon is further away from Saturn

  10-05-2016 16:47 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The Cassini spacecraft has discovered certain jets on Enceladus are much stronger when the moon is further away from Saturn, according to Nasa's Jet Propulsion Lab in California.
  
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• Ripplebuds earphones have built-in microphone that make hands-free calls easier 

  10-05-2016 16:39 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Ripplebuds, designed by South Korean electronic engineer Dusik Shin, are set to ship in Septemberand will be available to buy for $129 (£89) for the mono version or $179 (£125) for stereo model.
  
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• Amazon takes on YouTube with Video Direct

  10-05-2016 16:35 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The Amazon Video Direct tool (pictured) is included in the Washington-based firm's Prime Video at no additional charge.
  
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• Bahamian pleads guilty over celeb hacks

  10-05-2016 16:30 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A hacker from the Bahamas pleads guilty to stealing data, including scripts and private sexually explicit material, from 130 celebrities.
  
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• Channel 4 to adapt Philip K. Dick novels for TV

  10-05-2016 16:22
  
  Channel 4 is creating a new anthology television series based on the works of venerated sci-fi author Philip K. Dick.By: Matt Kamen, Continue reading...
  
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• Russia poised to unleash 'Son of Satan' ICBM

  10-05-2016 16:03 via go.theregister.com
  
  Hello RS-28 Sarmat, goodbye Texas Russia has announced it's ready to start field trials on its RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, intended to replace the existing R-36M2 Voevoda (NATO designation SS-18 "Satan").…
  
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• Call of Duty trailer highly 'disliked'

  10-05-2016 15:57 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The latest trailer for one the best-selling game franchises on earth is getting a mixed reaction to its first reveal.
  
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• Court rejects NCA demand for hacker to share passwords

  10-05-2016 15:55
  
  The USA is attempting to extradite Lauri Love, 31, who has been charged with hacking into the computer systems of the US Army, US Federal Reserve and Nasa.By: James Temperton, Continue reading...
  
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• VIDEO: Call of Duty trailer much 'disliked'

  10-05-2016 15:54 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The latest trailer for one the best-selling game franchises on earth is getting a mixed reaction to its first reveal.
  
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• Swiss council accepts Bitcoin payments

  10-05-2016 15:49 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Trial scheme in the town of Zug will allow Bitcoin payments for some public services.
  
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• Overweight? Chances are people think you're 'lazy, socially awkward and unclean'

  10-05-2016 15:35 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Researchers from Bowling Green State University and East Carolina University set out to probe popular perceptions of people’s weight linked to their personality as well as the 'attractiveness halo effect’.
  
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• Is Nasa on the verge of finding alien life?

  10-05-2016 15:29 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The conference starts at 1pm ET (6pm BST) and will be hosted by Paul Hertz from the astrophysics division at Nasa Headquarters in Washington.
  
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• Engineers plan to make a tool to help finally settle online discussions

  10-05-2016 15:27 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  A group of researchers at Bielefeld University in Germany is looking into ways to use search engines to shed light on the most complex political discussions. Stock image.
  
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• RE2 Robotics develop robot that can 'help in the kitchen'

  10-05-2016 15:08 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Robotics firm RE2, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has developed a pair of robotic arms that is so dexterous it can even remove the safety caps from pill bottles and cut paper snowflakes.
  
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• Are smartphones giving us symptoms of ADHD?

  10-05-2016 14:54 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Dr Kostadin Kushlev, a psychologist at the University of Virginia, claims smartphones could be harming the productivity, relationships and well-being of millions.
  
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• Meet Pokémon Sun and Moon's starter Pokémon

  10-05-2016 14:23
  
  The starter Pokémon for the new Pokémon Sun and Moon have been revealed, along with the first look at gameplay for the upcoming 3DS title.By: Matt Kamen, Continue reading...
  
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