Science news

• FBI breaks into iPhone of San Bernardino shooter without Apple's help

  28-03-2016 23:58 via cbc.ca
  
  The FBI says it successfully used a mysterious technique without Apple's help to break into an iPhone linked to the gunman in a California mass shooting.
  
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• Maximum size for Arctic sea ice hits a new low

  28-03-2016 23:52
  
  Warm temperatures helped drop the Arctic sea ice maximum to the smallest size on record.
  
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• FBI probing virus behind outage at Medstar Health facilities

  28-03-2016 23:36 via cbc.ca
  
  Hackers crippled computer systems at a major hospital chain, MedStar Health Inc., on Monday, forcing records systems offline for thousands of patients and doctors.
  
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• Arctic Sea Ice Is at Near Record Lows, NASA Says

  28-03-2016 23:33
  The ice covering the Arctic is at near record lows this year, and this icy deficit may impact weather around the world, NASA reports. Every March, the Arctic's sea ice reaches its maximum cover, both in area and thickness, before it recedes to its yearly minimum in September. Live Science spoke with NASA scientist Walt Meier yesterday (March 25) to learn more about the low sea-ice level and what it means for the rest of the planet.
  
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• Tallest Peak on Saturn's Huge Moon Titan Identified (Photo)

  28-03-2016 23:00
  Titan's tallest peak rises nearly 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) into the huge Saturn moon's hazy skies, new observations by NASA's Cassini spacecraft suggest. Images and radar data taken by Cassini peg a 10,948-foot-tall (3,337 m) mountain in an equatorial range called Mithrim Montes as Titan's likely loftiest peak, mission scientists announced today (March 24) at the 47th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas. "It's not only the highest point we've found so far on T
  
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• Japan’s new X-ray space telescope has gone silent

  28-03-2016 22:50
  
  Japan’s newest orbiting X-ray telescope, ASTRO-H, has gone silent and might have broken into several pieces, the Japanese space agency reports.
  
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• White pileated woodpecker caught on camera near Edmonton

  28-03-2016 22:49 via cbc.ca
  
  An incredibly rare white pileated woodpecker was spotted this weekend in Bon Accord, Alta. about 40 kilometres north of Edmonton.
  
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• Arctic sea ice reaches new record low mark for wintertime

  28-03-2016 22:21
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal scientists say the winter maximum level of Arctic sea ice was the smallest they've seen, thanks to extraordinarily warm temperatures.
  
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• Oculus Rift is here: What the critics are saying

  28-03-2016 21:55 via cbc.ca
  
  Critics were pleased by the virtual reality device itself, praising the build quality and optics, but underwhelmed by the first few games and experiences.
  
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• Aloha, You Old Bat: Extinct Critter Doubles Hawaii's Land Mammal Species

  28-03-2016 21:39
  
  Hawaii just doubled the number of known land mammal species that are native to the islands, thanks to the discovery of a number of fossils representing a tiny bat named Synemporion keana. Found in 13 cave sites over five islands — Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii —the fossils described in a new study represent at least 110 individuals and reveal a bat that was notably different from the only other land mammal species that is endemic to Hawaii — the Hawaiian hoary bat. Many
  
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• Good News: A Clear-Cut Rain Forest Can Have a Second Life [Graphic]

  28-03-2016 21:15 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Given a chance to regenerate, a razed forest in the Amazon can host almost as much life as a virgin one
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Season of Birth Genetically Linked to Allergy Risk

  28-03-2016 21:11
  People born in the fall and winter seem to have an increased risk of certain allergic diseases such as asthma, studies have shown, and now scientists may have found one reason why. In a new study of people in England, researchers found that certain markers on the DNA are linked to the seasons in which people are born, and these markers also seem to mediate people's risk of allergic diseases. The results suggest that some environmental factor that varies from one season to another may also drive
  
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• Cancer killers send signal of success

  28-03-2016 21:00
  
  Newly designed nanoparticles deliver anticancer drugs and updates on tumor death.
  
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• Turns out concussion could be detected by a simple blood test

  28-03-2016 20:52
  
  The discovery means it’s possible children who bang their heads won’t need to undergo radiation-exposing scans.
  
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• I was on a plane caught up in Storm Katie and here's what I learned...

  28-03-2016 20:37
  
  Spoiler alert: it’s very difficult to finish a crossword when a landing is as bumpy as this.
  
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• New NASA launch control software late, millions over budget

  28-03-2016 20:20
  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Launch control software under development for NASA's deep-space exploration program is more than a year behind schedule and tens of millions of dollars over budget.
  
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• Feds: Risk of 2016 quake increases, especially in Oklahoma

  28-03-2016 20:20
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal scientists say the chance of damaging earthquakes hitting east of the Rockies has increased significantly, much of it a man-made byproduct of drilling for energy. Oklahoma now has a 1 in 8 chance of damaging quakes in 2016, surpassing California as the state with the highest probability.
  
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• Alaska volcano Pavlof erupts causing flight diversions due to ash cloud

  28-03-2016 20:04 via cbc.ca
  
  Mount Pavlof, one of the most active volcanoes on the Alaska Peninsula, started erupting Sunday afternoon with little warning.
  
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• Why some male hyenas leave and others are content to stay home

  28-03-2016 20:03
  
  Having access to enough females, and a mom to help, can keep a male hyena from leaving his clan.
  
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• FBI seeks cybersecurity help as ransomware epidemic deemed an 'emergency'

  28-03-2016 19:51 via cbc.ca
  
  The FBI is asking businesses and software security experts for emergency assistance in its investigation into a pernicious new type of "ransomware" virus used by hackers for extortion.
  
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• Alaska Volcano Erupts, Spewing Ash 20,000 Feet into the Air

  28-03-2016 19:05
  A snow- and ice-covered volcano located in Alaska's Aleutian Islands erupted Sunday (March 27), spewing a cloud of ash about 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) into the sky, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported. The area also had elevated seismic activity at 3:53 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In response, the Alaska Volcano Observatory raised the volcano alert level to "warning," and the aviation color code to "red," meaning that an eruption is imminent or
  
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• See the devastation Storm Katie has caused across the country

  28-03-2016 18:30
  
  Flights have been diverted, thousands of homes left without power and trains have been delayed after heavy rain and winds.
  
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• Saudi-led alliance says completes Yemen prisoner swap

  28-03-2016 18:10
  By Mohammed Mukhashaf ADEN (Reuters) - A Saudi-led military coalition said on Monday it had completed a prisoner swap in Yemen, exchanging nine Saudi prisoners for 109 Yemeni nationals ahead of a planned truce and peace talks aimed at ending the year-long war with Houthi rebels. The Iran-allied Houthis have been battling forces loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi since last March in a conflict that has cost more than 6,200 lives. Saudi Arabia received its nationals on
  
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• Meteorologists may soon give 50-day notice for extreme heat

  28-03-2016 18:03
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Meteorologists may soon be able to predict likelihood of extreme heat in the Eastern United States as much as 50 days in advance, according to a new study.
  
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• Accurate weather predictions 50 days in advance may be possible, study suggests

  28-03-2016 17:16 via cbc.ca
  
  Meteorologists may soon be able to predict likelihood of extreme heat in the Eastern United States as much as 50 days in advance, according to a new study.
  
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• Japanese Astronomy Satellite Hitomi Malfunctions, Generates Debris

  28-03-2016 17:05
  
  The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is working to restore communications with a new astronomy satellite that malfunctioned March 26, generating debris. In a March 27 statement, JAXA said it lost communications with the Hitomi satellite at 3:40 a.m. Eastern March 26. "Up to now, JAXA has not been able to figure out the state of health of the satellite," the agency said in the statement.
  
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• WWII-Era Bell from Sunken Japanese Submarine Recovered

  28-03-2016 17:02
  
  A bronze bell from a sunken World War II-era Japanese submarine was recently recovered off the coast of Oahu, in Hawaii. The bell was retrieved from the underwater remains of the I-400, an Imperial Japanese Navy mega submarine that was captured and intentionally sunk by U.S. forces in 1946. The massive vessel was one of the Japanese Navy's Sen Toku-class submarines.
  
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• New Ultrathin Solar Cells Are Light Enough to Sit on a Soap Bubble

  28-03-2016 17:00
  
  Scientists have created the thinnest, lightest solar power cells yet — so lightweight that they can be draped on top of a soap bubble without popping it. Solar cells, technically known as photovoltaic cells, directly convert energy from light into electricity. The new solar cells are as small as 1.3 microns thick.
  
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• Beware of rockfalls in warm weather

  28-03-2016 17:00
  
  Cracks in cliff faces grow and shrink as temperatures warm and cool, new research shows.
  
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• Affordable Hypersonic Jets Could Be High-Flying Reality by 2023

  28-03-2016 17:00
  
  Hypersonic aircraft and weapons that can fly more than five times the speed of sound may seem like a futuristic fantasy, but defense giant Lockheed Martin says it is committed to making these ultrafast innovations a reality. In fact, Lockheed Martin is doubling down on hypersonic aerospace technologies, Lockheed officials said recently at the company's Media Day. "Lockheed Martin continues to invest in propulsion technologies and advanced materials needed for hypersonic speeds," Marillyn A. Hews
  
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• Ancient Mini Weapons Likely Made to Please Gods

  28-03-2016 16:59
  
  Bows, arrows, daggers and battle-axes made of bronze found in Arabia may have been offerings to a deity of war, researchers said. These artifacts are the first miniature, imitation weapons that archaeologists have found in prehistoric Arabia, and might shed light on the practices of the mysterious peoples who created the artifacts, scientists added. This new cache of artifacts dates to the Iron Age, which lasted from about 900 B.C. to 600 B.C. The collection was uncovered in the Sultanate of Oma
  
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• Amazing Blind Cavefish Walks Up Rocks and Waterfalls

  28-03-2016 16:57
  
  When the first water-dwelling creature wriggled up onto land about 400 million years ago, it took the first steps down an evolutionary path that would eventually lead to a diverse range of tetrapods — animals with backbones and four limbs — that navigate the world in a number of ways.
  
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• Sesame Street's Elmo and Raya Warn Kids About Zika

  28-03-2016 16:44
  
  Two chipper Sesame Street Muppets are lending their cheerful voices to a serious topic in a pair of public-service announcements intended to raise awareness of the Zika virus among children and families. The two 30-second videos were created by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind the children's television show Sesame Street. The recordings are meant to engage young viewers in South and Central America and the Caribb
  
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• Eating More 'Healthy Fats' May Lower Diabetes Risk

  28-03-2016 16:44
  Replacing some of the meat and cheese in your diet with vegetable oils or nuts could help slow the progression of diabetes in some people, according to a small new study. People with "prediabetes" have levels of blood sugar, or glucose, that are higher than normal but not high enough to warrant being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In 2012, 86 million Americans age 20 and older had prediabetes, and 29.1 million had diabetes, with the vast majority of the cases being type 2, according to the Amer
  
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• More Injuries from Bison at Yellowstone: Are Selfies to Blame?

  28-03-2016 16:43
  Yellowstone National Park has seen a rise in people getting injured by bison lately, and attempts to take selfies may be to blame for at least some of these injuries, according to a new report. In three of the cases, people were injured when a bison tossed them into the air, and in the other two cases, a bison injured the individual with its horns. All of the injuries occurred when people got too close to the bison.
  
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• Can Apple's 'Night Shift' Really Help You Sleep Better?

  28-03-2016 16:31
  
  A new iPhone feature called "Night Shift" automatically adjusts the screen’s colors to warmer hues after sunset, on the premise that this change could help people sleep better. Night Shift is now available as part of Apple's latest mobile operating system update, iOS 9.3, which was released Monday (March 21). The feature uses the iPhone or iPad's clock and geolocation services to determine when sunset is happening in your area, and then automatically adjusts the screen's colors to redder,
  
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• After Zika Infection, People Should Wait Months to Conceive Children, CDC Says

  28-03-2016 16:30
  People who have been infected with Zika virus should wait at least several months before they attempt to conceive a child, according to new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women who are diagnosed with Zika or who experience symptoms of the disease after possible exposure to Zika should wait at least eight weeks after their symptoms started before trying to become pregnant, the CDC said. For men, the recommended wait is much longer: Those who have been infecte
  
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• Azerbaijan frees human rights advocate from jail

  28-03-2016 15:44
  Azeri human rights activist and lawyer Intigam Aliyev was freed from jail on Monday, his lawyer said. Azerbaijan pardoned 148 prisoners including journalists, rights activists and political opponents this month in an apparent move to deflect Western criticism of the ex-Soviet republic's human rights record. Analysts say President Ilham Aliyev has included some political prisoners in amnesties in recent years to avoid complaints over crackdowns on free speech in Azerbaijan, a major oil and natura
  
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• Fish with pelvis built for walking discovered in Thailand

  28-03-2016 15:00 via cbc.ca
  
  It's a fish that swims, but one that can also walk like a land animal and is built like no other fish on Earth.
  
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• Air passengers 'terrified' as Storm Katie batters UK

  28-03-2016 14:50
  
  Storm Katie brought gale-force winds and heavy rain to large parts of southern and central England.
  
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• Doing humans' work: U.S. drones could replace work crews

  28-03-2016 13:52 via cbc.ca
  
  American State transportation departments are increasingly studying the use of drones for everything from inspecting bridges to clearing car accidents.
  
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• Record-Breaking Women in Spaceflight History

  28-03-2016 13:17
  
  For example, Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space, Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, and Sunita Williams has spent more time performing spacewalks than any other woman. "In this field where milestones are the norm, we are standing on the shoulders of many giants," Dava Newman, NASA's deputy administrator wrote in a recent blog post about pioneering women in NASA's history. Sally Ride, the first American woman to go to space, is one of the best-known astronauts in Ame
  
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• Solar Storms Supercharge Jupiter's Dramatic Auroras (Photo)

  28-03-2016 13:14
  Jupiter's already impressive auroral displays get a big boost from solar storms, a new study reveals. Jupiter's auroras blazed eight times more brightly than normal in X-ray light in response to an October 2011 sun storm, generating hundreds of times more energy than Earth's famous northern lights. Lead author William Dunn, a doctoral candidate at University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory, and his team used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to study how Jupiter's auroras behave
  
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• NASA: New Mars Gravity Map Is the Best Ever

  28-03-2016 13:14
  
  A new map of Mars' gravity, which NASA is touting as the best one ever made, will make it easier for future spacecraft to make their way to the Red Planet. The new map of Mars' gravity was generated by scientists using data from three NASA spacecraft — the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter —which mapped the Red Planet from orbit. The data allowed NASA to create a video look at Mars' gravity, as well.
  
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• Ceres' Puzzling Bright Spots, Giant Mountain Feature in New Close-Up Photos

  28-03-2016 13:14
  
  Ceres is coming into focus, but many mysteries about the dwarf planet remain. Newly released images captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft reveal a close-up look at Ceres' odd bright spots and giant mountain, and hint at the existence of ice sheets at the dwarf planet's poles. "Clearly, we have a lot of work to do to put together a self-consistent story [about Ceres]," Dawn's deputy principal investigator Carol Raymond, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said here at a pres
  
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• Queen's University researchers invent bendable smartphone

  28-03-2016 12:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Roel Vertegaal, the director of the Human Media Lab at Queen's University, says a smartphone with a bendable screen will open the door to new kinds of interactions with computers.
  
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• Thai election panel expects 80 percent turnout for referendum

  28-03-2016 11:57
  By Aukkarapon Niyomyat and Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's election commission said on Monday it expected 80 percent of eligible voters to turn out for an August 7 referendum on a controversial constitution that critics have vowed to boycott. The referendum, pushed back from July, will be Thailand's first return to the ballot-box since junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power in a May 2014 coup, following months of political unrest. The turnout is expected to be 80 percent,
  
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• Japan loses track of $273 mn black hole satellite

  28-03-2016 11:48
  
  Dozens of space scientists are desperately scouring the skies after losing track of a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar Japanese satellite that was sent to study black holes.
  
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• Netflix recruits Google in global war on cyber pirates

  28-03-2016 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Netflix's declared crackdown goes beyond customers who hop virtual borders to watch shows restricted to other countries. It has also declared war on cyber pirates and it’s turning to Google for help.
  
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• Residents react to Storm Katie in the way they know best

  28-03-2016 10:31
  
  These named storms aren’t getting any kinder.
  
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