lancerlord: science

Showing posts with label science. Show all posts

May 31, 2013

This week, Animal Planet aired two fake documentaries claiming to show scientific evidence of mermaids. I say “fake documentaries” because that’s exactly what The Body Found and The New Evidence are. The “scientists” interviewed in the show are actors, and there’s a brief disclaimer during the end credits. However, the Twitter conversation surrounding the show (#Mermaids) reveals that many viewers are unaware that the show isn’t real.

of no, mermaids do not exist

Jan 12, 2013

Man from Tech21 puts goos on his finger and hammers with hammer

of put this goo on your fingers, then slam them with a hammer

Jan 16, 2012

A previously unnamed species of horse fly with a glamorous golden rear end has been named Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae because it is the "all-time diva of flies.

of bootylicious! horse fly named after beyonce

Nov 1, 2011

Megavirus chilensis: A team of researchers trawling the ocean floor have just published their findings of the world's new largest virus, found lurking off the coast of Las Cruces, Chile.

The previous virus record holder was Mimivirus, which boasted the largest diameter of any virus to date until Megavirus came along.

of world’s biggest virus discovered in ocean depths near chile

Sep 19, 2011

What is fire?: "Fire it up! We explain hot stuff."

of what is fire?

May 13, 2010

Jupiter Loses A Stripe: One of the two bands in Jupiter is missing. Scientists are not sure why the southern band (the south equatorial belt) has disappeared.

Jupiter has lost one of its prominent stripes, leaving its southern half looking unusually blank. Scientists are not sure what triggered the disappearance of the band.

Jupiter's appearance is usually dominated by two dark bands in its atmosphere – one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere.

But recent images of Jupiter taken by amateur astronomers show that the southern band – called the south equatorial belt – has disappeared.

The band was present at the end of 2009, right before Jupiter moved too close to the sun in the sky to be observed from Earth. When the planet emerged from the sun's glare again in early April, its south equatorial belt was nowhere to be seen.

of planet jupiter loses a stripe

Oct 6, 2009

3 win Nobel in physics for digital devices: Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics.

Charles K. Kao, a British and U.S. citizen, won for "groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication."

Willard S. Boyle, a Canadian and U.S. citizen, and George E. Smith, a U.S. citizen, "invented the first successful imaging technology using a digital sensor, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device)."

Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for two breakthroughs that led to two major underpinnings of the digital age -- fiber optics and digital photography, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

Charles K. Kao, a British and U.S. citizen, won for "groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication."

Willard S. Boyle, a Canadian and U.S. citizen, and George E. Smith, a U.S. citizen, "invented the first successful imaging technology using a digital sensor, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device)."

Kao in 1966 "made a discovery that led to a breakthrough in fiber optics. He carefully calculated how to transmit light over long distances via optical glass fibers," the academy said in a press release.

Today, "optical fibers make up the circulatory system that nourishes our communication society" and "facilitate broadband communication such as the Internet," the academy said.

Boyle and Smith's Charge-Coupled Device -- invented in 1969 -- "is the digital camera's electronic eye" and paved the way for digital photography.

of 3 win nobel in physics for digital devices

Aug 3, 2009

Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale: Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic scale, using audience participation, at the event "Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus", from the 2009 World Science Festival, June 12, 2009.

[via boing boing]

of bobby mcferrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic scale

Apr 9, 2009

Nude couple charged: The naked girl charged is Singaporean Eng Kai Er, 24, a university student in Sweden, were charged. Guy is Jan Philip, 21, a Swedish student on exchange programme.

Jan Philip (far left) and Eng Kai Er are accused of appearing nude in public at Holland Village at about 11pm on Jan 24

A COUPLE who caused a stir by strolling down naked along Lorong Mambong earlier this year were charged in court on Thursday. Jan Philip, 21, a Swedish student on exchange programme, and Eng Kai Er, 24, a university student in Sweden, are accused of appearing nude in public at Holland Village at about 11pm on Jan 24. Both were clad in black suits when they appeared before District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan. Their lawyer, Mr William Chan, asked for an adjournment to write in to the Attorney-General's Chambers. If convicted, both may be fined up to $2,000 and/or jailed for up to three months. As Philip is a foreigner, he was offered bail of $5,000 but Eng, a Singaporean, need not post bail. Philip's passport was impounded. They will be back in court on April 30.

Some says Singaporean girl is an A*Star scholar studying in Stockholm and a skater.

Click here to see the photos (NSFW) of the couple taken at Holland Village.

Update: Nude woman identifed as Singaporean A*STAR scholar

The woman is Singaporean Eng Kai Er, 24, who is studying at a Swedish university, and the man, a Swedish student on exchange here in Singapore, is Jan Philip, 21. Eng, described as a petite woman with short hair, is an A*Star (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) scholarship holder. She was also a member of Mensa, an association whose members are defined by their high IQs. According to the A*Star website, she is pursuing a PhD in infection biology at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. During her teen years, Eng represented Singapore as a competitive ice skater in Skate Asia, the largest ice-skating competition outside the United States.

of holland village nude couple charged. girl is singaporean eng kai er.

Feb 20, 2009

Men see bikini-clad women as objects, psychologists say: New research shows that, in men, the brain areas associated with handling tools and the intention to perform actions light up when viewing images of women in bikinis. They also remember these women's bodies better than those of fully-clothed women.

It may seem obvious that men perceive women in sexy bathing suits as objects, but now there's science to back it up. New research shows that, in men, the brain areas associated with handling tools and the intention to perform actions light up when viewing images of women in bikinis.

The research was presented this week by Susan Fiske, professor of psychology at Princeton University, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The participants, 21 heterosexual male undergraduates at Princeton, took questionnaires to determine whether they harbor "benevolent" sexism, which includes the belief that a woman's place is in the home, or hostile sexism, a more adversarial viewpoint which includes the belief that women attempt to dominate men.

In the men who scored highest on hostile sexism, the part of the brain associated with analyzing another person's thoughts, feelings and intentions was inactive while viewing scantily clad women, Fiske said.

of men see bikini-clad women as objects, psychologists say

Feb 19, 2009

Neodymium magnets made Dirk's fingertip go splat: Dirk had an accident. Below is the X-ray showing his totally crushed finger tip. It took 1 1/2 hours of surgery to remove the shattered bones and repair the damage. Medically speaking, he crushed his right index finger distal phalange. The magnets had a 50 cm (20 inch) separation when they decided to fly together.

Click on image to see bigger photo

[via reddit]

of magnets crushed guy's thumb (pics)

Feb 6, 2009

Prehistoric 'monster snake' remains discovered: Snake weighed 1,140 kgs (2,500 pounds), measured 13 meters (42.7 feet). Scientists believe it lived between 58 and 60 million years ago. Discovered by scientists in tropical northern region of Colombia.

Named Titanoboa cerrejonensis, the snake would have weighed 1,140 kilograms (2,500 pounds) and measured 13 meters (42.7 feet) nose to tail tip -- dwarfing the largest modern pythons and anacondas which can grow to 6 meters (19.5 feet). Scientists believe it slithered around the planet between 58 and 60 million years ago. Geologist David Polly, who identified the position of the fossil vertebrae which made a size estimate possible, said in a statement Wednesday: "At its greatest width, the snake would have come up to about your hips. The size is pretty amazing.

An artist's impression of what Titanoboa cerrejonensis would have looked like.

of prehistoric 'monster snake' remains found

Jan 19, 2009

The Future Of Sex (Toys): Introducing The Real Touch Robopussy. A cyberdildonics device that 'learns' and then 'mimicks' porn stars actions.

Read more here and here. (very NSFW)

Also read "At Last, Science Has Invented an Artificially Intelligent Robot Vagina".

of the real touch (nsfw)

Jan 18, 2009

Device helped ensure US Airways plane would float: This explains why the plane floated as it crash-landed on Hudson River.

Planes can float, but the US Airways Airbus A-320 that crashed into the Hudson River Thursday had a better chance than most.

That's because it was equipped with a special device unique to Airbus planes that increased the likelihood it would stay on top of the water.

The device, called a "ditching switch," effectively seals the plane by closing valves and ventilation ports, a spokesman for the airline said.

Industry experts said the ditching switch is rarely invoked, as "it's not as if anyone expects to ditch these planes," said Robert W. Mann, who owns a Port Washington-based aviation consulting company.

of here's an explanation of how the us airways airbus a-320 floated on hudson river

Jan 15, 2009

Carnivorous Flying Mammal?: Strange animal spotted.

It measures approximately 80 cm and was photographed in Argentina by a photo hobbyist, Fabian Romano. The man sent the photographs taken to the CEUFO (Center Study UFOs) of Argentina. After several tests, the organization stated to be vis-a-vis an image of “high strangeness” and a flying “entity”. The curator of the Provincial Museum, Gustavo Siegentale, put forth the assumption to be vis-a-vis a “carnivorous mammal with wings, an unknown species”. The CEUFO indicated to have received other testimonys on the observation of this strange animal. The investigations currently continue.

Source: "Un étrange volatile"

of carnivorous flying mammal? (photo)

Jan 6, 2009

Rare pink iguanas confirmed on Galapagos Islands: A team of Ecuadoran and Italian researchers have confirmed the discovery of a unique species of pink land iguanas living on the Galapagos Islands, the scientist who wrote the report told AFP. The pink iguanas can be up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) long as measured from tip to tail, and unlike the other land iguanas does not have a row of spines running up its back.

Washington Tapia, head of research at the Galapagos National Park, said,

It is surprising to have made a find of this magnitude in the 21st century. We have not yet determined the size of the population, but we estimate that it is small because we have only captured 36 pink iguanas for research up to now.

of rare pink iguanas discovered on galapagos islands

Aug 26, 2008

Young, frisky & SUPER BLUR: Our Ministry of Education and Health Promotion Board will be introducing a new sex education syllabus for secondary schools come November.

The current programme called Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) is mass-based and taught to all Secondary 3 students. It does not have a dedicated timeslot. Instead, various aspects of the subject are built into lessons on health education, science, and civic and moral education. This is due to change soon with the introduction of a customised comprehensive health prevention and sex education programme by the Education Ministry (MOE) and the Health Promotion Board (HPB). Teachers and educators say this may be the first time such a programme is being rolled out with an education-linked criteria. Expected to be launched in November, it aims to raise awareness among students on STIs, among other things.

of singapore teenagers not practising safe sex

Jul 27, 2008

Randy Pausch, noted CMU prof, succumbs to cancer: Dr. Randy Pausch, who inspired many with his "Last Lecture", has succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Dr. Pausch was 47 and he leaves behind his wife and three children.

Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University computer science professor whose final lecture inspired millions, died early today in Virginia of pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Pausch, 47, who turned the lecture into a book, said that no one would have been interested in his words of wisdom were he not a man in his 40s with a terminal illness, leaving behind a wife and three young children.

According to a 24th July post on Dr Pausch's website,

A biopsy last week revealed that the cancer has progresed further than we had thought from recent PETscans. Since last week, Randy has also taken a step down and is much sicker than he had been. He's now enrolled in hospice. He's no longer able to post here so I'm a friend posting on his behalf because we know that many folks are watching this space for updates.

Read more at the CMU website.

Dr Pausch's famous "Last Lecture" watched by millions on YouTube.

[via BumpShack]

of randy pausch, noted cmu prof, succumbs to cancer

Jul 16, 2008

Pathologists Believe They Have Pinpointed Achilles Heel Of HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) researchers at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston believe they have uncovered the Achilles heel in the armor of the virus that continues to kill millions.

Scientists in UT Houston laboratory of Sudhir Paul, Ph.D., may have uncovered a chink the armor of the deadly HIV virus. Pictured from left to right are: Paul, Yasuhiro Nishiyama, Ph.D., and Stephanie Planque. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)

The weak spot is hidden in the HIV envelope protein gp120. This protein is essential for HIV attachment to host cells, which initiate infection and eventually lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS...The Achilles heel, a tiny stretch of amino acids numbered 421-433 on gp120, is now under study as a target for therapeutic intervention.

of researchers have found weakness of hiv

Beijing New Olympic Venues: Sports Illustrated shows 12 sports venues at Beijing for the upcoming Olympics.

My favorites are:

1. Beijing National Aquatics Center

Also known as the "Water Cube," the Aquatics Center will accommodate 17,000 fans for the swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming competitions. The outer structure is a steel frame filled with more than 100,000 square meters of ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene), a plastic which reduces energy costs by allowing increased light and heat penetration.

2. Wukesong Indoor Stadium

The indoor arena slated to host the Olympic basketball tournament is part of a larger athletic complex, including baseball fields and other commercial facilities.

3. Laoshan Velodrome

The state-of-the-art Laoshan Velodrome has a capacity of 6,000 spectators and a 250-meter oval shaped surface for the track cycling events.

4. Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium

Seating 7,500 fans, the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium will host the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics competitions.