George Dvorsky

The World’s Oldest Person Has Died At The Age Of 117

Born in 1898, Japan’s Misao Okawa died peacefully in her nursing home earlier today. Here’s how her remarkably long tenure on Earth stacks up against the longest human lives. Okawa only recently celebrated her 117th birthday (that’s a lot of candles) on March 5th, which she spent in the company of her, ahem, 92-year-old son…

Astronomers have been at a loss to explain Mercury’s excessively dark and unreflective surface. But a new study published in Nature Geoscience suggests the innermost planet was painted black by a steady stream of comet dust. The process took millions of years as comets disintegrated close to the sun, shedding carbon onto Mercury’s surface. Image:…

The Real-Life Science Behind Orphan Black

In addition to being incredibly entertaining and provocative, the popular Orphan Black series is absolutely teeming with science. From human clones and genetic engineering through to DNA barcodes and genetic patents, here’s what you need to know about the science behind the show. For the uninitiated, Orphan Black is a conspiracy thriller that stars Tatiana…

Before-And-After Pics Show Vanuatu Stripped Bare By A Category 5 Cyclone

On March 17, Cyclone Pam swept through the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. NASA has now released a disturbing set of before-and-after photos captured by the Lansat 8 satellite. These images were taken a mere three days after the storm hit the islands. As you can see in the image below, the island of Erromango,…

Low Gravity Seriously Messes With An Ant’s Ability To Explore Space

Experiments aboard the International Space Station with common pavement ants have shown just how badly microgravity impairs the insects’ ability to search unexplored areas. Remarkably, however, tumbling ants demonstrated an uncanny ability to regain contact with the surface. There are over 20,000 species of ants on Earth, each perfectly suited to its environment. But there’s…

Tiny ‘Nanoneedles’ Could Help Your Damaged Organs Repair Themselves

In a trial involving mice, an international team of researchers used microscopic “nanoneedles” to coax the body into generating new blood vessels. Applied to humans, the technology could eventually be used to get organs and nerves to repair themselves. Top image: Colorized cells on nanoneedles (credit: Imperial College London) Researchers from Imperial College London and…

Do You Suffer From ‘Exploding Head Syndrome’? You’re Not Alone.

New findings indicate nearly one in five college-age students has been startled awake by an abrupt, loud noise that doesn’t actually exist. Known as “exploding head syndrome,” the psychological condition appears to be more common and disruptive than previously thought. Art by Jim Cooke. Some of you may already be familiar with exploding head syndrome…

No, NASA Is Not Planning To Build A Space Station With Russia

This past weekend, the head of Roscosmos announced plans to build a new orbital space station in partnership with NASA to replace the aging International Space Station. Too bad it isn’t true. This now appears to be a classic case of wishful thinking getting the better of someone, in this case Igor Komarov. His NASA…

Tropical Regions Are Getting Wetter Thanks To Bigger Thunderstorms 

Climate scientists are reporting that increasing rainfall in the world’s warmest and wettest regions are being fueled by a recent surge in large, well-organized thunderstorms. Top image: Change in precipitation by end of 21st century, inches of liquid water per year. The dark blue regions in the Pacific represent projected increases of up to 60-inches…

A.I. Pilots Are Not The Solution To Preventing Airline Disasters

We’re still trying to understand the horrific Germanwings tragedy. But already, some people are suggesting it could have been prevented if a computer had been flying the plane. But that’s not the solution. We spoke to an expert about why an A.I. pilot would open up an entirely new set of risks and complications. Airbus…

Ganymede’s Bizarre Bulge Baffles Scientists

There’s a strange bulge on the Solar System’s largest moon, one that measures 375 miles wide and nearly two miles tall. Scientists aren’t entirely sure why it’s there or what caused it, but it may have something to do with the Jovian moon’s subsurface ocean. As reported by Nadia Drake in National Geographic, the protuberance…

This Biohacker Used Eyedrops To Give Himself Temporary Night Vision

A team of biohackers from California successfully induced a temporary sense of night vision by injecting a simple chemical cocktail directly onto the eye. Incredibly, it allowed them to see over 160 feet in the dark for a brief period of time. The group, called Science for the Masses, wanted to see if a kind…

Showcase Your Interest In Animal Cruelty With This Creepy “Ant Watch”

Philadelphia-based Analog Watch Co. has unveiled its latest product, a watch-like accessory that houses anywhere from three to five harvester ants. The company calls it a “living conversation piece,” but it’s probably just an April Fool’s joke. (Please let it be an April Fool’s joke!) The Ant Watch, which will apparently start shipping in April,…

On Friday, asteroid 2014-YB35 is expected to make its closest approach to Earth. Traveling at over 23,000 mph (37,000 km/h), NASA says the 6.2 mile (1,000 meter) asteroid won’t get any closer than 2.7-million miles (4.4 million km). That’s nearly 12 times the distance from Earth to the Moon – so relax.

This New Infrared Telescope Could Help Us Detect Dyson Spheres

The search for extraterrestrial intelligence just got a big boost, thanks to the introduction of a powerful new infrared telescope. In addition to scanning for pulses of infrared light, astronomers will use device to search for alien megastructures, such as Dyson Spheres. As an idea, optical SETI has been around for a while. The suggestion…

Two Invasive Termite Species Join Forces To Wreak Havoc In Florida

Two of the most destructive species of invasive termites are joining forces in Florida. By mating together, they’re forming prolific hybrid colonies. Scientists are now worried about the potential damage these insects will inflict on Florida’s dwellings. In total, entomologists have catalogued over 2,800 termite species, but only 6% of are classified as pests to…

Unexploded 500 Pound WWII-Era Bomb Causes Evacuation In London

The Second World War just doesn’t seem to want to go away. Earlier this week, a construction crew working in London, England, accidentally stumbled upon a rather large undetonated bomb, resulting in the evacuation of some 1,200 residents. The device, a nasty left over from the German Blitz of the Second World War, was discovered…

We Should Be Able To Detect Spaceships Moving Near The Speed Of Light

A pair of engineers say it’s possible to detect the signatures of spacecraft traveling at relativistic speeds, and we can do so using current technologies. The trouble is, their new analysis also suggests that moving through space at ludicrous speed is more hazardous than previously thought. Illustration: Sins of the Prophets/Annihilater102/MODDB A new paper by…

Bird Experts “Horrified” To Discover Meat-Eating Rainbow Lorikeets

Like hummingbirds, Australian rainbow lorikeets eat pollen and nectar. In fact, they have a specialized tongue that allows them to do so. So imagine the surprise of bird experts after discovering of a population of lorikeets who have taken to eating meat. http://io9.com/5968998/this-is-what-a-lorikeets-tongue-looks-like-that-is-all Photos: Matt Watson. As noted by Griffith University Professor Darryl Jones in…

It Should Be Legal To Hack Your DNA

A group of geneticists has called for a moratorium on research into modifying heritable human DNA — a practice that could lead to so-called “designer babies.” But as scientists consider this drastic proposal, they should also recognize the potential benefits this technology could afford – and the risks of an outright ban. Before we begin,…