George Dvorsky

This Extraordinary Shot Of Jupiter Was Taken From The Earth’s Surface

Normally, images as detailed as this infrared shot of Jupiter can only be captured by space-based telescopes or planetary probes. But this picture, taken with a special camera on the Subaru Telescope, was captured from our planet’s surface. Ko Arimatsu of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency used the Infrared Camera and Spectrograph (IRCS) to capture…

Take A Virtual Trip Through The Amphipolis Tomb In Its Original State

Discovered only three years ago, the Amphipolis Tomb is the largest burial monument ever discovered in Greece. A new 3D representation of the tomb reveals just how gorgeous this ancient structure really was. The video, which was put together by AncientAthens3D using data published by the Greek Ministry of Culture, was created “in order to…

Why Dingoes Could Be The Solution To Australia’s Feral Cat Problem 

Feral cats are a huge problem in Australia, feeding off more than 400 of Australia’s animal species. A new study has discovered that tiny, endangered animals fare better in areas populated by dingoes, suggesting these canine cousins could be used as effective conservation tools. Australian conservationists have observed a disturbing increase in feral cats over…

Experts Gather To Discuss Whether We Should Send Messages To Aliens

This coming weekend at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, experts will be discussing the potential benefits and risks of a SETI scheme in which messages about Earth — including the entire contents of Wikipedia — would be transmitted to hundreds of star systems. This is an issue we’ve…

Chimps Change Their “Words” To Communicate Better With New Companions

Referred to as “referential calls,” chimps use different grunts to identify objects. A new study provides the first evidence for vocal learning in non-humans, showing that chimps have the capacity for not just words — but also the ability to adapt to a new vernacular.

The Universe’s First Stars Flickered On Much Later Than We Thought

A new assessment of the Cosmic Microwave Background shows that the oldest stars ignited 150 million years later than previously thought. It’s a realization that’s forcing cosmologists to rethink the 13.8 billion year history of the Universe. Top image: Polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background. (ESA) To study the early stages of the Universe, cosmologists…

Canada’s Highest Court Affirms The Right To Doctor-Assisted Suicide

In a historic decision, the Canadian Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that adults who are mentally competent and suffering intolerably and permanently have the right to seek a doctor’s help in dying — and it doesn’t matter if that suffering is physical or psychological. For Canadians, this is a decision 22 years in the making.…

A Stunning Glimpse Of The Moon’s Phases As Seen From The Other Side

Our moon is tidally locked to the Earth, which means we never get to see its opposite side. But there’s a prevailing notion that the far side is perpetually shrouded in darkness. This is absolutely not true, as this visualization from NASA beautifully illustrates. Using data acquired by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA’s Scientific Visualization…

A Disturbing Visualization That Shows Where Kids Aren’t Being Immunized

For parents living in North America and other developed countries, the choice not to have children immunized is a luxury and a privilege. As this map makes painfully clear, there are many parts of the world where it’s the inaccessibility of vaccines that’s the problem. This map was produced by Benjamin Hennig and Save the…

Watch The U.S. Navy’s Fire-Fighting Robot Extinguish Its First Blaze

Called SAFFiR, the Navy’s humanoid robot prototype is designed to walk on uneven surfaces, use thermal imaging to locate overheated equipment, and operate a hose to extinguish fires aboard naval vessels. SAFFiR, which stands for Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot, stands 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 143 pounds. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) unveiled…

A New Calculation Predicts Hundreds Of Billions Of Earth-Like Planets

Using a 200 year-old statistical technique, a team of Australian astronomers have concluded that virtually every star in the Milky Way hosts at least one to two terrestrial planets capable of fostering life. Right from the outset, it’s important to note that this is not an empirical study per se. The researchers, led by Tim…

Our First Grainy Glimpse Of Pluto And Charon As New Horizons Closes In

NASA’s New Horizons has returned its first images of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, since the mission entered into the countdown phase of its historic mission. Taken at a distance of 126 million miles (200 million km), it will pale in comparison to the images expected over the coming months. The images were snapped…

Now that Britain has legalized three-parent IVF, it’s time for other countries to follow suit. As noted by Tom Solomon in The Guardian, “It’s mind-boggling that some people are against a medical advance that will prevent mitochondrial disease from occurring.” Critics warn that it could lead to so-called “designer babies.” Image: AP/Ben Birchall

Conservationists Have Restored Shackleton and Scott’s Antarctic Shacks

Thanks to a ten-year effort by an international team of experts, the structures used by Antarctic explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Captain Robert Falcon Scott have been salvaged and restored to their original condition. From 1895 to 1917, Antarctica was an enticing destination for adventurers and explorers; Scott tried to conquer the South Pole, while…

These 19th Century Maps Show Measles Death Rates Before Vaccines

As parts of North America struggle to contain a completely unnecessary measles epidemic, it’s important to remember what life was like prior to the onset of vaccines. These maps paint a grim picture of the past — and where we ourselves may be headed in the future. As Slate’s Rebecca Onion reports, these statistical maps…

This Ancient Rodent Of Unusual Size Fought With Its Tusk-Like Teeth

During the Pliocene period some three million years ago, there lived a bull-sized rodent in what is now South America. A new study suggests these creatures used their 11-inch (30 cm) long incisors for more than just eating, using them like tusks to defend themselves and for digging food. Artistic impression of Josephoartigasia monesi by…

Confirmation That Photosynthesizing Sea Slugs Steal Genes From Algae

For decades, scientists have puzzled over how a certain sea slug acquires the ability to photosynthesize after ingesting algae. An advanced imaging technique now confirms that the slugs are literally stealing genes from the algae. It’s considered the first example of “horizontal gene transfer” in a multicellular organism. Researcher Sidney Pierce and colleagues have shown…

Our First Glimpse Of Chester Zoo’s New Baby Black Rhino!

Meet Fara — an Eastern black rhino that was born in Britain’s Chester Zoo this past weekend. Here are some amazing pics, along with remarkable footage taken of her birth. All images via Chester Zoo Fara was born on the morning of January 31. Her mother is 17-year-old Kitani and her father is 15-year-old Sammy.…

The Ocean’s “Dead Zones” Could Be Getting A Lot Worse

There are over 400 coastal dead zones around the world, regions so poor in dissolved oxygen that marine life can’t survive during the summer months. And it looks like these dead zones will be getting worse in the next few decades — in terms of both size and number. Dead zones are closely associated with…

Russia May Slap Germany With A $4.5 Trillion Lawsuit For Nazi Atrocities

A workgroup is being set up by deputies of Russia’s parliament to calculate the damage that Nazi Germany inflicted upon the Soviet Union during the Second World War. Initial estimates place the figure between $3.43 to $4.56 trillion dollars — but good luck getting Germany to pay. Top photo: The Children’s Fountain during the Battle…