George Dvorsky

So It Turns Out That Monkeys Are Pretty Good At Doing Math

A recently concluded experiment shows that rhesus monkeys are capable of doing simple addition using numbers 1 through 25. But more interesting than that is the observation that they also make the same mistakes as us. To test whether monkeys can represent and manipulate numbers in their head, neurobiologist Margaret Livingstone of Harvard Medical School…

This Exquisitely-Preserved 100 Million-Year-Old Fly Is Just Ridiculous

Finding ancient bugs trapped in amber is hardly new, but this Cretaceous-era assassin fly may be the most pristine three-dimensional preservation of an insect we’ve ever seen. The amber fossil was discovered by Torsten Dikow from the National Museum of Natural History. It’s a newly recorded species of assassin fly called Burmapogon brucksch, an insect…

Ancient Antarctica Was As Warm As Today’s Florida And California

During the Eocene epoch, Antarctica featured high concentrations of atmospheric CO2 and a subsequent greenhouse climate. By using a new measuring technique, scientists from Yale University have now learned that Antarctic seawaters were once as warm as as those registered in Florida and California today. Top image: Antarctic-Australasian dinosaurs of the Cretaceous, a warm era…

These Are The Most Uninhabited Places In The United States

Population geographers typically create maps showing us where all the action is. This map, on the other hand, does not. This map was put together by Nik Freeman using census data from 2010. All those green areas you see are census blocks in which nobody lives (a block being the smallest area unit used by…

Unexplained Intergalactic Radio Bursts Confirmed At Arecibo

Back in 2011 and 2012, astronomers working at an Australian observatory picked up a series of fleeting but powerful radio signals. These signals have never been detected elsewhere, casting doubts on their origin. But now, new observations from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico suggest they’re for real. Top image: Impression of a blitzar —…

How Astronomers Turned This White Dwarf Into A Magnifying Glass

Typically, astronomers observe the dimming of a star whenever an exoplanet passes in front of it. But what could possibly cause a star to periodically increase its illumination when an object passes in front? The answer, say scientists, is a newly confirmed phenomenon known as “self-lensing.” There’s a binary system about 2,600 light-years from here…

An Iceberg Six Times The Size Of Manhattan Is Now Adrift At Sea

For the past five months, NASA scientists have been tracking a rather large iceberg that separated from the front of Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier. Measuring some 20 miles (33 km) long and 12 miles (20 km) wide, the so-called “ice island” has now drifted out to sea. Called B31, the massive object came loose in…

Powdered Alcohol Is Officially A Thing In The United States

Alcohol is primarily known as a liquid, but it can also be whipped, solidified, and practically vaporized. But now it’s available in powdered form — a product called “Palcohol” that was just approved by the U.S. government. Alcohol powder is a molecular encapsulated alcohol that produces an alcoholic drink or meal when mixed with water.…

How Are These Crisscrossing Waves Even Possible?

This remarkable image was captured just off the western point of France’s Isle of Rhé. It’s a beautiful demonstration of a natural phenomenon known as a cross sea — one that can be explained by a little bit of physics and math. A cross sea is a marine state with two wave systems traveling at…

Researchers Clone Stem Cells From Human Adults

Scientists from South Korea have devised a technique for cloning adult stem cells that doesn’t involve the destruction of human embryos. The resulting stem cells, which are highly personalized, could be used to treat illnesses such as heart disease and blindness — but the technique could also be used to clone adults. It’s a process…

The Latest Incarnation Of ASIMO Is Actually Quite Badass

Honda’s humanoid robot, ASIMO, recently celebrated its 14th birthday. The diminutive android has experienced some minor upgrades over the years, but nothing quite like it’s latest batch of enhancements. Just watch what ASIMO can do now. Lance Ulanoff and the team at Mashable recently attended a demonstration of the new-and-improved ASIMO at the International Auto…

New Hurricane Forecast Maps Can Warn You Of Impending Floods

More than half of all hurricane-related deaths are caused by storm surges, yet few consider it a factor when trying to decide whether or not to evacuate their homes. But starting this hurricane season, national forecasters will warn people using color-coded storm surge maps. No doubt, storm surges are a serious issue. Along vulnerable coasts,…

What’s The Purpose Of The Universe? Here’s One Possible Answer

It’s tempting to think of the universe as a meaningless repository for celestial objects like planets and stars. But an intriguing theory suggests there’s much more to the cosmos than meets the eye — and that black holes play an integral role in what our universe is actually trying to achieve. It’s called the theory…

This Ridiculously Cool Hexapod Can Transform Into A Roving Ball

Norwegian engineer Kåre Halvorsen has unleashed his latest creation, a spider-like robot called MorpHex MKII that can retract its six legs and transform into a rolling ball. Halvorsen’s previous spiderbot could only roll around in circles, but this one can move in straight lines thus improving its stalking capabilities. It may also be the first…

New Poll Shows The U.S. Is Extremely Confused About The Future

A recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center shows that the majority of Americans are optimistic about the future. But when asked about specifics, they demonstrated a pronounced nervousness about some of the most plausible and beneficial advancements. Top image: Deus Ex: Human Revolution concept art by Jim Murray. According to the poll, 53%…

When Churchill And Hitler Fought Against Each Other In The Great War

During the Second World War, Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler were mortal enemies. Before that, however, the two future leaders fought a mere ten miles away from one another on the Great War’s Western Front. And along with their guns, they also brought their paint brushes. Though they found themselves at the Western Front during…

British scientists have finally figured out how sperm is able to connect with an egg. The process is facilitated by a molecule dubbed Juno, a protein that allows sperm to dock to the surface of an egg. The discovery could introduce new fertility treatments and birth control. The Sanger Institute put together this explainer video:…

10 Futurist Phrases And Terms That Are Complete Bullshit

Last month we told you about 20 terms every self-respecting futurist should know, but now it’s time to turn our attention to the opposite. Here are 10 pseudofuturist catchphrases and concepts that need to be eliminated from your vocabulary. Top image: Screen grab from Elysium. 1. “Transcendence” Some futurists toss this word around in a…

This Snake’s Last Meal Tried To Eat Its Way Out

A Serbian biologist recently stumbled upon a rather disturbing sight, one that took her a few moments to process: A young viper snake had swallowed a centipede practically its own size — but it proved to be a meal that wasn’t quite ready to give up. The find was made by herpetologist Ljiljana Tomovic back…

Planets Don’t Need A Stabilizing Moon To Be Habitable

There’s a long-held view among astrobiologists that planets need the stabilizing influence of a large moon to foster life. But a new study suggests that a stable tilt isn’t a prerequisite for habitability — and that off-kilter planets may be more hospitable to life than stable ones. Top image: ESO. Unlike Earth and its highly…