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Synthetic synapse could take us one step closer to an artificial brain

A recent breakthrough in the development of an artificial synapse suggests that assistive devices and other prostheses won’t be limited to just missing joints and failing organs. Researchers in Japan have shown that it’s possible to mimic synaptic function with nanotechnology, a breakthrough that could result in not just artificial neural networks, but fixes for…

io9 George Dvorsky

Why eating like we did 20,000 years ago may be the way of the future

When it comes to our eating habits, it’s clear that we’re doing it wrong. We may be in the midst of health crisis, but there are few practical solutions for dealing with it. But now a growing chorus of people are claiming that modern and processed foods are to blame, insisting that we should instead…

io9 George Dvorsky

New chemical circuits make becoming a cyborg even cooler

For those would-be cyborgs who are squeamish about implanting awkward computer chips into their bodies, a doctoral student at Sweden’s Linköping University may have stumbled upon a rather elegant solution. Klas Tybrandt has developed the world’s first integrated chemical circuit — a control system that channels neurotransmitters, instead of electric voltages. Tybrandt, who is studying…

io9 George Dvorsky

The 55 States of America: 5 places that could become U.S. States in your lifetime

Alaska and Hawaii became the last additions to the United States in 1959. Why has the United States failed to add another state in over five decades? In Watchmen, Vietnam becomes the 51st State, while former Presidential candidate Newt Gingrinch called for the Moon to be the 51st state. What are some realistic candidates for…

io9 Keith Veronese

Honey bee apocalypse may not be caused by evil corporations after all

We’ve suspected for quite some time now that cutting-edge insecticides were responsible for the catastrophic hive crashes that are inflicting honey bee populations. But recent evidence suggests that this may not be the case — instead, Colony Collapse Disorder is the result of a highly contagious virus that’s being transmitted by parasitic mites. Early last…

io9 George Dvorsky

The stress of being bisexual drives young people to drink

There’s a stereotype that heavy drinking leads young people to explore other sexual options besides heterosexuality, but the reverse may actually be true — exploring other sexual identities is so stressful, it drives college kids to drink. Top image: Declan Merriman/Flickr. A study from the University of Missouri is suggesting that young adults who don’t…

io9 George Dvorsky

Why you probably won’t experience your own traumatic death

Ever wonder what it would be like to get shot in the head, or have your face smash into a car’s windshield? Well, you can stop wondering, because you’ll never know — even if it does happen to you. There are at least two major reasons why, if you die in a sudden and violent…

io9 George Dvorsky

Why are American heads getting bigger?

Americans shouldn’t let this go to their heads — but recent forensic research suggests that their heads are getting bigger. National Geographic recently reported the discovery that skulls of white Americans have significantly increased in size since 1825, allowing for a tennis ball’s worth of new brain. But why? Scientists are stumped. To make this…

io9 George Dvorsky

We’re breaking our planet once and for all, warn scientists

A report just published in Nature by a group of 22 international scientists warns that human activity is quickly pushing the planet to a tipping point, after which time the Earth’s ecosystem will suffer a rapid and irreversible collapse. What’s worse: They suggest we’re nearly there. By using recent scientific theories, ecosystem modeling, and paleontological…

io9 George Dvorsky

Is marijuana unhealthier than people think?

As medical and recreational use of marijuana continues to grow, a dangerous lack of awareness about its health risks could be putting millions of lives at risk. This is the conclusion reached by the British Lung Foundation (BLF), a leading charity that is worried about the “alarming disconnect” between the public perception of the drug…

io9 George Dvorsky

Biological Cells Can Now Do Arithmetic

The biological cell is an extremely advanced microscopic entity that can look after itself, but it’s not exactly what you’d call smart. That’s all about to change, though, because scientists are now making cells that can perform arithmetic—and the next stop stop is a living implant that can act as a computer. Scientists at the…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

Prospectus for Silicon Valley’s Next Hot Tech IPO, Where Nothing Could Possibly Go Wrong

As we learned from the recent Facebook IPO, things don’t always go exactly as planned. But lord knows that’s not going to stop anybody from over-hyping Silicon Valley’s next hot tech startup. Our friends at McSweeney’s stumbled on these pre-IPO documents, which should give investors a little pause. Form S-1 Registration Statement Under The Securities…

Tech News John Flowers--McSweeney's

Should we eliminate psychopaths from the gene pool?

Psychopaths make up an astounding 1 to 2 percent of the general population and occupy virtually every niche in society. Often ruthless, callous and completely devoid of empathy, they impose an incalculable toll on individuals and society. And science is increasingly learning that psychopathy may actually be a genetic disorder — one that could eventually…

io9 George Dvorsky

Exposure to Awesome Things Makes You a Better Person

“Awesome” is a word which is thrown around liberally these days. But a new study suggests that things that inspire awe—that is, a feeling of respect mixed with fear or wonder—actually help make you a better person. The research, carried out at Stanford University by Melanie Rudd, shows that a sense of awe expands people’s…

Health Jamie Condliffe

The Science of Hockey Ice

Hockey is a game played by linebacker-sized men moving at vehicular speed on razor-sharp blades. Skaters will travel almost 200 miles in a single game, slicing, shredding and shaving a surface just 200 feet long, 85 feet wide and 1 inch thick. The abuse the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings will heap upon…

Tech News Brandon Keim - Wired

South Korea will remove evolution from its high school textbooks

It appears that the United States is not the only country having a hard time accepting evolution. According to a report in Nature, a South Korean creationist campaign has achieved victory in its efforts to see specific examples of evolution removed from high school text books. Their breakthrough is part of a larger campaign to…

io9 George Dvorsky

Exercise Will Not Make You Happy

Even though your morning jog may give you a brief high, don’t assume that working out can make you happy in the long-term. A new study suggests that however much exercise you do, it won’t help reduce the symptoms of depression. The research, which is published in the British Medical Journal, runs counter to many…

Health Jamie Condliffe

Ad Networks Are Bypassing Apple Privacy Rules With a Bunch of New Tricks

Last year, Apple gave developers a slap on the wrists for using UDIDs—unique numbers attached to every iPhone which software designers like because they make it possible to keep track of who’s using their apps. Now, however, it turns out that ad networks are bypassing a whole swathe of Apple’s privacy rules using a host…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

Could we build a weather machine to stop climate change?

It’s starting to get pretty warm outside. And it’s also starting to get increasingly obvious that human-made global warming is not going away anytime soon. As our environment continues to degrade and collapse, we may be headed into some fairly desperate times — and with them, the inevitable call for desperate measures. Such out-of-the-box speculation…

io9 George Dvorsky

What Flies Can Teach You About Your Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is one of those frustrating diseases where we know what it does, and how it works, but the underlying root cause is difficult to ascertain. Now, by engineering flies to have the disease, scientists may have revealed the genetic origins of RLS. One of the theories behind RLS is that it’s…

io9 Tim Barribeau

Synthetic synapse could take us one step closer to an artificial brain

Why eating like we did 20,000 years ago may be the way of the future

New chemical circuits make becoming a cyborg even cooler

The 55 States of America: 5 places that could become U.S. States in your lifetime

Honey bee apocalypse may not be caused by evil corporations after all

The stress of being bisexual drives young people to drink

Why you probably won’t experience your own traumatic death

Why are American heads getting bigger?

We’re breaking our planet once and for all, warn scientists

Is marijuana unhealthier than people think?

Biological Cells Can Now Do Arithmetic

Prospectus for Silicon Valley’s Next Hot Tech IPO, Where Nothing Could Possibly Go Wrong

Should we eliminate psychopaths from the gene pool?

Exposure to Awesome Things Makes You a Better Person

The Science of Hockey Ice

South Korea will remove evolution from its high school textbooks

Exercise Will Not Make You Happy

Ad Networks Are Bypassing Apple Privacy Rules With a Bunch of New Tricks

Could we build a weather machine to stop climate change?

What Flies Can Teach You About Your Restless Leg Syndrome

Fourth Most Populous Country in the World Bans Most Social Media for Kids

How to watch UFC Fight Night Adesanya vs Pyfer live this Saturday

‘Steel Ball Run’ Will Return This Year…Eventually

‘The Mummy 4’ Is Getting the Family Back Together

JD Vance Says UFOs Are Actually Demons

Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine Hits Its Lowest Price of the Year for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, Cut Your Daily Coffee Costs at Home

Amazon Clears Out Govee LED Smart Light Bulbs (2-Pack) at a Record Low, Each Bulb Costs Just a Few Dollars

The First Proper ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Trailer Is a ’90s Anime Fever Dream

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets

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