io9
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weird archaeology
Could People With Giant Skulls Be Controlling the Weather?
Were there superpeople with mega-skulls in ancient times, or did they just have really awesome body mods? This clip from a Russian show about weird, elongated skulls discovered from the 4th Century asks that very question. via Xenophilia -
disaster
Tremor-Plagued California Fault About To Unleash The Big One
Tremors are increasing near a "locked" stretch of the San Andreas fault in Central California near Parkfield. In a study released today, seismologists say this could mean the shaky state is on the verge of an enormous quake.
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Comment by Grey_Area: Oh piffle! These "seismologists" don't know anything. What's the latest data from the crop circles? that's the only way to... 5 Responses | Other threads
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longevity
Can Food Prevent Age-Related Dementia?
A new study has confirmed that primates who eat a low-calorie diet can, according to researchers, "slow the aging process." Restricting your calorie intake means you're three times less likely to develop age-related disorders, particularly in the brain. More »
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Comment by Belabras: Yeah, I'll hold out for the pill or whatever they come up with. I've seen articles about this before,... 2 Responses | Other threads
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space porn
Binary Star Discovery Allows Scientists To Detect Invisible "Gravity Waves"
Stars in the early universe probably formed in pairs, like the ones in this simulation created by a group of American astrophysicists. Their finding also has staggering implications: We may detect gravity waves, which has never been possible before. More »
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Comment by nonpareil: I'm still dubious about gravity waves. I understand that if they exist, they're very weak (and tough to detect), but... 11 Responses | Other threads
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mad science
A Homemade Piece of Lab Equipment With A Terrible Purpose
There is something creepily fascinating about this piece of DiY lab equipment, fashioned in Denmark during the 1970s. Can you guess its purpose? Not for the faint of heart. More »
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Comment by Julio Bermudez: Oh god, for a second thier i thought it was intended for my man parts O_o 14 Responses | Other threads
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science
Get A Lung Cancer Screening At Your Local Drugstore
Diagnosing cancer is never easy, and — with a few exceptions — testing is rarely done in the absence of symptoms. A new scientific breakthrough could make cancer screening easy, at a stage when treatment is still fairly easy too. More »
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By MeganComment by ♠ Final ♠: Ok, but that last time I got a prostate exam behind Walgreens it didn't end well. 3 Responses | Other threads
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mad science
Now You Can Literally Create Objects Out Of Thin Air
At last, you can make things disappear. Scientists have created a device for disappearing unwanted objects. The crazy part is that it can make objects seem to appear as well. More »
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By MeganComment by zslane: Are you effing kidding me? We're on the brink of Romulan Cloaking technology and all you twits can think of... 5 Responses | Other threads
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mad science
Schizophrenic Brains Make More Complicated Music Than Sane Ones
A new computer program lets your brain turn fMRI machines into musical instruments by assigning notes to active regions of your cortex. The results may cause people to drive themselves crazy just to stay on the cutting edge of electronica. More » -
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space porn
Helix Nebula Produces Cosmic Fireworks Display
The United States' independence day is over for the year, but a new image of one of Earth's cosmic neighbors reveals an explosive spectacle. One of the closest nebulae to us displays dramatic firework-like knots when viewed in the infrared. More »
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Comment by Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H.: Ok, this is weird. I went to the Seattle fireworks show (where I had kick ass seats thanks to friends... 1 Responses | Other threads
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cosmic strings
Cosmic Strings May Be Headed Towards Us Already
Why haven't scientists been able to provide proof of the "Cosmic Strings" that they claim surround the universe? A new theory suggests that it's because the strings have broken and gotten lost in time... possibly making them easier to find. More »
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Comment by CSX321: Is New Scientist an actual respected publication? I honestly don't know, but years ago my now-retired scientist father seemed to... 9 Responses | Other threads
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mega fauna
Giant Manta Rays Are The Cylon Raiders Of The Deep
BoingBoing points out the similarities between cylon ships and these giant manta rays featured in the latest National Geographic magazine. These 2,000-pound creatures are on a krill feeding frenzy. More pictures via NatGeo, thanks to Marilyn Terrell!
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Comment by dssstrkl: They send cyclonic, not cylon. As in they were swimming in an ascending circle. Seeing killer cyborgs everywhere? 11 Responses | Other threads
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pandemic update
How Swine Flu Works, And Why It Kills
Scientists now have an idea of just how the H1N1 virus may be so deadly, and what makes it different from earlier viruses from the same family. Hint: It's where it goes inside your body that counts. More »
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Comment by Dr Emilio Lizardo: The most interesting thing about H1N1 is the news coverage. The media couldn't give us enough about it a few... 9 Responses | Other threads
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vacation
Wish You Were Here - On The Moon
io9 is taking the day off to explode things in the name of national liberty. Also, to kick back on this moon beach, captured here in the dappled earthlight by NASA's newly-launched Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. More »
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Comment by Julius Seizure. (the CANUCK one): Enjoy the weekend, dudes and dude-ettes. We've got a truckload of red and white frosted cupcakes left over from Canuck Day... 7 Responses | Other threads
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insect overlords
Ant Mega-Colony Covers Half The Planet
Ant colonies are often part of bigger "mega colonies" that share genetic traits and will not make war on each other. One colony got so big it now rivals the human population in its reach, covering most of the planet. More »
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Comment by 92BuickLeSabre: Not only do they have a plan, apparently they have boats! Boat Ants! Boat Ants! Boat Ants Boat Ants... 9 Responses | Other threads
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evolution
Shrinking Sheep Shocker
Scottish sheep are shrinking! Each new generation of sheep on the Scottish island of Hirta are smaller than the last. Shorter, warmer winters, caused by climate change, are tampering with normal sheep evolution. More »
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Comment by Jrsy Devil's Food Cake®: This is baaaaaaad news for Scottsmen.. 2 Responses | Other threads
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science
New Study Proves Smoking Pot Does Not Make You Crazy
The San Francisco Weekly has a story on a new study from the journal Schizophrenia Research that proves marijuana does not induce insanity. That's good news right before a weekend. From the story: More »
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Comment by Aaron Roberts: New Study Proves Smoking Pot Does Not Make You Crazy - Just Stupid, Which is Easily Mistaken For Insanity. 16 Responses | Other threads
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mad science
A Drug That Could Give You Perfect Visual Memory
Imagine if you could look at something once and remember it forever. You would never have to ask for directions again. Now a group of scientists has isolated a protein that mega-boosts your ability to remember what you see.
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Comment by alphanumeric1971: Oooohh Annalee. The grammar police are in full force today! 20 Responses | Other threads
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cryptography
Now You Can Use Quantum Physics To Send Top Secret Messages Online
In a breakthrough in quantum cryptography, a team of 41 institutions has created the world's largest quantum key distribution network. The network enables them to create the most foolproof system in history for sending secret messages. More »
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Comment by tetracycloide: i'm not sure i understand how this makes anything more secure. can't you just read the quantum states and save... 16 Responses | Other threads
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mad neuroscience
Commonly-Prescribed Drug Significantly Reduces Memory Loss from Alzheimers
A growth hormone frequently prescribed for cancer patients has been found to significantly reduce memory loss from Alzheimers disease. The drug, which stimulates the production of red blood cells, essentially washes plaques out of the brain. More »
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Comment by tano: I come to io9 for the scifi news. Every time there is a post like this one I regret... 4 Responses | Other threads
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maps
New Map Of Our Galactic Disc Reveals Where Future Stars Will Be Born
Members of a massive galaxy-mapping project started a few years ago have just unveiled the first of several atlases they will produce of our Milky Way's galactic disc. These images of "cold dust" in the galaxy show where stars will ignite. More »
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Comment by arthurborko: This map is gonna be very useful if we ever learn to break physics and invent warp drive :-p 5 Responses | Other threads
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monsters among us
Public Utilities Group Confirms "Sewer Monster" Is Real, But Doesn't Know What It Is
If you've been following the ongoing sewer monster story from North Carolina, I've got some seriously crazy news for you. First of all, the video of the throbbing poop-esque creature has been confirmed as real. But what is it? More »
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Comment by Roklimber: If this is real (I'm still skeptical), why don't someone go and take a sample - better yet, one complete... 16 Responses | Other threads
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super powers
Can Humans Awaken Their Bat-Senses?
We may not all have pointy ears and sharp teeth, but Spanish scientists are convinced that inside every human lurks the best bat-power: echolocation, or navigating by sound. And they're determined to show us all how to unlock it! More »
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By MeganComment by AutonymousPrime: Next: Scientists discover humans have the ability to fly like bats! Unfortunately the scientists testing this were only able to... 6 Responses | Other threads
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medical technology
Replacement Joint Coating Brings Us One Step Closer To The Reign Of The Cybermen
Scientists in Israel have come up with a way to cover prosthetics and joint replacements with a human tissue-like coating. A new application of a 200 year old electroplating process might be the future of complication-free joint replacements. More » -
quantum computing
Super Small, Super Powerful Quantum Processor Can Solve Multiple Problems At Once
Soon your processor might be able to do three things at once. In a major stride towards commonplace quantum computing, a Yale university team has just unveiled a new two-qubit quantum processor that actually looks like a conventional computer chip. More » -
futurism
Two Augmented Reality Technologies That Are About To Change The World
Augmented reality is a technology futurists and scifi authors like Vernor Vinge have been talking about for decades. Now the tech has matured and is entering the market. Two videos of new products show you the near future. More »
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Comment by Kessica: Okay, I've read a handful of Augmented Reality SciFi, and are there any out there where things actually turn out... 7 Responses | Other threads
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futurism
Is Stem Cell Tourism About To Go Legit?
It's medical tourism's bleeding edge: people traveling to countries with no stem cell bans. Last year, a boy went to Russia for stem cell injections in his brain – he got only tumors. Is this the future of medical innovation? More »
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Comment by Jes St.Lawrence: 'Among them is Van Golden, a Christian, anti-abortion Texan who has sold his house so that he can travel to... 5 Responses | Other threads
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atmospheric conditions
The Cloud That Proved The 1908 Tunguska Explosion Was A Comet
The mysterious Tunguska explosion in 1908 leveled hundreds of square miles of Siberian forest, leaving trees flattened to the ground. New evidence, based on strange, glowing clouds in the upper atmosphere, proves that Tunguska wasn't caused by aliens after all. More »
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Comment by ASquare: Don't get me wrong, I believe the scientific explanation, but let me just get this straight: the same type of... 9 Responses | Other threads
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life out there
Could X-Rays Be Creating DNA On Titan?
Over at New Scientist, there's an intriguing article about how x-rays from the sun could be stirring up the molecular soup on Saturn's moon Titan - and ultimately create DNA. Recently researchers simulated Titan's atmosphere in the lab to see what it would take for the moon - whose atmosphere makes it similar to Earth in some ways - could ever cook up life as we know it. More »
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Comment by xoforoct wishes he lived in chasm city: This experiment seems to be missing some data... Obviously, it is not as if after you hit the 7 million year... 1 Responses | Other threads
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mad chemistry
Nano Droplet of Acid Solves Ozone Depletion Mystery
Last week a group of scientists reported in Science that they had created the tinest droplet of acid ever produced on Earth. It was created within a superfluid helium cluster at 0.37 kelvin. Observing this ultra-small acid drop allowed researchers to study how such droplets interact with water in our atmosphere to create chlorine which eats up ozone. Until this experiment, nobody had understood how chlorine could be created in the cold wastes of our upper atmosphere. Now we know it's via the interactions between acid and water ice, which then erode holes in our ozone layer. Which leads to more ultraviolet spectrum hitting the planet, which leads to genetic mutations in many life forms. More »
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Comment by R.O.A.C.H. needs to blow up the Moon! (w/ lazers!): So... We can all be superheroes now? 3 Responses | Other threads
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science
Scientists Read Pigeons' Brains For The Secrets Of Their Navigation
According to data recorders strapped to pigeons' heads, pigeon migration may not be too different from human navigation: the birds use landmarks to navigate, they pay more attention when in cities, and they even recognize other pigeon colonies. More »
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Comment by kagekiri: I wonder if people in the city were freaked out by pigeons with electrodes and a transmitter sticking out of... 3 Responses | Other threads
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afternoon reading
13 Ways of Looking at Apollo
The anniversary of Apollo's historic landing on the moon is coming up next month, and everyone from science historians to poets are reminiscing. Writer Matthew Battles has a fascinating essay about how space travel prepares us to be cyborgs. More »
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Comment by Whyaduck: Agreed, that's a great image. So much of the literature/media is dedicated to the hardware and the astronauts, we... 2 Responses | Other threads
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evolution
Science Still Cannot Explain Why Women Sleep Around
Seed beetles are polyandrous – females mate with multiple males, and choose which sperm will fertilize their eggs afterward. Scientists long believed they did this to get the best sperm. But a new study shows the fittest males always lose. More »
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Comment by Purple Dave: I saw something similar on a species of cuttlefish. You've got three groups, the females, the big males, and the... 9 Responses | Other threads
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medical mystery
Infant-Sized Teenager May Provide Key to Reversing the Aging Process
Brooke Greenberg looks like a toddler, but she is actually sixteen years old. She is only 30 inches high. Now scientists are studying her genome to figure out whether she possesses a mutation that prevents her body from aging. More »
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Comment by LittleDragon: Cool until you think about it. Then its really cool. I would give almost any thing to be 8 again.... 7 Responses | Other threads
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medical technology
Chemical Nose Can "Smell" Cancer
The next wave of cancer diagnosis techniques might rely on a newly-invented chemical nose. The nose can sniff out different types of cancer by detecting any abnormal cells developing in your body. More »
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Comment by Gann: They need to develop a pocket-sized STD version of this to discreetly 'sniff' that cute but slightly skanky looking girl... more » | Other threads
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mad science
Dark Matter Lab Dedicated 5,000 Feet Underground
This week, the Sanford Lab dedicated an underground science fortress to research dark matter. The lab is 5,000 feet underground in the mountains of South Dakota, shielded from cosmic radiation. More »
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Comment by Marikir: "Good morning, and welcome to the Black Mesa Transit System. This automated train is provided for the security and convenience... 4 Responses | Other threads
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geophysical porn
NASA Volcano Image Shows Atmospheric Shockwave
On June 12th, Saychev Peak on Matua Island erupted, hurling ash and steam into the air. Luckily, NASA's International Space Station was watching. This stunning image, from the Earth Observatory, reveals some rare details about this eruption. More »
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Comment by ZanipoloLebron: So that is a thermal shockwave edge, a pressure shockwave edge, or the event horizon of a black hole? 8 Responses | Other threads
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mars
Definitive Evidence Of An Ancient Lake On Mars
Water on ancient Mars may actually have been abundant: Scientists have speculated about ancient rivers and lakes for years. But a team at University of Colorado at Boulder announced this week the first "definitive" evidence of a lake on Mars. More »
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Comment by Meirelle: Decepticon: So they MIGHT start digging by the time I die in like 2075 or something... 4 Responses | Other threads
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pharmaceuticals
An Anti-Anxiety Drug That Could Create Super-Soldiers
Soon you may be able to buy a drug that can make you calm by mimicking the body's natural self-soothing process. But you wouldn't feel drugged. What would happen to people who suddenly became fearless without side-effects? More »
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Comment by ManchuCandidate: I personally think this is a very bad idea. A lot of stupid things and bad ideas were stopped... 11 Responses | Other threads
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lunar exploration
NASA's New Moon Missions Hope To Crash And Burn
Don't be too concerned when you hear that latest NASA launch has crashed into the surface of the moon; it doesn't mean that everything's gone wrong. The entire point of one of the two missions is to do just that. More »
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Comment by LittleDragon: I can spend $580 million dollars in new and interesting ways and advance mankind in space. I would be herald... 11 Responses | Other threads
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space porn
Scientists Simulate Sun Spots In The Lab
This is the first accurate, computer-generated image of a sunspot. Not only is it awesome and terrifying to behold, but it means we're one step closer to understanding the solar weather that could one day destroy the earth. More »
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Comment by Hades_Kane: Looks like Lavos rising from Chrono Trigger... Terrifying indeed. 2 Responses | Other threads
science
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Thu Jul 9
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