We're big fans of Nikola Tesla around these parts, which is why I'm so pleasantly shocked that he's gotten his very own hilarious Drunk History treatment. And hey, it's actually pretty accurate! More »
We know, we know, the comment system has been a little bit wonky lately. But the hardworking team of gnomes who keep our back-end running have been busy night and day, banging away with their adorable little chisels and mallets, and they report that comments should now be functioning better than ever. More »
Questions. The iPad raises a lot of them. Like, "What's gonna happen when I carry it through airport security? Will I get fingerbanged by the TSA?" So, we asked the TSA: What's the official iPad airport security policy? More »
NOVA Science Now has a nifty feature they’re doing online where they spotlight "The Secret Life of Scientists". I have some reservations about it, because one thing scientists aren’t, is secretive. We talk about what we do constantly.
Anyway, they have a series of short videos about teen astronomer Caroline Moore, who recently discovered a rare type of supernova. She found this supernova, by the way, when she was 14.
They also asked her 10 questions, and while I might disagree with her choice of a news source, I think it’s great that they let her be her, and she shines right through in these videos. It’s also really terrific that she doesn’t compromise in these interviews, belting out whatever is on her mind. She’s a fantastic role model for kids interested in science, showing them that science really is cool, and you can do it and still be you.
Hi!
i'm looking for PLC/SCADA class in NJ.
could you help me for finding proper class or school?
Now this is 3D. Engineers at the Human Communications Technology Lab at the University of British Columbia have devised pCubee, a "personal cubic display" that adjusts 3D images based on your position, and allows you to interact with them. Woah. More »
HT Don Rule today as well as the ENTIRE Pharmacogenomics Advisory Group that I am a proud member of.
The Kindle thought it had paper books beat for good. Then, out of completely nowhere, This happened. More »
A certain species of dung beetle has been crowned the world’s strongest insect. A male Onthophagus taurus can pull 1,141 times its own body weight — the equivalent of a 70-kilogramme (154-pound) person being able to lift 80 tonnes, the weight of six double-decker buses [AFP]. That power comes in handy not just to roll up a few extra dung-balls, but also to protect mates and stave off potential rivals.
Chronicling the insect’s amazing strength in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, scientists Rob Knell and Leigh Simmons explain that the beetle’s amazing strength is connected to his sex life. These female dung beetles dig tunnels beneath choice pieces of dung in which to lay their eggs. If another male enters a tunnel already occupied by a rival, then the dung beetles duke it out, each male using his immense strength in an attempt to push the other out. Usually, the male that guards the tunnel repeatedly mates with the female inside.
In the study, scientists calibrated the males’ strength by gluing a cotton thread to the beetles’ hard wing-cases, stringing the thread across a pulley, and tying it to a miniature bucket, to which they added drops of water [ScienceNOW]. The dung beetle’s coronation as the world’s strongest insect steals the thunder from the rhinoceros beetle, which can lift up to 850 times its own weight.
The weaker males in this brawny insect community aren’t entirely out of luck, as nature has endowed them with other survival advantages. Knell added that some male dung beetles are smaller and weaker, but do not have to fight for female attention due to their “substantially bigger testicles”. “Instead of growing super strength to fight for a female, they grow lots more sperm to increase their chances of fertilizing her eggs and fathering the next generation” [AFP].
Related Content:
80beats: Female Dung Beetles Evolved Elaborate Horns to Fight for the Choicest Poop
Discoblog: Enough of This S#%t! Dung Beetles Morph into Millipede-Eaters
Discoblog: A Literally Crappy House Protects Beetle Larva From Predators
The Loom: An Inordinate Fondness for Beetle Horns
Image: Alex Wild. Two male dung beetles fight for supremacy.
Does anyone know what does the "H"; "LN" etc behind the ASME material grade mean? E.g: SA 240 Gr 304H
Thanks!
Fellow Libertarians,
I am extremely pleased to announce the candidacy of a long-time LPIN activist, candidate and financial supporter for the position of Libertarian National Committee At-Large representative at the upcoming LP Convention at St. Louis.
Rebecca Sink-Burris has been a Libertarian Party member since the 1970’s and has served the LPIN in many capacities including Vice-Chair. She has also run for U.S. Senate and was instrumental in helping us retain our ballot access when she ran for Secretary of State in 2002 gaining will over 4% of the statewide vote when we were required to gain just 2%.
I would strongly encourage delegates to meet Rebecca at the convention and ask her about the future of the Libertarian Party.
Her message follows:
Having served on the board as an alternate and as a 2 term regional representative for one of our more effective regions, I have seen how damaging it is when board members don’t work well with each other, I want to continue to serve in order to help bridge the gap. I’ve been a Libertarian since the 70’s and have served the party by collecting signatures, taking on leadership positions at state and national level, running for office numerous times, including being the candidate for Indiana’s ballot access race. I am interested in being part of an effective LNC, I value the diversity of ideas within the Libertarian Party and can be counted on to listen to all viewpoints and work with all members respectfully. The emphasis needs to be on getting the job done, or in the words of Elvis ” A little less conversation, a little more action please.” This is our time, let’s move forward.
Thanks,
Rebecca
I want to be taken off your email list I do not want any of your email's I am mactheknife stop send me stuff You are a pest and if this doesn't get you stopped I'm going to complane!
Hello partners, I tray to found a provider of a micro fracture developer liquid.
I know to exist one´s to be fluorescent with ultraviolet light.
please if you know the name of any mark or provider please contact me.
Regards.
That looks like fun. Gouging your hand into a display unit, sinking into the colored lights like Ewan McGregor into the carpet during his heroin-fuelled trip in Trainspotting. Impress, as the flexible display is called, runs on Arduino and sensors. More »
Hello All
My field is Chemistry and we are doing a test to determine if a concrete garage coating will delaminate or stain when subjected to the hot tires of a vehicle. The test we do is to heat up a piece of tire that is 3 inches by 5 inches and then apply pressure to the tire on top
Seeing what Instapaper is going to look like on the iPad kind of sold me on the entire device. Now I just want to see what more apps will look like on Apple's tablet. Let's design some dream apps! More »
Skeptic Magazine’s website has a new feature I like: short bios of important skeptics.
Daniel Loxton, the creator of this series, also made banners to put a face on skepticism. The face featured here is for the tireless and wondrous and totally awesome Swoopy*, who runs the Skepticality podcast with Derek Colanduno.
I suspect you might recognize some of the others there too. And if you don’t, get to know them! You’ll be happy you did. But don’t believe me. Prove it for yourself.
Our book reviews aren't over yet--perhaps they will keep coming out all the way to the paperback release date in May. The latest is from David J. Tenenbaum of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, founding feature writer for the WhyFiles, who is reviewing in the journal Science Communication. Tenenbaum begins with a revealing vignette:
I e-mailed an eminent limnologist today, seeking to discuss an environmental issue that he’s considered important enough to study for several years. To my delight, he immediately responded with word that a new study was forthcoming in an important journal. Then, to my dismay, he added that the journal’s embargo would expire a couple of weeks after my publication date.
No problem, I replied. He’d watched the issue develop for years and would surely have a useful comment. Then I got the silent treatment.
Huh? When you contact scientists for a living (I admit, science journalism can seem a branch of telemarketing), you get used to nonresponses, to experts who think a “tight deadline” means 3 months, or are in Mongolia or at an invitation-only conference in Estonia. This latest wrinkle on the rejection letter told me that this expert would be happy to get help publicizing his newest research ...
Review of NASA's Progress on Retiring the Space Shuttle Program, NASA OIG
"Based on calculations by the Office of Inspector General, historical flight rates, and internal NASA evaluations, NASA is not likely to meet its September 2010 timetable, and it will most likely take until the second quarter of FY 2011 to complete the last of the planned Space Shuttle flights."
