WEIRD SCIENCE
Michael Irving – A new study suggests there may be 1,000 times more diamonds in the Earth’s interior than previously believed (Credit: kelpfish/Depositphotos). In case you weren’t already sure that diamonds aren’t as unique or valuable as advertisers want us to believe, the …
Michael Irving – A Mars-sized planetary body could be hiding in our Solar System beyond Pluto (Credit: Heather Roper/LPL). In January last year, astronomers from Caltech suggested that a gigantic so-far-undiscovered planet might be lurking on the fringes of the Solar System. Now …
Michael Irving – New research shows how ash from volcanic eruptions could trigger drastic climate shifts, as was the case in 1816 (Credit: Byelikova/Depositphotos). The year 1816 was a weird one, climatically speaking. Months that would normally be warm and pleasant were …
Michael Irving – A scanning electron microscope of the new battery anode: left containing asphalt, graphene nanoribbons and lithium, while the right image only contains the asphalt and graphene (Credit: Tour Group/Rice University). As useful and ubiquitous as they are, lithium-ion batteries are nearing …
by Mike Colagrossi – An asteroid of approximate size of a minimoon, c/o NASA. For nearly four billion years, Earth and the Moon have been inseparable as they’ve journeyed together through the cosmic void. It’s our only permanent satellite we’ll ever know. But …
by Paul Ratner – Credit: ABC. In 1973, a computer program was developed at MIT to model global sustainability. Instead, it predicted that by 2040 our civilization would end. While many in history have made apocalyptic predictions that have so far failed …
After a virus was created from mail-order DNA, scientists are sounding the alarm about the genetic tinkering carried out in garages and living rooms. By Emily Baumgaertner – (Leer en español) Across the country, biohackers — hobbyists, amateur geneticists, students and enthusiasts — …
Michael Irving – Sandia researchers Michael Chandross (left) and Nic Argibay, overseeing the testing of the platinum-gold alloy that’s now the world’s most durable alloy (Credit: Randy Montoya). Engineers at Sandia National Laboratories, in Albuquerque, have developed what they say is the most durable …
America’s Ozone Problem Has Now Spread to Its National Parks Humans can’t leave good things alone, huh? By Peter Hess – Who doesn’t like escaping into the wilderness to get some fresh air reset their brain from the stresses of civilization? Well, we …
by Robby Berman – The dangerous Comet Swift-Tuttle in 1992. (Credit: Jim Scotti, University of Arizona). The Perseids are arguably the most famous annual meteor shower. Silently streaking across the mid-August heavens each summer, it’s a profound and beautiful event for anyone …
