2016 Olympics: Visit Rio with 360-Degree Videos and Virtual Reality

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  307 words  |  Patria Henriques

If you're not traveling to Brazil for the Summer Olympics, you can still explore the geography and culture of Rio de Janeiro, courtesy of Google. Rio: Beyond the Map, released to the public July 29, deftly blends archival materials with stunning video, interactive media and profiles of artistic Cariocas, as natives of Rio de Janeiro are called. The project's title alludes to Rio's favelas, the poorly mapped neighborhoods where 1.4 million people, or 20 percent of the city's population, live without addresses, according to Google's blog post about the project. [Read More]

6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Oregon Coast

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  1 minutes  |  148 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

A strong earthquake struck off the coast of Oregon today (Aug. 29), according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The 6.3-magnitude earthquake occurred at 8:07 a.m. local time (11:07 a.m. ET) about 176 miles (284 kilometers) west-northwest of Bandon, Oregon, the USGS reported. So far, there have been no reports of injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued. Hundreds of people along the Oregon coast reported feeling the temblor, according to data collected by the USGS. [Read More]

Distant alien planets could be turned into dark matter detectors

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  5 minutes  |  977 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Dark matter could be detected on alien worlds orbiting distant suns, a new study suggests. This elusive form of matter is one of the most frustrating and mysterious aspects of modern astronomy. Thought to account for 80% of all matter in the universe, it is completely invisible, detectable only through its slight gravitational pull on its surroundings.  But in some situations, it can settle into the core of a massive object, releasing energy in the form of heat. [Read More]

Easy Answers to Your Kids' Most Burning Questions

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  5 minutes  |  864 words  |  Trudie Dory

Why is the moon sometimes out during the day? Why is the sky blue? Will we ever discover aliens? How much does the Earth weigh? How do airplanes stay up? Those are the five questions kids most often ask their parents, and in that order, according to a new survey conducted in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, they're tough nuts to crack — probably why kids find them so universally puzzling in the first place. [Read More]

Europe's oldest person survives COVID-19

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  491 words  |  Fernande Dalal

Europe's oldest person has recovered from COVID-19 in time for her 117th birthday this week, according to recent news reports.  Lucile Randon or Sister André, a French nun who was born in 1904, tested positive for the coronavirus on Jan. 16 at a nursing home in Toulon, France, Reuters reported. Despite having a much greater risk than a younger person of developing severe COVID-19 due to her age, she did not show any symptoms. [Read More]

Human Death Toll from Bird Flu Tops 100

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  345 words  |  Patria Henriques

The number of humans confirmed killed by the bird flu strain called H5N1 topped 100 today, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The organization reported five deaths in Azerbaijan. The most deaths, 42, have occurred in Vietnam followed by 22 in Indonesia. [Table] There have been no confirmed human deaths in the West from the avian flu. Millions of birds in several countries have been slaughtered in mounting efforts to contain the virus. [Read More]

Hungry for Humans: What's Behind Deadly Animal Attacks?

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  6 minutes  |  1091 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Dark reports began circulating in December, after the mutilated body of a 65-year-old man was found in northern India. Since then, nine additional human deaths have been blamed on "Mysterious Queen," the name given to a large Bengal tigress with a taste for human flesh. The exact identity of the tiger hasn't yet been established — wildlife officials aren't even sure if it's one tiger or two — but that hasn't stopped villagers in India's Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states from taking extra precautions when venturing outside their homes. [Read More]

Millions of Mummy Puppies Revealed at Egyptian Catacombs

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  313 words  |  Fernande Dalal

The excavation of a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Egyptian desert has revealed the remains of millions of animals, mostly dogs and jackals. Many appear to have been only hours or days old when they were killed and mummified.  The Dog Catacombs, as they are known, date to 747-730 B.C., and are dedicated to the Anubis, the Egyptians' jackal-headed god of the dead. They were first documented in the 19th century; however, they were never fully excavated. [Read More]

Music Improves Brain Function

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  4 minutes  |  754 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

WASHINGTON (ISNS) -- For most people music is an enjoyable, although momentary, form of entertainment. But for those who seriously practiced a musical instrument when they were young, perhaps when they played in a school orchestra or even a rock band, the musical experience can be something more. Recent research shows that a strong correlation exists between musical training for children and certain other mental abilities. The research was discussed at a session at a recent gathering of acoustics experts in Austin, Texas. [Read More]

Obesity Epidemic Helps Attraction Among Fat People

 Posted on April 15, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  426 words  |  Trudie Dory

Fat people are attracted to one another, and thanks to the obesity epidemic, they have greater opportunities these days at a younger age to find partners whose girth matches their own, according to a new study. Scientists have known that humans tend to seek out partners with similar characteristics as their own—a phenomenon known as assortative mating. For example, people look for partners within their own race, social class and with similar physical characteristics such as height. [Read More]