Weird Light-Bending Experiment Turns Scientists Into 'Coneheads'
Posted on December 17, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 663 words
| Arica Deslauriers
In a mind-bending, and light-bending, discovery, scientists have produced a fun-house-like warping of light that defies existing laws of physics.
For centuries, simple equations (taught every year to high-school physics students) have described how light moves through different media, for example from air into glass. Now, however, researchers have found that if the boundary between media is sufficiently complex (in this case, coated with nano-sized wires), those laws no longer apply.
[Read More]Why 'Slut' Stings: Etymology of a Limbaugh Controversy
Posted on December 17, 2022
| 3 minutes
| 626 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
The media stir and public outrage over conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's "slut statement" may have the conservative radio host eating his words — ancient words, that is. According to linguists, the word "slut" has quite a history.
Last week, Limbaugh triggered widespread outrage by calling a Georgetown law student who spoke out for contraceptive coverage in insurance a "slut" and a "prostitute."
Limbaugh has since apologized for his "
[Read More]Why black holes are the scariest things in the universe
Posted on December 17, 2022
| 5 minutes
| 1048 words
| Arica Deslauriers
Halloween is a time to be haunted by ghosts, goblins and ghouls, but nothing in the universe is scarier than a black hole.
Black holes – regions in space where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape – are a hot topic in the news these days. Half of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Roger Penrose for his mathematical work showing that black holes are an inescapable consequence of Einstein’s theory of gravity.
[Read More]Babies Drank from Ancient 'Sippy Cups' Thousands of Years Ago
Posted on December 16, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 646 words
| Trudie Dory
Babies and young children drank from clay "sippy cups" during the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, and the practice may have existed as early as 7,000 years ago, a new study reveals.
These spouted artifacts have been found at archaeological sites across Europe, first appearing in the Neolithic period and becoming more common, according to the study. Scientists suspected that the vessels were meant for feeding babies and toddlers, but some researchers argued that the pottery may have been meant for adults who were sick, injured or elderly.
[Read More]Climate Scientist Calls Hacked 'Climategate' Emails 'Truly Pathetic'
Posted on December 16, 2022
| 3 minutes
| 591 words
| Fernande Dalal
Climate scientist Michael Mann blasted the release of new leaked emails and documents taken from the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit as "truly pathetic" and a "shameless effort to manufacture a false controversy" on Tuesday (Nov. 22)
Mann, along with other prominent climate scientists, features in the emails, which consists of conversations among researchers about data and public relations. A previous leak in 2009 released more than 1,000 emails in an episode dubbed "
[Read More]Dino Graveyard: Photos of Dinosaur National Monument
Posted on December 16, 2022
| 6 minutes
| 1243 words
| Patria Henriques
America's focusThe modern world is fascinated with dinosaurs. On every continent, the discovery of a new dinosaur fossil becomes the leading headline in local media. Dinosaur movies, dinosaur costumes, dinosaur displays, dinosaur toys, etc. are a favorite with children and adults the world over. Museums, like the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, are overflowing with visitors to view the ancient skeletal dinosaur replicas like that of the Tyrannosaurus rex shown here and affectionately named "
[Read More]Disputed Painting Is a Van Gogh, New Analysis Suggests
Posted on December 16, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 698 words
| Arica Deslauriers
X-rays have illuminated the origins of a disputed painting: This time, an old still life by Vincent van Gogh. Suggestions that the image was painted by Van Gogh had been dismissed in 2003, but new research now gives greater weight to the idea that the Dutch post-impressionist painter created the work.
The painting is about 40 inches (100 centimeters) by 30 inches (80 centimeters) and dates back to 1886. It shows a variety of flowers in a sea-foam green vase on a table, with another bouquet in front, and is titled "
[Read More]Ecstasy May Make People More Social
Posted on December 16, 2022
| 3 minutes
| 506 words
| Fernande Dalal
Ecstasy users have claimed that the drug makes them feel more social, and now this prosocial effect is supported by science.
In a recent study, people who took ecstasy looked at pictures of social situations and rated them as more positive than pictures of other things. The difference in the ratings was greater than the difference in the ratings of people who received a placebo.
People who took ecstasy were also less likely to rate pictures without social content as pleasant than those who received a placebo, the researchers said.
[Read More]Feeding Frenzy of 11 Sharks Ends in Surprising Twist … And a Mouthful of Shark for 1 Grouper
Posted on December 16, 2022
| 3 minutes
| 447 words
| Arica Deslauriers
The fish had swallowed a shark whole, as the busy predators darted about to grab morsels from the 250-lb. (110 kilograms) carcass of a swordfish.
"Oh my god — I'm going to remember this my whole life," one of the researchers says in footage of the feeding frenzy. [In Photos: Great White Sharks Attack]
A remotely operated vehicle called the Deep Discoverer captured the video. The scientists operating the vehicle were conducting research for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aboard the ship Okeanos Explorer.
[Read More]How Do Laser Weapons Work? (Infographic)
Posted on December 16, 2022
| 2 minutes
| 250 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
Despite being a staple of science fiction and fantasy, the classic “ray gun” laser weapon is unlikely to ever be developed. Even so, lasers have an important role on the battlefield.
If the electrons in certain materials are stimulated with enough energy, they emit light waves, which can be amplified and made to travel together in a narrow beam. The beam is called a laser.
Lasers powerful enough to be used as weapons have proved elusive.
[Read More]