New Technology, Science News, The Future Now

150 Years Of Rain

8,200 years ago, California's forecast was anything but dry

What's New

Science

The skull cult at the world’s oldest temple probably isn’t quite what you think

But it’s hugely important all the same.

By Sara Chodosh posted Jun 29th, 2017

Honestly, we should all be so okay with death that we're willing to carve stuff into people's skulls.
Science

This gecko-inspired robot could help solve our space debris dilemma

Get a gecko grip.

By Cassidy Mayeda posted Jun 29th, 2017

A new robotic gripper inspired by gecko feet can hold giant dangerous space debris—and let it go with a feather-light touch.
Environment

Park rangers recall their most dangerous encounters with nature

Daring tales from the field.

As told to Mark D. Kaufman posted Jun 29th, 2017

National Park Rangers have to be ready to weather whatever. Here are some of their stories.
From Our Blogs: Nexus Media News

This dress changes color to show how polluted your air is

The attention-grabbing garment highlights a deadly problem.

By Owen Agnew Nexus Media posted Jun 29th, 2017

Dominique Paul made a dress that measures air quality and changes colors to reflect the level of pollution.

Health

California says a popular herbicide causes cancer

But three out of four health agencies disagree.

By Kendra Pierre-Louis posted Jun 28th, 2017

California will require a cancer warning on products containing glyphosate, a commonly used pesticide. Here's what you should know.
Aviation

Meet drone dueling, the sport California is about to inadvertently kill

Vague legislation protects humans from watching awesome robot battles

By Kelsey D. Atherton posted Jun 28th, 2017

A bill designed to protect people from armed drones could end drone duels as a legal sport.
Animals

Meet eight species living on the brink, thanks to weather and climate change

A volatile future will affect way more than just the polar bears.

By Mary Beth Griggs posted Jun 28th, 2017

Leopards, frogs, and fish all face weather and climate-related challenges. Read on.
Science

Think weather forecasts are bad? Try forecasting a volcanic eruption.

A new technique could bring us closer to accurately predicting volcano behavior.

By Mary Beth Griggs posted Jun 28th, 2017

Forecasting the weather is hard enough. Forecasting volcanic eruptions is even harder. Read on.

Animals

Health

How to smile without looking like a creep, according to scientists

Researchers have tried to isolate the traits of a winning grin.

By Sarah Fecht posted Jun 28th, 2017

Using a variety of computer-animated faces, researchers from the University of Minnesota have isolated the traits of a winning smile. Read on.
Environment

Researchers say we have three years to act on climate change before it's too late

If we want a smooth transition into a sustainable future, we need to act fast.

By Kendra Pierre-Louis posted Jun 28th, 2017

New comment in Nature says that we have three years to act on climate change.
Health

Everything you never wanted to know about how ticks hunt you (and how to avoid them)

Your complete guide to the horrifying reality of tick season.

By Sara Chodosh posted Jun 28th, 2017

Your complete guide to the horrifying reality of tick season.
Sponsored Content

Explore hidden worlds with this handy UV flashlight

It's also great for security, and you can get one now for $9.99.

By Stack Commerce posted Jun 28th, 2017

Explore hidden worlds with this handy UV flashlight. It's also great for security, and you can get one now for $9.99. Read on.

Animals

DNA may finally find a family for strange creatures that stumped Darwin

An unholy mash-up of a camel, a rhino, and an elephant.

By Rachel Feltman posted Jun 28th, 2017

Some of the strangest animals studied by Charles Darwin have finally yielded DNA clues. Read on.
Military

Here come the laser helicopters

The Army tested an airborne directed energy weapon

By Kelsey D. Atherton posted Jun 28th, 2017

Army wants to test a laser on a helicopter.
From Our Blogs: Eastern Arsenal

China launches Asia's biggest post-WWII warship

The Type 055 "Renhai" is headed out to sea

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer posted Jun 28th, 2017

China just launched Asia's biggest warship in 80 years, the 12,000-14,000 ton Type 055 destroyer.
Environment

8,200 years ago, California's forecast was 150 years of rain

Cave deposits reveal the region's stormy past.

By Sara Kiley Watson posted Jun 28th, 2017

A study at Vanderbilt University uses cave deposits to unearth California's climate during a cold snap recorded in Greenland's ice cores.

DIY

Technology

Now kids can easily program a complex robot to recognize a smile

Anki’s cute Cozmo bot is finally programmable by the rest of us.

By Rob Verger posted Jun 27th, 2017

In a sea of coding-for-kids products, an update to Anki’s holiday-shopping darling, Cozmo the robot, may have one of the best chances of success. Read on.
Gadgets

A dash cam for 48 percent off? I'd buy it.

Record your trip—for $62 less.

By Billy Cadden posted Jun 27th, 2017

A dash cam for 48 percent off? I'd buy it. Record your trip—for $62 less. Read on.
Health

A new microscope uses light to "cut" through tissue samples and find cancer

It could help surgeons remove cancerous breast tissues all at once.

By Claire Maldarelli posted Jun 27th, 2017

A new microscope lets doctors see cancer tumors in 3D. Read on.
Animals

Pandas, which are basically giant poop machines, may inadvertently help save other species

Protecting charismatic animals could help less cute creatures.

By Rachel Feltman posted Jun 27th, 2017

A new study suggests that it might not be so bad that pandas get the glut of China's conservation funding. Read on.

Science

Scientific studies favor male mice—and that could hurt a lot of humans

Let's talk about sex (in biomedical research).

By Kendra Pierre-Louis posted Jun 27th, 2017

A new study quantifies how much sex differences impact the results of biomedical research—and it's a lot. Read on.
Sponsored Content

This powerful PDF editing 'app of the year' winner is now 50 percent off

You can easily make corrections and additions with this 2015 app of the year.

By Stack Commerce posted Jun 27th, 2017

This powerful PDF editing 'app of the year' winner is now 50 percent off. You can easily make corrections and additions with this 2015 app of the year. Read on.
Health

Reports of nasty side effects from cosmetics are way up, and a single hair company may be to blame

If you think your shampoo is hurting you, you should probably tell the FDA.

By Sara Chodosh posted Jun 27th, 2017

WEN by ChazDean doesn't contain all those harsh sulfates. It just contains a chemical that makes your hair fall out. Read on.
Technology

How scientists modeled a deadly tornado with an insanely powerful computer

Inside the creation of a supersize supercell simulation.

By Rob Verger posted Jun 27th, 2017

Simulating a supercell thunderstorm and the tornado it produces involves hundreds of terabytes of data. Read on.

Aviation

Environment

How to survive a tsunami

We asked experts how to live through one of nature’s most powerful disasters.

By Kate Baggaley posted Jun 27th, 2017

Most people do not survive being swept into a tsunami. But there are a few ways you can protect yourself from these natural disasters. Read on.
Gadgets

These gadgets will help you weather any storm

They're all-weather friends.

By Mallory Johns posted Jun 27th, 2017

This brigade of cavalier devices are ready to endure the rigors of the great outdoors. Read on.
Sponsored Content

Aura uses artificial intelligence to deliver personalized meditations

Get lifetime coaching via your smartphone for under $60.

By Stack Commerce posted Jun 26th, 2017

Aura uses artificial intelligence to deliver personalized meditations. Get lifetime coaching via your smartphone for under $60. Read on.
Animals

A third of marine megafauna died in a mass extinction that we didn’t even know about

Ancient climate change was to blame.

By Sara Chodosh posted Jun 26th, 2017

Almost all of the species that have ever existed are now extinct—why should swimming sloths be any more important than the rest? Here's why.

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