Altenar
- Technology
What Is The Worst Possible Disaster That Could Befall Earth?
Texas-size asteroids make for exciting summer blockbusters, but when it comes to long-term damage, they're not the most menacing threat out there. Lurking at the edge of our galaxy are giant molecular dust clouds -- agglomerations of hydrogen gas, small organic molecules and minerals -- roughly 150 light-years across. If our solar system hit one, it would take 100,000 years to pop out on the other side.
1.28.2009 at 02:17pm - Comment by AltenarTHe problem with the black hole is that we would have felt the blast from the supernova before we actually could find the hole. Also, WE would be hitting IT, not the other way around. I don't think it is affected by gravity, but I may be wrong.
- The Environment
The Killer Mice of Gough Island
Widely recognized as the most important sea bird habitat on Earth, Gough Island is a geographically perfect place for the animals to raise their young. It is one of the most remote places in the South Atlantic, nearly 2000 miles from both Africa and South America and 220 miles from the next nearest island in its archipelago. It is this isolation which has allowed its ecosystem to remain a nearly perfect home for the 22 bird species that seek its shelter in order to breed.
1.28.2009 at 02:10pm - Comment by AltenarThere is a difference between rats and mice, and they are getting a lot of protein in their diet because of the makeup of the chicks' bodies. The chicks' need lots of protein and other nutrients, so they have a lot of that in them. The mice feed off of that and grow larger. Natural selection has not reared its head because it has been an extremely short amount of time compared to the other selections. It works over thousands of years, not hundreds.
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December 2009: Best of What's New
In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.
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