Watch This Spider Spin a Web That Makes Tech Designers Envious

Medicine & Technology Jan 30, 2015

Looking to boost the integrity of nanofilaments, important in commercial manufacturing and technology, researchers from Oxford University recently investigated how the filaments are spun in nature. Pulling inspiration from outside in their gardens, the researchers from the UK captured female Uloborus plumipes commonly known as “feather-legged lace weavers” and watched them spin their webs.

Ever Wonder How Spiders Spin Such Long Webs? Researchers at Oxford Use Microscopy to Find the Answer

Jan 29, 2015

Looking just outside into their gardens for a bit of inspiration, one group of Oxford University researchers has sought out to discover how common spider species spin such long, ornate fiber while only being a few nanometers thick. Hoping to reveal nature’s secret, which may someday revolutionize the technological industry as manufacturers find new ways of commercially spinning nano-scale filaments, the researchers captured female Uloborus plumipes commonly known as “feather-legged lace weavers” and watched them spin their webs.

NASA Climate Research Satellite Launch Postponed Due to Fast Winds

Jan 29, 2015

Fast winds over California postponed a NASA satellite launch today, but researchers with the space agency say that the mission is far from over. Set to launch this morning, Jan. 29, the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) spacecraft developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory may have had a setback but it still has plans to map the world in a way researchers have never done before.

Opportunity Rover Celebrates 11 Years on Mars

Jan 28, 2015

NASA's Opportunity Mars Rover is celebrating a new milestone of eleven years on the Red Planet. But in spite of its fortitude, the rover which is only about the size of a riding lawn mower, was originally only designed to explore the Martian surface for about 90 days, along with her twin rover, Spirit.

Pediatricians Weigh In On Medical Marijuana for Kids

Jan 28, 2015

While some parents swear by medical marijuana for their kids, one powerful pediatricians group says that while more research is needed, it currently should only be used as a treatment for severely ill children.

Google’s Eric Schmidt Predicts the Internet Will Disappear

Jan 27, 2015

Google boss Eric Schmidt has predicted that the Internet will soon be so pervasive that it will become a part of every facet of our lives that soon it will effectively "disappear" into the background.

SMAP Craft Set to Move to Launch Pad

Jan 27, 2015

NASA has moved the Soil Moisture Active Passive spacecraft to the launch pad in preparation for a January 29 launch, in its first ever attempt to take scientific measurements of the Earth on a global scale.

eSight Glasses Give Blind Mother New Sight & The Ability to See Her Son for the First Time

Jan 26, 2015

Imagine bringing a child into the world but never meeting him, visually speaking. Unfortunately, that's the reality for many legally blind mothers―but eSight aim's to change that.

Researchers Discover Dimming Switch on a Quasar

Jan 26, 2015

Scientists have long believed that at the center of quasars are massively powerful black holes. However, a new study from Yale University researchers indicates the exact opposite may be true. Researchers at Yale found that one particular quasar is actually dimming, and astronomers think it could be because of a black hole on a diet.

Evidence of Water Flows Found on Vesta

Jan 26, 2015

NASA has revealed that new data from the Dawn spacecraft indicates that there may have once been short-lived water flows on the second largest body in the asteroid belt, known to us as Vesta.

Bat-Like Bot May Soon Fly Its Way Into Space—The New Drone Frontier

Jan 26, 2015

The future of transformer-like technology is here, with a new bat-like robot that can crawl around on all fours, as well as fly away. The DALER, otherwise known as the Deployable Air-Land Exploration Robot, is officially here, and it shares a stunning resemblance to its inspiration—the vampire bat.

NASA Scientists Mystified by White Spot on Ceres

Jan 26, 2015

NASA's Dawn spacecraft continues its approach to the dwarf planet Ceres for its planned mission. During this approach it has already snapped several images of this small planet located in the asteroid belt. And what these pictures have revealed has mystified scientists at NASA for weeks.

Could the Skies of Mars One Day Be Filled with Drones

Jan 26, 2015

The skies of Mars could be teaming with drones one day if NASA's new project manages to make it to the red planet. The proposed Mars Helicopter is currently being developed to help researchers cover more ground with their rovers, and one day it could even help them discover more unique and interesting aspects of Mars that they would have simply missed without it.

Scientists Discover Life 2,500 Feet Below Antarctic Ice

Jan 25, 2015

In a surprising twist, scientists drilling through 2,500 feet or 740 meters of ice in Antarctica have stumbled upon a colony of fish, crustaceans and jellyfish inhabiting the cold and dark recesses of the barren Antarctic sea floor.

So Long Lovejoy, See You in 8,000 Years

Jan 25, 2015

After putting on quite a show in the night sky that delighted astronomers of all ages across the world, it is finally time to bid farewell to the comet Lovejoy. This past Saturday night was the last time that sky-watching enthusiasts had the opportunity to witness Comet Lovejoy with the naked eye, and there won't be another chance to catch this unique comet for the next 8,000 years.