Scientists studying the exoplanet WASP-12b have made a startling discovery: the planet is so hot it reflects almost no light, making it appear pitch-black. An international team of astronomers from McGill University, Canada and the University of Exeter, UK measured how much light is reflected by the exoplanet, otherwise known as its ‘albedo,’ in order…
The sun has exhibited strangely high levels of solar flare activity over the last few days as it reaches its solar minimum, the period in which the sun’s flare activity should be at its lowest. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has noticed flare after powerful flare in the last week, including one on September 6 that was the most…
Anthropomorphic, or human-like, animals are often the protagonists of children’s books. But new research suggests parents who want their kids to pick up on a story’s moral lessons should choose books featuring humans, not animals. Researchers in Canada found four to six-year-olds were more likely to share with their peers after being read a story…
A team of researchers in Oregon have become the first to attempt to create genetically modified human embryos in the United States. The team reportedly demonstrated they could eliminate diseases in offspring with CRISPR. Led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, a team of scientists at the Oregon Health and Science University used the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology…
Trumpets blare. In the night sky, spotlights roam. A great confusion of smoke and dust and fog, and emerging banners, carrying the single message: WE. The great meltdown of all consciousness into a glob of utopian simplicity… There are denizens among us. They present themselves as the Normals. Beyond all political objectives, there is a…
Microwave ovens have been the norm in US households for almost 50 years. If you’re under 40, you’re more likely to have grown up with a microwave than without a microwave. Ever since they were first introduced, microwaves have been a source of controversy. While manufacturers and retailers maintain that microwaves are completely safe, many…
