Climate Change Caused Radical North-Sea Change
Fueled by previously unappreciated links between climate and ecology, the North Sea has undergone a radical ecological shift in the last half-century, say scientists. The very shape of the food web has changed, from plankton on up to the cod and flatfish that once dominated the icy waters, supporting rich commercial fisheries. They’ve been largely replaced by jellyfish and crabs.
“Climate-driven changes in the biology of the sea are largely hidden from view,” said Richard Kirby, a marine biologist at the University of Plymouth. “If similar changes occurred in a temperate forest, we would be shocked.”
NASA Declares Successful Ares Launch ‘Friggin’ Fantastic!’
Delay followed delay followed delay yesterday, but this morning the NASA’s new Ares I-X finally lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a bang. With massive smoke plume trailing, the rocket soared into the atmosphere at supersonic speeds and completed initial phase separation before successfully face-planting into the Pacific Ocean two minutes later.
Today you can treat yourself to a beautiful 16″ Dell Studio laptop, delight a small child with Monsters vs. Aliens for PlayStation 3, and impress a romantic interest with your knowledge of composer Philip Glass. Bases: covered.
Google and the Deadly Power of Data
Today, as soon as Google showed off its beta GPS navigator, the stocks of Garmin, TomTom and other companies in that industry fell into the toilet. It’s hard to compete with free Google apps, but that’s not why they’re screwed…
The best thing about the Motorola Droid might just be Android 2.0. It got official yesterday, and Google showed off some highlights, but here’s a walkthrough if you wanna get a little closer. (You should, it’s pretty great.)
Silence! The Last of the Giant Radio Telescopes Is Listening to the Universe
There’s a geek mecca in them thar hills. And don’t expect your iPhone’s GPS to guide you to it. Hidden in the green hills of West Virginia, in a 13,000-square-mile National Radio Quiet Zone, is the world’s largest fully steerable telescope. The GBT (Great Big Telescope, Great Big Thing or Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, depending on whom you ask) is the most overbooked telescope in the world. The waiting list to get some time on this baby is long and prestigious. And with good cause: Its sensitivity to radio signals is unparalleled.
Inside a Cellphone Radiation Testing Lab
Is radiation from cellphones dangerous or not? As consumers become increasingly glued to their phones, researchers, environmental organizations and cellphone industry groups debate this question. So far, the answer is elusive. But you can find out how much radiation your head is absorbing from any given phone. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission sets the acceptable radiation standards for cellphones. As part of the device certification process, all handset makers have to offer a certificate from an independent lab that show how the device rates.
LHC Roars to Life, Begins Task of Destroying Universe Yet Again
Christ, didn’t we kill this thing already? Repairwork on the Large Hadron Collider is making serious progress, with a test run of particle beams already completed. Scientists are hoping to attempt full world-ending experiments next month.
Pandora Opens Its Box A Bit More With Twitter, Facebook, And Gifting Integration
Currently, if you want to share a Pandora station or song with a friend, you have to email it to them. Last time I checked, this isn’t 1994. Tonight, Pandora is joining the 21st century with the addition of simple ways to share stations and songs on Twitter and Facebook. And it’s further emphasizing a feature that no one seems to realize exists: Gifting Pandora stations.
