ريتشارد دوكنز's Blog, page 490

The Best Of The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer Of The Year So Far

Environment





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A shed in Lapland, Finland, with a backdrop of the Northern Lights. Pierre Destribats/National Geographic

National Geographic is synonymous with unbelievable stories and photography of our diverse planet. Their Travel Photographer of the Year contest gathers together some of the most talented amateur and professional photographers from around the world, and this year’s submissions are already as impressive as ever.

World’s Oldest Ground Axe Discovered In Australia

Technology





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When made, the axe might have looked like these modern equivalents. Australian National University

The discovery of the oldest known axe with a handle and ground edge has pushed back the date for the development of this technology by 10,000 years. The find, at the appropriately named Carpenter's Gap in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, indicates that the first inhabitants of the region were technological innovators well ahead of their time.

There Are Just Three Saharan Addax Left In The Wild

Plants and Animals





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These are possibly the final individuals surviving in the wild of a species that once roamed the Sahara. Thomas Rabeil/Sahara Conservation Fund

There are perhaps just three remaining Saharan Addax surviving in the wild. The strikingly beautiful antelope that once roamed wide tracts of North Africa, from Algeria to Sudan, has been so heavily persecuted it may soon exist only in captivity, unless urgent action is rapidly taken. Researchers who undertook an extensive survey in March are calling for heavy protection to be deployed to guard the last remaining population, coupled with the potential reintroduction of Addax from captive stock.

Swaddling May Increase Risk Of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, According To Study

Editor's Blog





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Swaddling refers to the practice of wrapping babies in a light cloth while they sleep. Dmitry Naumov/Shutterstock

A new study that appears in the journal Pediatrics has identified a possible link between swaddling and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Swaddling refers to the practice of wrapping babies up in a light cloth while they sleep, leaving only their head exposed. The researchers behind the study are urging parents to exercise caution when swaddling their young.

Scientists Develop Polymer That Can Be Applied To The Skin To Temporarily Erase Wrinkles

Health and Medicine





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The polymer forms a breathable, waterproof, flexible layer on the skin. Melanie Gonick/MIT

Researchers have developed what is in effect a “second skin” that is soft, flexible, and essentially invisible. Currently, the team are exploring the material's potential cosmetic applications as an effective way to remove wrinkles, treat under-eye bags, and give a general youthful appearance, though it’s not difficult to imagine other applications within the medical world. It could provide a new way to treat skin diseases, deliver drugs, or simply hydrate the skin.

NASA Just Released 56 Of Their Technology Patents For Free Public Use

Space





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The entrance to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada, California. Christopher Halloran/Shutterstock

NASA’s treasure chest of freely available resources isn’t just good for your laptop’s wallpaper. Last week, they released 56 of their previously patented technologies into the public domain for anybody to use.

Scientists Have Finally Solved 50-Year-Old Mystery Of Bizarre Signals

Physics





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zhu difeng/Shutterstock

Scientists always love a thoroughly mysterious signal. Although one has never been traced back to alien life, terrific planet-wide thunderstorms on alien worlds far from our own have generated detectable radio bursts. Other such signals have been emitted from the heart of our own galaxy, perhaps due to the destruction of dark matter.

Map Of Earth’s Mantle Reveals That It’s Churning 10 Times Faster Than We Thought

Environment





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The mantle is the second layer from the left. Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock

There is a lot that scientists don’t know about the mantle, the partly molten, partly solid layer of Earth that makes up 84 percent of the planet’s volume.

We Could Be On The Brink Of Discovering Something Extraordinary At The Large Hadron Collider

Physics





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Michael Taylor/Shutterstock

The aim of science is to describe as best as we can the natural world around us. Hypotheses are formulated, tested, and when successful turned into theories. The theories then continue to be tested and challenged. The process doesn't stop. We push them to their limits and sometimes we can go beyond them. And we might be lucky enough to see this very soon.

New Study: No Increase In Brain Cancer Across 29 Years Of Mobile Use In Australia

The Brain





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Don’t worry, we’ve seen no rise in rates of brain cancer since we started using mobile phones. YuliiaKas/Shutterstock

Earlier this year, Australia saw a whirlwind tour from the electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones alarmist Devra Davis. Davis is an international champion of the belief that populations bathed in radiation emitted by mobile phones face epidemics of disease – particularly brain cancer.