ريتشارد دوكنز's Blog, page 597
January 4, 2016
Derby The Dog Gets A New Pair Of 3D-Printed Prosthetic Legs
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Derby's new "blades". 3D Systems/YouTube
Once again, 3D-printed prosthetics have helped out a particularly cute pet.
Derby was born without his front paws and small forelegs. As his first owners were unable to provide him with the care he required, Derby was given to Peace and Paws dog rescue in New Hampshire. With a stroke of luck, he was spotted by Tara Anderson who works for 3D Systems as Director of Product Management.
Fast Radio Bursts Build Evidence For General Relativity
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When an FRB lies in a similar part of the sky to the center of our galaxy, photons from it will have experienced a gravitational pull. If Einstein was wrong, this will vary with frequency. Purple Mountain Observatory/Chinese Academy of Sciences
We still don't know what produces fast radio bursts (FRBs), but that hasn't prevented scientists from using them to confirm Einstein's theory of general relativity. Indeed, the authors of a new paper claim that FRBs are many times better for this purpose than gamma-ray bursts or supernovae.
Powerful Magnetic Fields Found At Hearts Of Giant Stars
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Stars the mass of the Sun seldom have strong magnetic fields at their core, new research suggests. Larger stars often do, but this only becomes apparent when they become red giants. Credit Dennis Stello.
A survey of older stars with a little more mass than the Sun has revealed that the majority have enormously powerful magnetic fields at the core. The study's authors say the discovery will force a rethink of how large stars evolve.
Can Trees Really Cool Our Cities Down?
Photo credit:
WanderingtheWorld (www.ChrisFord.com)/Flickr, CC BY-NC
In cities around the world, trees are often planted to help control temperatures and mitigate the effects of the “urban heat island”.
Mathematical Winters: Ada Lovelace, 200 Years On
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Ada Lovelace circa 1842, daguerreotype by Antoine Claudet. Reproduced by permission of G C Bond
Christmas 1840, cold and crisp. The fashionable and wealthy Lovelace family are learning to skate, the four year-old Byron (junior, the grandson of Lord Byron) pushing a chair along the ice to keep his balance. Driven inside by the cold, his mother retires to her study and her lessons in advanced calculus. She writes to her tutor: “This is very mathematical weather. When one cannot exercise one’s muscles out of doors, one is peculiarly inclined to exercise one’s brains in-doors.” Then she plunges into a detailed discussion of the convergence of series.
The Psychology Of New Year’s Resolutions
Photo credit:
Make them stick. www.shutterstock.com
Research has shown that about half of all adults make New Year’s resolutions. However, fewer than 10% manage to keep them for more than a few months.
Five Biggest Security Threats Facing The World In 2016
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It’s not looking good. Reuters/Mohamad Torokman
This has been a remarkably violent year – and many of the worst threats to human security that have dogged people all over the globe are no less a problem than they were a year ago. Here, in no particular order, are some of the biggest risks the world faces in 2016.
1: Civil Conflict
What Is The Best Exercise For Losing Weight?
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Pumping iron: Is it really all worth it? W_Minshull, CC BY
It may come as little surprise that taking exercise is a way to lose weight. However, a debate about the best type of exercise for weight loss is likely to divide opinion.
The most obvious choice is endurance-type exercise which is usually done at a moderate intensity or steady state. The rationale is clear. This type of exercise expends more energy than resistance training.
Dry January: Is It Worth Giving Up Alcohol For A Month?
Photo credit:
Not for me, thanks. www.shutterstock.com
Alcohol Concern has thrown down the gauntlet to drinkers: can you manage a month without alcohol? The campaign, Dry January, aims to attract funding through donations, raise awareness of alcohol-related problems and educate people about the health benefits of abstaining from alcohol.
Aside from saving money, Alcohol Concern claims that abstaining will help you lose weight and improve your sleep.
January 3, 2016
Don’t Diminish Princess Leia To Praise Rey
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