ريتشارد دوكنز's Blog, page 739

See how the Great Pyramids and Other Wonders of the World Were Built

Environment





Photo credit:

Robert Hoetink/shutterstock

Construction training specialists Able Skills have created this infographic on well-known structures around the world with fun facts about when and how these remarkable buildings were erected without current construction techniques.

You can also see how and when the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Parthenon in Greece, the Taj Mahal in India, and more world-famous landmarks were built over at IBTimes.

How Much Ultraviolet Light is Best for Life?

Space





Photo credit:

Artist's impression of an Earth-like planet before life or an ozone layer has formed. Credit: W. Henning

As our stock of known planets beyond the solar system grows, astronomers are increasingly focusing on which represent the best prospects for life. The latest in planetary computer modeling examines how the ultraviolet (UV) light from different sorts of stars affects the chances of life developing and thriving on nearby worlds. The results have been published in The Astrophysical Journal.

FDA Approves Tech That Helps Blind People “See” With Their Tongue (Edited by KH)

Technology





Photo credit:

Wicab, Inc.

Back in January, IFLScience reported on the invention of a device that effectively allows deaf people to “hear” with their tongue. This was made possible by using a system that converts sounds into distinct vibrational patterns that can be felt by the tongue and interpreted by the user.

This Headset Lets You Control Your TV Using The Power Of Your Mind

Technology





Photo credit:

"Please meditate to enter BBC iPlayer." BBC.

Imagine never having to hunt for that lost remote control again. Instead, you could change the channel of your television using only the power of your mind.

Working with the BBC, UK-based user experience lab This Place has developed a prototype of the futuristic technology, which synchronizes a viewer’s brainwaves to a television’s basic functions.

Russian Official Calls for an Investigation into Apollo Moon Landings

Space





Photo credit:

NASA/Neil A. Armstrong

A Russian official has called for an investigation into the validity of U.S. missions to the moon. Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for Russia’s Investigative Committee, suggests an international probe should be launched into the U.S. moon landings between 1969 and 1972 to provide ‘new insights’.  

Intermittent Fasting Could be Beneficial to Health

Health and Medicine





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Pixelbliss/Shutterstock

We all know that eating too much isn’t good for your health, but it’s also becoming increasingly evident that even eating a normal amount could be increasing your risk of developing various health problems and perhaps even shave years off your life.

Blood Donors In Sweden Get A Text Whenever They Save A Life

Health and Medicine





Photo credit:

Monkey Business Images/shutterstock

Donate blood in Sweden and you’ll get an automatic ‘thank you’ text for your contribution to the country’s blood supply. You’ll also receive a text when your blood is used to help someone else.

In a recent initiative to combat blood stock shortages, Sweden has taken to digital media to raise public awareness and to get people talking about blood donation.

 

Earliest Evidence of Man-Made Pollution Found in Tartar on 400,000-Year-Old Teeth

Plants and Animals





Photo credit:

Human teeth from Qesem Cave. Israel Hershkovitz/Tel Aviv University

An excavation of Qesem Cave near Tel Aviv yielded 400,000-year-old teeth containing the oldest direct evidence of an indoor barbeque – and the manmade environmental pollution that resulted. “On the one hand, we are dependent on technology, but on the other, we are inhaling its pollutants,” Ran Barkai of Tel Aviv University says in a news release. “Progress has a price.” 

Humane Shark Deterrent Prevents 90% of Encounters

Plants and Animals





Photo credit:

davidpstephens/Shutterstock

Sharks are a contentious topic in Western Australia, with the issue of how to curb attacks on humans dividing communities and the government. Last year, a government-sponsored cull of sharks – initiated in response to a spate of attacks in the state's waters – was shown to fail and was then blocked by the state's environmental regulator, but that hasn’t made the problem disappear.

North Korea Claim to Have Cured AIDS, MERS, Ebola and SARS

Health and Medicine





Photo credit:

Astrelok/Shutterstock

They’ve made miniature nuclear warheads, are in the midst of a baby boom of triplets, and now they’ve managed to cure AIDS — or so North Korea claims. And why stop there?