Surprising Science

Never mind the fact that watches aren’t as popular as they used to be: The Tikker has already blown past its Kickstarter crowdfunding goal. Writer John Kruzel thinks it might have something to do with the appeal of YOLO.

Among other claims, a new paper in ACS Nano says that the carbon-based material has twice the tensile strength of graphene. It could be used in many different applications…once someone figures out how to create it in bulk.

Because Petri dishes are so 20th-century: University of Texas scientists have created microscopic habitats for bacteria using layers of protein and a high-precision laser. They mimic the natural environments found in human organs.

Scientists say they’ve located the first definitive proof of a comet hitting Earth: a diamond-studded pebble they’ve named after legendary female philosopher-scientist Hypatia of Alexandria.

New York-based startup HEVO Power is working with New York University to develop stations that will resemble parking spots with manhole covers. They will enable charging without the need for a plug.

Originally given a 1-in-300 chance of hitting Earth — 50 percent higher than the average for all other near-Earth objects located to date — 1950 DA has had its odds reassessed. Fortunately it’s not expected to arrive for another 866 years.

Sickweather uses social media posts that mention sickness to create a geographical “illness map” so that users can navigate their way around potential “storm activity.”

A journalistic investigation reveals that Russia’s FSB security service plans to monitor all online and telephonic communication for all athletes and spectators during the 2014 Winter Olympics. One expert says it will be like “Prism on steroids.”

In their study, Monash University researchers put a number on it: During a 16-minute trip, the average parent takes their eyes off the road for nearly three and a half minutes.

A recently published study confirms that the way in which you frame a refusal can help determine how successful you’ll be with your personal goals.

So long as you’re not being pressured to do it, staying at your desk can result in less fatigue than previously expected, says a new study.

Researchers found that looking at lots of food photos, such as those posted on Instagram or Pinterest, lessened the viewer’s desire for certain foods over time.

Without access to CDC labs to identify which strains of the virus are circulating, new mutations could be missed.

Currently, about 40 percent of agricultural products go to wast, a percentage that would not be acceptable in any other industry.

Experts say that wireless devices could let more of their health care happen at home.

As the human population continues to inch closer to 8 billion people, feeding all those hungry mouths will become increasingly difficult.

A study claims that, compared to nonfiction and popular fiction, literary fiction engages the reader in a type of social interaction with the characters, requiring them to work harder to infer their motives and feelings.

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has detected propylene, a chemical used to create food storage containers and other plastic items, on Saturn’s largest moon. It’s the first time this chemical has been found anywhere outside of Earth.

An MIT scientist has succeeded in creating mini-cubes that have no external parts yet are able to move and assemble themselves into larger shapes. Possible applications include repairing damaged buildings and exploring dangerous terrain.

Two German pianist-researchers have developed a learning system that combines a standard electric piano keyboard with a color projection screen on which blocks, representing notes, stream towards the appropriate keys.

Custom-made from a dental scan and designed to fit over the teeth, the Blizzident claims to do the job of a regular toothbrush in only six seconds.

Capturing a smaller space object that temporarily enters Earth’s orbit could be a lot easier and cheaper while still providing valuable data, say proponents.

Using data from space telescopes, including the now-sidelined Kepler, astronomers have identified cloud structures on Kepler-7b, a “hot Jupiter” exoplanet that was one of the first discovered.

A team of McGill University students are working on providing poorer countries with food products, including flour, made entirely from locally grown insects. Their concept won this year’s $1 million Hult Prize.

On Monday (Sept. 30) the airline announced a plan to outfit its 11,000-strong pilot corps with Microsoft Surface 2 tablets. The new “electronic flight bag” will replace the traditional bag, which can weigh nearly 40 pounds.

James Madison’s analysis of the American republic is often praised for its brilliance, but the 4th president could not have envisioned the chutzpah and anti-government zeal of the 2013 House Republicans.

The success of an employee working from home depends on the person, on the job and on the training the organization provides to do that role remotely.

Conflict avoidance, reconciliation and cooperative problem solving could also have been altogether “biological” and positively selected for.

While personalized health systems offer some promise, there is reason to worry about their larger social effects.

Other drugs could potentially be integrated into the ring, such as contraceptives or antiviral drugs to prevent other sexually transmitted infections.