Most people would call it a “field mouse,” but a scientist would ask, “Was it Peromyscus maniculatus[1]? Or Peromyscus leucopus[2]?”
Scientists use a system of complicated-sounding names to refer to everyday creatures, a practice heavily lampooned in the Warner Bros. cartoons featuring the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote[3] – or,...
Earlier this year, a robot completed a half-marathon in Beijing in just under 2 hours and 40 minutes. That’s slower than the human winner, who clocked in at just over an hour – but it’s still a remarkable feat. Many recreational runners would be proud of that time. The robot kept its pace for more than 13 miles (21 kilometers).
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Nearly everyone has encountered the unthinkable: Your smartphone landed in the toilet. Or you forgot to take off your smartwatch before jumping into the pool. Or maybe you meant to take those earbuds out of your pocket before running the laundry. What now?
Internet forums are chock-full of advice to dry out that drenched device, but...
Read more https://theconversation.com/debunking-5-myths-about-when-your-devices-get-wet-257205
The search for life beyond Earth is a key driver of modern astronomy and planetary science. The U.S. is building multiple major telescopes and planetary probes to advance this search. However, the signs of life – called biosignatures – that scientists may find will likely be difficult to interpret[1]. Figuring out where exactly to look...
Read more https://theconversation.com/new-model-helps-to-figure-out-which-distant-planets-may-host-life-256427