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Tweaking one enzyme doubles a worm’s lifespan

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From the second we’re born, our cells are given their marching orders for how to grow, mature, and maintain our bodies. But at a certain point, the repairs become faulty, and we age and eventually die. Now a team of Korean researchers has found a way to modify a particular type of enzyme in roundworms to double their lifespan—and they suspect the same mechanisms might work in humans.

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4 Garbage bins that do more than just collect trash

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In most well-run cities, there’s a trash can on nearly every street corner. Given their ubiquity, trash cans provide a unique opportunity for urban amenities. City workers already come to check on them regularly, and new trash receptacles are often fairly hardy metal boxes to which you can attach sensors, solar panels, and more. Here are four ways cities are using trash and recycle bins for more than just waste … Read More → "4 Garbage bins that do more than just collect trash"

How hot is too hot for humans?

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Remember how we said 2014 is the hottest year on record? Already, we can tell that 2015 is probably gonna be worse.

It’s possible we might yet be saved from setting another heat record, but it’s not looking good so far. Yesterday, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its temperature data for last month, meaning … Read More → "How hot is too hot for humans?"

Never get lost on Mars again with NASA’s new red planet map

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An application called ‘Mars Trek’, which was released by NASA on Friday, lets you explore the red planet from your computer or mobile phone.

The volcanos and craters of Mars can now be explored on a mobile phone or computer, thanks to a new application recently released by NASA which combines data from several Mars missions to produce a map of the red planet.

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Four decades later, a bew ‘Blue Marble’ photo of Earth from NASA

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At first glance, it’s a picture of Earth. Not much different from all those pictures of Earth you’ve seen over the years.

That is, until you realize that most of the pictures of Earth you’ve seen over the years have been the same photograph — the “Blue Marble” taken by Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972, more than four decades ago.

There are not many photographs showing a fully illuminated Earth, … Read More → "Four decades later, a bew ‘Blue Marble’ photo of Earth from NASA"

‘Tree of 40 Fruit’, a hyper hybrid tree that grows over 40 varieties of heirloom stone fruits

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Artist Sam Van Aken has created the amazing “Tree of 40 Fruit“, a hybrid tree that can grow over 40 varieties of stone fruits in various shades of pinks, purples and oranges. Using the process of chip grafting, Van Aken propagated the tree in order to preserve a number of heirloom varieties that have been marketed out of existence.

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Hackers have the power to remotely hijack half a million Chrysler cars

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An ongoing investigation into the security of Chrysler vehicles bears some pretty startling conclusions. In a couple of weeks, security researchers will reveal the details of a zero-day exploit that affects some 471,000 cars. Put bluntly: Hackers can take complete control of the cars from thousands of miles away.

Longtime car hackers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek recently … Read More → "Hackers have the power to remotely hijack half a million Chrysler cars"

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