One of the latest inventions out of Tel Aviv University can patch up broken hearts. We’re talking about the real organs here, especially those damaged by myocardial infarction or heart attack. A team from the Israeli university created a “cyborg heart patch” that combines both living tissue and electronic components to replace the damaged parts of the organ. “It’s very science fiction, but it’s already here,” says one of its creators, Prof. Tal … Read More → "‘Cyborg heart patch’ combines electronics and living tissue"

According to a study led by the University of Michigan which will be published in Pediatrics next month, becoming an older sibling before first grade may lower the risk of becoming obese. The study, which compared the body mass indexes (BMIs) of 697 children across the United States, found that the birth of a sibling between the ages of two and four was associated with a healthier BMI. Children without a sibling, … Read More → "There may be health benefits to having a younger sibling, study finds"

Daylight savings time (DST) was introduced over the course of the last century in many areas of the world to help decrease energy use and give people an extra hour of light in the summer. 

It perhaps seems counterintuitive, then, that we actually lose an hour of sunlight in the winter evenings, when sunlight is already in short supply as it is. Some reports have linked DST to spikes in heart attacks, sleep disturbances and Seasonal Affective Disorder. Most frustrating of all, it’s not even … Read More → "These maps will show you exactly how pointless Daylight Savings Time is"

Sometimes, regular black just isn’t good enough. If you’re building an ultra-sensitive space telescope, for instance, you want to minimize reflections within that device as much as humanly possible. That’s why Surrey NanoSystems released its Vantablack coating two years ago. Now, in order to expand its possible applications, the material is available in a convenient spray-on form.

The conventional … Read More → "World’s blackest material is now world’s blackest “spray paint”"

It’s generally a good thing to have a sense of humor. But for some people, joking can become a compulsion.

In two case studies by a pair of UCLA brain researchers recently published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, the subjects’ brain trauma and dementia led to what the scientists describe as “intractable … Read More → "In some rare instances, brain damage can lead to joke addiction"

Scientists are still trying to carefully map out the anatomical changes that occurred between dinosaurs and birds during this time, and there’s arguably no better way to do this than to engage in a little “reverse evolution.” With this in mind, a team of researchers has grown “dinosaur legs” in chicken embryos, as revealed in their study … Read More → "Dinosaur legs grown on genetically modified chicken embryos"

About two years ago, Seoul-based company Enomad made news when it put mobile phone charging stations along the manmade Cheonggyecheon River that runs through the Korean capital’s downtown. The stations used the force of the river to turn turbines and generate electricity. This year at Austin’s SXSW festival, the company has demonstrated that it’s been able to shrink the concept down to fit easily in anyone’s … Read More → "Phone-charging hydroelectric plant fits in your backpack"

A newly-discovered bacterium that feeds on plastic could help develop new recycling methods. The discovery was made by researchers from Japan, who say that the microorganism is remarkable for its ability to breakdown completely a common type of plastic known as PET. This digestive process is slow, and the short-term implications of the discovery are uncertain, but studying the … Read More → "Discovery of plastic-eating bacteria could lead to new ways to recycle"

Temporary tattoos are more than just party favors for small children. With appearances on the red carpet and the runway, and at a special pop-up parlor in New York City, Tattly‘s temporary ink has been taking the medium to the next level. The Brooklyn-based company creates aesthetically pleasing designs that are on par with those of permanent tattoos& … Read More → "These temporary tattoos smell like real flowers"

The Chart of Cosmic Exploration by Pop Chart Lab is a detailed poster of every space exploration mission to leave the Earth’s orbit. The poster features hand-drawn illustrations of each spacecraft and shows their path around the solar system.
via Laughing Squid

Chart here at Pop Chart Lab