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Archive for November, 2010

T-Rex Was Even More Terrifying Than Initially Thought

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

According to an new study, we might have underestimated a T.rex’s foot speed by up to 45%. New computer modeling shows the beast’s massive tail is indicative of more powerful leg muscles than we’d previously given him credit for.

Also, scientists like to say funny things:

T. rex’s athleticism (and its rear end) has been given a makeover by University of Alberta graduate student Scott Persons. His extensive research shows that powerful tail muscles made the giant carnivore one of the fastest moving hunters of its time.

As Persons says, “contrary to earlier theories, T. rex had more than just junk in its trunk.”

At least he didn’t say badonkadonk.

[Science Daily]

Posted in Dinosaurs | Comments Off on T-Rex Was Even More Terrifying Than Initially Thought

Man Baits Bigfoot With Candy Bar, Gets Video Evidence! [WeirdThingsTV]

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

Posted in WeirdThingsTV | 6 Comments »

The Science Behind The Repositioning Of Male Nipples

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Did you know that male nipples need to be surgically detached and repositioned sometimes? Then you probably didn’t know that the same Golden Ratio used in modern architecture is employed to make sure a gentlemen’s chest nubs look A-OK.

Science!

[Improbable Research]

Posted in Science | Comments Off on The Science Behind The Repositioning Of Male Nipples

Coyotes Working For City of Chicago

Monday, November 15th, 2010

GPS tagged coyotes are roaming the streets of Chicago as part of an urban coyote research project. The coyotes are allowed to roam the streets as part of the program in order to eliminate nuisance rodents. The Chicago Commission on Animal Care and Control assures Chicago that everything is fine.

“He’s not a threat…He’s not going to pick up your children,” Block said. “His job is to deal with all of the nuisance problems, like mice, rats and rabbits.”

He’s not going to pick up your children; carry on.

Video

[Chicago Breaking News via Gizmodo]

Posted in Animals | Comments Off on Coyotes Working For City of Chicago

Primates Can Innately Repair Spinal Damage

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Researchers have discovered that all primates have an innate ability to repair spinal damage, including humans. They have never noticed this before because scientists usually use rodents in neurology experiments and rodents simply don’t possess neural sprouting.

The researchers found that the injured nerves didn’t regrow. Instead, new nerves sprouted in a process called “spontaneous plasticity,” essentially routing the spinal column around the injury. This kind of neural sprouting doesn’t occur in rodents, which are the animals that scientists typically use in neuroscience experiments. As a result, nobody had noticed this phenomenon before. This new study may lead to more testing on monkeys, but hopefully it will lead to discoveries that allow all primates to grow new nerve cells in the future.

If you are interested, check out the full paper – “Extensive spontaneous plasticity of corticospinal projections after primate spinal cord injury“.

[Nature via io9]

Posted in Science | Comments Off on Primates Can Innately Repair Spinal Damage

Did A German Film Crew Really Exhume Andy Kaufman? [Fact Or Hoax?]

Monday, November 15th, 2010

The music is creepy and the alleged act is even grislier. Is this really a video of a German film crew digging up the remains of Andy Kaufman to prove he isn’t really running around in a Tony Clifton outfit?

What do you folks think? Fact or hoax?

Thanks to reader Zakk for passing this along.

Posted in Hoax | Comments Off on Did A German Film Crew Really Exhume Andy Kaufman? [Fact Or Hoax?]

Japanese Robot Taking Acting Jobs

Sunday, November 14th, 2010

Hiroshi Ishiguro’s robot Geminoid-F made its stage debut recently but stayed within character by playing the part of an android caretaker assigned to a dying child. How soon till Geminoid-F feels up to taking on a fully human role?

[BBC via engadget]

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New Species Of Lizard Accidentally Served As Food By Drunk Bar Owner [WeirdThingsTV]

Saturday, November 13th, 2010

Posted in WeirdThingsTV | 3 Comments »

Ready For The Feathered T-Rex?

Saturday, November 13th, 2010

“Illustrator Sammy Hall made this incredible version of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Scientists have started to believe that just like many other biped dinosaurs, T-Rex had also been covered with feathers.”

All of these magpie attacks are suddenly starting to make a lot more sense. Full size image here.

[BuzzFeed via Geekologie]

Posted in Dinosaur | Comments Off on Ready For The Feathered T-Rex?

Japan Creates World’s First All-Virtual Pop Star

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Meet Hatsune Miku, the world’s first all-virtual pop sensation. Even here voice is a digital creation. What started as a digital voice generator from Yahama known as a vocaloid has gained such popularity that the company has created a 3D Hologram version that has performed to packed stadiums. But the real question is when did we get 3D holograms?!

Posted in Music, Technology | 2 Comments »

New Lizard Species Discovered in Vietnamese Restaurants

Friday, November 12th, 2010

A new all-female species of lizard (Leiolepis ngovantrii) that reproduces itself by cloning was discovered being served up in Vietnamese restaurants in the Mekong River delta. The first batch that was being saved for the scientists to review went missing when “Unfortunately, the owner wound up getting drunk, and grilled them all up for his patrons…” However, they checked other nearby restaurants and were able to gather about sixty specimens.

How awesome tasting are these lizard treats you ask?

“You take a bite out of it and it feels like something very old and dead in your mouth”

THAT awesome.

[CNN]

Posted in New Species | 2 Comments »

Special Forces Dogs Parachuting Into Afghanistan

Friday, November 12th, 2010

“Members of Britain’s Special Air Service (SAS) special forces have begun parachuting into enemy strongholds in Afghanistan with Taliban-seeking German shepherds strapped to their chests. Once on the ground, the dogs hunt for Taliban insurgents in buildings and — with cameras strapped to their heads sending back video — act as forward scouts for the British special forces unit.”

Cry havoc, indeed.

[Wired]

Posted in Dogs, War | Comments Off on Special Forces Dogs Parachuting Into Afghanistan

The Biggest Roaches To Ever Skitter Across The Earth Are Living Right Now

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Sometimes, science tells us things we didn’t particularly need to know. Why are roaches getting bigger? Live Science investigates…

[Live Science]

Posted in Gross | Comments Off on The Biggest Roaches To Ever Skitter Across The Earth Are Living Right Now

2010 Zombie Safe House Competition

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Voting is still open for the 2010 Zombie Safe House Competition. Choose between the 40 Day Z POD, the SS Huckleberry, Mountain Getaway, and Sears Roebuck 003-b. I am personally rooting for the SS Huckleberry because “Mobility = Security”.