Could Oculus Rift bring people back from the dead? Virtual reality app claims to reunite users with deceased loved ones

Oculus Rift could bring people back from the dead with VR app

Designed by Australia-based Paranormal Games, the app creates a 'personalised afterlife experience' by transforming a person's movement and memories into digital models (left and top right). Some argue that it can provide real comfort and support in times of grief, while others say it can prevent people from moving and living in reality. Project Elysium has been entered into the upcoming Oculus VR Jam 2015. Pictured on the bottom right is an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, which the app will eventually work on.

How being attractive can ruin your career: Good-looking men get less job offers because they intimidate bosses, says study

Researchers at the University of Maryland found that if the interviewer saw the candidate as a potential competitor, the interviewer discriminated in favour of unattractive men.

Should sitting desks be banned in classrooms? Children pay more attention to lessons when standing, claims study

Scientists at Texas A&M; University found that children increased their focus by as much as 12 per cent when asked to stand during their lessons.

Listen to an UNDERWATER volcano erupt: Surprising sound of one of Earth's most violent events captured beneath the waves

Geologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration used submarines to record underwater volcanic eruptions 3,937ft beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean near Samoa.

How your THOUGHTS can fuel brain tumours: Scientists reveal how cancer hijacks the process of thinking

Stanford University in California found that tumours hijack a process known as myelination, which insulates nerve fibres, allowing them to carry thoughts more quickly.

Letting your baby nap in a car seat, swing or bouncer could be deadly, experts warn 

Researchers at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center warned babies put to sleep in car seats, slings, swings and bouncers were at risk of death via strangulation from straps or suffocation.

'Come tour the home of our ancestors!': 'Vintage' space tourism posters reveal a colonised solar system - and Earth in ruin

'Vintage' space tourism posters reveal a colonised solar system and Earth in ruin

Artist Frank McKeever from Florida created these amazing posters. They show how we could colonise various worlds in the solar system. Included are humans skiing on a moon of Uranus and living in cities on Mars (right). Others show life on Europa and near Saturn - and a destroyed Earth (shown left).

Underwater hotels and flights through low-orbital space by 2050... and teleportation by 2080: What the future of travel will look like

Futuristic technologies will revolutionise the way we holiday. Many futurists predict that space travel will become far more common and underwater hotels mainstream - in as little as 15 years.

Inbred and isolated: DNA analysis reveals demise of the mighty woolly mammoth

Researchers at McMaster University in Canada and the Swedish Museum of Natural History found that the last mammoths were isolated on an Arctic island for 5,000 years.

Anxiety is 'catching' and can be passed on to children, scientists warn over-protective parents 

Although scientists have long known that anxiety runs within families, the attitudes of over-anxious parents strongly affect their children's behaviour, say the researchers at King's College London.

Samsung takes aim at Motorola with a ROUND smartwatch: Firm teases circular device for its Gear range of wearables

Simply referred to as 'the next Gear', images (pictured) of the watch's circular face were unveiled as part of an announcement about the Korean firm's upcoming developer scheme.

Taking the p***! Google Maps shows Android URINATING on Apple's logo when users navigate to Pakistan

The Android (pictured) covers a region near Shahpur, Pakistan - at coordinates 33°30'52.5"N 73°03'33.2"E. It is believed to have been added using Google's Map Maker software.

The Apple Watch laid bare: Tech experts take the timepiece apart to reveal what's inside - including its tiny battery

Apple Watch taken apart to reveal what's inside including its tiny battery

Tech experts at California-based iFixit have completed a so-called 'teardown' of the 38mm Sport model (pictured inset) of Apple's watch. This teardown reveals a 205mAh battery (pictured main) and Apple's S1 chip. The Watch also features an accelerometer, gyroscope and heart rate sensor. The hotly-anticipated device began shipping to customers globally who had pre-ordered earlier today, but it is not available to buy in Apple Stores.

The drone that takes YOU out for a walk: Aircraft encourages joggers to pick up the pace and keeps them company

Australian researchers have tested their drone running companion. Called Joggobot (shown) it is designed to float in front of jogger when they run, and could be used in other sports like cycling.

The frog with an underwater SEX DUNGEON: Species found that likes to mate in privacy - and hide its eggs 

A new species of torrent frog has been found in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Called Hylodes japi, it was found to mate underground in secret chambers. Shown is another torrent frog, the Waterfall frog.

Secret of comedians' 'gift of the gab' revealed: Confident speakers use region of brain less, scans reveal

Scientists at University College London found that comedians and barristers showed lower levels of activity in an area of the brain known as Broca's region (pictured).

Hi Curiosity! Mars Orbiter spies rover on the red planet's surface from almost 200 MILES away

Nasa scientists in California have revealed a distant image of Curiosity taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (shown). It was taken from an altitude of 187 miles (300km).

Nasa beefs up its team of 'alien hunters' - and says we may be on the verge of finding extraterrestrial life

The alien hunting team, dubbed Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (Nexss), will include scientists from 10 universities including Stanford, the University of California and Yale.

Are YOU at threat from man-made earthquakes? Study reveals how oil and gas drilling has caused tremors across the US

The US Geological Survey found man-made quakes jolted once stable regions in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas.

Worried about missing a tweet? Twitter rolls out twice-daily 'Highlights' to help users catch up on the best of their feed

The San Francisco-based social network said its 'Highlights' service will initially be rolled out to English speaking users who use Twitter on an Android phone.

Our climate models are WRONG: Global warming has slowed - and recent changes are down to 'natural variability', says study

Researchers at Duke University in North Carolina based their study on 1,000 years of temperature records and compared it to the most severe emissions scenarios by the IPCC.

Self-driving 'taxibots' could replace 90% of cars: Study claims driverless cabs will dramatically ease congestion in major cities

Researchers used data from Lisbon, Portugal, and found that even with only one passenger per ride and no complementary public transport, the number of cars still dropped by 77 per cent.

How Lenin's corpse looks better with age: Scientists reveal experimental embalming methods used on the Soviet leader

Lenin's corpse looks better with age because of experimental embalming methods

Vladmir Lenin may have been dead for 90 years, but his corpse looks better than the day he passed. This is the claim made by his embalmers, who have developed bizarre techniques to maintain the look and feel of the communist revolutionary's body. They brag that their 'quasibiological' science has been the result of almost a century of fine-tuning, creating a science that has benefited real-world medical applications. The gruesome job is the responsibility of a team known as the 'Mausoleum group' which, at its peak, involved 200 scientists working in a lab dedicated to the former leader's corpse. Lenin is pictured inset in 1918, six years before his death.

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Now conspiracy theorists say there is a 'hidden army' on Mars: Absurd theory suggests a bunker, people and missiles can be seen on the red planet

The radical claim was made by 58-year-old Canadian Andre Gignac who says he saw the 'bunker' in a photograph released by Nasa and taken by the Mars rover Opportunity.

Now conspiracy theorists say there is a 'hidden army' on Mars: Absurd theory suggests a bunker, people and missiles can be seen on the red planet

The radical claim was made by 58-year-old Canadian Andre Gignac who says he saw the 'bunker' in a photograph released by Nasa and taken by the Mars rover Opportunity.

Pictish fort discovered on remote sea stack: Iron Age stronghold off Scottish coast may have been look-out post to protect against raiders

Iron Age stronghold off Scottish coast may have been look-out post

Archaeologists uncovered the fort on top of the 20-foot-high Dunnicaer sea stack (pictured left) near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire (shown on the map bottom right). They believe it may have been one of a line of forts along the Scottish coast. They found the remains of stone walls (shown being excavated top right), post holes, ramparts and a charcoal filled stone fireplace. Inaccessible at high tide, the fort would have provided a base of power over the surrounding land and sea.

Have we finally cracked the identical twin code? Heat treatment reveals even the most subtle differences in the DNA of siblings

Researchers from Huddersfield University discovered that by heating DNA until its bonds break, subtle differences between two strains can be identified.

Will Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao fans flock to Periscope to watch fight for free despite broadcasters' clampdown?

The recent explosion of live video streaming apps such have raised the realistic prospect that Sky could miss out on millions as viewers stream the content between their devices without paying.

Scientists genetically modify human embryos for the first time: Controversial technique could lead to designer babies

Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzho, China, tried to modify the gene responsible for -thalassaemia, a potentially deadly blood disorder, using a method known as CRISPR.

Governments are HIDING aliens, claims former defence minister: Paul Hellyer urges world leaders to reveal 'secret files'

Paul Hellyer, who was a Canadian minister from 1963 to 1967, made the outlandish comments in a keynote speech at the Disclosure Canada Tour at the University of Calgary.

Did our ancestors have TENTACLES? 540 million-year-old relative may have been more complex than first thought

A Russian scientist says the distant ancestor of humans had tentacles (illustration of various organisms shown in image). They lived more than 540 million years ago and used them for food.

Get your Amazon order delivered to your CAR: Pilot scheme will drop off items to parked vehicles even if the owner isn't there

The pilot scheme will begin in May for Amazon Prime customers in Munich who drive Audis. A DHL delivery driver will receive a temporary digital access code, which is revoked when the boot is shut.

No need to go veggie: Bill Gates says you can eat meat and STILL care for the planet

The billionaire Microsoft founder and philanthropist has defended meat eating, saying some of the environmental impacts of raising livestock have been overstated.

Is Bikram yoga safe? Experts warn it raises body temperatures and heart rate to 'dangerous levels'

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse found the body temperature of some class participants reached 40°C/105°F putting them at risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Bicycle powered by HANDS set to beat speed record - and the aluminium frame is controlled using the cyclist's HEAD

Bicycle powered by HANDS set to beat speed record - and the aluminium frame is controlled

Mechanical and composites engineers and students from Plymouth University have developed a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) (pictured inset) which they hope will set a new arm-powered speed record in the Nevada desert in September. Piloted and powered by paracyclist Liz McTernan (pictured main), it needs exceed 21.39mph (34.42 km/h) over 656ft (200-metres) to beat the current women's benchmark.

Not your average Red Bull! Robotic cow sperm travels 30% faster after a shot of caffeine - and the finding could lead to new fertility treatments

Researchers from Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research in Germany tested three different techniques for boosting the speed of so-called spermbots - robots powered by bovine sperm.

Exploding stars help measure lightning on Earth: Cosmic rays reveal strength of electric fields in storm clouds

Scientists in The Netherlands were using the Lofar radio telescope. They found it could measure changes in lightning caused by cosmic rays (illustrated).

Tesla's home battery is coming: Elon Musk will unveil power pack next week that could slash your electricity bills

The event will be held at Tesla's Hawthorne, California, Design Studio on April 30. Earlier this year, Elon Musk (pictured) said the batteries should go into production in the summer.

Did Neanderthals live with BADGERS and BEARS? Human cousins appear to have shared caves with other carnivores

Fossils found in the Cave of Llenes in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains in Catalonia, Spain, suggest Neanderthals shared the cave with several other predators 200,000 years ago.

Hydrogen fuel breakthrough: Clean power generated WITHOUT relying on fossil fuels

Bath and Yale University scientists have revealed clean hydrogen power. Using a new material they say hydrogen can be generated from water, possibly for use in cars, like in the image above.

Marijuana users may have 'false memories': Brain scans reveal how cannabis smokers can live in their own reality

Using neuroimaging, scientists in Barcelona discovered that the brains of heavy cannabis had a less active hippocampus - and area that stores memories - compared with the general population.

Apple smartwatch on sale from today... but not on the high street: Customers will have to wait until June to take delivery after ordering online

Apple smartwatch on sale from today but not on the high street

Apple launches its first smartwatch today - but anyone turning up to buy one in the high street will be disappointed. For although the Apple Watch (pictured) is officially going on sale, none of its stores will have them in stock. Instead, consumers willing to shell out between £299 to £9,500 - for the gold edition - have to pre-order the watches online and wait for their arrival until June.

Is Samsung's Galaxy S5 'leaking' YOUR fingerprints? Flaw means hackers can intercept and steal biometric data

Tao Wei and Yulong Zhang from security firm FireEye are expected to discuss their findings at the RSA conference in San Francisco. Flaw has been tested and confirmed on the Samsung Galaxy S5.

The terrifying truth about the deadly diet pills containing DNP: Capsules are made from chemicals used in war weapons and pesticides, scientist reveals

Dr Simon Cotton, a senior lecturer in chemistry at the University of Birmingham said DNP is highly toxic. Eloise Parry (pictured), died after DNP pills made her 'burn up from the inside'.

Did stegosaurus use its armour to attract a mate? Male and female dinosaurs had different shaped plates along their backs

Researchers at the University of Bristol have found that armour plates that were thought to belong to different species of stegosaurus actually belong to members of the opposite sex.

Major asthma breakthrough as scientists discover root cause of the condition - and say a new treatment is less than 5 years away

Cardiff University scientists have found a protein within the airways which they believe triggers all asthma attacks. And remarkably, a drug already exists which they think could deactivate it.

Carphone Warehouse launches its own mobile network: iD boasts free roaming and the return of 12-month contracts

EXCLUSIVE: The London-based retailer's mobile network officially launches in May and will offer free roaming in 22 countries, including the US, Australia and across Europe.

Introducing Facebook Hello: ID app helps you identify callers even if you don't have their number

The free app (pictured) is currently in testing and is only available on Android devices in the US. It is expected to roll out further to other regions and devices if the testing is successful.

Did Neanderthals die out because they couldn't master fire? Cooking food could have given modern humans the edge

Researchers at Boston University have calculated that not using fire would have left Neanderthals with less energy and restricted how far they could have hunted or foraged.

Google launches its mobile network: Project Fi to bring cheaper calls and texts to the US

The California-based company is selling the basic phone service for $20 a month and will only charge customers for the amount of cellular data that they use each month, instead of a flat rate.

How sex can leave you loose-lipped: Having an orgasm makes you more likely to reveal your deepest secrets

A study from the University of Connecticut found that after having an orgasm, people are more likely to share important information due to a surge in a hormone called oxytocin.

Do YOU always get bitten by mosquitoes? Blame your parents: Being attractive to bugs is genetic, scientists say

Whether or not a person has body odour that is attractive to mosquitoes is strongly influenced by genetics, scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found.

Did a METEOR change the course of Christianity? Chelyabinsk-like fireball may have made Paul the Apostle convert

Chelyabinsk-like fireball may have made Paul the Apostle convert

An astronomer at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, claims that Paul the Apostle may have experienced a vision on the road to Damascus in 30AD (illustrated in the painting by Michelangelo on the left) that was caused by a meteor similar to the one over Chelyabinsk in Russia (top right). He argues that the sound of the explosion could have been interpreted as a divine voice and the UV radiation from the blast (bottom right) could have caused temporary blindness called photokeratitis. Many argue that without Paul's influence, Christianity would be a very different religion.

Men are more competitive than women: Sportsmen are driven by a greater desire to win regardless of their ability, claims study

Scientists at Grand Valley State University in Michigan studied elite runners and found that women tend to prioritise other aspects of their lives like academic studies.

GM food is natural: 'Foreign DNA' in sweet potatoes suggests plants genetically modify themselves - and have done for thousands of years

Scientists in Belgium say all sweet potatoes (stock image shown) contain 'foreign DNA'. Agrobacterium bacteria in the crop exchanges genes between species.

Stop worrying about extinctions: Life on Earth is actually FLOURISHING and more diverse than ever before

California-based writer Steward Brand says warnings that the world is facing a new mass extinction event may lead to a fatalistic attitude that will do more harm than good.

Are bees addicted to pesticides? Insects are hooked in the same way humans can't resist cigarettes, study claims

Scientists at Newcastle University and Trinity College Dublin say bees seem to prefer nectar laced with neonicotinoid chemicals - a type of pesticide commonly used on crops.

Depression is NOT caused by low serotonin levels and most drugs used to treat it are based on a myth, psychiatrist claims

Writing in the BMJ, Professor David Healy, a psychiatrist in Bangor, North Wales, claims the idea that SSRIs can correct a chemical imbalance and treat depression is a fallacy.

Warning to dog owners over the ticks that can wreck lives: Many are unaware their pets can transmit potentially deadly Lyme disease to them, say vets 

Vets are urging pet owners to check their animals for the pests, as a poll found half did not realise ticks can transmit deadly diseases to humans. The move is part of The Big Tick Project.

The $250 DIY test for breast cancer: Former Google engineer reveals kit that is 10 times cheaper than existing technology

The test is being offered by Silicon Valley-based start up, Color Genomics, and works by asking a patient to send back a sample of saliva to a central lab to check for gene mutations.

Sex offending may be in our genes - but knowing that won't help us prevent it, warns scientist

Dr Mairi Levitt from Lancaster University argues that the genes that make up who we are, and the environments in which we are raised cannot be considered independently of each other.

What emoji reveal about YOUR country: The French are in love, Americans use most LGBT images and Arabs are green-fingered

London-based keyboard app firm SwiftKey analysed more than one billion sets of emoji data to learn how 16 different languages and regions use emoji.

See London like never before: Interactive model plots the capital's underground lines, iconic skyline and how the city has grown

The 1:2000 scale New London Model (pictured) covers 33 square miles (85 sq km) from Old Oak Common in the west to Royal Docks in the east. It goes on display at the NLA Galleries from tomorrow.

Where your computer goes to die: Shocking pictures of the toxic  'electronic graveyards' in Africa where the West dumps its old PCs, laptops, microwaves, fridges and phones

Africa's 'electronic graveyards' where the West dumps PCs, laptops and more

A new report revealed 41 million tonnes of e-waste was discarded globally in 2014 and Africa has become the dumping ground for it. The Agbogbloshie landfill in Ghana (pictured) is just one where mountains of broken television sets, microwaves, computers and refrigerators from countries all over the world are dumped. Transporting broken appliances known as e-waste is illegal but brokers fraudulently label the products as reusable so they can be shipped, campaigners have said. Young men at the site brave toxic fumes - and the poisonous elements that leak from some appliances - to sift through the waste in the hopes of finding something worth selling (bottom right). Others burn components (inset) to recover scrap metal which can be sold at market.

Oldest evidence of life on Earth is WRONG: 3.46 billion-year-old 'fossils' were simply stacks of clay minerals 

University of Bristol scientists studied the Apex chert microfossils. They found they were just stacks of clay minerals that looked like fossils (cross section shown in image).

Wounds heal like ZIPS: Molecular images reveal how the skin links up as a cut heals 

Biologists at Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany, studied skin healing using an electron microscope and hope it may help develop new treatments to speed up recovery times.

For when your head feels like someone's pulling your brain out of your nose: 1,900-year-old papyrus reveals ancient Egyptian cure for a hangover

The hangover treatment was found written in Greek on documents uncovered at the ancient Egyptian town of Oxyrhunchus. It was one of 24 new medical recipes translated from the documents.

I love the smell of jet fuel, says climate change advocate Bill Nye the Science Guy as he takes Air Force One to preach on carbon emissions

The White House said Tuesday that Nye was making the trip today to the Florida Everglades with the president at its request to shoot a video of Obama. On Twitter, Nye said they would '#ActonClimate.'

Would you 3D print new EYES instead of getting glasses? Synthetic organs with built-in 'cameras' could one day boost vision

Italian designers have unveiled a concept for a bio-printed synthetic eye that could enhance the retina sharper or introduce vintage or black and white filter effects to images.

Twitter's takes on the trolls: Latest tool automatically removes abuse from timelines and stores phone numbers of offenders

Users of the Californian site can report indirect threats, abusive accounts will be locked until a phone number is added, and an algorithm will automatically remove abuse before you even see it.

Internet trolls can run but they can't hide: Algorithm identifies antisocial web users with 80% accuracy

Researchers studied 40 million posts made by 1.7 million web users. From this they could identify so-called Future-Banned Users (FBUs) - and Never-Banned Users (NBUs).

Can't get a song out of your head? CHEW GUM! Study finds solution to prevent catchy lyrics turning into 'brainworms'

Reading scientists say chewing gum helps you forget a song. In a study people were less likely to think about it and a third less likely to 'hear' it when chewing (stock image shown).

Are YOU at risk? Bug found in apps including Uber and Microsoft's OneDrive is leaving MILLIONS of users vulnerable to hackers

Estimates suggest around 1,000 iOS apps are vulnerable to a flaw in connectivity software from AFNetworking. This includes the California-based Uber and Microsoft's OneDrive.

What were YOU looking for this time last year? Google now lets you download your entire search history

The California-based company has rolled out a feature which exports all of your searches to Google Drive in a ZIP archive, with files divided by year and quarter.

How to avoid a shark attack: Don't wear jewellery, avoid bright swimsuits and NEVER play dead

E4582J Great white shark jaws open at surface {Carcharodon carcharias} South Africa

There were 72 unprovoked shark attacks around the world last year and the number of worldwide shark attacks has grown at a steady pace since 1900.

Stone Age man ate mushrooms: Oldest evidence for fungi in the human diet discovered in 19,000-year-old tooth plaque

Anthropologists at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany, found spores from several species of mushrooms in the dental plaque of the Red Lady of El Mirón found in a cave in Cantabria, Spain.

How it feels to be INVISIBLE: Virtual reality experiment tricks people into thinking their body has disappeared

Virtual reality experiment tricks people into thinking you're invisible

Neuroscientists from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet asked participants to wear a virtual reality headset looking down towards their body. Instead of seeing their body, they were shown either the body of a mannequin or an empty space where their body should have been (illustrated). A researcher then stroked the participant's body with a large paintbrush while simultaneously moving another paintbrush in the corresponding location in the empty space below the cameras, as if he were touching an 'invisible body'.

End of the road for FM radio? Norway announces it will switch off analogue service in January 2017

Norway has said it will be the first country in the world to stop broadcasting FM radio due to the rise in popularity of digital and internet radio services.

Japanese Maglev breaks speed record AGAIN: 'Floating' train hits 375mph during latest test run

The seven-car Maglev train (pictured), hit 375mph (603 km/h) and travelled for almost 11 seconds at speeds above 373mph (600km/h) near Mount Fuji.

'Spicy, grilled and leathery': What the experts made of a bottle of wine that lay on the seabed for 170 YEARS

Chemical and sensory analysis of 170-year-old champagnes previously recovered from the Baltic Sea reveals hints of 19th-century wine making practices, according to a study.

Very young babies CAN feel pain and have a lower threshold than adults, say experts at Oxford

Crying newborn baby boy

Research by Oxford University doctors has found that tiny babies are more sensitive to pain than adults, which overturns the medical consensus that newborns have a high pain threshold.

Did Earth 'EAT' a planet 4.5 billion years ago? Collision with Mercury-like body may have kickstarted our planet's core

Oxford scientists say a Mercury-like body struck the young Earth (artist's illustration shown). The Mars-sized object would have been the heat source for our planet's core and magnetic field.

The REAL Death Star! International Space Station could be fitted with lasers to shoot down space junk in orbit

Tokyo researchers have proposed a laser system to attach to the ISS. It would be used to shoot down pieces of debris in Earth orbit, akin to the Death Star (shown), with a range of 62 miles (100km).

Is it easier to communicate in a multicultural society? People who live in diverse areas are better at reading facial expressions

Researchers led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison found people who live in countries built on centuries of migration from a wide range of other countries are more emotionally expressive.

Did YOU spot the Lyrids last night? Spectacular images reveal meteors streaking across the night sky during annual shower

Images reveal meteors streaking across the night sky during Lyrid shower

Photographers in the UK captured the Lyrid meteor shower in the sky last night. It occurs every year around 16 to 25 April, so you can still catch some meteors tonight and tomorrow. The strength of the showers vary from year to year and most years there are no more than 20 meteors an hour. But in 1982 Americans counted nearly 100 an hour and in 1803 it was as high as 700 an hour. Top right and left are meteors above Porthcurno beach in Cornwall, while bottom right is the view at the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire, in the early hours of this morning.

Cure for writer's block: Zapping the brain with electricity boosts creativity by 8% - and it may even help depression, says study

Researchers at the University of North Carolina ran a 10-Hertz current through electrodes attached to the scalp of 20 volunteers to stimulate the brain's natural alpha wave oscillations.

Can YOU solve the mystery of None*? Bizarre app poses strange puzzles with no images, sounds or hints to play game

The intentionally mysterious app called None*was created by a developer in Athens, Greece, and features no images, music, animations, sound effects or hints to help users.

Apple hopes to avoid another 'bend-gate' by using super strong aluminium: Metal used to make sports bikes to boost new iPhone

It's rumoured that the Californian tech giant could use 7000 series aluminium in its next iPhone, to make the handset stronger and less bendable after reports it could be bent out of shape (shown).

The end of air sickness? Virtual reality headsets could prevent nausea on bumpy flights and even tackle jet lag

London based in-flight entertainment company Flow IFE has developed a prototype device that shows passengers a virtual horizon that mimics the movement of the aircraft.

World has just had the hottest March since 1880 - and climate change could make this year the warmest on record, warn scientists

The data, released today by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, revealed that last month the world experienced an average temperature of 56.4°F (13.6°C).

Forget sports drinks, CHOCOLATE MILK is best after a workout: Beverage has 'all the nutrients the body needs to recover'

Chocolate milk, so long as it was a low fat brand, was the 'gold standard for a recovery beverage', scientists from Cornell University said after developing a formula for the best product.

How Columbus was beaten by the Chinese: Bronze artefacts suggest East Asia traded with the New World 2,600 years ago

An ancient bronze buckle (pictured) and whistle have been found by Colorado University researchers in a 1,000-year-old house at the 'Rising Whale' site in Cape Espenberg, Alaska.

Being poor can change your brain: Children from deprived families have minds that are six per cent smaller, claims study

Studies by Colombia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found differences in brain regions responsible for language, memory, spatial skills and reasoning.

The scanner that can scour an entire PLANE: Mobile device can find weapons and drugs hidden onboard

Mobile device can find weapons and drugs hidden onboard plane

Romanian company MB Telecom has revealed the Roboscan 2M Aeria. It uses a cone of radiation to sweep across planes (shown left) and look inside to find contraband like weapons (top right). The device is accurate enough to find a filament in a light bulb. But the radiation it emits is not safe for passengers yet. The company notes that, while passengers and their luggage are thoroughly inspected at airports (bottom right), there is no such inspection process for jets arriving at small private airports with low security - but this device fills that 'gap'.

Could a lawnmower scupper our chances of finding aliens? Astronomers say Roomba gadget interferes with sensitive telescopes

This is according to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia who is objecting to proposals by iRobot to release a radio wave-guided lawnmower.

Bear Grylls in a PEN: $100 ball-point can light fires, launch a flare and even help you catch dinner 

The Endure Survival Penwas designed by Californian Nolan Brundige. As well as a flare launcher, the titanium pen contains a metal rod that can be used to make sparks.

Is this YODA hidden in a medieval manuscript? Biblical character painted in 14th century book resembles Star Wars hero

The medieval manuscript was written and illustrated in France between 1300 and 1340 and shows a character from the Biblical tale of Samson, which bears a striking resemblance to Yoda.

Electronic book lovers beware, your e-reader is watching you: Devices track which novels you read and what time you put it down to go to sleep 

The information collected is used to boost sales and grow the UK's e-book market, suppliers say. But a privacy campaign group called it 'alarming' to think that while you're reading your device is reading you.

Could YOU live inside a ball on an ICEBERG for a year? Explorer to make metal sphere his home as the ground beneath him melts

Italian Alex Bellini will live atop an iceberg in Greenland starting next year. He will live inside a contained ball (artist's illustration shown), with no means to escape for 12 months.

The never-ending selfie: Scientists reveal the world's first self-powered camera

The research team, led by Professor Shree Nayar at Columbia Engineering, said the camera works by not only measuring light but also convert that light into electric power.

Phew! Insects AREN'T the future of food: Crickets may be nutritious, but they're not a green alternative to meat, researchers claim

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, say the issue of incorporating insects into western diets is more complex than previously thought.

Is it a hovercraft? Is it a plane? No, it's the Chinese CYG-11 craft that can fly or 'float' on a cushion of air above the sea

The Hainan Yingge Wing in Ground Effect Craft Manufacturing Company in Hainan, China, tested two prototype sea planes off the coast of Haikou that have been developed in a CNY5 billion project.

Now THAT'S a spin cycle! Exercise bike washes your dirty laundry as you pedal

Bike Washing Machine washes your dirty laundry as you pedal

The Bike Washing Machine (main picture) is being developed by designers at the Dalian Nationalities University in China. The front wheel has been replaced with a drum where clothes can be placed with water and detergent. When the user pedals, it drives the drum (shown in the inset) but also produce electricity that can be stored for later use.

Sleeping habits of the world revealed: The US wakes up grumpy, China has the best quality shut-eye and South Africa gets up the earliest

Data from 941,300 male and female Sleep Cycle app users revealed 6:09am is the earliest wake up time, in South Africa. While two thirds of countries spend the least amount of time in bed on Sundays.

New Star Wars droid ISN'T a CGI: BB-8's ball body can move in any direction - but how does it work?

The robot, called BB-8 stars in the eagerly anticipated film Star Wars: The Force Awakens and took to the stage at Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, California.

Selfie stick was first invented in 1980s: Japanese photographer dreamed up device decades before the modern obsession

Hiroshi Udea, from Japan, patented the 'extender stick' in 1983 while he was an engineer at camera firm Minolta. He came up with the idea while on holiday in Europe with his wife.

Back from the dead: Monkey feared extinct is spotted in remote rainforest for first time in 50 years

Biologists have captured the first ever photographs of Bouvier's red colobus monkeys in the Democratic Republic of Congo - an animal last seen in the 1970s and was thought to have died out.

The inventions for 'everyday emergencies': Designs tackle full car parks, forgotten keys and dead phone batteries

EXCLUSIVE: Leeds-based Direct Line is running a competition called #EverydayFix. They asked groups to design products to deal with common problems, such as locking the door (shown).

Don't bother queuing for the Apple Watch: Leaked memo reveals the device won't be available in stores until June

The California firm's retail chief Angela Ahrendts said customers won't be able to buy an Apple Watch (pictured) in store 'through May' due to 'high global interest combined with initial supply.'

Supplement that can make frogs frisky found - and researchers say it could work as 'aphrodisiac drink' to help couples conceive

Red eyed frog (Agalychnis callidryas) 
CNWPJD

A supplement added to water has been found to boost reproduction in frogs, fish and other creatures - and London researchers say it might work for humans too.

The uncontacted tribe who could help us beat disease: First study of bacteria living on Amazon villagers reveal how much the modern world has changed us

DAVI YANOMAMI PUTS OUT A SPOT FIRE IN AMAZON...BVA01:BRAZIL-ENVIRONMENT:BOA VISTA,RORAIMA,BRAZIL,22MAR98 - Yanomami indigenous leader Davi Yanomami struggles to put out a spot fire at the Denimi reservation in western Roraima state, March 22. The fire was started by Yanomami Indians to slash and burn their land in order to plant new crops, but grew some 300 meters after it was not properly extinguished. Out-of-control fires are  approaching the indigenous communities in the amazon jungle, and have devastated uncalculable tracts of savannah, forest and farm land.  (BRAZIL OUT, NO SALES)    gn/Ag. Estado-Photo by Jose Paulo Lacerda REUTERS...I...DIS ENV

San Diego researchers say the results show just how modern lifestyles and diets have changed us -  and that the bacteria they found could be potentially beneficial to modern society.

When supermassive black holes COLLIDE: Best-ever 3D simulation reveals how space-time warps during the cataclysmic event

3D simulation reveals how space-time warps during black hole collision

University of Illinois scientists have created the first 3D simulation of merging black holes (shown). It shows what happens when two supermassive black holes collide. Material swirls around the objects in a quasar and jets fire out from the poles. It comes after two black holes were found to be seven years from merging.

Did Neanderthals EAT their dead relatives? 57,600-year-old broken bones reveal how children were torn apart shortly after death

Researchers at the University of Madrid have found marks found on the fossils of two Neanderthal adults and a child unearthed in the French region of Poitou-Charentes.

Did our ancestors hunt in PACKS? 1.5 million year old Homo erectus footprints hint at prehistoric hunting parties

Researchers at the American Museum of Natural History in New York studied 99 footprints found in Ileret, northwest Kenya, that are the oldest human tracks to be discovered in the world.

Will methane in the Arctic speed up global warming? New source of gas found in North Pole - and there may be more of it than first thought

Scientists at the Center for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Climate and Environment in Norway have found vast reservoirs of abiotic methane, formed by chemical reactions in the crust beneath the seafloor.

No more sweaty palms! $50 Ventus X computer mouse keeps your hand cool while playing adrenalin-fuelled video games

The mouse, designed by Taiwan-based ThermalTake, has a built-in honeycomb grill to let the skin breathe and a rugged coating so sweaty gamers can continue to the accessory.

Is colour the answer to jetlag? Researchers find that subtle hues of light help our brain tell the time of day

SUNRISE FROM WESTMINSTER BRIDGE TODAY LOOKING TOWARDS BATTERSEA.

Research by scientists at The University of Manchester has revealed that the colour of light has a major impact on how our body clock measures the time of day.

Paul Allen launches 'Vulcan Aerospace': Microsoft founder says new company will get biggest plane in history off the ground - and it could launch astronauts into space

The company will look after an project to launch spacecraft and probes into orbit from of a huge carrier aircraft with a wingspan of 385ft (117 metres). The aircraft is currently being built in California.

Beethoven's deafness was 'caused by a faulty gene' say scientists who question if Eric Clapton, Phil Collins and Ozzy Osbourne are victims of same fate

Scientist at the University of Southern California hope their discovery for the Nox3 gene, could help save a carrier's hearing by forewarning them of the dangers, allowing them to take protective measures.

Forget typing, Google says it can now understand your handwriting (and you can even draw emoji)

Google Android handwriting input

The California search giant claims the latest update to its Android handsets can understand handwriting in 82 languages in 20 distinct scripts.

Apple Watch will cause major problems for traditional watch makers, Goldman Sachs says - and claims 11% of iPhone users are 'very likely' to buy one

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Goldmach Sachs surveyed 1,000 people, and found 11% are 'very likely' to buy the $349 smart timepiece this year. It's report says the launch could cause major problems for traditional watch firms.

Wine connoisseurs are right: The shape of the glass really does affect the drink's taste

Scientists at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University set up a camera system to reveal exactly how wine's aroma changes as ethanol vapour escapes from different shaped glasses.

World's most powerful telescope to launch in 2018: 'Time machine' will peer back over 13.5 billion years to see first stars forming

World's most powerful telescope to launch in 2018

Nasa describes the telescope as a 'powerful time machine with infrared vision that will peer back over 13.5 billion years to see the first stars and galaxies forming out of the darkness of the early universe.' The James Webb telescope (inset) should further the search for alien life by opening a new window on planets outside the solar system that might have water, says the Houston-based agency. JWST's main mirror will be 21ft (6.5 metres) in diameter, three times as large as Hubble's.

Find your phone with a simple Google search: Users can remotely ring a handset directly from the search engine's homepage

The Californian firm announced the tool (pictured) on its Google+ page. It works with all Android phones but the user has to have the latest Google app for the tool to work.

The terrible tale of HMS Cannibal: Forgotten for centuries, it's a saga, told in a new book, of shipwreck, mutiny and murder that scandalised Britain... 

Naval historian Rear Admiral C.H. Layman has used survivors' stories, together with never before published letters of the ship's captain to reveal the terrifying cocktail created on the high seas.

Alien planet is one of the most distant ever seen: Spitzer spots signals from a gas giant 13,000 light years away

Known as 'Ogle-2014-BLG-0124Lb', the gas giant is thought to be half the mass of Jupiter. It was detected by the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Ogle Warsaw Telescope in Chile.

It pays to be pretty! Attractive female fundraisers get up to four times bigger charity donations

Researchers from University College London found that when the fundraiser was an attractive woman, a large donation increased other men's gifts by an average of £38 ($56).

A shoe that GROWS: Sandal that expands by five sizes could spell the end of spending a fortune on children's footwear

Charity worker Kenton Lee, from Nampa, Idaho, came up with the expandable shoe (pictured) after seeing orphans in Nairobi, Kenya, running barefoot and wearing shoes that were far too small for them.

No birdsong in Fukishima: 'Dramatic' decline of birds linked to radiation from 2011 disaster

Researchers have found that bird species are continuing to drop in Fukushima (shown after the disaster in 2011). The barn swallow, for example, dropped from hundreds to dozens.

San Francisco's 'ring of death' revealed: Interactive map shows California's roadkill hotspots

Interstate 80 and State Route 101 run alongside the bay, where high rates of wading birds and water birds are killed in a 'death ring', according to a map created by the University of California, Davis.

Stone Age man was a CANNIBAL: Flesh was cut and chewed off the dead in gruesome rituals, bones reveal

Human bones found at Gough's Cave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, have been found to be covered in bite marks and cuts made by people living there 14,700 years ago.

Bronze Age civilisation was destroyed by a 'perfect storm': Ancient Egypt and other societies collapsed due to climate change, war and earthquakes

A historian at George Washington University says a series of disasters between 1225BC and 1177BC led to downfall of ancient societies around the Mediterranean and the Near East.

A brief history of RHYME: Stephen Hawking, Brian Cox and Eric Idle team up for cover of Monty Python's famous Galaxy Song

British physicist Stephen Hawking has sung Monty Python's Galaxy Song (clip from the video shown). The song is being released digitally and on vinyl for Record Store Day 2015.

How Inuit women were wearing fur THONGS 130 years ago! Sexy seal underwear was donned when guests visited

19th century Inuit thong made from seal fur was worn for guests

The garment (pictured) is part of an animal-skin display at National Museum of Denmark. Known as a 'naatsit', it was worn during the 19th century in Greenland and other arctic regions. It is decorated using glass beads and different coloured strips of fur. Depending on the weather, the naatsit was often the only garment worn. Other items include a diaper made from reindeer skin and fur and a pair of pantyhose are also on display.

The battery powered rocket powerful enough to blast satellites into orbit

The Battery Powered Rocket Powerful Enough to Blast Satellites into Orbit

Rocket Lab, which is based in Los Angeles and has a launch site in New Zealand, will charge $5m per launch for its electric electron rocket.

Britain's ancient connection to Carthage: 2,300-year-old coin reveals Mediterranean trade route dating back to the Iron Age

The coin (pictured), which bears images of a horse's head and Carthaginian goddess, was discovered hidden in silt at the village of Saltford, which lies between Bristol and Bath on the River Avon.

Was Earth a SNOWBALL 2.4 billion years ago? 'Crazy' theory suggests our entire planet was once locked in a deep freeze

A University of Cologne scientist led research proposing a new theory. It suggests temperatures at Earth's equator were -40°C (-40°F) 2.4 billion years ago (artist's illustration shown).

Did Richard III hide his deformed spine in life? Last Plantagenet king kept scoliosis secret until his death, historian claims

Historian Mary Ann Lund from the University of Leicester believes that Richard III used good tailoring and carefully made armour to disguise his scoliosis through his lifetime.

Will a volcanic eruption destroy humanity? Scientists warn that world must begin preparing for explosive global catastrophe

Scientists at the European Science Foundation estimate there is a 5-10% probability of a large volcanic eruption by the the end of the century and the world needs to be more prepared.

Are schools still struggling with racism? Teachers more likely to label black students as troublemakers, study finds

Psychologists at Stanford University have studied the impact that racial stereotypes can have on how teachers perceive students who have misbehaved in the past.

Women are better at DIY (in chimps at least): Female primates can master and use tools more easily than males

Primatologists at Iowa State University recorded 300 hunts by chimps in Fongoli, Sénégal, and found female chimps were using tools to capture prey in 60 per cent of the observations.

'Tinder for stoners' goes global: High There! connects cannabis lovers for romance and friendship

Denver-based Founder and CEO of High There, Todd Mitchem, said that the app doesn't encourage the sale of marijuana but is simply a social network for people who consider it part of their lifestyle.

Is this the apocalypse, ask locals: Hundreds evacuated as Chilean volcano erupts for first time in 40 years and sends huge plume of ash into the sky

Chile's Calbuco volcano erupts for first time in 40 years with hundreds evacuated

Volcano Calbuco, in southern Chile, erupted at around 6pm local time, as 1,500 residents from the town of Ensenada were forced to flee their homes while a 12 mile exclusion zone was established. The eruption forced a cloud of ash and dust into the atmosphere which was visible from up to 100 miles away in neighbouring Argentina. Residents from near the volcano described people crying in the streets in the aftermath of the explosion, which is the first there since 1972

Now THEY'RE Scooby Snacks! Biscuits laced with cannabis extract are being used to treat pet ailments

Canna Companion, based in Washington, and Canna-Pet are among the firms that uses hemp from the Cannabis sativa strain in its capsules and biscuits for both cats and dogs (stock image pictured).

Control your phone with a flick of your fingernail: Researchers reveal tiny trackpad that can be stuck to a thumbnail

NailO is a wearable input device in the form of a commercialized nail art sticker. It works as a miniaturized trackpad the size and thickness of a fingernail that can connect to your mobile devices; it also enables wearers to customize the device to fit the wearer?s personal style. NailO allows wearers to perform different functions on a phone or PC with different gestures, and the wearer can easily alter its appearance with a nail art design layer, creating a combination of functionality and aesthetics.

From the fashion-conscious, to techies, and anyone in between, NailO can make a style, art, or a design statement; but in its more neutral, natural-looking example it can be worn and used only for its functionality. As a nail art sticker, NailO is small, discreet, and removable. Interactions through NailO can be private and subtle, for example attracting minimal attention when you are in a meeting but need to reply to an urgent text message. Mimicking the form of a cosmetic extension

Called NailO, the prototype trackpad developed by MIT researchers is similar to the stick-on nails sometimes used as a fashion accessory.

Puppy dog eyes really do melt the heart: Canine expression triggers hormones in humans that boost happiness

Researchers from the Japanese universities of Azabu, Jichi and Tokyo have found that eye contact between humans and dogs sparks a surge in affection-creating hormones.

Forget doing 150 minutes of exercise a week: You should be working out for more than an HOUR a day, claim scientists

A study by Harvard University in Massachusetts found that people who walked for 450 minutes per week - more than an hour a day - had 39 per cent less chance of dying prematurely.

Your belief in fate is decided in the WOMB: Testosterone exposure as a developing baby affects whether you're superstitious

For the study, psychologists from Swansea University measured participants' fingers - a good indicator of the amount of testosterone a baby has been exposed to in the womb.

The app that can predict an earthquake: New system uses GPS in phones to create early warning system

Myanmar residents gather as they inspect large cracks on a road two days after an earthquake struck the area, in Tarlay township near the northeastern city of Tachilek on March 26, 2011. 
Survivors surveyed the wreckage of their Myanmar villages as details of an earthquake that left 75 dead and reduced homes to rubble began to trickle out of remote areas.    


AFP PHOTO/ SOE THAN WIN (Photo credit should read Soe Than WIN/AFP/Getty Images)TOPSHOTS

Virginia researchers say the GPS receivers in a smartphone can detect the permanent ground movement (displacement) caused by fault motion in a large earthquake.

Could blue lights stop birds crashing into aircraft? Bright flashes could be key to avoiding avian collisions

The study was conducted by scientists at Purdue University in Indiana. They were investigating how to reduce bird to aircraft collisions by keeping birds away from planes (stock image shown).

Are your politics in your GENES? Twin study suggests they might be - depending on the party you support

A study of twins at Kings College London found that voting Conservative appeared to be strongly influenced by a person's genes, while they had a moderate effect on voting Labour, Ukip and Greens.

Grocery app lets you scan items at home and plots your purchases on a map as soon as you enter the store

The Sainsbury's app is in development and will be trialled in Wandsworth later this year, allowing customers to be guided around the store with a map. The current Scan-and-Go app is pictured.

Does YOUR state believe in global warming? Interactive map reveals spread of opinion on climate change across the US

Interactive map reveals spread of climate change opinion in US

The map, created by Yale University, reveals public opinion in all 50 states, 435 districts and 3,000 counties. Overall, just over 60 per cent of Americans believe global warming is taking place and nearly half blame humans for the change. But within the US, opinions on global warming vary wildly. People in California, for instance, are far more worried about the warming planet than those in parts of the central US. Pictured are the percentages of people who are worried about climate change, divided by different counties. The warmer colours represent a higher percentage of people concerned with the impact of warming.

Mysterious song hints at new whale species: 'Antarctic BW29' signal is unlike any other noise made by beaked cetaceans

The song heard in the Antarctic can't be identified and doesn't fit the pattern of noise generated by one of a few known species of beaked whale, such as Curvier's beaked whale (stock image).

How much radiation are YOU exposed to when you fly? App tracks your 'personal dose' of cosmic radiation from air travel

The TrackYourDose app (pictured) was developed by Germany-based firm esooka and uses a mathematical model developed by scientists and meteorologists.

New monkey species discovered after scientists notice unusual shape of its penis

Chinese scientists discovered the new species of macaque living in the remote highland forests of Medog in south east Tibet, but warn it is already threatened by illegal hunting.

'Romeo and Juliet' fossils reveal dinosaur sex: Paleontologists identify differences in male and female tail bones

Palaeontologists from the University of Alberta studied a fossil of two oviraptors (pictured), which was discovered in Mongolia, to work out that males seen to have longer 'chevron' bones.

Could we soon diagnose cancer using an iPHONE? Clip-on device uses camera to detect disease in as little as two minutes

Scientists at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a technique that can detect cancerous cells and viral infections in blood or tissue samples.

Researchers to drill 5,000 feet below the surface of vast Mexican crater in bid to find out what killed the dinosaurs

Texas researchers plan to drill 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) below the surface of the Chicxulub crater in Mexico to try and answer the question of how the dinosaurs died out.

One dope ride! 'Uber for weed' raises $10 million investment to deliver cannabis to people's homes

The Ease App (pictured) is the work of a Californian start-up that has just raised $10 million so that users can 'find the perfect medicine' in more states.

Is your pet allergic to YOU? Human cells shed from skin and hair can cause dogs and cats to sneeze, itch and lose their fur

A vet from Washington State University said that dogs can be allergic to dander - the cells that shed from skin and hair - from cats and humans and vice versa.

Google NESSIE view: Tech giant lets you explore Loch Ness through the eyes of its mythical monster

Google lets you explore Loch Ness through the eyes of its mythical monster

Google partnered with Catlin Seaview Survey and Adrian Shine from the Loch Ness and Morar Project to capture the Street View images. The site has launched to mark the 81st anniversary of the 'Surgeon's Photograph' (pictured left) - an image of the mythical monster - and it lets people virtually explore above (pictured top right) and beneath the water (pictured bottom right) of the waterway to the southwest of Inverness.

Will robots get away with war crimes? Human Rights Watch warns that NO ONE will be accountable if AI commits atrocities

The organisation will present their report at the UN in Geneva next week. They say that we must consider banning 'fully autonomous weapons' (image from the movie Terminator shown).

Suffer from travel sickness? Don't buy a self-driving car: Autonomous vehicles make passengers feel ill, study claims

The research was carried out at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.They surveyed more than 3,200 adults across the US, India, China, Japan, Great Britain and Australia.

The secret of the popular kids: Researchers find 'mind reading' abilities make children more likeable 

Scientists at the University of Queensland said empathy was the common factor in maintaining friendships in 20 separate studies involving 2,096 children from two to 10 years old.

Why teens text from the toilet: Our desire to avoid predators is why we can't ignore a flashing phone, study says

A stock photo of a woman using a smart phone outdoors and reading a text message.

Penn researchers say the urge to respond, and the beeping and flashing of a phone with a waiting message, it simply too much to bear - and tap into our deepest desires to evade predators.

Google's next project? Boosting your battery: Tech giant sets up 'secret' lab to focus on getting more from your gadgets

Reports claim the Californian firm is the latest to set up a team dedicated to boosting how long phones, tablets and electric cars can run for, lead by battery expert Dr. Ramesh Bhardwaj.

Tomb of a noblewoman and her 'lover' unearthed: Ancient grave hints that man was sacrificed so they could lie together for eternity

Two skeletons were discovered to be lying on top of one another in a tomb dating to the 5th century, in Hwangnam-dong, a neighbourhood of Gyeongju City in South Korea.

Acidic oceans 'dealt the final blow' during the Great Dying: Marine species were wiped out by chemical changes in water

The study from University of Edinburgh is the first to show highly acidic oceans played a role. Volcanic eruptions released carbon dioxide into the oceans and changed their compositions.

Facebook launches Messenger.com: Standalone site lets you chat to friends on any desktop browser

The Californian firm's Messenger.com (shown) lets people chat to their Facebook contacts, start group conversations and send photos on a browser in the same way they can on the Messenger app.

How Saturn is devouring its moon: Stunning images reveal Enceladus' ghostly tendrils being sucked in by the gas giant's rings

Saturn's moon Enceladus' tendrils being sucked in by the gas giant's rings

The 310 mile (500km) wide moon, which astronomers say may harbour alien life, has geysers pumping out tendrils of ice-water at 800mph (1287km/h). These geysers won't be there forever as images show how long, sinuous, tendril-like structures (top right) near Enceladus (bottom right) are transferring material from the moon into Saturn's rings. These ghostly tendrils have long been known to follow Enceladus in its orbit around the gas giant - but this is the first time scientists have been able to track its source. The left image shows small water ice particles flying from fissures in the south polar region of Saturn's moon.

How DID the moon form? Mystery deepens as two studies provide totally different theories for how Earth's satellite was born

Scientists at the University of Maryland and the Israel Institute of Technology have provided conflicting theories for the origin of the moon - although both agree Earth was hit by a large body (illustrated).

Using your iPhone in front of the TV is bad for your brain: Flicking between screens releases hormone that has same effect as being high on drugs

EBHEB2 Couple using digital tablet and smartphone on sofa

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that changing screens causes the brain to send information to a part of the brain which makes it difficult to recall later.

Watch the US Navy's drone CANNON: Weapon will shoot 30 swarm bots into the sky in under a minute in 'new era' for warfare

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The US Navy says its system will be able to launch a 30 drone 'swarm' in under a minute. The can work together to attack or defend sites, helping sailors and marines.

Move over Gordon Ramsay! Tooth analysis reveals Neanderthals created gourmet meals by flavouring their food with herbs

Scientists at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris have suggested that Neanderthals may have used camomile and yarrow to add flavour to their food following observations with chimps.

Forget make-up, BEER can make you beautiful: Collagen-laced Japanese drink claims to make skin firmer and more youthful

The 'Precious' brew, created by Japanese liquor company Suntory and available in Hokkaido, boasts a five per cent alcohol content level and claims to have two grams of collagen per can.

Self control is the most important a parent can teach their child: Study says skill has a major influence on children's lives

Boy crying in and having a tantum in shopping trolley.

British researchers found parents who work to instill self-control in their children could see huge benefits not only in the short-term, but throughout their working life.

What have the Romans done for us? TB! Strains of tuberculosis found on Hungarian mummies originated from a single Roman ancestor

Geneticists at the University of Warwick led a study of 26 mummies (like the one pictured) found in an 18th century Dominican church in the city of Vác in Hungary. They found eight died of TB.

Now THAT'S a caveman! Neanderthal who fell down sinkhole 150,000 years ago starved to death and FUSED with its walls

Altamura Man who fell down sinkhole starved to death and FUSED to its walls

Italian researchers have used DNA analysis to confirm that a mysterious skeleton (above) found embedded into the stalactites of a cave in Lamalunga, near Altamura, southern Italy (shown in the inset map), belonged to a Neanderthal who became trapped there. The DNA is the oldest to have ever been extracted from a Neanderthal and could provide new insights into how the species evolved, their relationship with modern humans and reveal new details about the unfortunate 'Altamura Man' himself.

Happy birthday Hubble! Stunning image of distant 'celestial fireworks' celebrates the telescope's 25th anniversary

Nasa scientists in California have released an image of distant giant cluster of 3,000 stars called Westerlund 2 (shown). Massive stars are seen feeding regions of dust and gas in the image.

'Longitude' clock stuns experts by keeping accurate to a second for 100 days - 300 years after it was designed 

The Martin Burgess Clock B is based on John Harrison's (left) 18th century design. Its trial was at the Royal Observatory to see if the claim - that it would neither lose nor gain a second - was true.

Aye, robot? Amazingly lifelike humanoid that can react to facial expressions, engage in conversation and even make eye contact

The incredible-looking robotic head, known as Ham, has been drawing in crowds with his incredible range of facial expressions at the Global Sources electronics show in Hong Kong this week.

Hubble at 25: Nasa celebrates upcoming milestone of the world's greatest telescope by releasing an image for each of its years

Washington DC-based Nasa has revealed 25 of the the 25 greatest Hubble Space Telescope images, to celebrate its 25th anniversary in space. Shown are the Pillars of Creation, by Hubble.

Robocook: The $14,000 extra pair of hands in the kitchen that can whip up your favorite recipes

A robot in the Robotic Kitchen prototype created by Moley Robotics cooks a crab  soup at the company's booth at the world's largest industrial technology fair, the Hannover Messe, in Hanover April 13, 2015.      REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

British scientists have come up with a set of robotic arms so sophisticated that they are capable of cooking meals from scratch, set to be out on the market from as early as 2017.

Diving into the abyss: Stomach-churning video shows freediver exploring the world's second deepest underwater sink hole

French free diver Guillame Néry jumped into Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas. He is seen at the edge of the 660ft (200 metres) hole (pictured) before taking the plunge.

Gray whale smashes mammal migration record: 'Varvara' swam almost 14,000 miles from Russia to Mexico and back without stopping to eat

Varvara swam from the east coast of Russia to breeding grounds off the coast of Mexico, and back, without stopping to eat, experts claim. Stock image of gray whale is pictured

Mystery of 'alien' flashes deepens: Infrared images of Ceres suggest two bright spots on the dwarf planet have different origins

The images were revealed by Houston-based Nasa as part of the first colour map of Ceres, showing variations in surface materials, and revealing the diverse processes that helped shape it.

Solar Impulse crosses China: Sixth leg of groundbreaking round-the-world flight is completed 

Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard has successfully flown Solar Impulse 2 from Chongqing to Nanjing in China (shown getting out of plane). The journey of 740 miles (1,190km) took more than 15 hours.

The matches that burn even if they've been dipped in WATER or BURIED in dirt

A Washington-based company unveils matches that burn in testing conditions. The £5.47 UCO Stormproof Matches use a coating that always smoulders.

So that's where he's hiding! Internet pranksters tag 'Edward's Snow Den' on Google Maps - right in the middle of the White House 

A business called Edward's Snow Den has appeared in the US President's headquarters thanks to the clever work of internet pranksters.

Julius Caesar's strange behaviour was caused by MINI-STROKES: Military leader's symptoms were misdiagnosed, says study

Imperial College London claims the Roman general's symptoms, which included vertigo, dizziness and weakness in his limbs, were the result of mini-strokes rather than epilepsy.

Solar Impulse stuck in China: Winds hamper record-breaking attempt at round-the-world flight for third week

Swiss pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg are having to wait to continue their groundbreaking flight. The plane (pictured) has been grounded in Chongqing for two and a half weeks.

World's oldest tools discovered: Stone flakes made by human ancestor 3.3 million year ago may rewrite evolutionary history

Archaeologists at George Washington University discovered 20 stone flakes and anvils locked in sediment on the west shore of Lake Turkana in Kenya.

The mystery of the chinless wonder deepens: Study claims chins developed due to a drop in testosterone and NOT because we started eating soft food

Researchers from Iowa said that as our faces became smaller in our evolution from hunter gatherers to more cooperative groups, the chin became a 'bony prominence'.

We're getting closer! First colour image of the planet and its moon that man has never seen close-up before is snapped ahead of Nasa's New Horizons arrival in July

Nasa scientists in Maryland are preparing for the arrival of New Horizons at Pluto on 14 July - humanity's first-ever visit to the dwarf planet. This latest image (shown) reveals Pluto and Charon.

Google accused of abusing its web dominance by the EU: Search engine to be served with charge sheet setting out how it breached competition laws

Brussels will say that Google has used its massive dominance as a search engine to divert internet users from rivals to its own services, which include YouTube and the Google+ social network.

Oldest evidence of human cremation in Britain unearthed: Stone Age men placed bodies on funeral pyres 7,600 years ago

The deposit containing the bone (pictured) was discovered during excavations ahead of a new pipeline in Landford, Essex and is thought to date to 5,600 BC.

Mystery of the 'alien' signals solved: Baffled astronomers trace source of noise to the observatory's kitchen MICROWAVE

The offending microwave, which released bursts of 'perytons', was found to be next door in the staff kitchen and visitors centre at the Parkes Observatory in Australia.

Meditation is 'as effective as drugs for treating depression': Mindfulness could be offered as an alternative to antidepressants, study claims

A mindfulness course could be offered as an alternative to drugs, psychologists from Oxford University and Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry said.

Forget white wine, remove red wine stains with GIN: Chemist reveals how alcohol, vinegar and SPIT can replace expensive cleaning products

The video from Washington-based American Chemical Society shows how why gin dilutes anthocyanins in red wine stains and how an enzyme in spit removes food stains.

Forget smiles, a simple SNIFF will tell you if someone is happy: Humans release chemicals in their sweat that convey joy

Scientists at Utrecht University found that the odours produced by our bodies can communicate our joy to others - a phenomenon known as chemosignalling.

The shoal with one 'brain': Striking images show fish avoiding the jaws of a shark in their midst

The photographs of reef sharks swimming though a shoal of fish were captured in the shallow waters of Heron Island in Queensland, Australia.

Move over SpaceX: United Launch Alliance reveals plans for its REUSABLE Vulcan rocket - and says it will launch in four years

The Colorado-based company said the Vulcan will use new engines, mid-air recovery and a new upper stage aimed at enabling complex on-orbit manoeuvres.

Forget that dress, it's all about this CAT: Photo shows tabby walking upstairs AND downstairs at the same time

This image of a cat on a flight of stairs has provoked a furious debate online between users who cannot agree whether the animal is climbing or descending the staircase.

The app that deletes your offensive tweets: Disgraced Jeb Bush aide develops 'Clear' to stop people getting in trouble like him

Ethan Czahor, the former Governor of Florida aide, has launched 'Clear' (pictured) which removes any posts that might cause you problems with your current or future employer.

Apple takes on HTC's Duo Camera: Phone maker buys technology that lets you refocus photos AFTER you've taken them

Apple bought Israel-based LinX in a deal said to be worth $20 million (£13.5 million). An example of how similar technology works is pictured. This shot was taken using Intel's RealSense 3D camera.

Churchill's secret war lab revealed: Aircraft carrier made from ICE and a wheel covered in ROCKETS among bizarre weapon designs

In World War Two, a top-secret weapons lap called 'Churchill's Toyshop' operated initially out of London to develop weapons to beat the Nazis, including an aircraft made of ice (shown).

Swipe right for puppy pictures: Tinder teams up with Instagram to allows users to show off their photos

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Los Angeles dating site Tinder has added the ability to let people add their latest Instagram snaps to their profile.

Is this the best - or worst - alarm clock ever? App drags you out of bed by ringing until you scan a barcode in another room

New York based app developer Michael Smagon claims the I'm Up Alarm will help those who struggle to get out of the bed in the morning by sounding an alarm until they scan a QR code.

Why was a baboon bone found in Lucy's skeleton? Scientists make bizarre discovery in 3.2 million-year-old fossil of early human

The baboon bone was found when Gary Sawyer and Mike Smith at the American Museum of Natural History in New York began work on a reconstruction of Lucy's skeleton.

Giving humans a helping hand: Heavy-lifting robot works alongside factory workers by tracking their movements

The robot, (pictured) engineered by a company in Coventry, uses vision technology called iRVision to keep an eye on humans and automatically stops if it touches a flesh-and-blood operator.

Kitten cam for kids: Florida children's hospital installs system to let patients in isolation play with cats remotely

The toys include a long 'tail' that swings from side to side when the user presses a button

Patients at Wolfson Children's Hospital are able to remotely play with animals at the nearby Jacksonville Humane Society shelter using the touchscreen TV in their room.

Cringe! Never forget what you did at a drunken party again: 'Hangover'-inspired Flashgap fills in the memory lapses for you

The app (pictured) is free for iOS and Android. Photos and videos taken on the app disappear into a hidden album after three seconds and only appear at midday the next day.

Apple's 'more diverse' emoji are here: iOS 8.3 update include characters with six different skin tones 

The update from the Cupertino firm, which has been in beta for several months, brings over 300 new emojis (including diversity options) as well as a new keyboard for inputting them more easily.

Large Hadron Collider comes back to life: Machine is restarted following two years of upgrade work - and scientists hope to see dark matter for the first time

Undated handout photo issued by CERN of the Large Hadron Collider Atlas detector under construction. The detector, the most enormous piece of scientific apparatus constructed, is housed in a circular tunnel 100 metres underground and stretches a distance of 27 kilometres, straddling the Swiss and French borders.  See PA Story SCIENCE Hadron.  Photo credit should read: CERN/PA.

The world's largest atom-smashing machine is most famous for proving the existence of the Higgs boson - but scientists hope it will now unlock even more fundamental secrets of the universe.

Has YOUR neighbourhood been buzzed by aliens? Interactive graphic shows the location of EVERY official UFO sighting around the world between 1933 and 2015

A map has been created using a UFO sighting dataset from the National UFO Reporting Centre and open source software from CartoDB that shows UFO sightings around the world.

Mass dolphin stranding triggers earthquake fears: Mystery as 160 melon-headed whales wash up on Japanese beaches

Residents attempt to save melon-headed whales beached on the shore of Hokota city, north-east of Tokyo, on April 10, 2015 ©Toshifumi Kitamura (AFP/File)

Japanese officials have attempted to dismiss rumours of an impending earthquake as 'unscientific' and experts believe the whales may have suffered an infection or were avoiding a predator.

Take a guided tour of the Apple Watch: Videos reveal how to use the apps, crown and digital touch

The first four videos have been released on the Californian firm's site including an introduction to the main features, plus how to use the Messages app, customise the face,and use digital touch.

Why octopuses don't trip over their legs: Cephlopods control body and arms with different parts of their brain

Biologists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel used high speed videos of octopuses (pictured) crawling over objects to study how the animals move.

Eye knew it! Markings on butterflies really DO mimic a predator's gaze

Biologists at Jyväskylä University in Finland claim to have settled the debate about whether eye spots on the wings of butterflies are a form of Batesian mimicry or simply patterns that confuse predators.

Feline chatty? Researchers reveal how to talk CAT - and what everything from a blink to a tail wag means

Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA and author of the new National Geographic book ¿How to Speak Cat, observes the actions of Pepper, a black and white  resident of Humane Society shelter Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in San Diego.    (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

A San Diego cat expert claims to have cracked the code of how cats communicate and says he can tell owners what each purr and tail wag means.

Are driving goggles making a comeback? Mini's augmented reality glasses add extras to the dashboard - and give wearers X-ray vision

Munich-based BMW Group's answer to Google Glass is designed to let drivers of its Mini model see pop-up virtual displays for showing maps and other features

'Holy cow!' Watch the amazing moment a robot sub investigating the ocean floor has a close encounter with a 40ft sperm whale THOUSANDS of feet under water

At 598 meters (1,962 ft) below the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, ROV Hercules encountered a magnificent sperm whale. The whale circled Hercules several times and gave our cameras the chance to capture some incredible footage of this beautiful creature. Encounters between sperm whales and ROV's are quite rare.

Researchers from the Ocean Exploration Trust were stunned when their robosub had an unexpected encounter with a sperm whale off the coast of Louisiana.

An asteroid hunter, lunar flashlight and DNA kit: Nasa reveals experiments its mega rocket will carry on its first test flight

The experiments will be launched by Houston-based Nasa in 2018 during a test flight of the Orion spacecraft using the largest, most powerful rocket booster ever built; the Space Launch System.

Could artificial clouds end droughts in Arizona? State says spraying sky with silver iodide may help tackle global warming

Arizona has plans to create artificial rain clouds by flying planes over the Rockies, and seeding the sky with silver iodide. But some scientists are concerned about silver building up in river basins.

Explore the moon's craters at home: From vast plains to deep valleys, new maps reveal the lunar landscape in stunning detail

The maps, compiled by cartographer Trent Hare at the US Geological Survey, include image mosaics and topographical views of lunar features such as the 'Ocean of Storms' and Mare Orientale.

Hiroshima's horror on paper: Handwritten military plans for devastating atomic bomb attack expected to fetch £300,000 at auction

Bonhams is auctioning rare documents from the Hiroshima atomic bombing in New York (diagram shown). They were compiled by Captain Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay.

Wind, the sculptress: Stunning ice formations at the peak of Mount Washington rival any landscape from Game of Thrones

Rime ice forms the mountain in New Hampshire when water droplets freeze instantly on contact with the rock. The peak has experienced some of the highest wind speeds ever recorded.

Was the first musical instrument just a chewed bone? Neanderthal 'flutes' were made by hyenas, study claims

Research has said that a 'Neanderthal flute' found in Slovenia (shown) - believed to be the world's oldest musical instrument - is simply a bone chewed in a cave by a hyena 30,000 years ago.

'UFO' spotted in 55-year-old space photo: Conspiracy theorist says image proves aliens have been watching Nasa's progress 

Taiwan-based UFO researcher Scott Waring, claims he spotted the UFO in an image taken by unmanned space probe Mercury-Redstone 1A on December 19, 1960.

An elephant never forgets: Mother is overcome with emotion when reunited with her daughter after three years apart

After a 62-mile (100km) trek through the Thai jungle, Me-Bai, the small elephant can be seen nuzzling her mother, Mae Yui, (both pictured) and joyfully flapping her ears.

Who do YOU see: Albert or Marilyn? Optical illusion could reveal if you need glasses

This classic optical illusion, created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reveals how our brains pick out different types of detail depending on how far away an image appears.

Black holes DON'T delete information: Scientist claims we could someday peer into these elusive structures

Dr Dejan Stojkovic from the University of Buffalo claims that interactions between particles emitted by a black hole could reveal information about what lies within.

EXCLUSIVE: Russian oligarch pledges $1 million 'OAP Idol' prize to the first person that can live to be 123

Dmitry Kaminskiy, a senior partner of Hong Kong-based firm, Deep Knowledge Ventures, is hoping his million dollar gift will trigger a new group of 'supercenternarians'.

They look like sketches from Walt Disney's studio but these amazing prehistoric paintings were actually drawn 36,000 years ago

The 36,000-year-old artwork in the world's oldest cave decorated by man, has been recreated for a new attraction in Vallon-Pont-D'arc in Southern France.

'Jesus is a MYTH': Christ stories appeared decades after his 'death' - and he was probably many people rather than just one, atheist writer claims

San Francisco-based atheist author David Fitzgerald says that there is no evidence that Jesus existed and was probably a literary allegory created from rival cults and Jewish stories.

Our ancestors DIDN'T grunt and mumble: Scientists says early human speech evolved rapidly into complex sentences

A paper by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology argues single words bear traces of syntax showing that they must be descended from an older, syntax-laden system.

Killer seals have arrived in BRITAIN: World first footage reveals marine mammals feasting on porpoises off the coast of Wales

The footage (pictured) was shot by a wildlife cruise company, off the coast of Pembrokeshire. On four occasions, grey seals have been spied feasting on harbour porpoises.

Is climate change making Scotland a dolphin paradise? Sightings off the West Coast have doubled in just a decade

Common dolphins were once a rare sight in the Hebrides, preferring warmer waters found further south, but now numbers have doubled in the region.

The device that makes ANY home smart: $250 Neurio keeps tabs on household gadgets to tell you if your boiler's broke - or you've left your lights on

The device, created in British Columbia, recognises the electronic signature of different devices, such as kettles, allowing users to keep an eye on their energy consumption via an app.

For whom the EARTH tolls: Ocean waves that collide and drag along the seabed cause our planet to ring 'like a bell'

Researchers from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France measured seismic activity, including earthquakes, storms and the ocean waves (stock image) in 2008.

Mice recognise fear in their friends' faces: Rodents may use expressions to warn others of danger or ask for help

Researchers based at different institutions in Tokyo placed rats in a special cage with pictures of rats in pain (shown) and with neutral expressions on the walls, to see how they reacted.

The Starship ISS: Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti becomes the first person to wear iconic Star Trek uniform in actual space

Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti wore the uniform on Friday (shown). Together with Nasa astronaut Terry Virts she captured the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which was full of supplies.

Could this $300 billion 'space mushroom' replace the ISS? Giant rotating station would create artificial gravity for astronauts

Washington, DC company United Space Structures says their giant rotating space station (shown) could replace the ISS. It would be 1,300ft long, cost $300 billion and take 30 years to build.

The 'thunder lizard' is back! Brontosaurus is finally recognised as a dinosaur after more than a century

Scientists from the UK and Portugal have calculated the differences between species of 'diplodocid' and found crucial anatomical variations between Apatosaurus and Brontosaurus.

Aliens may be the size of POLAR BEARS: Formula calculates extraterrestrials have a mass of 650lbs (if they exist, of course)

A cosmologist at the University of Barcelona Institute of Cosmos Science believes aliens (stock image) may be larger than humans and could live on a planet with lower population densities.

Is this the self-driving car of the future?  Chevrolet-FNR is unveiled - and it's so advanced you can start it with your EYES

General Motors unveiled their concept car at an event in Shanghai. The self-driving Chevrolet-FNR (shown) has 'dragonfly' swing doors and 'crystal laser headlights'.

Are these mystery radio bursts messages from ALIENS? Study finds freak frequencies from outside the Milky Way ALL form unexplained multiples of 187.5

A follow-up observation was made by the Parkes Radio Telescope, pictured, in 2012. However it was not until April of this year that the signal was ruled out as an instrument glitch when the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico picked up a similar signal, but the mystery of its true origin persists

Known as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), just 10 have been discovered - and German researchers say they all contain a strange patttern.

Seasons of the sun revealed: Twisted bands of energy may be driving super storms every two years

Scientists in Colorado have found evidence for a new solar season cycle. Every two years it appears 'bands' of magnetic field move to the surface, causing some coronal mass ejections (pictured).

The colour of art: Stunning graph reveals orange is the dominant colour of artworks through history

I made a visualization of the change in colors of paintings over time which a friend tweeted. Several people wanted more info on the method used, so I decided to write a detailed description here, also including the (not very pretty) code I used.
Recently I read a couple of very nice blog post on color use in movies, where colors where extracted from either movie posters or the actual frames of trailers.
I decided to try to do something similar but with data for a longer time period than the era of film. I decided to download images of paintings. So there is a bunch of different sites where you can access (photos of) paintings, e.g. BBC, Google Art Project, Wikiart, Wikimedia commons, and various museums. One of my favorites is the BBC:s site where you can browse through over 200K of well organized paintings! An amazing resource. For many of these there is also information on the year they were painted, the artist, etc.
So let?s use them to visualize the colors in paintings over histo

Martin Bellander, a PhD student in psychology at the Karolinska Institute created the graph by writing software to analyse images of free artwork he found online.

Is this a 300 million-year-old SCREW? Group claims it could be proof of aliens living on Earth - but scientists say it's just a fossilised sea creature

The stone containing the 'screw' (pictured) was found in the Kaluga region in Russia and is said to be 300 millions years old by the team of UFO and paranormal researchers who found it.

China building a 'great wall of SAND': Coral reefs are being turned into artificial islands - and experts warn it is a 'severe threat' to marine life

China is creating a 'great wall of sand' in the South China Sea (one island pictured), the US Navy has claimed. The latest huge land mass is 1.5 square miles (four square kilometres) in size.

Watch a SpaceX rocket EXPLODE in the Atlantic: Incredible footage reveals Falcon 9 booster's failed landing on an ocean barge

The video, taken by a plane off Florida's northeastern coast, near Jacksonville, shows the Falcon 9 booster lowering itself onto the platform, before a gust of wind sways it to one side.

Shocking speed of credit card theft revealed: Map shows how fast your stolen data travels around the world

The unique experiment by security firm Bitglass tracked stolen data from California as it travelled the globe, and found that it landed in five different continents and 22 countries within just two weeks.

Could fossil fuels trigger a mass extinction? Toxic oceans that wiped out species 200 million years ago are now reappearing

The study, led by Southampton University, claims a catastrophic condition called 'marine photic zone euxinia' is being created by the release of CO2 from fossil fuels.

Don't forget to shut the door! Bloodstained checklist for astronauts performing the first US spacewalk set to fetch $120,000

A bloodstained document (shown) revealing a life-or-death episode that could have derailed the whole US space programme of the 1960s is tipped to sell for £80,000 ($120,000) at an auction in New York.

Watch Rosetta's comet 'BURP': Geyser is seen suddenly erupting from the surface of in an amazing 'chance discovery'

German scientists using Esa's Rosetta spacecraft captured stunning images of a dust jet erupting (shown) from comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko, possibly caused by underground ice melting.

When Little Foot walked the Earth with Lucy: 3.7 million year old fossil sheds new light on early human forerunners

A handout picture taken in 2010 and released on April 1, 2015 by INRAP's French researcher Laurent Bruxelles shows Little Foot, a fossil with both ape-like and human features found in a cave at the Sterkfontein site, near Johannesburg. New dating of South Africa's most famous hominid fossil confirms it is older than widely thought, boosting the country's claim to be a home of humankind, scientists said on April 1, 2015. Named "Little Foot," the skeletal remains are those of a small ape-like creature who fell into a pit in South Africa's Sterkfontein cave complex millions of years ago.  AFP PHOTO / INRAP/ LAURENT BRUXELLES
RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / INRAP / LAURENT BRUXELLES" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSLAURENT BRUXELLES/AFP/Getty Images

Scientists have revealed a sophisticated new dating
technique shows that Little Foot, an important fossil of an early human forerunner unearthed in the 1990s in South Africa, is roughly 3.7 million years old.

Finally an answer to the chinless wonder: Scientists unlock mystery of why humans are the only primates that have chins and it is not to do with sexuality but soft food

Actress Reese Witherspoon attends the "This Means War" UK film premiere at the Odeon Kensington on January 30, 2012 in London, England.  (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

A paper from the University of Florida is the latest attempt to explain exactly why humans - unlike all other primates - have chins.

Lighting the void: The awesome birth of a star that's 300 times brighter than the sun 

The light in these extraordinary images has travelled so far that it has taken 4,200 years to get here. Scientists said the photographs reveal the immense forces unleashed when a star is born.

Stand on the surface of Mars: 3D map reveals 1.4 million square miles of the red planet in unprecedented detail

The stunning mosaic, pieced together by the German Aerospace Center in Köln, could help scientists better understand how water and lava once flowed across Mars.

How good is YOUR colour vision? KukuKube app tests your ability to see subtle differences in shade - but it might leave you cross-eyed

KukuKube was created by Canada-based Network365. The free app is available on Facebook, Android, iOS and on desktop browsers and a score of 31 or above is a sign of great eyesight.

Tinder hack fools hundreds of straight men into flirting with each other - and reveals their conversations

A California-based hacker, who is named only as Patrick, created a program which worked by luring in two men who 'like' one of his fake profiles and matching them to each other instead.

The app that could save your LIFE: Emergency service tells rescuers HOW to find and save you at the touch of a button

The One-touch-911 app (pictured) was developed by researchers at Boston-based MIT and lets users call the police, fire service, report a car crash or seek medical help using buttons on the phone's screen.

Would YOU pay £1,700 for a VINTAGE Apple watch? Collectible timepiece isn't smart, but is on sale for five times more than the Sport model

A US eBay seller is looking for $2,499.99 (£1,707.47) for a vintage Quartz watch distributed by Apple (pictured) in 1997 to promote its Mac operating system.

The music of the MICE: Researchers finds animals sing like a songbird to attract mates - but we can't hear them

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Male mice sing like birds to serenade prospective mates, Duke researchers have found - however, their musical sounds are too high pitched for humans to hear.

How New York smelled in the 1870s: 'Malodour map' reveals why the worst-offending factories moved to Brooklyn

In the 19th century, it was believed that these foul odors carried diseases, so the New York City Metropolitan Board of Health created the map to highlight the areas affected.

Could this 'gold mine' of galaxies explain how the universe took shape? Cosmic mystery may be answered by amazing discovery

Data from two European space telescope missions - Planck and Herschel - has identified some of the oldest and rarest clusters of galaxies in the distant cosmos (shown as black dots in image).

Mystery of the universe's giant Cold Spot solved: 'Supervoid' 1.8 billion light-years wide could be the biggest object ever found

Hawaii scientists say a supervoid (illustrated) may account for a cosmic anomaly. The object is thought to be causing a 'less-dense' region of the universe known as the Cold Spot.

What unusual phrases does YOUR region use? Interactive grammar map reveals bizarre language differences across the U.S.

The map, created by researchers at Yale University, highlights the diversity in grammar used across the U.S. with phrases such as 'here's you a piece of pizza' to 'this glass needs washed'.

Leaked video shows SpaceX rocket tipping over on a barge - and reveals just how close firm got to a perfect landing

SpaceX had hoped to land the booster in one piece on a drone boat a few hundred miles off Florida's northeastern coast. Its main mission to deliver supplies to the ISS was completed today.

Now that's a cyber criminal! Robot is ARRESTED by police for buying ecstasy on the dark net

A computer bot designed buy a random item once a week from hidden market places on the internet was seized by Swiss police after buying drugs. It was later released 'without charge'.

Why did the chimp cross the road? Because he COULD! Wild apes have learned to look left and right to cross busy streets safely

French biologists have found that chimpanzees at Kibale National Park in Uganda have learned to look both ways before crossing a busy stretch of concreted road.

Geologist claims Jesus was married... and had a SON: Expert says he has proof son of God was buried in 'family tomb' along with wife Mary and his brother

An Israeli geologist has conducted a battery of chemical tests to link the James Ossuary (pictured) with the long disputed 'Jesus Family tomb' in Jerusalem's East Talpiot neighbourhood.