Science & Tech News

Last updated: 23:13 GMT, 20 December 2019
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The Starliner capsule went off course into the wrong orbit just minutes after blasting off on its first test flight - a crucial dress rehearsal for next year's inaugural launch with astronauts. Everything appeared to go flawlessly as the Starliner launched from Cape Canaveral atop an Atlas V rocket at 06:36 ET (11:36 GMT) this morning. But half an hour into the flight, Boeing reported that the capsule didn't get into the position needed to get it to the International Space Station.

Baby dinosaurs weighing just 7oz are found in Australia

A smattering of tiny prehistoric bones (inset) have been found by researchers throughout parts of Australia, which are the first baby dinosaurs discovered in the country.The small bones probably belonged to a small-bodied ornithopod species (main), a two-legged herbivore species weighing up to 44lbs (20kg) when fully-grown. Because the dinosaur remains were so small - weighing only as much as a cup of water - the researchers think most never emerged from their eggs.

A group of scientists on a year-long research trip have captured footage of a rare deep sea fish that can use its fins as if they were feet, called Schaefer's anglerfish, from 3,000 feet below the surface.

A new species of monkey has been discovered on the Parecis Plateau in southwestern Brazil. Called the Parecis titi monkey, it was mistakenly classified as an ashy black titi in 1914.

The sound of fish communicating to one another has been captured for the first time in the UK at SEA LIFE London Aquarium, and dubbed over a recording of 'Jingle Bells' to make them 'sing'.

According to the company, it's initial December 26th release date will now be pushed back to 'sometime in January.' It has yet to give a specific date on the launch as of time of publication.

REVEALED: The tiny autonomous robotic insect weighing less than one gram that can carry five times its weight and withstand multiple heavy hits from a fly swatter 

DEAnsect' is an insect-like robot made of soft materials, carries five times its weight and moves its artificial muscles 400 times a second. What makes this creation so unique that it is able to withstand multiple hits from a fly swatter, being folded or squashed without being damaged - making this robot design ideal for performing various tasks.

Bloomberg, who cites an anonymous source familiar with matters, reports that it's unclear whether the project will actually see the light of day or what exactly it will be capable of doing.

Critically-endangered 'monkey tree frog' that walks instead of jumping thanks to its 'human-like' opposable thumbs discovered in Brazil

Brazilian researchers have uncovered a rare 'monkey' tree frog that walks rather than hops because of its opposable thumbs, which allow it to grip objects. The creature was filmed crawling carefully up a researcher's hand. The ability to 'walk' is rare among frogs and the researchers are promoting awareness of the importance of this endangered species.

The US national space agency asked for $1.4 billion to create the lunar lander that would take astronauts to the surface of the moon by 2024 - they've been given $600 million.

FILE - This July 9, 2019, file photo shows pedestrians walking across the street from the Twitter office building in San Francisco. Twitter says it has removed nearly 6,000 accounts it has deemed tied to a state-backed information operation in Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

In a blog post , Twitter announced the removal of the accounts claiming they were amplifying messages favorable to Saudi authorities, mainly through 'aggressive liking, retweeting and replying.'

An estimated 155,000 properties are still unable to receive a decent broadband connection, according to a report from Ofcom, while 53,000 homes have both poor broadband and 4G.

Tesla has just ONE more vehicle to unveil from Elon Musk's 'super secret Master Plan'

Telsa has closely followed a 'Master Plan' written by CEO Elon Musk over the past 14 years and has unveiled all of the vehicles on the list, except for one - a 'high passenger-density urban transport'. According to images released by Tesla, the 'bus-like' vehicle would run people around a city at maximum speeds of 124 miles per hour. The design would be mostly glass and inside seating for passengers.

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth in the UK surveyed 194 people about their lying habits - how often they told untruths, about what and to whom.

Data from the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft helped astronomers in India and and around the world observe a 'forced magnetic reconnection' for the first time.

Facial recognition software can produce wildly inaccurate results, according to a US government study on the technology, which is being used for law enforcement, airport security and elsewhere

The new research carried out by the US government comes amid widespread deployment of facial recognition technology for law enforcement, airports, banking, retailing and smartphones.

Archaeologists in Greece find 3,500-year-old royal tombs

American archaeologists have discovered two monumental royal tombs (left) dating from about 3,500 years ago near a major Mycenaean-era palace in Greece's southern Peloponnese region, the Greek culture ministry said on Tuesday. The finds include a golden seal ring (top right) and a golden amulet (bottom right) of an ancient Egyptian goddess, highlighting Bronze Age trade and cultural links.

A study by the US-based Obesity Society has found that humanity's obese population cause an extra 700 megatons of carbon dioxide emissions per year or about 1.6 per cent of all man-made emissions.

Motherboard reports badges for Amazon Web Services's conference, called re:Invent were pre-installed with beacons that let Amazon track them as they traveled around the event.

Smart cars may make our lives easier on the road, but they are also easily hacked by cyber criminals, as holes in the systemlets them access your data or worse, take over the vehicle, an expert reveals.

Second time lucky! European Space Agency's Cheops satellite successfully launches to hunt for habitable planets after first effort failed 

The three-year mission known as Characterising ExOPlanets Satellite (CHEOPS) blasted off from Kourou, French Guiana at 08:54 GMT (3:54 a.m. EST).

The records of hundreds of millions Facebook users was discovered in a online forum on the dark web, which includes IDs, phone numbers and full names. More than 267 million users were exposed

It required the use of a virtual telescope that employed satellites around Earth and the co-operation of more than 200 scientists around the world and has now been recognised for its magnitude.

As scientist warn our planet is on track for a climate change disaster, many individuals are working tirelessly to do their part - and some believe they are doing more than others.

Meerkats stiffen their tails and puff out their fur in a 'war dance' to frighten rivals

Meerkats put on a fierce show and dance to fend off potential threats (top right), a new study has found following observations of meerkat groups for more than a decade. Meerkats live in stable and highly social groups that display high levels of cooperation (main image), but their behaviour is starkly different in the face of rivals, often performing the unusual dance and sometimes engaging in deadly fights (bottom left).

Toyota has revealed an update to its T-HR3 robot, which mimics movements of a nearby human controller. The robot will serve athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games next summer.

Researchers led from the University of North Carolina studied words describing emotion in over 2,000 languages and found 'significant variation' in how emotions are expressed across cultures.

Autonomous helicopter startup Skyryse shows off its self-flying chopper that uses 'air taxi' tech to turn the craft into a giant drone

Though Skyryse is far from the only company looking to automate flying, it claims a unique advantage over competitors that allows technology to be overlaid on non-autonomous helicopters. In its recently released demo, Skyryse shows its technology operating a Robinson R-44 - a Federal Aviation Administration-approved helicopter - while two safety pilots stand by in the cockpit.

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Ancient 'chewing gum' reveals appearance of hunter-gatherer who lived 5,700 years ago

The chewed birch pitch gum (right) was found during archaeological excavations at Syltholm, east of Rodbyhavn in southern Denmark. Analysis of the gum marks the first time ever that scientists have obtained the full genome of an ancient human without their bones. The genes revealed the person (left) was probably a woman and likely had dark skin, dark hair and blue eyes who had a diet of duck and hazelnuts. Closely-related to hunter-gatherers from mainland Europe, she would have looked different to the native Scandinavians of the time.

The fossilised roots were found at the bottom of a quarry in the small town of Cairo - and would have been at its peak during a time when the majority of life on Earth was in the oceans.

The last ever 'SNES PlayStation' thought to be in existence is set to sell for millions at auction next year. The prototype is the result of a short-lived collaboration between Sony and Nintendo.

Toilets that are tilted downwards by 13 degrees to stop workers spending too long on the

Staffordshire-based company StandardToilet says it has already had interest from local councils and motorway service stations for the £150 - £500 toilets. They hope to sell to offices and shopping centres. The seat is sloped forward by about 13 degrees to increase strain on the legs similar to a gentle squat thrust - as seen in this graphic - according to developer Mahabir Gill.

University College London scientists analysed data from nine studies into air pollution and mental health in adults. For every 10ug/m3 increase in PM2.5 levels, depression cases rose by 10 per cent.

The share price also moved closer to Elon Musk's goal of raising $420 per share, the benchmark the Tesla founder made in August 2018 for taking the company private.

Scientists are developing a smart toilet that detects illnesses from urine samples before symptoms arise. However, this technology could pose privacy issues that let others see your lifestyle.

Under development by British firm Simba, the novel bed features a roller system in the base that ensures covers are always evenly distributed, no matter how much you turn.

A small group of the extinct humanoid species made its last stand on Java, Indonesia about 110,000 years ago, according to new research by scientists from the USA and Australia.

Dog walker stumbles upon five-and-a-half foot long Jurassic fossil on Somerset beach

A dog walker and amateur archaeologist was amazed when his pooches (top left) led him over to a five-foot-long fossil on a Somerset beach at the weekend (main and right). Jon Gopsill, 54, believes the remains belong to an ichthyosaur, a group of marine reptile similar to the modern-day dolphin (bottom left).

Mobile operator EE has announced that it has switched on its 5G service in six more major UK cities, including Hull, Leeds and Newcastle, as well as three towns and other 'high footfall' areas.

British and Brazilian scientists have measured the tallest tree in the Amazon yet - around 290 feet, which is taller than Nelson's Column and nearly as tall as The Statue of Liberty.

More than 60 per cent of Americans now 'clean-as-they-go' when it comes to clearing away pots, pans and plates after cooking rather than just 'letting it pile up' until the end of a meal.

Amazon's Alexa can now be used to change the subject during family disputes that take place over the Christmas period. A survey of 1,500 British people found money was the biggest trigger.

Researchers in the US are the first to train dogs to voluntarily enter a brain scanner and remain still while their neural responses were recorded.

Facebook contended that knowing a user's whereabouts has benefits ranging from showing ads for nearby shops to fighting hackers

Facebook said in its letter to two US senators that clues for figuring out a user's location include being tagged in a photo at a specific place or a check-in at a location.

Horrific scale of wildfires in 2019 laid bare in a shocking video that maps all the blazes across the planet throughout the year

Fast-paced fires torched vast swathes of land and people were forced to evacuate as thousands of animals perished, including in California, Indonesia and Australia. Throughout the 92-second clip the fires can be seen terrorising the world, with daily fire radiative power represented in watts per square metre. The seasons saw wildfires across different regions of the world, with most continents besieged with flames.

Wild animals are experts at staying out of sight, but a new partnership between Google and Wildlife Insights will try to help scientists capture and analyze pictures of them in their natural habitat. 

In a very public gesture on Tuesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey went out of his way to unfollow rival and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a way that his many followers wouldn't miss.

A new kind of tech company has emerged to help people outrun their bad online reputations. Called reputation management firms, they help improve a person's Google results.

Researchers from the University of Stockholm say the most likely sources of the lights are 'natural, if somewhat extreme, astrophysical sources' but are not ruling out aliens.

Easter Island soil was enriched by process of carving heads

Soils in the quarry were already thought to be the richest on the entire Polynesian island thanks to a fresh water supply and was enriched by nutrients unearthed by mining of the bedrock. Rano Raruko quarry (inset) was where 90 per cent of all the heads on the island were made and the carving process itself enriched the land, a new study has found. Creating hundreds of Moai (left, right) replenished the soil with nutrients from the bedrock which worked alongside fresh water supplies to fertilise the land.

Ancient giant caiman (Torsten Scheyer/PA)

An international team, led by researchers in Zurich, have been examining the fossil records of early giant crocodylian species - using fossil records found in Venezuela - to discover how they moved.

An independent agency has designed a bunker specifically to house Tesla's 19-foot Cybertruck after learning the vehicle, once released, would be too big to fit in standard 20 by 20 foot garages.

Instagram launched a US-based fact-checking program in early 2019, which has now gone global

Shared photos or videos on the deemed to be false will be hidden from searches and labelled. The Facebook-owned network had previously launched its fact-checking program in the US.

Amazon will no longer allow third-party sellers to use FedEx Ground shipping for orders made through Amazon Prime, saying the company has concerns about 'delivery performance.'

Consumer group Which? has revealed its top 10 product list for 2019, which has been topped by the Hyundai Kona Electric Vehicle and also includes a reusable coffee cup and an IKEA mattress.

The new feature stops short of fully replacing Alexa and currently only allows users to query Jackson for the weather, jokes, and for details about their calendar or the time or the news.

What if we could learn to recognise trees not just by their physical characteristics but by the sounds they make; the wind in their leaves or the creaking and groaning of their branches?

Lost 'starry night' harlequin toad thought on the verge of extinction for 30 years is

The toad (left and top right), whose proper name is 'Atelopus arsyecue', has not been comprehensively studied in 30 years, because biologists have not been able to access its small habitat on Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range. The land is sacred to the indigenous Arhuaco community of Sogrome, so they have prevented scientists from carrying out investigations there - until now (bottom right).

The first-of-its-kind study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used thousands of tiny shells from the seafloor outside of Santa Barbara to create a snapshot.

Apple's iPad took the number one spot, followed by Tesla Model S and Raspberry Pi ranked as the second and third of the decades top 10 most 'important and influential gadgets'.

Researchers found that facial recognition can be fooled by using a 3D-printed mask depicting a different person's face, which tricked payment a systems and passport-control gates at airports.

A new fraud report from Visa warns customers about an increased of identity theft at gas stations this holiday season, and recommends chip readers over magstripes.

Lazy moths taste disgusting and put less effort into evading predators, a study suggests (Mark Parsons/PA)

Researchers suggest nonchalant behaviour of moths during bat attacks is linked with their palatability, while those evasive of their winged attackers do not have this chemical defence.

NASA 's Juno captured a storm the size of Texas swirling near Jupiter's south pole. The 'maelstrom' joins a family of six other raging cyclones that 'are a new weather phenomena'.

Xbox FINALLY reveals its next game console called the 'Series X' after months of 'Project Scarlet' mystery - and says it will be released next year

The new console was unveiled in a video from Microsoft at The Game Awards 2019 in Los Angeles. It ends six months of purgatory for avid gamers, following the tantalising announcement of 'Project Scarlett' in the summer. A price was not revealed for the cuboid console (left, top right) but it was stated that the console will be available to buy in late 2020. It will launch with two playable games, at least. Halo infinite (bottom right) will be accompanied by Senua's Saga: Hellblade II.

A study found smaller microplastics have been overlooked, as they are hiding in the guts of tiny marine creatures. This finding suggests there are a million times more plastics in the ocean.

Communications Limits, a parental control rolled out this week via iOS 13.1.3, was intended to prevent unknown numbers from contacting a device with the parental controls enabled.

A million units may be small compared to other big name phone manufacturers the hurdle represents a significant feat given the nascence of the technology and its premium price tag.

Apple is working on technology for the perfect selfie. It acquired Spectral Edge, an AI startup that uses machine learning to make pictures crisper, with more accurate colors.

Archaeologists have concluded that fragments recovered from an old Native American burial site in Oregon are parts of child-sized versions of old spear-throwing weapons called atlatls.

Incredible time-lapse shows the Earth being drained of water: NASA data shows how islands appear from the oceans before it all dries up 

Nearly 70% of the Earth is covered with oceans, but an animation reveals what our planet would look like if they all disappeared -with most land becoming visible at a decrease in sea level of 459 feet. The central area of the ocean begins to appear at depths of 6,500 feet, at around 13,00 feet (top right) all of the water around the continents has disappeared and by 19,685 feet (bottom right), all of the sea water has drained -except for areas with deep sea trenches.

A panel of experts from NASA and NOAA in the US recently concluded that the current solar cycle is nearing its end, and the next one will begin when this streak ends.

Details of the new models were revealed in a private note to investors by analyst Jun Zhang of international brokers Rosenblatt Securities, leaked to Apple Insider.

Developed by engineers in Canada, the material - which is a specially-treated form of conventional transparent wrap - could find uses in various settings, but especially in hospitals and kitchens.

Today, Lyft announced a new car rental service for select users in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The service will include unlimited miles and free pickup and drop-off at the rental location.

Researchers from national laboratories, including the Imperial College of London, say the Milky Way Galaxy clocks in at a mass that is 890 billion times larger than our solar system's sun.

Thousands of 'penis-fish' washed ashore on California beach

Thousands of 'penis-fish' were found on a California beach after a strong storm ripped through the area and pulled them from their underwater homes - leaving them exposed to predators. Formally known as fat innkeeper worm, this 10-inch marine creature looks like a 'pink sausage' and creates U-shaped burrows in mud or sand that it leaves behind for other creatures to move in - hence its name 'innkeeper'.

Facebook has partnered with retailers to gather customer data to find user profiles on the site and target them with specific advertisements. However, there is a quick process to opt-out.

Archaeologists found 15,000 artifacts and living areas in an ancient site that dates back 12,500 years. Located in Connecticut, it was home to southern New England's earliest inhabitants.

Turkey will be the first customer for a new military drone with a machine gun mount that can fire single shots or 15-round bursts and carry a total of 200 rounds. It also has laser targeting for accuracy.

Jimi Hendrix is NOT to blame for Britain's plague of 170,000 parakeets

Striking ring-necked parakeets (left), the tropical green birds which now terrorise London neighbourhoods, have been sighted for decades and likely due to repeated releases, scientists say. Urban legend has a range of outlandish theories for the origin of Britain's parakeets, including Jimi Hendrix (inset, top left), Humphrey Bogart's 'The African Queen' (inset, right),and a break-in at George Michael's London home. But these have all been discredited by a new study which says the likely explanation is actually repeated releases and introductions, as well as being boosted by escapes from British bird houses damaged in the Great Storm of 1987. Experts tracked thousands of sightings and created a 'crime map' (right) to reveal their presence and suspect many parakeets that were kept as pets were released en masse after an outbreak of 'parrot fever' in 1929, 1930 and 1952, as newspaper articles urged the public to stay away from the 'dangerous birds'.

iPhone shipments to China fell by 35 percent in November, the second straight month of double-digit declines in the country compared to the same periods the previous year, likely due to tariffs.

The aptly dubbed Google Interpreter will be available on any mobile device capable of running Google Assistant and can be activated by users by summoning the assistant with one's voice.

'Pooper-scooper' robot autonomously detects and cleans up your dog's mess using cameras and sensors

A firm has designed a robot that finds, detects and automatically scoops up what your canine friend left behind. Beetl is equip with sensors and front cameras to hunt down dog poop. Once the robot spots feces within your yard, it moves directly over it and uses a mechanical claw as a scoop.

Today a commercial seaplane company in Vancouver completed the world's first commercial flight of an electric plane, a 750-horsepower craft that has a 100 mile range and costs $10 to charge.

Psychologists from the University of Warwick studied the movement of a pair of chimpanzees at a zoo in the US that showed them moving in sync and say this could point to early human dance.

A new study shows Facebook charges higher prices for campaign ads that target users with differing political views, costing 50 percent more to send Bernie Sanders ads to conservatives.

Users across the globe have reported Instagram is down siting issues with their News Feed, Stories and logging in. The problems seem to come mostly from Europe and the US.

The new option, which is called Baystream, allows users to stream illegally pirated content right in their browsers as opposed to  having to download movies or shows like in the past.

Kiss me squeak: Orangutans communicate using a 'language' of 11 noises and various gestures to tell others to 'climb on me', 'stop that' and 'move away', study finds

Researchers from the University of Exeter recorded more than 1,000 signals between 16 orangutans and deciphered their meaning. Various sounds - including a 'kiss squeak', 'raspberry' and a 'gorkum' - have clearly defined meanings which are understood by the apes. A 'language' of 11 vocal signals and 21 'physical gestures' were spotted from video footage of 16 orangutans (main, inset right) (seven mother-child pairs and a pair of siblings). A grand total of 1,299 communicative signals - 858 vocal signals and 441 gestures - were seen, allowing the researchers to discern what they meant.

A Tokyo-based robot design company has demonstrated its 8-foot tall 'exoskeleton suit' that responds to human control to enable 'smooth and flexible body movements'.

Scientists made a startling discovery off the coast of California while surveying North America's largest poskcmark. They found another 15,000 smaller craters and 30% were created by garbage.

Scientists from the University of Southern Denmark wanted to find out the best way to 'prevent or minimise beer loss' from a shaken can. They say 'letting it settle' is the only solution.

While only the Eastern United States - including Miami and New York - will have such a notable time and date for the lunar peak, the full moon will be 'bright and visible' around the world.

A study by University of Exeter scientists of female macaque monkeys has found those with strong connections to partners and many different social connections boosted survival their chances.

Researchers from Flinders University in Adelaide tested shop-bought lamb mince in Australia 79 times and found 34 of the samples - 43 per cent - contained the Toxoplasma parasite.

Flight records and related materials from police drone programs have been uncovered following a security breach at DroneSense, which provides services to government agencies.

Researchers at the University of Chicago found people do get lonelier as they age, but that the generations who are now reaching 'senior' status aren't any lonelier than their predecessors.

New Zealand's White Island volcano eruption 'could trigger deadly landslides and TSUNAMIS'

Ash belching out from Volcano Whakaari could trigger a downpour of rain, which in turn could cause unstable rock to be washed down the sides of the volcano in a landslide. This could have potentially fatal consequences for both rescue workers and the tourists who are still on the island. If this rock reaches the ocean and plunges into the water, it could trigger a tsunami, resulting in further catastrophe.

Waze has rolled out a feature globally that offers 'Snow Warnings'. Users can see real-time alerts of hazardous roads and report when a street has not been plowed to keep others safe.

In a blog post on Tuesday, Google said it will expand on its current system that checks a reference list of flagged sites against URL's the a users has visited once every 30 minutes.

Glitter is making its way into lakes, rivers and oceans and is hurting marine life. These issues are leading scientists to call a complete ban on the shiny particles -saying it is causing a natural disaster.

The FBI warns 'hackers can use smart home devices to do a virtual drive-by of your digital life' and urges users to change default passwords and regularly check for firmware updates.

Sutton Hoo ship found in Suffolk 80 years ago will be rebuilt from 3D computer models

In its Suffolk-based burial mound - thought the resting place of King Rædwald (top right, with his ceremonial helmet shown inset) - only the impression of the ship and its iron rivets remained, the timber having long rotted away. Nevertheless, a team of archaeologists and shipbuilders have succeeded in creating a three-dimensional digital mock-up of the vessel (left) to allow it to begin to be reconstructed (bottom right).

The Internet Watch Foundation identifies and removes online images and videos of child abuse (Peter Byrne/PA)

The UK´s Internet Watch Foundation and a US counterpart are to share hashes of known child abuse images to help prevent the spread of such content.

The largely intact Styracosaurus skull has wonky horns and was discovered by then graduate student Scott Persons in 2015 in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada.

A study found that plate tectonics were triggered by intense bombardment of meteors 3.2 billion years ago -transforming the hot, primordial mushy surface into the present rugged landscape.

Burning of the rainforest in southwestern Amazonia,  could release aerosols such as black carbon which may speed up the melting of the Andean glaciers, finds Rio de Janeiro State University.

The drawings, around 4 inches in length, were discovered in the rocky area of ​​San Juan, near the town of Albuquerque in the province of Badajoz in western Spain.

'Director's View' lets users cycle between different lenses on their phones and also allows them to 'lock on' to a subjects that they're recording, keeping them in focus according to snippets of code.

Black Friday fever is almost upon us, and this year online retailer Amazon is rolling out the deals a whole week early in what will be its 'biggest ever' event.

Over the past 20 years, experts from Durham University have been studying the remains of 110 Anglo-Saxons found buried in the dunes near the Northumberland castle.

NASA Mars 2020 mission is set to explore the Jezero crater, which scientists have now determined is littered with hydrated silica and carbonates - two elements that could hold signs of microbial life.

A 2016 discovery that the Tullimonstrum had a stiffened rod of cartilage saw Tully classified as a predatory vertebrate - now University College Cork researchers believe the grouping was wrong.

After connectivity issues with the Disney+ during its launch yesterday, Vizio has announced it's working on an update for its SmartCast TVs that could help some users access the service.

Building off of a concept introduced by physicist Gerard O'Neill – who Bezos himself studied under during his time at Princeton – the Blue Origin founder outlined habitats that could hold cities.

NASA is investigating how best to respond to the possibility of an asteroid or a comet colliding with Earth in fictional situations.

On stage, Bezos took the wraps off a massive model of what will be the firm’s first lunar lander, dubbed Blue Moon. The event kicked off at 4 p.m. in Washington D.C, and was not live streamed.

In a profanity-laden tirade from one of TV's most famous liaisons of science and learning, viewers were dealt a stark warning about the disastrous effects of climate change.

The Beresheet spacecraft began experiencing problems shortly after it began its descent, despite a promising start in which it sent back a selfie at just 22 kilometers from the surface.

A drill that will spearhead the search for life on Mars was put through its paces using a vehicle resembling a soapbox derby contraption.

The ancient workshop is thought to date back to the 18th Dynasty, during the reign of Amenhotep III – King Tut’s grandfather. The sphinx and hundreds of hieroglyphic fragments were found at the site.

The battery-powered devices about the size of a small cooler and can deliver packages autonomously, but for now, they'll be accompanied with a human while they're being tested out.

On Dec. 21, during winter solstice, four of Juno's cameras captured images of the Jovian moon Io, the most volcanic body in our solar system, on the mission's 17th flyby of the gas giant.

The research from the consumer watchdog Which? comes as the UK prepares for the London Marathon this weekend and found the Garmin's Vivosmart 4 was named the least reliable.

A study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison wrapped the e-bandage around the chests of rats who had a cut on their backs. This caused the wound to heal in just three days versus 12 in others.

Speaking at an event on AI technology in Moscow, Russia, on Saturday, president Putin called for safeguards, setting out rules for how humans should interact with the robots.

First found in China, it has caused significant problems in other areas it has invaded. It can form dense mats of up to 1,500 mussels per square metre – which can suffocate scallops and oysters.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have studied thousands of species of animals and birds to work out where reservoirs of contagious, mosquito-borne viruses could be.

The startup, called Humu, uses machine learning to parse through employee data and then 'nudges' workers to help them improve in areas that might make their work lives better.

Ford created a futuristic-looking dog kennel that uses noise-cancellation panels and the carmarker's active noise control technology to create an insulated environment for pets.

It was the ultimate speed battle between man and nature as Felipe Massa took on a peregrine falcon, the fastest animal on planet Earth. The falcon is capable of speeds of up to 217mph.

FILE - In this Tuesday, May 5, 2015 file photo, rush hour traffic fills the 6 October bridge over the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt. Uber is launching a new minibus service on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in traffic-mad Cairo, Egypt's capital and the ride-sharing U.S. giant's fastest-growing market. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

Uber launched a new minibus service on Tuesday in traffic-mad Cairo, Egypt's capital and one of the U.S. ride-sharing giant's fastest-growing markets.

Scientists have exposed very thin slices of ancient Egyptian mummy bones to light at different wavelengths in an attempt to discover how the people of the time would live, eat and spend their daily lives.

Footage of the colour-changing octopus was captured by a free-diver as he swam in the crystal clear waters in the French Riviera.

Australian scientists found sharks incubated in tanks that simulate temperatures in 2100 became 'right handed', preferring to swim to the  right, a process known as lateralization.

Most visitors think of New York's Parks as the only place to find trees. However, a new study found New York City has  over 5 million 'forested natural areas' along with 666,000 street trees.

The underwater skeletons of 185 wooden ships, referred to as ghost vessels, were deliberately sunk or have been left to decompose for hundreds of years in the Potomac River, Maryland, US.

McLaren have given Formula One fans their take on what the future of the sport looks like as they presented the 2050: the MCLExtreme, a futuristic race car built and designed for the future.

A researcher from Princeton University in New Jersey has found that testosterone levels and masculine features are directly related to the perception of a man's talent.

A new pair of hovershoes unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show, called Motokicks, could soon replace your scooter, bike and skateboard - just don't try to take them for a spin in the rain.

An accidental discovery by Harvard academics has now found that a slightly different version of RNA may have been the key ingredient allowing for life on Earth to blossom.

Dr Dombard and his colleagues presented a possible solution to this problem at the American Geophysical Union meeting in Washington, DC, this week.

Ed Dentel, 46, of Richmond, Virginia, was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat - known as atrial fibrillation - after his Apple Watch alerted him that something was wrong on Thursday.

Passengers could receive their Amazon deliveries on HS2 trains, a manufacturer has claimed (HS2/PA)

Ilford-based company Bombardier Transportation is developing technology which would enable click-and-collect services on board.

Michelle Vall, 53, of Blackpool found the artefact under six inches of mud while holidaying at Loch Lomond. The signet ring is in perfect condition and is believed to be worth up to £10,000.

Archaeologists believe they have found the final resting place of Antony and Cleopatra in the ancient city of Taposiris Magna, around eighteen miles from Alexandria in Egypt.

Fifteen Gallic amphoras were found half submerged in the sand and were first spotted by two scuba divers outside the city of Portofino in late November last year.

The jacket alerts the rider to dangers around them and the helmet projects vital information, such as their speed, revs and a rear view camera on the visor to make you feel like Iron Man on a bike.

Military chiefs planned to use the explosives, codenamed Blue Peacock (pictured), to devastate Soviet forces if they forced the western Allies into retreat during an invasion of Europe.

US sportswear giant Nike has teased its first self-lacing basketball trainers, which the company has suggested will be controllable from a smartphone.

A Russian historian claims the French Emperor ordered decoys to be sent to a fictional burial site 40 miles from the actual location during his retreat from Moscow in 1812.

NASA says the incredible image is 'the largest panoramic view of the fire and fury of star birth in the distant universe.' The images uses ultraviolet light to create a never-before seen image.

A team of University of Bristol researchers used scanning electron microscopy to quantify melanosome extracts from the feathers of 97 species of modern birds with iridescent plumage.

Hess was captured by 1941 in Scotland after parachuting into the UK and tried at Nuremberg and later imprisoned at Berlin's Spandau prison.

Price beats the previous world record for a British coin by more than £200,000. Only 20 of the 'Vigo' five guinea pieces were minted, to celebrate the theft of American gold form the Spanish fleet.

The enormous predator, known as 'Deep Blue', was first seen by diver and photographer Mark Mohler and Kimberly Jeffries on Sunday last week nine miles from the coast off the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

The spacecraft completed its 16th close flyby of the giant planet this past October, revealing some of our best glimpses yet at its fascinating atmospheric processes.

The findings, by researchers at the University of Oxford, could help predict a sportsman's performance - and the rate of his decline - over his career.

San Francisco based Earth imaging company Planet Lab has launched a record number of satellites into space which combined can photograph the entire landmass of the world.

Gadgets on show this week at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas include the Y-brush, which cleans your teeth in just ten seconds.

The FlexPai is billed as the world's first foldable smartphone by its developer Royole and has a super flexible screen which can be bent from the middle.

French startup Neural Up demonstrated its incredible relaxation technology in Las Vegas this week at CES. The patented acoustic technology aims to 'enhance your emotional balance.'

Experts say the stellar ‘tantrum’ could provide a window into the birth of potentially habitable exoplanets, revealing how huge events shake up the material orbiting distant stars.

Researchers from the University of Washington say lessons from the Great Dying have major implications for the fate of today's warming world.

China's Chang'e 4 spacecraft has brought vegetable seeds and silkworm eggs in a small tin to the moon. Researchers hope the seeds will grow to blossom on the moon in 100 days.

UberAir will make its debut in the American cities of Los Angeles and Dallas in 2023, and is hoping the taxis may fly in British skies in the next decade.

A trial is starting in August which will see customers leave their car in a drop-off zone before summoning a robot through a designated app. It will be at Gatwick's South Terminal long-stay car park.

The study has revealed new insight on the potential abundance of Jupiter-sized young planets in other corners of the Milky Way, and suggests our solar system may not be unique.

Dozens of winners of the Nobel Prize have written to UK Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker setting out their concerns.

Archaeologists at University College London discovered that the bones in the feet of Neolithic cattle demonstrated distinctive wear patterns, indicative of exploitation as 'animal engines'.

Researchers at the Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder in Key Largo, Florida, played videos on a TV screen through underwater windows.

A new investigation into the genome of Asian populations has spotted the footprint of a long-ago hominid that appears to have been cross-bred from two different species of human ancestor.

The striking artefacts were found at the mysterious site in Abermagwr, Wales, which has fascinated archaeologists for years. Romans were previously thought to have had little interaction with locals.

Former Israeli Air Force pilot Alon Getz helped design the new cutting-edge technology as part of his start-up company RideOn. It is being trialed in Austria.

Byton kicked off CES 2019 by revealing the souped up interior of its M-Byte vehicle, complete with additional displays – including a touchscreen in the middle of the steering wheel.

Anjou unveiled a tabletop device that can print any picture on your nails in 30 seconds. The firm demo'ed at CES, showing how users can choose from 500 designs or upload their own images.

Unlimited Tomorrow's new lower-cost method for creating high-tech prosthetics aims to make the devices much more accessible to amputees around the world – especially children.

Researchers at the University of Manchester spent more than 10 years constructing the supercomputer, which they have dubbed SpiNNaker.

Formed between July and September 2018, the huge impact smashed through the ice at the planet's southern ice cap, sending debris into a unique pattern.

The ancient funeral practice took place when people feared the person would rise from the dead and infect people, experts revealed.

A new Boulder study claims Operation Pocket Money, a plan to deploy 11,000 sea mines off the coast of North Vietnam to cut off naval supply routes to the region, was scuppered by the storm.

The 'heartland hyperloop' would run along the I-70 corridor, the major highway traversing Missouri, and would connect Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis.

Archaeologists developed a programme to save endless hours in the restoration of historical items. Trials were conducted on Byzantine art from Cyprus.

Ovie, a Chicago-based start-up, claim to 'make it easy for you to track what's in your fridge and waste less'. The containers have coloured discs that tell you when food is going out of date.

This combination of images provided by NASA shows a series of photographs made by the New Horizons spacecraft as it approached the Kuiper belt object Ultima Thule on Jan. 1, 2019. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute via AP)

The movie was put together from photos taken New Year's Eve and New Year's Day as the spacecraft made its closest approach, but not sent back to Earth until recently.

This illustration provided by Carbon Engineering in October 2018 shows one of the designs of the company's air contactor assemblies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon Engineering acting chief scientist David Keith, a Harvard University professor, said "in the long-term, carbon removal will make sense to reduce atmospheric carbon burden, but only once emissions have been brought near zero. The idea that humanity might continue huge fossil emissions while simultaneously balancing them with removal is nutty _ you plug the leaks before bailing the boat." (Carbon Engineering via AP)

The report from the National Academy of Sciences says technology to 'suck up' greenhouse gases has gotten better, and climate change is worsening.

The largest technology show in the world kicked off yesterday in Las Vegas with an amazing set of innovations on display including a smart cat bowl, an electric skateboard and a motorised suitcase.

New pictures released this week show construction underway on the test vehicle of the SpaceX ship that could one day bring humans tourists to Mars. Musk says he is aiming for test flights this spring.

The video reveals the 3500ft borehole into Mercer Subglacial Lake, a hydraulically active lake that lies more 1000m beneath the Whillans Ice Plain on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Engineers at the University of Washington have revealed the RoboFly had taken its first untethered flaps earlier this year, and now say it could fly itself within five years.

USC researchers believe the find is the result of a fearsome shark six feet long leaping into the air to try and take down the much larger pterosaur with a wingspan of 18 feet.

One of the most cataclysmic events in the universe has been detected by Australian astronomers despite barely making a ripple through earth.

Chang'e-4 took off from the Sichuan, south-west China at 6:30 GMT, with the launch declared a success. It will perform a 'soft-landing' and land on the moon after a 27 day journey through space.

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