More than One Way to Regenerate a Neuron
University of Utah scientists identified a worm gene that is essential for damaged nerve cells to regenerate, and showed they could speed nerve regeneration by over-activating the gene – a step toward new treatments for nerves injured by trauma or disease.

Spitting Cobras Hit Their Mark
Spitting cobras have an exceptional ability to spray venom into eyes of potential attackers. A new study published in Physiological and Biochemical Zoology reveals how these snakes maximize their chances of hitting the target. Using high-speed photography and electromyography, scientists uncover the mechanics of a cobra “spit.”

New research from Monash University bee researcher Adrian Dyer could lead to improved artificial intelligence systems and computer programs for facial recognition.

What works for mice, doesn’t always work for human
If you are a mouse on the chubby side, then eating less may help you live longer.

Supermassive Black Holes Not Guilty Of Shutting Down Star Formation
A team of Yale University astronomers has discovered that galaxies stop forming stars long before their central supermassive black holes reach their most powerful stage, meaning the black holes can’t be responsible for shutting down star formation.

 
Didn’t I see this one on battle bots?
Here’s a dream come true for those of us lazybones who find ourselves unexpectedly snowbound more often than we care to admit. Dubbed “the world’s smartest snow shovel,” i-Shovel is so intelligently automatic, it’s able to sense when there’s snow accumulation, and then busies itself with clearing off [...]

Well it may protect your head but what about the bird poop
Regular bike helmets protect your head when you fall, but do they intimidate and terrify everyone around you? No, they don’t. That’s not so with the Gladiator Helmet, which looks like it does a questionable job of protecting your melon but does a bang-up [...]

Jetson’s eat your heart out
“What is architect Zaha Hadid smoking?,” asks the oldest Antwerp Port Authority board member. “We don’t know,” say the rest of the Belgian board members, “but give whatever it is to all the other architects.” Apologies to Abe Lincoln for that made-up remark.

Hey its a open air microwave oven
Here’s an idea: why not put technology into plates that lets them keep our food warm for us? That way, things won’t get cold on our plates and we can keep the microwave turned off. And heck, maybe we could run enough juice through them to cook a whole [...]

 
Who knew electric could be so sweet
We’ll always have a soft spot for (and be a little let down by) the Tesla Roadster, which applied the kind of sleek sportscar aesthetic that the electric car world needed.

More Profitable Than Poppies?

A former homeless drug abuser from Swindon is the unlikely champion of an initiative that aims to fight Afghanistan’s vast narcotics economy – with fruit juice. James Brett, 39, who once spent a year living rough before becoming a fruit juice magnate, is behind a scheme that aims to replace opium fields [...]

To bring attention to the destruction of rainforests worldwide, German environment conservation group OroVerde and ad agency Ogilvy came up with this tongue-in-cheek poster depicting the various of logging machinery “species” in the rainforest.