Bitter is sweet for asthma sufferers

Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered that the lung has similar bitter taste receptors to the tongue — and that this knowledge could help treat conditions such as asthma. Dr Stephen Liggett says his team found the taste receptors by accident during a previous study into muscle receptors. Unlike those in the tongue, […]

The Poetry of Science: Richard Dawkins and Neil deGrasse Tyson

In the following video, Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and host of NOVA and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins explore the wonders of the Cosmos and of Life, its origins, its inspirations, and why science is not just an option, it is the only reality we possess. A must-see for everyone who’s passionate about science. Enjoy!



Geeky Halloween Recipes: Sweet Judy’s Blue Eyes

So clearly I’m a Halloween geek. I’ve spent the last couple of days contemplating all sorts of Halloween mayhem that I can share with you all. I’m still working on perfecting a chocolate spider egg concoction, but in the mean time I wanted to share another creepy, easy recipe for your Halloween party. It’s on […]

Space gets a true universal dock

Computing has the USB cable. Analog audio visual equipment (in Europe at least) has the SCART lead. High definition has the HDMI cable. And now the International Space Station has its own standard plug/socket combo. Five international space agencies have agreed a standard for the docking system used when spacecrafts dock in space stations. While […]

Father of Fractals Passes Away

When a man dies and his obituaries mention the discovery of geometric shapes with a Hausdorff dimension that exceeds its topological dimension, you might think he’s just another hardcore mathematician. But when a man dies and his life’s work encompasses cauliflower, the stock market, and paisley shirts, you know there’s something special. That man was […]

1837 steam powered computer could finally enter production

When a man says he wants half a million dollars to build a steam powered computer, it’s not exactly the most conventional of funding pitches. When that same man says he wants to build the world’s first digital, programmable computer, the pitch begins to look stranger. But for John Graham-Cumming, the author of science history […]