UK researcher identifies just 8 patterns as the cause of all humor:
[Via EurekAlert! - Policy and Ethics]
(Pyrrhic House) Evolutionary theorist Alastair Clarke has today published details of eight patterns he claims to be the basis of all the humor that has ever been imagined or expressed, regardless of civilization, culture or personal taste.
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He kind of takes all the fun out of it.
Technorati Tags: General
University of Washington scientists one step closer to stopping bone loss during spaceflight:
[Via Eureka! Science News - Popular science news]
Bone loss in long-duration spaceflight has been identified for decades as a significant problem affecting astronauts. More recently, scientists have found that the absence of gravity is causing astronauts on the International Space Station to lose up to 10 times more bone mass in key regions of the body each month than most post-menopausal women do in the same period of time back here on Earth.
[More]
While not final, the results are promising. Overcoming bone loss in space is a pretty important bit of information. I wonder if it will also help reduce bone loss in women.
Technorati Tags: Science
from Wikipedia
Submarine Volcano Erupts Off Tonga:
[Via Deep Sea News]
From the Times Online:
Scientists are on their way to the site of a large undersea volcano that has been erupting for days near Tonga, sending columns of smoke and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the Pacific Ocean. The spectacular plumes are erupting from the ocean about six or seven miles (10 – [More]
The embedded video is pretty awesome. There are also some pretty amazing pictures online. The Tonga Trench is the second deepest oceanic trench at over 10,000 meters. It is the site of a subduction zone.
Luckily the people on the boat got away before the smoke ht the boat. A not so quiet spot in the South Pacific.
Technorati Tags: Environment, Science
We like to get the topics for the monthly Idea Club discussion from those attending or who are interested. We are currently polling for the topic that will be discussed on April 27. The choices are:
You can select as many topics as you’d like.
Technorati Tags: Sustainability, Web 2.0
