Skip to main content

Posts

How Facebook can ruin your relationship: 'Site induced jealousy' increases risk of divorce and break-up

Facebook and social networking sites may be good for our social lives, but they can cause havoc in our romantic relationships, according to a new study. From emotional and physical cheating to break-up and divorce, researchers found 'Facebook-induced jealousy' significantly increased the risks for couples of all ages. Research found that conflict was much more likely to occur when the website was used excessively, because some people tended to jealously monitor their partner's activity or even to reconnect with ex-partners. From emotional and physical cheating to break-up and divorce, researchers found 'Facebook-induced jealousy' significantly increased the risks for couples of all ages The study, led by Dr Russell Clayton, of the University of Missouri, U.S., surveyed Facebook users aged between 18 and 82, asking them how much they used the social network and how often they had bust-ups with their partners - past or present - that had been ignited by the site

Bird's eye view: Captivating images of barn swallows stopping over in France during 1,000-MILE migration to Africa

Hundreds of birds take a break during a 1000-mile flight by perching on telephone wires and enjoying the morning sunshine, in photos just released by a French nature photographer. The photos, taken last October, show barn swallows flying over a cemetery in France before settling and taking in the view high above a French cemetery. These agile birds perched on the wires and stayed there for 30 minutes before heading off as a flock towards Nigeria in Africa. Barn swallows are shown taking a rest from their migration to Africa last October by relaxing on telephone wires in Poitou in western France. The photos have just been released by French nature photographer Cyril Ruoso from Burgundy Photographer Ruoso travelled to Poitou last October specifically to capture the barn swallows in flight. He set up his camera on top of a seven-metre high tripod to capture the images The swallows were taking a rest from their migration to in Africa last October by relaxing in Poitou in West F

Can toddlers and apes teach us lessons about how language evolved? Study finds striking similarities in their communication

The way toddlers and apes communicate is 'strikingly similar' - and much more alike than initially believed. This is the conclusion of UCLA researchers who, for the first time, have compared the development of gestures in bonobos, chimpanzees and humans. Their findings provide new evidence that the origins of language can be found in gestures. The UCLA psychologists analysed a year's worth of video footage of a chimpanzee, a bonobo and a young girl. Gestures made by all three species included reaching, pointing with fingers or the head, and raising the arms to ask to be picked up The UCLA psychologists analysed a year’s worth of video footage of a chimpanzee, a bonobo and a young girl. Gestures made by all three species included reaching, pointing with fingers or the head, and raising the arms to ask to be picked up.   More... Why birds don't have penises and how it could offer clues to help understand human disorders World's oldest tumour found in the rib o

New Wi-Fi enabled windows change transparency at the click of button

Getting out of bed to draw the curtains may soon be a thing of the past after scientists developed revolutionary technology that changes the transparency of windows. The Wi-Fi-enabled window shade, designed by Californian start-up SONTE, can be stuck to any glass including windows, showers and mirrors and can be controlled wirelessly using a smartphone. The energy-saving film also provides UV protection, can save money on heating bills by controlling the amount of heat that enters your home, and doubles up as a video projector screen. Scroll down for video The SONTE film is less than half a millimetre thick and can be stuck to any glass covering using an adhesive strip on the back. An electricity conducting clip is fixed to the film which is then plugged into your home's electrics. When an electric current is applied, the blind goes see-through and when it is cut off it goes opaque HOW DOES THE SONTE FILM WORK? SONTE film uses smart glass technology, also  called smart windo

Huge foreheads, flat faces and saucer-like eyes: How the human face might look in 100,000 years

Just as the human face has evolved considerably since stone age times so it is expected to keep changing in the future. Today the human brain is three times the size of our primate ancestors. As our brains grew so did our heads get bigger, our skulls expanded and our features became flatter. Now with the advent of wearable technology, such as Google Glass, how will our heads and faces evolve in 20,000 years, 60,000 years and even 100,000 years from now? 100,000 years: The human face will have evolved to be proportioned to the 'golden ratio,' with unnervingly large eyes featuring a sideways blink 2013: A typical man and woman This was the question posed by artist and researcher Nickolay Lamm from MyVoucherCodes.co.uk when he quizzed Dr Alan Kwan, who holds a PhD in computational genomics from Washington University in St Louis.  Based on their discussions Lamm has created a stunning series of images which display one possible evolution for the human race over the next

The Medicis seemed to have it all - wealth, power and culture. So why did their children suffer from malnutrition?

Being rich and powerful was little protection to the children of the Medicis who, to the astonishment of scientists, appear to have suffered from rickets. The Medicis were among the most powerful families of the Renaissance, being patrons to Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, but their children still suffered malnutrition, research has indicated. Rickets is closely linked to malnutrition and poverty yet the bones of the remains of nine Medici children analysed by osteoarchaeologists reveal that they also fell victim to the condition. The skull (a&b) and leg bones (c) of don Filippino, who died aged 4 in 1577, showed signs of rickets. He was the seventh child of Francesco I and Giovanna of Austria. The circular cut around the skull was from an autopsy soon after his death. Researchers made the discovery after analysing bones taken from under the floor of the crypt of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence. The tomb of Giangastone, the last Medici Grand Duke (1671–1737), was

Has DRINKABLE water been found on Mars? Expedition rover Opportunity finds first signs it once flowed there

Powerful evidence that water good enough to drink once flowed on Mars has been found by one of Nasa’s aging rover vehicles. Evidence of water of Mars has been indicated by a succession of discoveries on Mars but until now they have all suggested flows of sulphuric acid. This is the first time water has been found in a form that is likely to be drinkable. The discovery boosts the chances that one of life’s most important building blocks was once present  on the planet, and might even still be there. Opportunity found traces of a clay mineral on Mars thought to have been formed by a reaction with water. Esperance is a metre-square area on a crater rim and the spot marked Esperance6 in this false colour image is where the sample was taken. It was hailed by a leading NASA scientist as one of the most important yet made by the Mars Opportunity rover, which is approaching the tenth anniversary of its launch. The find that has so excited the team behind the Opportunity mission is chemic