Slanted Science

Archive for December, 2009

Astronomers are predicting that in 2036, an asteroid known as Apophis will be passing close to the earth. Or, according to some models, smashing right into it.

It seems that the chances of a direct collision are high enough to have the head of Russia’s space agency calling for millions of dollars in funding to create a system with the capability of diverting the dangerous rock. Read the rest of this entry »

We won the war. The other great apes – gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees – put up a good fight in the evolutionary battles, but in the end we were victorious. It’s why we now have iPhones, whereas they are left with whoop-, holler- and buttock-based communication systems.

Well, we have to report that there are humans out there – traitors to our species, one might wish to call them – who are actively teaching apes how to use cigarette lighters. And not in the good, smoky, cancery way either. No, they are teaching these evolutionary losers how to use the lighter to make, and control, their own fires.

May God have mercy on our souls. Read the rest of this entry »

Story Update!

We missed this previously, but feel compelled to bring you the video which accompanies our recent story about female bats giving their mates oral sex during intercourse, in order to keep his genes within her reach, rather than other females’. Read the rest of this entry »

Some scientists spend their days hunched over a lab bench, trying to find a cure for cancer. We honor them.

Some scientists work endless hours in front of computers, trying to decipher the mysteries of the universe. We respect them.

And some scientists use high-speed cameras to film duck penises shooting out of their owner’s body, corkscrewing down plastic tubes and then uselessly dribbling ejaculate into the air. We love them, and want them to keep doing this forevermore. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome, one and all, to the second part of SlantedScience’s slanted look at the science of Christmas.

Today we have a warning about the dangers (or fun, depending on your point of view) of home-baking; a tale of Christmas hysteria; and an alarming tale that’ll have you carefully checking every mouthful you swallow this Yuletide.

Merry Christmas everyone! Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes scientists test our faith in their infallibility: see the mess of Climategate for a recent example. Other times, we read a story which makes us want to find the nearest boffin and give them a big old hug.

A sloppy, leering, drunken hug. Read the rest of this entry »

Reports are emerging today from a pilot investigation aimed at giving/restoring sight to the blind.

German surgeons claim they have successfully implanted microchips into the eyes of a 45-year old volunteer. The result: he was able to see well enough to find his way around and to read. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a pandemic, but not – so far – a particularly deadly one. Health officials are still concerned, though, that the H1N1 influenza virus may acquire the right mutations during this initial period of infection to make it a much more formidable foe during the next year.

Which is why scientists are still working feverishly (forgive the pun) on finding out how the human body responds to H1N1 infection, and whether an individual’s chances of surviving it can be improved.

Their latest discovery is that a family of proteins called IFITMs contribute to resistance to H1N1, as well as West Nile and Dengue viruses. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to part one of SlantedScience’s look at scientific and medical research papers which have a festive theme. Some of them are serious, some of them silly, and some of them will need to be categorized under WTF?.

Just remember, ladies and gentlemen, that in each case these studies were carried out by trained professionals, and published in proper journals. Even scientists can have a laugh once in a while… Read the rest of this entry »

Quite possibly the most awesome piece of natural-world photography has been posted on YouTube. It features – of course! – His Majesty Sir David Attenborough, a man for whom our respect knows no bounds.

Check out the video after the jump… Read the rest of this entry »