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Chelyabinsk meteor
In Feb 2013 a meteor lit up the sky over Chelyabinsk in Russia brigher than the sun. It had not been anticipated, causing widespread panic. It measured about 20m across, weighed about 13 000 tons (about the weight of the Eiffel tower) and was travelling at over 40 000 mph (Mach 60). The energy released on impact…
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Speaking more than one language could slow onset of dementia
A study in the multi-lingual Indian city of Hyderabad found that those people with dementia who spoke two or more languages had a delayed onset of symptoms of around four and half years. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/November/Pages/Being-bilingual-may-slow-the-onset-of-dementia.aspx
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Palaeontology for parents
Life evolved in the ocean. Lungs came from gills, hands and feet from fins. The hard shelled egg was the great advance which allowed amphibians to leave the water behind for good. Although amphibians have only primitive lungs (and usually rely on skin diffusion), there have been massive ones eg the 9m long crocodile-like Prionosuchus!…
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Game theory
How we don’t always act rationally. Prisoners dilemma: if both confess, both go to jail. If one confesses then he goes free and the other goes to jail. But if neither confesses then both go free. The paradox is that self interest will drive both to confess, even though the best outcome would be achieved by…