Bosch’s giant robot punches weeds to death

 ROBOT SMASH.

Bosch’s Giant Robot Can Punch Weeds to Death
A modular agricultural robot from Bosch startup Deepfield Robotics deals with weeds the old fashioned way: violently

Originally posted on Google+ · November 12, 2015

More than half of public datasets published with papers are incomplete

So long scrutiny? More than half public data-sets provided with scientific papers are incomplete – ScienceBlog.com
Researchers have found more than half of the public datasets provided with scientific papers are incomplete, which prevents reproducibility tests and follow-up studies. However, slight improvements to research practices could make a big difference. Lead researcher Dr Dominique Roche from The Australian National University (ANU) said many peer-reviewed biological journals now require authors to publicly …

Originally posted on Google+ · November 11, 2015

Mars’s moon Phobos is falling apart

Mar's Phobos is falling apart.

Mars’ Moon Phobos is Slowly Falling Apart
The long, shallow grooves lining the surface of Phobos are likely early signs of the structural failure that will ultimately destroy this moon of Mars.

Originally posted on Google+ · November 10, 2015

Bigger US houses offset energy efficiency gains: good or bad?

First, as DeSilver puts it, this suggests the "growing girth" of US homes has wiped out basically all the savings from our hard-earned efficiency improvements. Not great news from, say, a climate change perspective.

Or there's a more optimistic gloss: All those efficiency gains have allowed us to own much bigger houses (and more stuff in those houses) without a corresponding explosion in energy use. It's a net boon for consumers, you might say.

US homes have gotten huge — offsetting the gains from energy efficiency
A new house built today is 1,000 square feet bigger than one built in 1973.

Originally posted on Google+ · November 10, 2015

Fecal transplant pills cure a deadly gut infection

POOP PILLS

$635 poop pills cure deadly gastrointestinal infection
Doses of the 30-capsule fecal transplant method cured up to 94% of patients.

Originally posted on Google+ · November 10, 2015

Ethnic minorities in England go to university more than white Brits

All ethnic minorities in England are more likely to go to university than their white British peers.

Ethnic minorities substantially more likely to go to university than their White British peers – Institute For Fiscal Studies – IFS

Originally posted on Google+ · November 10, 2015

College students don’t spend $1,200 on textbooks

In news-contrary-to-what-I-would-have guessed: the amount students pay for textbooks is going down…

Bad Data Can Lead To Bad Policy: College students don’t spend $1,200+ on textbooks –
By Phil HillMore Posts (374) The average US college student does not spend or budget more than $1,200 for textbooks, with that number rising each year, as commonly reported in the national media. The best data available continues to show … Continue reading →

Originally posted on Google+ · November 10, 2015

Ancient river valleys visible beneath the sands of Mauritania on Google Maps.

Ancient river valleys visible beneath the sands of Mauritania on Google Maps.

Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

Originally posted on Google+ · November 10, 2015

The Interlace in Singapore named World Building of the Year

This has just been declared the world’s best building
A ‘vertical village’ in Singapore has been named the World Building of the Year. Judges at the eighth annual World Architecture Festival, held at the prestigious Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore, awarded the top prize to The Interlace. The village, designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture and Buro Ole Scheeran was praised for its “radical and alternative” approach to living in a tropical environment.

Originally posted on Google+ · November 10, 2015

The graying of America, county by county, 2010 to 2030

Originally posted on Google+ · October 6, 2015