News Briefs 01-06-2009

A wide assortment of brain candy today...

• Twitter's psychic experiment: This week, experts investigating remote viewing want the public to tweet their impressions of randomly chosen spots in the UK visited by one of the researchers. To take part in the experiment, visit https://twitter.com/RichardWiseman.
• Technology development based on mind-matter interactions?
• Biological quantum entanglement (pdf) at room temperature? Earlier layman's version.
• Scientists who swam against the tide.
• Marine scientists discover massive 15,000ft underwater volcano off Indonesia's western coast.
• The cloud with no name: Meteorologists campaign to classify unique 'Asperatus' clouds seen across the world.
• Human skin is a des res for an astonishing number and range of microbes.
• The new exoplanetology - learn from Mother.
• Around 10,000 years ago, when agriculture was getting under way in the Fertile Crescent, cats domesticated themselves (and us).
• People may be able to taste words.
• Time-lapse video of change on Earth.
• A human language gene changes the sound of mouse squeaks.
• A memory for faces, extreme version.
• Archaeologists excavate ancient Maya river port in Southeast Mexico.
• Remains of Temple of Isis found - inside Florence courthouse.
• Legends abound as to who chiseled Ethiopia's rock churches: an Egyptian patriarch, the Knights Templar, the 13th-century King Lalibela, or angels?
• Wikipedia bans Church of Scientology.
• The Savannah River Site has been a hotbed of UFO sightings for as long as the bomb plant has been around.
• UFOs spotted over Luton.
• Beeb names new Doctor Who companion. 'I can't quite believe it', gushes fresh Dalek-bait.
• Roadie claims Jimi Hendrix was murdered by his manager.
• Experts expect a nightmare situation when another hurricane hits New York City. A blast from the past: Parts one, two and three (with the most pics).
• Another elaborate creation in Wiltshire's crop circle capital.
• UK's MPs are agreed -- it's everyone's fault but theirs.

Big thanks to Greg!

Quote of the Day:

Out of the pecuniary and political pressures and fashions of the time… political systems cultivate their own versions of the truth. No one is especially at fault; what it is convenient to believe is greatly preferred… There is no serious sense of guilt; more likely there is self-approval.

J K Galbraith, in his extended essay, The Economics of Innocent Fraud.