Space junk-zapping lasers under development

Space junk-zapping lasers under development. It may sound like science fiction but an Australian team is working on a project to zap orbital debris with lasers from Earth to reduce the growing amount of space junk that threatens to knock out satellites with a "cascade of collisions".

The project is very realistic and likely to be working in the next 10 years, Matthew Colless, director of Australian National University's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, told Reuters.

"It's important that it's possible on that scale because there's so much space junk up there," he said. "We're perhaps only a couple of decades away from a catastrophic cascade of collisions ... that takes out all the satellites in low orbit."

Optical illusion is tricking dentists

Optical illusion is tricking dentists. AN OPTICAL illusion that can make the area of tooth decay appear larger tricks dentists into drilling bigger holes than necessary, a study has found.

An Australian visual perception expert teamed up with New Zealand dentistry researchers to determine whether visual illusions affect dental treatment.

The study, published in the journal Plos One, involved eight New Zealand dentists preparing 21 teeth for root canals by drilling cavities in each.

400 meter asteroid may blow up Earth in 2032

400 meter asteroid may blow up Earth in 2032. Astronomers in Ukraine say a deadly asteroid is likely to collide with the Earth in 2032.

According to a Russian news service, researchers at an observatory in the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory think the space rock – said to be 1,345 feet wide – is on course to hit our planet on August 26, 19 years from now.

Or maybe not. Because the researchers also admit that the asteroid, named 2013 TV135, only has a one in 63,000 chance of actually hitting us.

Ian Tibbett has sight restored through tooth in eye

Ian Tibbett has sight restored through tooth in eye. Ian Tibbetts, 43, who first damaged his eye in an industrial accident when scrap metal ripped his cornea in six places, had his sight restored by the radical operation, chronicled in the new BBC documentary The Day I Got My Sight Back.

The surgery allowed Mr Tibbetts to see his four-year-old twin sons, Callum and Ryan, for the first time, a moment he describes as "ecstasy".

Scientist Claims Martians

Scientist Claims Martians. Life on Earth was kick-started thanks to a key mineral deposited by a meteorite from Mars, according to a novel theory aired on Thursday.

The vital ingredient was an oxidised mineral form of the element molybdenum, which helped prevent carbon molecules — the building blocks of life — from degrading into a tar-like goo.

E Cigarettes Carcinogens

E Cigarettes Carcinogens. The hopes for a healthy cigarette may be nothing more than a pipe dream. A new study suggests that the popular e-cigarettes may contain a comparable level of carcinogens to regular cigarettes.

In recent years, e-cigarettes have become a popular alternative for smokers. The device uses heat to vaporize nicotine but does not actually contain tobacco.

Anti-Shark Suit Makes Surfers Invisible

Anti-Shark Suit Makes Surfers Invisible, Scientists at the University of Western Australia teamed up with designers Shark Attack Mitigation Systems (SAMS) to create two wet suits that could save swimmers' lives!

Teeth from urine: New teeth grown from urine

Teeth from urine, Scientists have grown rudimentary teeth out of the most unlikely of sources, human urine.

The results, published in Cell Regeneration Journal, showed that urine could be used as a source of stem cells that in turn could be grown into tiny tooth-like structures.

Mysterious Hum Driving People Crazy Around the World

Mysterious Hum Driving People Crazy Around the World,  Only about 2 percent of the people living in any given Hum-prone area can hear the sound, and most of them are ages 55 to 70, according to a 2003 study by acoustical consultant Geoff Leventhall of Surrey, England.

Most of the people who hear the Hum (sometimes referred to as "hearers" or "hummers") describe the sound as similar to a diesel engine idling nearby. And the Hum has driven virtually every one of them to the point of despair.

Machine turns sweat into drinking water for Unicef

Machine turns sweat into drinking water for Unicef, A machine that takes sweat-laden clothes and turns the moisture into drinking water is in use in Sweden.

The device spins and heats the material to remove the sweat, and then passes the vapour through a special membrane designed to only let water molecules get through.

NASA Spacewalk Aborted

NASA Spacewalk Aborted, NASA were forced to dramatically abandon a spacewalk at the International Space Station on Tuesday after a dangerous water leak in an astronaut's helmet drenched his eyes, nose and mouth.

Italy's first spacewalker, Luca Parmitano, endured the terrifying experience when his drink bag tipped half a liter of floating liquid around his face.

Big Lionfish Found at Disturbing Depths

The relentless scourge of lionfish has crept to unexpected depths: Off the coast of Florida, researchers say they found the venomous invader thriving around a sunken ship at 300 feet (91 meters) below the water's surface.

"We expected some populations of lionfish at that depth, but their numbers and size were a surprise," researcher Stephanie Green, of Oregon State University, said in a statement.

Solar Plane Finishes US Journey

Solar plane finishes US journey, A solar-powered aircraft completed the final leg of a history-making cross-country flight Saturday night, gliding to a smooth stop at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The Solar Impulse touched down at JFK at 11:09 p.m., completing the final leg of the cross-continental journey that started in California in early May. For Saturday's final leg, the aircraft left Dulles International Airport a little before 5 a.m.

BlackBerry notifications: Leak reveals actionable notifications, Wi-Fi direct support in BlackBerry 10.2

BlackBerry notifications - BlackBerry 10.2 is expected to arrive later this year with support for a variety of new features. The company previously confirmed that the update will bring support for Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean apps to its BlackBerry Runtime service, in addition to standard Unicode emoji, multiple alarms, level 1 notifications and reminder timers.

Honda's robot guide not a people person

Honda's robot guide not a people person - Honda Motor Co.'s walking, talking interactive robot is running into glitches in its new job as a museum guide in Tokyo.

The bubble-headed Asimo machine had problems telling the difference between people raising their hands to ask questions and those aiming their smartphones to take photos at the Miraikan science museum.

Dolphins get free ride from gray whale

Dolphins get free ride from gray whale, Scientists taking stock of cetaceans off California's coast captured an amazing sight from the air: a pod of dolphins enjoying a free ride from a migrating gray whale.

In the photo, a dozen long-beaked common dolphins cruise in front of the gray whale, pushed along by the bigger animal's bow wave. The image was taken from about 600 feet (182 meters) above the water near Catalina Island and published last week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Google making game console

Google making game console, Google is reportedly working on a video game console that would be powered by its Android operating system, potentially putting another huge tech player in an arena dominated by Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.

Oh, and The Wall Street Journal reports Google is working on a smartwatch, too. Like almost everybody else in the industry.

Three new habitable planets found

Three new habitable planets found, Astronomers discovered a solar system packed with planets three of which are habitable -- meaning in the zone around the star where liquid water could exist, making them possible candidates for the presence of life.

The Gliese 667C star is orbited between five and seven planets and is part of a triple star system known as Gliese 667.

Plants Do Math During Night Time, Are Surprisingly Good at It

Plants Do Math During Night Time, Are Surprisingly Good at It, Unlike most students, plants stay up all night not because there's some marathon running on TV, but because they're busy performing arithmetic division.

What's even more surprising is that, according to several researchers, they are pretty good at it.

New electronics withstand body fluid

New electronics withstand body fluid, Electronics and bodily fluids don't mix well. But new technology enables electronic devices to function in direct contact with tissues inside the body. The technology could allow scientists to make sensors that detect the early stages of organ transplant rejection, or create artificial nerves, researchers say.