ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

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• Physicist turns smartphones into pocket cosmic ray detectors
• Quantum environmentalism: Putting a qubit's surroundings to good use
• Exotic matter: A closer look at the perfect fluid sheds light on what happened microseconds after the Big Bang
• Falling asleep: Revealing the point of transition
• Elusive particle that is its own antiparticle observed
• Study gauges humor by age
• Socioeconomic factors, fashion trends linked to increase in melanoma
• How giant clams harness the sun by growing algae as a source of food
• The larger your friends the larger your appetite, study shows
• 52-million-year-old amber preserves 'ant-loving' beetle
• New study first to document the voices of fish larvae
• Sharks have personalities, study shows
• Deconstruction of avant-garde cuisine could lead to even more fanciful dishes

Physicist turns smartphones into pocket cosmic ray detectors Posted: 02 Oct 2014 01:26 PM PDT A new smartphone app can essentially turn Android phones into pocket cosmic ray detectors. The app, DECO, uses the phone's camera to capture energetic subatomic light particles and log data.

Quantum environmentalism: Putting a qubit's surroundings to good use Posted: 02 Oct 2014 11:19 AM PDT A qubit's environment, usually viewed as a threat to coherence, here serves as an aid to manipulating and interrogating the qubit.

Exotic matter: A closer look at the perfect fluid sheds light on what happened microseconds after the Big Bang Posted: 02 Oct 2014 11:18 AM PDT By combining data from two high-energy accelerators, nuclear scientists have refined the measurement of a remarkable property of exotic matter known as quark-gluon plasma. The findings reveal new aspects of the ultra-hot, 'perfect fluid' that give clues to the state of the young universe just microseconds after the Big Bang.

Falling asleep: Revealing the point of transition Posted: 02 Oct 2014 11:18 AM PDT How can we tell when someone has fallen asleep? To answer this question, scientists have developed a new statistical method and behavioral task to track the dynamic process of falling asleep.

Elusive particle that is its own antiparticle observed Posted: 02 Oct 2014 11:17 AM PDT Scientists have observed an exotic particle that behaves simultaneously like matter and antimatter, a feat of math and engineering that could yield powerful computers based on quantum mechanics.

Study gauges humor by age Posted: 02 Oct 2014 10:11 AM PDT Depending on your age, you may or may not find certain types of humor funny, especially if it pokes fun at others. Now researchers have examined whether young, middle-aged and older adults found clips of inappropriate social behavior to be funny.

Socioeconomic factors, fashion trends linked to increase in melanoma Posted: 02 Oct 2014 09:38 AM PDT Researchers explored extenuating factors, such as socioeconomic and fashion trends, that may have contributed to increased incidence of melanoma over the past century.

How giant clams harness the sun by growing algae as a source of food Posted: 02 Oct 2014 09:37 AM PDT Beneath the waves, many creatures sport iridescent structures that rival what materials scientists can make in the laboratory. Researchers have now shown how giant clams use these structures to thrive, operating as exceedingly efficient, living greenhouses that grow symbiotic algae as a source of food. This understanding could have implications for alternative energy research, paving the way for new types of solar panels.

The larger your friends the larger your appetite, study shows Posted: 02 Oct 2014 09:37 AM PDT Have you ever ordered more food at a restaurant than you intended? There are elements of dining rooms that actually prime you to eat more food. One such element is the weight of those dining with or near you. A new study found that the body type of your dining partner, or that of those dining nearby, may actually influence how much you serve yourself and how much you eat.

52-million-year-old amber preserves 'ant-loving' beetle Posted: 02 Oct 2014 09:36 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered the fossil of a 52-million-year old beetle that likely was able to live alongside ants -- preying on their eggs and usurping resources -- within the comfort of their nest. The fossil, encased in a piece of amber from India, is the oldest-known example of this kind of social parasitism, known as 'myrmecophily.' The research also shows that the diversification of these stealth beetles, which infiltrate ant nests world-wide today, correlates with the ecological rise of modern ants.

New study first to document the voices of fish larvae Posted: 02 Oct 2014 06:24 AM PDT A new study has documented that fish larvae produce sound. These 'knock' and 'growl' sounds may help small larvae maintain group cohesion in the dark.

Sharks have personalities, study shows Posted: 02 Oct 2014 05:43 AM PDT Some sharks are 'gregarious' and have strong social connections, whilst others are more solitary and prefer to remain inconspicuous, according to a new study which is the first to show that the notorious predators have personality traits.

Deconstruction of avant-garde cuisine could lead to even more fanciful dishes Posted: 01 Oct 2014 07:26 AM PDT One of the most iconic forms of avant-garde cuisine, also known as molecular gastronomy, involves the presentation of flavorful, edible liquids -- like cocktails or olive oil -- packaged into spheres. Now a team of scientists is getting to the bottom of what makes these delectable morsels possible.

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