Uncommon science: eye-opening scientific findings and impressive technological advances. Interesting facts and thought-provoking theories about Human, Earth and the Universe
Don’t under-estimate the power of pig intelligence. This animal can do much more than you’ve ever imagined and do it well. Unfortunately, most people never consider the intelligence of animals, especially those, I dare say, that are used for consumption or organs for human transplants. But what I am about…
Anyone interested in science knows that it takes carefully constructed experiments to produce results. Or does it? You might be surprised, as I was, to learn that between 30 and 50% of all scientific discoveries occur by accident. But there is something extraordinary about these accidental discoveries. They may have…
We've all been there, perhaps this year more than ever! You're waiting for something, or possibly waiting it out, and time seems to trickle by at a snail's pace. Let's consider how to make time go faster when that clock isn't moving quickly enough. First up, let's think about why…
If I asked you to name the smartest person who ever lived, you might say Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, or someone like Stephen Hawking. I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t know a guy called William James Sidis, and yet, this man had an estimated IQ of 250 to 300. The…
Ask children today what they want to be when they grow up, and the chances are they will say ‘rich and famous’. But in a world where money and fame rule supreme, there is at least one man with very different values - Grigori Perelman. Who Is Grigori Perelman? Grigori…
When we think of Santa Claus history, we imagine a rather rotund, merry, and jolly old figure. We can picture him in his red and white suit, his twinkling eyes peering over a pair of half spectacles. There’s nothing dark about this benevolent and familiar Christmas character, or is there? …
This winter solstice brings us a one-in-lifetime chance to witness a rare astronomical phenomenon called ‘Christmas star’ or, more scientifically, ‘Great conjunction’. Why Is the Great Conjunction So Rare? It seems that 2020 has more surprises to give, and not all of them are unfortunate. After Halloween's blue moon, there…
Get ready - the rare Halloween blue moon is upon us! Halloween is on its own a very special holiday that is so different from the others. While most holidays celebrate life, joy, and family bonds, All Saints’ Eve is all about skeletons, ghosts, and other creepy symbols of death.…
Have you ever been warned against using certain hand gestures when travelling abroad? Can you recognise where a person comes from simply by their hand gestures? Why do the meanings of hand gestures differ so greatly in different countries? Hand gestures and communication Human beings communicate in a number of…
Technology has changed so many things, and not all these changes are for the better. Phone addiction is one of those negative aspects. As a child, I grew up playing outside or with dolls. Sure there was television time, and even a bit of time spent listening to awesome music…
