Today's Mindblower
Will orbital chaos cause Earth, Venus and Mars to collide?
It's not a pleasant thought, is it? But when you mix chaos theory with a few crazy cosmologists, those tidy, predictable orbits start getting lively.
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computer
How Hackers WorkHackers have been attacking Adobe Acrobat 9 on Windows after a critical security vulnerability was found. Take a look at hacker culture and the various kinds of hackers, some of whom have run afoul of the law.
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people
How U.S. Criminal Records WorkFormer Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested and jailed Wednesday on new child sex abuse charges. Every arrest and conviction goes on a criminal record, which is stored in massive computer databases that are accessible throughout the world. Once you have a criminal record, will it ever go away?
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science
What would it take to reverse global warming?The two largest producers of carbon dioxide emissions, the U.S. and China, butted heads again this week at the U.N. climate talks. Most scientists agree that human interference in the environment has something to do with the recent trend of rising temperatures on the Earth. What can we do about it?
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electronics
Top 5 Myths About AppleApple opens its new flagship store in Grand Central Terminal in New York City today. Apple is one of the most successful companies around -- and one of the most mysterious. Here, we consider and debunk five of the biggest myths surrounding this tech giant.
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science
Does the Higgs boson exist?The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is providing an update on the search for the Higgs boson particle next week on Dec. 13. Rumors say it has been found, but does it even exist?
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adventure
Top 10 Tips for Having a Good FlightSome things prevent flying from being fun -- small seats, crowded legroom, snoring seatmates and having to go back to the gate when Alec Baldwin is on your flight and won’t turn off his electronics. See these tips so you can make flying easier for everyone.
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auto
How Plug-in Hybrid Cars WorkGM continues to work with the government to determine the cause of Chevy Volt fires. Learn all about plug-in hybrid cars including their battery packs, which have been under investigation.
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videos
You Should Know Video: Transplants, Physics and the MoonIt's no secret that Josh and Chuck are knowledge junkies -- but how much can they learn in 60 seconds? In this playlist, the guys tackle everything from fecal transplants to frame of reference physics and theoretical journeys to the center of the moon.
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people
How Lying WorksFormer U.S. Governor Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Wednesday after jurors agreed that he lied to the FBI and found him guilty in 18 corruption charges. Do you know how to spot a lie?
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science
How Suicide Bombers WorkA suicide bombing in Afghanistan on Tuesday killed dozens of people outside a Shiite shrine. Are these bombers strictly a modern phenomenon? How can they be stopped?
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science
How Tsunamis WorkScientists have now determined that the tsunami that struck northern Japan on March 11 was caused by two waves. While it’s difficult to grasp the full effects this natural disaster has had on Japan’s people and culture, we can explain the physical factors that led to it.
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auto
5 Things You Can Do to Make Your Car Safer for Driving in Foul WeatherNew Mexico closed highways earlier this week and the entire country of Scotland went on alert after heavy snow and ice covered the regions. Do you know how to prepare yourself (and your car) to meet Mother Nature's fury?
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auto
How DUI WorksThe Federal Aviation Administration chief resigned on Tuesday after a drunk driving charge. So how do blood alcohol levels, police procedures and DUI punishment work? What can you do to keep your friends and family safe when you've been out drinking?
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science
How the Predator UAV WorksThe U.S. military has confirmed that Iran has the missing RQ-170 drone, an unmanned U.S. spy plane. Remotely-operated spy planes exemplify the military trend toward high-tech, low-risk equipment. What can they accomplish in battle?
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history
Did the United States put its own citizens in concentration camps during WWII?This week, the U.S. remembers the thousands of American sailors and soldiers who were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Is it true that some West Coasters were forcibly relocated after the attack?
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science
10 Remarkable ExoplanetsAstronomers have just announced the existence of an earthlike planet called Kepler 22-b, 600 light-years away from Earth. Take a look at 10 other cool planet discoveries.
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electronics
Should you buy a tablet or an e-reader?Apple recently reported to JP Morgan analysts that they aren't concerned about iPad competitors such as the Kindle Fire. These days, the latest tablets and e-readers allow you to read books and compute. So which device is best?
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science
5 Myths About Renewable EnergyThe World Petroleum Congress is meeting this week in Doha, Qatar, to address concerns about global warming and the need for cleaner energy. Not everyone is sold on this vision, so a number of myths about renewable energy persist.
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science
If the polar ice caps melted, how much would the oceans rise?Recent studies show that the Arctic ice caps originated when there was a drop in carbon dioxide levels, reinforcing the notion that the current uptick governs global climate change. The polar ice caps continue to shrink due to global warming, but how much would the oceans rise if the ice caps melted completely?
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videos
Stuff You Should Know Video: Space, Sneezing & Yosemite SamJoin Josh and Chuck as they research the first animal in space, why people sneeze in bright sunlight and why in tarnation Yosemite Sam keeps popping up on the radio.
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