Strange & Offbeat News -- ScienceDaily

In a first, astronomers catch a multiple star system in the process of forming Posted: 11 Feb 2015 11:12 AM PST This finding supports model predictions about how two- and three-star systems form. Astronomers say understanding why and how multiple star systems form is essential for grasping phenomena such as star and planet formation, planet frequency and habitability.

Apes prefer the glass half full: Nearest primate relatives also susceptible to marketing spin Posted: 11 Feb 2015 10:21 AM PST Humans aren't the only species to be influenced by spin. Our closest primate relatives are susceptible, too. For example, people rate a burger as more tasty when it is described as "75 percent lean" than when it is described as "25 percent fat," even though that's the same thing. A new study finds that positive and negative framing make a big difference for chimpanzees and bonobos too.

Unexpected 'storm' at galaxy's core: Supermassive black hole blasting gas, transforming galaxy Posted: 11 Feb 2015 07:19 AM PST Astronomers found surprisingly energetic activity in what they otherwise considered a "boring" galaxy, and their discovery provides important insight on how supermassive black holes can have a catastrophic effect on the galaxies in which they reside.

Why comets are like deep fried ice cream Posted: 11 Feb 2015 06:08 AM PST Astronomers tinkering with ice and organics in the lab may have discovered why comets are encased in a hard, outer crust. Using an icebox-like instrument nicknamed Himalaya, the researchers show that fluffy ice on the surface of a comet would crystalize and harden as the comet heads toward the sun and warms up. As the water-ice crystals form, becoming denser and more ordered, other molecules containing carbon would be expelled to the comet's surface. The result is a crunchy comet crust sprinkled with organic dust.

Dynamic side of the early universe: Only 380,000 years after the Big Bang Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:40 AM PST The Planck collaboration has released data from four years of observation by the European Space Agency's Planck spacecraft. The aim of the Planck mission is to study the Cosmic Microwave Background, the light left over from the Big Bang. The measurements, taken in nine frequency bands, were used to map not only the temperature of the radiation but also its polarization, which provides additional information about both the very early Universe (when it was 380,000 years old) and our Galaxy's magnetic field.

Crocodiles just wanna have fun, too Posted: 10 Feb 2015 06:20 PM PST Crocodilians engage in all three main types of play distinguished by behavior specialists: locomotor play, play with objects and social play. Crocodiles have also been seen playing with other animals. In rare cases, individual crocodilians have been known to bond so strongly with people that they become playmates for years.

Power efficiency in the violin: Key design features boost violins' acoustic power Posted: 10 Feb 2015 06:20 PM PST Some of the most prized violins in the world were crafted in the Italian workshops of Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri -- master violinmaking families from the 17th and 18th centuries who produced increasingly powerful instruments in the renaissance and baroque musical eras. These violins, worth millions of dollars today, represent the Cremonese period -- what is now considered the golden age of violinmaking. Now acousticians and fluid dynamicists, along with violinmakers, have analyzed measurements from hundreds of Cremonese-era violins, identifying key design features that contribute to these particular violins' acoustic power, or fullness of sound.

Nanotubes self-organize and wiggle: Evolution of a nonequilibrium system demonstrates MEPP Posted: 10 Feb 2015 11:20 AM PST Since the mid-20th century, research has pointed to an extension of the second law for nonequilibrium systems: the Maximum Entropy Production Principle states that a system away from equilibrium evolves in such a way as to maximize entropy production, given present constraints. Now, physicists have demonstrated the emergence of self-organized structures that drive the evolution of a non-equilibrium system to a state of maximum entropy production.

Worms in space: Exploring health effects of microgravity Posted: 10 Feb 2015 11:17 AM PST To prepare for people for safely journeying into space for extended periods of time in the future, it's crucial to gain a better understanding of the biophysics involved within reduced gravity and microgravity environments. To this end, researchers are preparing to send transparent microscopic worms up to the International Space Station.

Will your partner stay or stray? Look at finger length Posted: 10 Feb 2015 10:29 AM PST Both men and women may be genetically inclined to be either promiscuous or faithful according to new research. The study analysed individual attitudes relating to non-committed sex and the length of the ring finger compared to the index finger.

On quantum scales, there are many second laws of thermodynamics Posted: 09 Feb 2015 01:14 PM PST New research has uncovered additional second laws of thermodynamics which complement the ordinary second law of thermodynamics, one of the most fundamental laws of nature. These new second laws are generally not noticeable except on very small scales, at which point, they become increasingly important.