Latest science news in Mathematics & Economics
Machine that visually inspects and sorts strawberry plants invented
Researchers have developed a plant-sorting machine that uses computer vision and machine learning to inspect and grade harvested strawberry plants and then mechanically sort them by quality -- tasks that...
Verizon Wireless to FCC: smart phones more costly
(AP) -- Verizon Wireless says it started charging customers more to break service contracts for smart phones because those devices cost much more.
No damage to hacked U.S. drones: admiral
Recent interception of video feeds from U.S. drone aircraft caused no significant damage, the country's top military officer said Friday.
INRS researchers among Discover Magazine's 'Top 100 Stories for 2009'
Much cheaper fuel cell catalysts using iron instead of platinum -- this major scientific breakthrough achieved by INRS researchers has earned a spot in Discover Magazine's "Top 100 Stories of...
Headwater stream nutrient enrichment disrupts food web
Human activity is increasing the supply of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, to stream systems all over the world. The conventional wisdom -- bolstered by earlier research --...
New research explains orchids' sexual trickery
A new study reveals the reason why orchids use sexual trickery to lure insect pollinators. The study, published in the January issue of The American Naturalist, finds that sexual deception...
Smart phones are making Wi-Fi hotspots hot again
Lisa Helminiak, who uses her iPhone as a computer as much as to talk, has declared her independence from the slow cell phone network. Instead of using AT&T's network, she's...
Privacy concerns could limit benefits from real-time data analysis, researcher says
Society will be unable to take full advantage of real-time data analysis technologies that might improve health, reduce traffic congestion and give scientists new insights into human behavior until it...
STFC funding axe bodes ill for UK science
UK Science and Technology Facilities Council reprioritises, slashing studentships and facility funding as budgets are cut
Candu reactor division to be sold
The federal government is selling off its commercial Candu reactor division, Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt says.
China makes 'landmark' GM food crop approval
News that China has approved trials of GM staple food crops for the first time emerged this month, worrying green groups.
NY Post, Journal offer Sony e-reader deals
(AP) -- The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post are offering exclusive subscription deals through the latest electronic reader from Sony Corp.
Radon gas checks at federal buildings 30% done
A Canada-wide assessment of 15,000 public buildings for a radioactive gas linked to higher lung cancer rates is about a third complete, according to the director of Health Canada's inspection...
Some Health Valley split pea soup recalled
FARIBAULT, Minn., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Faribault Foods Inc. says it is recalling its Health Valley-brand organic, no-salt-added split pea soup due to the presence of an undeclared dairy...
First Commercial 3-D Bioprinter Fabricates Organs To Order
The problem with organ transplants is that the organ has to come from someone else. Since most people rather fancy their hearts and lungs, getting any organ other than a kidney usually...
Scientists create drug info software
EDMONTON, Alberta, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Canadian scientists say they have found a solution to a common age-related problem -- the increasing chance of taking the wrong combination of...
Hacker seeks reduced sentence, citing Asperger's
(AP) -- A computer hacker who was a force behind one of the largest cases of credit card theft in U.S. history says he has a developmental disorder and...
Facebook mines Census data to track its diversifying users
In its earliest days, Facebook was primarily a white and Asian phenomenon. No more. In the first-ever study of the race and ethnicity of its U.S. users, Facebook said Wednesday...
BlackBerry users dealing with e-mail outage
(AP) -- BlackBerry users in North America faced delays in receiving e-mail on their devices Thursday.
Kurds want more oil revenue
ERBIL, Iraq, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Finance ministers in the Kurdish regional government of Iraq called for a greater share of national oil revenue during budget deliberations, officials said.
New Apple iMac may now be the one for the most of us
Apple's latest iMac computers continue to enhance the line. Currently the Apple store offers two basic models, each available with two different processors from which to choose. The screen size...
Former Nortel exec seeks $1B protection from lawsuits
A former Nortel CEO who took millions with him when he left the company in 2001 wants Nortel to cover up to $1 billion of his costs if he loses...
Supermarket robot to help the elderly (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Robovie-II, a retail-assistant robot designed to help elderly and disabled people shop in supermarkets, is being tested in Kyoto, in Japan.
Raytheon turns iPhones into battlefield tools
US defense contractor Raytheon on Wednesday unveiled the first of what it said will be a series of software applications to make iPhones or iPod touch devices into battlefield tools.
Government to award stimulus funds for broadband
(AP) -- The Obama administration on Thursday will hand out the first $182 million of a $7.2 billion pot of stimulus money that will go toward building high-speed Internet...
Bing and Google gaining at Yahoo!'s expense: comScore
Bing and Google gained ground in the Internet search market in November as they evidently lure people away from Yahoo!, according to fresh figures from industry-tracker comScore.
Google adds new media partners to 'Fast Flip'
Internet giant Google on Wednesday added another 24 media partners to its online news reader "Fast Flip," including the Tribune and McClatchy newspaper groups, the Huffington Post and Politico.
New report underlines multiple benefits but also new challenges to biodiversity-rich sites
An agreement in Copenhagen to fund reduced emissions from deforestation may generate multiple environmental and economic benefits if investments simultaneously target sites that are both carbon and biodiversity-rich. ...