http://awesci.com/bacteria-powered-machines/

EXCERPT: Human civilization has been supported and propelled by hulking, powerful beasts of burden like oxen, draft horses, even water buffalo and elephants. Here’s a new one, the world’s smallest: a 5-micron-long bacterium called Bacillus subtilis. Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have coaxed hundreds of these one-celled beasts to turn tiny gears 1 million times heavier than themselves in an experiment researchers hope is a step toward creating new materials and devices that mix tiny chemical cocktails and better harvest and store energy. “Biological systems are extremely efficient,” says Igor Aronson, a physicist at Argonne National Laboratory. “We can learn from biology and we can use it.”...
http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/19/physics...teria.html

http://machineslikeus.com/news/atheists-...-chill-out

EXCERPT: [...] We examined the prevalence and accuracy of an angry-atheist stereotype in seven studies. We found that people believe atheists are angrier than believers, people in general, and another minority group, both explicitly and implicitly. However, none of our studies supported the idea that atheists are angrier than other individuals. Our work, in sum, suggests that the angry-atheist stereotype exists, but that it does not match reality. Dissemination of the present results may be useful in correcting misperceptions while averting potential unwarranted and harmful consequences....

http://www.sciencespacerobots.com/climb-...s-30520152

EXCERPT: Reading World War Z and a graduate statistical mechanics class provided inspiration to [...Cornell University...] researchers about how an actual zombie outbreak might play out in the United States. [...] They suggest heading to the northern Rockies as a way to survive as long as possible....

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/ma...-are-angry

EXCERPTS: [Steve Bruce:] The problem with sealed-room philosophy such as John Gray’s (What scares the new atheists, 3 March) is that it provides no evidence for its claims about the world. I spend my professional life studying the popularity of religion and see no evidence for his assertion that “religion is … in fact flourishing” [...] The only areas of religious “growth” in the UK are the result of immigration from traditionally religious countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, and far from attracting religiously indifferent white British natives this make such conversion less likely by reinforcing the notion that religion is what foreigners do...

[Rev Geoff Reid:] John Gray helpfully advises atheists not to obsess about religion. The corollary is that people of faith should not waste time fretting about atheism. We have plenty of more important stuff to worry about and struggle with – not least understanding atrocities committed by people of any faith or none, who debase conviction and exalt certainty. What people believe matters enormously, usually much more than what they don’t believe...

http://allafrica.com/stories/201503070056.html

EXCERPT: A 35-year-old woman allegedly raped by Abundant Life Global Ministries bishop Danmore Magorimbo on Thursday broke down in tears while narrating how the 'man of God' zombified her before sexually assaulting her. Magorimbo allegedly raped the woman after convincing her that it was a cleansing ceremony of evil spirits deposited into her womb by her husband...

http://www.gizmag.com/lully-children-nig...ors/36441/

EXCERPT:When a child is suffering from disturbed sleep, the whole family suffers along with them. Lully is a new device to prevent the night terrors that plague so many young children, and it comprises nothing but a vibrating pod and companion smartphone app....

http://www.wired.com/2015/03/geeks-guide...-tatchell/

EXCERPT: Chappie is the third feature film from South African-born director Neill Blomkamp, and the second to be co-written with his wife Terri Tatchell. Blomkamp, who got his start in special effects, is known for his obsessively detailed futuristic visuals, but Tatchell is more focused on the characters. She thinks Chappie, about a police robot who becomes self-aware and childlike, benefits from her perspective as a mother and her research into developmental psychology. She also thinks the film is less about hardware and more about magic and wonder....

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/201...102714.htm

EXCERPT: It rains in summer most frequently when the ground holds a lot of moisture. However, precipitation is most likely to fall in regions where the soil is comparatively dry. This is the conclusion reached by researchers following an analysis of worldwide data. Their study contributes to a better understanding of soil moisture, a little explored climatic factor....