These are the lasting things that Half-Life 2 gave us, besides headcrabs and crowbars
Beyond the game itself (which rocks), Half-Life 2 had a big impact on PC gaming. It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of th.....»»
Methylmercury: How microbes create the most toxic form of mercury
Mercury is extraordinarily toxic, but it becomes especially dangerous when transformed into methylmercury—a form so harmful that just a few billionths of a gram can cause severe and lasting neurological damage to a developing fetus. Unfortunately,.....»»
Saturday Citations: Cold dark matter takes a hit; a new paradigm for biology; those fracking earthquakes
This week, researchers formulated a new method to calculate the probability of generating intelligent life in the universe. Investigations of a meteorite that originated on Mars revealed that it once interacted with liquid water. And an analysis of f.....»»
These are the lasting things that Half-Life 2 gave us, besides headcrabs and crowbars
Beyond the game itself (which rocks), Half-Life 2 had a big impact on PC gaming. It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of th.....»»
Antarctic bacteria show promise as biocontrol agents for combating banana wilt
A recent study conducted by scientists at ESPOL has unveiled the biotechnological potential of microorganisms from Antarctica. In this remote continent, where life thrives under extreme conditions, researchers isolated 77 microbial strains from 162 c.....»»
5 of the biggest TV shows coming next week to HBO, Paramount+, Hulu, and Netflix
From stories about an elderly man finding a new purpose in life to the machinations of oil barons as well as a spinoff of the … The post 5 of the biggest TV shows coming next week to HBO, Paramount+, Hulu, and Netflix appeared first on BGR......»»
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Arecibo Message
On the 50th anniversary of the “Arecibo message,” we present a reflection on humankind’s first attempt to send a transmission to intelligent life in the cosmos......»»
Apple quietly gave the M4 MacBook Pro a quantum dot display
M4 MacBook Pro reviews mostly endorsed my own view that, while the machine would make a great purchase for Intel MBP owners, there isn’t a compelling reason for any M-series user to upgrade. However, it turns out that Apple quietly gave the late.....»»
I, too, installed an open source garage door opener, and I’m loving it
OpenGarage restored my home automations and gave me a whole bunch of new ideas. Like Ars Senior Technology Editor Lee Hutchinson, I have a garage. The door on that garage is opene.....»»
I played Half-Life 2 for the first time this year—here’s how it went
Wake up and smell the ashes, Ms. Washenko. It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of the release of Half-Life 2—a game of.....»»
How to Design a Real-Life Hot Wheels Loop
You should absolutely not build this thing. But it’s still fun to think through the physics......»»
3 underrated shows on Peacock you need to watch in November 2024
Get ready for thrills, comedy, and real-life drama in the three underrated shows on Peacock that you need to watch in November......»»
Astrology Was an Important Science for Medieval People
In medieval times, astrology was considered a serious science, a branch of astronomy. Curator Larisa Grollemond of the Getty Museum, walks us through the medieval zodiac and how someone’s sign decided their day-to-day life......»»
Half-Life 2 pushed Steam on the gaming masses… and the masses pushed back
Back in 2004, many players saw Valve’s new platform as nothing but “fancy DRM.” It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of.....»»
Research looks to see how hidden costs of Social Security claiming takes toll on widows
The timing of filing for Social Security benefits is one of the most important decisions senior Americans must make. But few think about the implications filing early or late in life has on widowed spouses, a segment of society that represents nearly.....»»
Q&A: Holobiont biology, a new concept for exploring how microbiome shapes evolution of visible life
Microorganisms—bacteria, viruses and other tiny life forms—may drive biological variation in visible life as much, if not more, than genetic mutations, creating new lineages and even new species of animals and plants, according to Seth Bordenstei.....»»
New study examines how extraterrestrial civilizations could become "stellivores"
One of the most challenging aspects of astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is anticipating what life and extraterrestrial civilizations will look like. Invariably, we have only one example of a planet that supports li.....»»
Theoretical model explains the anomalous properties of water in extreme conditions
Water, a molecule essential for life, has unusual properties—known as anomalies—that define its behavior. However, there are still many enigmas about the molecular mechanisms that would explain the anomalies that make the water molecule unique. D.....»»
3 great BritBox shows you should watch in November 2024
From a moody detective show to a real-life scandal program, these British TV series are among the best shows available on BritBox......»»
Scientists say world"s largest coral found near Solomon Islands
Scientists say they have found the world's largest coral near the Pacific's Solomon Islands, announcing Thursday a major discovery "pulsing with life and color"......»»
Portable spectrophotometer approach predicts shelf life of strawberries in real time
Based on non-invasive technology, a research group at the University of Cordoba has created a tool to guarantee optimal strawberry quality and minimize food waste......»»