Knowtex

Just to show that we scientists a) have a sense of humour, and b) can laugh at ourselves, here is one of my favourite lists, the Guide to Translating Scientific Papers Into Plain English.

Somehow this feels like a Vonnegut plotline: population boom equals food shortage. Solution? Synthesize food from human waste matter. Absurd yes, but Japanese scientists have actually discovered a way to create edible steaks from human feces.

Sometimes, success or failure can be very very close...

Is your research beautiful? Is your art scientific?

The original Mandelbrot is an amazing object that has captured the public's imagination for 30 years with its cascading patterns and hypnotically colourful detail. It's known as a fractal and it's only 2D and flat. What we have featured in this article is a potential 3D version of the same fractal.

Even in deep sleep, sounds make their way into our minds, researchers have found, and enhance associated memories.

Could knowing and using multiple languages possibly have positive effects on the human brain and thinking? There have been a number of international studies on the subject, which indicate that the ability to use more than one language brings an individual a considerable advantage.

The stage debut of Shimon, the robotic marimba player. Also, the world first human-robot rendition of Duke Jordan's "Jordu", for human piano and robot marimba. The robot listens to the human play and tries to match its beat, sync, and themes.

In his novel "Next", Michael Crichton describes the genetic world as "fast, furious, and out of control". Here the author of "Jurassic Park" and "State of Fear" discusses recent scientific leaps on the study of genetics and talks about how gene manipulation can help cure drug addiction.

NASA research extends beyond space flight into our everyday lives : basic steps in health, safety, communications and even casual entertainment find their ro­ots in technologies originally invented by the space agency. Here are 10 of these inventions you probably use every day...