A black hole has the hiccups – because another one is punching it
Metro » Technology
by Hiyah Zaidi
57m ago
There’s one black hole out there getting punched (Picture: Getty) Out in the depths of space, a black hole is hiccupping. Why? Because it’s getting punched by another one. Obviously. Until 2020, a black hole lying around 800 million light-years away had been sitting quietly at the centre of its galaxy. Then, in December 2020, it suddenly came to life, giving off plumes of gas every 8.5 days before going silent again. For years astronomers have been stumped as to why these ‘hiccups’ were happening, but now they have an answer. It seems like the large whirling giant is being bullied by a second ..read more
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Time is slowing down because of melting polar ice
Metro » Technology
by Josh Milton and Katherine Fidler
2h ago
Because science and climate change, basically (Picture: Getty) Next time you’re late to work, feel free to blame climate change. A study published Wednesday has suggested planet-warming fossil fuels are slowing down time by rapidly melting the polar ice caps. Well, kind of. The Earth is basically one big clock – the planet spins around and you see the sun rise and set every roughly 24 hours. Rough is the keyword here. Astronomical time likes to play by its own rules; depending on what’s happening on the Earth’s surface, its quick-tempered molten core, the sun, the moon and climate change, how ..read more
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Map reveals the 7,000,000kgs of space junk we’ve already left on Mars
Metro » Technology
by Katherine Fidler
2h ago
Humans have been sending machines to Mars for more than 50 years (Picture: Getty/Science Photo Libra) Earlier this week, Nasa tracked down the broken rotor blade of its pioneering Mars helicopter Ingenuity, which suffered a mission-ending mishap in January. The whole chopper itself is only 1.8 kilograms, so the weight of the blade is less than a bag of sugar, but still adds to the growing pile of junk left on the Red Planet by humans. Since Russia’s Mars 2 lander touched down at 5.22pm on May 19, 1971, humans have been littering our planetary neighbour – although all in the name of science. N ..read more
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Can you guess which of these everyday objects is actually a spy cam?
Metro » Technology
by Hiyah Zaidi
5h ago
Amazon is selling secret cameras in everyday objects (Picture: Amazon.co.uk/Metro.co.uk) Hidden spy cameras are still available all over Amazon despite the firm being sued over the gadgets. Ordinary everyday household objects have been turned into spy cams for anyone to buy. An investigation by Metro.co.uk found recording devices in a number of innocent household items – as well as a host of minicams that can be hidden anywhere. The products are being described as ‘security cameras’ that aim to protect your home from thieves or to ‘keep an eye’ on loved ones such as children or elderly relati ..read more
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Stress-detecting dogs learn to sniff out PTSD
Metro » Technology
by Stephen Beech
8h ago
Meet Ivy: stress detector (Picture: SWNS) Dogs could soon sniff out an oncoming post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) flashback after a pair of pooches were trained to smell stress on survivors’ breath. A pilot study has shown that our four-legged friends can be taught to recognise the scent of trauma reactions. Scientists say the breakthrough will make PTSD assistance dogs more effective. PTSD is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event such as a car crash or terror attack, either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe ..read more
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We almost forgot Donald Trump stared directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse
Metro » Technology
by Hiyah Zaidi
8h ago
President Donald Trump stares straight at the Sun (Picture: Getty) Can you believe it’s been almost seven years since Donald Trump stared directly at a solar eclipse? Yes, the President of the United States. Makes you wonder. It all happened back in 2017, less than a year into his turbulent presidency. Still, the nation came together to enjoy the ‘Great American Eclipse’. Unfortunately for President Trump, he did not heed the warning that staring at a solar eclipse – without the right eyewear – is a truly terrible idea.  Covering the stunning event live, the Guardian’s Ben Jacobs wrote ..read more
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The Y chromosome is vanishing. What does it mean for men?
Metro » Technology
by Katherine Fidler
10h ago
The Y chromosome is vital to the human race (Picture: Getty) The Y chromosome is at risk of extinction – which may result in new species of humans. That isn’t the plot for a dystopian sci-fi film, but genuine scientific theory. Back in school, we were all taught that the X and Y genes determine sex. Women have a pair of X chromosomes, and men XY. But what the teacher may not have shared is that the Y chromosome is much smaller, carrying around 55 genes compared to roughly 900 on the X.    All embryos are technically female until around 12 weeks, when a gene on the Y chromosome ..read more
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People are selling their kidneys to buy motorbikes and phones
Metro » Technology
by Katherine Fidler
23h ago
Some people are swapping a kidney for a motorbike (Picture: Getty) Kidney selling has become a ‘global phenomenon’, and people are parting with theirs to buy motorbikes, phones and TVs, according to a new study. In Europe however, organ trafficking and medical tourism is the main driver. Demand for kidneys outstrips supply, resulting in them becoming one of the most ‘saleable’ body parts. And while altruistic organ donation is common, whether to a family member or even a complete stranger, researchers say the illegal trade in kidneys often takes advantage of vulnerable people, and comes with ..read more
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Mind-blowing new image shows off our black hole like never seen before
Metro » Technology
by Hiyah Zaidi
1d ago
The new image of the black hole at the centre of Milky Way (Picture: EHT Collaboration/PA) The monster black hole lurking at the centre of our galaxy has been captured in stunning new detail by astronomers – and it’s giving off major Lord Of The Rings vibes. The new image from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration shows the organised magnetic fields at the edge of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), the wispy spiral resembling J R R Tolkein’s Eye of Sauron. The team behind the image say it looks remarkably similar to the first black hole ever pictured, M87, sug ..read more
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Who are the hackers threatening to leak NHS patient records?
Metro » Technology
by Katherine Fidler
1d ago
Hackers have stolen NHS patient data (Picture: Getty/iStockphoto) News that hackers have accessed NHS Scotland patient data and are threatening to release it online is many people’s worst nightmare.  Each individual’s medical history is incredibly private and personal, something no one else should be able to read without the patient’s permission. However, Ransom Inc, the group behind the attack, has already published what is known as a ‘proof pack’ on its dark web blog, showing a small amount of the data stolen to prove it is has the information. The board of NHS Dumfries and Galloway ha ..read more
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