WORLD’S TINIEST CALCULATOR
Tue 14 Jun 2011
Mega-brained boffins at the Californian Institute of Technology have constructed a calculator out of DNA, the tiny molecules within every living creature that control what size, shape and species we become. The calculator does addition, subtraction and multiplication, and is so freakishly small that you could easily sneak it into a maths exam – although you’d need a huge microscope in order to see it.
MEET ‘DEMON WORM’
Tue 14 Jun 2011
Scientists recently discovered a completely new (and completely minging) species of worm that lives an entire mile below the Earth’s surface – something they’d previously thought was impossible. The underground urchin has been christened halicephalobus mephisto (that’s ‘demon worm’) and has opened up the possibilities of what life on other planets could be like.
TOP FIVE TOUGHEST CYBORGS
Tue 14 Jun 2011
Cameron’s cybernetic implants might have made him a near-perfect fighting machine, but even he’d have a tough time going toe-to-toe with any of these semi-mechanical monstrosities.
Cybermen
One of Doctor Who’s oldest enemies, the Cybermen hail from Earth’s twin planet of Mondas. They gradually added more and more cybernetics to their bodies until they became a race of warmongering automatons.
Darth Vader
“He’s more machine than man now – twisted and evil,” is how Obi Wan Kenobi describes intergalactic bad-boy Darth Vader. Skull-like helmet + creepy robotic breathing = very, very sinister.
Yoshimitsu
One of few characters to feature in every single Tekken and SoulCalibur game, ninja-cyborg sword-swinger Yoshimitsu has become increasingly mechanised with every new appearance.
Doctor Octopus
The eight-limbed baddie from Spider-Man 2, Dr Otto Octavius is actually a pretty nice guy, until his mind and body are taken over by his own creation: a quartet of killer robo-tentacles.
Guyver
Hugely popular for over 25 years in Japan, this series of comics, TV shows and movies follows the adventures of a schoolboy whose body becomes merged with ferocious armour-technology known as Guyver.
CRAZY NEW MARS PICS
Wed 15 Jun 2011
NASA’s amazing HiRISE camera, currently in orbit over Mars, has just beamed 225 incredible images of our neighboring planet back to Earth. HiRISE’s ultra-powerful lens can focus on objects the size of a beach ball from 180 miles away, and its crystal-clear images will be used to pick a choice landing spot for Curiosity, NASA’s latest six-wheeled Mars rover, due for launch later this year. Take a close look – can you spot any Martians?
IPHONES IN SPACE
Wed 15 Jun 2011
Alongside all that hardcore NASA gadgetry worth bazillions of dollars, the upcoming last-ever Space Shuttle mission will also make use of a pair of humble iPhones. Running a special app called SpaceLab, the Apple devices will be used to measure radioactivity, altitude and orbital location, although we’re sure the astronauts will also find time for the occasional game of Angry Birds.