by Rachel KaufmanPublished in National Geographic News2010-02-03 Fragments of a lost ancient Roman law text have been rediscovered in the scrap paper used to bind other books. The Codex Gregorianus, or Gregorian Code, was compiled by an otherwise unknown man named Gregorius at the end of the third century A.D. It started a centuries-long tradition [...]
The world’s smallest known orchid (pictured)—just over 2 millimeters (0.08 inch) across and nearly see-through—has been discovered nestled in the roots of another flower in Ecuador, scientists announced this week.
by Rachel KaufmanPublished in National Geographic News2009-11-20 If Dr. Horrible really did have a “freeze ray,” he might stop the world by zapping it with ultraviolet light, new research suggests. After feeding a light-sensitive chemical to transparent, microscopic worms called nematodes, scientists at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia were able to paralyze the tiny [...]
Those aspiring to own real estate who didn’t think they’d make the deadline for a tax credit now have eight thousand more reasons to buy: On Nov. 6, the government extended the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers for another six months. Instead of expiring on Nov. 30, buyers now have until April 30, 2010 to sign a contract for a home.
If it looks like a fish and swims like a fish, it could be a robot–such as the University of Bath’s Gymnobot, inspired by an Amazonian knifefish.
Researchers worldwide are developing robots that look and act like aquatic creatures. That’s because biomimetic gadgets–bots that take inspiration from nature–are often more efficient than their clunkier counterparts.
by Rachel KaufmanPublished in National Geographic News2009-08-17 Contrary to a recent TV cell phone ad, Dunkin’ Donuts isn’t likely to set up shop in space any time soon. But if it did, the donut chain might like to build next to WASP-17b, a newfound planet that’s puffed up to be roughly as dense as a [...]
by Rachel KaufmanPublished in National Geographic News2009-08-03 Denture wearers take note: Science is one step closer to growing replacement teeth “from seed.” Researchers at the Tokyo University of Science created a “tooth germ” from mouse stem cells, implanted the 500-micrometer (0.02-inch) germ inside a mouse’s tooth socket, and waited. A month later, a new tooth [...]
by Rachel KaufmanPublished in National Geographic News2009-07-28 Do you want your peas fresh, frozen, canned, or spurting out stars at ten times the rate of the Milky Way? Volunteers sifting through an online image bank called Galaxy Zoo have helped astronomers discover a new, rare class of galaxy dubbed the Green Pea. The spotters—calling themselves [...]
“Bacon cereal.” “Bacon lollipop.” “Bacon spaghetti.” “Bacon bread.” “Bacon coffee.” “Bacon beer.”
In a sane world, none of these exact phrases would return any hits when plugged into Google. This is not a sane world.
My name is Rachel Kaufman, and I don’t understand taxes.
I thought I was doing everything right until tax season. That’s when my tax prep software told me I owed thousands of dollars for my small – by all standards – writing business. Thousands I … didn’t exactly have. Sure, I’d been saving some money to pay the IRS, and I thought it’d be enough, but there I was, scrambling to find a hefty chunk of extra cash. About $2,000 extra.