News Source: Science Alert

Road infrastructure is expensive, self-driving cars will demand more of it

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

For most in Minot, the idea of a self-driving car is pretty far off. For the companies chasing the opportunity, the technology is much closer than most realize. For a community like ours, this shift has big implications. And the common assumption is that when it arrives, self-driving cars will reduce traffic and congestion. But

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World’s Most Intense Laser Is About to Get a Totally Insane Upgrade

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

This is not a Minot story. But because the movies Star Wars and Real Genius are a part of our cultural heritage, the fact that they are approaching full realization is worth momentary call out. Check out this article from Science Alert on a really big laser that’s set to go full Death Star. Sort

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Depression treatment discovered in natural but illegal source

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Depression is a disease that becomes ingrained as the neurons in our brains fire and connect in repeated but unfortunate patterns. Successful treatments have been shown to break those patterns and one source that’s so far effective at helping ‘reset’ the brain — psilocybin — the active ingredient in illegal mushrooms.

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10 Farming Myths to Think About on Your Next Grocery Run

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

It’s true, here in North Dakota we’re closer to our food production here than most parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean some misperceptions about dinner gets from the farm to the table aren’t out there. This quick article from Science Alerts calls out the common myths about modern agriculture and food production and

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The Arctic Is Turning Green; Scientists Finally Know Why

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Researchers have noticed the color of the arctic slowly changing. Specifically, the ice was taking on a greener color. Now, there’s evidence that suggests the cause is a thinning of the ice that’s letting more light through and subsequently producing blooms of microscopic marine plants. The down side: the green color absorbs more heat, which thins the

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Neuroscientists have successfully removed specific phobias from people’s brains

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Are you afraid of heights, or maybe spiders? If so, there may be hope on the horizon, especially for those among us whose fear has negative impacts on their lives. Scientists at Cambridge University have found a way to rewire the brain’s reaction to fear stimuli without the person having to consciously experience it.

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21 of the best photos of the supermoon from around the world

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The moon has been really super the last few days, and it’s brought out scores of photographers looking for that one remarkable shot. Here’s a collection of the better ones as collected by Business Insider writer Dave Mosher via Science Alert.

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Scientists have recreated an ancient mead from 2,500 years ago

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

What do you get when you team an archeologist who discovers an ancient burial plot with a cauldron of booze with a group of scientific-minded brewers? A modern take on ancient mead recipe. But be careful if you get a taste, the alcohol content was higher than the average domestic beer.

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