science

We brought you some physics memes earlier, and now we've got some content for the marine scientists - fish and sharks and morays galore! And in case you missed said physics memes, check 'em out here!

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Summer's about to be over and the United States is still struggling to control the coronavirus pandemic. While some states seem to be improving (some after a dismal first wave), California, Texas, and Florida are seeing dismal increases in both cases and deaths. As all the mask-haters and conspiracy theorists butt heads with scientists and government officials, many of us are left to sit at home, job hunt, and dream of a day we can go to a bar with friends without risking our lives or the lives of someone else. We're also left to cope with corona-related memes like these. If we can't laugh at our situation, then we know we're really screwed.

When we think of the world's "hardest" materials, usually diamonds come to mind. However, Diamonds themselves can be cut by a select few materials, including other diamonds. What if you couldn't cut through though. What if scientists had figured out how to create a material you literally cannot cut through. Enter Proteus. 

This recently revealed material, inspired by natural materials that mimic incredible natural durability, was tested using a variety of cutting methods, all of which failed. The world's first uncuttable material has arrived.

Here are this week's top shower thoughts, but with a twist. Welcome to the greatest philosophical insights of the average Joe all about science. They'll make you question everything you thought you knew about science, the world and everything in it. 

And in case you missed last week's top shower thoughts, here they are. 

Vantablack is one of the most light-absorbent materials known, able to absorb up to 99.5% of visible light. This incredible phenomenon was captured expertly by BMW with their promotion of a VantaBlack X6, and has been examined at length by scientists for its potential in camouflage and applications in industrial design. So what if we found this man-made material right underneath our feet? Or more accurately, under the sea.

Karen Osborne and her team discovered that deep in the ocean's depths, there were creatures that had naturally occurring "ultra-black" light absorption. So much so that some of the species discovered with this unique attribute were actually nearly identical in terms of light absorption, to the man-made Vantablack.

Fortunately, even with the challenges of photographing such elusive creatures, the team managed to photograph and study the various species they found to discover there are at least 16 species of fish that can be called ultra-black. So what are these incredible creatures?

We've been seeing a lot of wholesome content lately. It makes sense. When the world feels bleak, most people need a little positivity to remind them that even the pain is temporary. This post is not for these people. Reddit user u/mc_gnome took to r/AskReddit requesting people share some 'unfun facts' on the thread. The responses weren't just 'unfun,' they're actually mind-blowingly morbid and depressing. But some people, like us, enjoy learning of the cruelty of nature. And these posts are for you.

Don't have time to watch or fast-forward through 6 hours of filler coverage? We've grabbed the perfect shots from SpaceX and NASA's joint spacecraft launch of the Crew Dragon. This is the first commercial spacecraft in history to bring astronauts into space, and was designed by the tech giant Elon Musk with his SpaceX commercial space program. With the launch a complete success, and the window narrowing after inclement weather, the successful launch was a massive achievement for commercial space travel, and the potential is massive for scaling this to even greater heights. Next stop, Mars.

As Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley hurtle into space on the first commercial aircraft designed and now used for spaceflight to transport astronauts, you have to wonder what it looks like. Not just space, that is incredible enough. But the SpaceX Crew Dragon  is truly an amazing spectacle. From the mind of Elon Musk, this spacecraft is unlike anything we've ever seen. So take a look around at the inner workings of this incredible space craft. Maybe you'll be on board one day.

If you're looking for even more satisfying science gifs, check out these amazing hydraulic press gifs that will have you in your happy place in no time.

This is one of those Tumblr threads that's just pure comedy gold. We get a look at how ridiculous the realities of the scientific language are. Scientists would seem to enjoy using a rich vocabulary to illustrate various mishaps and occurrences within the lab. 

Back in 2018, researchers at the University of Michigan created the world's smallest computer, measuring just 1x1 mm. Unfortunately, the tiny device loses all of its programming and data as soon as it's turned off, so it's up in the air as to whether it actually has the "minimum functionality required" to count as a legitimate microcomputer. But fortunately for us, it's become part of this new dank meme, which features a picture of the tiny computer next to a grain of rice. Scroll down to see some of our favorite examples!

Orion and his belt are one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky. Seen around the world every day, it would be pretty obvious if something weird was going on, and that is exactly what casual observers and scientists alike have pounced on. Betelgeuse, one of the 10 brightest stars in the sky, has begun to dim, a common sign that a star is about to go supernova. So significant is the brightness of Betelgeuse that the entire view of the Orion constellation has shifted in its visibility. So what is happening in that corner of our night sky? Is this massive star going to be visible from space? History offers some insight. 

One internet artist gave us a real perspective at what the planets would look like if they were as close as the moon. Can you imagine taking a selfie with Saturn in the background? Or taking a SpaceX weekend ride to Pluto? Whatever the case these visuals are simply incredible.

Antarctica is one of the world's most mysterious continents. Covered in 98% ice, and the last in the world to be discovered and explored, this place is the most uninhabitable on earth, and is covered in ice that in places is almost 2km thick. First discovered in 1820 by Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev, it would take until 1895 that the ice continent would be explored properly. The continent is also wrought with controversy, with multiple countries staking claims to different parts of it, with some of them overlapping. 

But as the world has started to shift and the environment with it, scientists have started to witness hitherto unseen changes that had only been recorded historically in our findings in the ice. But a hole that was discovered in the center of the continent has got scientists abuzz over the developments. So what happened here? Is this natural or another example of man's effect on the global environment. 

We would like to say that you can't argue with photographic evidence but some people can and DO argue that the Earth is actually flat. If you're not a government clone of a celebrity (like Tila Tequila) or if you believe in science, you'll still love these amazing pictures of Earth from outer space.

This is ALL empirically gained evidence. Epic. What a savage. Always going to appreciate this response from Adam Savage.