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MSNBC.com: Technology & Science

Probe takes first video of moon's far side

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 5:12pm MST

A gravity-mapping spacecraft orbiting the moon has beamed home its first video of the lunar far side — a view people on Earth never see.
Video: Batman fanboys get ready to fight

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 4:53pm MST

The “Gotham City Imposters” beta is wrapping up and these are our impressions of the Batman and Joker fanboy first-person shooter. (In-Game)
Seagrass clones among our oldest life forms

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 4:53pm MST

Seagrass meadows can be composed of ancient giant clones, organisms stretching up to nearly 10 miles wide that may be up to tens of thousands of years old, scientists find.
Glimpse the 'future' of celestial delights

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 4:27pm MST

Many busy people nowadays use DVRs to allow them to "time shift": recording TV programs today to view at another, more convenient, time. But did you know that you can do the same with the stars?
A stunning photo growing Antarctic ice rift

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 4:06pm MST

A massive crack in a huge sheet of Antarctic ice discovered in mid-October last year is steadily growing, as seen in recently released satellite images.
Live-action 'Ace Attorney' to be out worldwide

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 3:58pm MST

Good news for fans of "Phoenix Wright" and video game cinema in general; the director of the big screen, live-action adaptation of "Ace Attorney," says it is being made available for release in the United States and other parts of the world.
New BlackBerry will look like ... other phones

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 3:49pm MST

RIM’s newest BlackBerry will now look like all the other phones out there: A slim, flat black slab. Happy now?
2nd 'sunken UFO' claim doesn't hold water

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 3:36pm MST

Back in July an ocean exploration team led by Swedish researchers found what some suggested may be a flying saucer on the sea floor. There were even skid marks behind the large object that suggested it may have moved across, or crashed on, the sea floor.
Is science political poison ... or the cure?

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 2:58pm MST

Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Some might argue that Newt Gingrich's emphasis on scientific pursuits hurt his political chances — but what's really needed is more science, not less.
Facebook files for IPO; plans to raise $5B

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 2:53pm MST

Facebook just filed documents paving the way for an initial public offering of stock. Click here to read the filing at the SEC. More shortly ...
'Pokemon: Type Wild' is incredible ... and unauthorized

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 2:47pm MST

A new video reveals gameplay of "Pokémon: Type Wild," which re-imagines Nintendo's immensely popular role-playing game as a gorgeous 2-D fighter. It may look amazing, but Nintendo itself has nothing to do with it.
How sun gets its spots: New theory offered

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 2:32pm MST

Scientists may be one step closer to unraveling the mystery of sunspots — the dark and magnetic blemishes on the surface of our nearest star.
'Open science' study slams arsenic-life claims

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:40pm MST

Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Researchers report that they ran a more rigorous version of the experiment that sparked a debate over arsenic-based bacteria — but found no trace of arsenic in the DNA.
Declutter entertainment center for Super Bowl

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:35pm MST

If your entertainment center looks like a fire hazard, get that cord clutter under control and hidden away — just in time for the Super Bowl.
Deals of the day: 'Limitless,' LG and more

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:22pm MST

Here's what's worth considering today: "Limitless" on Blu-ray for $15, discounted LG gear, deals on Dell laptops and more.
LeVar Burton resurrects Reading Rainbow's Twitter account

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:16pm MST

Before he donned those funky futuristic shades as Starfleet engineer Geordi LaForge, LeVar Burton was synonymous with "Reading Rainbow," and now he's taking charge in its latest iteration: He's started a multimedia company and wrested control of the dormant @ReadingRainbow Twitter account.
1M Facebook posts on comment is world record

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:06pm MST
100-year-old feels 80, thanks to Nintendo DS

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:00pm MST

Meet Kathleen "Kit" Connell, who just turned 100, but claims to not feel a day over 80. And the secret of her youthful vitality? A Nintendo DS.
Public can journey through Discovery's history

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 12:58pm MST

While the Smithsonian gets ready to receive the retired space shuttle Discovery for display this spring, NASA, together with archivists spread across four states, is preparing to preserve the historic orbiter and its sister ships digitally and on paper.
Blog: 'Apple bug let us spy on stranger's iPhone'

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 12:46pm MST

On Wednesday, popular gadget blog Gizmodo proclaimed that the site's writers were able to "spy on a total stranger's iPhone" thanks to an iMessage-related bug. "Apple, you might want to fix this," suggests the post.
Magma may signal super-volcano eruptions

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 12:26pm MST

Crystals from a giant eruption linked to the legend of Atlantis may reveal ways to predict future super-volcano eruption, researchers say.
Railgun tech takes a step towards warship reality

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 12:02pm MST

A war-ready electromagnetic railgun took a step closer to reality this week when the U.S. Navy awarded a defense contractor $10 million to develop a piece of the power system needed to hurl projectiles at speeds up to 5,000 miles per hour.
Google to censor Blogger blogs by country

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 11:48am MST

Google says some blogs on Blogger, its blogging platform, will be blocked on a "per country basis," in order to comply with "removal request" laws of nations where freedom of speech is not cherished or allowed.
NASA's 16 biggest space tech needs listed

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 11:45am MST

Protecting future astronauts from radiation, generating power from the sun's light and heat, and creating better optical sensors are some of the top issues the National Research Council suggests NASA focus on in the next five years. The council published a NASA-commissioned "technology roadmap" report Feb. 1, after a year of analysis.
Siri performs lead vocal on new Flaming Lips track

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 11:02am MST

The iPhone 4S's signature digital assistant not only already reads texts and gives weather reports, but it has also been known to answer the meaning of life.
'No imminent data loss' for Megaupload users

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:24am MST

In an effort to save data belonging to Megaupload's 50 million customers, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Carpathia Hosting are teaming up. While there are no promises that customer data will be retrieved, there is some hope.
A new 'face' in the crowd of hot, young stars

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:18am MST

The wispy clouds of a distant nebula bursting with newborn stars take on an eerie face-like shape sculpted by stellar winds in a new photo snapped by a telescope in Chile.
Anonymous attacks American Nazis

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 10:00am MST

In its latest effort to silence and expose those responsible for spreading anti-Semitic and racist hate speech around the Web, hackers associated with Anonymous have taken down and defaced the American Nazi Party website.
How plants reshaped rivers of early Earth

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 9:53am MST

The evolution of plants dramatically reshaped the face of the Earth, from the flow of its rivers to the depths of its glacier-carved valleys, new research suggests.
Suspect arrested for NASA, DoD cyberattacks

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 9:46am MST

Romanian police have arrested a man believed to be TinKode, the notorious hacker responsible for several daring, high-profile cyberattacks, including last year's breach of NASA's servers.
Google defends change to privacy policies

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 9:31am MST

Planned changes to Google Inc's privacy policies that have caught the attention of U.S. lawmakers would not take away the control its customers have over how data is collected and used, the company said in a blog post on Tuesday
Petition is pushing for Pluto postage stamp

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 9:25am MST

Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Scientists are seeking the public's help to get the U.S. Postal Service's stamp of approval for the New Horizons mission to Pluto in 2015.
Nikon's Coolpix: longest zoom, cheapest rugged

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 9:24am MST

New entries to the Nikon Coolpix line include the P510 with a crazy-powerful 42X zoom lens and the low-priced shockproof and dustproof S30 geared towards active families.
Android users more likely to have sex on first date

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 8:56am MST

If you're hoping to get some naughty action as soon as possible, you should start pursuing Android users. Because according to a recent (but not scientific) survey, they're more likely to have sex on the first date than those who use iPhone or BlackBerry devices.
How to properly celebrate Change Your Password Day

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 5:12am MST

Feb. 1 marks the first occurrence of Change Your Password Day, a holiday proposed by a popular tech blog. We're here to walk you through this strange new celebration and the clever traditions it brings.