Palindrome

As the year draws to a close, and the Wonder of Stuff celebrates it's first birthday, it's time to catch up on some of those stories that we've always intended to cover, but never had quite enough time. So, here is a a catch up on some stories you might have missed. Enjoy!

Space

For 50 Years Now, the US Has Had a Nuclear Reactor Orbiting the Planet - http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2015/04/for-50-years-now-the-us-has-had-a-nuclear-reactor-orbiting-the-planet

What was here before the solar system? - http://phys.org/news/2015-05-solar.html

Universe Expansion Is Slowing Down - http://guardianlv.com/2015/04/universe-expansion-is-slowing-down

Our universe may be a Matrix-like computer game designed by aliens, says NASA scientist - http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/575653/The-Matrix-Universe-Planet-Earth-NASA-Scientist

Scientists are figuring out some weird things about a star they’ve nicknamed ‘Nasty’ - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/05/23/scientists-are-figuring-out-some-weird-things-about-a-star-theyve-nicknamed-nasty/?wprss=rss_health-science

This lonely galaxy is all by itself near a cosmic void - http://mashable.com/2015/06/12/lonely-galaxy-photo/?utm_campaign=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_cid=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss#VFlw.VlJTiqb

The Rosetta spacecraft’s extended mission may end with a spectacular crash - http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/23/8832385/esa-rosetta-spacecraft-mission-extended-september-2016

Dark Side of the Pluto - http://boingboing.net/2015/07/25/dark-side-of-the-pluto.html

Scientists stumped by enormous pyramid on dwarf planet Ceres - http://www.technobuffalo.com/2015/06/30/scientists-stumped-by-enormous-pyramid-on-dwarf-planet-ceres

"Failed Stars" Host Stunningly Bright Auroras - http://www.forbes.com/sites/bridaineparnell/2015/07/30/failed-stars-host-stunningly-bright-auroras/

Philae lander sniffs out organic molecules on comet's surface - http://mashable.com/2015/07/30/philae-organic-molecules-comet/?utm_campaign=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_cid=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss#97d1y9d2ikqE

NASA contemplates high-flying 'windbots' for exploring gas giant - http://www.cnet.com/news/nasa-thinking-about-exploring-jupiter-with-high-flying-windbots/#ftag=CADf328eec

The 6 Most Earth-like Alien Planets - http://www.space.com/30172-six-most-earth-like-alien-planets.html

International Space Station Can Now Grow Edible Vegetables -- http://interestingengineering.com/international-space-station-can-now-grow-ediblevegetables

We are not alone, says Vatican: Pope's chief astronomer says alien life exists, but it is unlikely to have been visited by Jesus - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3184769/We-not-says-Vatican-Pope-s-chief-astronomer-says-alien-life-exists-unlikely-visited-Jesus.html#ixzz3tTElXOua

Astronomers discover a tenth transiting "Tatooine" - http://phys.org/news/2015-08-astronomers-tenth-transiting-tatooine.html

Astronomers Discover New Planet Less Than 20 Million Years Old - http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertszczerba/2015/08/13/astronomers-discover-new-planet-less-than-20-million-years-old/#%2Fweb%2Fsaved%2F

Science

How Europeans evolved to have white skin, starting from around 8,000 years ago - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/how-europeans-evolved-to-have-white-skin-starting-from-around-8000-years-ago-10160120.html

6 Animals That Are Rapidly Evolving - http://mentalfloss.com/article/64300/6-animals-are-rapidly-evolving

First glimpse of new concepts developing in the brain - http://www.kurzweilai.net/first-glimpse-of-new-concepts-developing-in-the-brain

Polar Bears Seen Eating Dolphins For The First Time As Seal Habitat Melts Away - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/12/polar-bears-eat-dolphin-seal-global-warming_n_7572728.html

Some Intriguing New Hints About What Ant Consciousness Is Really Like - http://gizmodo.com/some-intriguing-new-hints-about-what-ant-consciousness-1711031054

DOES YOUR BLOOD TYPE REVEAL HOW YOUR BRAIN WILL AGE - http://brainmysteries.com/does-your-blood-type-reveal-how-your-brain-will-age/

Brain scans of passengers who experienced nightmare flight offer new clues about trauma memory - http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-06-brain-scans-passengers-experienced-nightmare.html

Shimmering, Squishy Comb Jellies Once Had Skeletons - http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/artful-amoeba/shimmering-squishy-comb-jellies-once-had-skeletons/

Study shows tropical fish genetically adapting to cope with warmer waters - http://www.smh.com.au/environment/study-shows-tropical-fish-genetically-adapting-to-cope-with-warmer-waters-20150720-gigiph.html

Molybdenum Is the Most Important Element You've Never Heard of - http://io9.com/molybdenum-the-most-important-element-youve-never-hear-1718443869

Researchers show new Ice Age may begin by 2030 - http://phys.org/news/2015-07-ice-age.html

Scientists found a creepy fanged fish in Australia that's far more common than everyone thinks - http://uk.businessinsider.com/creepy-looking-fish-found-in-australia-2015-7?r=US&IR=T

Climate change turns up heat on bumblebees - http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/Science-Notebook/2015/0710/Climate-change-turns-up-heat-on-bumblebees-video

Newton thwarted by the ascent of sap - https://aobblog.com/2015/07/newton-thwarted-by-the-ascent-of-sap/

Honeybees Trained to Sniff Out Drugs - http://mentalfloss.com/article/65709/honeybees-trained-sniff-out-drugs

Clocks 'SPEAK' to each other: The mystery of how pendulum clocks self-synchronise their ticks is solved after 350 years - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3176193/Clocks-SPEAK-Mystery-pendulum-clocks-synchronise-ticks-tocks-solved-350-years.html#ixzz3tTCAgY56

Tongue-rolling myth busted! It's not a single gene you inherit from your parents - http://uk.businessinsider.com/tongue-rolling-gene-is-a-myth-2015-8?r=US&IR=T

Looks really don't run in the family! Strange new deep-sea anglerfish discovered - and it's just as grotesque as its cousins - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3187146/Looks-really-don-t-run-family-Strange-new-deep-sea-anglerfish-discovered-s-just-grotesque-cousins.html#ixzz3tTDGOQLZ

Natural selection, key to evolution, also can impede formation of new species - http://phys.org/news/2015-08-natural-key-evolution-impede-formation.html

Engineering & Technology

How Google is making sure cows won’t foil its self-driving cars - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2015/04/07/how-google-is-making-sure-cows-wont-foil-its-self-driving-cars/

The one-cable future of gadgets: simpler, but still confusing - http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/05/usb-c-the-future-of-gadgets-still-confusing/?ncid=rss_truncated

Cheap, fast & pure: Breakthrough method for hydrogen fuel may revolutionize car industry - https://www.rt.com/usa/247437-hydrogen-corn-fuel-cars/

Google Made a Chatbot That Debates the Meaning of Life - http://www.wired.com/2015/06/google-made-chatbot-debates-meaning-life/

5 Crazy Bridges That Push The Limit Of Design - http://wonderfulengineering.com/5-crazy-bridges-that-push-the-limit-of-design/

Indian Airport Becomes The First In The World To Run Entirely On Solar Power - http://wonderfulengineering.com/indian-airport-becomes-the-first-in-the-world-to-run-entirely-on-solar-power/

Well, another couple of weeks have gone by and you're all thinking, "I'm really missing out... why don't they tell me what's on the Wonder of Stuff anymore?" Well, fear not inquistive people! We are here again to stimulate your neurons and show you what you've been missing!

Episode 47: We looked at Horrible Science - The Children's Science Show (also suitable for Adults), Myths of the Hippocampus - Are Women's Brains Bigger?, Animal Friends in the Battle against Cancer - They may bite, sting or poison you, but they might just help you out!