Surprising Science — April 9, 2014

A Family Saves a Whale and Gets a Big Thank You

This incredible video of a family stumbling on a whale trapped in a fishing net in the Sea of Cortez will put a smile on your face.

Michael Fishbach, a conservationist and researcher, was enjoying a sunny afternoon with friends and family while on vacation. Their boat came across a young humpback whale floating lifeless in the water. They thought the whale was dead, and then it forcefully exhaled, signalling its immense frustration. The humans soon discovered that the whale was badly trapped in a fishing net and began an hours-long rescue effort. Their hard work was rewarded in the most astonishing way.

Watch the incredible rescue and joyful happy ending.

To read more, head over to Most Amazing Planet.

Image credit: Tory Kallman/Shutterstock

Strange Maps

America’s news deserts are growing

Most counties in the U.S. have only one local newspaper, often one that publishes weekly instead of daily.

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The Present

Are smart cities a wise idea?

When Google runs a smart city, who owns the data?

Illustration of a young woman with closed eyes, smiling, next to a large, detailed eye and surrounded by vibrant, abstract elements and smiley faces.

Neuropsych

Eyes wide shut: Why closing your eyes intensifies psychedelic trips

A recent study suggests that exposure to visual stimuli can diminish the effects of psychedelic drugs.

Starts With A Bang

The big idea of Grand Unified Theories of physics

If the electromagnetic and weak forces unify to make the electroweak force, maybe, at higher energies, something even grander happens?

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The Future

Making microbots smart

What would it take to create a truly intelligent microbot, one that can operate independently?

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