The human brain is not that special

Biology:
"A British-led study has found striking similarities among the human brain, the nervous system of the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans and computer chips. A team of U.K., U.S. and German neuroscientists and computer experts led by University of Cambridge Professor Edward Bullmore compared the way the systems are organized and found all three have the same networking principles. The researchers said they found all three share two basic properties: All have the same architecture, with the same patterns repeating at different scales; and all show what's known as Rentian scaling -- a rule used to describe the relationship between the number of elements in a given area and the number of links between them."

"Study: The human brain may not be special." Space Daily
The human brain may not be special

Astronomy:
"Josh Emery, research assistant professor with the earth and planetary sciences department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has found evidence of water ice and organic material on the asteroid 24 Themis. This evidence supports the idea that asteroids could be responsible for bringing water and organic material to Earth."

"Scientists find evidence of water ice on asteroid's surface." Space Daily
Water ice on asteroid

Energy:
"Two trends are emerging for future renewable electricity. In the first, local solar, wind or biomass plants will produce more energy for small communities or single homes. In the second, large amounts of electricity will be generated by solar power stations in desert areas or extensive offshore wind farms, and delivered over long distances to densely populated areas. But how can electrical power be delivered over long distances without large losses? The solution to this problem is direct current. When electrical power at voltages from 100,000 to 1,000,000 volts is routed through high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission cables, energy losses are significantly reduced."

"How is electrical power carried across the sea." Space Daily
Electrical power transmission across the sea

Speeding up brain network might boost IQ

Biology:
So you want to get smarter?
"For decades scientists have tried, mostly in vain, to explain where intelligence resides in our brains. The answer, a new study suggests, is everywhere.
After analysing the brain as an incredibly dense network of interconnected points, a team of Dutch scientists has found that the most efficiently wired brains tend to belong to the most intelligent people.
And improving this efficiency with drugs offers a tantalising – though still unproven – means of boosting intelligence, say researchers.
The concept of a networked brain isn't so different from the transportation grids used by cars and planes, says Martijn van den Heuvel, a neuroscientist at Utrecht University Medical Center who led the new study.
"If you're flying from New York to Amsterdam, you can do it in a direct flight. It's much more effective than going from New York, then to Washington, and then to Amsterdam. It's exactly the same idea in the brain," he says."

"Speeding up brain networks might boost IQ." New Scientist
Brain Networks and Higher IQ

Environment:
Mount St. Helens has blown once before in recent memory. Is a much larger explosion coming?
"IS A supervolcano brewing beneath Mount St Helens? Peering under the volcano has revealed what may be an extraordinarily large zone of semi-molten rock, which would be capable of feeding a giant eruption."

"Supervolcano may be brewing beneath Mount St. Helens." New Scientist
Supervolcano Mount St. Helens

Astronomy:
Scientists have observed that a star about 600 light years away from Earth is shrinking and showing signs that it will go supernova. Of course what we're observing in the sky right now is 600 year old history, since it takes that long for the light from that star to reach us. So the star in present time could already have exploded.

"Nearby Star May Be Getting Ready To Explode." Fox News
Nearby Star May Go Supernova

Chemistry:
New element added to the periodic table, element 112.

"New Chemical Element In The Periodic Table." Science Daily
New Element 112

Element 118, one of the superheavies also discovered.

"Livermore Scientists Team With Russia To Discover Element 118." Science Daily
New Element 118

Brain Parasites spread by Cats drive Human Culture

Biology:
This is actually a serious scientific study. According to research by one scientist brain parasites spread to humans by cats shape how humans behave.

"Now, Kevin Lafferty from the University of California, Santa Barbara, has found startling evidence that a common brain parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, could be influencing human culture across the globe.

Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled brain parasite spread by cats. Our feline companions are its preferred home and only there can it mature and reproduce. So like most parasites, T.gondii has a complex life cycle designed to get it into its final host."

"Brain parasite drives human culture" NotExactlyRocketScience
Brain parasite drives human culture