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Barn owls reflect moonlight in order to stun their prey

Ecosystems that are bathed in light during the day change profoundly at night. As the sun fades from the land, nocturnal life emerges, with the barn owl (Tyto alba) among them. Barn owls are iconic nocturnal birds of prey that are found all over the world, often near towns and villages. Although a familiar species to many, there is still much we don’t know about them. One peculiarity is the difference in plumage color between different barn owls. Why is it that some have undersides that are completely white while others are dark red? This puzzled scientists for a long… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2tHcZ23

The psychology behind why people believe in curses

Strictly Come Dancing, the TV show which pairs celebrities with professional dancers to compete in a ballroom dancing competition, has apparently been the cause of a number of divorces, break-ups, and scandals. This “Strictly curse” is not helped by the show’s demanding schedule, long practice hours, and intimate dancing. Strictly is not the only modern curse featured in the media of late. The curse of the Tour de France returned, with the failure of a French rider to win the cycling race. Hopes that Julian Alaphillippe would this year end the 34-year drought were dashed. Meanwhile, the rapper Drake has… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2EQDaWp

Over a decade later, I’m still fascinated by Techno Viking

More than a decade after its release, I’m still fascinated by the notorious Techno Viking video. There’s something indescribably captivating about it. I find myself watching the clip at least several times a year. I can try to explain it, but its mystery evades writing. Every little detail in the video simply falls perfectly into place, as if it was staged. But it wasn’t. Where do I start? Bear with me throughout this synopsis — or scroll down to watch the actual video first. The video opens with a woman in a bright, cyan wig awkwardly dancing to a techno track… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/35RG1dK

How the digital revolution can tackle the climate crisis

Life has changed almost beyond recognition in the last few decades. Artificial intelligence (AI) has substituted entire job fields – intelligent software can now review legal documents, a job which was previously only carried out by lawyers. Machine learning means technical systems can pull together entire libraries of information in a single handheld device. Virtual spaces now exist where people from all over the world can share, connect and chat instantly. In 2019, it’s clear that digital innovations will continue to change society and the economy, but it’s uncertain whether these new technologies will benefit the global transformation to sustainability.… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2QjDVg7

Here’s a lossless music player that blows away your iPhone

The AP80 got a lot of attention when it hit Kickstarter as part of the rise in next generation Hi-Fi portable music devices. Because for all their wonders, smartphones don’t really do high fidelity music all that well, if at all.  from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2Zm9rOL

Mpow’s M5 wireless earbuds are a sweet deal at $50

There’s no shortage of wireless earphones to choose from these days, but if you’re on a tight budget, the pickings are rather slim. Thankfully, Mpow has you covered with a pretty decent pair that costs just $50, with all the usual features and commendable performance. At this price, you’d expect compromises in every department, but after using them for a couple of weeks, I’m happy to report that the M5 earbuds aren’t a constant reminder that you didn’t spend a whole lot of money on them. Here’s a closer look at these value-for-money earphones. Design and features The M5 buds… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/35UMZyq

13 fun Bitcoin and blockchain tweets that epitomize this wild industry

As another year draws to a close in the world of Bitcoin and blockchain, we’ve decided to look back at some of our favorite cryptocurrency tweets of 2019.  Some are funny, others are weird, but we’ve loved each and every single one.  So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. The Dorsey effect First up, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, sent a Bitcoin Lightning Network invoice in a tweet in February — and people went nuts. lnbc28600u1pw9n7g7pp5enjn8exsyymyl6mlxmcvy7fdcwuh04z96swfmtasznppglgdyvsqdqqcqzysc8rve6vdwuvketcn7yp8gu3ltvq29vj588erp3at9z2msqj0yhhjdwsf7qtfy5lwf8favm6u3wr5qklvprlhrz89pknpdfxnc55wy6sqnrxjh7 — jack 🌍🌏🌎 (@jack) February 5, 2019 Dorsey has long been a supporter of Bitcoin and is often quite public about it. He’s even… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/39b94e4