Thursday 10 October 2013

Today's Daily Brain Teaser (Oct 11, 2013)

-ectomy



Removing an appendix is called an appendectomy, removing tonsils is called a tonsillectomy. What is it called when they remove a growth from your head?





Check Braingle.com for the answer.

Today's Daily Trivia Quiz (Oct 11, 2013)

Maths Truth or Maths Myth?

Here's a series of miscellaneous true-or-false questions related to maths. It covers different areas of mathematics, so algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics are all included. Take this quiz to test your maths know-how!



Take the Quiz at Braingle.com

Creativity : Mental Smells II

Close your eyes and try to recreate the following smells. This exercise helps improve your ability to form concrete impressions from memory.



1. A rotten egg

2. Pumpkin pie

3. Wet dog

4. Freshly cut grass

5. A new car



How well did you do at recreating the smells?



For more of these exercises try Mental Smells I.

Memory : Mental Filing System

As you are falling asleep, do you ever think about things that you need to do the next day, but you don't want to turn on the light to write them down? The Phonetic Mnemonic System can help you remember these things in the morning. In fact, this system can be used any time that you don't have a pen and paper handy.



To do this, simply associate the thing that you need to do (go to the bank) with a phonetic keyword for 1 (tie). Visualize the next thing that you need to do (pick up dinner) with a keyword for 2 (knee). When you wake up in the morning, you simply need to go through your keywords to remember the things that you need to do.



A variation on this method is to group your keywords by category. For example keywords 1-10 could be used for things related to work, keywords 11-20 could be for things related to home, and so on. This will help mentally organize your to-do list.



To reduce interference between days, you could use different keywords for each day of the week. Monday uses keywords 1-10, Tuesday 11-20, etc. Pick the method that works best for you.

Vocabulary : Word of the Day : Purlieu

pur-lieu



noun :: A frequently visited place.



"These skulking visitors would keep about the purlieus of the camp until daylight; when, on the first stir of life among the sleepers, they would scamper off until they reached some rising ground, where they would take their seats, and keep a sharp and hungry watch upon every movement." --Irving, Washington

It's in His Kiss: How to Tell If He's Mr. Right

Kissing helps us evaluate potential partners, a new study suggests. Continue reading →



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/human/life/its-in-his-kiss-how-to-tell-if-hes-mr-right-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Scott Carpenter, NASA Astronaut Legend, Dies at 88

Scott Carpenter, who became the second US astronaut to orbit the Earth in 1962, died Thursday in Colorado aged 88.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/history-of-space/nasa-legend-mercury-scott-carpenter-dead-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

11 Diseases That Just Won't Quit

The plague isn't the only resurgent disease humans once thought they had beat.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/human/health/diseases-that-just-wont-quit-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Could Brain-Eating Amoeba Invade Your Faucet?

Recent infections have been found in several states -- learn how you can be safe from the deadly amoeba.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/human/health/could-brain-eating-amoeba-invade-your-faucet-131011.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Bye Bye Snowball: A Comet's Hellish Death Dive

You know expression: "not a snowball's chance in hell"? Well, this dirty snowball is rapidly falling toward its own version of hell -- the searing hot solar corona. Continue reading →



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/bye-bye-snowball-watching-a-comets-hellish-death-dive-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Flexy Bracelet Morphs Into a Smartphone

A soft, smart material can go from a bracelet to to a curved phone shape in a moment. Continue reading →



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/flexy-bracelet-morphs-into-a-smartphone-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Water Discovered In Shredded Planetary Debris

Astronomers have made the first direct detection of water in a rocky body that once orbited a sun-like star.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/asteroids-meteors-meteorites/water-asteroid-planet-debris-star-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

The Outer Space Treaty Promised Peace In Space

The Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967, has kept space as a peaceful arena of exploration. Continue reading →



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/history-of-space/the-outer-space-treaty-promised-peaceful-exploration-of-space-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

What's the Big Deal About Big Data?

Raw personal data is now being used to fine-tune health, make decisions and improve romantic relationships.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/human/life/whats-the-big-deal-about-big-data-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

DNews: Which Evolved First: Our Hands or Feet?

It's a question in our human evolution we've still been unsure about: Did we develop our hands or feet first? Both have helped us advance as a species, but now new research finally names the evolutionary winner!



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/human/videos/which-evolved-first-our-hands-or-feet-video.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

'Rock Snow' May Fall From Exoplanet Skies

Astronomers have detected exoplanets that orbit so close to their host stars that rock would vaporize and possibly condense in the atmosphere to create a very alien 'rock snow' flurry.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-life-exoplanets/rock-snow-exoplanet-skies-kepler-data-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Elephants Instictively Get Human Pointing

Elephants just proved yet again how intelligent they are, by showing that they understand human pointing without receiving any lessons on it. Continue reading →



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/animals/elephants-instinctively-get-human-pointing-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

America Is Closed: Photos

For the first time in 17 years, national parks across the United States are again hoisting closed signs during a government shutdown.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/america-is-closed-government-shutdown-of-national-parks-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Wanted: Iron Man Suit for Superhuman Strength

While wearing the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, soldiers could one day walk through a barrage of bullets. Continue reading →



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/iron-man-suit-superhuman-strength-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Car Takes Control To Avoid Crash

The Obstacle Avoidance system uses three radars, ultrasonic sensors and a camera to help drivers steer clear of collisions. Continue reading →



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/autos/future-of-transportation/ford-car-takes-control-to-avoid-crash-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Missing Wingsuit Diver Found Dead in China

A parachute failure resulted in tragedy for Hungarian wingsuit diver Victor Kovats.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/adventure/extreme-sports/missing-wingsuit-diver-found-dead-in-china-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

DNews: New $100 Bill Is Crazy High-Tech

The new $100 bill is finally out and loaded with enhanced security features. Guest host Annie Gaus looks at how the redesigned Benjamin will make forgery nearly impossible.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/videos/new-100-dollar-bill-is-crazy-high-tech-video.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Snarling Tasmanian Devils Arrive in USA

A quartet of snarling Tasmanian devils has just arrived at the San Diego Zoo, which is now the only zoo in the U.S. with these rambunctious endangered animals. Continue reading →



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/animals/endangered-species/snarling-tasmanian-devils-arrive-in-the-usa-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

7 Shocking Things You Can Buy with Bitcoins

Bitcoins are ideal for buying products or services that might be embarrassing or illegal.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/7-shocking-things-buy-bitcoin-131009.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Comet ISON Likely to Survive Solar Plunge

Comet ISON will likely survive its Thanksgiving Day encounter with the sun and become visible without binoculars or telescopes.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/comet-ison-likely-survive-sun-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

First Evidence of Comet Striking Earth Found

A team of scientists claims to have found the first-ever definitive evidence of a comet striking Earth.



via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/rocks-fossils/first-evidence-of-comet-striking-earth-found-in-egypt-131010.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Riddle Stone Saga brings Picross-style number puzzles to Facebook - Inside Social Games









Riddle Stone Saga brings Picross-style number puzzles to Facebook

Inside Social Games

Ooblada's Riddle Stone Saga offers brain teasers on Facebook, as players are challenged with creating images by filling in the appropriate squares on a grid. The game is similar to Picross, as players must look at the numbers associated with each ...





http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png