The rise of mountain lions in the Midwest

Cougars are on the rise in the Midwest. From 1990 to 2008, the number of sightings confirmed by wildlife professionals increased. That’s good news for fans of big cats, which were extirpated from most of that area around 1900. Here’s a breakdown of the rise of mountain lions in the Midwest, by the numbers. 3: …

Researchers discover our twin solar system, GJ676A – where everything is 4x larger

Astronomers have detected our “grotesque” twin: A planetary system arranged much like our own solar system, a new study says. Dubbed GJ676A, the system has two rocky planets orbiting close to its host star, and two gas giants orbiting far away. This means the system is arranged like our system—though in GJ676A, everything is much …

Comic-Con goes LGBT in 2012 – costumes, panels, & storylines

Caped crusaders are out and proud this year at Comic-Con International. Even Superman and Batman at the Prism Comics booth wear snug Underoos, capes and chef’s aprons — but not much else — as they entertain passersby. “It feels revolutionary,” says Scott Covert, decked out as Batman’s sidekick, Robin, at one of the convention’s many …

Wikimedia Foundation votes to start a travel guide – as Wikitravel implodes

The Wikimedia Foundation has decided to create a travel guide in the mold of its non-profit, user-written and search engine results-hogging Wikipedia. The foundation’s board of trustees on July 11 approved a proposal to launch an advertisement-free travel guide and noted that 31 of the 48 administrators of the Internet Brands-owned Wikitravel have pledged to join forces with the Wikimedia Foundation’s …

The Comic Book Awards – 2012 Eisner Winners from Comic-Con

  Best Short Story “The Seventh,” by Darwyn Cooke, in Richard Stark’s Parker: The Martini Edition (IDW) Best Single Issue (or One-Shot) Daredevil #7, by Mark Waid, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera (Marvel) Best Continuing Series Daredevil, by Mark Waid, Marcos Martin, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera (Marvel) Best Limited Series Criminal: The Last of the Innocent, by …

Caught by the paparazzi – Prince William & Harry bodyboarding in Cornwall

While his wife Kate and her sister Pippa Middleton were at Wimbledon, Prince William and his brother Harry spent the weekend with friends in Cornwall, body-boarding and hanging out in the local pubs. No strangers to the surf, the princes have spent the summers of their youth in the area around the small seaside resort …

Researchers explore Chinese censors – find 13% of posts blocked but not those criticizing government

The 500m people who use the internet in China have long been aware of the presence of the censors who watch their movements online and delete their more inflammatory posts. Now those monitors may have to get used to someone watching over their shoulders. Teams at Harvard and the University of Hong Kong have been …