Back in February, a Texas forensic scientist announced that she'd identified a DNA sample from Bigfoot and had sequenced the creature's genome. Now the sequences have been released for wider scrutiny and Ars Technica's John Timmer had a chance to dig into the data and speak with the discoverer of the possible Bigfoot genome. This is a story that, I think, everybody can enjoy — a skeptical analysis that's respectful to the Bigfoot researchers and genuinely interested in understanding where the DNA in question came from and what the genome sequences can tell us.
Analyzing the Bigfoot genome
Social media breaks make you "happier and less anxious"
Would it surprise you to learn that taking time off social media, even for just a week, results in "significant improvements in well-being, depression and anxiety?" [via] We randomly allocated 154 participants (mean age of 29.6 years) to either stop using SM (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok) for 1 week or continue to use SM… READ THE REST
Study: games and video-watching correlate with kids getting smarter, social media a wash
On the impact of digital media on childhood intelligence, games and watching videos were consistent with cognitive benefits. Socializing digitally, however, had no consistent effect. Here we estimated the effect of each three types of screen time (Watching TV and online videos, Socializing via social media, text, and video chat, and Gaming) on intelligence after… READ THE REST
This may be a piece of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs
Last month, we learned that researchers excavating North Dakota's Tanis fossil site found an incredibly well-preserved leg of a dinosaur. The creature—and others at the site—were likely killed by the impact of the 12 kilometer-wide Chicxulub asteroid that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico 66 million years ago and eradicated 80% of Earth's animals. Turns… READ THE REST
While you can, get the 2021 Microsoft Office training bundle and license for only $70
At one point in your life, you've had to or will have to use Microsoft Office applications, whether in the classroom or at your job – it's an essential skill set. For a one-time purchase of $69.99, you and your family can access top Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote forever. This 2021… READ THE REST
This mystery box is a gamer's dream and it's on sale for $99.99
Great gaming goes so far beyond the game itself or the console itself. How's the sound quality? You might care to know, especially if you're competitively gaming online and talking trash to your friends. How's the lighting on the screen and/or room you're gaming in? If you're a streamer, you want to make sure your… READ THE REST
This VPNSecure Online Privacy: Lifetime Subscription keeps your info completely safe
No surprise to you, some pretty terrible people scour the cyber world. Sure, not everyone is a total hacker, but you've always got to stay protected and vigilant not to leave your information and documents in a vulnerable state. Luckily, VPNSecure can keep everything locked up and tidy no matter where you are. So, how does VPNSecure keep all of your precious… READ THE REST
