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Submission + - Lithium Batteries Put Bang in Flying

Submitted by Rambo Tribble
Rambo Tribble writes: The commercial aviation industry is scrambling to get ahead of a new threat to air travel, burning or exploding lithium batteries. As portable devices have become more popular, improperly stored or defective lithium batteries have caused a number of incidents on airliners. The BBC article includes a short video showing the remarkably violent force even a small battery can produce. Important safety tip: this is one electrical fire you want to fight with water.

Submission + - Flying Snake Mysteries Revealed

Submitted by Rambo Tribble
Rambo Tribble writes: Researchers from Virginia Tech are reporting they have uncovered the secrets behind the genus Chrysopelea's aerodynamic feats. These ophidians are capable of gliding some distance while appearing to slither through the air. The BBC's article on the revelations hosts a short video of the phenomenon. At the heart of Chrysopelea's feat is a remarkable ability of the snakes to alter their body's cross-section. Finally, snakes that don't need to be on no stinking plane.

Submission + - Cryosat Image Anomalies Prompt Icy Structure Insights

Submitted by Rambo Tribble
Rambo Tribble writes: Patterns appearing in images taken by the ESA's Cryosat program at first baffled agency scientists. Fearing malfunction, they poured over the data. It turns out that patterns in ice features known as sastrugi were affecting the reflection of the polarized radar used by the satellite. The sastrugi have been formed by Antarctica's prevailing katabatic winds. The BBC reports.

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