A NASA scientist claims to have found evidence of alien life in a meteorite:

Though it may be hard to swallow, Hoover is convinced that his findings reveal fossil evidence of bacterial life within such meteorites, the remains of living organisms from their parent bodies — comets, moons and other astral bodies. By extension, the findings suggest we are not alone in the universe, he said.

Phil Plait, of Bad Astronomy, pens a somewhat sane analysis of the news:

Clearly, Hoover thinks terrestrial contamination is unlikely. However, contamination, no matter how unlikely, is a more mundane explanation than extraterrestrial life, and Occam’s Razor will always shave very closely here. We have to be very, very clear that contamination was impossible before seriously entertaining the idea that these structures are space-borne life.

And check out the Journal of Cosmology’s web site…it’s like they stepped into the WABAC Machine and landed in 1995.

Researchers at the University of Manchester have published a guide to the perfect handshake.

Beattie’s steps to the perfect handshake, for both men and women, are: use the right hand; a complete grip and a firm squeeze (but not too strong); a cool and dry palm; approximately three shakes, with a medium level of vigor, held for no longer than two to three seconds.

What exactly is “a medium level of vigor”?

Scientists have discovered that a protein is needed to make a shell, and this protein is only found within a chicken, thereby answering which came first.

Professor John Harding, who also took part in the research, told Metro the discovery could have other applications.

“Understanding how chickens make shells is fascinating in itself, but can also give clues towards designing new materials.” he said.

Which is good, because in spite of HECToR’s hard work and the “scientific proof” it yielded, the study offered no explanation as to how the chicken got there in the first place.

Scientists believe they’ve found the world’s oldest sex toy.  It’s 28,000 years old and may have also been used to start fires.