Tesla Motors: An Engineering Update on Powertrain 1.5 – “For those of you not thinking about this every day like we are the powertrain 1.5 is an improved motor, inverter and gearbox designed to replace our previous two-speed transmission that had many durability, efficiency and cost challenges. We officially kicked off this program just last fall but it is something that Elon and I had discussed several years ago. A very low-cost and efficient single-speed gearbox mated with a continually improving motor, inverter and battery is the core competency of Tesla’s powertrain team and it is also our roadmap for future vehicles…”

Fossil reveals oldest live birth – “A fossil fish uncovered in Australia is the oldest-known example of a mother giving birth to live young, scientists have reported in the journal Nature…”

Lead exposure in children linked to violent crime – “The first study to follow lead-exposed children from before birth into adulthood has shown that even relatively low levels of lead permanently damage the brain and are linked to higher numbers of arrests, particularly for violent crime…”

An ex-Jack Sparrow spills on life at the Magic Kingdom – Behind the scenes look at working as a character at DisneyLand.

How to Win the Google Lunar X Prize and Beat NASA to the Moon – “DIY space enthusiasts want to go bang, zoom, straight to the moon and win $20 million. The competition is open to all, but to take your best shot at the pot, you’ll need a good game plan. We can help…”

TOP TEN THINGS SCIENCE CAN’T EXPLAIN – “It’s time to cut to the chase with a look at the top ten things that science just can’t explain – yet. No we’re not talking minor mysteries like how Keith Richards is still walking, these are the biggies…”

Scientists build a better DNA molecule – “Building faultless objects from faulty components may seem like alchemy. Yet scientists from the Weizmann Institute’s Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, and Biological Chemistry Departments have achieved just that, using a mathematical concept called recursion…”

The Fascinating Lives of Wolves – “Wolves are remarkable animals yet misunderstood by humans. Wolves have been falsely accused of being wicked in human stories and fables. Perhaps through education we can learn to truly respect the space and grace of these amazing beasts…”

Desalination, for a World Short of Water – “Nearly half the world’s population could soon be at risk. Many companies are poised to supply equipment for massive desalination efforts…”

Crystal Skulls Fuel Controversy, Fascination – “Crystal skulls are not uncommon or terribly mysterious. Thousands are produced every year in Brazil, China, and Germany. But there are a handful of these rather macabre objects that have fueled intense interest and controversy among archaeologists, scientists, spiritualists, and museum officials for more than a century…”

The Zero Install system – “The Zero Install system aims to provide a better way of installing software than traditional systems (tarballs, apt-get, bundles, setup.exe, etc). Here are some of our goals…”

Microsoft’s 216MP camera behind Virtual Earth 3D models – “How does Microsoft get those 3D models for Virtual Earth that make its Live Maps service so darn good? The answer is simple: if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself…”

Milky Way’s mass is drastically reduced – “Our galaxy is only half as massive as previously thought, new measurements suggest. The finding has yet to be confirmed, but it fits in with recent studies hinting that the Milky Way has a weaker gravitational hold on nearby dwarf galaxies than previously believed…”

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