SciAm: A tool-wielding octopus? This invertebrate builds armor from coconut halves (12/14/09)

Yep, your eyes didn't fool you. It's an octopus sitting in a coconut shell. This critter has enough intelligence and strength!

"While I have observed and videoed octopuses hiding in shells many times, I never expected to find an octopus that stacks multiple coconut shells and jogs across the seafloor carrying them," Julian Finn, of the Museum Victoria in Australia...said in a prepared statement.

Hard to believe? Check out the video below.

Full Story: http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=a-tool-wielding-octopus-this-invert-2009-12-14

SciAm 60-Second Science: Powerful and Bad in 2009 (12/31/09)

Spiderman, the web-slinging hero we all just can't help but adore, always remembered, "With great power comes great responsibility." Here's one study that reiterates the importance of Spidey's wisdom.

Researchers assigned 172 subjects high-power roles (prime minister) and low-power roles (civil servant.) The subjects had to consider a series of moral dilemmas involving stolen bikes, breaking traffic rules, and instituting taxes.

In each of five experiments the more powerful characters consistently showed moral hypocrisy.  They disapproved of immoral behavior (e.g., the over-reporting of expenses) and yet behaved badly themselves.

Full Story: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=powerful-and-bad-in-2009-09-12-31

SciAm: Undertakers' New Year's message to drunk drivers: It's your own funeral (12/31/09)

Unexpected and catchy - what an effective way to combat drunk driving.

In the days leading up to New Year's Eve, people in Rome, Georgia, outside Atlanta, could see an unusual type of campaign to discourage drunk driving. TV stations and newspapers are announcing that, between 9 A.M. on December 28 and noon on December 31, the local McGuire, Jennings and Miller funeral homes will sign a contract with anyone who plans to drink or use drugs and drive on New Year's Eve. The contract states that, if the person dies in a car accident on the 31st, he or she will get a free funeral.

How do people respond? Check out the full story below.

Full Story: http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=undertakers-new-years-message-to-dr-2009-12-31