“Most physicists believe the risk of a cataclysm lies in the realms of science fiction. But there have been fears about the possibility of a mini-black hole - produced in the collider - swelling so that it gobbles up the Earth.”

Check out this photo of a rare uncontacted Amazon tribe. The picture was taken during a fly over of a remote area of the Amazon in Brazil’s Acre state, near the Brazil / Peru border. During the fly over, the natives began shooting arrows at the plane. Experts estimated that their are approximately 100 uncontacted tribes worldwide, with over half residing in the Amazon. For the full story check out the article and additional pictures here.For more information on how you can help to protect the rights of these indigenous people, check out Survival International.

Is it still cheating if everyone is doing it? This Friday “Bigger Stronger Faster” hits selected theaters, covering the dirt behind the steroid controversy here in America. From the producers of Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine, this one should be interesting.

Official website and trailer

“This image shows a polygonal pattern in the ground near NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander, similar in appearance to icy ground in the arctic regions of Earth.

Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude.” (via Nasa.gov)

This mission hopes to uncover further evidence of water on Mars, and even possibly the existence of life. Another amazing accomplishment that shows what happens when humanity focuses its attention on achieving rather than destroying.

Not that they need the plug, but The New Yorker magazine had a good article on hangovers this week, written by Joan Acocella:

If scientists do not have a cure for cancer, that makes sense. But the common cold, the menstrual cramp? The hangover is another condition of this kind. It is a preventable malady: don’t drink. Nevertheless, people throughout time have found what seemed to them good reason for recourse to alcohol.

Read the full article here.

Bizarre glowing cloud phenomenon in the sky was observed about 10 mins before the May 12, 2008 Sichuan earthquake took place. This was recorded in Meixian, Shaanxi province ~550km northeast of epicenter. The phenomenon was said to last for about 1 min.

A map showing two locations where such clouds were sighted relative to Sichuan earthquake epicenters.

See similar clouds appeared ~200km west of this location.

Get educated!

Recently launched, Scientific Facts of Pot.com is a new site which provides a cohesive guide to the scientific truths of marijuana. The sites features regular updates on new studies as they are concluded and released and a massive collection of links to official scientific studies, held by everyone from medical schools at Danish and Israeli Universities to California cardiovascular institutes.

Studies primarily focus on the health impacts of cannabis and THC; topics include marijuana’s ability to combat heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoperosis, Alzheimer’s, liver disease, epilepsy, skin allergies, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

And that’s just a taste.

Go here and check out the site for yourself.

Via CNN:

He became the first human guinea pig of the drug when a tiny amount of the substance seeped onto his finger during a repeat of the laboratory experiment April 16, 1943.

“I had to leave work for home because I was suddenly hit by a sudden feeling of unease and mild dizziness,” he wrote in a memo to company bosses.

“Everything I saw was distorted as in a warped mirror,” he said, describing his bicycle ride home. “I had the impression I was rooted to the spot. But my assistant told me we were actually going very fast.”

Three days later, Hofmann experimented with a larger dose. The result was a horror trip.

“The substance which I wanted to experiment with took over me. I was filled with an overwhelming fear that I would go crazy. I was transported to a different world, a different time,” Hofmann wrote.

Astronomer’s get closer look at black hole jet (via USA Today)