Map: Non-stop earthquakes keep hitting Japan

After the horrific 9.0 earthquake suffered by Japan, the aftershocks keep coming – many above 5.0. The map below, from the USGS,  shows the earthquakes that have recently happened in Japan – the yellow in the last week and the blue in the last day. The red lines are the plate boundaries. If you're wondering why you cannot actually see the boundaries Japan on the map, it's because the number of earthquake markers completely cover the country. Get a list of the quakes with their specific info here.

Company told to stop selling Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg action figure

M.I.C.Gadget first had a problem when it started selling Steve Jobs action figures. Apple hit them with a cease and desist order, but M.I.C. swung back with a masked Ninja version.This didn't fly with Apples lawyers either. Now they have come out with “Poking Inventor” action figure, which is  a Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg action figure. Foul cry Facebook lawyers in Beijing:

“(1) immediately stopping manufacturing and sales of any products infringing the legitimate rights of Mr. Mark Zuckerberg and FACEBOOK, including but not limited to the Action Figures, any accessory containing FACEBOOK’s trademarks; (2) immediately destroying all remaining products infringing legitimate rights of Mr. Mark Zuckerberg and FACEBOOK; (3) immediately disclosing the accounting of your sales of the Mark Zuckerberg Action Figures and any other infringing products; (4) immediately remove all depictions or listings for the Mark Zuckerberg Action Figures from your website.”

I'm always amazed at what thin skins some of these people have. M.I.C. I hereby give you permission to immortalize me with the Cry Baby Action Figure.

Latest nuclear reactor status report from Fukushima in Japan

Check this out. The latest report reactor by reactor at the TEPCO Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan.

Video: Penguins on a plane

You've heard of snakes on a plane – well check out penguins on a plane. They were actually being transported on a Southwest Airlines flight from San Francisco to San Diego by Seaworld, when their minders let them have a little stroll down the aisle. File this under "too cute".

Japan has now grown 13 feet to the east and shortened our day

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The devastating 9.0 earthquake in Japan has actually increased the coastline of the country by 13 feet eastward. That's at the epicentre and there was less movement further away from it. As well, scientists from NASA have calculated that the earthquake might have shortened the day on Earth  by a couple of millionths of a second and tilted the planet’s axis slightly. Previous  earthquakes have also affected the axis of the Earth and the length of our day. The Chilean earthquake last year shortened the day by 1.26 millionths of a second and moved the axis by about three inches. 

Related articles

• How the Japan Earthquake Shortened Days on Earth (livescience.com)

Are you prone to mind control? Take this test.

Are you prone to mind control? Psychologist Richard Wiseman gives you the chance to find out how suggestible you are in this video. Give it a try. You might be surprised. Once you are under our control, send Cry Baby money – lots of money! (From New Scientist)

Very cool video: Lake Tahoe Milky Way time lapse

This time-lapse of the night sky at Lake Tahoe is spectacular. The images were made with a Canon 5D MKII by Justin Majeczky. The video consists of images taken every 35 seconds.


Lake Tahoe Milky Way Night Time Lapse from Justin Majeczky on Vimeo.