When Nature Calls: Cell Phones Ring Owls

MIT researchers are USING CELL PHONES TO COUNT OWLS. They've loaded 65 phones with recorded sounds of owl calls, lashed the phones to trees in a forest in Sri Lanka, and wired them up with amplified speakers. They dragooned volunteers from the Audubon Society in Maine to call the phones, then count the owls they hear responding over the phone. It's much cheaper than shipping 65 people to Sri Lanka, and can be scaled up to huge projects and other species.

(props to textually.org)

Cell Phone Explodes, 'Sounds Like Dynamite'

A Gizmodo reader snapped pictures showing the aftermath of his exploding Nokia 2115i cell phone, which sounded like dynamite during the blast, then apparently CAUGHT FIRE.

(props to Gizmodo).

UK to Sell Wind-Powered Cell Phone Charger

UK telecom giant Orange plans to sell a tiny wind-powered cell phone charger developed at the University of Texas at Arlington. The MOBILE WIND CHARGER charges a small "control box," which you can plug into with your phone for a full charge.

Coming Soon: The Beyonce-Themed Phone

For those who think newspapers are obsolete, consider today's scoop by The New York Times: Beyonce's dad and manager told the paper that the singer will soon come out with a BEYONCE-THEMED CELL PHONE.

(props to textually.org)

Skincare Ad Can't Claim Cell Phone Protection

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority ordered skincare firm Clarins to stop advertising its Expertise 3P spray as PROTECTION AGAINST CELL PHONE RADIATION because it cannot prove the (obviously bogus) claim.

(props to textually.org)

25% of Chinese Cell Phones Counterfeit

Sohu.com says that 25% of all cell phones sold inside China are ILLEGAL COUNTERFEITS, according to ChinaTechNews.com.

Cell Phone-Activated Laser Blinds Cameras

Instructions posted on the Chaos Projects site tells how to build a window-mounted, SMS-controlled laser that BLINDS SECURITY CAMERAS from long distances. I want one.

(props to Engadget and Hack A Day)

Server with Phone Data On Terrorists Stolen

A server containing a database of terrorist cell phone call details was STOLEN from a data-recovery firm that helps Scotland Yard with cell phone forensics, according to the UK's Mail On Sunday newspaper. The company, called Forensic Telecommunication Services (FTS), notified SO15, Scotland Yard's elite Counter Terrorism Command of the theft. FTS says the data is backed up, password-protected and not related to pending cases.