Fastest Eyes in the West; The Piltdown Hoaxer; Russia and Turkey Sittin' in a Tree...; Out Gunned Britain; and Vietnam's Firing Range

Creatures

Computation of motion by T4 cells in the fly brain more complex than previously believed medicalxpress

Flies are usually very difficult to catch. No wonder – they invest around ten percent of their brain in the detection and processing of image motion. For the fly, a hand approaches in slow motion and the fly's evasive manoeuvre has long been triggered before any real danger arises. Scientists have been researching for decades how the fly brain can perceive and process movements so quickly and accurately. "Our goal is slowly coming into view, and we are close to completely decoding the neuronal circuit of motion perception in the fly," says Alexander Borst, who has been working on this problem with his Department at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology neuro.mpg.de for quite some time. The scientists have now come one step closer to the answer: They have provided experimental data that combine two theories previously considered as alternatives.

Archeology

New Piltdown hoax analysis points to work of 'lone forger' phys.org

The new research, published in Royal Society Open Science rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org, was undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team from institutions in Liverpool, London, Cambridge and Canterbury. They used the latest scientific methods to test the Piltdown specimens to uncover more about how the forgery was done.

Russia-Turkey

Russia and Turkey's new friendship is bad news for the West telegraph.co.uk

The European Union and Nato face a significant challenge from the unfolding diplomatic rapprochement between Russia and Turkey. For centuries, these two countries were implacable enemies and efforts a decade ago to forge a strategic partnership were undone by the Syrian civil war. While Moscow propped up Bashar al-Assad, Ankara either stayed out or supported his enemies. Relations hit a low point last November when Turkish jets shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber near the Syrian border for violating Turkey’s airspace. Russia imposed sanctions and a freeze descended once more.

Also see Germany: Russia and Turkey's Ties Will Not Weaken Nato

War

Russian Army Can Outgun British Troops, Leaked Report Warns newsweek

The report—produced in March under the direction of General Sir Nick Carter, head of the army—added that U.K. and its NATO allies were “scrambling to catch up” with Russia’s ability to use electronic means to hijack enemy drones and disrupt other military transmissions.

Vietnam sends rocket launchers to the South China Sea theguardian

Diplomats and military officers told Reuters Hanoi had shipped the launchers from the Vietnamese mainland into positions on five bases in the Spratly islands in recent months. They said the launchers could be made operational, if needed, with rocket artillery rounds within two or three days.

Note:

The Guardian was unable to verify the report, which cited unnamed western officials, and Vietnam’s foreign ministry said the information was inaccurate.

See also What do 'hangars' on disputed islands in the South China Sea tell us?

Other...

Who invented the ice cream cone? cleveland