Elephants almost 'glide' when running

Question: How does an elephant manage to move 5 tons of bulk, step after step after step?

Answer: To find out, researchers in Thailand had trainers ride 34 elephants down 8 meters of force-sensing plates at different speeds, then combined the data with video to map out the forces exerted at each point along the way, explains Jocelyn Kaiser in "Science" magazine.

While human runners exert peak force of three times their body weight, an elephant hits the ground with at most 1.4 times its weight, as reported in the "Journal of Experimental Biology."

Even at top speed, an elephant's center of mass moves up and down only a centimeter — not quite a "glide" but close, said the researchers.

"It's mind-boggling that they were able to get data this good," concludes Duke University animal locomotion expert Daniel Schmitt.

Question: For "counting cards" at blackjack, you'll need some speedy math skills and a sound strategy.

What is the strategy?

Answer: You'll need to bet more when the dealer's shoe — a device for holding multiple decks — is rich with big cards, detail the editors of "Wired" magazine.

Success takes time and a bankroll of at least 400 times your standard bet.

Using the classic Hi-Lo method, you start with zero at the shuffle. Then for every 10 or face card or ace that hits the table, subtract a point; for every 2 through 6 card, add a point (the 7, 8 and 9 count as zero points).

When possible, let cards cancel each other out to save time.

Before each hand, divide your count by the estimated number of decks left in the shoe (tip: guess the number of decks in the discard and subtract that from the total number used in the game — usually six).

When your total hits +2, "bet like a big dog."

Words of caution: Be inconspicuous. Don't move your lips as you calculate or bet too many chips. Counting cards isn't against the law, but a suspicious pit boss will show you the door or just signal the dealer to shuffle, wiping out your boosted odds and setting the count back to zero.

"Granted, all this work will win you only a 2 percent edge at best, but what have you got to lose? (Oh, yeah, all that money.)"

Question: "I'm looking over a four-leaf clover that I overlooked before."