Science
A cool “what if” video – Earth with rings like Saturn
Source: Real-Time Rendering
Tribute to Carl Sagan
Universal Translator?
Over at the UK Telegraph, journalists have been talking with programmers over at the Leeds Metropolitan University about a computer program being written to analyze an incoming signal from outer space to determine if it’s audio, video, or raw text. And, if it’s a language being sent, put a syntax to it to start the [...]
An end to paralysis
io9 re-posted an article recently about a medical breakthrough allowing brain-computer-interfaces to be built that bridge existing nerve tissue in a limb with the brain, bypassing an injury. These brain-to-muscle connections eliminate the need for prosthetic limbs where the original limb still exists, but is unusable because of some trauma. Previous experiments in the BCI [...]
Buckminster Fuller and the future of aviation
If you know nothing about Buckminster Fuller then I entreat you to visit Wikipedia and read the recount of his life and work. While it may not be wholely accurate, it will contain many references that can be reviewed for accuracy. Interestingly enough, although certain geodesic dome patterns were named Bucky Balls after Fuller, the football [...]
Radioactive Mice?
Although the comments on this YouTube video indicate that the content is well over 2 years old, it’s still amusing to see hairless mice that glow under a UV light. Apparently some scientists decided to change the genetic code of the mice to cause stem cells to glow when in the presence of UV light.
AI Chatbot achieves 83% pass rate on Turing Test
NewScientistTech posted an article with a log capture of their recent conversation with a ChatBot that was an applicant to the annual Turing Test competition. Apparently ElBot managed to fool 25% of the Turing judges (or 83% of the necessary judges fooled in order to pass the Turing test).. In simple terms that means that [...]
GATTACA NOW!
Genetic Engineer takes a leap forward today with the announcement that a Spanish couple has genetically engineered one of their babies to be free of a genetic disorder and as a donor to their first child that suffers from Beta Thalassaemia major, a disease that affects the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen [...]
Patent Pending
UK based BBC News reports that some believe the Patent System has gone awry. Patents originally were intended to protect research performed by private entities by ensuring that royalties and licenses would be paid to the original researcher. Today, companies file “fortress patents” to prevent rival companies from researching similar techniques or technologies.
A reasonable solution [...]
Hubble and the Universe
Gizmodo reported that Hubble made it’s 100,000th orbit of our tiny little planet, 3rd rock from Sol, and took yet another fantastic photo.
The universe we live in is such a beautiful place. But then, just about everything is beautiful from 1 million LY away.
