Dr. Dosch had concluded in a 1999 paper that there were surprising similarities between diabetes and multiple sclerosis, a central nervous system disease. His interest was also piqued by the presence around the insulin-producing islets of an "enormous" number of nerves, pain neurons primarily used to signal the brain that tissue has been damaged.
Suspecting a link between the nerves and diabetes, he and Dr. Salter used an old experimental trick -- injecting capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot chili peppers, to kill the pancreatic sensory nerves in mice that had an equivalent of Type 1 diabetes.
"Then we had the biggest shock of our lives," Dr. Dosch said. Almost immediately, the islets began producing insulin normally "It was a shock ? really out of left field, because nothing in the literature was saying anything about this."
It turns out the nerves secrete neuropeptides that are instrumental in the proper functioning of the islets. Further study by the team, which also involved the University of Calgary and the Jackson Laboratory in Maine, found that the nerves in diabetic mice were releasing too little of the neuropeptides, resulting in a "vicious cycle" of stress on the islets.
So next they injected the neuropeptide "substance P" in the pancreases of diabetic mice, a demanding task given the tiny size of the rodent organs. The results were dramatic.
The islet inflammation cleared up and the diabetes was gone. Some have remained in that state for as long as four months, with just one injection.
Jul 8, 2006
The Top Seven Signs that Someone is Lying to You
When it comes to finding out whether or not you're being lied to, Gepetto had it easy. All it took was one look at Pinocchios's growing schnoz and he knew. Of course, most of us don't have it that easy but could sure benefit if we did.
It seems that we're largely a nation of liars, with some estimates saying that most people lie to others one or twice a day, and in about 30 percent to 38 percent of our interactions in all.
Why we lie varies. Around the age of 4 or 5, when we start telling lies, it's done not maliciously, but rather to gain awareness and use the power of language, says Dr. Gail Saltz, a psychiatrist with New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Later on, we lie to get things we want, for personal gain or to stay out of trouble. We tell "white lies" to protect other's feelings, and then there are the pathological liars among us, the people who feel compelled to lie no matter what.
So, with liars all around us (don't lie -- we ALL lie at one point or another, even those "little white lies" count), it's imperative to know the signs that someone may be lying to you. Here are seven of the classic signs to watch out for ...
Seven Common Signs of Lying
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No eye contact. Generally, if someone is lying they will not look you in the eye, at least during a certain part of the conversation. Normally, people make eye contact for at least half of a conversation, so anything less than this could be suspicious. One caveat: there are some people who will take great pains to make eye contact with you even if they're lying, simply to make you think they're not.
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Change in voice. A change in the pitch of a person's tone, or a lot of stammering (umm, ah), or throat clearing could indicate a lie.
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Unusual body language. If a person taps their foot a lot, fidgets with their hands, raises their shoulders, turns away from you or brings their hand to their face (to touch their chin or nose, etc.) -- in other words, if they act nervous or uncomfortable -- it could mean they're telling a lie. Also watch out for blushing (or becoming pale) and increased blinking.
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Something sounds fishy. Making statements that contradict each other, are inconsistent or don't sound quite right are usually part of a lie.
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Overly defensive. Sometimes when a person is lying they will become extremely defensive, refusing to answer any questions and even accusing you of lying. This may mean they have something to hide.
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Changes subject easily. If someone is lying and you change the subject, chances are high that they'll go right along with it. A person telling the truth, however, will likely ask why you changed the subject and want to go back to it.
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Humor or sarcasm. A guilty person will often try to change the subject using humor or sarcasm.
Of course, no one behavior can tell for sure whether or not someone is telling the truth or lying. While you should trust your instinct, if you're not sure it's best to try to get some evidence to back up your accusation. Rather than relying on a specific behavior, catching a liar in the act is best done by watching their normal behaviors. When those behaviors suddenly change, that's when a lie has likely been told.
Read the original article: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/06/29/the_top_seven_signs_that_someone_is_lying_to_you.htm
Genetic Engineering Fuses Spider Silk and Silica
Bioengineers at Tufts University have created a new fusion protein that for the first time combines the toughness of spider silk with the intricate structure of silica. The resulting nanocomposite could be used in medical and industrial applications, such as growing bone tissue.
From the article:
Silica provides structural support to diatoms (single-celled organisms known for their remarkable nanostructural details) while silk proteins from spiders and silkworms are more flexible, stronger and able to self-assemble into readily defined structures. The Tufts researchers were able to design and clone genetic fusions of the encoding genes for these two proteins, and then generate these genetically engineered proteins into nanocomposites at ambient temperatures using only water. In contrast, high temperatures and harsh conditions are typically required by geochemical and industrial synthesis of silica in the laboratory.
Nanowires Four Times Faster Than Silicon
Advances in nanowires have shown that they may be the future in cheap, high-performance electronics. Researchers at Harvard have shown that nanowire transistors are are least four times faster than existing silicon ones. These nanowires show promise in being able to be embedded in plastics, and could lead to devices such as flexible displays that process information in the screen itself
We will be able to live to 1,000
Life expectancy is increasing in the developed world. But Cambridge University geneticist Aubrey de Grey believes it will soon extend dramatically to 1,000. Here, he explains why
Top 10 Hybrid Animals
Editors of Hemmy, have created a list about the top 10 hybrid animals. Hybrid animals are cross-breds between animals of similar genetics. They mostly exist in captivity and are the result of human intervention
10. Liger/Tigon
9. Wolf Dog
8. Iron Age Pig
7. Zebroid
6. Cama
7. Zebroid
6. Cama
5. Grolar, Pizzly
4. Leopon
3. Hybrid Pheasant
2. Wolphin
1. Ti-Liger, Ti-Tigon, Li-Tigon, Li-Liger
4. Leopon
3. Hybrid Pheasant
2. Wolphin
1. Ti-Liger, Ti-Tigon, Li-Tigon, Li-Liger
Check out yourself at http://www.hemmy.net/2006/06/19/top-10-hybrid-animals/
Jun 21, 2006
reflections: friends...They can sure change your life
Recently I read this story from one of Rakesh's blog. Very touchy.
reflections: friends...They can sure change your life
reflections: friends...They can sure change your life
Which sex is your brain?
Scientist believe that your body and brain dont share the same sex always. Find out whether your body's sex matches with your brain
Martian Life: The NASA Cover-Up?
From the article:
The dispute dates back to July 1976, when the first Viking lander settled down on the dusty-pink world with its salmon-pink skies. But there was nothing rosy about the Red Planet. It was bitterly cold, and almost airless. Drifts of fine Martian soil stretched for miles, as powdery as Antarctic snow. Rocks and boulders of all shapes and sizes littered the scene. Many were rough and volcanic in appearance, and some had small holes where gas had once bubbled through - like pumice.
...
Two of the experiments gave negative or inconclusive results. Any reactions that took place, agreed the researchers, were down to chemistry rather than biology. But the third experiment had everyone sitting up and taking a considerable amount of notice. It was the Labelled Release experiment of 'sanitary engineer' Gil Levin.
No More Cavities?
From the article:
A Florida-based company called Oragenics may have found a way to rid our mouths of these acid-excreting organisms for good. This would make cavities a thing of the past, and put no small number of dentists out of business. But despite the obvious benefits, there is potential for disaster.
On the surface it seems like an elegant solution, but clearly there is the potential to upset delicate systems in nature, resulting in possible larger-scale side effects
Read more:
Top Ten Accidental Discoveries
Most of the discoveries happen by accident. Here is a look at some of the crucial discoveries made by humans and that revolutionized our life oneway or the other.
Also if you want to try 10 Strangest computer setup, here it is.
How Flies Walk on Ceilings
From the article:
Walking upside-down requires a careful balance of adhesion and weight, and specialized trekking tools to combat the constant tug of gravity.
Each fly foot has two fat footpads that give the insect plenty of surface area with which to cling. The adhesive pads on the feet, called pulvilli, come equipped with tiny hairs that have spatula-like tips. These hairs are called setae.
Scientists once thought that the curved shape of the hairs suggested that flies used them to grip onto the ceiling. In fact, the hairs produce a glue-like substance made of sugars and oils.
Great Mistakes in Technical Leadership
Perhaps the most difficult job to do on any software development project is that of Technical Lead. The Technical Lead has overall responsibility for all technical aspects of the project - design, code, technology selection, work assignment, scheduling and architecture are all within his purview. Positioned right at the border of the technical and managerial, they are the proverbial "meat in the sandwich." This means that they have to be able to speak two languages - the high-level language of the project manager to whom they report, and the low-level technical language of their team. In effect, they're the translator between the two dialects.
How to Extend the Life of Your Car
With rising gas prices and very costly repairs, the last thing you want to worry about is if and when your car is going to break down. Here's how to protect your investment, and get from Point A to Point B as reliably as possible.
Jun 8, 2006
Display System That Knows Who You Are
New Scientistreports on an 'interactive computer display that keeps track of multiple users by differentiating between their touch'. The system consists of a touch-sensitive screen that can be operated by several users simultaneously. When a user touches the screen an electrical signal is sent through their body and picked up by a receiver located in their chair, telling a computer precisely where the screen was touched and by whom. Applications could include system access control, safer vehicle controls, and smarter videogames. The bottom line, in the words of one of the inventors: 'If the controls know who is operating them, they can behave appropriately.' The movie even has funkier than average background music
How to improve your memory?
BULD YOUR MEMORY - The site that unleashes the incredible hidden potential of YOUR memory!
By Mark S. D'Arcy
By Mark S. D'Arcy
From the web site:
Many people claim that they possess a poor memory. Indeed you may even be one of those people yourself. Well whether you are or not, the simple fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the population have perfectly good memories. The problem is that they just don’t know how to use them properly
What I have attempted to accomplish with this site, is to outline in simple terms, a variety of techniques, that with a bit of practice and just a little time, will allow the reader to express the full potential of their latent memory capabilities. Techniques I might add, that have been around in one form or another for quite a number of centuries. But that until relatively recent times had only been used extensively by a select number of magicians and showman.
I myself firmly believe that the memory improvement systems that are outlined in my site, are surprisingly straight-forward, and should not take you more than a relatively short period of time to fully master.
For more information vist http://www.buildyourmemory.com/
Jun 7, 2006
UK firm to unveil wall-socket PC
From the article:
Newcastle-based Jade Integration will launch one of the smallest thin-client computers available in the UK to date, the Jack PC, next month.
Containing all the electronics needed to run as a low- to medium-power PC, the Jack PC, as its name suggests, will fit into a standard size wall socket. The entire PC sits on two layered circuitboards. It contains an AMD RISC processor to help reduce power consumption and heat output.
Jun 6, 2006
How to build the best paper airplane in the world
Step by step process to make a good paper air plane.
GROUNDBREAKING MATERIAL: OLED illuminated surfaces
Imagine a house without a single light fixture - but instead walls, ceilings, furnishings, and accessories all sources of light. Thanks to research at Princeton University and the University of Southern California (USC), almost any surface in a building can become a light source with OLEDs.
Researchers have made a critical advancement from what was once single-color displays to highly efficient and long-lasting natural light source called OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes). The invention was the brain child of 13-years of research in the OLED program headed up by Mark Thompson at USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and Stephan Forrest, vice president for research at the University of Michigan (formerly at Princeton).
Thompson states that the OLED process enables us to get 100 percent efficiency out of single, broad spectrum light source. Completely transparent when not in use, the devices can be used in windows and a skylight, mimicking the feel of natural light once the sun goes down. Imagine the energy saving possibilities! Or, for gadget geeks, OLEDs could make for the flattest flat-panel TV imaginable. Watch out when OLEDs hit the mass market, it could transform lighting as we know it.
Geneticist claims to have found 'God gene' in humans
LONDON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
LONDON — An American molecular geneticist has concluded after comparing more than 2,000 DNA samples that a person's capacity to believe in God is linked to brain chemicals.
His findings have been criticized by leading clerics, who challenge the existence of a "God gene" and say the research undermines a fundamental tenet of faith — that spiritual enlightenment is achieved through divine transformation rather than the brain's electrical impulses.
Dean Hamer, the director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, asked volunteers 226 questions in order to determine how spiritually connected they felt to the universe.
The higher their score, the greater the person's ability to believe in a greater spiritual force and, Mr. Hamer found, the more likely they were to share the gene VMAT2.
Studies on twins showed that those with this gene, a vesicular monoamine transporter that regulates the flow of mood-altering chemicals in the brain, were more likely to develop a spiritual belief.
Growing up in a religious environment was said to have little effect on belief.
Mr. Hamer, who in 1993 claimed to have identified a DNA sequence linked to male homosexuality, said the existence of the "God gene" explained why some people had more aptitude for spirituality than others.
"Buddha, Muhammad and Jesus all shared a series of mystical experiences or alterations in consciousness and thus probably carried the gene," he said. "This means that the tendency to be spiritual is part of genetic makeup. This is not a thing that is strictly handed down from parents to children. It could skip a generation. It's like intelligence."
His findings, published in a book, "The God Gene: How Faith Is Hard-Wired Into Our Genes," are being greeted skeptically by many in the religious establishment.
The Rev. John Polkinghorne, a fellow of the Royal Society and a canon theologian at Liverpool Cathedral, said: "The idea of a God gene goes against all my personal theological convictions. You can't cut faith down to the lowest common denominator of genetic survival. It shows the poverty of reductionist thinking."
The Rev. Walter Houston, the chaplain of Mansfield College, Oxford, and a fellow in theology, said: "Religious belief is not just related to a person's constitution. It's related to society, tradition, character — everything's involved. Having a gene that could do all that seems pretty unlikely to me."
Mr. Hamer insisted, however, that his research was not antithetical to a belief in God.
"Religious believers can point to the existence of God genes as one more sign of the Creator's ingenuity — a clever way to help humans acknowledge and embrace a divine presence," he said.
His findings have been criticized by leading clerics, who challenge the existence of a "God gene" and say the research undermines a fundamental tenet of faith — that spiritual enlightenment is achieved through divine transformation rather than the brain's electrical impulses.
Dean Hamer, the director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, asked volunteers 226 questions in order to determine how spiritually connected they felt to the universe.
The higher their score, the greater the person's ability to believe in a greater spiritual force and, Mr. Hamer found, the more likely they were to share the gene VMAT2.
Studies on twins showed that those with this gene, a vesicular monoamine transporter that regulates the flow of mood-altering chemicals in the brain, were more likely to develop a spiritual belief.
Growing up in a religious environment was said to have little effect on belief.
Mr. Hamer, who in 1993 claimed to have identified a DNA sequence linked to male homosexuality, said the existence of the "God gene" explained why some people had more aptitude for spirituality than others.
"Buddha, Muhammad and Jesus all shared a series of mystical experiences or alterations in consciousness and thus probably carried the gene," he said. "This means that the tendency to be spiritual is part of genetic makeup. This is not a thing that is strictly handed down from parents to children. It could skip a generation. It's like intelligence."
His findings, published in a book, "The God Gene: How Faith Is Hard-Wired Into Our Genes," are being greeted skeptically by many in the religious establishment.
The Rev. John Polkinghorne, a fellow of the Royal Society and a canon theologian at Liverpool Cathedral, said: "The idea of a God gene goes against all my personal theological convictions. You can't cut faith down to the lowest common denominator of genetic survival. It shows the poverty of reductionist thinking."
The Rev. Walter Houston, the chaplain of Mansfield College, Oxford, and a fellow in theology, said: "Religious belief is not just related to a person's constitution. It's related to society, tradition, character — everything's involved. Having a gene that could do all that seems pretty unlikely to me."
Mr. Hamer insisted, however, that his research was not antithetical to a belief in God.
"Religious believers can point to the existence of God genes as one more sign of the Creator's ingenuity — a clever way to help humans acknowledge and embrace a divine presence," he said.
Read the article here
May 31, 2006
Plan For Cloaking Device Unveiled
The BBC is reporting that a plan for a cloaking device has been unveiled. The design is pioneered by Professor Sir John Pendry's team of scientists from the US and Britain. Proof of the ability of his invention could be ready in just 18 months time using radar testing. The method revolves around certain materials making light "flow" around the given object like water
Baby sitting the economy
The simplest article I have seen explaining the economy in general. Worth reading if you want to know how economy works at a country level
May 21, 2006
Extreme Life on Earth
Our oceans are 99% unexplored. In the past 30 years, we have discovered 3 ecosystems that don't directly depend on light for their survival. We never even guessed these ecosystems were possible. What other surprises will we find as we continue to explore the ocean floor?
May 10, 2006
Traffic junctions of the future
How will be the traffic flow in the future. Check this similuation. The average car delay now is 10 seconds. This simulation brings it down to 0.47 seconds or even in some cases, 0.076 seconds. Amazing to watch
Gone in 20 Minutes: using laptops to steal cars
From the article:
High-tech thieves are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to stealing automobiles equipped with keyless entry and ignition systems. While many computer-based security systems on automobiles require some type of key — mechanical or otherwise — to start the engine, so-called ‘keyless’ setups require only the presence of a key fob to start the engine
Targeted virus compels cancer cells to eat themselves
From the article:
An engineered virus tracks down and infects the most common and deadly form of brain cancer and then kills tumor cells by forcing them to devour themselves, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report this week in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute
The modified adenovirus homed in on malignant glioma cells in mice and induced enough self-cannibalization among the cancer cells -- a process called autophagy -- to reduce tumor size and extend survival, says senior author Seiji Kondo, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at M. D. Anderson.
''This virus uses telomerase, an enzyme found in 80 percent of brain tumors, as a target,'' Kondo says. ''Once the virus enters the cell, it needs telomerase to replicate. Normal brain tissue does not have telomerase, so this virus replicates only in cancer cells.''
May 2, 2006
Make'em drink coffee, if you want them say YES
According to an Australian study, our geek wonder-drink of choice might turn us into yes-men. From the article: "The experiments showed that "caffeine increases persuasion through instigating systematic processing of the message"." Apparently this has implications for the advertising world, "because it suggests that they should schedule adverts for times when people are likely to be consuming caffeine, such as breakfast time.".
How to see in the dark?
Human beings cannot see in total darkness and in general, they do not have very good night vision. However, it is possible to improve your ability to see in the dark.
Apr 25, 2006
Scientists Probe the Use of the Tongue
Yahoo! News is reporting that in the military's continuing search for better sensory input they have started looking at the tongue as a 'superior transmitter'.
From the article:
A narrow strip of red plastic connects the Brain Port to the tongue where 144 microelectrodes transmit information through nerve fibers to the brain. Instead of holding and looking at compasses and bluky-hand-held sonar devices, the divers can processes the information through their tongues, said Dr. Anil Raj, the project's lead scientist.
Apr 21, 2006
TV's Flexible Future
"As you can see it's quite flexible," says Anna Chwang, senior scientist, as she displays a paper thin film with images running across it.
It uses something called "OLEDs" (organic light emitting devices), a thin film of chemicals, 1/10,000 of an inch thick, that turns an electronic signal into a picture, much like a television does.
OLEDs have already been spread on glass and used for cell-phone displays. These scientists are perfecting a way to spread them onto plastic to create flexible OLEDs.
Hollywood science fiction, right?
Actually, the future seen in the Tom Cruise movie "Minority Report" may be just around the corner.
An Alternate Human
What has six limbs, a prehensile tail, its brain in its chest, and reproductive organs in its mouth? The alternate human designed by biologist PZ Myers in Remaking Humanity, a story in Forbes.com's package on Reinvention. It may sound fantastic, but researchers are already working to re-build DNA, proteins and cells in a new field called synthetic biology, and we may have to meet these bug-eyed freaks sometime in our lifetime.
This too shall pass
A LOT OF THINGS MIGHT HELP you in your relationship, but when you try to sift out the most important, your ability to deal with conflict will be at or near the top of the list.
Would you like to experience less conflict? Would you like to feel calmer during conflicts? Would you like to resolve them easier? Here's how: Remember whatever is happening is temporary. There are several reasons this principle is so important.
Scientific explanation for near death experience
We have heard many stories on near death experiences. Here is a scientific explanation to it.
From the article:
Throughout history, there have been accounts of people experiencing visions on the brink of death, what are now called near-death experiences. There are dozens of books and films on the subject, even a Journal of Near Death Studies in America, and a conference planned this October in Houston, Texas.
Today, new evidence is published that backs the idea that the near-death experience is a biological experience, rather than anything to do with a larger, spiritual dimension, a glimpse of heaven, or the existence of the soul.
Tiny Flyer Navigates Like Fly
An ultralight autonomous aircraft that mimics the navigational abilities of a fly could one day become a real fly on the wall.
The 10-gram microflyer, being developed by a team of researchers lead by Dario Floreano at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, has a 36-centimeter (14-inch) wingspan.
But it could one day be shrunk to insect size and used for search and rescue.
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060410/flybot_tec.htmlTop 20 Strangest Gadgets and Accessories
Check out the talking lips, Wood LED Clock, Head bath cup, Bouncing digital camera, RSStroom Reader etc... Really weird ones ..
Apr 10, 2006
Batteries made from Virus?
Researchers at MIT have modified the M13 virus to create very small batteries. With the viruses building wires 6 nanometers in diameter, the research team hopes to 'build batteries that range from the size of a grain of rice up to the size of existing hearing-aid batteries.'
Health Problems Related to the Geek Lifestyle
A doctor and former programmer has written a good article on common geek health problems. From the article: 'If I were to go and try to run a few miles this weekend, I would not be able to easily do so. [...] However, if you take one of the these college basketball athletes, any of them would be able to run miles without even breathing heavy. However, if you made them sit down and try to learn Java for 12 hours a day, most of them would be asleep at their desk before lunch. The typical geek trains their brain to be heavily focused while multitasking day after day. Is it surprising that this same brain does not do well when forced to isolate down to one task?
Self-Parking Cars Coming To U.S.
Vehicles that are able to parallel park themselves while drivers sit and relax behind the wheel are coming to the United States, according to a Local 6 News report. New Toyota hybrid cars are now available in Britain with a $700 "parking assist" option. Local 6 news showed video of a driver sitting and allowing the car's steering wheel to turn on its own as it pulled into a tight parking spot on a London street. The reporter never touched the wheel as the car parked itself.Toyota says expect to see the technology pop up in the U.S. soon." Here is our previous coverage of their release in Japan.
Apr 5, 2006
Cell phone users 240 % more promne to brain tumors
A new Swedish study has found that heavy users of cell phones had a 240 percent increase in brain tumors on the side of their head that the phone was used on.
Prayer Does Not Help Heart Patients
A recent study conducted by the Duke University Medical Center on 700 patients, found that having people pray for heart bypass surgery patients had no effect on their recovery. Researchers emphasized their work does not address whether God exists or answers prayers made on another's behalf.This result seems to contradict a previous study by the same authors that reported "cardiac patients who received intercessory prayer in addition to coronary stenting appeared to have better clinical outcomes than those treated with standard stenting therapy alone
Doctors grow organs from patients' own cells
Scientists grew new bladders from the patients' own cells, which were then transplanted back into the patients' bodies.
Dr. Anthony Atala and his colleagues described the experiment as a long-term success for the seven patients, who ranged from toddlers to teenagers.
Cell phone users 240 % more prone to brain tumors
A new Swedishstudy hasfound that heavy users of cell phones had a 240 percent increase inbrain tumors on the side of their head that the phone was usedon. The study defined 'heavy' use as more than 2,000 total hours,or approximately one hour of use per workday for 10 years. Anearlier Britishstudy was previously discussedhere that didn't find an increased risk, although that studycovered fewer subjects and only followed one type of brain tumor for ashorter period of time. Or course, the biggest epidemiologicalstudy of all is the one we are all participating in whenever we use ourcell phone. The results from that study won't be available for awhile.
Five things likely to make you happier in the short term
Here is my list of things to give you a short-term "hit" of happiness. Of course, these things won't solve your long-term problems, but they are useful tricks to giving yourself some relief when it all seems too much.
Each is virtually guaranteed to give you some satisfaction, but they won't work unless you try them. Sometimes, misery and depression can all become a bit too comfortable. Taking action, however minor, can appear like too much effort. It's so much easier just to hang around the house feeling bad, than doing something about it
Each is virtually guaranteed to give you some satisfaction, but they won't work unless you try them. Sometimes, misery and depression can all become a bit too comfortable. Taking action, however minor, can appear like too much effort. It's so much easier just to hang around the house feeling bad, than doing something about it
1. Go out for a walk
2. Do something fun that you haven't done in a long time
3. Do something creative
4. Complete some minor chore that you've been avoiding
5. Get in contact with an old friend or acquaintance you haven't seen for a while
2. Do something fun that you haven't done in a long time
3. Do something creative
4. Complete some minor chore that you've been avoiding
5. Get in contact with an old friend or acquaintance you haven't seen for a while
Electrical Noise Causing Physiological Stress?
The Globe and Mail is reporting on possible physiological problems caused by so-called 'dirty electricity.' Poor power quality caused by electrical feedback and harmonics from consumer electronics are cited as a possible cause of various 'physiological stress' problems. While previous research in this area looked for connections between EM fields and cancer, some research is now looking into possible connections to fatigue, headaches, depression, and other symptoms. From the article: 'If electricity were flowing in a constant way, most people's bodies would likely adapt, but with all the interference from modern devices, the resulting fields are too variable for people to get used to.
First Steps Toward Artificial Gravity
Have scientists been able to artificially generate a gravitational field? Researchers at the European Space Agency believe so."Small acceleration sensors placed at different locations close to the spinning superconductor, which has to be accelerated for the effect to be noticeable, recorded an acceleration field outside the superconductor that appears to be produced by gravitomagnetism. This experiment is the gravitational analogue of Faraday's electromagnetic induction experiment in 1831."The effect is very small, so don't expect to see it used in spacecraft any time soon. But the effect is still many times larger than the predictions of Einstein's theories."If confirmed, this would be a major breakthrough," says [Austrian researcher Martin] Tajmar. "It opens up a new means of investigating general relativity and it consequences in the quantum world."
Measure the speed of your brain
According to CNet, a company named Posit Science has produced an online test using Flash that uses sounds to measure the speed of your brain down to the millisecond. According to the company, the test 'measures auditory processing (listening) speed—one of many measures of brain function...The faster we can take in information accurately, the better we can keep up with, respond to and remember what we hear
Mar 23, 2006
10 Emerging Technologies
Epigenetics, Cognitive Radio, Nuclear Reprogramming, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Universal Authentication, Nanobiomechanics, Pervasive Wireless, Stretchable Silicon, Comparative Interactomics, Nanomedicine.
AjaxWrite to "Compete" with MS Word
Michael Robertson (of MP3.com, Linspire, SIPPhone, GizmoProject and MP3Tunes.com fame) is launching a Web-only competitor to Microsoft Office by creating a suite of applications replicating Microsoft Office look and feel.
From the posting: "But ajaxWrite is just the start. We have a library of applications we have been working on to replace most of the standard PC software titles. Every week we will launch a new sophisticated program on Wednesday at 12:00 PST on ajaxlaunch.com. These programs will push the boundaries of what people believe is possible today with web-delivered software. These programs look and operate much like their traditional software cousins, but are cross-platform, loaded dynamically, and are available to users at no charge. I'm convinced if you try a few of these products you will understand how the software business will fundamentally change." ajaxWrite is the first launched product
Is this the future for applications?
Seven Career Killers
As someone just starting out in the work world, you probably don't have a reputation yet. Take advantage of this blank slate. "You want to be seen as an up-and-comer, not the stereotypical young slacker," says Marty Nemko, a job coach in Oakland, Cal., and columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Avoiding these seven career killers will help you craft a stellar reputation and keep your career on track.
Excellent read for every one, especially freshers.
How to Think Like a Genius?
From the article:
Somebody asked me the other day how I can be endlessly coming up with ideas for products, that they would in my situation be worrying about their ideas running out one day. This got me thinking as I believe it is possible for anyone and everyone to be creative - we all get given a box of crayons in Kindergarten, yet some of us make it our job and others go for something different. Yes, I suppose you could say that there are special skills required to be a designer or a creative person, but ultimately I believe it is down to how we think about stuff and how much we open ourselves up to making odd links between seemingly unrelated things. For this to be effective you need to be constantly feeding your mind with information, films, books, good stuff that makes you always learn more. However, I also think that the following eight ways of approaching problems encourage you to think productively, rather than reproductively, in order to arrive at solutions.
Scientists Finally uncover what causes Asthma
Medical experts have been baffled by what causes asthma. Most of them favor the idea that it stems from "helper" cells that have gone awry. But researchers at Harvard Medical School (HMS) have come up with convincing evidence that the answer lies in a special type of natural "killer" cell.
Diabetes breakthrough may end insulin injections
Bioengineers at the University of Calgary have successfully grown insulin producing cells in a lab, marking a major breakthrough in diabetes research.
The team of scientists hope to eventually transplant lab grown, insulin producing cells directly into the bodies of patients with Type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes makes the body unable to produce enough insulin, requiring those suffering from the disease to inject themselves with the hormone.
In theory, the transplant would eliminate the need for daily insulin injections by patients who suffer from the disease.
"This transplant procedure, developed in Edmonton, is the best thing to come in 20 years to treat type one diabetes," Dr. Leo Behie, the professor of chemical engineering in charge of the research project, told CTV Thursday.
Mar 22, 2006
Jay Ingram's new book questions consciousness
From the article:
Have you ever been driving down the highway and suddenly noticed you have no memory of the last few kilometres? In his new book, author and co-host of Daily Planet on CTV's Discovery Channel Jay Ingram tries to figure out why things like that happen.
In Theatre of the Mind: Raising the Curtain on Consciousness, Ingram tries to unravel some of the mysteries of our minds. How is it that most of what goes on in our brains is actually unconscious? How much influence does our unconscious mind have on our conscious mind? What is consciousness?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051104/ingram_theatre_051104/20051104/
World's First Completely Transparent IC
DeviceForge is reporting that researchers at Oregon State University claim to have created the worlds first 'completely transparent' ICs (integrated circuit) from inorganic compounds. From the article: 'The technology can enable extremely inexpensive electronics for use in "throw away" devices, and is expected to be used in automobile windshields, cell phones, TVs, games, and toys, among other applications, OSU said. OSU also believes that the technology might result in more efficient solar cells or improvements and LCD displays (liquid crystal displays), it said
Octomatics
The octomatics-project is about a new number system
which has a lot of advantages over our old decimal system.
the name comes from the mixture of 'octal' and 'mathematics'.
what do you think: why do we have the decimal system
in our western world? because of our 10 fingers? why
do we have 7 days a week? why are 60 seconds 1 minute
and 60 minutes 1 hour? why do we have 24 hours a day?
and 31 or 30 days a month? do you think thats a really
good solution? well, here is another one:
...welcome to octomatics
which has a lot of advantages over our old decimal system.
the name comes from the mixture of 'octal' and 'mathematics'.
what do you think: why do we have the decimal system
in our western world? because of our 10 fingers? why
do we have 7 days a week? why are 60 seconds 1 minute
and 60 minutes 1 hour? why do we have 24 hours a day?
and 31 or 30 days a month? do you think thats a really
good solution? well, here is another one:
...welcome to octomatics
Is Cloaking Technology for U.S. Infantry Warfighters Finally Possible?
Well, maybe now we can. It's possible that a company out of Fullerton, California called Advanced American Enterprises (AAE) has achieved the holy grail--tactical invisibility. That's what they're claiming, anyway. It's called the Stealth Technology System (STS), and AAE claims that the technology really works and is ready for prime time. According to the company, STS is more effective, less expensive, and lighter-weight than any known active camouflage/cloaking tech that's previously been under development in the past. AAE states that STS can be applied to ground vehicles, boats, infantry warfighters, and UGVs/ground robots. Any object to which STS is applied will, according to AAE, become virtually invisible, even from as little as 20-25 feet away. Wow. The STS adaptive camouflage technology is apparently still undergoing T&E for application to manned and unmanned aircraft.
The actual inventor of the Stealth Technology System is Dr. Rashid Zeineh, who already reportedly has a number of previous inventions under his belt, including the first laser scanner ever (1968) and its software that "also reads DNA identity", and anti-hijacking tech, a.k.a. a "Counter-Terrorism Device for Airplanes". BTW, Zeineh's laser scanner also reportedly reads bar codes.
RFID Virus?
Everyone thought that the RFID memory is too small to write a VIRUS. But it has been proved wrong.
Student Melanie Rieback and others, part of a Tannenbaum research group in Amsterdam, have proven that RFID-tags are vulnerable for infection with viruses. In a research paper titled "Is Your Cat Infected with a Computer Virus?" is shown how an altered RFID tag can be used to send a SQL injection attack or a buffer overflow. They describe on the rfidvirus.org website possible exploits of this types of viruses: from altering the backoffice of a supermarket to spreading RFID viruses by infected bags on airports.
Read the article from Conputer World
Mar 15, 2006
Supercomputer Performs Simulation of Virus
Red Herring is reporting that researchers from the University of California at Irvine and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have announced that they created a computer simulation of a virus. From the article: "Using one of the world's fastest computers at the U.S. National Center for Supercomputing Applications, located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the researchers ran a computer program devised to reverse engineer the dynamics of all atoms making up the virus particle and a tiny drop of water containing it." Nature also has an interesting write up on the research surrounding this project.
Seven-ounce "wrist PC" runs Linux or Windows
A European research and development firm has announced a seven-ounce, wrist-worn wearable computer with a 2.2 x 2.8-inch color touchscreen. Eurotech's WWPC (wrist-worn PC) runs Linux or Windows, offers a wealth of standard PC interfaces (WLAN, Bluetooth, IrDA, USB, SD-card, etc), and has patented technology that puts the device to sleep when the user drops their arm. It can detect motionless user states, and serve as a location-transmitting beacon, thanks to a built-in GPS receiver and 'dead reckoning' technology. The company also claims six hours of battery life under 'fully operational' conditions."
Mar 13, 2006
Does the inventionof artificial light affect human evolution?
Does the invention of artificial light (bulbs) affect human evolution? Continue reading
From the article:
Before the incandescent bulb began to proliferate in the early twentieth century, human sleep schedules were largely governed by the Earth's day and night cycle. But once humans possessed the technology to ward off an appreciable chunk of nighttime, we soon extended our usable waking hours by an average of 13%. Some researchers believe that this modern convenience, credited with bringing the human race in from the dark, may also be responsible for numerous ills.
Your Next PC Will Cost $159
A PC for $159? Unbelievable isn't it? Believe it. Frys is selling a PC for $159, with a Keyboard, mouse sans monitor. You can get a 17'' CRT monitor for $119 (again a offer from Frys). Looks like the PC is a decent with 4 USB slots, an empty AGP if you want upgrade video card, comes with built-in 6 channel sound system and speakers thats not good. The memory is just 128MB which you need to upgrade for sure (512MB sells for less than $40 if you need buy one). And you guessed it right, the system doesn't run on Micro$oft. It runs on Linspire (formerly Lindows). Read the review here.
Someday we might get a PC for just under $99 :)
Next Gen Contact Lenses During Night Only
The concept of OrthoKeratology dates back to ancient China where it was discovered that sleeping with small bags of sand on your eyes improved your vision the following day.
OrthoKeratology (Ortho-K) is a non-surgical process which reshapes (flattens) the cornea of the eye using custom made contact lenses during the night to reduce refractive errors (nearsightedness and astigmatism). The patient would take the lenses out in the morning and they are able to see the rest of the day without any glasses or contact lenses.
Accelerated Ortho-K uses reverse geometry contact lenses. Flattening the cornea reduces the focusing power of the eye. If the amount of corneal flattening is accurately controlled, it is possible to bring the eye into correct focus and compensate for myopia (nearsightedness). After the contact lens is removed, the cornea retains its flattened shape for part or all of the remainder of the day. A retainer lens must be used each night to maintain the corneal flattening, or the myopia will revert to the pre-treatment level. Ortho-K is also successful for some degrees of farsightness by steepening the central cornea.
Hot Wheel
Take a look at this future of segway called Embrio. It only has a single wheel, balanced by a sets of gyroscopes, has active suspension, infrared night vision and it runs on fuel cells. What more can you ask?
From the article:
The Embrio also borrows several other advanced technologies from cars, like infrared night vision and an active suspension, which can vary its damping rates based on road conditions. Its riding position resembles that of a motorcycle, and it balances one or more passengers with a network of sensors and gyroscopes. To move the Embrio, you use an accelerator trigger on the left handlebar and a brake trigger on the right
http://www.forbes.com/execpicks/2003/11/04/cx_dl_1104vow.html
How To Improve Your Study Habits and Remember Better
From the article:
If you're a student attending classes, you have probably experienced many moments when it was hard to make yourself settle down and study, even when an important exam was coming up.
If you're like most students, you put off studying until the very last minute. The night before the exam, you'll stay up all night cramming, getting little or no sleep. In the morning, you'll drag yourself out of bed, psych yourself up with lots of coffee and some cigarettes, and go into the exam feeling exhausted, drained and jittery all at the same time. You'll find it hard to focus or think, and you'll be cursing yourself for not starting to study sooner.
And not surprisingly, unless you're blessed with natural brilliance, or you happen to know the subject matter extremely well, you'll probably do terribly on the test
http://www.aboutitworld.com/college-university/13313.php
Here are Five excellent mind habits to develop Interesting read.
Mar 10, 2006
Mice with glowing hearts shed light on living cells
There is the heart of gold, and then there is the heart that glows. Literally.
Cornell researchers have genetically engineered mice whose hearts glow with a green light every time they beat. The development gives researchers insights into how hearts develop in living mouse embryos and could improve our understanding of irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias, as well as open doors to observing cellular processes to better understand basic physiology and disease.
The technique for making living, functional cells fluoresce, or glow, when the concentration of calcium ions rise within cells, is described online at http://www.pnas.org/papbyrecent.shtml and is to be published in a future issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Discovery of life in Solar system other than Earth?
Cassini spacecraft recently discovered hot geysers spewing out liquid (mostly water). This could mean that there is a good evidence of life thriving out near and around the geyser.
From the article:
NASA's Cassini spacecraft may have found evidence of liquid water reservoirs that erupt in Yellowstone-like geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. The rare occurrence of liquid water so near the surface raises many new questions about the mysterious moon.
"We realize that this is a radical conclusion - that we may have evidence for liquid water within a body so small and so cold," said Carolyn Porco, Cassini imaging team leader at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo. "However, if we are right, we have significantly broadened the diversity of solar system environments where we might possibly have conditions suitable for living organisms."
"We realize that this is a radical conclusion - that we may have evidence for liquid water within a body so small and so cold," said Carolyn Porco, Cassini imaging team leader at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo. "However, if we are right, we have significantly broadened the diversity of solar system environments where we might possibly have conditions suitable for living organisms."
Debit card thieves get around PIN obstacle
With consumers around the country reporting mysterious fraudulent account withdrawals, and multiple banks announcing problems with stolen account information, it appears thieves have unleashed a powerful new way to steal money from cash machines.
Criminals have stolen bank account data from a third-party company, several banks have said, and then used the data to steal money from related accounts using counterfeit cards at ATM machines.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11731365/Here is an article on how they do it.
http://redtape.msnbc.com/2006/03/how_can_someone.html
Mar 8, 2006
Research Warps into Hyperdrive
From the article:
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - Take one part high-frequency gravitational wave generation, then add in a quantum vacuum field.
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - Take one part high-frequency gravitational wave generation, then add in a quantum vacuum field.
Now whip wildly via a gravitomagnetic force in a rotating superconductor while standing by for Alcubierre warp drive in higher dimensional space-time.
So you're looking for the latest in faster-than-light interstellar travel via traversable wormholes? That's one theme among many discussed at Space Technology & Applications International Forum (STAIF), a meeting held in, ALBUQUERQUE - New Mexico, Feb. 12-16 that brought together more than 600 experts to thrash out a range of space exploration issues
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/060308_exotic_drive.html
Ten of the Biggest Mistakes Developers Make With Databases
From the article:
Although fashions come and go in software development, some things stay remarkably constant. One of these is the use of databases. You may be wonderfully up-to-date with an AJAX Web interface or the latest whizbang Windows user interface, but under the covers, you're probably still pumping data in and out of a database, just as we all did a decade or more ago. That makes it all the more surprising that developers are still making the same database mistakes that date back to those good old days of Windows 95 and before. Perhaps it's just that most of us learn to use databases on the side, rather than really studying them. In any case, here are my nominations for the biggest mistakes that I see over and over again.
http://www.developer.com/db/article.php/3589351
Although fashions come and go in software development, some things stay remarkably constant. One of these is the use of databases. You may be wonderfully up-to-date with an AJAX Web interface or the latest whizbang Windows user interface, but under the covers, you're probably still pumping data in and out of a database, just as we all did a decade or more ago. That makes it all the more surprising that developers are still making the same database mistakes that date back to those good old days of Windows 95 and before. Perhaps it's just that most of us learn to use databases on the side, rather than really studying them. In any case, here are my nominations for the biggest mistakes that I see over and over again.
http://www.developer.com/db/article.php/3589351
Good collection of free ware utilities
Nice categorized collection freeware that are available on net
http://121space.com/index.php?showtopic=886
http://121space.com/index.php?showtopic=886
A good javascript tutorial
And you thought you know everything about javascript? Not until you go through this tutorial. Nicely compiled.
http://simon.incutio.com/slides/2006/etech/javascript/js-tutorial.001.html
There are some good javascript libraries out there, if dont want to write everything from scratch
Dojo - dojotoolkit.org
Yahoo - developer.yahoo.net/yui
Mochikit = mochikit.com
Prototype - prototype.conio.net
script.aculo.us - script.aculo.us
http://simon.incutio.com/slides/2006/etech/javascript/js-tutorial.001.html
There are some good javascript libraries out there, if dont want to write everything from scratch
Dojo - dojotoolkit.org
Yahoo - developer.yahoo.net/yui
Mochikit = mochikit.com
Prototype - prototype.conio.net
script.aculo.us - script.aculo.us
9 Top Secrets of Naturally Born Organizers
This article is written by Barbara Wood
No doubt about it, some people have a gift for organization. Me? I was behind the door when that gift was handed out. Be that as it may, even the organization-challenged can learn new habits and organizational skills for a greater degree of order and efficiency. While home organization comes to mind, organizational skills for college students are also a necessity. What are nine organizational skills?
One very popular system for improving organization in the home is that of 'Messies Anonymous', founded by Sandra Felton. Felton was once a disorganized 'Messie.' She rated her friends on a scale of 1 to 10 according to how neat their homes were, then grilled the 9's to find their tips. (She found that the 10's were so extreme they had traded off some of the joy of living for the sake of a clean home!)
Marla Cilley, author of Sink Reflections has helped many homemakers overcome disorganized habits, too. She refers to people as either BO's (born organized), or SHE's (sidetracked home executives.) SHE's exhibit some of the characteristics of people who have been diagnosed with adult ADHD. These people feel on the go constantly and avoid routine tasks. They have a hard time finishing projects, too. Even a person with ADHD can learn the techniques of the naturally organized, and become more organized themselves.
1. Do it now. Procrastination leads to getting snowed under a pile of work.
2. Use your trash can liberally. Born organized people don't think twice about throwing things away. They aren't tempted to keep old worn out appliances around just in case. They don't worry about whether they can recycle that mayonnaise jar or not. They just toss things.
3. Get into a routine. B.O.'s don't wait for time to clean the whole bathroom. They wipe off the sink every time they notice it's splashed. They shine the mirror every day while brushing their teeth. They run sudsy water to use while cooking, so stirring spoons and saute pans are washed before the meal even goes on the table.
4. Put it where it goes. Disorganized people tend to stash things until they can figure out a better place for it or decide whether to even keep it or not. B.O.'s go ahead and toss it, file it, or otherwise deal with it before it becomes clutter.
5. Write dates on your calendar, and then remember to check the calendar every day. B.O.'s don't have to be told.
6. Pick up after yourself. (How embarrassing that we adults need to be reminded to do this!) Periodically look around for things you've left out of place a used coffee cup, the mail, or a book you're reading. Put them away before the mess gets out of hand.
7. Invest in organizing gadgets and then use them. Office organization is one area that benefits from file drawers, in/out boxes, and desk organizers. However, if the system is unrealistic or unhandy, you won't use it.
8. Don't be afraid of a little expenditure of energy. Many times the small tasks of putting things away and keeping things clean take much less time and energy than we think they will. I find that if I push myself a bit, these tasks are much simpler done more frequently, while the job is still small.
9. Get yourself a daily planner, and use it. Cilley points out that B.O.'s don't have to be told how to use a calendar or a planner, but on her website, she gives directions for gaining these organizational skills. Her directions for creating a control journal in effect fix readers up with free organizing planners.
Anyone, whether naturally inclined to organization or not, can benefit from implementing these suggestions. For those of us who struggle with disorganization, a few simple tips like these can give us a real boost in efficiency.
Barbara Wood is a writer and educator living with her family in the Missouri Ozarks.
Find the original article: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/9-top-secrets-of-naturally-born-organizers.html
Simple ways to make yourself far cleverer
Doing 'brain exercises' such as watching Countdown, playing Sudoku or taking a shower with your eyes closed can make us all up to 40 per cent cleverer within seven days, according to research by a BBC programme this week
From the article:
It is not an intelligence-boosting formula likely to impress an Oxbridge don: watching Countdown, playing Sudoku, remembering telephone numbers and taking a shower with your eyes closed.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1723801,00.html
From the article:
It is not an intelligence-boosting formula likely to impress an Oxbridge don: watching Countdown, playing Sudoku, remembering telephone numbers and taking a shower with your eyes closed.
Yet doing 'brain exercises' such as these can make us all up to 40 per cent cleverer within seven days, according to research by a BBC programme this week.
The tests conducted for Get Smarter in a Week appear to bear out the growing belief among scientists that making simple changes to our lifestyle can lead to significant improvements in how well our brains function.
The programme found that a combination of techniques based on healthy eating, physical activity, sound sleep and stimulating your mind through solving puzzles and remembering lists makes people sharper, more confident and better at making decisions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1723801,00.html
Mar 3, 2006
Soft drinks found to have high levels of carcinogens
Traces of a carcinogenic chemical have been found in soft drinks at eight times the level permitted in drinking water, it was revealed last night. There is a legal limit of one part per billion of benzene in British drinking water. The latest tests revealed levels of up to eight parts per billion in some soft drinks
Caller ID Spoofing Becomes Easy
According to an article in USA Today, Caller ID spoofing has become much easier in the last few years. Millions of people have Internet telephone equipment that can be set to make any number appear on a Caller ID system. And several websites have sprung up to provide Caller ID spoofing services, eliminating the need for any special hardware. For instance, Spoofcard.com sells a virtual 'calling card' for $10 that provides 60 minutes of talk time. The user dials a toll-free number, then keys in the destination number and the Caller ID number to display. The service also provides optional voice scrambling, to make the caller sound like someone of the opposite sex."
Mar 2, 2006
Groundbased telescopes are worthless by 2050?
Ground-based astronomy could be impossible in 40 years because of pollution from aircraft exhaust trails and climate change, an expert says.
Aircraft condensation trails - known as contrails - can dissipate, becoming indistinguishable from other clouds.
If trends in cheap air travel continue, says Professor Gerry Gilmore, the era of ground astronomy may come to an end much earlier than most had predicted.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4755996.stm
Artificial limbs that walk naturally
A key element of any leg prosthesis is the prosthetic foot. Some models currently available are capable of rotating around three axes and accommodating to uneven terrain. "However, no prosthetic foot has yet been produced that can imitate the natural sequence of movements during walking," Schneider points out.
He and his team have developed a prosthetic foot that can do this by purely mechanical means, entirely without elaborate electronics. A human foot performs a tiny and almost imperceptible rotation with every step that it takes. After the heel strikes the ground, the foot first tilts inward and then rotates across its central position to the outer edge as the weight is transferred to the ball of the foot, while the hip pushes forward in preparation for the next step
Mar 1, 2006
Kids Build Soybean-Fueled Car
The star at last week's Philadelphia Auto Show wasn't a sports car or an economy car. It was a sports-economy - car one that combines performance and practicality under one hood.
A car that can go from zero to 60 in four seconds and get more than 50 miles to the gallon would be enough to pique any driver's interest. So who do we have to thank for it. Ford? GM? Toyota? No, its just Victor, David, Cheeseborough, Bruce, and Kosi, five kids from the auto shop program at West Philadelphia High School
Feb 28, 2006
Move to 6.1 or 7.1 surround sound justified?
From the article:
Why bug people with a choice that most would rather not make? The expansion of the 5.1-channel standard was born in the moviehouse, where it's easier to cover a large space with surround effects if you add a back channel served by speakers in the back of the house.
In film exhibition, 6.1- and 7.1-channel systems make sense. At home, however, 5.1 channels are quite enough. It's easy to generate a solid soundfield in a small space with three speakers in front and two on the rear of the side walls. To me it's self-evidently nonsensical to have four surround speakers outnumbering the three in front.
http://news.designtechnica.com/talkback103.html
Why bug people with a choice that most would rather not make? The expansion of the 5.1-channel standard was born in the moviehouse, where it's easier to cover a large space with surround effects if you add a back channel served by speakers in the back of the house.
In film exhibition, 6.1- and 7.1-channel systems make sense. At home, however, 5.1 channels are quite enough. It's easy to generate a solid soundfield in a small space with three speakers in front and two on the rear of the side walls. To me it's self-evidently nonsensical to have four surround speakers outnumbering the three in front.
http://news.designtechnica.com/talkback103.html
Exercising the body can benefit the mind
New research suggests that physical exercise encourages healthy brains to function at their optimum levels. Fitness prompts nerve cells to multiply, strengthens their connections, and protects them from harm. Benefits seem to extend to brains and nerves that are diseased or damaged. These findings could suggest new treatments for people with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injuries.
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060225/bob10.asp
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060225/bob10.asp
Suit may prevent maternal deaths during childbirth
A re-usable, lightweight suit could help save the lives of thousands of women in poor countries who die each year during childbirth, researchers said on Monday.
The garment, which resembles the bottom half of a wetsuit, restores blood flow to vital organs in women in shock and suffering from obstetrical haemorrhaging, or bleeding, during the birth.
In a pilot study of 364 women in Egypt, the non-pneumatic, anti-shock garment, or NASG, reduced death and severe illness by 69 percent, according to the researchers.
Visual passwords - Cool new way to key-in password
New way to login. You click an image at 5 random places you choose and that becomes your password for login. To login you click the same locations and the same sequence. Since you cannot accurately click the same spot/pixel, they give you a 7px margin error. Seems to cool. May be this is login of future, who knows?
http://labs.mininova.org/passclicks/
http://labs.mininova.org/passclicks/
Feb 24, 2006
Easy way to make your own custom PCB?
Max William has written a document using which you can make your own custom PCB with just a laser printer for printing the circuits. Pretty neat trick.
http://max8888.orcon.net.nz/pcbs.htm
If you dont want to go through this and wants someone do it, you can try http://www.expresspcb.com/index.htm These guys let you design your PCB and they will make it and mail it to you. Ofcourse for a charge :)
http://max8888.orcon.net.nz/pcbs.htm
If you dont want to go through this and wants someone do it, you can try http://www.expresspcb.com/index.htm These guys let you design your PCB and they will make it and mail it to you. Ofcourse for a charge :)
Feb 23, 2006
Cornell Research into Dragonfly Micro-Air Vehicle (MAV)
From houseflies to honeybees, insects inspire us with flight skills just beyond the grasp of our technology. Z. Jane Wang, a professor at Cornell University, is working to close this gap between inspiration and implementation. Wang’s recent work is on dragonflies, and here she has found some peculiarities.
For example, "an airfoil uses aerodynamic lift to carry its weight. But the dragonfly uses a lot of aerodynamic drag to carry its weight. That is weird, because with airplanes you always think about minimizing drag. You never think about using drag."
Implementing a dragonfly MAV is still an elusive goal, hopefully made somewhat nearer by Wang’s research. The research and prior art is summarized in her recent paper, Dissecting Insect Flight. This and more can be found on her group's website, which appropriately enough is dragonfly.tam.cornell.edu.
Ice worms: They're real, and they're hot
Thriving in conditions that would turn most living things to Popsicles, these inch-long earthworm cousins inhabit glaciers and snowfields in the coastal ranges of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. They move through seemingly solid ice with ease and are at their liveliest near the freezing point of water. Warm them up slightly and they dissolve into goo.
Their life cycle remains a mystery.
...
Polar bears weather the cold with thick insulation and the ability to generate their own heat. Antarctic cod have blood laced with antifreeze. Ice worms don't have any of these defenses.
Instead, they have the remarkable ability to boost their cells' energy production when the temperature drops, Shain discovered. "It's equivalent to putting more gasoline in your tank," he said.
The worms also possess cell membranes and enzymes that function and stay flexible in temperatures where most animals' cellular processes creak to a halt.
The downside is extreme sensitivity to heat. At about 40 degrees F, the worms' membranes melt and their enzymes go haywire.
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