To be or not to be. That is the question.
The Higgs boson is a hypothetical massive elementary particle predicted to exist by the Standard Model of particle physics. Its existence is postulated to resolve inconsistencies in theoretical physics, and experiments attempting to find the particle are being performed using the Large Hadron Collider at CERN and the Tevatron at Fermilab…
Continue reading… “Higgs Boson may not exist”
‘Infinite Hero Bacon’ on the hoof.
Where does one secure the very best bacon? The supermarket? Shut up, rookie! You secure it from the heroic pig that survived for more than a month buried beneath the rubble of China’s horrific Sichuan earthquake.
His name is Zhu Jianqiang, or “Strong-Willed Pig,” but he might as well be known as “Infinite Hero Bacon” since it’s now obvious that his Chinese handlers plan on keeping his DNA alive forever…
Continue reading… “China creates “Infinite Hero Bacon” by cloning Invincible Earthquake Pig”
Computers are getting more efficient every day.
Those of us fighting the battle with computer batteries will appreciate this. Batteries have come a long way since the 1990s. For instance, if a MacBook Air were as efficient today as a 1991 computer, the battery would last for 2.5 seconds. In other words, it would be dead by the time you got to the end of this sentence. The Atlantic has the story. And it’s bound to fan the flames of the PC v. Mac wars.
Flames also would refer to how quickly some PC batteries seem to burn out, compared to their Mac counterparts. I know, PCs are getting better. Don’t get me wrong. But Macs have lead the battery longevity pack for some time…
Continue reading… “Study: Energy efficiency of computers doubling every 18 months”
Another new invention from Dean Kamen.
Inflatable wind turbines may not be an entirely new idea, but prolific inventor Dean Kamen has detailed one of a slightly different sort in a recently published patent application. In addition to generating energy for general use, the turbine would also be able to power a set of LEDs adorning the turbine itself, which could be used to display advertising or other information using a persistence of vision effect…
Continue reading… “Dean Kamen files patent application for an inflatable, illuminated wind turbine”
Uchida Geinousha of Japan holds the Guinness World Record for having the most dogs jump rope at the same time. She’s trained thirteen dogs to leap at just the right moment…
Continue reading… “13 Dogs jumping rope at the same time”
Boinging energy maker.
Today’s wireless-sensor networks can do everything from supervising factory machinery to tracking environmental pollution to measuring the movement of buildings and bridges. Working together, distributed sensors can monitor activity along an oil pipeline or throughout a forest, keeping track of multiple variables at a time.
Continue reading… “New device generates energy from small vibrations”
Yet another 3D printer use.
If you’ve been following tech news then you know that 3D printers are capable of some pretty amazing things. At the entry level these printers are becoming drastically more affordable and more accessible, and at the professional level they are accomplishing feats that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. The latest science fiction-like advance in 3D printing is one that could have a significant impact on our health and well-being, as opposed to our gadgets: scientists in Germany have printed artificial blood vessels…
Continue reading… “3D printers now pumping out artificial blood vessels”
A fascinating new discovery.
Researchers in Australia say they’ve made a remarkable discovery, identifying for one of the first times in over a hundred years a brand new species of dolphin. And, in addition to being the latest of its kind to be uncovered, this new type of dolphin, namedTursiops australis, is also among the rarest. So far, biologists have only found a handfull of places along the coast of Australia where they exist — and there’s only thought to be around 150 of them in existence…
Continue reading… “New species of Dolphin discovered in Australia”
A new destination for diapers.
For those of us who wince every time a dirty diaper is discarded, take heart: Canadian company Knowaste can now transform those soiled, disposable nappies into roofing material. That’s right, billions of baby-poop gems and even adult ‘accidents’ due to incontinence, are ripe for the picking and destined for our roofs, thanks to a process that transforms diaper waste into plastic pellets, which can then be made into roofing tiles and tubing.
Continue reading… “Dirty diapers? Knowaste will turn them into roofing material”
It’s no secret that fresh produce straight from the farm can often beat the potato skins off of its supermarket counterpart — and why farmer’s markets are becoming increasingly popular. But unless you set aside that chunk of time every weekend to pick up your veggies from local growers, you’re probably stopping by your supermarket anyway.
The solution to this has been the emergence of Community Supported Agriculture programs, where members of the community agree with farmers to purchase a certain amount of produce, and then pick that food up at local dropoff points at regular intervals. But, while they’ve been around for decades, these programs aren’t necessarily easy to find or use. If only we could use technology to make things a bit more efficient…
Continue reading… “Farmigo: Tapping into the power of the web to bring you fresh veggies”
41-year old Gregory Kloehn lives in a dumpster. But it’s not that bad! This artist in Berkeley, California, has modified his dumpster with running water, electrical power, a stove, an oven, and a toilet…
Continue reading… “Turning a dumpster into a functional home”
Who is on top in the mobile information world right now?
Mobile devices are shifting many individual computing behaviors, perhaps none more significant than how we search for and receive information. Right now, it’s moving at warp speed. In between the time I finish this draft and its posted, it’s entirely possible another company or service launches in this space. Every time we “swipe open” our mobile devices, we seek out dopamine hits from receiving new emails, texts, notifications, or other bits of digital media. A good chunk of this current mobile activity revolves around the personalized search and Q&A space, which leverages these behavior in new ways.
By now, on traditional computers, we know how to find the information we seek, whether via sites like Google, Wikipedia, or through social networks. On mobile, however, our information needs and habits shift. On the go, we typically want smaller bits of information quicker, usually calibrated to our location. We are less likely to engage in longer discussion, and more likely to add questions in the hopes that machines, crowds, or some combination can produce relevant information. This shift has opened the floodgates of activity in the personalized search and Q&A space, with an impressive number of new applications vying for user attention in a crowded marketplace…
Continue reading… “The fragmented mobile information race”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.