USPTO issues 8,000,000th patent on August 17, 2011.
The first patent granted by the USPTO was in 1836 and 175 years later, the government body now has a database that is eight million strong.
Continue reading… “USPTO’s major milestones from one to eight million patents”
CSIRO plant scientists have shed light on a problem that has puzzled researchers since the first virus was discovered in 1892 — how exactly do they cause disease?
In a major breakthrough that helps us better understand how viruses cause diseases in plants — and potentially in animals and humans — Dr Ming-Bo Wang and Neil Smith of CSIRO Plant Industry have revealed a genetic mechanism that enables viral organisms to infect hosts and cause diseases…
Continue reading… “Major breakthrough on how viruses infect plants”
Seasteading Institute city design (Anthony Ling)
The Seasteading Institute has plans to build floating cities out in the ocean. Now Paypal founder Peter Theil has recently given 1.25 million dollars to the group in an effort to create Libertarian countries out of these floating cities…
Continue reading… “Silicon Valley Billionaire funding creation of Artificial Libertarian Islands”
According to a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the consumption of engery from renewable sources recently topped both the current and the historical consumption levels for nuclear energy. The shift was immediately caused by nuclear outages that coincided with the high-water season for hydropower generation.
But there’s a long-term upward trend in renewables which can be seen here, too, thanks to the increased consumption of biofuels and wind capacity additions…
Continue reading… “Renewable Energy consumption tops nuclear for first time”
Artist Jason Edmiston brings home the perspective change.
There’s nothing quite like a weekend away from the family to spend with your buddies at the cabin. We might as well get a picture so we can remember these good times when we get too old go out regularly…
Continue reading… “Weekend hunting trip”
How many of his inventions can you name?
George Devol (above right) died last week at his home in Connecticut. He invented the Unimate, the first programmable Industrial Robot. But his creative genius did not stop there. Check out these five little-known inventions developed during his long career…
Continue reading… “Five little-known inventions from deceased robot maker George C. Devol”
Trendy and Spendy!
Would you pay $100 for a Sam Adams? (You might have to if you go to one of those fancy downtown hipster bars.) This high priced Sam Adams “Utopia” and several other beers will run you over $100 a bottle including the $800 Antarctic Nail Ale.
Continue reading… “5 Most Expensive Beers in the world”
I promise not to use my cell phone while eating…
A shout of OHHH MY GODDDD ARE YOU SERIOUS? SHE DID? The LED flash of someone Instagramming their entree, followed by look of smug gratification. Some jerk waving his phone around trying to get a cell signal Foursquare. Not anymore!
Buzzing DC eatery Rogue24 wants hype to be the only thing in the air, making patrons ink a contract that prohibits the use of phones and cameras during meals. What! Creeping fascism!
Continue reading… “Restaurant forces customers to sign no cellphone contract before dining”
Another benefit from flax?
Flaxseed may protect against the damaging effects of radiation, whether from a terrorist’s dirty bomb or a routine cancer treatment, a new study in mice suggests.
Mice that ate flaxseed either before or up to six weeks after receiving a large radiation dose to the chest were more likely to survive and had fewer lung problems than mice not given flaxseed. Four months after receiving radiation, up to 88 percent of mice that ate flaxseed were still alive, compared with just 40 percent of mice who did not eat flaxseed.
Researchers have been particularly interested in finding a cheap, safe supplement to give to people who have been exposed to radiation in the event of a terrorist attack…
Continue reading… “Flaxseed might protect against death from radiation”
Do you know when you eat a GMO?
The fact that 165 million acres of GMO crops are currently being cultivated is made even worse by the idea that it’s difficult and sometimes impossible to avoid these foods in your grocery store. As a nation we have vastly more GMO cultivated land than any other country and we’re one of the few industrialized nations that doesn’t label GMOs as such. But this could all change, starting with California. Proponents of GMO labeling are fighting hard to get the measure on the California ballot in 2012 so the masses can let their opinion be known…
Continue reading… “Getting GMO labeling on the ballot in California”
A soon to be famous fossil.
This fossilized Polycotylus latippinus, a carnivorous marine reptile that lived 78 million years ago, contains a smaller, less developed skeleton inside of her. Scientists are therefore speculating that this creature did not lay eggs like other dinosaurs, but gave birth to live young…
Continue reading… “Fossilized pregnant dinosaur may present first evidence of live birth”
Off on a cloud with your phone.
As we approach the fall, all the rumors of the Apple empire descend upon us. And this year may be the craziest yet because for the first time since the iPhone’s inception, Apple did not release new hardware in the summer. And there are still whispers of an iPad revamp as well. iOS 5 is coming. iCloud is coming. And then there are the iPods which are traditionally updated in the fall timeframe each year. Things are already getting crazy enough that potential Apple announcement dates are topping Techmeme one minute, and then stories debunking those dates are the top story in tech the next minute.
This will only get worse…
Continue reading… “Are we ready for a true Cloud Phone?”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.