The accidental discovery of a silicon form of “gunpowder” is pointing the way toward integrating nanoscale explosives onto silicon chips, a technology that might provide microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) with a means for rocket propulsion.
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Stem Cells Grown Into Functional Kidney
US scientists claim to have grown functional kidneys using stem cells taken from cloned cow embryos. Robert Lanza of biotech company Advanced Cell Technology told New Scientist that his team, working in collaboration with a group at Harvard University, coaxed the stem cells into becoming kidney cells, and then “grew” them on a kidney-shaped scaffold.
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Ultimate Machine Combat
Ultimate Machine Combat is the new show from the creators of TLC’s Junkyard Wars and Scrapheap Challenge. It will test machines and drivers to the limits of their tolerances and beyond. This portends to be the biggest, baddest motor-contest ever.
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Number of Habitable Planets Increased
How many potentially habitable planets are there? New calculations by Lineweaver and Daniel Grether, both of the University of New South Wales in Australia, provide an encouraging answer to this question. The researchers expect a flood of Jupiters will be found, perhaps 50 percent more than currently expected. This work supports the notion that the human race cannot survive if all humans only live on one planet.
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NASA’s Deep Space Probe Heads Towards Comet
“A NASA spacecraft has performed a critical course change in deep space, positioning itself for a rendezvous with a comet from which it will gather samples to return to Earth.
The Stardust probe fired its thrusters for nearly two minutes this month, quickening its speed for an approach to the comet named Wild 2.”
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Wellington – Fast City-Wide LAN
“Normally LANs are used by a single organization at best, but Wellington’s 13-square-mile LAN comprises many of the city’s businesses. The city council garnered a UNESCO Digital Access Award in recognition of its achievement in installing the 1,000 Mbps network.”
More at ZD Net
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World Future Society Annual Conference
The World Future Society will hold its Annual Conference at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 20-22, 2002. Approximately 1,000 participants are expected to attend. The conference’s theme is “WorldView 2002: Futures Unlimited!” In discussions, workshops, and informal conversations, you and other participants will grapple with the important issues facing us in the new millennium.
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Mass Extinction of the Un-Cute
If you’re an endangered species, it helps to be cute, spectacular, or
otherwise unique. Unpopular species don’t make it to “the list,” argues
botanist Mark Burgman of the University of Melbourne.
The snail is evidently popular in Tasmania, which includes 200 species
of Hydrobiid snails on its list of 650 threatened species.
Burgman believes that scientific bias toward listing these
more-interesting species, regardless of the threats to their survival,
may condemn a substantial proportion of the world’s less-interesting or
less well-known plants and animals to extinction.
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Pneumatic Pogo Stick
Sharper Image now carries a pneumatic pogo stick that offers a new kind of energetic ride on an air spring. The Razor Airgo Pneumatic Pogo Stick with adjustable air spring for riders from 50 to 220 lbs. sells for $79.95. Too bad this won’t work for us fat guys who could afford to bounce off a few pounds. More Here
Test Tube Kidneys
Scientists have used cloning technology to create fully functioning kidneys in the laboratory. They hope the breakthrough could one day help to solve the problem of a severe shortage of donor organs for transplant. I can’t wait for them to come up with test tube nose-jobs.
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Smart Fuel Cell for Laptops
Wired Magazine is telling us that Germany’s Smart Fuel Cell is about to ship the first methanol based fuel cells for laptops and other electronic devices. The company says a 120 milliliter fuel cell can power a 15W notebook for 10 hours, and you can refill it without shutting down.”
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The Digital Lifestyle
The BBC is running a story about a full automated lifestyle centre in Wokingham UK. The centre has everything from the home to the office and includes shops too.” It’s a bit thin on details, but has a mix of practical things that could be just around the corner, and stuff that may be a little further out.
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