Malaysia to use lab mosquitoes to fight dengue - Yahoo! News: "PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia – Malaysia could be the first country in Asia to use genetically modified mosquitoes to battle a rise in dengue fever, government authorities said Monday.
The program calls for genetically engineered male mosquitoes to be released into the wild that would mate with females and produce offspring that live shorter lives, thus curbing the population. Malaysian scientists say laboratory test trials have made them optimistic. 'It is a pilot project, and hopefully it will work,' Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters on the sidelines of a World Health Organization conference in Malaysia.
Dengue fever, spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is common in Asia and Latin America. Symptoms include high fever, joint pains and nausea, but in severe cases, it can lead to internal bleeding, liver enlargement, circulatory shutdown and death. There is no known cure or vaccine."
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
RENOWNED U.S. NAVY COMMANDER REVEALS STUNNING ROSWELL CRASH SECRET by Anthony Bragalia
The UFO Iconoclast(s): RENOWNED U.S. NAVY COMMANDER REVEALS STUNNING ROSWELL CRASH SECRET by Anthony Bragalia: "One of the most acclaimed Naval scientists in U.S. military history has stated unequivocally that the Roswell crash of 1947 was not of a balloon nor was it a hoax. Based on evidence he had seen in an official capacity, the Commander was instead convinced that the crash represents an event with deep implications for all of mankind. Universally acknowledged as the 'grandfather' of satellite technology - and a close associate of Dr. Werner von Braun - Commander George W. Hoover has revealed that the truth about Roswell is far stranger that we have ever dared to think."
Bombing Earth-bound Asteroids a Viable Option, Experts Say
In the movies, a bomb is usually the most effective way of stopping an asteroid from wiping out life on Earth. But real scientists have had their doubts about bombing the potentially hazardous objects. (See asteroid and comet pictures.)
Now, however, some researchers are finding evidence that an explosion might not, as feared, make a bad situation worse by sending a huge cloud of harmful debris raining down on the planet.
And other scientists are suggesting that, despite previous assumptions, we wouldn't need an impossibly powerful bomb to destroy a threatening asteroid.
Considering the damage a large asteroid strike could do to humanity, bombing any so-called near-Earth objects, or NEOs, headed our way might be a viable last resort 'if we have the international political will,' said Robert Weaver of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
In such a case, 'my calculations show that we have the means.'"
Big bounce cosmos makes inflation a sure thing - space - 13 October 2010 - New Scientist
Big bounce cosmos makes inflation a sure thing - space - 13 October 2010 - New Scientist: "IS OUR universe a recycled version of an earlier cosmos? The idea, which replaces the big bang with a 'big bounce', has received a boost: this vision of the birth of the universe can explain why a subsequent process, called inflation, occurred.
'The result puts the idea of inflation on firmer ground, and at the same time makes the bounce scenario much more credible,' says Carlo Rovelli, who was not involved in the work but studies quantum gravity at the University of Marseille in France.
Inflation is an episode of exponential expansion thought to have occurred fractions of a second after the big bang. It is needed to explain, among other things, why the universe today has the geometry it does, but explaining what triggered inflation is tricky."
'The result puts the idea of inflation on firmer ground, and at the same time makes the bounce scenario much more credible,' says Carlo Rovelli, who was not involved in the work but studies quantum gravity at the University of Marseille in France.
Inflation is an episode of exponential expansion thought to have occurred fractions of a second after the big bang. It is needed to explain, among other things, why the universe today has the geometry it does, but explaining what triggered inflation is tricky."
Ghosts of the future: First giant structures of the universe hold 800 trillion suns
Ghosts of the future: First giant structures of the universe hold 800 trillion suns: "ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2010) — Astronomers using the South Pole Telescope report that they have discovered the most massive galaxy cluster yet seen at a distance of 7 billion light-years. The cluster (designated SPT-CL J0546-5345) weighs in at around 800 trillion Suns, and holds hundreds of galaxies."
SPACE.com -- Discovery Puts New Spin on Universe's Most Powerful Magnets
SPACE.com -- Discovery Puts New Spin on Universe's Most Powerful Magnets: "Strange fast-spinning stars called magnetars get their names from the fact that they are the universe's most powerful magnets and unleash massive amounts of radiation. But now scientists have found that some magnetars can release mighty explosions without needing giant magnetic fields as previously thought.
Magnetars are a kind of pulsing neutron star (or pulsar) — a remnant of a star left over after a supernova, when a star's explosion crushed protons together with electrons into neutrons. They are a thousand times more magnetic than an ordinary neutron star and 10 trillion times more so than a refrigerator magnet."
Magnetars are a kind of pulsing neutron star (or pulsar) — a remnant of a star left over after a supernova, when a star's explosion crushed protons together with electrons into neutrons. They are a thousand times more magnetic than an ordinary neutron star and 10 trillion times more so than a refrigerator magnet."
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Cancer 'is purely man-made' say scientists after finding almost no trace of disease in Egyptian mummies | Mail Online
Cancer 'is purely man-made' say scientists after finding almost no trace of disease in Egyptian mummies | Mail Online: "Cancer is a man-made disease fuelled by the excesses of modern life, a study of ancient remains has found.
Tumours were rare until recent times when pollution and poor diet became issues, the review of mummies, fossils and classical literature found.
A greater understanding of its origins could lead to treatments for the disease, which claims more than 150,000 lives a year in the UK."
Tumours were rare until recent times when pollution and poor diet became issues, the review of mummies, fossils and classical literature found.
A greater understanding of its origins could lead to treatments for the disease, which claims more than 150,000 lives a year in the UK."
Where Stars Are Born....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HRTPbNw1fs&feature=player_embedded
A very cool (and short) video....wow!
A very cool (and short) video....wow!
Transhumanist Values
Transhumanist Values:
"1. What is Transhumanism?
Transhumanism is a loosely defined movement that has developed gradually over the past two decades.[1] It promotes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and evaluating the opportunities for enhancing the human condition and the human organism opened up by the advancement of technology. Attention is given to both present technologies, like genetic engineering and information technology, and anticipated future ones, such as molecular nanotechnology and artificial intelligence."
Transhumanism is a loosely defined movement that has developed gradually over the past two decades.[1] It promotes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and evaluating the opportunities for enhancing the human condition and the human organism opened up by the advancement of technology. Attention is given to both present technologies, like genetic engineering and information technology, and anticipated future ones, such as molecular nanotechnology and artificial intelligence."
Is America In Decline? 24 Statistics About The United States Economy That Are Almost Too Embarrassing To Admit
Is America In Decline? 24 Statistics About The United States Economy That Are Almost Too Embarrassing To Admit - BlackListed News: "So is American in decline? Well, read the statistics below and decide for yourself. The reality is that when you start connecting the dots it gets really hard to deny what is going on."
Mexico: Assassins on the 'Cheap' - Geopolitical Monitor
Life After Disclosure -- audio conversation with Richard Dolan
hidden experience: audio conversation with Richard Dolan: "If you’ve found your way to this blog, you're probably quite aware of Richard Dolan. He is the author of two great big books, volumes one and two in a series, entitled UFOs and the National Security State. And very shortly there will be a third book on the shelves titled A.D. AFTER DISCLOSURE, The People’s Guide to Life After Contact."
Mystery shiny objects floating over Manhattan spark UFO frenzy
Mystery shiny objects floating over Manhattan spark UFO frenzy: "A mysterious shiny object floating high over Manhattan's West Side set off a flurry of reports and wild speculation Wednesday that a UFO was flying over the city.
Police and the FAA said they began getting flooded with calls starting at 1:30 p.m. from people reporting a silvery object hovering high over Chelsea.
Law enforcement sources said they believed the object was likely some sort of balloon, but as of late Wednesday they had not confirmed exactly what it is."
Police and the FAA said they began getting flooded with calls starting at 1:30 p.m. from people reporting a silvery object hovering high over Chelsea.
Law enforcement sources said they believed the object was likely some sort of balloon, but as of late Wednesday they had not confirmed exactly what it is."
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Cyborg Prospecting: An Interview with Tim Maly
Cyborg Prospecting: An Interview with Tim Maly - COLUMNS - Current Intelligence: "Exactly fifty years ago scientists Manfred Clynes and Nathan Kline introduced the term 'cyborg' to describe beings with both biological and artificial components. To celebrate this anniversary, Maly commissioned 50 Posts About Cyborgs from a diverse group of multidisciplinary thinkers. The results include ruminations on mediated environments, arboreta, gaming and even Kanye West. In the midst of coordinating this avalanche of content, Maly took some time to chat with me about gadgets, the body and speculative fiction."
Transhumanism | Psychology Today
'Transhumanism...promotes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and evaluating the opportunities for enhancing the human condition and the human organism opened up by the advancement of technology. Attention is given to both present technologies, like genetic engineering and information technology, and anticipated future ones, such as molecular nanotechnology and artificial intelligence. The enhancement options being discussed include radical extension of human health-span, eradication of disease, elimination of unnecessary suffering, and augmentation of human intellectual, physical, and emotional capacities....Transhumanists view human nature as a work-in-progress, a half-baked beginning that we can learn to remold in desirable ways. Current humanity need not be the endpoint of evolution. Transhumanists hope that by responsible use of science, technology, and other rational means we shall eventually manage to become posthuman, beings with vastly greater capacities than present human beings have.'"
Evangelical push for GM foods: USDA’s NIFA chief calls opponents ‘ignorant’ | Food Freedom
Evangelical push for GM foods: USDA’s NIFA chief calls opponents ‘ignorant’ | Food Freedom: "USDA chief of National Institute of Food and Agriculture calls GM food opponents ignorant"
Singularity Watch: The Group Mind - Singularity Watch
Singularity Watch: The Group Mind Singularity Watch: "For those of you just joining us, let me introduce you to the guru of The Singularity movement. Ray Kurzweil is a transhumanist and proud of it. Equal parts genius and huckster, he’s got a website that acts as a clearing house for all things Singularity as well as a platform to sell his brand of life-lengthening drugs and paraphernalia. I admire this guy; he’s done some amazing things with his genius. I took the health survey at his website and wound up with a recommendation to take fish pills to alleviate my morning stiffness. So I started taking them. Guess what? They worked.
I have respect for the man even though I’m cynical when it comes to transhumanism. I read his site regularly. Here’s an interesting item, the site posted last Friday:
Collective Intelligence in Small Teams
Why does a site about the Singularity have information about collective intelligence? I suspect it has to do with where the Singularity is taking us. Maybe one day we’ll have a group mind. One day, all knowledge will be held by every single person on the planet simultaneously. If they’ve subscribed, that is. I can’t begin to fathom what a subscription to the collective intelligence would be like. Or maybe I can. Isn’t that what the Internet is?"
I have respect for the man even though I’m cynical when it comes to transhumanism. I read his site regularly. Here’s an interesting item, the site posted last Friday:
Collective Intelligence in Small Teams
Why does a site about the Singularity have information about collective intelligence? I suspect it has to do with where the Singularity is taking us. Maybe one day we’ll have a group mind. One day, all knowledge will be held by every single person on the planet simultaneously. If they’ve subscribed, that is. I can’t begin to fathom what a subscription to the collective intelligence would be like. Or maybe I can. Isn’t that what the Internet is?"
Neuroscience, free will and determinism: 'I'm just a machine' - Telegraph
Neuroscience, free will and determinism: 'I'm just a machine' - Telegraph: "For a man who thinks he's a robot, Professor Patrick Haggard is remarkably cheerful about it. 'We certainly don't have free will,' says the leading British neuroscientist. 'Not in the sense we think.' It's quite a way to start an interview. We're in the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, in Queen Square in London, the nerve centre – if you will – of British brain research. Prof Haggard is demonstrating 'transcranial magnetic stimulation', a technique that uses magnetic coils to affect one's brain, and then to control the body. One of his research assistants, Christina Fuentes, is holding a loop-shaped paddle next to his head, moving it fractionally. 'If we get it right, it might cause something.' She presses a switch, and the coil activates with a click. Prof Haggard's hand twitches. 'It's not me doing that,' he assures me, 'it's her.'"
Humanoid Rights | The American Prospect
Humanoid Rights | The American Prospect: "The idea of the ACLU battling a private corporation over whether clones are human beings or pieces of property may seem far-fetched. But almost a decade ago, the organization started thinking about how to do it."
Did a UFO land in a Tucson wash in October of 1967? - Paranormal Old Pueblo
Did a UFO land in a Tucson wash in October of 1967? - Paranormal Old Pueblo: "A story that persists with the older generation is the tale of a UFO landing in Tucson.
On October 9, 1967, a young boy riding his bicycle claimed that he witnessed a UFO land in a wash near Harrison Road and Speedway Boulevard.
Dr. James E. McDonald, a physicist and UFO researcher from the University of Arizona, arrived on the scene within 30 minutes. The incident would be classified as CE2 (Close Encounter of the 2nd kind). The boy at the scene reported that the UFO was cylindrical in shape and approximately 8 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide. The object was supported by two legs ending in round pads that were joined by a bar. The boy reported that as he approached the object, it “rose vertically with a deep, low-pitched hum”. The object left two impressions in the sandy wash (photo below)."
On October 9, 1967, a young boy riding his bicycle claimed that he witnessed a UFO land in a wash near Harrison Road and Speedway Boulevard.
Dr. James E. McDonald, a physicist and UFO researcher from the University of Arizona, arrived on the scene within 30 minutes. The incident would be classified as CE2 (Close Encounter of the 2nd kind). The boy at the scene reported that the UFO was cylindrical in shape and approximately 8 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide. The object was supported by two legs ending in round pads that were joined by a bar. The boy reported that as he approached the object, it “rose vertically with a deep, low-pitched hum”. The object left two impressions in the sandy wash (photo below)."
UFO expert reveals spate of sightings around Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | STV News
UFO expert reveals spate of sightings around Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | STV News: "A Scottish UFO enthusiast has revealed a number of unexplained sightings in Edinburgh and the surrounding Pentland Hills in recent months.
Ron Halliday, who revealed his top ten Scottish UFO events to STV News earlier this year, said witnesses had come forward and reported three sightings to him since July.
On July 28, a middle aged woman in the Edinburgh suburb of Currie was looking towards the Pentland Hills at around 11.50pm when she saw a dazzling light. The woman had a pair of binoculars with her, so she managed to see a round-shaped object with markings on the side. As she watched it, the object - which was pale yellow - seemed to change shape."
Ron Halliday, who revealed his top ten Scottish UFO events to STV News earlier this year, said witnesses had come forward and reported three sightings to him since July.
On July 28, a middle aged woman in the Edinburgh suburb of Currie was looking towards the Pentland Hills at around 11.50pm when she saw a dazzling light. The woman had a pair of binoculars with her, so she managed to see a round-shaped object with markings on the side. As she watched it, the object - which was pale yellow - seemed to change shape."
DARPA seeks technology inspired by Tom Cruise -- Government Computer News
DARPA seeks technology inspired by Tom Cruise -- Government Computer News: "In the Tom Cruise film “Minority Report,” specially trained agents detect and arrest criminals before they commit their crimes.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking algorithms that will allow it to do something similar, according to Wired’s 'Danger Room' blog. But instead of finding criminals among the general population, DARPA wants to find troops at risk of endangering themselves or their compatriots.
Recent incidents such as the fatal shootings at Fort Hood and the release of classified information via WikiLeaks has some military leaders on edge.
“The idea behind the Anomaly Detection at Multiple Scales, or ADAMS, effort is to sift through ‘massive datasets’ to find the warning signs of looming homicide, suicide or other destructive behavior,” writes Spencer Ackerman for 'Danger Room.'
He goes on to quote a DARPA statement: “The focus is on malevolent insiders that started out as ‘good guys.’ The specific goal of [ADAMS] is to detect anomalous behaviors before or shortly after they turn.”"
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking algorithms that will allow it to do something similar, according to Wired’s 'Danger Room' blog. But instead of finding criminals among the general population, DARPA wants to find troops at risk of endangering themselves or their compatriots.
Recent incidents such as the fatal shootings at Fort Hood and the release of classified information via WikiLeaks has some military leaders on edge.
“The idea behind the Anomaly Detection at Multiple Scales, or ADAMS, effort is to sift through ‘massive datasets’ to find the warning signs of looming homicide, suicide or other destructive behavior,” writes Spencer Ackerman for 'Danger Room.'
He goes on to quote a DARPA statement: “The focus is on malevolent insiders that started out as ‘good guys.’ The specific goal of [ADAMS] is to detect anomalous behaviors before or shortly after they turn.”"
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Google Robot Car: The Future of Cruise Control, Convoys, Car-Sharing - The Daily Beast
Google Robot Car: The Future of Cruise Control, Convoys, Car-Sharing - The Daily Beast: "Following news the search giant has been quietly testing driverless cars, futurist Paul Saffo reveals what Google has in mind—and how soon you’ll be riding shotgun with a robot.
Just when we think Google has run out of surprises, we learn from John Markoff at The New York Times that a small team of Google engineers has been quietly running robots on our highways. Not just one or two robots sneaking a few miles down a lonely country road late at night, but eight autonomous vehicles traveling more than 140,000 miles in the last year on everything from freeways to traffic-clogged downtown districts. I have viewed the route maps for several of these trips and can attest to the fact that Google’s car-bots have confidently traversed roads that would leave many drivers white-knuckled, from San Francisco’s pretzel-twisty Lombard Street to Big Sur’s narrow, cliff-hugging Highway One."
Just when we think Google has run out of surprises, we learn from John Markoff at The New York Times that a small team of Google engineers has been quietly running robots on our highways. Not just one or two robots sneaking a few miles down a lonely country road late at night, but eight autonomous vehicles traveling more than 140,000 miles in the last year on everything from freeways to traffic-clogged downtown districts. I have viewed the route maps for several of these trips and can attest to the fact that Google’s car-bots have confidently traversed roads that would leave many drivers white-knuckled, from San Francisco’s pretzel-twisty Lombard Street to Big Sur’s narrow, cliff-hugging Highway One."
New Tech: Robots are Learning Without Human Programming
Because robots have no concept of self, nor do they truly understand what it is they are programmed to do, says Fasel, an assistant research professor of computer science, they are often are unable to problem solve – a design and implementation glitch that is the focus of Fasel's research -improving what robots are able to understand and learn, but without the aid of human programming."
FLASH Laser Unlocks New State of Matter (Today's Most Popular)
FLASH Laser Unlocks New State of Matter (Today's Most Popular): "Like a scene out of Star Trek, Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminium by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. 'Transparent aluminium' previously only existed in science fiction, but the real material is an exotic new state of matter with important implications for planetary science and nuclear fusion.
A team of Oxford University scientists, discovered that a short pulse from the FLASH laser ‘knocked out’ a core electron from every aluminium atom in a sample without disrupting the metal’s crystalline structure. This turned the aluminium nearly invisible to extreme ultraviolet radiation."
A team of Oxford University scientists, discovered that a short pulse from the FLASH laser ‘knocked out’ a core electron from every aluminium atom in a sample without disrupting the metal’s crystalline structure. This turned the aluminium nearly invisible to extreme ultraviolet radiation."
First trial of embryonic stem cells in humans
BBC News - First trial of embryonic stem cells in humans: "US doctors have begun the first official trial of using human embryonic stem cells in patients after getting the green light from regulators.
The Food and Drug Administration has given a license to Geron to use the controversial cells to treat people with spinal injuries.
The cells have the potential to become many of the different cell types found in the body, including nerve cells."
The Food and Drug Administration has given a license to Geron to use the controversial cells to treat people with spinal injuries.
The cells have the potential to become many of the different cell types found in the body, including nerve cells."
2 bomoh capture 9 djinns
2 bomoh capture 9 djinns: "JERTIH: It looked like a scene from the 1982 horror movie Poltergeist when two bomoh allegedly captured nine djinns at the home of a woman yesterday.The girl became the talk of her village when she allegedly vanished on several occasions, only to be found in odd places like inside a cement mixer and a cemetery.
The parents of Siti Balqis Mohd Nor, 22, were relieved with the success of the two bomoh and hoped their life would return to normal as the djinns were said to be behind the woman's mysterious disappearances.
Hundreds of residents flocked to the home of Siti Balqis when they heard that the 'culprits' had been captured and imprisoned in special containers. Curious onlookers jostled to take photos and video footage of the containers and the djinns said to be inside.
The two bomoh, who refused to be identified, offered their services for free on Friday after reading about Siti Balqis' plight in newspapers.
At 7.30pm, one of them started praying inside the family home while the other recited verses outside the front door.
About 15 minutes later, the bomoh outside the house saw a figure dashing away.
He gave chase and captured it. Subsequently, eight more djinns were captured one by one as they tried to flee.
The bomoh said the sealed containers would be thrown into the sea so that the djinns would not bother anyone again."
The parents of Siti Balqis Mohd Nor, 22, were relieved with the success of the two bomoh and hoped their life would return to normal as the djinns were said to be behind the woman's mysterious disappearances.
Hundreds of residents flocked to the home of Siti Balqis when they heard that the 'culprits' had been captured and imprisoned in special containers. Curious onlookers jostled to take photos and video footage of the containers and the djinns said to be inside.
The two bomoh, who refused to be identified, offered their services for free on Friday after reading about Siti Balqis' plight in newspapers.
At 7.30pm, one of them started praying inside the family home while the other recited verses outside the front door.
About 15 minutes later, the bomoh outside the house saw a figure dashing away.
He gave chase and captured it. Subsequently, eight more djinns were captured one by one as they tried to flee.
The bomoh said the sealed containers would be thrown into the sea so that the djinns would not bother anyone again."
Strange Signal Comes From Alien Planet, Scientist Says - FoxNews.com
Strange Signal Comes From Alien Planet, Scientist Says - FoxNews.com: "The recent discovery of Gliese 581g, an alien planet in the habitable zone of another star, has been an exciting development for scientists probing the galaxy for signs of extraterrestrial life. At least one claim of a possible signal from the planet has already surfaced – and been met with harsh skepticism among the science community.
Following the Sept. 29 announcement of the discovery of Gliese 581g, astronomer Ragbir Bhathal, a scientist at the University of Western Sydney, claimed to have detected a suspicious pulse of light nearly two years ago, that came from the same area of the galaxy as the location of Gliese 581g, according to the U.K.'s Daily Mail online. [Alien Planet Gliese581g: FAQ]"
Following the Sept. 29 announcement of the discovery of Gliese 581g, astronomer Ragbir Bhathal, a scientist at the University of Western Sydney, claimed to have detected a suspicious pulse of light nearly two years ago, that came from the same area of the galaxy as the location of Gliese 581g, according to the U.K.'s Daily Mail online. [Alien Planet Gliese581g: FAQ]"
Monday, October 11, 2010
UFOs, Project Blue Beam, mind-behavior control
UFOs, Project Blue Beam, mind-behavior control - National Human Rights | Examiner.com: "With this week's Chinese reports of having to divert passenger jets to prevent them from colliding with a UFOs, there is renewed interest in military projects that project images for mind control and thus, behavior control. Project Blue Beam is said to be holographic technology used along with hi-tech, mind-control weapons utilizing the effects of radio-frequency waves upon the brain."
The Kelly-Hopkinsville 'Goblins' Encounter'
Phantoms and Monsters: Paranormal, UFOs, Cryptids and Unexplained Phenomena: "On the night of August 21, 1955, two Kentucky families claimed to have fought unknown beings. In a rural area of Kentucky, near Hopkinsville and Kelly, two families contend they battled extraterrestrial creatures. The event happened around the Sutton farmhouse, where the Suttons and the Taylors gathered for dinner. At some point during the evening, Billy Ray Taylor went outside to draw water from the well."
Genome-building from the bottom up : Nature News
Genome-building from the bottom up : Nature News: "Take eight tiny DNA strands just 60 nucleotides long, combine with a master mix of enzymes and reagents, and incubate at 50 C for an hour. By following this simple recipe, researchers could synthesize the genome of a mouse mitochondrion — an organelle that acts as the energy factory for plant and animal cells — in just five days."
Feeling chipper, the wood ant caught bringing science to life | Mail Online
Because the insect features in a stunning new book featuring the art of the coloured scanning electron micrograph - in the case of this chap magnified 22 times.
Microcosmos takes readers into a secret world of extreme close-ups. Some subjects have been magnified by as much as 22million times."
Click link above for more pics...
Indiana Jones and the Sasquatch of Doom | Henry Gee | Science | guardian.co.uk
Indiana Jones and the Sasquatch of Doom | Henry Gee | Science | guardian.co.uk: "They get you, don't they? Those big, unanswered questions of existence. What is dark matter? How did the universe get started? Why is Miley Cyrus? Who put the Benzedrine in Mrs Murphy's Ovaltine?
Science presented as a list of pre-digested facts that we must obediently learn is rightly condemned as dull - but that's not what science is about. No, science is a long list of unanswered questions, a voyage into the unknown, a quest to reach for things slightly beyond our grasp. Be honest, now: who'd really rather go on an adventure with Indiana Jones than be lectured at by Richard Dawkins?"
Science presented as a list of pre-digested facts that we must obediently learn is rightly condemned as dull - but that's not what science is about. No, science is a long list of unanswered questions, a voyage into the unknown, a quest to reach for things slightly beyond our grasp. Be honest, now: who'd really rather go on an adventure with Indiana Jones than be lectured at by Richard Dawkins?"
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Baby Born From Embryo Frozen For 20 Years
Baby Born From Embryo Frozen For 20 Years: "NewsCore - A healthy baby boy was born from an embryo frozen for almost 20 years in what was hailed Sunday as scientific breakthrough that could allow women to start families much later in life.
The infant's mother, who is 42, underwent infertility treatment for 10 years before she was given the embryo last year. She gave birth to a baby boy in May this year.
News of the birth, reported in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, comes as British lawmakers extend the period that embryos can be stored for up to 55 years."
The infant's mother, who is 42, underwent infertility treatment for 10 years before she was given the embryo last year. She gave birth to a baby boy in May this year.
News of the birth, reported in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, comes as British lawmakers extend the period that embryos can be stored for up to 55 years."
Google Cars Drive Themselves, In Traffic - CNBC
Google Cars Drive Themselves, In Traffic - CNBC: "Anyone driving the twists of Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles recently may have glimpsed a Toyota Prius with a curious funnel-like cylinder on the roof. Harder to notice was that the person at the wheel was not actually driving."
BioDesign India 1.0 Concludes...
Trivandrum - Yentha.com - BioDesign India 1.0 Concludes: "Technopark, Trivandrum: Meat that animal lovers can eat without guilt as no animals are killed and the meat is simply grown in labs, and a computer language for biology named 'Kera' were among the unique ideas thrown up at India’s first symposium on redesigning life for novel applications, titled 'BioDesign India 1.0', which concluded at the Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram after 3 days of presentations and debates on science, technology and ethics of synthetic biology."
The Vanishing Aircraft Swallowed By A UFO | Before It's News
The Vanishing Aircraft Swallowed By A UFO | Before It's News: "People go missing all the time. There's a whole list of well known people who have disappeared without trace but not quite so many who may have been intercepted by a UFO.
One such well known case is that of Frederick Valentich, an Australian amateur pilot. He disappeared on October 21 1978 and he or his aircraft have never been found.
All the action took place after departing Morrabin Airport, Melbourne. Valentich was on a flight across the Bass Strait to King Island in his blue and white Cessna 182 aircraft.
The flight appeared to be going okay for the best part of an hour when at 7:06pm Valentich radioed aircraft control reporting that there was a large aircraft flying within sight of him at 5000 feet. His call sign was Delta Sierra Juliet (DSJ) and this is how the radio exchanges went. These were punctuated with curious metallic noises."
One such well known case is that of Frederick Valentich, an Australian amateur pilot. He disappeared on October 21 1978 and he or his aircraft have never been found.
All the action took place after departing Morrabin Airport, Melbourne. Valentich was on a flight across the Bass Strait to King Island in his blue and white Cessna 182 aircraft.
The flight appeared to be going okay for the best part of an hour when at 7:06pm Valentich radioed aircraft control reporting that there was a large aircraft flying within sight of him at 5000 feet. His call sign was Delta Sierra Juliet (DSJ) and this is how the radio exchanges went. These were punctuated with curious metallic noises."
Over 6000 Pages Of UFO Reports
67 Not Out: Over 6000 Pages Of UFO Reports: "Highlights include such things as:
Several people claim they saw a UFO over Michael Howard's home. He was, at the time, an important UK politician and held the post of Home Secretary. The witnesses say they saw a large triangular UFO, which they estimated was the size of a large jumbo jet. The craft hovered over his house near Folkestone in Kent.
One witness, Sophie Wadleigh, describes what she saw, 'It was so peculiar, it all felt really odd and I heard this humming noise. As I looked across the field I saw a large triangular craft hovering about 300 metres off the ground.'"
Several people claim they saw a UFO over Michael Howard's home. He was, at the time, an important UK politician and held the post of Home Secretary. The witnesses say they saw a large triangular UFO, which they estimated was the size of a large jumbo jet. The craft hovered over his house near Folkestone in Kent.
One witness, Sophie Wadleigh, describes what she saw, 'It was so peculiar, it all felt really odd and I heard this humming noise. As I looked across the field I saw a large triangular craft hovering about 300 metres off the ground.'"
An Alien Body and Spaceship on the Moon
Mona Lisa - An Alien Body and Spaceship on the Moon: "Here's a story that has been going around the web since about 2007. It's pretty amazing and I'm kind of surprised that it hasn't received more attention. I think many editors thought it was too far fetched to be true. To be honest, we thought it was a hoax until one of the staff here at viewzone decided to procure the film strips from the NASA site, noticed that there were two images of the object available (taken from different angles) and made a 3D composite image. The results are at the bottom of this page. While we are not confident about the accompanying video and images of the 'alien entity' (the female body), we are surprised that the 3D images do show an actual object on the Moon's surface.
If you have the old red-blue 3D glasses you can see the spaceship pretty clearly. There's not much doubt that it's a spaceship -- either that or a submarine -- but we'll leave that up to our readers to decide."
If you have the old red-blue 3D glasses you can see the spaceship pretty clearly. There's not much doubt that it's a spaceship -- either that or a submarine -- but we'll leave that up to our readers to decide."
IMF Article Predicts New World Order
IMF Article Predicts New World Order: "Dominant Social Theme: The world needs a central bank and the IMF is ready to be one."
Saturday, October 9, 2010
More genetically modified organisms on the way says scientists | Gainesville.com
Those who oppose the practice of manipulating genes to make the foods we eat bigger, tastier or have a longer shelf life counter that the fruits and vegetables on the family table should come from the farm, not from some biotech researcher's laboratory.
Genetically engineered foods have been in the news in recent days, thanks to the Atlantic salmon.
To build a better salmon, scientists spliced into the DNA of Atlantic salmon a growth hormone gene from Chinook salmon and a piece of DNA from another food fish, the ocean pout, which acts as a switch to 'turn on' the Chinook salmon gene. The result is that the Atlantic salmon grows faster and reaches harvest size in half the time while consuming less feed. The biotech company that developed the super salmon is awaiting a green light from the FDA to market the fish."
UFO sightings by NASA Astronauts
UFO sightings by NASA Astronauts
Statements from several astronauts concerning their testimony about UFO activity....
Alabama witness gets close to triangle UFO: luminosity was ’sickly yellow-green’ - National ufo | Examiner.com
Alabama witness gets close to triangle UFO: luminosity was ’sickly yellow-green’ - National ufo | Examiner.com: "An Alabama witness watched a slow moving triangular object 300 to 400 feet in altitude at 12:30 a.m. CT from a southwestern Birmingham suburb on October 4, 2010, according to testimony from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) witness reporting database.
'Out of the corner of my eye and towards my left field of vision, I noticed a large optical blur- like a wave effect- directly over the constellation Cassiopeia,' the witness stated."
'Out of the corner of my eye and towards my left field of vision, I noticed a large optical blur- like a wave effect- directly over the constellation Cassiopeia,' the witness stated."
UFO sightings connected to Large Hadron Collider experiment? - Local - Louth Leader
UFO sightings connected to Large Hadron Collider experiment? - Local - Louth Leader: "The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, intended to smash protons together in the hope of learning more about the Big Bang theory. It was turned on to much international press interest last week despite some scientists calling for the experiment to be stopped, in fear it could lead to the formation of mini black holes, which could expand and swallow the Earth.
Rachel Rijsdijk emailing from The Netherlands said she also saw similar orange lights last Saturday: 'On Saturday night a week ago I was driving on the highway, past a city called Eindhoven, and I saw three orange round lights high in the sky. They were not moving, but hanging in a triangle form.'"
Rachel Rijsdijk emailing from The Netherlands said she also saw similar orange lights last Saturday: 'On Saturday night a week ago I was driving on the highway, past a city called Eindhoven, and I saw three orange round lights high in the sky. They were not moving, but hanging in a triangle form.'"
A Window Into the Mind of a Scientific Dictator
A Window Into the Mind of a Scientific Dictator: "The refinement of tyranny and control into a science is the dream to which the 21st century scientific dictator aspires. The study of human nature, psychology and biology aid him in his pursuit. What you will read here is a small window into the dark mind of a scientific dictator. In combination with increasingly centralized power and rapidly advancing technology, the ability of smaller and smaller groups to exercise power and effect greater numbers of people is a real danger. C.S. Lewis wrote in 1944, 'The real picture is that of one dominant age... which resists all previous ages most successfully... Man's conquest of nature, if the dreams of some scientific planners are realized, means the rule of a few hundreds of men over billions upon billions of men.'"
Friday, October 8, 2010
WMAP Space-Mission Survey of the Universe After the Big Bang Completed -Its Results Hint at a Far Stranger Cosmos
WMAP Space-Mission Survey of the Universe After the Big Bang Completed -Its Results Hint at a Far Stranger Cosmos: "'WMAP data support the notion that galaxies are nothing but quantum mechanics writ large across the sky.' 'To me, this is one of the marvels of the modern scientific age.'
Physicist Brian Greene of Columbia University.
'We discovered what the universe was like 400,000 years ago, providing knowledge beyond the textbook, enabling precise determination of the fundamental data of the universe - geometry, age and composition - dark matter,' said David Spergel, 49, who led the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe space mission with Charles Bennett and Lyman Page."
Physicist Brian Greene of Columbia University.
'We discovered what the universe was like 400,000 years ago, providing knowledge beyond the textbook, enabling precise determination of the fundamental data of the universe - geometry, age and composition - dark matter,' said David Spergel, 49, who led the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe space mission with Charles Bennett and Lyman Page."
Humans After Singularity
YouTube - Kevin Warwick: "Kevin Warwick discusses machines after the singularity when machine intelligence passes human intelligence."
NOW Magazine // News // Frankenfish attack
Think quickly, because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering a biotech company’s plan for a made-in-Canada GE fish to land on a dinner plate near you.
With Atlantic salmon facing decline, Waltham, Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies says it’s produced an engineered fish that tastes exactly like salmon, with the same colour, odour and texture.�"
Wireless health gathering features radio pill - SignOnSanDiego.com
Wireless health gathering features radio pill - SignOnSanDiego.com: "Imagine a world where a tiny sensor embedded inside a blood pressure pill tells your doctor exactly when you take the medication and what your vital signs are at the time.
High-tech health care gadgets that were the stuff of science fiction just a few years ago are right around the corner, according to many of the people attending the Wireless Health 2010 conference in La Jolla on Wednesday."
High-tech health care gadgets that were the stuff of science fiction just a few years ago are right around the corner, according to many of the people attending the Wireless Health 2010 conference in La Jolla on Wednesday."
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Novartis, Craig Venter to Create Synthetic Vaccines - Bloomberg
Novartis, Craig Venter to Create Synthetic Vaccines - Bloomberg: "Novartis AG agreed to use technology from Synthetic Genomics Vaccines Inc., a company run by genome pioneer Craig Venter, in an effort to cut the time needed to develop influenza shots.
Novartis and San Diego-based Synthetic Genomic Vaccines will work together to create so-called seed viruses, templates from which large amounts of vaccine are created, Novartis said in a statement today. Novartis hopes to reduce the time needed to start vaccine output by two months, which is critical in the case of a flu pandemic, the company said.
“It has the potential to safely reduce the time needed to develop new vaccines and improve pre-pandemic preparedness,” Rino Rappuoli, who heads vaccine research at Basel, Switzerland- based Novartis, said in the statement."
Novartis and San Diego-based Synthetic Genomic Vaccines will work together to create so-called seed viruses, templates from which large amounts of vaccine are created, Novartis said in a statement today. Novartis hopes to reduce the time needed to start vaccine output by two months, which is critical in the case of a flu pandemic, the company said.
“It has the potential to safely reduce the time needed to develop new vaccines and improve pre-pandemic preparedness,” Rino Rappuoli, who heads vaccine research at Basel, Switzerland- based Novartis, said in the statement."
Declining solar activity linked to recent warming : Nature News
Knot in the ribbon at the edge of the solar system 'unties'
Knot in the ribbon at the edge of the solar system 'unties': "ScienceDaily (Oct. 1, 2010) — The unusual 'knot' in the bright, narrow ribbon of neutral atoms emanating in from the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space appears to have 'untied,' according to a paper published online in the Journal of Geophysical Research."
Honeybee Killer Found by Army and Entomologists - NYTimes.com
Honeybee Killer Found by Army and Entomologists - NYTimes.com: "DENVER — It has been one of the great murder mysteries of the garden: what is killing off the honeybees?
Honeybees inside a healthy hive near Missoua, Mont.
Since 2006, 20 to 40 percent of the bee colonies in the United States alone have suffered “colony collapse.” Suspected culprits ranged from pesticides to genetically modified food."
Honeybees inside a healthy hive near Missoua, Mont.
Since 2006, 20 to 40 percent of the bee colonies in the United States alone have suffered “colony collapse.” Suspected culprits ranged from pesticides to genetically modified food."
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Dvorsky on “The Future of Humans”
Dvorsky on “The Future of Humans”: "IEET Director George Dvorsky was a featured guest on a recent edition of “The Mark Radio,” talking about transhuman-tech developments we can expect to see in the coming decades.
The 30-minute program focused on the question: “By incorporating technology into our biology, do we lose a piece of our humanity?”"
The 30-minute program focused on the question: “By incorporating technology into our biology, do we lose a piece of our humanity?”"
Scientist spotted 'mysterious pulse of light' from direction of new'Earth planet last year | Mail Online
Gliese 581g mystery: Scientist spotted 'mysterious pulse of light' from direction of new'Earth planet last year | Mail Online: "An astronomer picked up a mysterious pulse of light coming from the direction of the newly discovered Earth-like planet almost two years ago, it has emerged.
Dr Ragbir Bhathal, a scientist at the University of Western Sydney, picked up the odd signal in December 2008, long before it was announced that the star Gliese 581 has habitable planets in orbit around it.
A member of the Australian chapter of SETI, the organisation that looks for communication from distant planets, Dr Bhathal had been sweeping the skies when he discovered a 'suspicious' signal from an area of the galaxy that holds the newly-discovered Gliese 581g.
The remarkable coincidence adds another layer of mystery to the announcement last night that scientists had discovered another planet in the system: Gliese 581g - the most Earth-like planet ever found."
Dr Ragbir Bhathal, a scientist at the University of Western Sydney, picked up the odd signal in December 2008, long before it was announced that the star Gliese 581 has habitable planets in orbit around it.
A member of the Australian chapter of SETI, the organisation that looks for communication from distant planets, Dr Bhathal had been sweeping the skies when he discovered a 'suspicious' signal from an area of the galaxy that holds the newly-discovered Gliese 581g.
The remarkable coincidence adds another layer of mystery to the announcement last night that scientists had discovered another planet in the system: Gliese 581g - the most Earth-like planet ever found."
Graphene Carbon (The Basis of All Life on Earth) Promises to Change the Future of Technology
Graphene Carbon (The Basis of All Life on Earth) Promises to Change the Future of Technology: "The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics yesterday to University of Manchester professors Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov for their work isolating graphene from graphite and identifying its behavior. Graphene, a one-atom thick sheet of carbon densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice, is the thinnest, strongest material ever discovered. It conducts heat and electricity, and despite being one atom thick, is so dense even helium cannot pass through it. As the Swedish Academy of Sciences said in the Nobel Prize announcement: 'Carbon, the basis of all known life on earth, has surprised us once again.'"
A Phantom-like Void in Space
Image of the Day: A Phantom-like Void in Space: "Why the unsettling phantom-like black space in the fabric of the universe? What used to be considered a void in the sky is now known to astronomers as a dark molecular cloud - a high concentration of dust and molecular gas absorb practically all the visible light emitted from background stars."
Researchers Using Rat-Robot Hybrid to Design Better Brain Machine Interfaces
'We wanted to develop a brain-machine interface system aiming for future wheelchairs that paralyzed patients can control only with thought,' says Osamu Fukayama of the university's Medical Engineering and Life Science Laboratory. 'RatCar is a simplified prototype to develop better electrodes, devices, and algorithms for those systems.'"
UFO Forces Closure of Chinese Airport | LiveScience Etc.
UFO Forces Closure of Chinese Airport | LiveScience Etc.: "They're baaaaaack! A Chinese airport reportedly had to divert passenger jets to prevent them from colliding with a UFO earlier this month.
The airport in Baotou, Inner Mongolia kept three flights from Shangai and Beijing circling overhead and shut down for an hour on Sept. 11 until the mysterious bright lights had vanished."
The airport in Baotou, Inner Mongolia kept three flights from Shangai and Beijing circling overhead and shut down for an hour on Sept. 11 until the mysterious bright lights had vanished."
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Can Unmanned Robots Follow The Laws Of War? : NPR
Can Unmanned Robots Follow The Laws Of War? : NPR: "The United States military and intelligence agencies have increased their use of unmanned drones in Pakistan and elsewhere. While most drones are currently human-controlled from thousands of miles away, the military hopes to develop more autonomous machines. Critics worry the machines will kill and destroy indiscriminately."
The Mind in the Brain, the Brain in a Robot: Strong AI in an Artificial Neural Network Brain Replica Housed in an Autonomous, Sensory Endowed Robot - Published by Student Pulse
The Mind in the Brain, the Brain in a Robot: Strong AI in an Artificial Neural Network Brain Replica Housed in an Autonomous, Sensory Endowed Robot - Published by Student Pulse: "The advent of digital computers and contemporary neuroscience has fundamentally changed possible approaches to artificial intelligence (AI). Mankind’s perpetually evolving technological capacity inevitably leads to faster processors, more complex systems, and as a consequence, more intelligent machines. This technology, when applied to neuroscience, allows us to peer deeper into the brain and develop a more detailed neural map of our cognitive structures. The eventuality of the science is a comprehensive map of the specific architecture of the human brain. Assuming a supervenience physicalist view of the mind, this map could be used as a model after which to design an artificial neural network replicating the brain’s neural circuitry, which in turn is endowed with the brain’s emergent mental properties. Housed in a robot with artificial sensory organs, a metabolic system for energy autonomy, and a makeshift nervous system, this ANN brain replica would have the necessary inputs and cognitive structures for a conscious intentional existence akin to our own."
Smarter Than You Think - Aiming to Learn as We Do, A Machine Teaches Itself - NYTimes.com
Smarter Than You Think - Aiming to Learn as We Do, A Machine Teaches Itself - NYTimes.com: "Give a computer a task that can be crisply defined — win at chess, predict the weather — and the machine bests humans nearly every time. Yet when problems are nuanced or ambiguous, or require combining varied sources of information, computers are no match for human intelligence."
Ethical dilemma 'not an issue' for S'pore's scientific community
TODAYonline | Singapore | Ethical dilemma 'not an issue' for S'pore's scientific community: "SINGAPORE - The ethical dilemma that could arise from human-animal combination stem-cell research is not an issue for the scientific community here, local researchers say.
And the likelihood of clinical or research staff pulling out of a human-animal experiment here is minimal, they add."
And the likelihood of clinical or research staff pulling out of a human-animal experiment here is minimal, they add."
Video: UFO closes Chinese airport - Telegraph
Video: UFO closes Chinese airport - Telegraph: "An airport in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, was forced to shut to prevent passenger jets crashing into a UFO, according to reports.
Three flights to Baotou from Shanghai and Beijing were reportedly forced to circle the airport until the UFO disappeared.
Two other flights were diverted away from Baotou and to the nearby cities of Ordos and Taiyuan. The airport was shut for around an hour 'to guarantee safety' according to a spokesman."
Three flights to Baotou from Shanghai and Beijing were reportedly forced to circle the airport until the UFO disappeared.
Two other flights were diverted away from Baotou and to the nearby cities of Ordos and Taiyuan. The airport was shut for around an hour 'to guarantee safety' according to a spokesman."
Wave goodbye to BIOS and say hello to UEFI
Wave goodbye to BIOS and say hello to UEFI: "Those frustrating boot-up moments while we wait an absolute age for our computers to load up are set to get somewhat shorter with the impending retirement of system BIOS. Despite now being a very old technology and relatively stuck in its ways, the BIOS is still found in many modern machines. Instead of taking around 25 - 30 seconds before giving the all-clear for an operating system to start, a new kid on the block is well on its way to offering instant-on. It's not quite there yet, but the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is getting closer."
Will an Ion-Drive Spaceship Take Humans to Mars?
What is Pulling the Milky Way Towards It at 14-Million MPH? (Today's Most Popular)
What is Pulling the Milky Way Towards It at 14-Million MPH? (Today's Most Popular): "Astronomers have known for years that something unknown apears to be 'pulling' our Milky Way and tens of thousands of other galaxies toward itself at a breakneck 22 million kilometers (14 million miles) per hour. But they can't pinpoint exactly what, or where it is."
How Did Jefferson Know? | Before It's News
How Did Jefferson Know? | Before It's News: "Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'"
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'"
One Program to Watch Them All: Darpa’s New Snoop Plan | Danger Room | Wired.com
One Program to Watch Them All: Darpa’s New Snoop Plan | Danger Room | Wired.com: "The Pentagon’s surveillance net is massive. But it was holes and seams. Spy drone videos and communications intercepts may be aimed at the same target. Analysts have a hard time flipping easily from one kind of intel to the other, however — allowing those targets to get away. So the military is working on an out-there idea to fix the problem: a single mega-system that pulls together and analyzes all every kind of intel you can imagine. If it works as planned, it’ll be a whole lot harder to slip through that Pentagon net."
Machu Picchu reveals new secrets: Inkaraqay | ...en Per - Travel Culture History News
Machu Picchu reveals new secrets: Inkaraqay | ...en Per - Travel Culture History News: "Only ever seen by a few people over the past century, the Inca site of Inkaraqay located on an inaccessible and nearly vertical side of the Huayna Picchu mountain that overlooks Machu Picchu, is only now being revealed to the wider world."
Monday, October 4, 2010
GMO Pigs May Be Coming to a Table Near You Sooner Than You Think | Only actual and fresh news
GMO Pigs May Be Coming to a Table Near You Sooner Than You Think | Only actual and fresh news: "They’re nick-named “Enviropigs” and they’re already in production, just waiting on one thing: the FDA’s final stamp of approval for genetically modified (GM) pig meat meant for consumption.
With all eyes on GMO salmon farming, and questions swirling as to whether the FDA will approve these lab-created fish, apparently no one’s noticed that GM pigs are on the FDA’s calendar for review as well. But they are, as CNN reported recently, after visiting Canada's University of Guelph swine research laboratory, where the pigs are in full factory production. Officials at the university told CNN:"
With all eyes on GMO salmon farming, and questions swirling as to whether the FDA will approve these lab-created fish, apparently no one’s noticed that GM pigs are on the FDA’s calendar for review as well. But they are, as CNN reported recently, after visiting Canada's University of Guelph swine research laboratory, where the pigs are in full factory production. Officials at the university told CNN:"
Transhumanists gather at U of U for conference | Universe.byu.edu
Transhumanists gather at U of U for conference | Universe.byu.edu: "The national Transhumanism-Spirituality conference was held at the University of Utah on Friday.
The event was planned and sponsored by the Mormon Transhumanist Society and included speakers and representatives from across the country and world.
Transhumanism is a philosophical and cultural movement forwarding the belief and objective of humans eventually surpassing their current limitations via technological and societal supplementation and evolution. The official symbol for the transhumanist movement is H ."
The event was planned and sponsored by the Mormon Transhumanist Society and included speakers and representatives from across the country and world.
Transhumanism is a philosophical and cultural movement forwarding the belief and objective of humans eventually surpassing their current limitations via technological and societal supplementation and evolution. The official symbol for the transhumanist movement is H ."
Rationally Speaking: Why we don’t need transhumanism
Rationally Speaking: Why we don’t need transhumanism: "Julia has recently made a good case for transhumanism, easily rebuffing some of the most popular, and somewhat inane, objections to the “movement.” She started her post by reminding us that transhumanism is “the idea that we should be pursuing science and technology to improve the human condition, modifying our bodies and our minds to make us smarter, healthier, happier, and potentially longer-lived.” She immediately acknowledged my retort during a recent Rationally Speaking podcast that if one defines transhumanism that way, we don’t need a movement, because we have been doing just what transhumanists advocate since the dawn of civilization. In fact, what transhumanism is about is the promotion of radical alterations to human bodies and minds, through a variety of futuristic technologies that include genetic engineering and “mind uploading” (whatever that means)."
Scientists have unearthed an ancient city where evidence shows an atomic blast dating from 8,000 to 12,000 years ago Updated | Before It's News
Towards a scientific and societal agenda on extra-terrestrial life - Events Diary - The Royal Society
Towards a scientific and societal agenda on extra-terrestrial life - Events Diary - The Royal Society: "Should extra-terrestrial life exist, upcoming efforts will provide living generations with a realistic chance of its detection. Even more than the scientific agenda, a corresponding complementary societal agenda needs to be debated. With a mix of invited talks and panel debates, we particularly look into the detection of life, the communication with potential extra-terrestrial civilizations, the implications for the future of humanity, and the political processes that are required."
SPACE.com -- A Million Questions About Habitable Planet Gliese 581g (Okay, 12)
SPACE.com -- A Million Questions About Habitable Planet Gliese 581g (Okay, 12): "A newfound Earth-sized planet discovered in the habitable zone of a nearby star looks very promising for the possibility of extraterrestrial life, but many unknowns remain.
The planet, Gliese 581g, is one of two new worlds discovered orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581, which now has a family of planets that totals six.
Here is SPACE.com's look at what scientists know so far about the intriguing world, as well as a few questions that don't quite have answers yet. Consider it a new entry into Earth's own hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy:"
The planet, Gliese 581g, is one of two new worlds discovered orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581, which now has a family of planets that totals six.
Here is SPACE.com's look at what scientists know so far about the intriguing world, as well as a few questions that don't quite have answers yet. Consider it a new entry into Earth's own hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy:"
Killer asteroid with a silver lining - life - 01 October 2010 - New Scientist
Cosmic accidents: Killer asteroid with a silver lining - life - 01 October 2010 - New Scientist: "A 10-kilometre-wide rock did for the dinosaurs, but smashed open a window of opportunity for unimpressive little animals called mammals
The upping of atmospheric oxygen was followed by a frenzy of evolutionary innovation, during which most of the animal groups known today popped up. By 350 million years ago, the coal beds laid down in the carboniferous period speak of a world covered in lush greenery, too. Soon this verdant Earth became home to animals of a size never seen before: the dinosaurs. The age of the reptiles lasted for more than 160 million years. It took an extraterrestrial intervention to clear the way for a new world order."
The upping of atmospheric oxygen was followed by a frenzy of evolutionary innovation, during which most of the animal groups known today popped up. By 350 million years ago, the coal beds laid down in the carboniferous period speak of a world covered in lush greenery, too. Soon this verdant Earth became home to animals of a size never seen before: the dinosaurs. The age of the reptiles lasted for more than 160 million years. It took an extraterrestrial intervention to clear the way for a new world order."
Couple Hunts Serial Cow Killer - News Story - WSB Atlanta
Couple Hunts Serial Cow Killer - News Story - WSB Atlanta: "HALL COUNTY -- A Hall County family has spent nearly a year searching for answers in the mutilation deaths of their cattle.
Kathy and John Cooper said they discovered their latest dead cow on their pasture on Monday. It was the 20th cow they’ve lost, and once again someone had removed its genitals and udders."
Kathy and John Cooper said they discovered their latest dead cow on their pasture on Monday. It was the 20th cow they’ve lost, and once again someone had removed its genitals and udders."
Human Unconscious Transferred To Virtual Characters - Oddities News - redOrbit
Human Unconscious Transferred To Virtual Characters - Oddities News - redOrbit: "Virtual characters can behave according to actions carried out unconsciously by humans. Researchers at the University of Barcelona have created a system which measures human physiological parameters, such as respiration or heart rate, and introduces them into computer designed characters in real time.
'The ultimate aim is to develop a method which allows humans to unconsciously relate with some parts of the virtual environment more intensely than with others, and that they are encouraged only by their own physiological responses to the virtual reality shown', Christoph Groenegress, co-author of the work and researcher at the University of Barcelona explains to SINC."
'The ultimate aim is to develop a method which allows humans to unconsciously relate with some parts of the virtual environment more intensely than with others, and that they are encouraged only by their own physiological responses to the virtual reality shown', Christoph Groenegress, co-author of the work and researcher at the University of Barcelona explains to SINC."
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Image of the Day: Monster Pulsar at the Center of the Crab Nebula (Weekend Feature)
Image of the Day: Monster Pulsar at the Center of the Crab Nebula (Weekend Feature): "The Crab Nebula is a pulsar wind nebula and a supernova remnant that was recorded by Chinese astronomers and Arab astronomers in 1054 AD with a luminosity about 75,000 times greater than that of the Sun in the constellation of Taurus. At the center of the nebula lurks the Crab Pulsar, a rotating neutron star, which emits pulses of radiation from gamma rays to radio waves with a spin rate of 30.2 times per second. The discovery of a pulsating radio source in the centre of the Crab Nebula was strong evidence that the pulsar is the crushed core of a massive star that long ago exploded as a supernova. Neutron stars pack more than the sun's mass into a ball nearly 60,000 times smaller. With estimated sizes between 10 and 15 miles across, a neutron star would just span across Manhattan."
The New World Order: A Map - Newsweek
The New World Order: A Map - Newsweek: "For centuries we have used maps to delineate borders that have been defined by politics. But it may be time to chuck many of our notions about how humanity organizes itself. Across the world a resurgence of tribal ties is creating more complex global alliances. Where once diplomacy defined borders, now history, race, ethnicity, religion, and culture are dividing humanity into dynamic new groupings. Broad concepts—green, socialist, or market-capitalist ideology—may animate cosmopolitan elites, but they generally do not motivate most people. Instead, the “tribe” is valued far more than any universal ideology. As the great Arab historian Ibn Khaldun observed: “Only Tribes held together by a group feeling can survive in a desert.”"
Cosmic Log - Scrunched-up dimensions untangled
Cosmic Log - Scrunched-up dimensions untangled: "British physicist Stephen Hawking may claim that extra dimensions provide the key to understanding the 'grand design' of the universe, but it's Chinese-American mathematician Shing-Tung Yau who actually figured out how those extra dimensions work."
World first as boy, 15, given a robot heart | Mail Online
World first as boy, 15, given a robot heart | Mail Online: "A boy of 15 has become the first child in the world to be given a permanent artificial heart.
The unnamed Italian boy had the ten-hour operation last week and was said to be well and talking in intensive care last night.
As he has the muscle-wasting illness Duchenne’s syndrome, he was ineligible for a heart transplant."
The unnamed Italian boy had the ten-hour operation last week and was said to be well and talking in intensive care last night.
As he has the muscle-wasting illness Duchenne’s syndrome, he was ineligible for a heart transplant."
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Is Time Coming To an End Within Earth's Lifespan?
Countdown to oblivion: Why time itself could end - physics-math - 28 September 2010 - New Scientist
Countdown to oblivion: Why time itself could end - physics-math - 28 September 2010 - New Scientist: "'We could run into the end of time,' Ben Freivogel tells a seminar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. Several colleagues seem nonplussed, and one Nobel laureate looks downright exasperated. 'I'm aware that this sounds like a crazy conclusion,' Freivogel admits, generating a round of what sounds like relieved laughter. But perhaps their relief is short-lived.
The nature of time, our perception of it and even whether it exists at all are hot topics for both physicists and philosophers. But Freivogel isn't pushing a strange new concept of time.
His idea is arguably even more baffling. He thinks that time, as described by Einstein's theory of general relativity, could simply end in our universe, taking us with it. He gives us another 5 billion years or so before the axe falls (see 'Five billion years to go', below)."
The nature of time, our perception of it and even whether it exists at all are hot topics for both physicists and philosophers. But Freivogel isn't pushing a strange new concept of time.
His idea is arguably even more baffling. He thinks that time, as described by Einstein's theory of general relativity, could simply end in our universe, taking us with it. He gives us another 5 billion years or so before the axe falls (see 'Five billion years to go', below)."
Friday, October 1, 2010
Transhumanism and Superheroes | h Magazine
Transhumanism and Superheroes | h Magazine: "When I tell people I study transhumanism I get three responses: “What?” “Wow!” and “Is that like posthumanism?” Depending on the interest and education of the person I’m talking to, my answers range from the simple (“technology and philosophy,” “cyborgs and genetic engineering” or just “bioethics”) — to the complex ('feminism and biopolitics, specifically phenomenology of self and reproductive rights, within the scope of the bioethics of human enhancement”). Usually any one of those answers is enough to satisfy the person’s curiosity and the conversation moves on. But on the rare occasions when someone actually wants to talk about transhumanism, I don’t have much of a prepared response. One of my better responses involved explaining the three flavors of “human”: critical posthumans, transcendent posthumans, and transhumans.'"
Encore Online - FDA Goes for the Salmon!
Encore Online - FDA Goes for the Salmon!: "Let me start this piece off with a caveat: These words are my opinion. But, please, let me also be presumptuous: They should be every readers’, too. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) consist of organisms that have altered genetic material thanks to the use of an engineering technique called “recombinant DNA technology.” Basically, this means that genes from one life form get implemented into foreign life forms—just as nature did not intend. For those who have not heard or addressed the concept, please let this article serve as a wake-up call.
It’s bad enough that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed crops, such as soybeans, corn, canola and cotton (called the “Big 4”), to enter the foodstream as genetically altered. If all goes as expected, genetically modified salmon will soon be arriving on our dinner plates, too. This could happen as early as this month. Needless to say, trout and tilapia are not far behind."
It’s bad enough that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed crops, such as soybeans, corn, canola and cotton (called the “Big 4”), to enter the foodstream as genetically altered. If all goes as expected, genetically modified salmon will soon be arriving on our dinner plates, too. This could happen as early as this month. Needless to say, trout and tilapia are not far behind."
UFOs and the Bible: Close Encounters of the Sacred Kind
Pretty much sounds like your typical, modern-day UFO sightings, right? Wrong. These are vivid accounts of stories from the Old and New Testaments."
Is The Establishment Preparing to Unveil Aliens?
Activist Post: Is The Establishment Preparing to Unveil Aliens?: "UFOs and extraterrestrials have long been treated as the ultimate conspiracy theory by the establishment. Therefore, the growing chatter of mainstream news stories about UFOs and aliens seems very peculiar. Why the attention all of a sudden? Is the establishment conditioning us for the arrival of extraterrestrials? Could they have an agenda for doing so?
Recent reporting of genuine events such as the multiple UFOs that forced the closing of separate airports in China; stories covering the release of new UFO books written by credible ex-military; UFOs tampering with nuclear devices; the discovery of a 'habitable' planet near Earth; a bizarre story about the Pope's astronomer saying he would gladly baptize an alien if asked; and the pending appointment of a U.N. space ambassador are bringing some legitimacy to the conspiracy."
Recent reporting of genuine events such as the multiple UFOs that forced the closing of separate airports in China; stories covering the release of new UFO books written by credible ex-military; UFOs tampering with nuclear devices; the discovery of a 'habitable' planet near Earth; a bizarre story about the Pope's astronomer saying he would gladly baptize an alien if asked; and the pending appointment of a U.N. space ambassador are bringing some legitimacy to the conspiracy."
Report: Israeli scientists discover way to counterfeit DNA - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News
Report: Israeli scientists discover way to counterfeit DNA - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News: "Israeli scientists have shown it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, according to an article published in the New York Times on Tuesday.The findings could possibly call into question the credibility of DNA as evidence in criminal cases.
In their tests, the scientists fabricated blood and saliva samples that contained DNA taking from a different person, the New York Times reported. The article states that the scientists also could take a DNA profile in a database and use it to make a DNA sample to match the profile without needing any tissue from the person."
In their tests, the scientists fabricated blood and saliva samples that contained DNA taking from a different person, the New York Times reported. The article states that the scientists also could take a DNA profile in a database and use it to make a DNA sample to match the profile without needing any tissue from the person."
Researcher builds machines that daydream - Oddware - Technology - News - iTnews.com.au
Researcher builds machines that daydream - Oddware - Technology - News - iTnews.com.au: "Perth computer scientist Graham Mann was developing algorithms to simulate 'free thinking' and emotion.
Speaking at the World Computer Congress in Brisbane this week, the Murdoch University professor described efforts to translate the 'feel' of Aesop's Fables for machines."
Speaking at the World Computer Congress in Brisbane this week, the Murdoch University professor described efforts to translate the 'feel' of Aesop's Fables for machines."
Technology Review: Mapping the Brain on a Massive Scale
The National Institutes of Health announced $40 million in funding this month for the five-year effort, dubbed the Human Connectome Project. Scientists will use new imaging technologies, some still under development, to create both structural and functional maps of the human brain.
The project is novel in its size; most brain-imaging studies have looked at tens to hundreds of brains. Scanning so many people will shed light on the normal variability within the brain structure of healthy adults, which will in turn provide a basis for examining how neural 'wiring' differs in such disorders as autism and schizophrenia."
Google's Schmidt: Computers 'Augmenting' Humanity | News & Opinion | PCMag.com
Google's Schmidt: Computers 'Augmenting' Humanity | News & Opinion | PCMag.com: "SAN FRANCISCO – More and more, computers will serve to 'augment humanity' by filtering and directing relevant information to users, Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said Tuesday. In a speech at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference here, Schmidt reiterated several points that he made last Friday night in an appearance on the 'Charlie Rose' talk show: that computers can assist humans, and that cloud computing is 'the magic' that allows mobile devices to perform much more powerfully than normal.
'One way to think about this is we're trying to make people better people, literally give them better ideas, [and] augmenting their experience,' he told Rose. 'Think of it as augmented humanity – think of it as trying to get the computers to help us at the things we're not very good at and have us help the computers do the things they're not very good at. Computers, of course, remember everything, and so now it's so overwhelming you need a search engine to keep track.'"
'One way to think about this is we're trying to make people better people, literally give them better ideas, [and] augmenting their experience,' he told Rose. 'Think of it as augmented humanity – think of it as trying to get the computers to help us at the things we're not very good at and have us help the computers do the things they're not very good at. Computers, of course, remember everything, and so now it's so overwhelming you need a search engine to keep track.'"
Beyond the “New Atheism”?
Beyond the “New Atheism”?: "Caspar Melville has a blog post over at The New Humanist in which he analyses a “debate” held a few days ago, apparently in London, on the subject “Beyond New Atheism: Where next for the God debate?”
On this occasion, four people who agree with each other that the “New Atheism” is somehow dehumanising, flawed, and boring, exchanged reasons why the “New Atheism” is dehumanising, flawed, and boring. That’s hardly surprising, given their starting points, but there you go. Melville adds that:
It is true that there was no New Atheist on the panel to defend the arguments, but Laurie [Taylor] did a good job of pressing the panellists on the claims made by Dawkins and others for the importance of not allowing an exaggerated sense of respect [to] stop you from making a strong atheist case, and the audience too were quite critical. Given the frequency with which science came up, all three [others] professed a love for science but [I] felt that some misused it, I was sorry we didn’t have a scientist on the panel."
On this occasion, four people who agree with each other that the “New Atheism” is somehow dehumanising, flawed, and boring, exchanged reasons why the “New Atheism” is dehumanising, flawed, and boring. That’s hardly surprising, given their starting points, but there you go. Melville adds that:
It is true that there was no New Atheist on the panel to defend the arguments, but Laurie [Taylor] did a good job of pressing the panellists on the claims made by Dawkins and others for the importance of not allowing an exaggerated sense of respect [to] stop you from making a strong atheist case, and the audience too were quite critical. Given the frequency with which science came up, all three [others] professed a love for science but [I] felt that some misused it, I was sorry we didn’t have a scientist on the panel."
Technology, spirituality merge in conference - The Daily Utah Chronicle - News
Technology, spirituality merge in conference - The Daily Utah Chronicle - News: "The U will host a conference discussing the furthering of the human mind and body through technology and spirituality. The 2010 Transhumanism and Spirituality conference is being held at the Gould Auditorium in the Marriott Library on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be free to U students with their UCard, $50 for early registration online, and $80 for registration on the day of for everyone else."
'Feds radiating Americans'? Mobile X-ray vans hit US streets - CSMonitor.com
'Feds radiating Americans'? Mobile X-ray vans hit US streets - CSMonitor.com: "For many living in a terror-spooked country, it might seem like a great government innovation: Use vans equipped with mobile X-ray units to scan vehicles at major sporting events, or even randomly, for bombs or contraband.
But news that the US is buying custom-made vans packed with something called backscatter X-ray capacity has riled privacy advocates and sparked internet worries about 'feds radiating Americans.'
'This really trips up the creep factor because it's one of those things that you sort of intrinsically think the government shouldn't be doing,' says Vermont-based privacy expert Frederick Lane, author of 'American Privacy.' 'But, legally, the issue is the boundary between the government's legitimate security interest and privacy expectations we enjoy in our cars.'"
But news that the US is buying custom-made vans packed with something called backscatter X-ray capacity has riled privacy advocates and sparked internet worries about 'feds radiating Americans.'
'This really trips up the creep factor because it's one of those things that you sort of intrinsically think the government shouldn't be doing,' says Vermont-based privacy expert Frederick Lane, author of 'American Privacy.' 'But, legally, the issue is the boundary between the government's legitimate security interest and privacy expectations we enjoy in our cars.'"
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