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Computer Made from DNA and Enzymes

Computer Made from DNA and Enzymes: "Israeli scientists have devised a computer that can perform 330 trillion operations per second, more than 100,000 times the speed of the fastest PC. The secret: It runs on DNA.

A year ago, researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, unveiled a programmable molecular computing machine composed of enzymes and DNA molecules instead of silicon microchips. Now the team has gone one step further. In the new device, the single DNA molecule that provides the computer with the input data also provides all the necessary fuel."

Newly discovered killer cell fights cancer

Biosingularity » Blog Archive » Newly discovered killer cell fights cancer: "A mouse immune cell that plays dual roles as both assassin and messenger, normally the job of two separate cells, has been discovered by an international team of researchers. The discovery has triggered a race among scientists to find a human equivalent of the multitasking cell, which could one day be a target for therapies that seek out and destroy cancer."

Students create plant that glows when thirsty

Students create plant that glows when thirsty | Reuters.com: "Some people like to talk to their plants. Now, students at Singapore Polytechnic say they have created a plant that can communicate with people -- by glowing when it needs water." Now this is Very Cool...this will solve my dilema of several dead cactuses...

Instantly Freeze your Food.

Cuisine Technology: Thermal Circulators & Baths: "The Grant Achatz inspired “Anti-Griddle” is a traditional cooktop with an amazing twist: The device quickly freezes sauces and purees instead of heating them! This unique innovation allows you to effortlessly freeze sauces and purees solid or develop semi-frozen creations with stable, crunchy surfaces and cool, creamy centers." Just when you thought your Ice Cream was melted comes the Ice Age in your kitchen.... but can I put my neighbor's Cat on it?

Genes show humans are still evolving

Chicago Tribune | Genes show humans are still evolving: "Providing the strongest evidence yet that human beings are still evolving, researchers have detected some 700 regions of the human genome where genes appear to have been reshaped by natural selection, a principal force of evolution, within the last 5,000 to 15,000 years."The genes that show this evolutionary change include some responsible for the senses of taste and smell, digestion, bone structure, skin color and brain function."
And you thought X-Men was just sci-fi!

Bacteria that have been found to eat Styrofoam

LiveScience.com - Immortal Styrofoam Meets its Enemy: "Bacteria that have been found to eat Styrofoam"Yes just as you heard this maybe the future for Solid Waste Centers. The scientists fed this styrene oil (what Styrofoam is made of) to the soil bacteria Pseudomonas putida, which converted it into biodegradable plastic known as PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates).

Off the Grid

Hybrid Technologies, Inc.: "Hybrid Living Home". This is the future people... "Using the latest technologies, this house features solar panels and wind turbines as an alternative energy source and Lithium-powered energy for storage. While providing a zero-emission, off-the-grid lifestyle, it maintains all the comforts of home, with the integration of a geothermal system for heating and cooling." What more do you want...? and hell don't ask if it comes with Cable TV

Researchers reconstruct 1918 Virus

CNN.com - Researchers reconstruct 1918 virus: "Researchers reconstruct 1918 virus". Scientists have made from scratch the Spanish flu virus that killed as many as 50 million people in 1918, the first time an infectious agent behind a historic pandemic has ever been reconstructed. Why did they do it? Researchers say it may help them better understand -- and develop defenses against -- the threat of a future worldwide epidemic from bird flu. The researchers also refined their focus on one gene, the HA gene, that encodes the hemagglutinin surface protein that help the virus attach to cells and multiply. The 1918 virus is deadly with the HA gene, but when the gene was replaced, it was not virulent, Tumpey said. The virus particles are being stored at the CDC, and there are no plans to send samples off campus, said Dr. Julie Gerberding, the agency's director.

TIME.com: Out Of The XBox

TIME.com: Out Of The XBox -- May. 23, 2005: "Microsoft, a company known primarily for making highly profitable business software, has put a box in your living room. It entered your house under the humble pretense of being a game machine, a toy for the kids, but it just ate your CD player and your DVD player, and it's looking hungrily at your telephone. It's all up in your media cabinet. It's talking to your iPod, your digital camera, your TV, your stereo, your PC, your credit card and the Internet. It has created a miniature electronic ecosystem inside your home, with itself at the center."
Now as many of you know "I AM NOT A GAMER" i have tried to waste hours playing games and even getting to understand why people buy a console if the same games are on PC-CD with a "gamerig" worthy of all that ATI and Dual-Core hungry you just need a game to pop in (yes I know it's cheaper) but still....Not convinced. Now the internet and a million of gamers and "Modders" have altered their XBox to make a "Media Center" with all the great things of a TiVo or a Windows Media Center, now THAT is appealing to me. But now they have done it, they have gotten inside your house via your kids and will be moving from their rooms to the living room. Making the Tech-Oriented dads send their kids to sleep early so they can use the "Silver Thingy". Of course somebody thought about it before but hey... Guess who got there first...yep you guessed right our beloved Microsoft. This has being a daring and risky move but I'm sure it will be worth it. Being able to plug to your computer and show your photos and videos, being able to plug to your iPod to hear the music and even to your camera (let's not forget email and free long distance), they have really made me happy this time. Here's is how to read the whole article

How Battlestar Galactica Killed TV

How Battlestar Galactica Killed TV: "While you might assume the SciFi Channel saw a significant drop-off in viewership as a result of this piracy, it appears to have had the reverse effect: the series is so good that the few tens of thousands of people who watched downloaded versions told their friends to tune in on January 14th, and see for themselves. From its premiere, Battlestar Galactica has been the most popular program ever to air on the SciFi Channel, and its audiences have only grown throughout the first series. Piracy made it possible for 'word-of-mouth' to spread about Battlestar Galactica." This is absurd I can't believe the shutdown these sites before actually reading the reports on ratings. This serves as an example of how the internet and specially "Bittorrent" has changed the way we watch TV. Form articles calling it "The Poor's man TiVo" to people who just wanted to watch the show later. No it does not hurt Ratings, it does not hurt advertisers in fact as we have seen with Sci-Fi Channel it increases the range of audience and creates desires for shows on TV. This are the sites down and this is the post-script of "Piracy is good" A very good piece to read.

If the show has already been showed and you won't be able to see it again, is it such a sin to download the episode of "Desperate Housewives" you missed. If you don't have TiVo in your area, is it "ethically illegal" to downloaded and watch it on your "Media Center" later. And if you are seeing such a decrease in ratings (which I doubt), why don't you step it up and move forward Broadband TV or why don't you offer an iTunes for TV. Downloadable episodes with ads, maybe less Hi-Def but there is a long list of options to study before shutting down sites and people who in fact by "word-of-mouth" are bringing new viewers to their TV's.

OilComputer Yes it's that crazy I had to post it.

Oilcomputer.com ~~~ the oilcomputer paradise: "Yes! it's really a computer completely submerged in vegetable oil!". I know you must be going nuts over the pictures but it is true. This guy (because of a beer induced bet) put all of his system except moving parts like DVD and HD in Vegetable Oil. Now I don't know if i should consider this as a cooling solution or just plain old "Wacky" people. Anyhow the computer has been up and running for more than a year and he even got his friend to join the "Oil Revolution" too.

CSI making DNA Interesting!

Classes give budding CSIs a reality check -: "Experts say curtailing some of the myths surrounding forensic science is becoming even more important because of what they call the “CSI effect” — the shows are giving juries unrealistic expectations of what their local crime labs are capable of doing." This is something we have talked and fear. The fact that people are starting to believe Crime Labs are as sophisticated and Fun as the ones we see on TV every week. This has been known as the "CSI Effect" affecting jurors and judges all over the country. I have to say that CSI is one of my Favorite TV Series but this new phenomenon is making me shaky. Just remember people that TV is Tv and Real life Crimes don't take 1 Hour to be solved.

Beer makes you clever: It's official

Beer makes you clever: official | The Register: "We already know that beer doesn't actually make you fat but rather fights cancer while promoting world peace and understanding and a brighter future for all our children." Well here we have it to all my intellectual social-drinkers, a new study has found that beer can promote some nerve growth in the brain. Is it for cultural and intelectual purposes or is it just to compensate our balance? I believe will never know but what we CAN do is to drink a moderate amount of beer (or your desired alcohol) and feel better about our health...Not to forget a few laughs too.

Maine Solar House

Maine Solar House: "Yep you heard it right its an actual functioning solar house that not only generates its own energy but what energy its in excess gets directed to the rest of the community. This is a very innovative design if I had enough money I would built one with flat solar panels (wind proof up to 120mph because of Caribbean hurricanes) generate what I need and never pay for electric bills (trust me they are high).

Poseidon Under Sea Resorts

POSEIDON UNDERSEA RESORTS: "Poseidon will be the world's first sea floor resort complex." Yep u heard it right. This would be the first 5-Star Underwater hotel, with all the luxuries of the best hotels in the world. What will they think of next?... Space Hotels or maybe even underground?

Muscle Twitch Switch -- Genetic finding could mean gain without pain

Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Muscle Twitch Switch -- Genetic finding could mean gain without pain: "In the battle against flab, who wouldn't love an 'exercise' pill? Such a quick fix might be possible: biomedical researchers have found a way to rev up the metabolic machinery and thereby keep excess weight off--using genetics instead of the gym."

"Ok what should I do this morning...Do I take the sit-ups pill or the jogging pill today". Like MS used to say "Where would you like to go today?" Where have we gotten to?

Are we so fat and lazy that we need a pill to do the exercise we should be doing? This is either Great or Depressing you read and decide, but IMHO this makes Richard Simmons and many Nutritionists cry.

Tsunami

I feel sad and amazed at the magnitude of this disaster. I pray and hope for those families affected by the tsunami of Dec 26, may God guard them all and let us all send some love and help to them.

Got Beer? Got Stomach?

The West Australian: "A 21-year-old Perth man is lucky to be alive after having his stomach ripped open during a beer-skolling game using a home-made device powered by an electric pump". Yep you heard it right. This 21 yrs old dude in Australia made a device with a helmet, jug, tubes and an electric drill as a pump and went on a drinking game. SMART right? Well not to say the guy freaked out when "I started spewing up red stuff and was in a lot of pain" no wonder. The took him to the hospital were he underwent surgery to repair a 10cm tear. He was really luck to be alive. Now that's what I call "Last Call".

Talk about permanent Halloween

CNN.com - Doctors: Yushchenko was poisoned - Dec 11, 2004: "Dioxin poisoning caused the disfiguring illness" Sadly for this man (presidential candidate for Ukraine), his life has changed drastically. He was poisoned with Dioxin (a byproduct of herbicides much like Agent Orange) causing the disfiguring of his face and a rare skin color, the poisoning also causes severe pain which he has been suffering from these past days. I believe to stand for your opinions and beliefs but this was horrible, threatening another person's life? No way, I sincerely hope he gets better and that may this be an example of a brave man that instead of retiring and hiding in his home with medical attention has given speeches with his face like this. Now that's having courage, here are some links and pictures of VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO.