When Science Met Paper
We’re big fans of papercraft here at Gearfuse, so we just couldn’t resist posting these blockheaded scientists. Print out your choice of Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein or Carl Sagan and fold away. Brains not included, idiot.
Development of Jellyfish Goo Earns Scientists A Nobel Prize
Three scientists have won the Nobel Prize for chemistry. Americans Martin Chalfie and Roger Tsien and Japan’s Osamu Shimomura discovered and successfully developed a fluorescent protein found in jellyfish. Jellyfish will glow under blue and ultraviolet light because of this protein which the three scientists have become known for.
It might not sound like much, but this jellyfish protein has been widely used to study the spread of cancer, how brain cells develop and bacterial growth. Still don’t think it’s a big deal?
The academy compared the impact of the protein on science to the invention of the microscope, saying that for the past decade the protein has been ‘a guiding star for biochemists, biologists, medical scientists and other researchers’.
Yes, this is a big deal.
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Scientists Go Nuts Over Elevators To Space
Everyone has dreamed of traveling to space at one time or another. The problem is, no one wants to spend a fortune forcing themselves into a marriage just so they can get into space. So the finest Japanese minds are collectively collaborating the construction of an elevator into space. This vision has spurred the inspiration of many scientists around the world as well as government organizations such as NASA.
Now, several separate projects have launched and it has become a competition to see who can make the best carriages and tether for the lift. Could it really be possible to build an elevator whose “top floor” is outside of the Earth’s atmosphere? Scientists seem to think so. Until I see results, I’ll remain in the lobby: planet Earth.
Hundreds Of New Creatures Found
In a land down under, there were plenty of new creatures found.
The Earth is billions of years old and still it continues to impress and evolve. Scientists researching an Australian reef system have found hundreds of new creatures in the ocean. New corals were found in addition to unknown life-forms.
Among the creatures researchers found were about 130 soft corals — also known as octocorals, for the eight tentacles that fringe each polyp — that have never been described in scientific literature, and scores of similarly undescribed crustaceans, including tiny shrimp-like animals with claws longer than their bodies.
The Australian researchers conducted three expeditions, one each in the waters off the Great Barrier Reef’s Lizard and Heron islands, and one in the Ningaloo Reef, on Australia’s northwest coast. Thousands of samples were collected during the three-week research trips, which took place between April and September.
Can’t wait to see what Disney comes up with in 15 years thanks to this discovery.
Oh Shit! Intel’s First Six-core Processors Drop
Today, Intel launched its first ever six-core processor: the Xeon 7400. While the name might not be as complex as the name Sony is giving to their new line of laptops, it certainly should be. Everything about this processor is “no joke” as it is geared towards high-end computing, like those used by the scientists working on the Large Hadron Collider.
An estimated 50-percent speed boost over its predecessor is possible as this processor peaks around 2.66GHz with 130W of power. The new Xeons are going to be the last of their kind before Intel makes the jump to the new Core i7 architecture. Things are certainly looking fast for the computing world.
Dead Sea Scrolls: New Exit On The Information Super Highway
For those not familiar with the Dead Sea Scrolls, they are the only known surviving copies of Biblical documents made before 100 AD. So, it’d be nice to try and preserve them in any way possible. What better way to insure its longevity than the immortal internet? Now, not only is the oldest Hebrew record of the Old Testament discovered to date, it’s now the first ever to be put on public display on the Internet.
“The project will involve the documentation of all of the thousands of Dead Sea Scrolls fragments belonging to about 900 manuscripts, and placing them in an Internet databank that will be available to the public,” the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said.
On top of that, infrared and color imaging scientists will help improve the quality and restore worn down fragments that have broken off from the original piece. Let’s hear it for the preservation of the Jewish faith. Thanks JDate! Erm… I mean, thanks Israel Antiquities Authority!
Scientists Generate Blood With Stem Cells
Blood transfusions used to be a silly business involving long waits for donors that required compatible blood types. Thanks to stem cell research, waiting for these donors is no longer necessary. Scientists have used embryonic stem cells to generate blood which could eventually lead to an unlimited supply of type O-negative blood, the most sought after blood for transfusions.
“We literally generated whole tubes in the lab, from scratch,” said Robert Lanza, chief science officer at Advanced Cell Technologies.
Unbelievable, but don’t stop donating blood just yet, Lanza and his colleagues at the Mayo Clinic and University of Illinois devised this method of blood creation but have yet to test it on animals, much less humans.
“At this stage, the work is very promising, but has not progressed to the stage where the cultured cells are fully equivalent” to natural cells, said the organization in a statement. “Much more work will yet be needed before this becomes a practical reality.”
Well, I guess it’s back to the Red Cross donation center for me. With an immunity to AIDS just a gene edit away and a cure for cancer just over the horizon, the future is looking bright for all of mankind.
Sperm Powered Nanobots? I Offer My Services As A Fuel Tank
What would you say if we told you that scientists believe that future nanobots might be powered by the energetic little baby makers which live in the darkness of your scrotum? In fact, researchers have issued a preliminary report that states that sperm might be the perfect fuel to light a fire in the asses of nanobots.
A research project revealed that a solution for fueling the multitudes of nanobots that are sure to be used in the future, could be using one of the most wasted products in the world. Sperm, of course. Why impregnate tissues and bed sheets with the stuff when we could be supplying the future with a productive fuel? Will a naughty nurse be aiding in our fuel supply efforts? — Andrew Dobrow
3D Holographic Video coming to a TV near you
A technology that scientists didn’t expect to pop-up for a decade or so is showing its face early. SeeReal Technologies is working on developing a 3D holographic display technique which wouldn’t require any funny-looking glasses to watch.
The holographic system would follow the watchers eyes and produce the holographic effect accordingly.
Holographic display reconstructs a “scaled-down” natural scene. So it can look as a theatrical stage or a country-side landscape merging with the horizon. SeeReal technology addresses this by replicating the depth of the original image. So if it has corners viewers can look around them, as well as sections that lie one behind the other. All impressions of depth and 3D are replicated in the image you see.
SeeReal has already filed over 100 patents for the technology. When asked when the technology will be available, they answered “…when this technology actually hits mass consumer markets will depend to a certain extent on partnerships, but the components needed can already be mass produced and assembled at reasonable cost. To all intents and purposes, commercial products could be made available in a fairly short time.” — Andrew Dobrow
Nokia Scentsory Cellphone: Can you smell me now? Good
Scientists have been trying to create a reliable smell-o-vision for decades, but no one seems to be able to get it right. The Nokia Scentsory Cellphone concept claims to be able to allow you to associate a smell and feel to your contacts.
Its unique paper airplane style folded design makes this concept a unique addition to the cellphone design arena. Scentsory would include wellness aroma therapy, as well as user customizible scent specifications for contacts. — Andrew Dobrow