Interesting reading…
Dissent Grows as Scientists Oppose NASA’s New Moon Mission - “NASA’s current plan for manned space exploration focuses on establishing a base on the moon, as a vital stepping stone for a visit to Mars. The initiative has been trumpeted by the Bush administration, which wants the first mission to launch by 2020. But trouble is brewing as a growing group of former mission managers, planetary scientists and astronauts argues against any manned moon mission at all. One alternative, they say: Send astronauts to an asteroid as a better preparation for a Martian landing…”
Have humans created a new geological age? - “What does it take to bring on a new geological age? According to members of the Stratigraphy Commission of the Geological Society of London, one way of going about it would be to: 1. Change the atmosphere’s composition, thus modifying plants, 2. Change the distribution and diversity of species, thereby changing the future fossil record, 3. Acidify the oceans, which will modify mineral deposits on the ocean floor. Sound familiar?”
Higgs Hiding in Plain Sight? - “Physicists suspect that empty space is permeated by a Higgs field, which is a bit like an electric field. And just as an electric field consists of particles called photons, the Higgs field consists of particles called Higgs bosons. The Higgs field drags on particles to give them mass, akin to molasses tugging on a spoon. In particular, the field gives mass to subatomic particles called the W and Z bosons, which convey the weak nuclear force and weigh in at a staggering 86 and 97 times as much as a proton, respectively…”
A tipping point? “Foreclose me … I’ll save money” - “Banks and lenders fear this kind of thinking — that walking away from a house could be the smart economic move — appears to be on the rise. Wachovia, in a conference call yesterday, warned investors that increasing numbers of homeowners are walking away from their homes by choice…”
Centaur Technology Tour in Pictures - “I have been to more than a few factories where processors and other semiconductors are made in the last decade, but the trip to Centaur proved to be full of many “firsts” for me. Keeping in mind that Centaur is building CPUs up from the design level to actually testing them in-house is an amazing feat for a company with less than 100 employees…”
Fighting with your spouse can make you live longer - “The study found that those who kept their anger in were twice as likely to die earlier than those who don’t…”
Unmanned aerial vehicles the size of a cigarette - “Researchers at Oklahoma State University are working with DARPA to deliver a sophisticated, unmanned aircraft small enough to fit into a soldier’s pocket, reports the Daily O’Collegian…”
A Racing Driver’s Perspective of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue - “Simply put, Gran Turismo 5: Prologue is the embodiment of a truly groundbreaking next-gen title, even if it is little more than a tech demo for the final game…”
Dealing with a Declining Dollar - “More so than this year’s deficits, the ten-year projections may truly raise eyebrows: Over the next decade, the United States may accrue several trillion dollars in debt. Should that be the case, the dollar will likely be in danger; a worldwide “run on the dollar” would bear incalculable consequences…”
7 important things to say (and 7 things not to say) to your kids - “A parent, or anyone else who interacts regularly with kids, knows that communicating effectively with them can be difficult. In C.J.’s case, his aunt simply explained herself and the boy calmed down. But common words and phrases, no matter how well — intended, can do emotional and psychological harm. Young brains are still developing through the teen years, and kids can’t be expected to process words, context and nuance (sarcasm, for instance) the same way that an adult’s brain does…”
Brazil Amazon deforestation soars - “The Brazilian government has announced a huge rise in the rate of Amazon deforestation, months after celebrating its success in achieving a reduction. In the last five months of 2007, 3,235 sq km (1,250 sq miles) were lost…”
Synthesizing a Genome from Scratch - “In a technical tour de force, scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute, in Rockville, MD, have synthesized the genome of the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium entirely from scratch. The feat is a stepping stone in creating precisely engineered microbial machines capable of generating biofuels and performing other useful functions…”
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