University of Florida researchers have taken the concept of brain machine interfaces a step further, devising a way for computerized devices not only to translate brain signals into movement but also to evolve with the brain as it learns. This is a huge step forward to transhuman and technological singularity goals. The computer and the …
More teraflop chips are being introduced by AMD and Nvidia. AMD FireStream 9250 will be available at the end of Sept 2008 for $1999. The FireStream chips can perform “double precision” floating-point calculations at 1 teraflop of performance. A 4x Crossfire X configuration is good for almost 5 TFlops, which means 1.2 TFlops per RV770 …
U.S. life expectancy has been steadily rising, usually by about two to three months from year to year. This year’s jump of fourth months to 78.1 years is“an unusually rapid improvement,” Preston said. The preliminary number of deaths in the United States in 2006 was 2,425,900, a 22,117 decrease from the 2005 total. With a …
This site recently discussed the seeds of Manufacturing and construction revolution. The seeds of the revolution are:– Contour crafting (scaling up inkjet/rapid prototyping up to making buildings, cement jet) Use cement as the ink. Layer by layer additive construction. 200 timesfaster than conventional methods. 5 times lower cost for construction. – Inflatable electric cars. Flatship …
The New Apple iPhone 2.0 able to use faster 3G communication was announced today. It will be available for $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model. iPhone 2.0 will be availabe July 11, 2008. Competing SmartphonesThe Economist magazine notes that while the Apple iPhone has 20% of the smartphone market in …
Carnival of Space week 55 is up at Catholic Sensibility My contribution was my multipart article on the imminent halving of Titanium costs, the Worldwide Telescope and property rights in space Centauri Dreams talks about Omega Centauri Astroengine talks about geodesic domes, the Eden Project and the possible use of domes on Mars Colony worlds …
Carbon nanotubes appear to have a similar cancer causing effect as asbestos in mice Within days of being injected into mice, the nanotubes — which are increasingly used in electronic components, sporting goods and dozens of other products — triggered a kind of cellular reaction that over a period of years typically leads to mesothelioma, …
A follow up to a group working on nanorobots for nanomedicine The researchers have new papers: Nanorobot hardware architecture for Medical Defense This work presents a new approach with details on the integrated platform and hardware architecture for nanorobots application in epidemic control, which should enable real time in vivo prognosis of biohazard infection. The …
The Methuselah Foundation is having a major Aging conference at UCLA in Los Angeles June 27 through June 29, 2008 It is at Royce Hall in UCLA. The press release on the free June 27 event What: Aging: The Disease, The Cure, The Implications, hosted by Methuselah FoundationWhen: Friday, June 27, 2008, Drinks 4pm, Presentations …
Segmented “nanoworms” composed of magnetic iron oxide and coated with a polymer are able to find and attach to tumors. Scientists at UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and MIT have developed nanometer-sized “nanoworms” that can cruise through the bloodstream without significant interference from the body’s immune defense system and—like tiny anti-cancer missiles—home in on …
In 1971, Professor Leon Chua described and named the memristor, arguing that it should be included along with the resistor, capacitor and inductor as the fourth fundamental circuit element. The memristor has properties that cannot be duplicated by any combination of the other three elements. It is would help replace DRAM and for the human …