Michael Anissimov at Accelerating Future has an article where he promotes the World Transhumanist Association discussion topic: Is Star Trek a Fascist Society? I have seen the 726 episodes across 6 TV series and 10 (and soon 11) movies and many of the books, two Vegas rides, etc… Their continuing mission (not always successful) is …
SpaceX tested two Merlin 1C engines operated at full power while attached to a rocket that was strapped to the launch pad. SpaceX offers the possibility of more inexpensive US rockets and a possible replacement for the Space shuttle in 2010. UPDATE Spacex is trying to successfully launched the first Falcon 9 on June 4, …
The yuan has appreciated 3.12 percent since late October, 2007 far exceeding a 2.1 percent jump on July 21, 2005, in what Shanghai dealers dubbed as a “mini-revaluation”. Several traders now predict the yuan will climb above 7.20 to the dollar before the end of next week. Just a day earlier, they had forecast the …
This is a follow up of my coverage and predictions of a KMT win in Taiwan’s 2008 elections The legislative result has left analysts predicting the Guomindang will re-take the presidency in March elections and steer Taiwan closer to mainland China. Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has taken full responsibility for the weekend’s loss and has …
New materials are making the new generation of skyscrapers safer. The problem for the World Trade Center was that regular steel: Above 750 F, steel starts to lose its structural integrity, and at 1100 F, steel loses 50 percent of its strength. A new formula infuses steel with nanoscale copper particles, this formula could maintain …
Nanowerk has a review of nanomedicine. In particular the EU view from the 7th FWP which refers to the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program this shows the many different aspects and capabilities related to nanomedicine The expected change in the understanding of disease that they discuss in this quote: Future nanomedical diagnostics with an ultimate …
People suffering with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may find that combining two currently available medications halves their risk of death within two years as well and improves their overall health status and quality of life. The conclusion is drawn from the first human trial to compare treatment of COPD with a combination of salmeterol …
The Carnival of Space 34 is up at Rainer Gerhards space launch blog. I provided my updated look at the status of scramjets Colony Worlds considers gravity suits for offworld children A Babe in the Universe reports on the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory mission to study the moon There is a lot of speculation …
For $500 you can now reserve your Aptera electric or super-hybrid vehicle. Deliveries should start October, 2008 The first Aptera prototype, the Mk-0, was a parallel hybrid Diesel and achieved an average of 230 MPG at a steady state of 55 MPH. This was pure Diesel/mechanical drive with no electric assist. The All Electric Aptera …
MIt Technology Review provides more information on the work of Kovio of Sunnyvale. Current contactless smart cards of the type used by frequent travelers on major transit systems can cost as much as $5 a piece to produce. But Kovio’s technology could soon lead to nonmagnetic smart cards that cost a nickel. Eventually, the technology …
Neutron cameras “can detect, unambiguously, at a greater distance, and through more shielding,” said Jim Lund, manager of the Rad/Nuc Detection Systems group at Sandia National Laboratories in Alameda, Calif. The neutron scatter camera has an advantage over traditional neutron detection because it can differentiate low energy neutrons from high energy neutrons. While some gamma …
