Scientists announced today that “life” as we know it may not be…well, as we knew it. A microbe was discovered that uses arsenic to replicate and grow (no phosphorous in its DNA)–changing the notions of what the fundamental building blocks of life are. The discovery “does show that in other planetary environments organisms might be […]
Life as We *Don’t* Know It Read More
Exciting news today as scientists announce the successful entrapment of antimatter. According to Nature: [A] research collaboration at CERN, Europe’s particle-physics lab near Geneva, Switzerland, has managed, 38 times, to confine single antihydrogen atoms in a magnetic trap for more than 170 milliseconds. The Economist presents a nice overview (in their usual cheeky tone). >>
I’m a fan of IDEO, the “design consulting” firm that’s made a name for itself with multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. Their OpenIDEO site throws challenge prompts out to the net at-large. One of their current challenges is rather big (“What global challenge do you think innovation leaders should work to solve right now?“), but
Since it’s been too long since my last post, here’s a quick primer on team cycling for all you curious folks out there! >> Link: How do cycling teams work? | Slate Magazine
How do cycling teams work? Read More
“Mandelbrot set” may sound like complicated math. But many of us already recognize these sets as “fractals” — a term that Dr. Mandelbrot coined. I remember reading about the Mandelbrot set in college. I didn’t realize at the time that Mandelbrot was still alive. Then as I read the New York Times today I came
RIP Mandelbrot, Father of Fractals Read More
After wondering for years about how curveballs curve and breaking balls break, we can finally rest easy knowing that the rules of physics are not being violated on the pitchers mound! ScienceNOW reports on how curveballs are the mental effects of the way our visual field works. All this is the result of research by
Baseball Magic Settled! The Curveball Is a Trick of the Eye Read More
This is like magnifying glasses and ants, only a mega casino is the magnifying glass and tourists are the ants. Somewhere in that analogy there’s poetry… Check out how the hot Las Vegas sun gets intensified to fry sunbathers at the pool: >> Link: BLDGBLOG: Las Vegas Death Ray
The Hottest Act in Vegas: Vdara Death Ray Read More
Astronomers report that they’ve found a rocky planet with an atmosphere that could support life — and it’s orbiting a star only 20 light years from our Sun. (Apologies to any extra-terrestrial readers for my heliocentric slant.) >> Link: Astronomers Find Most Earth-like Planet to Date | ScienceNOW
A Planet That Resembles Our Own Read More
I grew up with heat and humidity in Houston, so most days I don’t complain. But today’s heat across Los Angeles and southern California is extreme. It’s 115 degrees Fahrenheit in downtown LA! Check out this map for more: Check out more on the latest current temperatures. Plus be sure to stay cool — and
According to an article in the Daily Trojan (the college paper at the University of Southern California), last week 2 representatives of a pro-Israel group were removed from an open meeting at the request of organizations petitioning for California’s divestment in Israel. When the pair arrived, it seems that attendees started yelling at them. The
Troubling Handling of International Issues at USC Read More