Zeitgeist 2010: Year in Review
December 10, 2010
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Zapping sleepers’ brains boosts memory
November 7, 2006
Applying a gentle electric current to the brain during sleep can significantly boost memory, University of Luebeck researchers report.
They believe this is due to the pattern of the applied current mimicking that seen in naturally occurring deep sleep, where memory consolidation is thought to take place.
Zapping Individual Cancer Cells
July 9, 2008
Engineers at the University of Texas at Austin have patented a laser microscalpel that allows a surgeon to operate on tissue one cell at a time, precisely targeting disease while leaving healthy surrounding cells alive.
The device combines two technologies–a femtosecond laser and two-photon fluorescence microscopy–into a single miniaturized, flexible probe. The probe can target single cells in three-dimensional space, penetrating up to 250 micrometers into tissue.
The… read more
Zapping cancer cells with magnets
October 10, 2012
Magnetic nanoparticles can be used to kill cancer cells by controlling cell signaling pathways, researchers from Yonsei University in South Korea have demonstrated.
They developed magnetic nanoparticles that turn on apoptosis cell signaling (commands to kill cells) in cancer cells by using a remote, non-invasive magnetic field.
The magnetic switch uses zinc-doped iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Zn0.4Fe2.6O4), combined with a targeting antibody for death receptor 4 (DR4, a… read more
No, it’s not a new version of the classic Asteroids video game. Engineers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow have envisioned a swarm of small agile satellites flying in formation, firing solar-powered lasers at an asteroid.
According to Dr. Massimiliano Vasile, of Strathclyde’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the concept is more feasible than a single large spacecraft carrying a multi-mega watt laser.
“Our system is… read more
Yudkowsky on Coast to Coast AM Saturday night
August 30, 2007
AI researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky will be a guest on the national Coast to Coast AM radio show from 11pm – 2am PT on Saturday night, September 1st.
He will discuss AI, the Singularity and its implications, the Singularity Summit, and the work of the Singularity Institute.
Yudkowsky is one of the featured speakers at the Singularity Summit 2007, to be held September 8th and… read more
You’re far less in control of your brain than you think
When your eyes tell your hands what to think
October 1, 2012
You’ve probably never given much thought to the fact that picking up your cup of morning coffee presents your brain with a set of complex decisions. You need to decide how to aim your hand, grasp the handle and raise the cup to your mouth, all without spilling the contents on your lap.
A new Northwestern University study shows that, not only does your brain… read more
You’ve Had a Genetic Test. Now What?
June 13, 2008
A new project by Coriell Institute for Medical Research aims to incorporate the results of genetic screening into medicine.
The researchers will evaluate the relevance of specific genes in terms of their disease risk and clinical utility, and make a direct effort to involve medical professionals.
Unlike some private services, the Coriell project will give participants only that genetic information deemed by an advisory board to be medically… read more
YouTube, social media play new role in presidential debate
Campaigns are gearing up to shape social media reactions in real time
October 3, 2012
The Internet will play an expanded role in tonight’s presidential debate.
YouTube has teamed up with ABC News and Yahoo News to stream the debate.
And as a sign of just how pervasive and crucial social media has become, in some states elected officials are only one degree of “friend” separation from nearly every Facebook account holder in that state, says JD Schlough, a… read more
YouTube to get high-def 1080p player
November 13, 2009
YouTube will provide an option for full HD 1080p resolution and a new full-screen player within days.
YouTube now supports 4k-resolution videos
July 12, 2010
YouTube has announced that its player now supports 4k, a standard resolution for films that measures 4096×3072 pixels (requiring special equipment to view).
As YouTube Engineer Ramesh Sarukkai explained in the announcement on YouTube’s official blog, “4K is nearly four times the size of 1080p,” and it dwarfs even Imax, which projects films in the slightly smaller 2k format, with its 2048?1080-pixel resolution.
YouTube Moves Closer to the Boob Tube
June 3, 2009
Google has unveiled YouTube.com/XL, a revamped version of YouTube.com/TV that works on any Web browser that can be connected to a TV, and is intended to be viewed on a television set or on a large PC screen.
It can also be controlled with some remote controls, and can be made to display a series of clips continuously.
YouTube Leanback: YouTube That Looks Like TV
July 12, 2010
Google’s new YouTube Leanback serice aims to become a fixture on your television by letting you watch an uninterrupted stream of full-screen YouTube videos in high definition, using your keyboard’s directional arrows and the return key to navigate through the new service.
The beta service decides what to show you based on your YouTube account preferences, and you can use Leanback to watch your YouTube movie rentals obtained… read more