titanmachin - Slashdot User

Submission + - They finally made a real lightsaber!!! (gizmodo.com)

Submitted by klwood911 on Monday May 07, 2012 @10:46PM

klwood911 writes: Back in September, Slashdot published an article about Wicked Lasers producing a 1 Watt Green Laser. Well, they have now turned it into a Light Saber!!! With the addition of a new polycarbonate blade attached to the Spyder 3 Laser, you too can have your own Light Saber. In the attached video, they explain how it all works. On your mark, get set, get your Jedi Master on!

http://gizmodo.com/5907718/they-finally-made-a-real-lightsaber

Submission + - Government Asks When It Can Shut Down Wireless Communications (arstechnica.com)

Submitted by

Fluffeh

on Monday May 07, 2012 @10:37PM

Fluffeh writes: "Around nine months ago, BART Police asked to have wireless communications disabled between Trans Bay Tube Portal and the Balboa Park Station. That was because they knew a public protest was to take place there — and the service to the underground communication system was disabled. This affected not only cellphone signals, but also the radio systems of Police, Fire and Ambulance crews within the underground. This led to an even larger protest at a BART station and many folks filed complaints along with the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation. The FCC responded by launching a probe into the incident with the results being a mixed bag of "To protect citizens!" and "Only in extreme cases.", not to mention the classic "But Terrorists use wireless communications!", but even if the probe doesn't lead to a full proceeding and formal order, the findings may well be used as a guide for many years to come."

Submission + - Google faces Australian privacy probe (afr.com)

Submitted by Techy77 on Monday May 07, 2012 @10:31PM

Techy77 writes: Another country is taking a second look at Google's earlier protestations of innocence regarding their Street View Wi-Fi sniffing.
Whether it will pin anything on the company that hurts any more than a laughable fine remains to be seen.

Submission + - Building The Gen1 USS Enterprise, Really (buildtheenterprise.org)

Submitted by

BTE-Dan

on Monday May 07, 2012 @10:18PM

BTE-Dan writes: "And now for some fun thinking outside the box about what we could do in space when ignoring the issues of politics and funding ...

The BuildTheEnterprise (BTE) website describes how to build the first USS Enterprise spaceship, based on technologies within our reach, over the next twenty years.

It has 1g gravity, shielding for missions away from earth, can hold a 1000 people, and can enable the building of large underground bases on Mars and the moon also with 1g gravity. So what are we waiting for?

www.buildtheenterprise.org"

Submission + - The Great Outdoors Is Good for Allergies (sciencemag.org)

Submitted by sciencehabit on Monday May 07, 2012 @03:34PM

sciencehabit writes: A new study reveals that people who grow up in more rural environments are less likely to develop allergies. The reason may be that environments rich with species harbor more friendly microbes, which colonize our bodies and protect against inflammatory disorders.

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