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Space

Submission + - First Fully Automated Spacecraft to Dock with ISS (popularmechanics.com)

Submitted by
longacre
longacre writes: "The first of seven planned fully autonomous resupply spacecraft will rendezvous with the International Space Station on Thursday. Unmanned Russian Progress modules have been running supplies up to the International Space Station for years, but the European Space Agency's new Jules Verne will be the first to dock with the ISS controlled only by navigation software and instruments. Launched on March 9th, Verne is the first vehicle built as part of ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle program, which was initiated following NASA's decision to retire the Space Shuttle in 2010."
Google

Submission + - With Google, everyday can be yesterday

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: I got an email about Google's new Custom Time feature in GMail. I thought it might of been an April Fool's joke, but the email was sent yesterday, so it's obviously true. This has got to be the coolest thing Google has ever done!
Privacy

Submission + - Get Out the Tin Hats; dust-speck sized RFID

Submitted by MedicinalMan
MedicinalMan writes: According to Pink Tentacle, http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/02/hitachi-develo ps-rfid-powder/ very tiny RFID chips 0.05mm x 0.05mm will be markted by Hitachi in the next couple of years. The many harmless uses generally involve embedding them in paper (money, gift certificates, admission tickets, etc.). The main specs are: "128-bit ROM for storing a unique 38-digit ID number.The new chips are also 9 times smaller than the prototype chips Hitachi unveiled last year, which measure 0.15 x 0.15 mm." Telescreen: There will be absolutely no uses that involve privacy invasion nor should paranoia increase. Carry on...War is peace...
Space

Submission + - Whistle While You Work? Not in Space.

Submitted by
Ant
Ant writes: "ABC News report that astronauts on spacewalks will never, ever be able to whistle while they work in space. Former NASA astronaut, Dan Barry has seven hours of spacewalking time to his credit. He tried whistling during his spacewalk on STS-96 in May 1999. "It wasn't something I hadn't planned — I thought of it on the fly. It turned out that it didn't work." he said. "You can't whistle because the air pressure in the suit is only 4.3 [pounds per square inch], and normal atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi, so there are not enough air molecules blowing by your lips to make a sound," he said. Seen on Blue's News."

Feed RFID Chips Shrink to Powder Size (wired.com)

From feed by wiredfeed
Hitachi's new tags measure 0.002 inches square, but store as much information as their much-larger predecessors. The company's still investigating possible uses. By the Associated Press.


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