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Biotech

Submission + - Stem Cells Harvested Without Damaging Embryo (sciam.com)

Submitted by teklob
teklob writes: Scientists have now successfully derived viable stem cell lines by harvesting a single cell from a developing embryo without causing any damage. Previous stem cell lines generally resulted in the destruction of the embryo. It is still not known whether this can sidestep the ban on federal funding for new stem cell lines.
Hardware Hacking

Submission + - $5 Answer to the OLPC, Meet the ODPA (myspace.com)

Submitted by
Darrin Taylor
Darrin Taylor writes: "With all the press the OLPC is getting I started thinking about what the third world really needs, I call it ONE DESKTOP PER ADULT (ODPA) . Basically the third world needs a cheap $5 computer that can surf the web and watch TV. My approach is to use a spinning plastic disk with a strip of LEDs attached that is rotated in a circle at ~10-30HZ making a circular viewing surface, the LEDS are turned on and off varying on the angle allowing single color ~640 by 640 circular resolution from only 320 LEDs or color with 960 LEDs. A series proximity sensors are also spun around on this disk in the same manner so that the display is effectively a touch screen. This removes the need for an additional keyboard or mouse. It would need a iPhone like interface OS. In all the Computer would be a simple 12" dia. plastic disk, 0.5" by 6" of flexible PCB with LEDs, proximity sensor switches and a single ASIC possibly with a very small number of additional RF components, capacitor, crystal oscillator etc and a small motor to generate power and long metal axel to mount to a locally produced base with locally produced foot pedal or other propulsion aid. The Computer would be completely powered from a small motor that harnesses the rotation to create enough energy to run the LEDS and single chip ASIC. A foot pedal system could be made locally in the third world country so that the needed kinetic energy to spin the ODPA can be more easily generated. Someone would have to work the foot pedal to keep the computer rotating at all times. For the CPU I tend to favor an ASIC something like XCeive's XC2028 or some other Silicon TV tuner so that TV can be displayed onto the screen or the tuner can be used as a modem to receive Internet via FM or other wireless. There is need for some custom ASIC design as the Silicon TV tuner chips don't have the ability to transmit which the computer would need for a true wireless grid network. I suspect there are large areas where the locals would sacrifice a TV or radio station in order to have a wireless internet grid that the locals could use with their ODPAs. I am interested in this idea being developed so I am willing to open this design up to open source. Please contact me if you have any information that could advance this design or any contacts who would develop a computer like the one I have described."
The Internet

Submission + - two years from now spam will be solved ..

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: "Two years from now, spam will be solved", Bill Gates 2004

"I never said it would be solved .. I said it would be substantially reduced", Bill Gates 2007

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2007-11-22-spam_N.htm?csp=N008
—

#define SOLVED
using System;

public class MyClass
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        #if SOLVED
            Console.WriteLine("substantially reduced");
        #endif
    }
}
Sci-Fi

Submission + - Germany developing $1.75 Bil particle accelerator

Submitted by
SK
SK writes: "Scientists from over the world are headed to the German city of Darmstadt to kick off the construction of a new 1.2 billion Euro particle accelerator. They plan to use the facility in an effort to recreate the conditions of the Big Bang. The scientists hope to create situations similar to the Big Bang in a controlled environment to figure out what actually happened and discover new data about the birth of our universe."
Upgrades

Submission + - Near-to-far field magnification (arxivblog.com)

Submitted by
KentuckyFC
KentuckyFC writes: "There was a time when magnifying glasses were good for nothing but frying ants and helping the over-60s with newsprint. But scientists at Purdue University have designed a lens that can magnify a near field image that is smaller than the wavelength of light, in to a potentially visible one (pdf). That could suddenly make it possible to see some very, very small things."
Announcements

Submission + - OLPC Give One - Get One Starts Today

Submitted by Hanover SuperPunk
Hanover SuperPunk writes: Precisely at 6:00am Eastern the OLPC Give One — Get One site changed over from a simple promise to a a store to purchase the revolutionary laptop. I was waiting in line to purchase mine and received my confirmation at 6 minutes past the hour. $399 plus $24 shipping gets a laptop for yourself and for a kid somewhere else in the world; it's not a bad deal.
It's funny. Laugh.

Submission + - The top ten off switches

Submitted by Dan Jimbokla
Dan Jimbokla writes: CNET.co.uk has a truly funny and read-worthy article up about the top ten off switches. One of my favorite switches from the piece is #4 — The illuminated toggle switch: "This switch isn't designed for high-drain uses, typically it can only provide a maximum of 20 amps at 12 volts. That will make it suitable for a number of exciting uses though, and what it lacks in power handling, it makes up for in practicality. This switch will illuminate when the device it controls is turned on, and go off when the device is deactivated. This is logical and practical, and that has earned this switch a place in our hearts. What's more, it's far from expensive and there are even a choice of colours."
Security

Submission + - Mac OS X users targeted by in-the-wild porn Trojan 1

Submitted by Anonymous
Anonymous writes: The Register is reporting a sophisticated Trojan has been released into the wide that targets Mac users. The malicious Trojan, dubbed OSX.RSPlug.A, is making the rounds on several porn websites. When Mac users try to view some videos, the site feeds them a page that says QuickTime is unable to play the file unless a special codec is installed first. If the user proceeds, a form of DNSChanger is installed that hijacks some web requests sent to eBay, PayPal and some banking websites, according to security firm Intego. Is this a sign that OS X is finally a big enough to be attractive to professional attackers?
Windows

Windows XP SP3 Build 3205 Released w/ New Features 286

Posted by Zonk from the new-tricks-for-an-old-dog dept.
jBubba writes "Windows XP SP3 build 3205 is the first official & authorized release of the next Windows XP service pack; and has been made available to testers as a part of the Windows Server 2008/Windows Vista SP1 beta program. NeoSmart Technologies has the run-down on the included 1,073 patches/hotfixes including security updates. Contrary to popular belief, Windows XP SP3 does ship with new features/components, most of which have been backported from Windows Vista. Some included features: 'New Windows Product Activation model: no need to enter product key during setup. Network Access Protection modules and policies have been brought to XP after being one of the more-well-received features in Windows Vista. New Microsoft Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module - the Windows XP SP3 kernel now includes an entire module that provides easy access to multiple cryptographic algorithms and is available for use in kernel-mode drivers and services. New "Black Hole Router" detection - Windows XP SP3 can detect and protect against rogue routers that are discarding data.'"
Security

Most Users Think They Have AntiVirus Protection, While Only Half Do 294

Posted by Zonk from the watch-yourself-in-this-neck-of-the-woods dept.
SkiifGeek writes "A survey carried out by McAfee and the NCSA found that while more than 90% of users believed that they were protected by antivirus or antimalware products that were updated at least once a week, only 51% actually were. 'Even with significantly growing awareness by everyday users of the need for efficient and effective antivirus / antimalware software, and the increasing market penetration achieved by the security industry, the nature of rapidly evolving Information Security threats means that the baseline of protection is outstripping the ability of users to keep up (without some form of extra help).' The study is available online in PDF format. What sort of an effect does this sort of thinking, and practice, have on the overall security of your systems, networks, and efforts to educate?"
Education

Submission + - Bird's-Eye View May Include Magnetic Fields

Submitted by BoredStiff
BoredStiff writes: In a story heard on NPR and reported in ScienceDaily reports that a new study finds that migratory birds can "see" magnetic fields. The findings from a current study by a research group from Oldenburg, Germany strongly supports the hypothesis that migratory birds use their visual system to perceive the reference compass direction of the geomagnetic field and that migratory birds are thus likely to "see" the geomagnetic field.
User Journal

Journal Journal: First Moderation

Journal by G-News.ch
Got my first post modded "Insightful" several days ago and didn't even realize it until now:D
It's funny. Laugh.

Journal Journal: Finally

Journal by G-News.ch
After years of reading Slashdot, I finally convinced myself to create an account...yet another account on a discussion board. This is going to cost hours:D

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