31511
submission
grimwell writes:
In an Atlanta lab, minibrains in dishes can control robots and computer-simulated animals. Each Animat's "brain" consists of cultured rat neurons growing on a plate of electrodes. This live culture is linked to an artificial body — either a robotic animal or a computer-simulated one. The brain cells can receive input from the synthetic critter's environment, process information, and stimulate behavior. For example, one of the Animats is linked to a robot with light-detecting sensors. Information from the sensors is sent to the brain culture, which sends a signal back to the robot instructing it to move toward the light. Other Animats can chase a target around a room, scribble simple drawings, and move around obstacles. The rest of the article is here
14641
submission
grimwell writes:
Our friends at FermiLab have announced that They have discovered the quick-change behavior of the B-sub-s meson, which switches between matter and antimatter 3 trillion times a second
The CDF discovery of the oscillation rate, marking the final chapter in a 20-year search, is immediately significant for two major reasons: reinforcing the validity of the Standard Model, which governs physicists' understanding of the fundamental particles and forces; and narrowing down the possible forms of supersymmetry, a theory proposing that each known particle has its own more massive "super" partner particle.
363
submission
grimwell writes:
Yahoo is carrying a Reuter's article stating "An Irish technology firm issued a challenge to the world's scientific community on Friday to give its verdict on technology it says smashes one of the basic laws of physics by producing "free energy."
Dublin-based Steorn said it had placed an advertisement in The Economist magazine seeking 12 top physicists to examine the technology — based on the interaction of magnetic fields — and publish their results."
Steorn's website states 78 scientists have expressed interest in testing their technology, so far.