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Biotech

New Dating Sites Match People Through DNA Tests 278

The Installer writes with this excerpt from an Associated Press report: "A couple of genetic testing companies are promising to match couples based on DNA testing, touting the benefits of biological compatibility. The companies claim that a better biological match will mean better sex, less cheating, longer-lasting love and perhaps even healthier children. 'How many dating services can you think of where they can suggest you might have better children?' said Eric Holzle, founder of ScientificMatch.com, one of the first online dating sites to use DNA. ... The idea is that people tend to be attracted to those who have immune system genes that are dissimilar from their own. Biologists say the HLA genes of the immune system — which are responsible for recognizing and marking foreign cells such as viruses so other parts of the immune system can attack them — also determine body odor 'fingerprints.' And people tend to be attracted to the natural body odors of those who have different HLA genes from their own."
Input Devices

How To Enter Equations Quickly In Class? 823

AdmiralXyz writes "I'm a university student, and I like to take notes on my (non-tablet) computer whenever possible, so it's easier to sort, categorize, and search through them later. Trouble is, I'm going into higher and higher math classes, and typing "f_X(x) = integral(-infinity, infinity, f(x,y) dy)" just isn't cutting it anymore: I need a way to get real-looking equations into my notes. I'm not particular about the details, the only requirement is that I need to keep up with the lecture, so it has to be fast, fast, fast. Straight LaTeX is way too slow, and Microsoft's Equation Editor isn't even worth mentioning. The platform is not a concern (I'm on a MacBook Pro and can run either Windows or Ubuntu in a virtual box if need be), but the less of a hit to battery life, the better. I've looked at several dedicated equation editing programs, but none of them, or their reviews, make any mention of speed. I've even thought about investing in a low-end Wacom tablet (does anyone know if there are ultra-cheap graphics tablets designed for non-artists?), but I figured I'd see if anyone at Slashdot has a better solution."
Biotech

Chinese Clinic Uses DNA Tests To Predict Kids' Talents 98

Death Metal writes with this excerpt from CNN: "About 30 children aged 3 to 12 years old and their parents are participating in a new program that uses DNA testing to identify genetic gifts and predict the future. ... The test is conducted by the Shanghai Biochip Corporation. Scientists claim a simple saliva swab collects as many as 10,000 cells that enable them to isolate eleven different genes. By taking a closer look at the genetic codes, they say they can extract information about a child's IQ, emotional control, focus, memory, athletic ability and more. For about $880, Chinese parents can sign their kids up for the test and five days of summer camp in Chongqing, where the children will be evaluated in various settings from sports to art. The scientific results, combined with observations by experts throughout the week, will be used to make recommendations to parents about what their child should pursue."
Operating Systems

Submission + - The Google OS is Announced (blogspot.com) 2

popdookey writes: "It's true, it's real, and it's announced. Google will have an OS aimed at netbooks, and it will co-exist with Android. It will be fast booting, all applications will run over the web, and they will be supported through any standards-compliant web browser. The announcement is here, http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html"

Comment Re:The day the changed the online world: (Score 1) 224

I think that the first version of Windows 95 lacked IE and TCP/IP, that was added in an update later. According to wikipedia: "Windows 95 originally shipped without Internet Explorer, and the default network installation did not install TCP/IP, the network protocol used on the Internet." See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_95

Medicine

Submission + - Daily sex helps improve fertility (examiner.com)

mmmscience writes: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1242-Science-News-Examiner~y2009m7d1-Daily-sex-helps-improve-fertility While fertility studies lately seem to have been exclusively focused on in vitro fertilization [IVF], new data coming out of Australia may help with unaided successful conceptions. The study has found that men who have ejaculate daily produce sperm with less damaged DNA. While such actions decrease sperm concentration, it does increase motility, meaning healthier sperm have a better chance of making it all the way to the egg. Good news, as another report [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-07/esfh-cpa063009.php] has found severe chromosome abnormalities in over 90% of IVF eggs, meaning artificial insemination is just now discovering a whole new field of problems.
Software

Submission + - PostgreSQL Releases 8.4 (postgresql.org) 1

DavidBlewett writes: "The PostgreSQL Global Development Group has released version 8.4, continuing the rapid development of the world's most advanced open source database. This release contains an abundance of enhancements to make administering, querying, and programming of PostgreSQL databases easier than ever before. Our development team has spent 16 months adding over two hundred improvements to all aspects of database functionality, helping every PostgreSQL user in small or large ways.

Many of the changes in PostgreSQL 8.4 are new or improved administration and monitoring tools and commands. Each user has their own favorite features which will make day-to-day work with PostgreSQL easier and more productive for them. Among the most popular enhancements are:
  1. Parallel Database Restore, speeding up recovery from backup up to 8 times
  2. Per-Column Permissions, allowing more granular control of sensitive data
  3. Per-database Collation Support, making PostgreSQL more useful in multi-lingual environments
  4. In-place Upgrades through pg_migrator (beta), enabling upgrades from 8.3 to 8.4 without extensive downtime
  5. New Query Monitoring Tools, giving administrators more insight into query activity
  6. Greatly Reduced VACUUM Overhead through the Visibility Map
  7. New Monitoring Tools for current queries, query load and deadlocks

Version 8.4 also makes data analysis easier through the advanced ANSI SQL2003 features of windowing functions, common table expressions and recursive queries. Enhancements to stored procedures, such as default parameters and variadic parameters, make database server programming simpler and more compact. Of course, there are also performance improvements included in this version.

Download version 8.4 today and start enjoying using PostgreSQL even more!"

Earth

Submission + - Ant mega-colony rules the world

Deag writes: A mega colony of one family of ants has spread all over the world. Previous mega colonies in California, Europe and Japan have been shown to be in fact one global colony. Ants from the smaller super-colonies were always aggressive to one another. So ants from the west coast of Japan fought their rivals from Kobe, while ants from the European super-colony didn't get on with those from the Iberian colony. But whenever ants from the main European and Californian super-colonies and those from the largest colony in Japan came into contact, they acted as if they were old friends.

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