IanBevan - Slashdot User

Submission + - Scientists discover how to erase memories (pressesc.com) 1

Submitted by

amigoro

on Thursday August 16, 2007 @10:48PM

amigoro writes: "Neuroscientists have discovered that long-term memories are not etched in a "clay tablet"-like stable form as once thought, but the process is much more dynamic, involving a miniature molecular machine that must run constantly to keep memories going, jamming the machine briefly can erase long-term memories."

Submission + - Speed of Light Broken? (telegraph.co.uk)

Submitted by tammad on Thursday August 16, 2007 @10:23PM

tammad writes: According to the Telegraph and New Scientist, German Scientists have transmitted microwave photons faster than the speed of light- in violation of Einstein's theory of Special Relativity. From the Telegraph: "The scientists were investigating a phenomenon called quantum tunneling, which allows sub-atomic particles to break apparently unbreakable laws." The experiment apparently involved shooting the photons through prisms to detectors, and that at up to one meter apart, the some of the photons were transmitted "instantaneously" between the space. No word yet about submission to a peer reviewed journal, but the discovery, if verified, no doubt shakes much of what we know about physics.

Submission + - Dell in the doghouse after cooking the books 1

Submitted by Stony Stevenson on Thursday August 16, 2007 @10:14PM

Stony Stevenson writes: Dell will reduce more than four years' worth of earnings by up to $US150 million after an internal probe found the company misled its auditors and manipulated results to meet performance goals.

From the article: The restatements stemmed from a yearlong investigation by Dell's audit committee, which found evidence of accounting adjustments that appeared to have been made to hit financial targets. The changes typically occurred at the close of a quarter, and were sometimes done with the knowledge or at the request of senior executives. Because of the ongoing SEC probe, the company said it couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be "additional issues or matters arising from the investigation."

Submission + - The Space Shuttle Owners Manual (shuttlepresskit.com)

Submitted by hamster_nz on Thursday August 16, 2007 @10:11PM

hamster_nz writes: I've played with Orbiter a while and managed to fly and dock with the ISS, but was left wondering just how hard can space travel really be. Then I stumbled onto an equivalent of the Space Shuttle's Owners Manual. It looks to be very hard!
Great geek reading — just remember to use the switch on panel O8 to turn the right seat/center console lights off when you finish.

Submission + - An In Depth Look At Game Design

Submitted by

Pogobear

on Thursday August 16, 2007 @10:09PM

Pogobear writes: "An excellent pair of articles by James Portnow where he explores the question of whether it is more important to have high quality moment to moment play or a strong long term experience in a game. http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_conte nt&task=view&id=6761&Itemid=2 http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_conte nt&task=view&id=6840&Itemid=2"

Submission + - Scientists Break Speed of Light!

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 16, 2007 @08:24PM

An anonymous reader writes: "A pair of German physicists claim to have broken the speed of light — an achievement that would undermine our entire understanding of space and time. According to Einstein's special theory of relativity, it would require an infinite amount of energy to propel an object at more than 186,000 miles per second. However, Dr Gunter Nimtz and Dr Alfons Stahlhofen, of the University of Koblenz, say they may have breached a key tenet of that theory." What do you think? Lies, scientific error, or is this actually possible?

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