azuredrake writes "According to GameDaily, EA today released a free download of a Spore prototype known as 'BIOME.' The download site describes BIOME as a program that 'uses a language based on chemical stoichiometry.' It goes on to note that 'cells in a BIOME simulation change state the same way that chemicals change when exposed to other chemicals. Systems such as this can be used to simulate phenomena such as forest fires, disease epidemics, animal migration patterns and crystallization.' Note that the link provided in the article is, in fact, incorrect. Here is the correct link. Apparently, many more prototypes giving insight into the dev process of one of the PC world's most-hyped games will be posted in the future, so keep an eye on it."

A northern Virginia spa is making big waves by offering fish pedicures. John Ho and Yvonne Le have been offering the treatments for four months in their salon, Yvonne Hair and Nails. Customers place their feet in tanks of water where tiny carp eat the dead skin. The couple says over 5,000 people have had the skin eaten off their feet so far and John hopes to start a chain of Doctor Fish Massage franchises and is evaluating a full-body fish treatment. I think Mr. Ho is on to something here. It shouldn't be that hard to teach my lab to give French manicures, she chews on her own nails all the time.