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Submission + - NASA Eyes Crew Deep Sleep Option for Mars Mission (discovery.com)

Submitted by astroengine
astroengine writes: A NASA-backed study explores an innovative way to dramatically cut the cost of a human expedition to Mars — put the crew in stasis. The deep sleep, called torpor, would reduce astronauts’ metabolic functions with existing medical procedures. Torpor also can occur naturally in cases of hypothermia. “Therapeutic torpor has been around in theory since the 1980s and really since 2003 has been a staple for critical care trauma patients in hospitals," aerospace engineer Mark Schaffer, with SpaceWorks Enterprises in Atlanta, said at the International Astronomical Congress in Toronto this week. "Protocols exist in most major medical centers for inducing therapeutic hypothermia on patients to essentially keep them alive until they can get the kind of treatment that they need.” Coupled with intravenous feeding, a crew could be put in hibernation for the transit time to Mars, which under the best-case scenario would take 180 days one-way.

Submission + - Downtown Project Suicides Shock High Tech Community

Submitted by HughPickens.com
HughPickens.com writes: Nellie Bowles writes in Recode that three of the most prominent high tech entrepreneurs involved with Tony Hsieh’s project to build a startup city in Downtown Las Vegas have recently committed suicide, sending the tight-knit community into a tailspin. In January 2013, Jody Sherman, the 48-year-old founder of Ecomom, one of the most prominent Vegas tech-funded startups, shot himself while in his car. His company had been going south. In January 2014, 24-year-old Ovik Banerjee, who was part of the first Venture for America group in Vegas and an integral member of the Downtown Project team, leapt from his Town Terrace apartment in downtown. In May 2014, Matt Berman, the 50-year-old founder of Bolt Barber, the flagship shop at the center of the Container Park, was found in his home in an apparent suicide by hanging. Whether or not the suicides are statistically significant, the deaths have clearly shaken the entrepreneurs.

According to Alyson Shontell, in a social media age where word of success and failure travels fast, entrepreneurs say it's harder than ever to run a company — and it's harder than ever to fail. "It was a hell of a lot of work for not a hell of a lot of return," says Dave McClure, an investor in Ecomom and the entrepreneur behind investment firm 500Startups. "And then there are days when you sit in a corner and cry. You can't really do anything else. You don't have a social life. You don't really want to interact with family and friends because there's just not much context for them. Your world revolves around your startup and it's all about trying to survive and not look like an idiot in front of employees." "In the past, failure was very contained," another entrepreneur says. "When you failed, you felt bad around your family, the people you raised money from, but it wasn't as public. Failure in an era of social media and social video and global events is a very public thing. Jody [Sherman] put himself out there this time and became very respected for what he was doing. That possibility of very public shame is something that didn't exist before." Brad Feld writes that if you are ever considering committing suicide, reach out to someone and ask for help. "It’s ok to fail. It’s ok to lose. It’s ok to be depressed. If you are contemplating suicide, get help. If you have an entrepreneurial friend contemplating suicide, do your best to get them help."

Submission + - They Might Be Giants "Dial-a-Song" returns online. (theymightbegiants.com)

Submitted by uCallHimDrJ0NES
uCallHimDrJ0NES writes: Why is the world in love again? TMBG's website announced the return of the nerd music favorite "Dial-a-song" service as a website. The plan is apparently a new song every week. The original PSTN-based Dial-a-Song service, which ran on an old-school answering machine, was a staple of nerd culture for years. Remember, those giants don't want to rule the world. They just want your half.

Submission + - The single vigilante behind Facebook's 'real name' crackdown (dailydot.com)

Submitted by Molly McHugh
Molly McHugh writes: Given the timing and the accounts suspended, they believe that they are in fact the mystery “individual” who threw a wrench into Facebook’s system, noted in Facebook’s explanation of the events. “Considering the hours and hours I spent reporting accounts over the course of the past month, it is likely that I am.”

Submission + - GlaxoSmithKline "Accidentally" Released 45 Lts of Live Polio Virus (globalresearch.ca)

Submitted by ferespo
ferespo writes: Belgium – As reported to ECDC by Belgian authorities, on 2 September 2014, following a human error, 45 litres of concentrated live polio virus solution were released into the environment by the pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), in Rixensart city, Belgium. The liquid was conducted directly to a water-treatment plant (Rosieres) and released after treatment in river Lasne affluent of river Dyle which is affluent of the Escaut/Scheldt river. Belgium’s High Council of Public Health conducted a risk assessment that concluded that the risk of infection for the population exposed to the contaminated water is extremely low due to the high level of dilution and the high vaccination coverage (95%) in Belgium. (Official ECDC press release http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/p...)

Submission + - Salt Water Powered Car Gets European Approval (subfeed.net) 1

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: In a breakthrough that is bound to catch the attention of the oil industry and even electric car makers, a company has just gained approval for its ‘salt water’ powered car in Europe.

A car called the Quant e-Sportlimousine that was presented at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show is the first electric car powered by salt water and is now certified for use on European public roads.

The e-Sportlimousine, built by the German company Quant, runs on an electrolyte flow cell power system made by NanoFlowcell that generates a staggering 920 horsepower, goes 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds, and propels the car to a top speed of 217.5 mph.

Submission + - Cinema chains may boycott Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel (slashdot.org)

Submitted by mtbrandao
mtbrandao writes: Netflix announced on Monday that it is teaming with The Weinstein Company to produce Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, and debut it simultaneously at Imax cinemas globally and via Netflix on 28 August next year.

However AMC, Cinemark, Regal and Carmike, which together own more than half the US’s 400 Imax screens, all said they would refuse to screen the film. They are angry because the plan radically ignores the longstanding theatrical “window” which means that new movies are not usually made available to view at home for at least 13-17 weeks after their release in cinemas. Europe’s second-largest chain, Cineworld, and Canada’s largest chain Cineplex also said they would not be screening the sequel.

Comment Intel doesn't care about the content (Score 5, Insightful) 724

by Higaran (#48047731) Attached to: Intel Drops Gamasutra Sponsorship Over Controversial Editorials
They only care that people are complaining, it's a PR thing. They are pulling their advertising because there is some controversy going on with the site, so it's easier to pull out then pick a side and anger people. Intel would plaster their logo on the side of churches if they knew that people wouldn't complain about it.

Comment Re:Full spectrum of technology users (Score 1) 398

by Higaran (#41627859) Attached to: Why Eric Schmidt Is Wrong About Microsoft Not Mattering Anymore
I already see it going down hill fast, corporations need someone with some balls to lead them, to make sure their products arent krap. Whats the big upgrade in the new iphone, a bigger screen and a map app that is totally broke. I will admit I am not a big fan of apple, but they used to at least try to be inovative with thier products. Now its just going ba a crcus over there untill they get some good leadership, of need to get a bailout from a diffrent company.

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