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Power

Printable Batteries Should Arrive Next Year 92

FullBandwidth writes "Paper-thin batteries that can be printed onto greeting cards or other flexible substrates have been demonstrated at Fraunhofer Research Institution for Electronic Nano Systems in Germany. The batteries have a relatively short life span, as the anode and cathode materials dissipate over time. However, they contain no hazardous materials."
Space

Something May Have Just Hit Jupiter 299

The blog of Anthony Wesley, an Australian amateur astronomer, has what may be the first photos of a recent comet or asteroid impact on Jupiter, near the south pole. These photos are 11 hours old. The ones at the bottom of the page show three small dark spots in addition to the main dark mark. The Bad Astronomy blog picked up the story a few hours later — but cautions that what we're seeing may not be an impact event. This is all reminiscent of the closely watched impact of comet Shoemaker-Levy on Jupiter in 1994.
Power

Cats "Exploit" Humans By Purring 503

An anonymous reader notes a BBC report on research recently published in the journal Current Biology, indicating that cats manipulate humans by adding a baby-like cry to their purring. "Cat owners may have suspected as much, but it seems our feline friends have found a way to manipulate us humans. Researchers at the University of Sussex have discovered that cats use a 'soliciting purr' to overpower their owners and garner attention and food. Unlike regular purring, this sound incorporates a 'cry,' with a similar frequency to a human baby's. The team said cats have 'tapped into' a human bias — producing a sound that humans find very difficult to ignore."
Security

Symantec Exec Warns Against Relying On Free Antivirus 459

thefickler writes "Clearly, the rise of free antivirus is starting to worry Symantec, with one of their top executives warning consumers not to rely on free antivirus software (including Microsoft's Security Essentials). 'If you are only relying on free antivirus to offer you protection in this modern age, you are not getting the protection you need to be able to stay clean and have a reasonable chance of avoiding identity theft,' said David Hall, a Product Manager for Symantec. According to Hall, there is a widening gap between people's understanding of what protection they need and the threats they're actually facing."

A Mathematician's Lament — an Indictment of US Math Education 677

Scott Aaronson recently had "A Mathematician's Lament" [PDF], Paul Lockhardt's indictment of K-12 math education in the US, pointed out to him and takes some time to examine the finer points. "Lockhardt says pretty much everything I've wanted to say about this subject since the age of twelve, and does so with the thunderous rage of an Old Testament prophet. If you like math, and more so if you think you don't like math, I implore you to read his essay with every atom of my being. Which is not to say I don't have a few quibbles [...] In the end, Lockhardt's lament is subversive, angry, and radical ... but if you know anything about math and anything about K-12 'education' (at least in the United States), I defy you to read and find a single sentence that isn't permeated, suffused, soaked, and encrusted with truth."

Comment "My mouse is broken" and "My monitor is broken" (Score 1) 876

I think it depends on if the person is trying to sound smart "Hey, I know what a hard drive is" or is just describing the interaction point with the computer. Those who aren't trying to sound smart say things like "My mouse is broken" (esp. on old macs that would freeze up). Rational in a way...they move and click the mouse and the pointer doesn't move. Must be a broken mouse, right? I've also heard "My monitor is broken" for a computer that wouldn't boot. But that's all to be expected. Just smile and nod and ask the right diagnostic questions. That's your job, after all.

Comment I plan to go see the IMAX version (Score 1) 820

This weekend I had poor 2nd row seats which made it difficult to take in everything that was happening on the screen. I usually prefer "dull" indie films, but when something is extremely well done, I like it no matter what the genre. A plot AND good action scenes. My one criticism would be that the Nero character should have had more depth. I could see the scenes that explained him ending up on the cutting room floor to make the movie fit into a certain length. Maybe there will be a director's cut.

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