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NASA

NASA giving out $1.5 Million for a robot to pick u->

Submitted by tocs
tocs writes "Worcester Polytechnic Institute has been selected to run NASA's Sample Return Robot Challenge with a prize purse of $1.5 million. The challenge involves building and running a robot to retrieve some "geologic samples". WPI has not announced specific rules yet but it might be a good time for teams to start getting there act's together.

So, is any one out there planning on putting a team together? Does any one need help with there team? I would love to see more coverage by the media about these challenges before the events are over. Heck, it might be fun to compete in one."
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HP

HP-12C is 30 Years Old->

Submitted by HSeldon2012
HSeldon2012 writes "What happens when companies push too far with product development that favors the new over the old? The results aren’t always positive, I am afraid. They violate one of those universal laws of marketing by creating products that their customers don’t want.

That did not happen to "The Calculator that Never Dies". HP created an icon 30 years ago that still sells in the original form, with the same design and for about 20% of the original price."
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Helping describe Earths life.->

Submitted by tocs
tocs writes "An articule on PopSci.com says:

"Taxonomists plan to catalogue all of the world’s species in the next 50 years. This NASA-style initiative, set at the Sustain What? Conference held in New York City this week, will require the identification and classification of approximately 10 million new species. To put that in perspective, only 2 million have been catalogued since binomial nomenclature was first invented in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus."

and "Citizen Scientests" can help with projects like the Mushroom Observer and the Encyclopedia of Life can help find and describe new species."
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Biotech

Silks Bright Future->

Submitted by tocs
tocs writes "Silks Bright Future

Silk has a long and interesting history from Chinese silk production 1000s of years ago to silk producing sheep in 2002. If some scientist and engineers, like Dr. Fiorenzo Omenetto and Dr. David Kaplan of Tufts University, have their way it has important rolls to play in the future as well. This tough material, stronger than steel, might find uses in areas such as medicine, optics, and a replacement for petroleum based plastics."
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Image

Publishing Company Puts Warning Label on Constitution 676

Posted by samzenpus
from the inappropriate-founding-fathers dept.
Wilder Publication is under fire for putting warning labels on copies of historical US documents, including the Constitution. The label warns "This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today." From the article: "The disclaimer goes on to tell parents that they 'might wish to discuss with their children how views on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and interpersonal relations have changed since this book was written before allowing them to read this classic work.'"
Space

Geomagnetic Storm In Progress 110

Posted by Soulskill
from the sky-is-falling dept.
shogun writes "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports a strong geomagnetic storm is in progress. The shuttle, ISS and GPS systems may be affected." They think this storm was caused by a weak solar flare on April 3rd. As you may expect, this has caused some unusually impressive northern lights since it started. What you may not expect is a photograph from Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi aboard the International Space Station showing the aurora from orbit. He apparently tweets a lot of pictures from space. He and his crewmates have taken over 100,000 pictures since coming aboard the ISS.

Comment: Re:Hard to Do (Score 1) 235

by tocs (#31434010) Attached to: Digitizing and Geocoding Old Maps?
I will concur. In my experience with this sort of thing the most difficult part is dealing with coordinate systems and datum. There are a lot of really obscure local datums that have been used threw the years. Also, even for pretty recent maps the accuracy of the map depends on the survey.

From From a NOAA page about chart accuracy and precision.
"Positioning of Survey Data The methods used to acquire the underlying survey data will also affect accuracy. NOAA has specified stringent accuracy standards for collection of data by its survey vessels. Currently, surveys are being conducted to DGPS accuracy. However, for surveys performed prior to the mid 1990’s, the accuracy requirement was only 1.5mm at the scale of the survey as few surveys of years past were able to match DGPS accuracies. For example, on a 1:20,000-scale harbor approach survey, an accuracy of 1.5mm equates to 30 meters. NOAA makes every effort to produce the most accurate chart possible given the available data. The prudent mariner should pass shoals or isolated dangers with utmost caution, no matter what navigation method is used." That is not to say you cannont get good results just that you have to be careful.

Earth

Officials Sue Couple Who Removed Their Lawn 819

Posted by kdawson
from the revenge-of-the-lawn dept.
Hugh Pickens writes "The LA Times reports that Orange County officials are locked in a legal battle with a couple accused of violating city ordinances for replacing the grass on their lawn with wood chips and drought-tolerant plants, reducing their water usage from 299,221 gallons in 2007 to 58,348 gallons in 2009. The dispute began two years ago, when Quan and Angelina Ha tore out the grass in their front yard. In drought-plagued Southern California, the couple said, the lush grass had been soaking up tens of thousands of gallons of water — and hundreds of dollars — each year. 'We've got a newborn, so we want to start worrying about her future,' said Quan Ha, an information technology manager for Kelley Blue Book. But city officials told the Has they were violating several city laws that require that 40% of residential yards to be landscaped predominantly with live plants. Last summer, the couple tried to appease the city by building a fence around the yard and planting drought-tolerant greenery — lavender, rosemary, horsetail, and pittosporum, among others. But according to the city, their landscaping still did not comply with city standards. At the end of January, the Has received a letter saying they had been charged with a misdemeanor violation and must appear in court. The couple could face a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for their grass-free, eco-friendly landscaping scheme. 'It's just funny that we pay our taxes to the city and the city is now prosecuting us with our own money,' says Quan Ha."

If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads. -- Anatole France