Comment M.A.D. (Score 1) 878
You M.A.D.bro?
Comment Why? (Score 1) 570
I know why people write silly articles like this but why are we wasting our time discussing it here?
Submission + - Ask Slashdot: How to stay fit in the office? 1
Kochnekov writes: This week I started my first co-op job as a chemical engineering student. I work in a R&D lab, but in between daily tasks there is a lot of down time which I spend at my desk, staring at my computer. I know Slashdot is used mostly by IT professionals and desk jockeys, so chances are you've all encountered the draining effects of sedentary office life: joint and back pain, weight gain, heart health risks, etc. What are some ways to counteract the negative health effects of a desk job, both during and after work?
Submission + - Molecular robot mimics life's protein-builder (nature.com)
ananyo writes: "The ribosome, the molecular machine that translates our genetic code to build the body’s proteins, is a mechanical marvel. Now, chemists have invented a nanomachine that can achieve a similar feat.
The artificial system is not about to displace nature’s ribosome, a complex of proteins and RNA. It is much simpler, and only about about one-tenth of the size — and, it is achingly slow, destroys the code it reads and can produce only very short chunks of protein, known as peptides. It does, however, show that some of the tactics of biology’s molecular machines can be adopted to make useful chemicals.
The device relies on a rotaxane — a large molecular ring threaded onto another molecule that acts as an axle. The axle is lined with three amino acids, and a chain of three more amino acids hangs from the outer edge of the ring. Heating the device prompts the ring to move along the axle, adding amino acids one-by-one to the chain attached to the ring."
The artificial system is not about to displace nature’s ribosome, a complex of proteins and RNA. It is much simpler, and only about about one-tenth of the size — and, it is achingly slow, destroys the code it reads and can produce only very short chunks of protein, known as peptides. It does, however, show that some of the tactics of biology’s molecular machines can be adopted to make useful chemicals.
The device relies on a rotaxane — a large molecular ring threaded onto another molecule that acts as an axle. The axle is lined with three amino acids, and a chain of three more amino acids hangs from the outer edge of the ring. Heating the device prompts the ring to move along the axle, adding amino acids one-by-one to the chain attached to the ring."
Comment Stephen R. Donaldon (Score 1) 1130
His Gap Cycle is brilliant but is barely even listed, if at all, in most "top 100" sci-fi series lists. The portrayal of mankind's antithesis the alien Amnion, and their 'technologies', physiology and psychology are very original. The writing style is dark, hard edged sci-fi without dependence on all the scientific marvels typically separating the characters from space and space travel, so often leveraged in science fiction writing. There is no anti-gravity, just centrifugal force. He uses physics like a mallet to pound the cast of characters and the reader with the hard, cold realities of life in space. It's reminiscent, at times, of classic Arthur C. Clark describing the effects of starlight and gravity on the insides of a Rama vessel and its occupants.
The series also does a wonderful job of paralleling mini and macro power struggles across multiple levels: humanity vs. a very alien Manion, military forces vs. corporate powers, ship to ship combat, antagonist vs. protagonist.
This literary style combined with a blatant attempt to pay homage to Wagner's Ring Cycle makes for a truly unique science fiction series. An underlying device in the series is the rotation from book to book of protagonist, antagonist, victim and tormentor. It's hard to describe what makes it work and still feel believable, authentic and engaging, but somehow it is.
Comment Remember when journalists actually had opinions? (Score 2) 306
It's too bad this guy couldn't stick with his guns. I'm pretty sure what he said wasn't taken out of context. The fact that he's now reversing himself after some controversy emerged just goes to show that true journalistic integrity has been lost in most mainstream media. Not that I look to Gartner as a source of unbiased product and service reviews and ratings.
Comment Re:BBQ? (Score 1) 282
I wonder what an ad for a strip club would smell like?
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