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Earth

Submission + - Hairy Solar Cells Could Mean Higher Efficiency (ecotechdaily.com)

Submitted by
kitzilla
kitzilla writes: "Two research groups working independently have come up with what they say are cheap processes for growing nanowires to be used with solar cells. The "hairy" cells provide a direct path for electrons collected at the panel face to reach an electrode, something which has the potential to dramatically improve system efficiency. To be marketed by Hirsute Solar, no doubt."
Mars

Evidence Of Glaciers On Mars Suggests Recent Climate Activity 101

Posted by Soulskill from the redhouse-effect-in-action dept.
Last year, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured high-resolution images of the Red Planet which showed many mesas, valleys, and rock debris which appeared to be (geologically speaking) recent formations. A team of scientists from Brown University analyzed the photographs and found evidence that the terrain was carved by large glaciers much more recently than they thought possible. Climate activity on Mars was thought to have quieted over 3 billion years ago, but these glaciers would have been around within the last 10-100 million years. "The finding could have implications for the life-on-Mars argument by strengthening the case for liquid water. Ice can melt two ways: by temperature or by pressure. As currently understood, the Martian climate is dominated by sublimation, the process by which solid substances are transformed directly to vapor. But ice packs can exert such strong pressure at the base to produce liquid water, which makes the thickness of past glaciers on its surface so intriguing."
Sci-Fi

DARPA Working On Arthur C. Clarke Weapon Idea 453

Posted by Soulskill from the good-times-with-molten-metal dept.
holy_calamity writes "DARPA is working on a weapon which is similar to one first described by Arthur C. Clarke in his 1955 novel Earthlight — firing jets of molten metal using strong electromagnetic fields. The Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition (MAHEM) will function on a smaller scale than Clarke's fictional blaster. DARPA's write-up says it could be 'packaged into a missile, projectile or other platform and delivered close to target for final engagement and kill.' Clarke is also widely credited with suggesting geostationary communications satellites — what other ideas of his will come to pass?"

Comment Re:Are you sure ... (Score 1) 962

by kitzilla (#19014139) Attached to: Conservative Sarkozy Wins Presidency of France

Besides, she's right. She wasn't threatening violence from dissatisfied voters -- she was pointing out that it was Sarkozy's policies which ignited race riots two years ago.

I wish Sarkozy and the Republic well, and the Socialists are long overdue for reform. Further, even though Royal is one of the world's hottest-looking politicians, she campaigned terribly. I just worry French voters may find they're going to get exactly what they just voted for.

Feed Lenovo laying off 1,400 employees, looking overseas (engadget.com)

From feed by engfeed

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Tough news on the Lenovo front, as the "world's third ranking PC manufacturer" is looking to axe 1,400 of its US-based employees -- and fast. Reportedly, the firm has decided to lay off a good chunk of its American-based work force "within the next 30 to 60 days" as it turns around and creates around 750 new positions in Brazil, China, India and Slovakia. The company stressed that its return to profitability last year was greatly assisted by the laying off of upwards of 1,000 employees, and insinuates that the latest cost-cutting measures are just attempts to "make the organization more efficient by reducing expenses." The cuts also include a whopping 20-percent of the work force at Lenovo's Research Triangle Park (RTP) location and around five-percent overall, but should net some $100 million in savings for the new fiscal year. Sadly, it just seems to get more cutthroat every year in the corporate arena, regardless of accomplishments.

[Via TWW]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Media

Wal-Mart Begins Massive Push For HD DVD 338

Posted by kdawson from the 200-bucks-by-Christmas dept.
Several readers sent us word of Wal-Mart's ordering 2 million HD DVD players from China. Hans V wrote, "My kids work at Wal-Mart and the manager there has been talking about this. HD-DVD's are selling like mad there so I hear." Another reader sent us a few links in Chinese and summarized them this way: "The first batches of these blue-laser HD DVD players are to land sometime in 2007, with complete fulfillment of the order [from Fuh Yuan] in 2008. The deal could be worth up to $300 million US, which translates to $150 per player. If so, by the time Christmas 2007 rolls around, Wal-Mart could be selling these for less than $200 retail, although some speculate that the initial manufacturer suggested retail pricing might be in the ballpark of $299. Currently the cheapest high-definition player is a Toshiba HD DVD with an MSRP of $399." By comparison Blu-Ray players, manufactured in Japan, are not expected to drop below $1000 until next year. The International Herald Tribune writes about the risk Toshiba is taking by bringing in Chinese manufacturers to trump Sony in the format war.
Announcements

Submission + - Father of Instant Ramen Passes.

Submitted by
Chained Fei
Chained Fei writes: "Ando Momofuku, Father of the Instant Ramen, passed away on January 5th at the age of 96. http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/200701 06p2a00m0na013000c.html He concocted the idea for Instant Ramen after WW2, hoping to reduce the amount of poor nourishment for soldiers in the field. If not for this great man, many a poor college student would have starved over the years."
The Internet

YouTube Blocked in Brazil 387

Posted by Zonk from the down-with-love dept.
keeboo writes "The popular video sharing site YouTube is now blocked in Brazil due to a local court decision last Thursday. The site was ordered to block the uploaded sex videos of Brazilian media starlet Daniela Cicarelli and, although it complied, many users kept re-uploading it to the site. After the failure of YouTube to keep the video off of the site, the domain was blocked nationwide at a DNS level. Predictably, many Brazilians are annoyed and I've started to receive even SPAMs protesting on this blocking. From the article: 'The case now goes automatically to a three-member panel of judges who will decide whether to make the order permanent and whether to fine YouTube as much as US$119,000 (euro91,000) for each day the video was viewable, said Rubens Decousseau Tilkian.'"
Security

Submission + - Blurring images to hide information is not secure

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Dheera Venkatraman explains in a webpage how an attacker might be able to extract personal information such as check or credit card numbers, from images blurred with a mosaic effect, potentially exposing the data behind hundreds of images of blurred checks found online, and provides a ficticious example. While much needs to be developed to apply such an algorithm to real photographic images, he offers a simple, yet obvious solution: cover up the sensitive information, don't blur it.
User Journal

Journal Journal: Apple pwns other manufacturers on Amazon

Journal by gizmateer

Apple pwned other manufacturers in several Amazon categories garnering the top spot in categories including MP3 plyaers, laptops and desktops over the holiday season. There were actually six different iPod models in the top ten for MP3 players, three MacBooks in the top ten and four different Apple systems in the desktop category.

User Journal

Journal Journal: Sick for the holidays

Journal by SiliconJesus

I had managed to keep the disease at bay for two weeks, but alas, I too am now ill with flu-like symptoms.

What's worse is my son has HIVES from the virus that struck him down.

God this sucks. Off to get more NyQuil.

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