Comment Re:Not because of fear of robots (Score 1) 510
(Oops, this is me posting, don't wish to be anonymous. And sorry for typo in the last sentence above.)
Comment I've seen this in class before... (Score 1) 1042
Not sure if anyone's mentioned it already, but you can view the problem as a variant of Amdahl's law.
Comment It's a cycle... (Score 1) 385
SysAdmin is merely in the "hate" phase of what is --as we all really know--a love-hate relationship.
Comment Re:They wont be having my shares (Score 1) 695
Across the dark expanse, the ARM unit hears a message meant for it, and it alone: "Come home, my child". This was a message from the First Mother, because the 2nd and 3rd died in the '90s.
Comment Re:Birds dropping baguettes? (Score 1) 478
I didn't get this one, anyone mind explaining the reference?
Strict Order Boarding Would Get Planes in the Sky Faster 880
electrostatic writes "In a Nature.com oldie-but-goodie, a physicist says he has solved a problem that costs airlines millions every year: what is the quickest way to get passengers aboard an aircraft? Boarding is a serious issue for airlines, particularly those operating short flights that run several times a day, yet boarding times have steadily increased for decades. Back in 2005 Jason Steffen of the Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois said the method used by many airlines to this day is almost the worst. 'The best way to board, according to the researchers, would be a row-by-row, seat-by-seat, strict order. That would mean everyone lines up, row 25 first. I can't imagine fliers will go for that. Next best, they say, would be boarding all the window seats first, followed by those in the aisle. Obviously that's not practical, at least for couples or families traveling together.'"
Comment Re:265 Million Processor-Hours On What Processors? (Score 1) 59
No, rather may I have that in cash please?
Antique Fridge Could Keep Venus Rover Cool 229
Hugh Pickens writes "In the 1970s and 80s, several probes landed on Venus and returned data from the surface but they all expired less than 2 hours after landing because of Venus' tremendous heat. It's hard to keep a rover functioning when temperatures of 450 C are hot enough to melt lead but NASA researchers have designed a refrigeration system that might be able to keep a robotic rover going for as long as 50 Earth days using a reverse Stirling engine. NASA has not committed to a Venus rover mission, but a 2003 National Academies of Science study recommended that high priority be given to a robot mission to investigate the Venusian surface helping to answer such questions as why Venus ended up so different from Earth and if the changes have taken place relatively recently."
Genetic Modification Produces Mighty Mouse 320
Identity Missing writes "An Ohio laboratory has produced genetically modified mice which 'can run five to six kilometres at a speed of 20 meters per minute on a treadmill, for up to six hours before stopping,' as well as a number of other remarkable feats. An enzyme called phosphoenolypyruvate carboxykinases (PEPCK-C) is apparently responsible, and we should hope that the scientists are correct in saying that athletes won't be modifying their genes any time soon to get it, because it apparently makes the mice more aggressive. If anyone feels a super villain coming on, at least we can rely on these Mighty Mice. A video demonstrates just how much these little guys beat the competition."
