doktoromni - Slashdot User

New Theory Links Biodiversity to the Stars 184

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday April 23, 2007 @04:00PM from the long-wait-for-results-returned dept.

eldavojohn writes "Space.com's Mystery Monday has an article proposing a hypothesis that our solar system's undulations directly affects biodiversity on earth through cosmic-ray exposure. There's data that, through the fossil record, shows us earth's biodiversity peaking again and again until a great cataclysmic period where it is greatly reduced. The theory essentially suggests that this 62 million year cycle can be attributed to how our solar system moves within the milky way galaxy which turns out to be a 64 million year cycle. It's a plausible explanation though very tough to prove, hopefully we don't have to wait around 64 million years to draw a conclusion on this hypothesis."

Neural "Extension Cord" Developed 141

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday January 23, 2007 @02:17PM from the plug-'n'-play dept.

moon_monkey writes "Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a 'neural extension cord' by growing neurons attached to a microchip. The cord is made by gradually moving two batches of neurons apart, as they naturally grow towards one another. This biological 'data cable' could then interface with the brain once implanted, the researchers say." From the article: "...in the long run, it may not be necessary to interface directly with nerves at all. 'In Europe most researchers in this field are using non-invasive EEG,' [an outside researcher] explains... 'The signals are weaker so more complex processing is needed, but not having to perform surgery on the nervous system has many advantages,' [he] says."

NASA Unveils Strategy for Return to the Moon 377

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Tuesday December 05, 2006 @03:31AM from the why-buy-one-when-you-could-buy-two-at-twice-the-price dept.

mknewman writes to tell us that NASA recently announced plans to build a permanent base on the moon by 2024. The (still tentative) plans call for building the base on one of the moon's poles, which constantly receive light from the sun and have less temperature fluctuation. This base will start small in 2020 and grow over time with the hopes of eventually supporting 180-day stays and providing a jumping-off point to Mars."

Comment Re:logisitcs (Score 1) 361

by doktoromni on Monday November 20, 2006 @02:32PM (#16918126) Attached to: Stop Global Warming With Smog?

You don't need the equivalent mass of dust thrown by volcanic eruptions. You need the equivalent *reflexive surface*. And that can be done with drastically smaller masses, provided that the size of the particles is much smaller than the average particle size thrown by volcanoes and thus the mass-to-surface ratio is tiny. In other words, engineered particles can be made fine enough so that you don't need unrealistic ammounts of them to produce some noticeable effect.

Machine Gun Sentry Robot Unveiled 845

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Tuesday November 14, 2006 @01:37AM from the stop-or-my-robosapien-will-shoot dept.

mpthompson writes "Samsung has partnered with a Korean university to develop a robotic sentry equipped with a 5.5mm machine gun. Meant for deployment along the DMZ between North and South Korea, the $200,000 robot employs sophisticated pattern recognition software for targeting humans. No three laws here, but the robot does include a speaker that can be used to politely issue a warning before taking the target out. The promotional video is both scary and funny at the same time."

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