Archive for the ‘Science’ Category

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The Space Elevator


11 Sep

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I recently linked to the 16 Kickstarter projects that could destroy civilization. One of those projects was the re-birth of the Space Elevator. Michael Laine of LiftPort Group was looking for $8,000. He got $70,000.

Believe it or not, this is a problem. While $70,000 is a lot of money, it’s really nothing when it comes to the costs of building technology needed for a lift system that one day will carry things into space. He’s hoping the backing of 2,300 ordinary people will impress angel investors enough to convince them to give him the kind of money he needs.

The EKG Ap


10 Sep

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Here in the US, if you need an EKG, you go to the doctor, it gets ordered and off you go to be hooked up to expensive equipment, at least if you have money or some kind of insurance. But what about people in developing countries where the majority of the population does not have access to advanced medical care and an EKG machine?

Enter Catherine Wong, a 17 year old from New Jersey. She recently invented an ap that will work as an EKG. Because the sad truth is, more people have access to smart phones than do hospitals.

Religious Artifact or Toy?


06 Sep

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You all know I love archaeology, and find what they do fascinating. However, sometimes I cannot help but wonder what of ours future societies might find and what conclusions they will draw.

For example, in Israel, they recently found two small stone figurines at an excavation for a highway. They appear to be animal in nature, and since in the time period they are dated to (9,000-9,500 years ago), people were hunter gatherers, the assumption is that they were religious or luck symbols, to help ensure a successful hunt.

What if they were really just some kid’s toys, like Legos?

KickStarter Projects


05 Sep

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I laughed, I cried for mercy, and now I live in fear. Okay, not really, except for the laughing. Someone with much more time than I have went through KickStarter and found 16 projects that could destroy civilization.

Some of them I’d heard of before- like the Space Elevator, I just hadn’t realized that someone was trying to get it funded through KickStarter. Others have been funded and fully realized- like Cards Against Humanity, which is actually a terrifically fun card game (with the right group of people).

We do need to beware Bond villains and their giant robot spiders.

Caught in Amber


28 Aug

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Paging Jurassic Park, paging Jurassic Park. Who needs a mosquito preserved in amber when instead you can have a mite- and not just any mite, but one that is 230 MILLION years old. That puts us firmly in the Mesozoic Era, but is actually in the Triassic period (which is one step older than the Jurassic period). This was the time of the first dinosaurs, and when the supercontinent that was the only landmass on earth began to break up, eventually to form the continents of today.

If only the mite could talk, can you imagine what we could learn.

Invisibility Cloak Science for Broadband


23 Aug

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Despite the fact that I have written about the invisibility cloak twice (here and here) that’s not what I’m excited about. Yes, it’s proof that the science is sound, but read what Kymeta is doing- in two to three years, they plan to have a device out that will enable people anywhere in the world to have broadband access to the internet, at a not super high cost. And since it creates a hotspot, not everyone will need one. Towns, villages even, could invest in this to provide internet access for their citizens.

Broadband for the entire world? Yes please.

Speeding Around the Forest Moon


21 Aug

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I am having a geekgasm. Even though I will likely never ride one of these- I may never even see one in person –just knowing that there is a hover bike, much like the speeders from Star Wars, in existence makes me ridiculously happy.

It’s not only real, it is being flight tested in the desert (at 15ft, 30mph) and not crashing. They have been successfully tested in trees and under bridges. The only sad thing is that manned versions are not in the immediate future. Aerofex (the company making geek dreams come true) is currently focusing on unmanned uses.

Danish Bog Men


16 Aug

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Lest you think that we know all there is to know about western Europe, and that the Middle East and South America are the only places left where exciting archaeological finds can be made, Denmark (home of Hamlet) would like to clear things up.

In a bog in Denmark, archaeologists have found hundreds of bodies, an entire army, that appears to have been sacrificed, right around 2000 years ago. In fact, the site is so large, they don’t expect to be able to dig all of it, but instead plan lots of small digs.

There is always more to learn.

Science and Sci-Fi


14 Aug

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We all know I’m a geek. I have admitted this over and over again here on this blog, and yet today, I think I had one of my geekiest moments ever. Please tell me I’m not the only one who saw this headline: “Japan nuclear disaster caused mutated butterflies” and thought MOTHRA! Because to me, that is the only logical conclusion one can come to after reading the headline.

In good news for those who don’t want to seeTokyodestroyed by giant monsters, it actually appears that the mutations are making the butterflies (or at least their wings) smaller.

2nd Geek Girl Con


13 Aug

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This weekend was the second Geek Girl Con. This year, due to other scheduling issues, I was unable to attend. I am still thrilled the conference exists, and it was really nice to see that they got more space this year so that they wouldn’t have to turn anyone away.

They are attracting national attention, including an article on the Today website. EA was one of the sponsors, proudly showing off their new NHL game with a female avatar. So  when will we get Madden with a female avatar, or an RPG that is capable of moving past Lara Croft?

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