Windows woes and Dinosaur parks

Courtesy of d2leddy

Parallel universes exist - study - Parallel universes really do exist, according to a mathematical discovery by Oxford scientists described by one expert as "one of the most important developments in the history of science". The Oxford team, led by Dr David Deutsch, showed mathematically that the bush-like branching structure created by the universe splitting into parallel versions of itself can explain the probabilistic nature of quantum outcomes.

From ancalagon_tb

A Beloved Professor Delivers The Lecture of a Lifetime - Schools such as Stanford and the University of Alabama have mounted "Last Lecture Series," in which top professors are asked to think deeply about what matters to them and to give hypothetical final talks. For the audience, the question to be mulled is this: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? At Carnegie Mellon, however, Dr. Pausch's speech was more than just an academic exercise. The 46-year-old father of three has pancreatic cancer and expects to live for just a few months. His lecture, using images on a giant screen, turned out to be a rollicking and riveting journey through the lessons of his life.

Physics Org

NASA's Ion Engine Breaks Performance Record - Today's chemical propulsion systems get their big boost and then coast at constant speed until the next boost. An ion engine can produce its small thrust continually and thereby provide near constant acceleration and shorter travel times. Ion propulsion is also ten times more fuel efficient than chemical onboard propulsion systems. This greater efficiency means less propellant is needed for a mission. Spacecraft can then be smaller and lighter, with lower launch costs.

The Mercer Report

Strong loonie hurting Canadian pot exports: expert - The strong Canadian dollar has hit the illegal marijuana sector just as it has other industries that export to the United States, one of Canada's best known legalization advocates said on Thursday. But western marijuana growers have also benefited from Canada's strong economy, especially the booming Alberta oil patch, which has increased domestic consumption, according to Marc Emery, a founder of the British Columbia Marijuana Party.

Dinosaurs may roam Vancouver's Stanley Park - One of Canada's most iconic parks could soon be home to more than trees, tourists and spectacular views. The Vancouver Park Board wants to add another attraction: giant robotic dinosaurs. Documents obtained by the CBC reveal the board has put out a request for proposals for 25 to 30 life-size animatronic dinosaurs to be installed in Stanley Park near a miniature railroad right next to the petting zoo.

Improbable Research

The chemistry of divorce - A state forensics scientist who said she tested DNA in her husband’s underwear to find out whether he was cheating could be disciplined if investigators determine she violated the use of state equipment. Ann Chamberlain-Gordon of Okemos testified in a March 7 divorce hearing that she ran the test in September on the underwear of Charles Gordon Jr. Asked by his attorney what she found, she answered: “Another female. It wasn’t me.” She also said during a May 25 hearing in Ingham County Family Court that she ran the test on her own time with chemicals that were set to be thrown away.

Bras Don't Support Bouncing Breasts, Study Finds - Whether women are said to be flat-chested or big-busted, ordinary bras fall short when it comes to supporting bouncing breasts, a new study claims.

Physics Org

Microsoft Excel Fails Math Test - In a blog post, Microsoft employee David Gainer said that when computer users tried to get Excel 2007 to multiply some pairs of numbers and the result was 65,535, Excel would incorrectly display 100,000 as the answer.

Techdirt

Bridging The Tech Gender Gap - some computer science researchers postulate that the design of software itself may contribute to the male-bias seen in computer programming. In an experiment, participants were asked to find and fix errors in a spreadsheet. Researchers found that men were more likely to use advanced "debugging" features of the software, whereas women were more likely to edit formulas one by one. Then, they introduced a differently designed debugging tool that was specifically designed to appeal to women. Unsurprisingly, women used the debugging tool more.

Technology Review Feed - Tech Review Top Stories

Hydrogen from Algae - Anastasios Melis, a plant- and microbial-biology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, believes that genetically engineered versions of the tiny green organisms have a good shot at being a viable source for hydrogen. Melis has created mutant algae that make better use of sunlight than their natural cousins do. This could increase the hydrogen that the algae produce by a factor of three. It would also boost the algae's production of oil for biofuels.

MAKE magazine images

MAKE Magazine features some of the most interesting devices created by mad scientists. Under the cut you will find a selection culled from the last few months.

( MAKE photos under the cut )