AppleGeeks: elephantware

Tech: Robot catapult

A group of robot enthusiasts converted an industrial robot into a catapult. Follow the link to see videos of the robot throwing fireballs and various missiles (such as bowling balls and watermelons) at targets (such as a car and  an RV). Found on SlashDot

News: Helium stockpile being depleted

When you hear about a limited resource, helium doesn't come immediately to mind. That said, the current stockpile of helium is expected to be depleted within the next 8 years. Helium is used extensively in scientific research, particularly in achieving ultra-cold environments. It is also used in MRI, mass spectroscopy,  fiber optics, and chip manufacture. Found on Slashdot

Tech: Contact lenses with imprinted circuits

Engineers at the University of Washington have developed a "...flexible, biologically safe contact lens with embedded circuits and lights." according to EurkAlert!. They hope to eventually develop heads-up displays that can be worn as contact lenses. Anyone who has read the early issues of Warren Ellis's "Doctor Sleepless" will recognize the technology; not surprising, given this article was found on his grinding.be site. They hope to power/control it using a combination of RF and solar power.

 

Tech: MagLev Chair

"The Lounger" is a magnetically-levitated chair made of clear, scratch-resistant acrylic. The chair is suspended between four pairs of permanent magnets, and features a pair of vertical guides to keep the chair in place.

Videos: Carrot Juice is Murder by The Arrogant Worms

Carrot Juice is Murder

You can find their CDs at their website. They've produced 11 in total.

News: Columbus brought syphillis to Europe

Syphilis is a relatively recent illness in Europe so the question has often arisen as to where it came from. Recent research seems to lend more weight to a theory that the disease came to Europe with Columbus. Found on "Aetiology, courtesy of ScienceBlogs

Tech: Getting Messenger from Earth to Mercury

How do you get Messenger from Earth to Mercury. Here's how. Found on grinding.be

News: US on list of countries suspected of using torture

A training manual produced by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs now lists the US alongside countries such as Egypt, Iran, China, Israel, Afghanistan, and Syria as a country that could potentially use torture on its prisoners. The manual was produced for Canadian diplomats as part of a "torture awareness workshop". Found on Rick Mercer's blog