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Assorted entries from Slashdot
Apr. 10th, 2008 12:57 pmMove over athletes, now scientists are drugging up - a poll of Nature readers indicate that 20% use mental performance enhancing drugs, and almost 80% think this should be allowed to continue. Almost 70% of the respondents were from the US, and the drugs most cited were Ritalin (62%), Provigil (44%), and Beta-blockers like Inderal (15%). It is believed that most of the respondents are scientists. (Slashdot article)
Make Mars a one-way trip - Former NASA Engineer proposes that the best way to get to Mars would be avoid having to bring the astronaut home. The trip would consist of a single astronaut will all the material needed to set up a camp to survive on the planet. The only thing lacking would be the means to make a return trip. He foresees flights every 26 months to bring more people and supplies as the colony grows. (Slashdot article)
Cats help you live longer - A ten-year study concluded that cat owners have a 30% lower risk of heart attack than their non-feline owning brethren. The study lacked a sufficient population of dog owners to find out if Fido is also good for your heart. (Slashdot article)
Your cup of Java may be good for you - The BBC reports that caffeine disrupts the effects of cholesterol in the brain, reducing your risk of dementia. Note that this have only been confirmed in rabbits so additional research is required to verify whether the same effect occurs in humans. (Slashdot article)
The first self-replicating device... sort of - A multi-national team based on New Zealand has designed an open-source 3D printer capable of creating it's own parts, allowing it to not only create a duplicate of itself, but also print upgrades to replace its own parts. By making the project open source, they hope to drive the rapid evolution of the device. There are currently seven copies of the device in existence. (Slashdot article)
Make Mars a one-way trip - Former NASA Engineer proposes that the best way to get to Mars would be avoid having to bring the astronaut home. The trip would consist of a single astronaut will all the material needed to set up a camp to survive on the planet. The only thing lacking would be the means to make a return trip. He foresees flights every 26 months to bring more people and supplies as the colony grows. (Slashdot article)
Cats help you live longer - A ten-year study concluded that cat owners have a 30% lower risk of heart attack than their non-feline owning brethren. The study lacked a sufficient population of dog owners to find out if Fido is also good for your heart. (Slashdot article)
Your cup of Java may be good for you - The BBC reports that caffeine disrupts the effects of cholesterol in the brain, reducing your risk of dementia. Note that this have only been confirmed in rabbits so additional research is required to verify whether the same effect occurs in humans. (Slashdot article)
The first self-replicating device... sort of - A multi-national team based on New Zealand has designed an open-source 3D printer capable of creating it's own parts, allowing it to not only create a duplicate of itself, but also print upgrades to replace its own parts. By making the project open source, they hope to drive the rapid evolution of the device. There are currently seven copies of the device in existence. (Slashdot article)