Lofty wireless platforms for high speed broadband

Lofty wireless platforms for high speed broadband

Britain is testing a scheme to use tethered balloons as platforms for wireless signals. Preliminary tests show that data delivery rates can be increased by as much as 200 times compared to ground-mounted wireless platforms.

RIAA president: No talk of blacklisting file sharers | Digital Media - CNET News

RIAA president: No talk of blacklisting file sharers | Digital Media - CNET News

The RIAA has announced that it will no longer be pursuing lawsuits against people they allege are engaged in illegal file-sharing. Instead, they are negotiating agreements with ISPs to send emails to those they claim are engaged in this activity. After three warnings, the ISP would then shut down the user's Internet access. RIAA president Cary Sherman describes this as a change in philosophy from litigation to deterrent.

Honeybees Like Cocaine

Honeybees Like Cocaine

Australian researchers discovered that cocaine causes honeybees to dance more enthusiastically as if the drug were stimulating their reward centers, and then displayed withdrawal effects when the drug as removed.

In Men, Caffeine Is More Effective And Starts Working In 10 Minutes

In Men, Caffeine Is More Effective And Starts Working In 10 Minutes

A recent study seemed to demonstrate that men are affected more quickly and more strongly by caffeine than women. They also discovered that both sexes are affected by decaffeinated coffee but women take longer to feel the effects, just as with regular coffee. This study also showed that effects can begin in as little as 10 minutes with the maximum effect occurring after about 45 minutes when the maximum blood concentration has been reached.

BBC NEWS | Health | Blind man navigates maze

BBC NEWS | Health | Blind man navigates maze

A man left blind after a stroke damaged parts of his visual cortex was able to walk an obstacle course perfectly, demonstrating that the more ancient visual pathways left over from evolution were still active. The reported that he thought he had only walked straight down a corridor when, in fact, he was video-taped navigating the course. Previously he had demonstrated and ability to respond to other people's faces, even though he wasn't consciously aware of their presence.

Chameleon-like 'opal' can take on any colour - tech - 23 December 2008 - New Scientist

Chameleon-like 'opal' can take on any colour - tech - 23 December 2008 - New Scientist

A new synthetic material has been developed that can adopt any colour in the visible spectrum. The material starts blue, but applying voltage causes the colour of the material to gradually become red, passing through the entire spectrum in the process. They hope to use the material to develop a full-colour electronic paper that requires little energy. Apply voltage changes the colour, but as soon as the voltage is removed it stays that colour. Given that the process is ultimately the oxidation of iron, it's not clear whether the process is reversible so you may want to take dreams of full colour electronic paper with a grain of salt.

Reclaiming the Blade

Reclaiming the Blade

This looks very cool! February 19th is the release date for this documentary on swords featuring, among other people, Canada's own Bob Anderson, fight choreographer. Here's their pitch: The Medieval and Renaissance blade, a profound and beautiful object handcrafted by master artisans of old. An object of great complexity, yet one with a singular use in mind- it is designed to kill. The truth of the sword has been shrouded in antiquity, and the Renaissance martial arts that brought it to being are long forgotten. The ancient practitioners lent us all they knew through their manuscripts. As gunslingers of the Renaissance they were western heroes with swords, and they lived and died by them. Yet today their history remains cloaked under a shadow of legend.

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Happy Birthday Earthrise

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Happy Birthday Earthrise

40 years ago today, the first photo was taken of earth from another world. This was the day that Apollo 8 astronauts, after their fourth orbit of the moon, witnessed the spectacular earthrise and quickly captured it on film. The colour version that is used more often was, in fact, the second picture taken.