Assorted news and tech stories
May. 30th, 2008 04:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dracodraconisFacebook to be probed by privacy commissioner - Following a complaint by a law student, Facebook will be investigated to determine if passing personal information to advertisers without asking for permission breaks Canadian privacy laws. According to the student, Facebook is alleged to have committed more than 22 violations of Canadian privacy law.
Nanowire "towel" developed to sop up oil spills - MIT researchers have developed a membrane that can absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil, then the oil can be removed and the membrane re-used. The membrane is a mesh of interwoven manganese oxide nanowires. Oil is removed by heating the membrane to above oil's boiling point, something not possible with other oil-absorbing materials.
Crude oil from algae - A San Diego start-up claims that it can produce the equivalent of crude oil at prices equivalent to tar-sands extraction. The "green crude" can then be refined into other fuels, such as gasoline. Much of this is speculation, however: the company has not yet built a full-scale plant.
Girls' math skills correlate with social gender equality - A study indicates that there is a strong correlation between girls' math skills and the prevalence of gender equality within a country. Specifically, girls with better math skills tend to come from countries in which there is strong gender equality, while those with poor math skills tend to come from countries with male-dominated social structures. The researchers are very careful to point out that they claim a correlational, not a causal, relationship exists.
Bikini-clad women linked to male impatience - Watching sexy videos has been shown to result in men engaging more strongly in reward-seeking behaviours that lead to immediate gratification. The cure? Having men engage in tasks that involve financial satisfaction seems to reduce their impatience.
Nanowire "towel" developed to sop up oil spills - MIT researchers have developed a membrane that can absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil, then the oil can be removed and the membrane re-used. The membrane is a mesh of interwoven manganese oxide nanowires. Oil is removed by heating the membrane to above oil's boiling point, something not possible with other oil-absorbing materials.
Crude oil from algae - A San Diego start-up claims that it can produce the equivalent of crude oil at prices equivalent to tar-sands extraction. The "green crude" can then be refined into other fuels, such as gasoline. Much of this is speculation, however: the company has not yet built a full-scale plant.
Girls' math skills correlate with social gender equality - A study indicates that there is a strong correlation between girls' math skills and the prevalence of gender equality within a country. Specifically, girls with better math skills tend to come from countries in which there is strong gender equality, while those with poor math skills tend to come from countries with male-dominated social structures. The researchers are very careful to point out that they claim a correlational, not a causal, relationship exists.
Bikini-clad women linked to male impatience - Watching sexy videos has been shown to result in men engaging more strongly in reward-seeking behaviours that lead to immediate gratification. The cure? Having men engage in tasks that involve financial satisfaction seems to reduce their impatience.