The SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY News Thread

[LoweGear]

It's a transformable car.... that not only can transform by itself unaided, but also has basic articulation Can't wait to see version 9

[aohige]

HUD GPS hell yeah. I've been wanting something like this for a while.

[AnimeFan188]

"A new procedure safeguards the production of crucial brain proteins, which could
possibly help those who suffer from neurodegenerative disease function normally

British scientists may have discovered a new way to counteract the life-crippling
effects of degenerative brain diseases, according to a new study published in
Nature. The scientists inhibited a gene that automatically stops the production of
all brain proteins when it detects the buildup of unwanted proteins. These
unwanted proteins, which accumulate in the brains of patients suffering from
neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, kill brain cells — but the brain also
can't survive without the necessary proteins. The discovery ensures that
important proteins continue to be produced, and it could one day lead to a catch-
all treatment for a number of brain diseases. Here, a brief overview of the
breakthrough:"

See:

http://news.yahoo.com/breakthrough-g...GlvbnM-;_ylv=3

[AnimeFan188]

"Power engineering manufacturer Energomash has started development of a
new rocket engine which could vastly reduce the cost of rocket launches and
avoid the need to produce hydrogen for fuel, the makers say.

The new rocket, which will be around 30 percent more efficient than exising
designs, works on a completely novel fuel mixture of acetylene and ammonia
(atsetam)."

See:

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/...ngine_999.html

[Ascaloth]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

"Power engineering manufacturer Energomash has started development of a
new rocket engine which could vastly reduce the cost of rocket launches and
avoid the need to produce hydrogen for fuel, the makers say.

The new rocket, which will be around 30 percent more efficient than exising
designs, works on a completely novel fuel mixture of acetylene and ammonia
(atsetam)."

See:

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/...ngine_999.html

It seems that...



The Russians are...



Raising a stink.

[NoemiChan]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

"Power engineering manufacturer Energomash has started development of a
new rocket engine which could vastly reduce the cost of rocket launches and
avoid the need to produce hydrogen for fuel, the makers say.

The new rocket, which will be around 30 percent more efficient than exising
designs, works on a completely novel fuel mixture of acetylene and ammonia
(atsetam)."

Wow, another reason why to bring cows to outer other than a source of food.....

[MrTerrorist]

Medical predictions for the 21st century from 1955 were equal parts inspiring and gut-busting

1. A man 90 years old will be considered "young," a man of 135 "more mature" and there will be "a minimum of senility because the heavy cholesterol which determines the age of our arteries will be absent."

2. "Our women, thanks to proper hormone medication, would stay young, beautiful and shapely indefinitely."

3. The Salk killed-virus vaccine "which is doing a tremendous job now" will be replaced in a few years by a living modified virus vaccine.

4. All human infectious disease, including rheumatic heart disease and venereal disease, will be eradicated.

5. Cancer will be "successfully treated by a virus vaccine or radioactive compounds."

6. The common cold and "even the more serious respiratory virus infections will be only a memory."

7. "Even greater victories await the highly-trained surgeon" of the future. Eye surgeons will restore vision to today's hopeless cases.

8. Synthetic foodstuff will bring an end forever to famine and starvation.

9. Electronic devices will enable deaf mutes to "speak." Initial research is underway by the Radio Corporation of America.

10. Insulin will be given in tablet form for the control of diabetes. Medical science will discover an "effective treatment" against the blood, heart and degenerative diseases of old age.

[GDB]

Well, number 5 did kind of come true. It's not a "cure", per se, more of a purging, but that's basically what chemo is.

Number 7 also kind of came true with lasik.

I'm sure number 9 is plausible if you put a type-and-speak onto an iPhone or something.

[MrTerrorist]

Holy heck, these Japanese hobbyists are building a 12-foot-tall pilotable mech

Oh Yeah. I want one!!!!!

[JMvS]

We are pretty close to N°8, at least given that a massive proportion of the West's population live on cheap, near synthetic food stuff.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Holy heck, these Japanese hobbyists are building a 12-foot-tall pilotable mech
<snip>

Oh Yeah. I want one!!!!!

The Koreans cry foul that these Japanese are stealing their Warhound designs.

[AnimeFan188]

"Lockheed Martin's new Shadow Hawk weapon is deceptively small considering
the influence it will likely have on warfare from this point forward. The era of
unmanned warfare is about to go to a whole new level. The Shadow Hawk is an
11-pound class, 2.75-inch (7 cm) diameter, 27-inch (68 cm) long drop-glide
munition released a mile or more above the target by the equally diminutive
unmanned RQ-7B. It may not seem like a major leap forward in weapons
technology but it most certainly is, because the Shadow Hawk munition now arms
an entire fleet of RQ-7s for the US Marines and Army that could previously only be
used for reconnaissance, and it does so with a much smaller and cheaper
weapon."

See:

http://www.gizmag.com/shadow-hawk-mu...st-time/22398/

[GN0010 Nosferatu]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Holy heck, these Japanese hobbyists are building a 12-foot-tall pilotable mech

Oh Yeah. I want one!!!!!

Here come VOTOMS.

[aohige]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Holy heck, these Japanese hobbyists are building a 12-foot-tall pilotable mech

Oh Yeah. I want one!!!!!

We were supposed to have these by 1996, you told us, Yuuki Masami!

[AnimeFan188]

"SpaceX has signed a partnership deal with Bigelow Aerospace (BA) to offer a taxi
service to and from the inflatable habitats BA intends to put into orbit.

A SpaceX representative told El Reg that it expect to be ready for manned flight by
2015, and commercial services would start shortly afterwards.

Bigelow is partnering with SpaceX to work with its BA 330 module, an inflatable
habitat based on NASA technology that can hold around six astronauts in relative
comfort. The Nevadan company, set up by Robert Bigelow, founder of the Budget
Suite hotel chain, has had two test facilities in orbit for years and now appears
ready to move into commercial operation."

See:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05...space_station/

[LoweGear]

Yahoo: Scientific Ghost City To Test Future Technology

Originally Posted by Sky News

A "world first" $1bn scientific ghost city will be built in New Mexico to test the latest next-generation technology.

Researchers will use the facility in Lea County, near Hobbs, to look at everything from intelligent traffic systems and next-generation wireless networks to automated washing machines and self-flushing toilets.

The town will be modelled on the real city of Rock Hill, South Carolina, complete with roads, houses and commercial buildings, old and new.

No one will live there, although they could as houses will include all the necessities, like appliances and plumbing.

The point of the town is to enable researchers to test new technologies on existing infrastructure without interfering in everyday life.

For instance, while some researchers will be testing smart technologies on old grids, others might be using the streets to test self-driving cars.

Hobbs Mayor Sam Cobb said: "It brings so many great opportunities and puts us on a world stage."

The city will be built by Pegasus Holdings and its New Mexico subsidiary, CITE Development.

The Centre for Innovation, Technology and Testing (CITE) is being billed as a first-of-its kind smart city that will be developed on about 15 square miles west of Hobbs.

Bob Brumley, senior managing director of Pegasus Holdings, said work on the city will begin by June 30.

The initial development cost is estimated at $400m, although Mr Brumley estimates the overall investment in the project to top $1bn.

The project is expected to create 350 permanent jobs and about 3,500 indirect jobs in its design, development, construction and ongoing operational phases.

[AnimeFan188]

"The Russian based “Pirate Pay” startup is promising the entertainment industry a
pirate-free future. With help from Microsoft, the developers have built a system that
claims to track and shut down the distribution of copyrighted works on BitTorrent.
Their first project, carried out in collaboration with Walt Disney Studios and Sony
Pictures, successfully stopped tens of thousands of downloads."

See:

http://torrentfreak.com/microsoft-fu...medium=twitter

[Seitsuki]

I thought it was the Pirate Bay and thought 'Noo! They've gone privateer on us!'

Then I remembered they're based in Sweden.

[aohige]

Originally Posted by Seitsuki

I thought it was the Pirate Bay and thought 'Noo! They've gone privateer on us!'

Then I remembered they're based in Sweden.

I just had the image of the Russians going... well... "Russian" on the copyright pirates the way they went "Russian" on the Somali pirates.

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

I'm guessing that didn't work out to well for the Somali pirates?