In tomorrow’s New York Times, I take a look at a new way of finding disease-related genes: search their ancient evolutionary history. Scientists can find genes involved in blood vessel growth in yeast–which have no blood. They can find genes that help build human embryos in plants, where they sense gravity. It’s a twist on a twist on Darwin’s great insights descent with modification. And I’m pleased to see that University of Chicago evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne, a tough audience if ever there was one, is swayed by the piece. So check it out!
Ever wonder about the origin of the District of Columbia?
Ever wonder why our nation’s capital is known as “Washington, District of Columbia”? Â And not Washington, MD? Â or even Washington, VA? Â Most Libertarians are of the “history buff” persuasion so we thought you might enjoy this article on the Constitutional and state legalities behind the name of our seat of government.
Submarine-Powerboat Hybrid Soon To Be On Sale For $3.5 Million [Boats]
Not even James Bond would scoff at the beautiful Hyper-Sub. After all, how could he not want to step foot onto a $3.5 million submersible powerboat? More »
A Wall Street Shade of Green
Futurism Now has just been moved from another server, which is why it disappeared for a couple of days. I’ve done website migration before before but for some reason it was a little more challenging this time. There might still be some link problems. Now I’m leaving town for a few days so FN won’t be updated much in the meantime.  And for some reason, there’s no climate change legislation news today because it wasn’t introduced in the Senate. Apparently the other two senators (Kerry and Lieberman) can’t function, for some reason, without Lindsay Graham, (who is pouting in the corner about immigration.)
And the huge amounts of oil leaking from the collapsed, exploded oil rig continues to pollute the water in the Gulf of Mexico, where it’s about 30 miles off the coast and threatening all life in its path. It’s almost too depressing to think about. Meanwhile, enjoy this “Earth Day” video of James Cameron, creator of Avatar, one of the most awesome environmental and anti-war movies ever made, at the climate rally in D.C. last Sunday. I recorded a large portion of the climate rally and will try to put it out in a podcast if I can find the time, because the music was great. I finally got to hear Joss Stone sing live, and since I’ve been watching her play Anne of Cleaves on The Tudors, (Showtime) it was a huge change to see her rocking with The Roots. (The “best band in the world!”)
Also recent, this article below, which I thought was notable last week. From the WSJ, no less. Are the old-school capitalism devotees getting it about climate change? Some are.
By William Ruckelshaus, first EPA administrator.
Today’s environmental challenges are far different from those of 40 years ago. And so, argues William Ruckelshaus, the solutions must change as well. —
A NEW SHADE OF GREEN
“In the 1960s, it all seemed so simple.
We humans with our big cars and our big factories and our big cities were discharging terrible stuff into the air and water, and it had to be stopped or we would soon make our nest uninhabitable. The public was growing increasingly outraged. Every night on color television, we saw yellow sludge flowing into blue rivers; every day as we drove to work, we saw black smudges against the barely visible blue sky. We knew that our indiscriminate use of pesticides and toxic substances was threatening wildlife and public health.
But we didn’t do much about it. Until 1970, most regulation of industry was done by the states, which competed so strongly for plants and jobs that regulating companies to protect public health was beyond them.
Environmentally, it was a race to the bottom.
Until, that is, the public had enough and demanded action. A seminal moment: the [...]
One Moment, I Need To Text My Microwave [Concept]
On my drive home, I'll send an SMS to my stove and tell it to start baking the cookies I left waiting. Of course, it won't really get or understand the message since this futuristic kitchen is only a concept. More »
New Inexpensive Material Will Turn Night Into Day [Night Vision]
The University of Florida—funded by DARPA—has found a film-thin material that will add inexpensive, lightweight night vision to everything, from gadgets to cameras to car windshields. The key was in the same technology that powers OLED displays. More »
Hang Up On That Driver [PSAs]
The discussion about graphic PSAs tends to get muddled with evaluations about whether or not the manner in which the idea is conveyed is appropriate or not, losing sight of the idea itself. So let's not do that! More »
Got Google Android for Google I/O
In the spirit of gadget reviews, I did get a free Google Android from Google I/O, but I don’t understand why I would want to use the Android when my iPhone already works fine without making noises or interrupting me with branding.
I do think that the Android is a great phone, but I don’t understand why its better than an iPhone.
My criteria for good:
- No branding
- No interruptions
- Reliably performs
- Easily replaceable
- Durable
- Runs web browser
- Phone works
- Complete control over the device without breaking it or paying for it or talking to anyone or reading anything complex or disclosing private information over its network and the device cannot be used against me in legal discovery
Google Apps on iPhone Safari are ridiculously good. Again: I don’t understand why automobile traffic isn’t consistently endangered as random people unexpectedly succumb to seizures of dysfunctional ecstasy because Google Apps just blew their minds. Google… Prole Phone? With ExTrA BuTtOnS!!!1? Dude, Gmail. Gmail is good. Just because something doesn’t make stupid noises doesn’t make it unworthy of your attention.
LED Lighting.
Just a heads up that we are 1 week into our test with our new low bay LED lights, the production team is finding no real difference in the LED lighting compared to T5 lights. however we did find that the optimal mounting height is 20 to 24 feet, witch may cause us a problem with our ceiling height.
What’s the Big Deal About iPads?
Apparently, it’s newsworthy that the medical office uses iPads. No, not really.
Um, we went to the store, paid $whatever, and then turned it on. Just like anybody else could. In fact, I didn’t even go to the store. Steve did that.
I don’t understand why people are so excited about who is buying iPads and why. Yes, iPads are useful tools, and I like them, but buying one doesn’t make you a genius. More importantly, an iPad isn’t going to somehow make your money my money in zero words or less which is my standard criteria to judge anything that isn’t somehow producing healthcare for patients. However, the iPad did seem effective at making my money Apple’s money before we even got an iPad, so that is impressive —for Apple.
The Hard Disk You’ve Been Waiting For [Ads]
42,000 Gallons of Oil a Day… | The Intersection
// CAMPBELL ROBERTSON and NEW ORLEANS — Coast Guard officials said Monday afternoon that the oil spill near Louisiana was now covering an area in the Gulf of Mexico of 48 miles by 39 miles at its widest points, and they have been unable to engage a mechanism that could shut off the well thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface.
More at the New York Times...
Post-It Assault Rifle: Not a Good Idea [Post-its]
I'm sure this concept design for a Post-It note dispenser shaped like a rifle is a joke, but I don't get it. I mean, how are you supposed to kill someone with Post-It notes?? It makes no sense! [Yanko Design] More »
NCBI ROFL: The teddy-bear effect: does having a baby face benefit black chief executive officers? | Discoblog
"Prior research suggests that having a baby face is negatively correlated with success among White males in high positions of leadership. However, we explored the positive role of such "babyfaceness" in the success of high-ranking Black executives. Two studies revealed that Black chief executive officers (CEOs) were significantly more baby-faced than White CEOs. Black CEOs were also judged as being warmer than White CEOs, even though ordinary Blacks were rated categorically as being less warm than ordinary Whites. In addition, baby-faced Black CEOs tended to lead more prestigious corporations and earned higher salaries than mature-faced Black CEOs; these patterns did not emerge for White CEOs. Taken together, these findings suggest that babyfaceness is a disarming mechanism that facilitates the success of Black leaders by attenuating stereotypical perceptions that Blacks are threatening. Theoretical and practical implications for research on race, gender, and leadership are discussed." Image: TotallyLooksLike.com Related content:
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Democrats and Republicans can be differentiated from their faces.
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Should the definition of micropenis vary according to ethnicity?
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Why Santa Claus shouldn't work in a lab WTF is NCBI ROFL? Read our FAQ!
Moving Ahead With the ISS National Lab
"NASA seeks to increase the utilization of the ISS by other federal entities and the private sector. To facilitate and increase such utilization of the ISS, NASA is providing access to the ISS for the conduct of basic and applied research, technology development and industrial processing (collectively, R&D) to U.S. federal, state and local government entities, and to U.S. private entities (including, but not limited to, commercial firms, non-profit institutions, and academic institutions) as part of the national laboratory."
DSLR-Equipped R/C Helicopter Captures HD Video From the Skies [Awesome Things]
Well, this is sweet. It's a remote-controlled helicopter with a Canon 7D strapped on board, allowing creator Eric Austin to capture some downright-badass pics and video. I want one, badly. [DIY Photography via Make] More »
Steam for Mac: I Want It More Everyday [Steam]
Fresh details on Steam for Mac, which is bursting my pants: It's fully native, using OpenGL—no wrappers—and is Intel only. It requires Leopard, and for Source games, a decent graphics card. No dates yet. =( [MacStories via MacRumors] More »
McAfee Will Reimburse Repairs For All Those PCs They Borked [Broken]
After shutting down countless PCs around the world last Wednesday with a botched update, McAfee has stepped up to offer reimbursement of "reasonable expenses" associated with repair. But that's not all! More »
Lost iPhone Case Heats Up: Cops Seize Gizmodo Editor’s Computers | Discoblog
Tech website Gizmodo's Jason Chen may have scored the industry's biggest scoop this month, with the exclusive on Apple's next generation iPhone 4G, but nothing could have prepared him for the aftermath. This morning we reported on rumors that the police were investigating Gizmodo's purchase, for $5,000, of the lost iPhone. Now, Gizmodo has revealed that Chen's home was broken into by California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team last Friday. The cops, part of a task force that investigates crimes related to high-tech businesses, proceeded to seize four computers and two servers from Chen's home. The cops were in possession of a warrant from a San Mateo judge, but Gawker Media, the company that owns Gizmodo, claims that the cops' warrant was invalid. Gawker argues that the search-and-seize action violates California's journalist shield law. In his original scoop, Chen dished the details on Apple’s upcoming phone using a prototype that the company bought from the mysterious person who found the device, which had been left behind in a bar by an Apple employee. Gizmodo then coughed up the $5,000 to get its hands on the phone--which has since been returned to Apple after the company's lawyers formally claimed it and asked for it ...
Unsurprisingly, Chinese iPad Knockoffs Are Here [Ipad]
With the iPad still not available overseas and demand high, it's not too surprising that there are knockoffs available in Shenzhen already. And hey, this one has three USB ports! Better than the original, amirite? More »
