Emergent Futures Tumblelog

From Minnie to Mickey (and all they did was turn off a...

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:33:21 -0500

From Minnie to Mickey (and all they did was turn off a gene)

One of the great dogmas of biology is that gender is fixed from birth, determined by the inheritance of certain genes on the X and Y sex chromosomes. But this simplistic idea has been exploded by the latest study, which demonstrated that fully-developed adult females can undergo a partial sex change following a genetic modification to a single gene.

Darpa’s Cyborg Insect Spies, Now Nuclear-Powered Cornell...

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:31:25 -0500

Darpa’s Cyborg Insect Spies, Now Nuclear-Powered

Cornell researchers working on the program unveiled a prototype transmitter for the cyborg bugs that runs on radioactive isotopes

Using Airplane Know-how to Harness Wave Energy This is the view...

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:26:37 -0500

Using Airplane Know-how to Harness Wave Energy

This is the view looking into the test section of the U.S. Air Force Academy water tunnel. Three blades of a cycloidal turbine — part of a new wave energy system — are visible at the far end. Engineer Stefan Siegel and his colleagues test the turbine in the tunnel under conditions that emulate shallow-water waves. Wave energy isn’t new, but Siegel and his Academy colleagues are the first to apply their aerodynamics training to the problem.

Nine European Nations Vow to Create Supergrid for Sharing...

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:56:36 -0500

Nine European Nations Vow to Create Supergrid for Sharing Offshore Wind Power

The Copenhagen announcement would allow nine European countries to share a common renewable energy source

Machine Learning with Quantum Algorithms “Many Google...

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:54:13 -0500

Machine Learning with Quantum Algorithms

“Many Google services we offer depend on sophisticated artificial intelligence technologies such as machine learning or pattern recognition. If one takes a closer look at such capabilities one realizes that they often require the solution of what mathematicians call hard combinatorial optimization problems. It turns out that solving the hardest of such problems requires server farms so large that they can never be built.

A new type of machine, a so-called quantum computer, can help here.”

25 Products That Might Just Change The World Emily Pilloton is...

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:50:43 -0500

25 Products That Might Just Change The World

Emily Pilloton is the founder and executive director of Project H Design, a nonprofit that aims to change the world through the power of design. Her recent book, Design Revolution: 100 Products That Empower People, is available now from Metropolis Books. Here, Pilloton gives the lowdown on 25 of the products she chose to feature.

"‘If the love of your life walks past you and you’re too engrossed in work to notice, StreetSpark..."

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:43:26 -0500

“‘If the love of your life walks past you and you’re too engrossed in work to notice,...

Stem Cells Can be Engineered into Genetic Vaccines Against HIV...

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:22:39 -0500

Stem Cells Can be Engineered into Genetic Vaccines Against HIV and More

While some viruses attack the lungs, and others the blood, HIV attacks the only system that could put up a fight: the immune system itself. The immune system mounts some defense, but after HIV launches its surprise attack, the body simply can’t produce enough killer T blood cells to take out the virus.

Now, thanks to researchers at UCLA, it’s payback time for the blood cells. A team of scientists have plucked T-cells out of someone infected with HIV, and used them as a template for creating an army of HIV-fighting immune cells out of stem cells. Essentially a genetic vaccine, this technique could be used to copy T-cells designed to fight any virus, opening up the possibility of universal vaccination via stem cell implantation.

Work the New Digital Sweatshops When hurricane Katrina struck...

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:20:44 -0500

Work the New Digital Sweatshops

When hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, the Red Cross announced a toll-free telephone hotline to help victims and their families find each other. The hotline was quickly swamped. So the Red Cross turned to a little-known firm called -LiveOps, a company that recruits call agents from around the world and directs their tasks entirely through the Internet. Within three hours, it had arranged for 300 people to staff the phones. A few days later, the freelance agents had processed more than 17,000 calls.

Brain scan reveals who will keep their promises New-found...

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:36:15 -0500

Brain scan reveals who will keep their promises

New-found patterns in brain activity can reveal whether someone intends to keep their word.

The finding raises the possibility of using brain scans to determine the true intentions of criminals who are up for early release on parole, according to Thomas Baumgartner of the University of Zurich in Switzerland.

"Copenhagen, however, began last month to create the real thing: a system of as many as 15..."

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:31:30 -0500

“Copenhagen, however, began last month to create the real thing: a system of as many as 15...

VeriFone Rushes To Announce Square Competitor

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:09:39 -0500

VeriFone Rushes To Announce Square Competitor

Nanoparticle Protects Oil in Foods from Oxidation, Spoilage

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:07:06 -0500

Nanoparticle Protects Oil in Foods from Oxidation, Spoilage: Using a nanoparticle from corn, a...

Professor Karl Moore Interviews Michael Porter on the changing...

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:44:53 -0500

Professor Karl Moore Interviews Michael Porter on the changing nature of business in the community, especially discussing connections, reputation and the changing standard of community expectations

"I never worry about action, but only inaction. - Winston Churchill http://bit.ly/4PqjuA"

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:00:06 -0500

“I never worry about action, but only inaction. - Winston Churchill...

fred-wilson: Urs Fischer at the New Museum on the Bowery in...

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:58:01 -0500

fred-wilson:

Urs Fischer at the New Museum on the Bowery in NYC

smartercities: electricpower: Nissan LEAF Electric Car on the...

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:55:17 -0500

smartercities:

electricpower:

Nissan LEAF Electric Car on the Streets of San Francisco by 2010

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that Nissan would be bringing its all-electric LEAF, to the Bay Area market in 2010. Speaking on behalf of the Bay Area Electric Vehicle (EV) Corridor program, Newsom said Nissan will work with San Francisco and the Bay Area to promote and build-out an EV charging infrastructure, including development of a streamlined process for customer installation of charging equipment in their homes.

“Nissan is committed to the San Francisco market and is looking forward to working with the city and others in the partnership to make zero emissions a reality throughout the Bay Area,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Nissan North America. Piquing the interest of anyone in the Bay Area who is a little EV-curious, Carolin added: “In one year, Nissan LEAF zero-emission vehicles will be driving on the streets of San Francisco.”

Gas 2.0

Pfizer inks deal for new drugmaking technology

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:26:10 -0500

Pfizer inks deal for new drugmaking technology: Pfizer Inc. will spend up to $115 million for rights...

Brain Implant Cuts Seizures Epilepsy patients who don’t...

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:21:26 -0500

Brain Implant Cuts Seizures

Epilepsy patients who don’t respond to drugs may soon have a new option.

Batteries Made from Regular Paper A dip in nanotube ink turns...

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:19:00 -0500

Batteries Made from Regular Paper

A dip in nanotube ink turns ordinary office paper into a high-energy electrode.