I would love to do this

I don't have the guts but it would be really cool.

Earth's Radio Telescopes Combining Forces

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday January 15, @07:57AM

from the dark-side-of-the-moon dept.

Slatterz writes"I own a basic 70mm telescope, which I'm sure Galileo would have given his right arm for in 1609. In fact, this year marks exactly 400 years since Galileo first pointed a telescope at the skies — discovering the moons of Jupiter and helping to prove that the universe doesn't revolve around us. As a mark of respect, the United Nations has declared 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. Official festivities kick off this week in Paris and, to help start the celebrations, 17 radio telescopes in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas will track three quasars using something called "real-time Very Long Baseline Interferometry" — basically creating hi-res images by combining their data to simulate a telescope as large as the Earth. Sounds cool."

Smart Lighting: New LED Drops The 'Droop'

ScienceDaily (Jan. 15, 2009) — Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed and demonstrated a new type of light emitting diode (LED) with significantly improved lighting performance and energy efficiency.

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Video: Kinstore-Z robot is easily the world's most bizarre

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jan 15th 2009 at 6:14AM

Oh, we get it alright; Kintore-Z is a robot designed to compete in Japan's Baca RoboCup (baka means "fooolish" or "stupid" in Japanese). But that doesn't explain why the child is absently holding a toothbrush now does it? Click through for one of the strangest, most bizarre videos you'll ever see on Engadget... or anywhere else for that matter.

3 Cups of Coffee Increases Hallucinations

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday January 14, @11:37AM

from the but-they-ARE-out-to-get-me dept.

PearsSoap writes"The Telegraph and other sources are pointing out a study on 200 students which has found that a high caffeine intake can cause visual and auditory hallucinations, and can make people think that others are 'out to get them.' The abstract (and full version if you have access) is available. 'The volunteers were questioned about their caffeine intake from products including coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate bars and caffeine tablets.'"

Possible New Alzheimer's Treatment? Destroying Amyloid Proteins With Lasers

ScienceDaily (Jan. 14, 2009) — Researchers have found that a technique used to visualize amyloid fibers in the laboratory might have the potential to destroy them in the clinic. The technique involves zapping the fluorescently-tagged fibers with a laser, which can inhibit their growth and degrade them.

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In-Depth With the Windows 7 Public Beta

Posted by kdawson on Monday January 12, @08:06PM

from the ctrl-alt-del-makes-him-blink dept.

Dozer writes"With the Windows 7 public beta out, Ars Technica has an in-depth look at the release. There's praise for Windows 7's UI changes and polish as well much-needed changes to UAC, but also a warning that those who have problems with Vista won't like Windows 7 much better. 'If you couldn't stand Vista's UI (whether it's because you didn't like Explorer, Aero, Control Panel, UAC, or anything else), Windows 7 is unlikely to do much to help, as it builds on the same UI. If Vista's hardware demands were too steep, Windows 7 will likely cause you the same grief, as its hardware demands match. And if Vista didn't work with a program or device you need to use, Windows 7 will offer no salvation, as its compatibility is virtually identical.'"

Harjacking

Tech Companies That Won't Survive 2009

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday January 12, @01:30PM

from the in-a-blaze-of-glory dept.

buzzardsbay writes"Fresh off their annual market survey, eWEEK channel folks have compiled the list of tech vendors their readers think will fail, falter, or be sold off in 2009. It's important to note that these aren't the opinions of the magazine or its editors. The list comes from folks who work in IT, mostly technology resellers, who are out in the field selling, installing and maintaining this stuff. If there were ever canaries in the tech coal mine, they'd be these service and solution providers who live and die by the slightest shift in the markets. Some of the companies on this list, like Sun and AMD, are shocking because of their size. Others, like CA and Symantec, not so surprising."What other companies are headed for implosion, or should be if all were right with the universe?

Comet Lulin Is Moving Closer To Earth

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday January 12, @08:51AM

from the space-sparkles dept.

goran72 writes"The comet is swinging around the Sun and approaching the Earth. The photogenic Lulin has a bright tail and an "anti-tail". At its closest approach in February, Comet Lulin is expected to brighten to naked-eye visibility, reaching a magnitude of six."

Flying Car Ready To Take Off

Posted by timothy on Monday January 12, @06:42AM

from the fill-up-on-windshield-fluid-please dept.

ChazeFroy writes"The first flying automobile, equally at home in the sky or on the road, is scheduled to take to the air next month. If it survives its first test flight, the Terrafugia Transition, which can transform itself from a two-seater road car to a plane in 15 seconds, is expected to land in showrooms in about 18 months' time. Terrafugia claims it will be able to fly up to 500 miles on a single tank of unleaded petrol at a cruising speed of 115mph. Even at $200,000 per automobile, they have already received 40 orders."