Biological Circuits for Synthetic Biology

Members of the fast-growing "synthetic biology" research community are designing and constructing novel organisms and biologically-inspired systems -- or redesigning existing organisms and systems -- to solve problems that natural systems cannot. The range of potential applications for synthetic biological systems runs broad and deep, and includes such profoundly important ventures as the microbial-based production of advanced biofuels and inexpensive versions of critical therapeutic drugs.
synthetic biologists aim to create biological circuits that can be used for the safer and more efficient construction of increasingly complex functions in microorganisms. A central component of such circuits is RNA, the multipurpose workhorse. Full article here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110526103006.htm

So are the nanoparticles inside Alister so far fetched?
come to think of it, yes, it is sci-fi after all :-)
Download 'The Cloud Connection' ebook for the whole story.

Heartbeat of nanoparticles made visible

Heartbeat of Nanoparticles Made Visible

ScienceDaily (June 2, 2011) — Even tiny gold nanoparticles, with a diameter of only 40 millionths of a millimeter, have something like a heartbeat. When focusing a short laser pulse on the particles they heat up very briefly and start to vibrate. But even the best microscopes can not resolve these nanoparticles, which are therefore very difficult to study.

The Janus Supercomputer uses Gold and other Noble metal nanoparticles tracked by a laser array as part of its quantum processing.

Structure and Operation of the Quantum Supercomputer
The core of the processing within the Janus Supercomputer is based upon Shors algorithm using photonic quantum gates.
Janus is the first and only quantum supercomputer to be 80% liquid: a liquid that actually generates and recycles up to thirty five percent of its own energy whilst in operation. There is no memory, CPU or hard drive. The liquid quantum supercomputer contains a suspension of Rare-earth – d-transition-metal compounds, particles of diamond, gold, silicon and tetragonal compounds. These are used to trigger quantum calculations.

(from 'An Introduction to Janus' Howards, Earl and Phillips. Montclair University.

BBC News - Are there criminals hiding in the cloud?

BBC News - Are there criminals hiding in the cloud?
"-are we making it too easy for criminals to get hold of our information?
When over 100 million people's details were garnered illegally from Sony recently, users were up in arms about their prized information being leaked."
Perhaps they should read 'Cloud' d try to keep up.

New algorithm offers ability to influence systems such as living cells or social networks

New algorithm offers ability to influence systems such as living cells or social networks
"an MIT researcher has come up with a new computational model that can analyze any type of complex network -- biological, social or electronic -- and reveal the critical points that can be used to control the entire system.

Potential applications of this work, which appears as the cover story in the May 12 issue of Nature, include reprogramming adult cells and identifying new drug targets, says study author Jean-Jacques Slotine, an MIT professor of mechanical engineering and brain and cognitive sciences.

It's not a great leap of the imagination to envisage nanoparticles inserted into the nervous system and linked to a super-computer that can send instructions to trigger the release of neuro-chemicals or accelerate healing and reactions.

Nano particles and nanocomputers with programming informed by neuroscience and genetics are becoming the major shaper of the way we will communicate and interact with computer systems and information networks.

Jaden Smith as Alister?

One reviewer suggested Jaden Smith would be the ideal actor to play the part of Alister. Considering the age difference, Jaden's people would.have to buy the rights and shelve production for 3-4 years until Jaden's old enough to play the part. Come to think of it, Jaden Smith's experience on Karate Kid is ideal preparation for Jaden to play Alister.

Jaden Smith.

Image SpreePix-Berlin.
Distributed under Creative commons license

El Tiede

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Convective Turbulence

Researching three areas today:
Volcanic regions in France that could activate due to contractive effects of Big Freeze and landslides caused by The Flood.
Also looking into convective turbulence.
And finally, UAVs and air to air missile systems. Who's building what and selling to who.

Credence headsets just got a bit closer

Trying on the headsets that can read your mind - New Scientist - New Scientist

First Comprehensive Gene Map of the Human Brain: More Than 90 Percent Similarity Among Humans

ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2011) — The Allen Institute for Brain Science has released the world's first anatomically and genomically comprehensive human brain map, a previously unthinkable feat made possible through leading-edge technology and more than four years of rigorous studies and documentation. The unprecedented mappings are the foundation for the Allen Human Brain Atlas, an online public resource developed to advance the Institute's goal to accelerate understanding of how the human brain works and fuel new discovery among the global research community.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110412121238.htm

You can find the PDF Press Release Here

Physicists Discover New Way to Visualize Warped Space and Time

ScienceDaily (Apr. 11, 2011) — When black holes slam into each other, the surrounding space and time surge and undulate like a heaving sea during a storm. This warping of space and time is so complicated that physicists haven't been able to understand the details of what goes on -- until now.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110411092750.htm

Toward a computer model of the brain: New technique poised to untangle brain's complexity

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110410181302.htm
ScienceDaily (2011-04-10) -- Scientists have moved a step closer to being able to develop a computer model of the brain after developing a technique to map both the connections and functions of nerve cells in the brain together for the first time.

Solar System TV

Brian Cox's 'Wonders of the Solar System is just a bloody wonderful documentary.

Sarah Sanders, local resident tells us her experience of the night.

I first got wind something was up while I was walking home from West Finchley station. I could hear a helicopter hovering over a house. It seemed to be in our street. When I turned the corner, there was a car and a black van blocking the road, both with policemen inside, blocking the street. They wouldn’t let me pass, even though I told them I lived in the street and had to let the dog out. They were very serious and wouldn’t tell me what was going on. Then a BBC news van pulled up and I asked the sound lady what was going on and she told me that earlier in the day, a teenager had hacked into some army systems while he was on a train and MI5 had tracked him down to a house in my street.

Eventually the police let me through and I followed the BBC news crew to a house where they interviewed these two students.

I don’t think they’ve broadcast the interview because of some official secrets thing.