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Preggers Bot Up on eBay Block
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Hot Deals, Misc. Tech, Science,
What costs $12,000, is pregnant, but will never give birth? That would be this audio-animatronic, custom designed female bot up for sale on eBay. She was originally designed to demonstrate ultrasound equipment but we guess that her owner no longer needs her services. The unnamed robot (we’ll just call her Mom,) can move her eyes, mouth, eyebrows, nod, turn, go up on her elbows, rotate, and curl her wrists. After programming, she could also sing to her unborn bot while moving.
If you are interested, the seller would be willing to send you a DVD of her performance. You had better hurry though, as the bidding is set to end September 2. Frankly, as talented as Mom appears to be, we can’t envision living with robotic hormones running rampant.
Read More 
| eBay
Gallery: Preggers Bot Up on eBay Block
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Researchers say that fruit flies may be attracted to and can taste carbon dioxide dissolved in water. Scientists at the University of California in Berkeley, in a study funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, one of the National Institutes of Health, believe that this may help the diminutive insects to look for overripe or potentially toxic foods.
“Fruit flies contain similar versions of many human genes, which is why we study them for a variety of health issues, including taste,” says James F. Battey Jr., director of the NIDCD. “This research raises the question of whether people also may have the ability to taste carbon dioxide and perhaps other chemicals in food. If this were found to be true, our sense of taste could be even more complex than we realize.”
The study also found that it may be used as merely a flavor enhancer since it offers no nutritional value to the fly. After we saw this view of one laying an egg, we immediately rinsed out our half-empty Cokes, twice.
Read More | NIH
Gallery: Fruit Flies Detect Carbon Dioxide
Russia Designs Shocking Water Cannon
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science,
Special Materials Ltd. is a Russian weapon company that has decided to create a portable water cannon. They are contemplating the idea of a “non-lethal weapon based on electro-hydrodynamical effect,” which means a sharp mini-electric shock in a jet of water. They say that the results are minor with little chance of injury. Excuse us, but doesn’t water plus electricity mean run away?
The first prototype of the CPS 2000 shot a half ounce of water at 200 feet per second, leaving a spot of about 12-inches diameter on a target which was about 12 feet away. The company is hoping that their eventual super soaker will fire 2 to 7 lbs. of water at a distance of 17 feet. We say, “Ouch!”
Read More | Gizmodo
Gallery: Russia Designs Shocking Water Cannon
2008 to Become The Year of the Frog?
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Science,
Our planet has about 6,000 species of amphibians that will become about 1/3 to 1/2 of that amount in our lifetime, according to Jeffrey Bonner, the chairman of Amphibian Ark. The U.S. based org is trying to raise $50 million to save them from extinction by declaring 2008 The Year of the Frog. The organization wants to establish 500 rescue facilities in places such as Africa and Latin America, where most of them now reside. Other frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and caecilians (worm-like amphibians) would be shipped to existing aquariums, zoos, etc.
Plans for promoting the Ark include discussing the plan at the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Budapest when it meets this week, booking Kermit the frog to show up at Times Square during the ball dropping ceremony in New York, and naming 2008’s Feb.29 “Leap Frog Day.”
Bonner says four species secrete a substance on their skin that “completely inhibited the transmissions of AIDS — they stopped AIDS cold. We’ve yet to unlock those mysteries. But if we have no more frogs to work with or lose the one species that holds the key, we will have lost something of immeasurable value.”
We have two suggestions right off the bat. Mr. Bonner, shouldn’t you try to save the frogs for the frogs’ sake, even if they have an additional bonus of being helpful in AIDS research? Let’s not forget that amphibians and reptiles are also used as food, so we should all promise to stay away from eating frogs legs and eye of newt potions.
Read More | USA Today
Gallery: 2008 to Become The Year of the Frog?
Franklin Image to Move in $100.00 Bills
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,
Look closely at the new $100.00 bills that will soon be issued (Oh sure, like we see a lot of those.) A new security thread, similar to those found on 1,000 Swedish kroners, sounds pretty eerie to us. Move the bill side to side and the micro-printing with tiny lenses allows you to see the image of Ben Franklin moving. Although holograms such as those on credit cards were considered for part of the design, the government felt they were not strong enough visual signals. Other features, such as pastel colors found on the recently released $10.00, $20.00, and $50.00 bills, will also be incorporated. For more information about the designs, visit The Bureau of Engraving and Printing online.
Read More | Yahoo News
Gallery: Franklin Image to Move in $100.00 Bills
Reseachers at Ohio State recently concluded a study that eating certain foods in specific colors may help you ward off colon cancer. Monica Giusti and her team found that anthocyanins, found in red, purple, and blue fruits and veggies can make a difference when added to your diet. Included in the list were grapes, radishes, purple corn, and elderberries.
The scientists fed rats, who had been induced with colon cancer cells, a diet of chokeberries and billberries which reduced signs of tumors by 60 and 70%. We remember reading not so long ago that you should look for brightly colored fruits such as strawberries and melon, but there is no way we are going to dine on eggplant.
Read More | USU Research News
Gallery: Think Purple Foods For Better Health
Google Sky Now Available
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Google, Internet, Science,
Who needs a planetarium when you can explore the Google Sky? With it you can view 200 million galaxies, 100 million stars, constellations, a supernova, and planets in motion. You can also see the heavens with over 120 high-res images from NASA’s Hubble telescope. All you need is a download of the current Google Earth, then click on the Sky button on the toolbar. Available in 13 languages, check out the Gallery and discover space from different sources on Earth. We think we would like to experience the Milky Way from Paris, even if it is only on our PC.
Read More | Google
Gallery: Google Sky Now Available
Planetarium-Tellurium Keeps Planets on Earth
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science,
If you want to keep an eye on our planet and everything that is going on around it, you might consider this Richard Mille Planetarium-Tellurium. It features the rotation of Earth and those of the moon, Mercury, Venus, and the sun. It has year, month, day, hour and minute indications with its perpetual calendar, and will display the seasons, equinoxes, solstices, and zodiac signs. Made of titanium, steel, brass, gold, silver, and red corundum, this is a one of a kind device with its asking price in seven figures, but you can catch it on display next month at the Temple of Time in Singapore if you happen to be going that way.
(Thanks, Mitch)
Read More | Watchismo
Gallery: Planetarium-Tellurium Keeps Planets on Earth
Bootleg Sniffing Dogs Receive Rewards
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Home Entertainment, Movies, Portable Audio / Video, Science,
Our props to Lucky and Flo, two honest-to-goodness DVD-sniffing dogs who received medals after ending a 6 month assignment in Malaysia. The two black labs managed to find 1.6 million illegal movie discs, three DVD replicating machines, and 97 compact disc burners, valued at $6 million. They even went as far as discovering some behind a false wall. Although they cannot tell real from bootleg, their handlers can. The canine cops will be traveling to New York, where they will strut their stuff in the Big Apple. We think the officials should have just given them some kibble and perhaps a copy of “Lady and The Tramp” for their reward.
Read More | Daily Mail
Gallery: Bootleg Sniffing Dogs Receive Rewards
First Space Hotel Planned for 2012
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
What began as an idea from former aerospace engineer Xavier Claramunt may become reality in 2012. Galactic Suite will be the first hotel in space and allows a round-the-world experience in only 80 minutes. Booking a room doesn’t come cheaply, as a 3-day stay will cost $4 million. While there, guests can wear velcro suits to crawl and stick around their pod/rooms and will be able to see sunrise 15 times a day. Claramunt, the company’s director, says that the hotel was created keeping in mind that each pod had to fit inside a rocket.
“It’s the bathrooms in zero gravity that are the biggest challenge,” says Claramunt. “How to accommodate the more intimate activities of the guests is not easy.”
Even if we had sufficient funding to travel to the posh resort, we think we will pass, as we get a bit nauseous just eating in revolving restaurants.
Read More | CNN
