Beach at Placencia, Belize. Photo by Tim Rock. |
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
New Theory Doesn’t Limit Consciousness To The Brain
This in from Science News: "Each split second of awareness is a unified, holistic experience, completely different from any experience before or after it."
Giulio Tononi intuited a powerful new theory of consciousness, a theory based on the flow of information and his theory defines consciousness as the capacity of a system — any system — to connect and use that information.
Tononi’s idea extends beyond humans. By moving from nerve cells to the math that describes them, he has broken the theory of consciousness away from the physical brain. His equations can fit any system. With the right calculations, scientists could test whether a tornado with its innumerable dust particles circling in unison, 2050’s iPhone or the trillions of megabytes of information zooming around the Internet could have some degree of consciousness. Personally, I've always wondered whether stars or other celestial bodies could be conscious. Under this notion they certainly could be tested.
Giulio Tononi intuited a powerful new theory of consciousness, a theory based on the flow of information and his theory defines consciousness as the capacity of a system — any system — to connect and use that information.
Tononi’s idea extends beyond humans. By moving from nerve cells to the math that describes them, he has broken the theory of consciousness away from the physical brain. His equations can fit any system. With the right calculations, scientists could test whether a tornado with its innumerable dust particles circling in unison, 2050’s iPhone or the trillions of megabytes of information zooming around the Internet could have some degree of consciousness. Personally, I've always wondered whether stars or other celestial bodies could be conscious. Under this notion they certainly could be tested.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Why Everything Is Connected To Everything Else, Explained In 100 Seconds
The underlying theme of this blog is that everything is connected. Here is physicist Brian Cox prooving it.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Man Who Prints Houses
3D printing is all the rage these days. Ten years ago it was in its infancy and was the province of university labs. The equipment was expensive and enormous and only printed out fragile plastic toys.
Today the technology is starting to come on line for the rest of us. MakerBot Industries will sell you a machine for about a grand that will allow you to print out 3D plastic items from your home computer. Other companies are developing printers that use metal.
Now, here comes Enrico Dini. He is developing a machine that will use sand and print out a house. Don't believe me? Here's a video............
The Man Who Prints Houses Trailer from Marc Webb on Vimeo.
Today the technology is starting to come on line for the rest of us. MakerBot Industries will sell you a machine for about a grand that will allow you to print out 3D plastic items from your home computer. Other companies are developing printers that use metal.
Now, here comes Enrico Dini. He is developing a machine that will use sand and print out a house. Don't believe me? Here's a video............
The Man Who Prints Houses Trailer from Marc Webb on Vimeo.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Is That A Faster Than Light Neutrino I See, Or Is Your Cable Just Loose?
After all the hoopla about Einstein being wrong about the speed-of-light thing, it's looking like it may have just been a loose cable that caused scientists to think that neutrinos might be going faster than photons.
Here's a link to the Reuters' article on this "breakthrough." CERN will be running tests on this in May. In the article it stated that the possible error "concerns the optical fiber connector that brings the external GPS signal to the OPERA master clock, which may not have been functioning correctly when the measurements were taken," said CERN. "If this is the case, it could have led to an underestimate of the time of flight of the neutrinos."
Such a shame...just when I was ready to book that trip back to the Renaissance to help Leonardo get that helicopter thing working..
Here's a link to the Reuters' article on this "breakthrough." CERN will be running tests on this in May. In the article it stated that the possible error "concerns the optical fiber connector that brings the external GPS signal to the OPERA master clock, which may not have been functioning correctly when the measurements were taken," said CERN. "If this is the case, it could have led to an underestimate of the time of flight of the neutrinos."
Such a shame...just when I was ready to book that trip back to the Renaissance to help Leonardo get that helicopter thing working..
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Robert Davidovitz's "Woven Paint" Series
These beautiful "paintings" are created from "thread" made of extruded paint that is then woven into tapestries. They are the creation of Robert Davidovitz and here is a link to an interview with the artist and a slideshow of his work.
Monday, February 20, 2012
The History of the Universe: From Big Bang to Big Blah
Here's the progression from:
BIG BANG
BIG BANG
To now-ish.............
To the distant future............
Tell me true; don't you feel better now you know how it's all going to turn out?
From Scientific American.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Fun Time
I love Jack White and The White Stripes. Obviously, I'm not the only one. Here are students from The Blast Lab at Imperial College, London, a place where scientists study how explosions affect the human skeleton, performing "Seven Nation Army" on the lab's equipment.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Hobbyist Excavates Basement With RC Model Construction Equipment
Yeah and I thought I knew what nutz was. This is guy takes it to a whole new level. Here's some video. Here's his YouTube website in case you might want to watch a 13 minute clip of this action.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Circuit Playground
I'm not usually hawking apps on my blog here, but this one just caught my eye. A few years back I decided to start building guitar amps. I've been playing for over 40 years and building an amp had been a teenage dream. So what if I waited until my 50's to make good on it? Now comes this great app for designing circuits.
As the iTunes app store description says, "Circuit Playground simplifies electronics reference & calculation so you can have more fun hacking, making, & building your projects!"
Here's a partial list of its functions:
Decipher resistor & capacitor codes with ease
Calculate power, resistance, current, and voltage with the Ohm's Law & Power Calc modules
Quickly convert between decimal, hexadecimal, binary or even ASCII characters
Calculate values for multiple resistors or capacitors in series & parallel configurations
Store, search, and view PDF datasheets
Now, if they only had tube information on it.
Only $2.99 at the App Store.
As the iTunes app store description says, "Circuit Playground simplifies electronics reference & calculation so you can have more fun hacking, making, & building your projects!"
Here's a partial list of its functions:
Decipher resistor & capacitor codes with ease
Calculate power, resistance, current, and voltage with the Ohm's Law & Power Calc modules
Quickly convert between decimal, hexadecimal, binary or even ASCII characters
Calculate values for multiple resistors or capacitors in series & parallel configurations
Store, search, and view PDF datasheets
Now, if they only had tube information on it.
Only $2.99 at the App Store.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Whole Earth
Nasa has recently offered two striking new views of the whole earth as seen from space. Here they are and here is how they made the images.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Bamboo Bicycle
Here's a neat
idea: make a bicycle from
bamboo. Only don't use any
machines to make it.
Have it grow into the shapes
you need!
idea: make a bicycle from
bamboo. Only don't use any
machines to make it.
Have it grow into the shapes
you need!
“Consumption of raw materials has lasting implications – economically, socially and environmentally. This vehicle is about rethinking our approach to both design and ecological sustainability of the products we create and use,” said Alexander Vittouris, the bikes designer. Instead of depending on the energy of factories to shape material into the form of a car, Vittouris’ design relies on nature for that energy.
To read more: The Ajiro Bike is Grown From the Ground Up on Inhabit
To read more: The Ajiro Bike is Grown From the Ground Up on Inhabit
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Fun Time!
Artist Jeff Meadows did a great custom paint job on his shoes! From an interview with him on Illustration Mundo.
Friday, February 10, 2012
40 Tiny Homes
This is from Tiny House Blog. Click on the previous link and you go to a page with 40 pictures of tiny homes. Each picture will take you to a full description of the house.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Japanese Apartment Tour
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in, say, Tokyo? Well then, here's something cool. This is a short look inside a Japanese apartment. Very clean, very organized and just right for one person.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Why French Parents Are Superior
I never thought I'd be writing that headline on the blog, but if the Wall Street Journal says it, it must be so.
In truth it comes down to some simple ideas.
1. Children need rituals.
2a. Children need their own space. Respect it.
2b. Children need to know you have your own space and respect it.
3. Children need to make their own mistakes.
4. Don't hover over your kids trying to make everything "alright."
Read the article. If you disagree, don't have kids or you'll be part of the problem. If you agree, have kids. You can be part of the solution.
In truth it comes down to some simple ideas.
1. Children need rituals.
2a. Children need their own space. Respect it.
2b. Children need to know you have your own space and respect it.
3. Children need to make their own mistakes.
4. Don't hover over your kids trying to make everything "alright."
Read the article. If you disagree, don't have kids or you'll be part of the problem. If you agree, have kids. You can be part of the solution.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Living On The Beach In A Pop-Up Trailer In Mexico
Those words in the title almost sound like magic, don't they? Well, in this blog, Small House Revolution, two sane adults get rid of half their belongings, ditch their rental house and pick up the kids and go to Mexico for five months, live on the beach, homeschool their kids and generally live the dream. I'm not going to bother writing more drivel about them and their wonderful adventure. Click on the link, find out for yourself.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
40 Tiny Houses in 40 Days
Jay Shafer is the founder of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company and is the author of the self published “The Small House Book.” He has an interesting blog on his website and recently he decided to post photos and descriptions of 40 tiny homes in 40 days.
"I’ve been shooting pictures of other folk’s tiny houses for over a decade now. While I’ve put some of my images in The Small House Book, I’ve still got some more stuff I should put out there. Here, then, are a few of my favorites- some new, some old."
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
POD House
Swiss design firm ROB GmbH has come up with a simple low-impact housing solution. The POD house was originally designed to be used at Swiss ski resorts, but makes a great basic unit for a tiny home.
There are several configurations and without solar panels, start at just under $11,000.
There are several configurations and without solar panels, start at just under $11,000.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
TechShop
TechShop is a member-based workshop. They have one of every tool you could dream of -- laser cutters, plasma torches, computer-control sewing machines, welders, 3D printing machines, you name it -- plus piles of regular tools (drill presses, lathes, oscilloscopes, miter saws etc.), and once you are member and cleared for training, you can use them whenever you want. They have a big open tables, lots of room, and offer classes for various tool craft as well.
Right now there are only locations in San Fransisco, San Jose and Menlo Park, California and Detroit MI and Raliegh-Durham, NC. I imagine if enough people want one they'll start one in your area. Just don't hope for Washington, DC: all we make here is trouble.
Right now there are only locations in San Fransisco, San Jose and Menlo Park, California and Detroit MI and Raliegh-Durham, NC. I imagine if enough people want one they'll start one in your area. Just don't hope for Washington, DC: all we make here is trouble.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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