Scientists create Synthetic DNA!
by Muhammad on January 28, 2008
in Uncategorized
The move, which comes after five years of research, is seen as the penultimate stage in the endeavor to create an artificial life form based entirely on a man-made DNA genome — something which has tantalized scientists and sci-fi writers for years.
“Through dedicated teamwork we have shown that building large genomes is now feasible and scalable so that important applications such as biofuels can be developed,” said Hamilton Smith, from the J. Craig Venter Institute, in the study published in Science.
The research has been carried out at the laboratories of the controversial celebrity scientist Craig Venter, who has hailed artificial life forms as a potential remedy to illness and global warming.
However, the prospect of engineering artificial life forms is highly controversial and is likely to arouse heated debate over the ethics and potential ramifications of such an advance.
I was thinking of Aldous Huxley’s brave New World as soon as I read the Title of this article. Given mankind’s recent tendency towards wars and lust for power, I can only guess as to where this will go when it falls into the wrong hands. The way corporations had rushed to patent every little change they made in the DNA of organisms, I’m thinking the next step would be exactly what was mentioned in a Brave New World.
A world where you can order a fully customised labourer, complete with no ambition for authority, intelligence capped at a particular level to ensure optimal functionality for the task he was bought for and unable to think further than what he /she was created to do.
I hope mankind, has some sense of responsibility with this.
Technorati Tags: Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, DNA, Scientists, Responsibility
American McGee’s Alice to be made into Movie!
by Muhammad on January 26, 2008
in Uncategorized
This is going to be Brilliant! I loved the game and the twisted tale of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland. I hope they don’t dissapoint.
The Movie’s being developed by Sarah Michelle Gellar.
The World is Not Enough, Dubai Goes After the Universe
by Muhammad on January 26, 2008
in Uncategorized
Dubai’s premier property development company, Nakheel has just completed its ambitious project to build “The World” islands, but not content, their next offshore development project plans to take over ““The Universe.” This will feature man-made islands in the shape of the Sun, Moon, with the planets in between. It’s controversial because environmentalists say the developments are wreaking havoc on marine life and the coral reefs, although Nakheel claims that they will invest money to maintain sustainable marine development.
I’m just wondering where the development will stop.
Links 26-01-2008
by Muhammad on January 26, 2008
in Uncategorized
First… for the Workers…
How to Deliver a Presentation Like Steve Jobs
7 Essential Tips for Freelancers
Next… The Bloggers…
Optimising Performance for WordPress Blogs
Thirdly… The g33k5…
Basic Concepts in Science: A List
And Finally… something we all need…
24 Ways to Achieve a Deep Uninterrupted Sleep
Links 25-01-08
by Muhammad on January 25, 2008
in Uncategorized
1) Clash of cultures: the screaming minarets of Oxford
A plan to call Muslims to prayer with a loudspeaker has divided opinion in Britain’s oldest university town.
2) ‘Is he a good Muslim?’
A Jo’burg imam allegedly ran a lucrative illegal marriage scam for months from an office at his mosque in Joburg. – Basically he lured women into thinking they were getting jobs, and eventually they ended up married to Pakistanis.
3)Are Facebook Applications A Privacy Disaster In The Making?
4) “Rambo”
Just when we though we’ve seen the last of Rambo, Stallone Acts, Directs and wrote the script for the new one which takes place in Myanmar
And finally… for the g33k5!
Technorati Tags: Links
The Worlds Loneliest Prada Store.
this is ‘prada marfa’, an unusual building located in the desert near marfa, texas on an otherwise desolate stretch of highway 90. behind the glass a selection of shoes and bags, presumably more expensive than the structure itself, have sat untouched since 2005.
very few people have ever been inside prada marfa and money has never been handed over inside the premises as it’s actually a spooky piece of art / clever promotional stunt erected by michael elmgreen and ingar dragset, 2 berlin artists seemingly intent on playing with the public’s minds.
from the artists…
‘..the combination of a vast, open desert landscape in an un-populated area and a luxury goods store is completely unthinkable. nature suits fashion as a visual backdrop, as one often sees in advertisement. the minimal, corporate prada design and the desolate surrounding ranch land make a great impression together, but simultaneously the two forces also render each other useless.’
Technorati Tags: Prada, Lonely
Life on Mars???
A Chinese website is claiming to have found photographic proof of aliens on Mars. The picture, found after thoroughly analyzing photos taken by NASA’S Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, seems to show a figure walking across the Martian landscape.
According to The Daily Mail, the internet has been “abuzz” with speculation as to what this may or may not be. Cries of “Proof!”, “Shopped!”, “Optical illusion!”, and “Bigfoot!” have been heard, echoing across the tubes. A larger, 43MB panoramic version can be found here.
Life on Mars? Amazing photos from Nasa probe reveal mystery figure on Red Planet [Daily Mail]
Link
UPDATE: But what is it? Just a rock, astronomers say.
It’s hard enough to accurately recognize figures and faces across the room. Mars, depending on when you measure it, is about 35 million miles away. The best telescopes aren’t of much help in determining surface features, and that’s why NASA sent robots with cameras to Mars.
The reason many people see a figure on the Martian landscape is the same reason that people see faces in clouds, Rorschach blots, and coffee stains. This phenomenon, called pareidolia, is well known in psychology, and it is the cause of many supposedly mysterious and miraculous events (including the famous “Jesus in the Tortilla”). Examples are all around us; in fact if you have a New Hampshire state quarter, you have pareidolia in your pocket or purse (take a look).
Technorati Tags: Little green Men, Mars, Photo, Life
Scientific Pick-up Lines
by Muhammad on January 20, 2008
in Uncategorized
New Scientist‘s Feedback column ran a compo “Flirt with science” in December, where they invited readers to submit science-related chatup lines.
They’ve published the winning chat-up lines, which absolutely rock, If you’re a g33k like I am and love all things absurd and scientific.
Would there be any resistance if I asked to take you ohm? Emma Byrne, London, UK
I love the way you smell so different from my dad. Toshi Knell, Nowra, New South Wales, Australia
– I dont get this one.
Would kissing you increase global warming and damage the Arctic irreversibly, or is it just enough to break the ice? Andy McCready, Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK
I’ve had my ion you. Gary Duffala, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, US
Baby, you must be a start codon because you are turnin’ me on. Jessica Swanson, Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada
I don’t wish to brag, but in several parallel universes I invented the internet, warned the world about global warming, ran for president and won the Nobel peace prize. Yonatan Silver, Jerusalem, Israel
Hello, I’ve just taken part in the clinical trial of a new drug to help memory loss; could you tell me, do I come here often?
John French, Wellington, Somerset, UK
You are definitely the woman of my REM phase. Giuliano Aluffi, Milan, Italy
Er… hello… um… er. Oh look! Our shoes have similar spectral characteristics. Jon White, Rampton, Cambridgeshire, UK
Meiosis? Kirstie Brogan Grace, Grays, Essex, UK (from a convent school!!)
I think it’s a good way to find a future significant other who has at least some intelligence :P
Interesting Work Email…
by Muhammad on January 18, 2008
in Uncategorized
How fast would you jump from your seat if she was talking about your car???
From: Naude, Chantelle
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 9:52 AM
To: _ml_am_Unilever-ZA-all-ridge-users
Subject: Would the driver of a VW Polo, ND 560-0XX, please proceed to your vehicle as it is not stationary
LOL, shame… apparently this happens occasionally at the office, last year an Audi rolled and fell over the edge of a platform face down in the company garden.
Technorati Tags: Work Email, Car, Not Stationary
Britney Spears may convert to Islam???
Spears and her new British-born man Adnan Ghalib
“U.S. pop star Britney Spears is allegedly so in love with her new Muslim man she’s considering converting to Islam to marry him, British press reports revealed.”
Full story here.
Ummm… Well, if she does… good for her! At least its a positive step this time.
