Sunday, June 30, 2013
Bitcoin Black Market Competition Heats Up
"Bitcoin Black Market Competition Heats Up, With Pro Marketing And Millions At Stake"
Friday, June 28, 2013
[Off topic] Hsieh Forbes OpEd on the ObamaCare PR Blitz
[Off topic]: Forbes recently published my latest health care OpEd, "4 Questions To Ask During The Upcoming ObamaCare Public Relations Blitz".
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Light Blogging Notice
Admin note: Blogging might be light until next week due to external obligations.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Nanoscopic Data Storage
"Scientists create nanoscopic data storage using graphene 'paper' and electron 'ink'"
In Space, No One Can Hear Your Takeout Order
New Yorker: "In Space, No One Can Hear Your Takeout Order"
From the article:
From the article:
In April, six people entered a geodesic dome, just thirty-six feet in diameter, perched on the barren, reddish slopes of the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa. They will be there until August, simulating that they are living on Mars. Their mission: to eat.
While humans are decades away from potentially becoming an invasive species on Mars, it’s not too soon for NASA to think about how astronauts will feed themselves when they arrive. A question like “How much water is needed to make a beef tagine?” must be answered by engineers well in advance.(Via Charlie Martin.)
Funded by NASA’s Human Research Program, the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation’s four-month mission is to compare classic astronaut fare of pre-made, prepackaged meals to a new system that allows for combining a limited number of shelf-stable ingredients...
The Most Famous Brand From Every State
"This Map Shows The Most Famous Brand From Every State".
Click on image to see full size version. Go Coors! (Via J.A.)
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Click on image to see full size version. Go Coors! (Via J.A.)
Monday, June 24, 2013
Single Photograph Looks Like 4 Individual Photographs
"Single photograph looks like 4 individual photographs"
From one angle.
From a slightly different second angle.
From one angle.
From a slightly different second angle.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
CA Cracks Down on Bitcoin
"California's Department of Financial Institutions decided to issue a cease and desist warning to conference organizer Bitcoin Foundation for allegedly engaging in the business of money transmission without a license or proper authorization."
James Bamford on "Five myths about the National Security Agency" (Washington Post, 6/21/2013).
His list:
His list:
1. The NSA is allowed to spy on everyone, everywhere.
2. The courts make sure that what the NSA does is legal.
3. Congress has a lot of oversight over the NSA.
4. NSA agents break into foreign locations to steal codes and plant bugs.
5. Snowden could have aired his concerns internally rather than leaking the documents.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tracking You With Browser Fingerprinting
"The Web Cookie Is Dying. Here's The Creepier Technology That Comes Next".
Related: How unique - and trackable -- is your browser? (Via Vik R.)
Related: How unique - and trackable -- is your browser? (Via Vik R.)
Super-Hydrophobic Spray Makes Your Stuff Liquid-Proof
"Super-Hydrophobic Spray Makes All Your Stuff Liquid-Proof"
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
New Map Of Universe
"A New 3D Map of the Universe Covers More Than 100 Million Light-Years".
Update: Link was broken, now fixed!
Update: Link was broken, now fixed!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
How "Sailing Stones" Move Themselves
"Scientist Figures Out How Those Big-Ass 'Sailing Stones' Move Themselves Across Death Valley"
Ancient Roman Concrete Will Revolutionize Modern Architecture
"Ancient Roman Concrete Is About to Revolutionize Modern Architecture"
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Whole Genome Scans Revealing Too Much?
NPR: "Whole Genome Scans Could Reveal Too Much".
I agree there are challenges for both doctors and patients dealing with new information that could change their medical management. But in the long run, I believe this could be an enormous benefit for patients.
I agree there are challenges for both doctors and patients dealing with new information that could change their medical management. But in the long run, I believe this could be an enormous benefit for patients.
American CyberWar?
Wired: "NSA Snooping Was Only the Beginning. Meet the Spy Chief Leading Us Into Cyberwar".
Detailed story by James Bamford.
Detailed story by James Bamford.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Caffeine Withdrawal Disorder
How to cope with the newly defined condition of "caffeine withdrawal" disorder.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Mataconis: Is Technology Outstripping the Ability of Law to Protect Us?
Doug Mataconis asks a good question in his PJMedia piece, "Is Technology Outstripping the Ability of Law to Protect Us?"
9 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do Online
"9 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do Online". (Via Trey P.)
Monday, June 10, 2013
Bayes And DNA
Slate on DNA math: "If police find a genetic 'match,' that doesn't mean they have the right suspect".
Snowden's Motives?
Forbes has this roundup: "Why NSA IT Guy Edward Snowden Leaked Top Secret Documents".
The Science of Situs Inversus
Intersting NYT article on the science of situs inversus, the unusual medical condition where people develop with total left-right reversal of their internal organs (e.g., heart on the right side, liver on the left side, etc.)
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Extreme Atoms
"Giant, Heavy and Hollow: Physicists Create Extreme Atoms. Atoms are being stretched, stripped and contorted to new and bizarre limits"
Burner Privacy App for Smartphones
"Burner is a privacy layer for your iPhone or Android, providing disposable phone numbers at the push of a button". (Via Alex Knapp.)
More information on their iTunes page.(Note: I haven't tried this app myself, but I thought I'd pass the link along.)
More information on their iTunes page.(Note: I haven't tried this app myself, but I thought I'd pass the link along.)
Human-Scale Invisibility Cloak Unveiled
MIT Technology Review: "Human-Scale Invisibility Cloak Unveiled"
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Lost Egyptian City Revealed After 1,200 Years Under Sea
"Lost Egyptian City Revealed After 1,200 Years Under Sea"
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
How RSA Protects Your Credit Card Number Online
"What happens when you enter your credit card number online?"
Pretty good popular press writeup RSA algorithm, prime numbers, and Fermat's last theorem.
Pretty good popular press writeup RSA algorithm, prime numbers, and Fermat's last theorem.
FDA Launches First Inquiry Into Medical iPhone App
"The FDA launches first inquiry into medical iPhone app". Get ready for some "chilling effects" amongst medical app developers. (Link via Jared S.)
Related from Wired: "FDA Can't Hold Back Stream of Mobile Health Apps". (Link via Jared R.)
Related from Wired: "FDA Can't Hold Back Stream of Mobile Health Apps". (Link via Jared R.)
Black and White Tights Dance
Very clever visual effect:
"A group of young girls in black and white tights perform a trippy dance to the popular tune of German folk-rock polka band Hiss."
"A group of young girls in black and white tights perform a trippy dance to the popular tune of German folk-rock polka band Hiss."
Monday, June 03, 2013
Drone Regulations in CA, TX
"U.S. skies are scheduled to officially open to civilian drones by 2015". Here are some proposed regulations from legislators in CA and TX.
Sunday, June 02, 2013
Shape-Shifting Nanoparticles Deliver Targeted Chemotherapy
"Shape-Shifting Nanoparticles Lodge Themselves Inside Tumors to Deliver Targeted Therapy"
11 Interesting Charts on Internet Trends
"The 11 Most Fascinating Charts From Mary Meeker's Epic Slideshow of Internet Trends"