Invention of the day: Scientists have finally developed an effective shark repellant. The key chemical is based on an extract from dead sharks.

Scientists have created artificial prions (the same kind of proteins that cause mad cow disease) in the lab. Here's more information.

Supposedly the Afshar experiments show that both the Copenhagen and Many Worlds interpretations of quantum mechanics are wrong whereas the Transactional Interpretation is consistent with the experimental evidence. (Via Metafilter.)

Miracles happen all the time.

Is fanning yourself energy-efficient?

Who will be the next James Bond? Pierce Brosnan says he won't make any more Bond flicks. Reportedly Orlando Bloom (who played Legolas in Lord of the Rings) "has been signed by Miramax to play young James Bond in his new movie which is based on the college days of this widely popular secret agent." Assuming that you aren't tired of seeing him in the extended extended version of LOTR. (Via Fark.)

Yawning is contagious for chimpanzees as well as humans.

The scientfic basis of deja vu: What we currently know. Some of these new theories would be hauntingly familiar to early 20th century psychologists. (Via ALDaily.)

Top 10 Funniest IT Stories. (Via BBspot.)

How To Turn your iPod into a Universal Infrared Remote Control

What it's like to have no sense of smell. Or super-sensitive taste. (Via Linkfilter.)

NASA's Cassini probe photograph of the Saturn moon Mimas looks an awful lot like the Star Wars Death Star.

Beware the *72 call forwarding scam.

Quantum computing comes even closer to reality as researcher develop ways to transmit qubits either via a chain of particles known as a "quantum wire" or with improved quantum teleportation.

After a Delaware man chose a personalized license plate that read "NOTAG", he received a flood of parking tickets caused by other people whose tickets read, "Notice of violation. License number: no tag" because the city computer system finally had an address for those vehicles. (Via Obscure Store.)

Vehicular homicide by DVD: Prosecutors in Alaska have filed the first-ever charge of second-degree murder because the suspect was allegedly watching a DVD while driving his vehicle instead of watching the road, which then led to his striking and killing the driver of another vehicle. The movie he is accused of watching is "Road Trip".

Ship-destroying "monster waves" are real after all.

Caught in the middle of a flame war? Use this handy list of conversational cheap shots. (Via MeFi.)

Gadget of the day: Wearable television wristwatch.

SETI researcher Seth Shostak believes that we will make first contact with intelligent aliens in the next 20 years due to "advances in computer processing power and radio telescope technology".