Everyone's been blogging about the cheeseburger in a can. This guy tried one and has detailed pictures and a review. (Via Cynical-C.)

All people with blue eyes have a single common ancestor:

New research shows that people with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor. A team at the University of Copenhagen have tracked down a genetic mutation which took place 6-10,000 years ago and is the cause of the eye colour of all blue-eyed humans alive on the planet today.

"Originally, we all had brown eyes", said Professor Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology. "But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a 'switch', which literally 'turned off' the ability to produce brown eyes".

The LAN turns 30. The article includes some interesting history. (Via Rand Simberg.)

I don't understand the appeal of munchable ice.

Video of the day: "Magic Highway USA". An awesome retro look at the future of highway and automobile technology, as envisioned by Disney studios in 1958. Beyond the specific technological predictions, what struck me most was the overall tone of optimism and the unquestioned sense that man could and should manipulate nature for human benefit -- a sentiment that is unfortunately too infrequent in contemporary Western culture. (Via Aeon Skoble.)

Why water is so weird. (Via Cosmic Log.)

"20 Tools for preparing for your death online". (Via Clicked.)

Would a gun work in space?

"Two artificial DNA 'letters' that are accurately and efficiently replicated by a natural enzyme have been created by US researchers. Adding the two artificial building blocks to the four that naturally comprise DNA could allow wildly different kinds of genetic engineering..."

I hope the US military starts deploying this phased-array radar system soon. (Via Instapundit.)

"Secret Codes in Craig Venter's Artificial Genome":

David Wheeler and Tao Tao of the NCBI checked into the genetic sequence submitted by Venter's Institute and found the watermarks hidden in plain sight. For the first time, we reveal the five coded messages that will go down in history as embedded in the first synthetic genome ever created after the jump.

VENTERINSTITVTE
CRAIGVENTER
HAMSMITH
CINDIANDCLYDE
GLASSANDCLYDE

I have to say that I was hoping for something poetic, profound, or clever. At least something in Greek, or Latin. Brandon suggested "STEALTHISCODE." Instead, we get what we probably should have expected: an advertisement for the Venter Institute.

As the New York Times explains: "The team also added some DNA segments to the genome to serve as 'watermarks,' allowing scientists to distinguish the synthetic genome from the natural one."

Now that's a scary airport runway. (Via BBspot.)

"The Algorithms of Love."

Clever online catalog from the Dutch company Hema. (Via Sam Cox.)

Update on commercial jetpacks. Only $100,000, available August 2008. Here's the corporate website.

Colliding water droplets merge when they are separating from one another, rather than when they are pushing together.

Are you smarter than a Super Bowl quarterback? According to the New York Times:

[NY Giants quarterback Eli] Manning posted a score of 39 out of 50 on the Wonderlic, the intelligence test administered by N.F.L. teams to evaluate draft prospects. It was 11 points higher than [older brother and quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts] Peyton's score and well above the average.

A sample test is available here. Just multiple the number right on these 20 questions by 2.5 to get your Wunderlich score.

Here are how some other NFL players scored and what those numbers mean:

Specifically, 21, considered an average score, is equivalent to the average IQ of 100. Higher scoring applicants are supposed to learn more rapidly, master more complex material, and exercise better judgment while lower scoring applicants tend to require more time, detailed task instruction, and less challenging job routines. 25 is the average score for quarterbacks and offensive linemen. Other positions average about a 20.

How the NFL "wireless police" will deal with the 10,000+ wireless devices at the Super Bowl. (Via Fark.)

Nice overview of the state of commercial space flight.

"When data center cabling becomes art". (Via BBspot.)