I didn't see an appropriate thread for this so thought it might be an idea to have one. Here is my contribution. It cheers me up because chronology is everything and one more (simple ) tool will help make so many more things clearer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edi ... 058185.stm
Cool science stuff
-
Voronwë the Faithful
- At the intersection of here and now
- Posts: 46116
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:41 am
- Contact:
Is this your antidote for your dentist office experience that you detailed in the Darwin thread, Tosh? 
Either way, it's a nice idea for a thread (and that's a fascinating article about the internal clocks of clay).
Either way, it's a nice idea for a thread (and that's a fascinating article about the internal clocks of clay)."Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
-
ToshoftheWuffingas
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:34 pm
It wasn't really a counterblast to the 'Creation' magazine because the chronologies of fired clay and the geological age of the Earth are so different. I just happened to see them both on the same day. I can see there is some relevance but I posted this link because I thought it a cool discovery. I can remember I had the same response when I first heard about dendrochronology.
<a><img></a>
-
Primula Baggins
- Living in hope
- Posts: 40005
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:43 am
- Location: Sailing the luminiferous aether
- Contact:
That is so cool, Tosh!
I think my favorite bit was the brick from Canterbury.
I think my favorite bit was the brick from Canterbury.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
-
ToshoftheWuffingas
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:34 pm
-
Primula Baggins
- Living in hope
- Posts: 40005
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:43 am
- Location: Sailing the luminiferous aether
- Contact:
The precision is really exciting, that it seems to be able to hit known dates rather exactly. Imagine being able to read a museum card next to a piece of ancient pottery that says, "This was made in 1291 BCE. . . ."
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/how/
Powered human exoskeletons for military application... HULC
Mech warriors will be here soon!
Powered human exoskeletons for military application... HULC
Mech warriors will be here soon!
-
ToshoftheWuffingas
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:34 pm
-
ToshoftheWuffingas
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:34 pm
This one for Mr V especially although I know his friends are in West Africa.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8550614.stm
Zimbabwe and South Africa! That is so far! DNA research is so cool!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8550614.stm
Zimbabwe and South Africa! That is so far! DNA research is so cool!
<a><img></a>
Scientists create partially synthetic bacterial cell
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 03336.html
It's not the same as making life from scratch, but it's kinda cool all the same.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 03336.html
It's not the same as making life from scratch, but it's kinda cool all the same.
-
Primula Baggins
- Living in hope
- Posts: 40005
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:43 am
- Location: Sailing the luminiferous aether
- Contact:
And thereby hang a couple of thousand tales.
Though I'd prefer they remained science fiction.
Though I'd prefer they remained science fiction.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
-
axordil
- Pleasantly Twisted
- Posts: 8999
- Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:35 pm
- Location: Black Creek Bottoms
- Contact:
From the NYT today:
I'm really not sure I can add anything to this. There's something every so slightly creepy about people functioning normally without a pulse. Something that reminds me of...oh, I don't know...
So long as he doesn't start asking for brains, though, I guess it's just science marching on.
Italics mine.The pumps are partial artificial hearts known as ventricular assist devices, and they come in various models. Mr. Cheney’s kind is about the size of a D battery and leaves most recipients without a pulse because it pushes blood continuously instead of mimicking the heart’s own pulsatile beat. Most such pulse-less patients feel nothing unusual. But they are urged to wear bracelets or other identifications to alert emergency room doctors as to why they have no pulse.
I'm really not sure I can add anything to this. There's something every so slightly creepy about people functioning normally without a pulse. Something that reminds me of...oh, I don't know...
So long as he doesn't start asking for brains, though, I guess it's just science marching on.
First, in earnest, I am very glad that we have the science now to help people with dangerous heart conditions.
And yeah, it's all Dick Cheney jokes come true.
Apart from that, can you imagine some poor unsuspecting nurse finding that a patient moves, talks, etc., everything fine. And no pulse.
And yeah, it's all Dick Cheney jokes come true.
Apart from that, can you imagine some poor unsuspecting nurse finding that a patient moves, talks, etc., everything fine. And no pulse.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
