Aug 15

MABEL running robot snags bipedal speed title, cue ‘Rocky’ theme (video)

Posted in: robot, robotics, Robots, science, Today's Chili, Transportation, video

MABEL the running robot has been training hard, grabbing the title of “fastest bipedal robot with knees.” Like any great sports star, it’s been plagued by many dream-crushing obstacles and injuries, but this time it’s done it: running at a speed of 6.8 miles per hour on a track. Jessy Grizzle, professor at the University of Michigan’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, attributes this bot’s success to its human-like weight distribution — a heavier torso and flexible legs with springs similar to tendons for movement “like a real runner.” This bipedal technology, which can mimic a human’s ability to run and climb over obstacles, may be used to help the disabled walk again, in rescue situations or as the basis of future vehicles that don’t require roads or wheels to drive. If MABEL doesn’t make the SWAT team this year, it can most certainly snag a spot as an extra in the next Transformers movie. Check out the PR and video of this modern day robo-Flo-Jo after the break.

Continue reading MABEL running robot snags bipedal speed title, cue ‘Rocky’ theme (video)

MABEL running robot snags bipedal speed title, cue ‘Rocky’ theme (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink University of Michigan  |  sourceDynamicLegLocomotion (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 09

Everyone on Earth Has Alien Parts

Posted in: science, space, Today's Chili, top, video

Stop looking for alien life. It’s right here, on Earth. You are one of them. Me too. We all are. At last, scientists have discovered evidence that supports the theory that part of our DNA actually comes from deep space. More »

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Aug 09

Microsoft Touch Mouse to take center stage at UIST Student Innovation Contest

Posted in: contest, Microsoft, mouse, multitouch, peripheral, science, Today's Chili, video
It’s August, and that can only mean three things: vacations, back to school shopping, and another UIST Student Innovation Contest. Taking center stage this year is Microsoft’s Touch Mouse — a multitouch gesture-based peripheral that we first saw earlier this year. UIST contestants will have to come up with cool new ways to interact with the mouse, with the winning innovator receiving $1500, and $500 going to the runner-up (trophies are apparently involved, as well). All entries will be demoed on October 17th in Santa Barbara, and the winners will be announced on the following day. Hit the source link for information on registration, or squeeze past the break for a video from UIST chair Kayur Patel, along with a clip on the Touch Mouse.

Continue reading Microsoft Touch Mouse to take center stage at UIST Student Innovation Contest

Microsoft Touch Mouse to take center stage at UIST Student Innovation Contest originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 09

NASA finds DNA components in meteorites, says they originated in space (video)

Posted in: NASA, research, science, space, Today's Chili, video
So, this is kinda wild: scientists at NASA have uncovered new evidence that DNA components found in meteorites can originate in space, lending new credence to the theory that life on Earth may have arisen from a pre-existing “kit” of materials delivered via asteroid. The discovery is outlined in a new paper from Dr. Michael Callahan, whose team of researchers closely analyzed samples from 12 different meteorites, using a mass spectrometer and liquid chromatography. In their samples, they found traces of adenine, guanine, and a variety of molecules known as nucleobase analogs — including three that are rarely found on Earth. Scientists have long known that meteorites can contain DNA elements, but were unsure whether these materials actually originate in space. The presence of these three molecules, however, suggest that they do, potentially raising new questions about the dawn of life on Earth, and beyond. It’s all quite heady, but steam ahead for a NASA video that might help clarify things, after the break.

Continue reading NASA finds DNA components in meteorites, says they originated in space (video)

NASA finds DNA components in meteorites, says they originated in space (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Space.com  |  sourceNASA  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 09

CERN’s LHC@home 2.0 project simulates a Large Hadron Collider in the cloud

Posted in: europe, science, Today's Chili
“You break it, you bought it,” came to mind when researchers at the Centre for European Nuclear Research (CERN) announced the LHC@home 2.0 project, giving us regular Joes access to the Large Hadron Collider. OK, we kid; the reality is that much like SETI@home and Folding@home, a whole group of volunteering home computers link up together, and while idle they quietly help simulate LHC particle collisions according to CERN’s theoretical models. Scientists there then compare these results with those from actual LHC experiments in order to check for any instrumental or theoretical errors, thus potentially speeding up the mission to find the God particle in a low cost manner.

Besides being a great way to get your science on, the cloud-based program also makes CERN’s resources (like crisis mapping and damage assessment) available to researchers in developing nations that may not to be able to afford the accelerator’s $6 billion dollar price tag — but nowadays, what nation can?

Continue reading CERN’s LHC@home 2.0 project simulates a Large Hadron Collider in the cloud

CERN’s LHC@home 2.0 project simulates a Large Hadron Collider in the cloud originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Inquirer  |  sourceLHC@home 2.0  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 08

You Could Be Eating Genetically Modified Corn—and Not Even Know It

Posted in: science, Today's Chili, top, tweet

Monsanto, the oft-vilified company known for hawking genetically modified seeds and suing farmers, is putting genetically modified sweet corn on supermarket shelves this fall. More »

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Aug 08

The Japanese Tsunami Also Destroyed Part of Antarctica

Posted in: science, Today's Chili, top, video

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake rumbled the northeast coast of Japan at a depth of 15.2 miles. The resulting tsunami destroyed everything nearby, but most people thought it never affected other areas. Until now. More »

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Aug 07

The Earth Has a Ring

Posted in: research, science, space, Today's Chili, top, twitter

Of anti-protons! While it’s not as visually cool as what Saturn has going for it, this is still an important development, even if we can’t technically “see” the ring with our primitive Earthling eyes. More »

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Aug 06

Archaeologists Believe They’ve Found Captain Morgan’s Shipwreck

Posted in: science, Today's Chili, top

Yes, THAT Captain Morgan. He was real, and he was a real, ruthless pirate. Archaeologists now believe that they’ve discovered his 340-year-old ship sunk off the coast of Panama. The liquor company even went along for the ride. More »

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Aug 06

Rice University chemists bake graphene out of Girl Scout cookies, redefine low-carb diets (video)

Posted in: science, Today's Chili, video

Would you like some cookies? Well, you’re gonna have to buy them, and then get thee to a Rice University chem lab, stat! The Texas institution of higher learning recently played host to Girl Scouts Troop Beverly Hills 25080, turning their om nom carbohydrated delights into billion dollar graphene. Resident scientist James Tour gathered his gaggle of grad students for a hands-on demo, walking the future Phyllis Neflers through the transformative steps that convert carbon-based material (see: a box of Samoas), into $15 billion worth of scientific loot — or as one astute troopster put it, “… a lot of cash.” Indeed it is young lady, but something tells us your well-earned Science in Action badge won’t go too well with those cookie-bought Louboutins. Skip past the break for the full video and a little “Cookie Time” nostalgia.

Continue reading Rice University chemists bake graphene out of Girl Scout cookies, redefine low-carb diets (video)

Rice University chemists bake graphene out of Girl Scout cookies, redefine low-carb diets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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