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Military modifications and the rise of the supersoldier (Wired UK)

Posted on September 7, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

From Beowulf to Captain America, the idea of supersoldiers has captured the human imagination for time immemorial. But after years of mixed results (the less said about LSD tests, the better), how close are we today to creating the ultimate soldier?

One surprisingly revealing source of insight is the official site from Darpa, the US military’s official department for innovation. Throughout its various project pages, it lists a number of (clearly unclassified) initiatives currently in development, designed to give its troops the upper hand in combat scenarios.

It’s perhaps telling that a lot of the technology focuses on longer range participants in battle, perhaps in the hope that snipers and jet pilots are possibly in less direct risk where the financial investment would be wasted. One such project is the OneShot — a laser-based augmentation that replaces “spotters” who would traditionally help a sniper make their shot by compensating for conditions like crosswinds and visibility issues.

On the other hand, there do seem to be a number of projects designed to help vulnerable warfighters operate more safely. The ” cognitive technology threat warning system” is a composite human/software system that makes use of “flat-field, wide-angle optics, large pixel-count digital imaging, and cognitive visual processing algorithms” to help identify threats at ridiculous distances.

via Military modifications and the rise of the supersoldier (Wired UK).

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Pressure in Mount Fuji is now higher than last eruption, warn experts — when will Mount Fuji EXPLODE? (Wired UK)

Posted on September 7, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

The pressure in Mount Fuji’s magma chamber is now higher than it was in 1707, the last time the nearly 4,000-metre-high Japanese volcano erupted, causing volcanologists to speculate that a disaster is imminent.

The new readings, taken by the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, reveal that the pressure is at 1.6 megapascals, nearly 16 times the 0.1 megapascals it takes to trigger an eruption.

This, lead volcanologist on the case Eisuke Fujita told Kyodo News, is “not a small figure”.

Researchers have speculated for some time that the volcano, located on Honshu Island 100km southwest of Tokyo, is overdue an eruption. In 2000 and 2001 a series of low-frequency earthquakes were recorded beneath the volcano, leading to widespread predictions of an imminent blow. Since the March 2011 tsunami and the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that followed four days later, Japan has been on tenterhooks, and in May 2012 a professor from Ryukyu University warned that a massive eruption within three years would be likely because of several major factors: steam and gases are being emitted from the crater, water eruptions are occurring nearby, massive holes emitting hot natural gases are appearing in the vicinity and finally, the warning sign that pushed the professor to make the announcement, a 34km-long fault was found underneath the volcano. The fault, experts suggested, could indicate a total collapse of the mountainside if there is another significant shift, and it would probably cause a collapse in the event of an eruption, leading to huge mud and landslides.

The new readings prove that the localised tectonic shifts of 2011 have indeed put immense pressure on the magma chamber, but the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention has qualified its warning by noting that pressure is just one contributory factor to an eruption. The 1707 quake, however, was itself caused by a recent earthquake that amped up the pressure in its magma chamber.

via Pressure in Mount Fuji is now higher than last eruption, warn experts — when will Mount Fuji EXPLODE? (Wired UK).

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How Astronauts Used a Toothbrush to Fix Space Station: Scientific American

Posted on September 7, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

It took hard work, determination and some MacGyver-esque ingenuity for a pair of spacewalking astronauts to fix a key power system aboard the International Space Station Wednesday (Sept. 5).

NASA spaceflyer Sunita Williams and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide spent nearly 6 1/2 hours yesterday outside in the vacuum of space to properly install a pair of bolts that had caused problems for the pair during a previous spacewalk last week.

In addition to their regular spacewalking gear, Williams and Hoshide were armed with some makeshift tools — including an improvised wire cleaner and a toothbrush — to help them get the job done.

On Aug. 30, Williams and Hoshide completed a marathon spacewalk that lasted more than 8 hours, but the astronauts were thwarted by a stubborn bolt and were unable to finish connecting the so-called main bus switching unit (MBSU). The stuck bolt forced NASA to add Wednesday’s extra spacewalk.

via How Astronauts Used a Toothbrush to Fix Space Station: Scientific American.

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This Is the Most Expensive Penny in the Universe

Posted on September 7, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

This is the most expensive penny in the Universe. It’s now on Mars, after an exciting $2.5 billion ride. Previously, the most expensive Lincoln penny in history was a 1943 copper-alloy cent that was sold for $1.7 million in a 1996 auction. That’s peanuts compared to the cost of putting this coin up there, however.

Of course, those $2.5 billion put a lot more stuff on Mars than just the penny. You know, like the best interplanetary robotic rover ever created by humankind.

In fact, if you take into account the total weight of Curiosity, the total cost of the penny is not that high: its 2.5 grams would only cost about $7,000. But being the first and only penny on Mars-and any other place outside Earth, as far as I know-I’m sure it would fetch a lot more than $1.7 million at any auction.

The penny is part of the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera’s calibration target. The calibration target is attached to a shoulder joint of the arm that holds the camera, and contains red, green and blue color chips, different white point chips, a “metric standardized bar graphic and a stair-step pattern for depth calibration.”

Posted in Interesting, MARS, Tech | Leave a comment

Nokia Lumia 920 , are the boots of Apple & Google shaking ?

Posted on September 6, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

So with the annoucement of Nokias new Lumia handset, are the bosses at Google and Apple nervous ? or simply having a fly chuckle to themselves in the corner.. Well its not as much the second as many may have first thought !

The Lumia 920 is Nokias newest phone of the Lumia range, this will run the newest version of the Windows operating system and will be looking to build on the reasonable success of the previous Lumia phones. If people weren’t going Apple, Android or Blackberry, the chances are they had a Windows Phone. Many people instantly fell in love with the block like UI and the others will probably have to sooner or later as this looks to be the same UI Windows 8 for your desktop or laptop will use in the near future if the preview versions are anything to go by and with the recent look of the Xbox interface, this will be big shortly.

The looks of the device are very similar to the previous model with the brightly coloured shell and contoured glass making it look and feel pretty sturdy and well built and are comparible in size with Samsung Galaxy SIII, so pretty chunky to say the least !

It will run a Snapdragon S4 Dual-core 1.5 Ghz processor as well meaning its up there with the Galaxy SIII and the HTC One X for speed and certainly isn’t the fat kid running miles behind!

Nokia Lumia 920 , are the boots of Apple & Google shaking ?.

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Apple retires iPhone 3GS: replace with 8GB iPhone 4

Posted on September 6, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

We already know that next week’s September 12th Apple AAPL event will bring the announcement of the iPhone 5, but rumor has it the 8GB iPhone 3GS will finally be retired. The Telegraph reports that sources close to retailers say Apple will replace the entry-level iPhone 3GS with the 8GB iPhone 4 and a new 8GB iPhone 4S to its lineup. Essentially, the 8GB iPhone 4 will be offered free on contract as the 3GS has been, and the 8GB iPhone 4S will become a new mid-point offering. Naturally, the new iPhone 5 will sit at the top of the totem pole and will come in capacities of 16GB , 32GB and 64GB. It can be argued that the 3GS has been a boon in emerging markets, especially because Apple will continue to support it in iOS 6, but we think it’s time to let the three-year-old device go. After all, it is the only iPhone that still doesn’t support Retina display apps.

via Apple retires iPhone 3GS: replace with 8GB iPhone 4.

Posted in Apple, Breaking News, Interesting, iOS, Rumor, Tech | Leave a comment

iPad mini case photos leak: 9-pin dock port, bottom headphone jack

Posted on September 6, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

Previously leaked iPad mini photos were often shadowy and grainy, but Chinese website tech.163 has posted some new pictures of Apple’s AAPL smaller tablet that are clear as day. As AppleInsider notes, the new pictures display a port for a smaller 9-pin dock connector and a top-mounted headphone jack, both of which have long been rumored to be in the works for both the iPad mini and the next-generation iPhone. More pictures of the iPad mini case follow below.

via iPad mini case photos leak: 9-pin dock port, bottom headphone jack.

Posted in Apple, Interesting, Rumor, Tech | Leave a comment

Is it Bad to Shutdown My Computer Regularly or Leave It On All the Time?

Posted on September 4, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

Dear Lifehacker,

I’ve heard it’s bad to shut down your computer every night. Is it really better to leave it on all the time? I have a high-end machine and want to take care of it but I don’t know the best way to do that.

Sincerely,

Puzzled by Power

Dear PbP,

We’re not sure how it all started, but the idea that it’s harmful to shut your computer down every night is a myth. Unless you shut it down incorrectly (e.g. ripping out the power cable and laughing maniacally), there’s really nothing to worry about. In fact, shutting down your computer every night offers a few advantages. First and foremost, it won’t draw as much power when off. Additionally, you don’t have to remember to turn off the sound each night so it doesn’t wake you up with an unexpected alert. That said, keeping your computer powered on overnight has advantages as well. An always-running computer can act as a server and handle tasks while you’re sleeping. Whether you shut down regularly or keep your computer running indefinitely really depends on your needs. Let’s take a deeper look at the pros and cons of both options and how you can deal with the downsides.

via Is it Bad to Shutdown My Computer Regularly or Leave It On All the Time?.

Posted in HowTo, Interesting, MSFT, Opinion, Tech, tips | Leave a comment

The President Will Be Able to Order Strikes Against Hurricanes One Day

Posted on September 4, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

We are in the middle of hurricane season. Isaac hit the south of the United States last week, inundating acres of land, wreaking homes and disrupting oil and gas production—a stark reminder of the Katrina disaster and yet another warning of catastrophes to come.

Now, imagine if the President of the United States had the weapons to order a strike against the destructive forces that can dramatically affect millions of citizens everywhere. Scientists say that this will be possible soon—using drones.

via The President Will Be Able to Order Strikes Against Hurricanes One Day.

Posted in Hacking, Interesting, Science | Leave a comment

Apple iPhone 5 launch September 12th

Posted on September 4, 2012 by StevenTorresRamos

Apple AAPL on Tuesday sent out invitations for a press conference scheduled to take place on September 12th at 1:00 p.m. EDT, 10:00 a.m. PDT. The invitation doesn’t reveal the nature of the event, but it doesn’t have to — it’s all about Apple’s next iPhone, which is expected to be in line with the flood of recent leaks: It will be a little taller, a little thinner, and a little stronger than Apple’s current iPhone. Apple’s new iPhone is expected to go on sale on September 21st, and preorder availability could begin as soon as September 12th, the same day the phone is announced. Be sure to check back on September 12th for all the news as it breaks.

via Apple iPhone 5 launch September 12th.