Links for 22-02-2007
Kropotkin and crowdsourcing, mag-lev launch assist prototype, 3D photo-mapping of meatspace…
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1 – Study: Alien worlds have dry atmospheres
“Scientists taking their first “sniffs of air” from planets outside our solar system are a bit baffled by what they did *not* find: water.”
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2 – Getting Rich off Those Who Work for Free
“It might seem very odd to look to a long-dead Russian anarchist for business advice. But Peter Kropotkin’s big idea–that there are important human motivations beyond what he called “reckless individualism”–is very relevant these days.”
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3 – NMSU is home to the world’s hottest chile pepper
“In fall of 2006, the Guinness Book of Records confirmed that New Mexico State University Regent’s Professor Paul Bosland had indeed discovered the world’s hottest chile pepper, Bhut Jolokia.” I want some!
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4 – Why Science Fiction Sucks the Big One: An Expository Essay
Welcome to ‘Literary Genre Prejudice based on Prior Bias, Cultural Stereotyping and General Desire for Flame War 101′. If she hates science fiction so much, why does she read it? Duh.
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5 – New Patent To Prevent Document Tampering
“So for the 3 weeks or so before the forgers can find a way around this technique I guess they’ll have to rely on ripping off the thousands of companies who don’t immediately adopt this printing technology.” Zing! There it is.
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6 – Maglev launch assist technology may enable commercial space travel
“Magnetic levitation is a promising technology for future space transportation,” Yang told PhysOrg.com. “The most expensive part of space missions to low-Earth orbit is the first few seconds—getting off the ground.”
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7 – In the Belly of the Thing | Columns | SCI FI Weekly
” ‘The Terror’ is not a goosed documentary; it is far truer than that. It is a fable.” Clute on the latest from Simmons.
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8 – Cultural Revolution with aliens – Spring Festival on other side
“Liu, one of the most famous science fiction writers in China, plans to spend the New Year holidays crafting his latest fantasy.” Chinese science fiction gets state stamp of approval? Via SFBC
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9 – Photo software creates 3-D world
“Researcher’s approach takes as input large collections of images from either personal photo collections or Internet photo sharing sites, and automatically computes each photo’s viewpoint and a sparse 3D model of the scene.”
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
The Dorset Naga has been unofficially recorded at 1 600 000 SHU, unfortunately this has not been confirmed as fact. A scientific study earlier than this (2005) recorded it at 923 000 SHU.
So potentially a beater to your find, but maybe not. Either way I’d like one!
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:46 pm
‘The Dorset Naga’? Awesome name – is it UK grown, as the name implies?
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:37 pm
The Bhut Jolokia is an incredible beast, nearly too hot to eat.#
Seeds are at http://www.chileseeds.co.uk
Dorset Naga is grown in the UK as is the Bhut Jolokia