Category: CoolStuff

Genome Pioneer, X Prize Founder Tackle Aging

Craig Venter, who managed to make science both lucrative and glamorous with his pioneering approach to gene sequencing and synthetic biology, is taking on a new venture: aging…

…He also took a crack at creating artificial life…

…The new company doesn’t aim to extend human life so much as to help keep people healthy as they get older.

“The challenge is when you live into your 80s, 90s, to 100, living in a way that is decrepit and old is of zero value,” Diamandis said…

Doesn’t this sound a heck of a lot like Alliance Digital Studios’ KNOWLEDGE? We don’t know what’s creepier–the name of this new company “Human Longevity Inc.” (the fictional company in KNOWLEGE is Gen-Lon–short for Genetic Longevity Inc.) or that this guy looks like an older version of our very own Production Manager, David Kennedy. {Cue Twilight Zone music.}

Read the full story here:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/aging/genome-pioneer-x-prize-founder-tackle-aging-n44461

Batman could fly, but he’d die horribly on landing, science students conclude

Batman could fly using just his cape but would suffer serious injuries when trying to land, a study of the aerodynamics of his winged attire has concluded…

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9386940/Batman-could-fly-but-hed-die-horribly-on-landing-science-students-conclude.html

As DVD sales decline, Walmart.com adds Vudu streaming

It’s been about 18 months since Walmart bought Vudu, but as demand for physical media declines, the big box retailer is finally marrying the online video service with its website. By doing so, it’s hoping to introduce its customers to a new way of watching movies and getting them to spend money on digital copies instead of buying the DVD…

https://gigaom.com/video/vudu-walmart-website/

Anatomy of a computer virus explained

Motion designer Patrick Clair tells the story of Stuxnet, “a Microsoft Windows computer worm discovered in July 2010 that targets industrial software and equipment.” Unlike many viruses and worms, Stuxnet was designed with a specific target – Siemens Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems – and left any other systems unharmed. Stuxnet could then increase pressure in nuclear reactors and turn off oil pipelines, all the while showing monitors everything was fine…

https://flowingdata.com/2011/06/28/anatomy-of-a-computer-virus-explained/