[tt] KurzweilAI.net Daily Newsletter

Mon Jul 14 14:07:45 UTC 2008

KURZWEILAI.NET NEWSLETTER

NEWS
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Sequencing a Single Molecule of DNA
Technology Review July/August 2008
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Helicos BioSciences has developed
the HeliScope, the first commercial
instrument that can directly read
the sequence of a single DNA strand,
making it the world's fastest DNA
sequencer, the company claims. The
high-&#173;throughput machine, a
complex configuration of tubes,
lasers, and chemi&#173;cals,
contains two plates, each with 25...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9037&m=40924

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2008 State of the Future report
proposes 15 global challenges
KurzweilAI.net July 14, 2008
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The future continues to get better
for most of the world, but a series
of tipping points could drastically
alter global prospects, according to
the 2008 State of the Future, a
report due to be published late this
month, and obtained by
KurzweilAI.net Sunday. Half the
world is vulnerable to social
instability and violence due to
rising food...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9036&m=40924

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A good night's sleep really does
improve the brain
Telegraph July 14, 2008
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Sleep improves performance in skill
tasks, University of Geneva
scientists have found, based on fMRI
measurements. The results revealed
that a period of sleep following a
new experience can consolidate and
improve subsequent effects of
learning from the experience, they
suggest....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9035&m=40924

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'Cross fire' from the brain makes
patients tremble
PhysOrg.com July 11, 2008
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Scientists from Forschungszentrum
Julich have demonstrated that the
5-Hz Parkinson's disease tremor
results from synchronous signals
from the thalamus and the basal
ganglia transmitted in loop-like
neuron pathways of the brain and
spinal cord, not only via
proprioceptive nerve signals from
the muscles (the current theory).
The finding supports...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9034&m=40924

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Japanese team developing palm-held
3D display
PhysOrg.com July 14, 2008
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Researchers at Japan's National
Institute of Information and
Communications Technology are
developing the gCubik, which could
enable people to hold a
three-dimensional image of someone
in the palm of their hand. Unlike
conventional 3D displays, which are
viewed only from the front, the
gCubik can be seen from three sides,
giving different...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9033&m=40924

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A hands-on approach to Third World
aid
KurzweilAI.net July 14, 2008
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About 60 people from 20 nations
will descend on the MIT campus today
to begin the International
Development Design Summit, an
intensive month-long process of
creating technological solutions for
the needs of people in the world's
developing nations. The goal of the
program is to develop simple,
inexpensive devices that in some
cases can be...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9032&m=40924

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When Human Rights Extend to
Nonhumans
New York Times July 13, 2008
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The environment committee of the
Spanish Parliament last month voted
to grant limited rights to our
closest biological relatives, the
great apes --chimpanzees, bonobos,
gorillas and orangutans. The
committee would bind Spain to the
principles of the Great Ape Project,
which points to apes' human
qualities, including the ability to
feel fear and...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9031&m=40924

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High Cost of Driving Ignites Online
Classes Boom
New York Times July 11, 2008
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Thousands of students nationwide
have suddenly decided to take one or
more college classes over the
Internet, as fuel for commuting to
campus now costs some students half
of what they pay for tuition, in
some cases more....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9030&m=40924

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Tiny fishing reel gets DNA
researchers out of a tangle
New Scientist news service July 13, 2008
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Kyoto University researchers have
developed the world's smallest
fishing reel to wind up DNA strands
without damaging them. (K
Terao/Kyoto University) The
microdevice lets geneticists more
precisely locate specific genes and
identify genetic disorders. The
researhers developed minuscule hooks
and bobbins that mimic the way a
fishing...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9029&m=40924

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Sneeze-sensing software gives
avatars a good laugh
New Scientist news service July 11, 2008
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Software that can automatically
recognize "non-linguistic" sounds
such as laughter and generate an
appropriate facial animation
sequence, could improve the quality
of web-based avatars or
computer-animated movies. University
of Bath and University of Cardiff
scientists used optical motion
capture to record the facial
expressions of four...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9028&m=40924

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