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Cell phones were shown many years ago to affect long-term memory in a classic study at the University of Washington. It might make sense to try and apply the magnetic fields selectively to accomplish some sort of positive learing result. Hopefully, this won't turn out to another one of those enthusiastically-received procedures like lobotomies or electroshock that end up hurting more than helping.

Wow, flashback from early 2008. Okay, firstly, "if" is not really an issue. It works fine. Also, not a very good article. There are a number of articles about Prof. Parviz's work at this point, most of which are much better. Try the UW News or IEEE Spectrum articles for starters (the first is a good summary, the second is more in-depth).

As to "if their research proves successful" - again, it works fine. The main issue right now is that the existing prototype is a low-budget / small-scale version...in short, it's at the "please insert more funding to continue" stage. As in, the only thing stopping them from building decently high-resolution wireless solar-powered contact lens displays right now is the need for more money to actually build the things. The know-how is pretty much all there.

http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=41558

I was in school in New Orleans, no idea when it will start again. It is scary situation...

I just got an email today that the University of Washington and other universities and colleges will take students from the disaster area here, so they can complete their studies while the city is being fixed up (at least thru the end of the semester that starts

Gravity: We need gravity to keep our muscle mass and bones strong. Considering these astronauts will experience no gravity for six months each way I do not see how this will be possible. Life on the space station for this period of time can not be used as evidence that it is possible to for extended hibernation space travel. Astronauts on the space station spend hours each day exercising in order to delay the breakdown of muscle and bone. I don't think a manned mission to Mars will be possible until we can "create" gravity.

There are several possible ways around this:

• Rotate the spacecraft. More to the point, attach your spacecraft to a counterweight (like the empty upper stage of the rocket you used to lift you off earth), and spin the system. Instant "gravity", add water and stir. Poses a few minor engineering difficulties (high data rate antennas need to follow the earth, getting the spin started, doing course corrections while keeping the tether taut etc) but it's certainly doable.
• Do the trip faster. There are technologies available that could almost certainly be developed within your lifetime to do the trip much faster than present technologies. Aside from the 1950's-tech Nuclear Pulse Propulsion, which could certainly be developed but is unlikely to be politically acceptable, there are a number of things like ion drive and the recent Magbeam proposal on the drawing boards that could reduce the trip time in half at least.

  As to the political will, these things can change very quickly. Imagine if China announced they were going to send a mission to Mars to claim it for China...

This picture actually shows a Stars Destroyer killing off a rebel satelite.

George Lucas is a huge visionaire.