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Top 25 Science Stories of 2002

1.Nc3 writes "Scientific American has released a list of their top 25 featured science stories of 2002. From Cryptography to Entomology to Astronomy, a lot of neat stuff happened this year."

18 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot releases its top 10 "top 10" stories for dec 31st.

    This replaces all the "top 10" stories released on Dec 25,26,27,28,29 & 30th.

  2. clone by slothdog · · Score: 5, Funny

    ok, so it's not technically a dupe since the previous story referred to an article referring to the article instead of referring to the article itself. It's just an inferior clone. The editors must be having an off day.

  3. Saddened by the loss of 118 by drunkmonk · · Score: 5, Funny

    How many more superheavy elements will be born only to die in their first milliseconds of life before we realize we CAN'T PLAY GOD?! Poor Ununoctium never even had a chance at a normal life. :)

    1. Re:Saddened by the loss of 118 by TheSam · · Score: 3, Funny

      May Ununoctium rest in peace

    2. Re:Saddened by the loss of 118 by Cap'n+Canuck · · Score: 3, Funny

      Actually, it did have a good half-life.

  4. #26 by Red+Warrior · · Score: 1, Funny

    Some movies are so bad that even Natalie Portman can't save them. Even with a Beowulf cluster....

    --
    "If, therefore, any be unhappy, let him remember that he is unhappy by reason of himself alone."
    ~Epictetus
  5. Dont' forget Raelian Brigitte!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    How could they forget the story that some sexy French UFO babe claims she cloned the first human? Must have been too late for the presses...

  6. Re:Science by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    In Soviet Russia Hondas that cost $13999 with no money down buy a beowulf cluster of 1.99 BIC pens and draw picture of Natalie Portman. Profit!

  7. gah! by SweetAndSourJesus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sexy?

    Man, you need to get out more often. Or stay in more often. Something. All I know is that whatever you're doing, you're doing it wrong.

    --

    --
    the strongest word is still the word "free"
    1. Re:gah! by rppp01 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm still shaken up from that pic. Don't ever do that again. Please. I won't beg, I'll just send you mod points when I get them.

      --
      They stuck me in an institution, said it was the only solution, to...protect me from the enemy, myself
    2. Re:gah! by Sgt+York · · Score: 2, Funny
      goatse would've been better than that.

      The pain...the PAIN

      --

      There is a reason for everything. Sometimes that reason just sucks.

  8. Re:Premature! by Dannon · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm guessing they rushed to make the presses in Kabul (where it is, according to my world-clock, 12:43am).

    --
    Good judgment comes from experience.
    Experience comes from bad judgment.
  9. They are having a great day! by DAldredge · · Score: 3, Funny

    The managed to spell most of the words the correct way!

  10. Scientist Report Card by nakaduct · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sequencing of genome this or DNA that: A
    Detection of ice and dirt way out in space: B+
    Detection and fanciful naming of really old bones: A
    Armies of telekinesis-powered robots: B
    Detection of life-ending asteroids: F
    Thinking one thing, then thinking the opposite thing: A
    Faster porn delivery: B
    Flying cars: F
    Teledildonics: F
    Collies that can cook, play poker, and/or defend you with mouth-mounted lasers: F
    A laptop that feels like a desktop: D-

    FINAL GRADE: C-

  11. Re:Spiders replace Kevlar by drunkmonk · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can see it now...

    "Whether you're in New York or Nablus, the Strip or the Gaza Strip, the Victoria's Secret Naughty Protector (TM) spider-silk teddy is for you. It feels like silk to you and eighteen inches of steel plate to stray rifle rounds!"

  12. The REAL scoop .... by mustangdavis · · Score: 4, Funny

    Here are some original opinions (hopefully ou agree) about the so called "Top 25 stories" of the scientific community:

    25.) Controlling Robots with the Mind - Are these in stores yet? When do I get to do this? Did anyone else hear about this?

    24.) Scientists Sequence Genomes of Malarial Parasite and Mosquito - Big news for people in Africa ... but I think they have a bigger problem ... its called AIDS!

    23.) Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation's Polarization Detected at Last - Oh goody ... raditation old enough to collect social security!

    22.) Mouse Genome Sequenced - those poor hairless mice .... how are they gonna pick up a mouse chick if they don't even have their hair when they are young? Considering m own personal situation, I can say I feel for them ('m loosing my hair!)

    21.) Astronomers Discover Icy World Far Past Pluto - 'bout time all that investment into telescopes got us something! We now have 10 planets!!! .... *yea*

    20.) Stamp-Size Plastic Chip Provides New Approach to Cryptography - A new mountain for te hackers to climb! Sounds pretty cool though ...

    19.) Meet the Oldest Member of the Human Family - This is depressing ... this helps to further prove that you and I are nothing more than a chimp!

    18.) Attacking Anthrax - Yea! Eat that bin Laden!! That idea won't work on the U.S.!

    17.) Crafty Crow Rivals Primates in Toolmaking - Proves you can teach an old bird new tricks ... nothing neat hear ... move on

    16.) New Findings Fan Debate over Origin of Vinland Map - Just sell the damn thing on Ebay and debate this later .... face it fokes, its a fake :)

    15.) Avoiding the Impact - Ok, this is news ... people!! wake up! We need to defend ourselves as a race, as a planet, from this kind of ,really bad shit! This should be in the top 3!!!

    14.) Element 118 Dropped from Periodic Table - I needed some of this stuff next week ... again, nice to see how "real" some of these so called findings are, but even better to see that someone was honest enough to retract their false findings! Way to embarass the community!!

    13.) First Humans to Leave Africa Weren't Necessarily a Brainy Bunch - I disagree! They won't get infected with AIDS!

    12.) Study Casts Doubt on Cell from Hell's Role in Fish Kills - *yawn*

    11.) Light's Information-Carrying Capacity Doubles - So now more senceless data from Microshaft can travel at "the speed of light" ... great!

    10.) Study Shows How Far GM Pollen Spreads - and three eyed fish will roan the seven seas .... right ... nothing here .. move on!

    9.) Gladiators: A New Order of Insect - They're going to get us, just like in Starship Troopers!! We're all gonna die!!! Seriously, this is worthy of its position in the top stories of the year.

    8.) Scientists Sequence Rice Genome - Don't need the Chineese anymore!

    7.) Climate Warming Causes Collapse of Antarctic Ice Shelf - So put less stuff on it! (end bad joke) This is VERY serious! However, this may be a natural phenomenon. No need to panic .. yet

    6.) Chinese Fossil May Be Mother of All Placental Mammals - Grandma!

    5.) Scientists Spin Spidery Silk - in other news, silk prices bottom out! New silk that doesn't have to be washed in the "gental" cycle is now available!

    4.) Physicists Create a New State of Matter - Sorry, call me short sighted, but I just don't see how this is useful

    3.) T. rex Not Fleet of Foot, Study Shows - Time to remake Jurasic Park!

    2.) Scientists Succeed in Transplanting Cloned Cow Tissue Moo! Moo! (in sync ... Moo!!!!)

    ... and finally ...

    1.) Mars Odyssey's Measurements Reveal a Wet, Red Planet - This is huge! See #15!! If we get hit by a large rock from space, the ability to have the human race move forward would be nice. However, in order for humans to live, we need water! Also, if we get too stupid and nuke most of the planet, we still might have a second chance! I agree that this is the #1 story ... and that is about all that I agree with when it comes to their rankings.

    The end.

    If you don't agree, please post ... don't moderate!


  13. Troll Report Card by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 4, Funny

    To sum up the performance of Slashdot's 2002 trolls... (*wink* you know who you are)

    Natalie Portman. C-
    In Soviet Russia. A+
    First post! B
    All your base. D
    Stephen King dead. F
    Goatsex man. F
    #3 Profit! B

    Overall summary:
    Trolls, your quest has only become more challenging, with more lameness filtering, competition from thousands of troll wannabees, and PR smearing you as juvenile retards with no sense of humor and vandalous personality. Even so, I'm afraid I can't give you a passing grade, when dozens of articles go by with not even one goatsex link or poorly written "all your base" parody. You keep chasing ancient Yakov Smirnoff jokes, which can only lead to trouble. You need to work harder so you can be accepted into either Comedy University or your local mental health facility.

  14. Re:Spiders replace Kevlar by sczimme · · Score: 3, Funny


    I heard that while back the Army made a vest out of Spider Silk rather than Kevlar and it was able to stop even small rifle bullets

    The hard part was getting the 11-Bravo (infantry guy) to stand still long enough for the spiders to weave the vest.

    An 'army of one' indeed...

    --
    I want to drag this out as long as possible. Bring me my protractor.