It took several billion Euros to build the LHC. This is a beautiful picture of the servers that control and manage it. Does anyone else find it odd that they couldn't get a flat screen monitor?
OK, my question for you is I want a recipe for pot stickers. I just want a down to earth recipe that doesn't require too many synapses. Thanks.
Oh yeah, when I saw you on your book tour (the AB North American Tour) I asked you if you knew where you got the spherical molds for the jello eye ball halloween recipe. I was wondering what ever happened there. Anyways, great job on the Book and the Show.
Harold McGee, "On Food and Cooking." It is the most practical Food Science book about cooking. AB references it quite frequently, both in his book, or he likes to "wait" on his show by reading it. It is a little over $15 on amazon.
I am not an astronomer, but I do know Chem. If a star puts out light, it really encompasses all wavelengths. So if there is Na in the atmosphere, it will adsorb the light, but then emit it at a lower freq. Atoms do this in bands and have characteristic ones that identify them. Perhaps this was glossed over...
Elements have unique atomic absorption and emission bands. Much of the analytical science done today uses elemental analysis to determine this. It is pretty standard.
Wait a sec, if it is a cation, then the atmosphere is a bunch of plasma. Wouldn't you think that the light coming from this would indicate that. Gaseous Na and Plasma Na+ have quite different spectras, don't ya think?
As a Grad student of UCDavis, we were all told that the lecture notes of any class were written by us, but the University holds the ownership. Pretty much anything that you do (at least good things) are bound by this. When you sign the paper that says you are going to the school, that is part of the deal that you are signing. Most folks are unaware of this, but some people follow it.
Now originally, I thought it was a huge scam. But, while I still think that my thoughts are not (copyright, UCDavis) there is some good to be had here. The major one is that I will not get sued for having a wrong idea that is later proven wrong or someone else uses and it turns out to have terrible consequences. The Earth is still flat, right?
So as far as this goes, it was sort of always this way. Also I have noticed that note taking services are not persecuted here, but I believe that they are also not the note takers property. As far as people taking notes in class, I encourage it, even if they buy them later from someone else. If you have TA'd in your lifetime, you would know the horrible feeling of 25 blank stares. My $0.02 (I think I'll GPL that, crap it is probably UCD's property)
OK, not one to whine, not excessivly at least, but the article in Nature is about an enzyme found in tea leaves (You need a Subscription to Nature to get to the article, and they charge a bundle...) The title that they sent in their TOC newsletter is, "Caffeine synthase gene from tea leaves." So, it isn't the Coffee gene, but they are probably darn close.
Now another screwy thing to wonder about is what are the precursers to Caffeine? Think about it, they may taste really bad. Caffeine is an alkaloid (nitrogen contaning organinc molecule) and they all taste bitter (Think of tonic water without gin) and in general they tend to be toxic too. So now we get coffee beans that are full of precursers with nowhere to go.
Of the most common methods to decaffeineate beans, I'd say stick with super critical CO2. Mess with the temp and pressures to get a more exclusive extraction. Solvents stink, and environmental considerations need to be taken into account. So I dunno, I'll stick to leaded coffee for now. Besides, didn't someone publish that caffeine reduces the risk of Parkinsons disease?
As far as all of the "other" drugs/chemicals that could be produced, I don't think too much of that happening. I saw that someone posted that they were diabetic. As a 24 year veteran of that disease, the sheer number of monitoring and induction steps involved with normal pancratic functions makes my head spin. Considering the fact that we don't know how most prokaryotic bacteria (no nucleus) sense their environment, or what happens so that they can respond, not to mention redundancies for good measure. What a run on, but we don't know how to control these systems in bacteria, never mind people. Just some thoughts.
R
After reading the pdf, and the news snippet, they seem to gloss over some relevent points. So you can get a color display of an oder. Last time I checked, there were over 430 compounds identified to cause an apple to smell like an apple. This was done with GC/MS. Why GC/MS? Because MS gives you a finger print of a molecule, by way of breaking it with a high energy source. Molecules break in a fashion that is unique to the individual molecule. By working backwards, knowing chemistry, and being very patient, you can rebuild the molecule. The only other techniques used to positivly ID molecules are really, NMR, and X-ray crystallography. But those techniques require a lot more sample. Next, the GC is one of the best seperating machines available, if run properly. But, still, 430 and counting for an apple. Sort of becomes apparent why those green candies taste more green than apple...
Now, the next question is does the array distingush between compounds with similar smells, for instance ammonia (NH3) and trimethyl amine ((CH3)3N) Both smell like ammonia, but there is an obvious difference in chemical formula and structure. Maybe that is nit picky, but think of this another way. Should the DEA arrest you for smuggling pot or for wearing hemp derived shirt. Other fun examples could be getting busted for amphetamines, or just owning some nutmeg (trust me, they have some very similar compounds) So, now it seems that accuracy is important.
But, think of the good points that this could have. The one that comes to mind is hazardous waste. Remember the movie "The Rock" and VX gas? The stuff really does exist, but you don't melt if exposed. We got it from the UK in the 50's for some nuc secrets. You muscles convulse, your back generally breaks. The problem with the stuff is it has a high vapor pressure (goes into gas phase easily) is sticky, and is toxic until the phosphonthiol bond it oxidized (broken) Also, there are a bunch of variations to the chemical structure, some more toxic that others, but who cares? If the array turns the wrong color, then break out the Haz-Mat suits and spray with bleach, pronto.
Finally, the PDF file doesn't really address the array nose. It is really a reveiw of that field. A neat way to check for NO (Nitric Oxide) Just in case you were wondering, it is a chemical messenger in your body. Short lived, used in processes like smooth muscle contraction. There is an enzyme or two that break it down. Funny thing it that Viagra is an inhibitor of one of those enzymes. But, back to the point, the metalloporphines (like heme and chlorophyll) can be use for cellular sized monitors of certain molecules (only one at a time)
Even though they make processors that are kinda archic, Intel kills the rest of the chip world with the number of fabs that they have, and the number of chips that pass specs. I have been told from friends who used to work there that Intel was not interested in the "best" processor, mearly a better one that got high yields per wafer of silica. It's all about buisness.
As far as laptops are concerned, a more efficient processor would be nice, but maybe a harddrive that didn't suck up so much energy would help too. The Portables use flash memory (another Intel dominated field) It seems to me that unless Transmeta has some savy business sense, and locks up some Fabs, Intel is not going to worry very much.
OK, first off, I don't think the Franken kinder argument is technologically ready yet. But, the real danger here is not genetic engineering or modification, it is having a map that is public domain and tools to intrepet it. There is probably some idiot out there that wants to annililate another idiot for some idiotic reason. Viruses are not that hard to come by, easy to modify and easy to release on the world. Unforotunatly, we tend to learn by mistakes. But, even to do this would take a huge amount of cash and some pretty dedicated folks. Most science geeks don't want to rule the world.
My big gripe about this is that the map can be decyphered using online web-bioinformatic tools. So what. What happens when insurance agencies can target gene defects and decide who gets coverage? The scary and relativly real component of this map is the capability to screen people and deny services. From a moral prospective this would be wrong, but profits would be great.
Until, of course, the masses could figure out whether or not they needed coverage for genetic misfortunes...
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It took several billion Euros to build the LHC. This is a beautiful picture of the servers that control and manage it. Does anyone else find it odd that they couldn't get a flat screen monitor?
OK, my question for you is I want a recipe for pot stickers. I just want a down to earth recipe that doesn't require too many synapses. Thanks.
Oh yeah, when I saw you on your book tour (the AB North American Tour) I asked you if you knew where you got the spherical molds for the jello eye ball halloween recipe. I was wondering what ever happened there. Anyways, great job on the Book and the Show.
Rick
Harold McGee, "On Food and Cooking." It is the most practical Food Science book about cooking. AB references it quite frequently, both in his book, or he likes to "wait" on his show by reading it. It is a little over $15 on amazon.
I am not an astronomer, but I do know Chem. If a star puts out light, it really encompasses all wavelengths. So if there is Na in the atmosphere, it will adsorb the light, but then emit it at a lower freq. Atoms do this in bands and have characteristic ones that identify them. Perhaps this was glossed over...
Elements have unique atomic absorption and emission bands. Much of the analytical science done today uses elemental analysis to determine this. It is pretty standard.
Wait a sec, if it is a cation, then the atmosphere is a bunch of plasma. Wouldn't you think that the light coming from this would indicate that. Gaseous Na and Plasma Na+ have quite different spectras, don't ya think?
As a Grad student of UCDavis, we were all told that the lecture notes of any class were written by us, but the University holds the ownership. Pretty much anything that you do (at least good things) are bound by this. When you sign the paper that says you are going to the school, that is part of the deal that you are signing. Most folks are unaware of this, but some people follow it.
Now originally, I thought it was a huge scam. But, while I still think that my thoughts are not (copyright, UCDavis) there is some good to be had here. The major one is that I will not get sued for having a wrong idea that is later proven wrong or someone else uses and it turns out to have terrible consequences. The Earth is still flat, right?
So as far as this goes, it was sort of always this way. Also I have noticed that note taking services are not persecuted here, but I believe that they are also not the note takers property. As far as people taking notes in class, I encourage it, even if they buy them later from someone else. If you have TA'd in your lifetime, you would know the horrible feeling of 25 blank stares. My $0.02 (I think I'll GPL that, crap it is probably UCD's property)
R
Now another screwy thing to wonder about is what are the precursers to Caffeine? Think about it, they may taste really bad. Caffeine is an alkaloid (nitrogen contaning organinc molecule) and they all taste bitter (Think of tonic water without gin) and in general they tend to be toxic too. So now we get coffee beans that are full of precursers with nowhere to go.
Of the most common methods to decaffeineate beans, I'd say stick with super critical CO2. Mess with the temp and pressures to get a more exclusive extraction. Solvents stink, and environmental considerations need to be taken into account. So I dunno, I'll stick to leaded coffee for now. Besides, didn't someone publish that caffeine reduces the risk of Parkinsons disease?
As far as all of the "other" drugs/chemicals that could be produced, I don't think too much of that happening. I saw that someone posted that they were diabetic. As a 24 year veteran of that disease, the sheer number of monitoring and induction steps involved with normal pancratic functions makes my head spin. Considering the fact that we don't know how most prokaryotic bacteria (no nucleus) sense their environment, or what happens so that they can respond, not to mention redundancies for good measure. What a run on, but we don't know how to control these systems in bacteria, never mind people. Just some thoughts. R
After reading the pdf, and the news snippet, they seem to gloss over some relevent points. So you can get a color display of an oder. Last time I checked, there were over 430 compounds identified to cause an apple to smell like an apple. This was done with GC/MS. Why GC/MS? Because MS gives you a finger print of a molecule, by way of breaking it with a high energy source. Molecules break in a fashion that is unique to the individual molecule. By working backwards, knowing chemistry, and being very patient, you can rebuild the molecule. The only other techniques used to positivly ID molecules are really, NMR, and X-ray crystallography. But those techniques require a lot more sample. Next, the GC is one of the best seperating machines available, if run properly. But, still, 430 and counting for an apple. Sort of becomes apparent why those green candies taste more green than apple...
Now, the next question is does the array distingush between compounds with similar smells, for instance ammonia (NH3) and trimethyl amine ((CH3)3N) Both smell like ammonia, but there is an obvious difference in chemical formula and structure. Maybe that is nit picky, but think of this another way. Should the DEA arrest you for smuggling pot or for wearing hemp derived shirt. Other fun examples could be getting busted for amphetamines, or just owning some nutmeg (trust me, they have some very similar compounds) So, now it seems that accuracy is important.
But, think of the good points that this could have. The one that comes to mind is hazardous waste. Remember the movie "The Rock" and VX gas? The stuff really does exist, but you don't melt if exposed. We got it from the UK in the 50's for some nuc secrets. You muscles convulse, your back generally breaks. The problem with the stuff is it has a high vapor pressure (goes into gas phase easily) is sticky, and is toxic until the phosphonthiol bond it oxidized (broken) Also, there are a bunch of variations to the chemical structure, some more toxic that others, but who cares? If the array turns the wrong color, then break out the Haz-Mat suits and spray with bleach, pronto.
Finally, the PDF file doesn't really address the array nose. It is really a reveiw of that field. A neat way to check for NO (Nitric Oxide) Just in case you were wondering, it is a chemical messenger in your body. Short lived, used in processes like smooth muscle contraction. There is an enzyme or two that break it down. Funny thing it that Viagra is an inhibitor of one of those enzymes. But, back to the point, the metalloporphines (like heme and chlorophyll) can be use for cellular sized monitors of certain molecules (only one at a time)Even though they make processors that are kinda archic, Intel kills the rest of the chip world with the number of fabs that they have, and the number of chips that pass specs. I have been told from friends who used to work there that Intel was not interested in the "best" processor, mearly a better one that got high yields per wafer of silica. It's all about buisness.
As far as laptops are concerned, a more efficient processor would be nice, but maybe a harddrive that didn't suck up so much energy would help too. The Portables use flash memory (another Intel dominated field) It seems to me that unless Transmeta has some savy business sense, and locks up some Fabs, Intel is not going to worry very much.
My big gripe about this is that the map can be decyphered using online web-bioinformatic tools. So what. What happens when insurance agencies can target gene defects and decide who gets coverage? The scary and relativly real component of this map is the capability to screen people and deny services. From a moral prospective this would be wrong, but profits would be great.
Until, of course, the masses could figure out whether or not they needed coverage for genetic misfortunes...