Thanks for that. Just off the top of my head a "5% bulk DNA sequence difference" doesn't mean a whole lot. I'm surprised that they're pushing stuff with this little actual hard data.
Reminds me of the last time NASA went looking for alien DNA.
I think Slashdot needs to make a policy not to accept anything from anyone's PR department. Especially NASA and any US University.
Hard to believe human beings would think it logical to duplicate an engineering feat such as a space station due to nationalism. You'd think the average educational norm could be slightly higher than the nationalistic primal urges, but no.
Mankind is not a rational animal.
He is a rationalizing animal.
Besides, there is a whole lot of useful engineering in being able to launch something into space. Materials science, engines, controls - hey, there even could be a military use.
If all else fails, you can make it cheaper and sell it to the US.
If you try to do it with the US, it would never happen. Just ask the Europeans. It's not like they're on great relations with the Russians, the only other country that can put humans into space.
So you're left with the Iranians, North Koreans and a couple of crazy amateur in Denmark.
Well, they certainly could have done that - and on some of the clips it looked like there was some wash through of the sun's surface through the Venus disk. But what exactly would be the point? It's not like they faked a moon landing or an Arquillian battle cruiser or something like that.
But, hey, if you guys want to wear your tinfoil, I'd be the last to complain. Whatever floats your boat.
They don't really say. They never describe strength in a classical mechanical engineering fashion. Mostly TFA is about the microstructure of the material:
Our studies show that the stomatopod dactyl club represents a notable departure from previously studied damage-tolerant biological composites, in that it is specifically employed for high-velocity offensive strikes. Our structural investigations, coupled with nanomechanical characterization and finite element simulations, have shown that the club consists of several microstructural features that permit the infliction of crippling impacts while simultaneously minimizing internal damage within the club. These characteristics include a pitch-graded helicoidal architecture constructed from mineralized chitin fibers that can dissipate the energy released by propagating microcracks; an oscillating elastic modulus that provides further shielding against catastrophic crack propagation; a modulus mismatch in the impact region that acts as a crack deflector near the impact surface; and an ultrahard outer layer correlated with a high level of mineralization and a radial organization of apatitic crystallites. The structural lessons gained from the study of this multiphase biological composite could thus provide important design insights into the fabrication of tough ceramic/organic hybrid materials in structural applications where components are subjected to intense repetitive loading.
I hate it when Slashdot covers stuff behind paywalls, but unfortunately virtually all decent science and engineering is either 1) described by the breathless university PR department which could not describe the difference between gravity and fish farming or 2) behind a paywall.
Not only that, but I doubt they've paid adequate protection money to be able to cram that through the DOJ.
Give Microsoft another decade or so and they might be able to lunge around with all of their body weight, but for now they have to at least look as if they're behaving.
Hopefully they're black bears..44 is kinda suboptimal for those 'little guys' but woefully inadequate for the bigger brown bears.
I might suggest, as being someone who lives in brown bear territory, that you dispense with the firearm, carry a small air horn (designed for small boats) and a 12 gauge flare pistol. It's not going to stop a charging bear, but your pop gun isn't going to either. They hate the air horns and will move off quickly and they don't like the flare guns either.
You can carry a big bottle of pepper spray if you're really into the belts and suspenders thing.
That way, you don't have to gut and cape the bear and call The Authorities if you shoot them (which is what you're supposed to do in Alaska).
I started out carrying a 12 gauge slug gun, graduated to a.480 Ruger pistol (barely adequate) and finally gave up carrying around 10-12 pounds of firearms and lightened up considerably. Still alive. Ran into our last bear 4 days ago - it stared at us, we stared at it, the dog barked and it wandered off before I got a decent picture of it.
Because NASA can't fake it. You could have seen the same in your backyard (clouds permitting) with $10 in parts.
Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I get the distinct impression that the Solar Dynamic Observatory (the satellite that took the neat pics) costs slightly more than $10.
Or did we devalue the dollar big time last week? I was only gone for a couple of days. Sheesh. Nobody ever tells me anything anymore....
Do a quick search for 'used electron microscopes. They have gotten somewhat smaller, but since much of the hardware is vacuum pumps and high voltage gear, they haven't shrunk to iPad size. They have dropped to a point where they would easily be affordable by a Communiy College.
Of course, the price comes up a bit when you figure in all of the support gear - specimen prep, high voltage power, service contracts and somebody that knows how to use it.
cool! now i can give people that piss me off cancer!
I would imagine, that for a million dollars, you can come up with a more cost effective solution. Hell, cigarettes are only something like ten dollars a pack..
But good luck buying one of these bad boys in California.
You can get a used transmission or scanning EM for between 20K and 100k - the latter being 5 year old top of the line units. If I could get it past my wife, I'd likely get a cheap scanning EM.
No particular valid use, I'd just use it to take neat pictures.
But I dont think I'll try. I have enough problems trying to upgrade my camera bodies.
Virtually ALL public education caters to the average, or more generally, the first quartile.
If you are an 'exceptional' student you either 1) have to be lucky - be in a school that has enough money and brains to support more than one kind of student 2) come from a well off enough background to get into a good private school 3) have your parents / family / friends help you along 4) do it yourself.
I suspect if you look at the majority of high functioning adults, most of them have gone through one of those pathways. Public schools (in the US at least) are not designed to help the best and the brightest all that much.
Slashdot Mirror
Christ, Mossad and the CIA barely even bother to *HIDE* it anymore
Wait. What?
OK, the CIA and Mossad I get. Fine. That's what they do.
But Jesus?
What's he doing getting into electronic warfare? I thought he was supposed to be a nice guy, turn the other cheek and all that?
Thanks for that. Just off the top of my head a "5% bulk DNA sequence difference" doesn't mean a whole lot. I'm surprised that they're pushing stuff with this little actual hard data.
Reminds me of the last time NASA went looking for alien DNA.
I think Slashdot needs to make a policy not to accept anything from anyone's PR department. Especially NASA and any US University.
Yes. The cocaine was better then.
Yeah, if you put enough acronyms into a paragraph, it usually is....
Hard to believe human beings would think it logical to duplicate an engineering feat such as a space station due to nationalism. You'd think the average educational norm could be slightly higher than the nationalistic primal urges, but no.
Mankind is not a rational animal.
He is a rationalizing animal.
Besides, there is a whole lot of useful engineering in being able to launch something into space. Materials science, engines, controls - hey, there even could be a military use.
If all else fails, you can make it cheaper and sell it to the US.
If you try to do it with the US, it would never happen. Just ask the Europeans. It's not like they're on great relations with the Russians, the only other country that can put humans into space.
So you're left with the Iranians, North Koreans and a couple of crazy amateur in Denmark.
Sounds like solo is the best approach.
Well, they certainly could have done that - and on some of the clips it looked like there was some wash through of the sun's surface through the Venus disk. But what exactly would be the point? It's not like they faked a moon landing or an Arquillian battle cruiser or something like that.
But, hey, if you guys want to wear your tinfoil, I'd be the last to complain. Whatever floats your boat.
Just stay grounded.
Slashdot dupes.
That's how many times we're gonna beat this horse to death.
Well, we simply should invade Canada and stop bothering with the pesky, hot, dangerous places.
Mosquito repellent and you're golden!
Go outside, find a brick wall, and try running into it full tilt without stopping.
Much too difficult for the average Slashdotter. The easy way: Go up on the second floor. Swan dive to ground. Let gravity do all the work.
They don't really say. They never describe strength in a classical mechanical engineering fashion. Mostly TFA is about the microstructure of the material:
Our studies show that the stomatopod dactyl club represents a notable departure from previously studied damage-tolerant biological composites, in that it is specifically employed for high-velocity offensive strikes. Our structural investigations, coupled with nanomechanical characterization and finite element simulations, have shown that the club consists of several microstructural features that permit the infliction of crippling impacts while simultaneously minimizing internal damage within the club. These characteristics include a pitch-graded helicoidal architecture constructed from mineralized chitin fibers that can dissipate the energy released by propagating microcracks; an oscillating elastic modulus that provides further shielding against catastrophic crack propagation; a modulus mismatch in the impact region that acts as a crack deflector near the impact surface; and an ultrahard outer layer correlated with a high level of mineralization and a radial organization of apatitic crystallites. The structural lessons gained from the study of this multiphase biological composite could thus provide important design insights into the fabrication of tough ceramic/organic hybrid materials in structural applications where components are subjected to intense repetitive loading.
I hate it when Slashdot covers stuff behind paywalls, but unfortunately virtually all decent science and engineering is either 1) described by the breathless university PR department which could not describe the difference between gravity and fish farming or 2) behind a paywall.
I would be rich if I could make a bullet that was more car resistant.
You're a little late to this particular game.
Well, let's see. Novell lasted about 6 years. Is there a betting pool yet on how long Nokia will last?
I'm gonna bet 2047 Slashdot dupes on this very topic.
Not only that, but I doubt they've paid adequate protection money to be able to cram that through the DOJ.
Give Microsoft another decade or so and they might be able to lunge around with all of their body weight, but for now they have to at least look as if they're behaving.
Or pay the price.
Literally.
Hopefully they're black bears. .44 is kinda suboptimal for those 'little guys' but woefully inadequate for the bigger brown bears.
I might suggest, as being someone who lives in brown bear territory, that you dispense with the firearm, carry a small air horn (designed for small boats) and a 12 gauge flare pistol. It's not going to stop a charging bear, but your pop gun isn't going to either. They hate the air horns and will move off quickly and they don't like the flare guns either.
You can carry a big bottle of pepper spray if you're really into the belts and suspenders thing.
That way, you don't have to gut and cape the bear and call The Authorities if you shoot them (which is what you're supposed to do in Alaska).
I started out carrying a 12 gauge slug gun, graduated to a .480 Ruger pistol (barely adequate) and finally gave up carrying around 10-12 pounds of firearms and lightened up considerably. Still alive. Ran into our last bear 4 days ago - it stared at us, we stared at it, the dog barked and it wandered off before I got a decent picture of it.
Makes me worry about the future more than I already do.
""Cheer up, Flicka. Always remember that, when things seem darkest, they usually get considerably worse."
Heinlein "Podkayne of Mars", 1953. In a quote that is one of the earliest written references to a cell phone. How's that for going off topic?
Because NASA can't fake it. You could have seen the same in your backyard (clouds permitting) with $10 in parts.
Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I get the distinct impression that the Solar Dynamic Observatory (the satellite that took the neat pics) costs slightly more than $10.
Or did we devalue the dollar big time last week? I was only gone for a couple of days. Sheesh. Nobody ever tells me anything anymore....
Do a quick search for 'used electron microscopes. They have gotten somewhat smaller, but since much of the hardware is vacuum pumps and high voltage gear, they haven't shrunk to iPad size. They have dropped to a point where they would easily be affordable by a Communiy College.
Of course, the price comes up a bit when you figure in all of the support gear - specimen prep, high voltage power, service contracts and somebody that knows how to use it.
cool! now i can give people that piss me off cancer!
I would imagine, that for a million dollars, you can come up with a more cost effective solution. Hell, cigarettes are only something like ten dollars a pack..
But good luck buying one of these bad boys in California.
You can get a used transmission or scanning EM for between 20K and 100k - the latter being 5 year old top of the line units. If I could get it past my wife, I'd likely get a cheap scanning EM.
No particular valid use, I'd just use it to take neat pictures.
But I dont think I'll try. I have enough problems trying to upgrade my camera bodies.
If you're talking about television, the information stopprd at 640x480.
The rest is noise.
Virtually useless, until someone invents a standardized student.
Don't tell anybody else, but you've found The Holy Grail.
Virtually ALL public education caters to the average, or more generally, the first quartile.
If you are an 'exceptional' student you either 1) have to be lucky - be in a school that has enough money and brains to support more than one kind of student 2) come from a well off enough background to get into a good private school 3) have your parents / family / friends help you along 4) do it yourself.
I suspect if you look at the majority of high functioning adults, most of them have gone through one of those pathways. Public schools (in the US at least) are not designed to help the best and the brightest all that much.
Slashdot needs a sarcasm tab so very badly.
Wouldn't help. Slashcode doesn't support it.