ScienceBlog.ie

It seems that over time and with the development and advancements made in science, it may not be too long before  Science Fiction and Science Fact gradually become one and the same. In a follow up to our previous post of the impending Doomsday via a solar flame, another avenue to doomsday is also on the horizon.

Science Fiction movies, such as Terminator and the Matrix (to name but two), have predicted a day when computers evolve to a time when humans are simply an inconvenience to evolution. As abstract as this may seem, today we witness the dawn of living creatures being used to power a simple computer, visa vie the humans are batteries in the Matrix future.

All that innocent experimentation with fuel cells that run on blood has led to this, a flesh-eating clock. This prototype time-piece from UK-based designers James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau traps insects on flypaper stretched across its roller system before depositing them into a vat of bacteria. The ensuing chemical reaction, or “digestion,” is transformed into power that keeps the rollers rollin’ and the LCD clock ablaze.

Doomsday via solar flare or as computer battery?…is there anything else that could signal our Doom???

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/carnivorous-clock-eats-bugs-counts-down-to-doomsday/

Apocolypse soon!

On the way home from a thoroughly enjoyable trip to Scotland with an old college friend, the following incident happened. We were in good spirits and had time to spare. At airport security, the couple in front are a bit miffed. They have 6 mini pots of souvenir confiture that security want to confiscate as the weight is given at 110g. Said couple thought this included the glass jar. An enquiry of their plight lead to the following: Turns out the 110g was net weight, i.e. contents only. Mr. Airport Security Manager arrives, as the couple has requested his presence to state their case. Cue flashing the science-card! “Excuse me Mr. Airport Security Manager, but 110g equates to less than 100ml, as 100g of water = 100ml. 110g of jam, being relatively more dense than the water, will actually occupy a volume of less than 100g (Mass = density/volume).” Jam survives unharmed and Science wins!