Technology Review: Robotic Insect Takes Off

Technology Review: Robotic Insect Takes Off: "A life-size, robotic fly has taken flight at Harvard University. Weighing only 60 milligrams, with a wingspan of three centimeters, the tiny robot's movements are modeled on those of a real fly. While much work remains to be done on the mechanical insect, the researchers say that such small flying machines could one day be used as spies, or for detecting harmful chemicals."

Swedish Woman Gets Superfast Internet

Swedish Woman Gets Superfast Internet: "In less than 2 seconds, Lothberg can download a full-length movie on her home computer — many thousand times faster than most residential connections, said Hafsteinn Jonsson, head of the Karlstad city network unit.

Jonsson and Lothberg's son, Peter, worked together to install the connection.

The speed is reached using a new modulation technique that allows the sending of data between two routers placed up to 1,240 miles apart, without any transponders in between, Jonsson said.

'We wanted to show that that there are no limitations to Internet speed,' he said."

Pope: Creation vs. evolution an ‘absurdity’ - Focus on the Vatican - MSNBC.com

Pope: Creation vs. evolution an ‘absurdity’ - Focus on the Vatican - MSNBC.com: "The pope, leader of some 1.1 billion Roman Catholics worldwide, said: “We must respect the interior laws of creation, of this Earth, to learn these laws and obey them if we want to survive.”"

BBC NEWS | Americas | US army veterans sue government

BBC NEWS | Americas | US army veterans sue government: "A coalition of US military veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is suing the US government.

The class-action lawsuit on behalf of hundreds of thousands of veterans claims they have been denied disability pay and mental health treatment."

Diet soft drinks linked to health risks: study

Diet soft drinks linked to health risks: study: "A huge U.S. study of middle-aged adults has found that drinking more than one soft drink a day — even a sugar-free diet brand — may be associated with an elevated risk for metabolic syndrome, a cluster of factors that significantly boosts the chance of having a heart attack or stroke and developing diabetes."

Russia to expel 4 British diplomats; relations strained - USATODAY.com

Russia to expel 4 British diplomats; relations strained - USATODAY.com: "LONDON — Russia said Thursday it was expelling four British diplomats and halting travel by government officials between the two countries in a rapidly escalating dispute over the murder case in Britain of a former KGB agent.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin, who announced the expulsions in Moscow, also said that Russia would no longer cooperate with Britain in combating terrorism."

Meat is murder on the environment - earth - 18 July 2007 - New Scientist Environment

Meat is murder on the environment - earth - 18 July 2007 - New Scientist Environment: "A kilogram of beef is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution than driving for 3 hours while leaving all the lights on back home."

Girl talk linked to depression, anxiety - Los Angeles Times

Girl talk linked to depression, anxiety - Los Angeles Times: "Constant venting over crushes, popularity or other personal problems may lead to anxiety and depression in girls — but not in boys, according to new research.

A study of 813 students ages 8 to 15 found that excessive discussions and rumination about problems strengthened friendships for both sexes, but those tighter bonds came at a cost for girls."

The Sun Online - News: Pagans have a cow over Homer

The Sun Online - News: Pagans have a cow over Homer: "PAGANS have pledged to perform “rain magic” to wash away cartoon character Homer Simpson who was painted next to their famous fertility symbol - the Cerne Abbas giant."

Attempted robbery ends in group hug - Yahoo! News

Attempted robbery ends in group hug - Yahoo! News: "WASHINGTON - Police on Capitol Hill are baffled by an attempted robbery that began with a handgun put to the head of a teenager and ended in a group hug."

Israeli scientists unveil mini-robot that can travel through bloodstream - Haaretz - Israel News

Israeli scientists unveil mini-robot that can travel through bloodstream - Haaretz - Israel News: "'For the first time a miniature robot has been planned and constructed, that has the unique ability to crawl within the human body's veins and arteries,' said Dr. Nir Shvalb of the College of Judea and Samaria on Monday.

'The robot will be able to crawl against the bloodstream with a force typical of blood vessels within the body without any problem, which has not been possible before.'"

SAN FRANCISCO / Judges OK warrantless monitoring of Web use / Privacy rules don't apply to Internet messages, court says

SAN FRANCISCO / Judges OK warrantless monitoring of Web use / Privacy rules don't apply to Internet messages, court says: "Federal agents do not need a search warrant to monitor a suspect's computer use and determine the e-mail addresses and Web pages the suspect is contacting, a federal appeals court ruled Friday."

Saudis' role in Iraq insurgency outlined - Los Angeles Times

Saudis' role in Iraq insurgency outlined - Los Angeles Times: "BAGHDAD — Although Bush administration officials have frequently lashed out at Syria and Iran, accusing it of helping insurgents and militias here, the largest number of foreign fighters and suicide bombers in Iraq come from a third neighbor, Saudi Arabia, according to a senior U.S. military officer and Iraqi lawmakers."

Israel 'Approved' to Strike Iran

Israel 'Approved' to Strike Iran: "Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs said he has received approval from the U.S. and Europe for an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

'If we start military operations against Iran alone, then Europe and the U.S. will support us,” Avigdor Lieberman said following a meeting with NATO and European Union officials."

Machinist: Tech Blog, Tech News, Technology Articles - Salon

Machinist: Tech Blog, Tech News, Technology Articles - Salon: "The computer virus conception story begins in 1981, when a tech-savvy 9th grader named Richard Skrenta got an Apple II for Christmas. Over the following few months he began cooking up ways to trick his friends using the machine. 'I had been playing jokes on schoolmates by altering copies of pirated games to self-destruct after a number of plays,' Skrenta once told the tech news site Security Focus. 'I'd give out a new game, they'd get hooked, but then the game would stop working with a snickering comment from me on the screen.'

When his friends realized his tricky ways, they banned Skrenta from their machines. And that's when he had an epiphany: He could put his code on the school's computer, and rig it to copy itself onto floppy disks that students used on the system. "

A Nuclear Ruse Uncovers Holes in U.S. Security - New York Times

A Nuclear Ruse Uncovers Holes in U.S. Security - New York Times: "WASHINGTON, July 11 — Undercover Congressional investigators set up a bogus company and obtained a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in March that would have allowed them to buy the radioactive materials needed for a so-called dirty bomb"

Oregon man takes lawn chair up to 13,000 feet, travels 193 miles | KOMO-TV - Seattle, Washington | Local & Regional

Oregon man takes lawn chair up to 13,000 feet, travels 193 miles | KOMO-TV - Seattle, Washington | Local & Regional

Solar variations not behind global warming: study | Science | Reuters

Solar variations not behind global warming: study | Science | Reuters: "LONDON (Reuters) - The sun's changing energy levels are not to blame for recent global warming and, if anything, solar variations over the past 20 years should have had a cooling effect, scientists said on Wednesday."

The Raw Story | ABC host tells Paul, Gravel they have no chance to win

The Raw Story | ABC host tells Paul, Gravel they have no chance to win: "'It's a tragedy of what's happening, what we're going to leave behind,' replied Paul. 'But we don't know it's going to be as bad as those who are predicting bad things -- just remember, the people who are predicting these very, very dire things to happen are the same ones who predicted it would be a cakewalk. ... Think of Vietnam. It worked out much better than anybody predicted.'"

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | Why is yawning contagious?

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | Why is yawning contagious?: "Rather than being a precursor to sleep, yawning is designed to keep us awake, say US researchers. But why does seeing someone else yawn make you to do the same?"