The Daily Flash -Eco, Space, Tech (11/05)
By forcing bacteria to evolve in ever-changing conditions, scientists have induced a behavior in which colonies formed by microbes with identical genes take radically different forms, as if one sibling in a set of identical quadruplets could sprout gills. Bet hedging “may have been among the earliest evolutionary solutions to life in variable environments,” even preceding the ability to turn genes on and off, wrote researchers in a study published Wednesday in Nature.
Google's Android, and How It Will Take Over the WorldI
In Google's words, it's "the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices." It's a Linux-based, open-source mobile OS, complete with a custom window manager, modified Linux 2.6 kernel, WebKit-based browser and built-in camera, calendar, messaging, dialer, calculator, media player and album apps. If that sounds a little sparse, that's because it is: Android on its own doesn't amount to a whole lot; in fact, a phone with plain vanilla Android wouldn't feel like a smartphone at all.
The Mindflex Brainwave Game It Might Give You a Headache
Mind control games like Mindflex are poised to be a big seller this holiday season, but is it really worth spending $80 on? he object of the game is simple. You must manipulate the vertical movement of the ball using the power of your thoughts. The headband detects the intensity of your brainwaves—the harder your concentrate, the higher the fan in the unit will elevate the ball. Clearing your mind makes the ball descend. Horizontal movement is controlled by a knob on the base.
Over the past decade, Research In Motion’s BlackBerry phone has become a cultural phenomenon. But can it stay one? With a confusing mix of new products, poor developer support, lack of innovation and an unwillingness to take risks, RIM is in danger of being outsmarted and overshadowed by aggressive new rivals, such as HTC and Motorola.
Favorite Sci-Fi Flicks, From Metropolis Through the ’50s
Some of the movies nominated by Wired.com readers are clearly classics, like Fritz Lang’s silent 1927 masterpiece, Metropolis (pictured above), or 1956’s Forbidden Planet. They obviously fit on any serious sci-fi fan’s list of the best movies of all time. Others were more obscure, and that’s what makes the lists so compelling. Any list of “favorite” sci-fi movies will be different, and far more personal, than a list of “best” sci-fi movies.
Spore Evolves Once More, Launches On Facebook
Electronic Arts has brought its very popular Spore franchise to Facebook, with the launch of a new game called Spore Islands. The game, while thematically similar to the well known PC game that was released last year, has gameplay that’s entirely different. Rather than roaming around a 3D world, Spore for Facebook is more of a stategy game: you tweak your creature and then watch how it fares against the other beasts inhabiting your island.
Comments