Researchers have created computer chips that can talk to the brain, chips which could revolutionize the way we think about thinking, and how we treat various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s: “It’s the type of science that can change the world,” says Richard H. Granger, Jr., a professor of brain sciences who leads the Neukom Institute …
Category: Blog
Mrs. Beeton’s Ad of the Day
Borwick’s was founded by George Borwick sometime in the 19th century–there are old ads for it all over the Web, including at the British Museum–and you can still buy their powders today. It was obviously a successful business: George Borwick got a barony out of it.
Marseguro update
I’ve finally heard from Sheila Gilbert at DAW regarding my new book (which she refers to as Marseguro, so maybe that actually will be the title); she’s going to call tomorrow to discuss some editorial revisions (a few things that need “fleshing out” and some “points we need to discuss for clarification”). Wish me luck! …
Amazing ancient acoustics accounted for
I’ve been to the ancient Greek ampitheatre at Epidaurus, built in the 4th century B.C. The acoustics really are incredible–you can hear a whisper on stage from the very top row. I was there with the Harding University A Cappella Chorus during our European tour in the summer of 1982. (Which was–gulp!–25 years ago, wasn’t …
Mrs. Beeton’s Bonus Ad of the Day
OK, just one more: “Patent Barley ‘in powder form’” is not something widely available today, but Robinson’s still exists, after a fashion. Apparently one mixed this stuff with hot water to make a drink. I’ll stick to coffee.
"Is the universe expanding or contracting?"
The science fiction universe, that is: Publisher’s Weekly has a cover story on the state of SF and fantasy publishing. My publisher, DAW, gets a mention although, alas, my book is not the “hot title” from them that gets mentioned.
Universal blood
Blood is always in demand, and not just by vampires. Blood transfusions mean the difference between life and death when people suffer traumatic injuries, or undergo major surgery. But there’s always been a problem with transfusions: people don’t all have the same blood type, and giving someone the wrong blood type is worse than giving …
Sour things taste sweet…
…thanks to this miraculous berry: People who eat the berry say that lemon juice tastes like lemonade and stout beer seems more like a milkshake. They add that after consuming Synsepalum dulcificum, rhubarb tastes like a sugar stick and strawberries taste like candy.Work is underway to commercialize the “miraculin” protein that causes this effect, so …
Mrs. Beeton’s Ad of the Day
Here’s a product you don’t see in grocery stores any more: shredded suet, supplanted, I guess, by lard and Crisco, even though shreeded Atora was “fresh beef suet, thoroughly refined after the skin and impurities” had been removed (well, that’s a relief) and was “the most wholesome and digestible of all fats,” which did not …
Another review of Lost in Translation…
…this time at SF Site, and, alas, rather lukewarm. But at least she thought it was “capably written,” “brisk-paced”, had a “neatly-constructed plot,” and that “many readers will enjoy it.” So it isn’t all bad.
Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management…
…is one of many interesting things I’ve found in my mother-in-law’s house, now my house. This 1915 housewives’ hanbook, which belonged to my wife’s grandmother, is (as you can see from the title page) “A Guide to Cookery in All Branches,” plus “Daily Duties, Mistress & Servant, Hostess & Guest, Marketing, Trussing & Carving, Menu …
Universal red blood cells?
This sounds promising: An international team of academic and industry scientists has come up with a feasible way of making universal red blood cells that are stripped of their blood type. The hope is that it can be developed into a viable way of relieving blood bank shortages.(Via Austin Bay Blog.)
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