Here comes the bionic eye, the best hope yet of restoring sight to the blind: Profoundly blind people could get their best shot yet of restored vision with a more advanced “bionic eye”, researchers have announced. Trials of the new retinal prosthesis will begin shortly, following the success of a prototype that has enabled six …
Category: Blog
A review of the filmed-in-Saskatchewan Tideland
Here’s the first review I’ve seen of Terry Gillam’s Tideland, shot in Saskatchewan (as you can see in the photo that accompanies the article, which was clearly taken in the Qu’Appelle Valley). In fact, a great deal of it was shot across the street from the condo we lived in until last October, at the …
Who needs a flash drive…
…when you’ve got DNA? Japanese scientists say it might be possible to use DNA to store text, images, music and other digital data for thousands of years inside living organisms. Masaru Tomita and colleagues at Tokyo’s Keio University say data encoded in an organism’s DNA, and inherited by each new generation, could be safely archived …
Robert J. Sawyer honored by Toronto Public Library
Robert J. Sawyer, a friend and someone whose Writing With Style sessions on writing science fiction I’ve twice attended at the Banff Centre, has received the Toronto Public Library Celebrates Reading Award. Established in 2001, this is one of Canada’s top book-related honours. The award, which includes a cash prize of $2,500 and a crystal …
Photos of the Day: Reading in Lipton
This morning I drove up to Lipton, about 90 km northeast of Regina, for two readings at Lipton School: one to Grades 5 to 8, and one to Grade 9 to 12. I read a little bit of Andy Nebula to the younger group and a bit of Jimi Hendrix: Kiss the Sky to the …
Photo of the Day: Bohemian Waxwings
More photos here.
Something like this, I did use in my new novel
A staple of underwater adventure movies since at least the original Thunderball is now available for anyone who wants one…and can even be used in a pool. The Seadoo Sea Scooter Dolphin has handles and a propeller: you just hold on, and it pulls you through the water. It’s designed for use by anyone, in …
A treatment for tinnitus?
It’s not a cure, but scientists have discovered an unexpectedly effective way to treat the symptoms of tinnitus, at least in one patient. As I’ve mentioned before, my ears have been ringing for as long as I can remember. Mostly I ignored the problem; occasionally it annoys me, usually when I read something about tinnitus …
Attack of the giant bird-eating bats!
I’m linking to this story just because it allowed me to write the above headline. Such are the little things that keep me amused.
Quantum computer unveiled…
…and it works! It’s slow, and there’s some question how well this approach can be scaled up, but it definitely worked. Hey, it even solved a Sudoku puzzle!
Why won’t you do what you’re told?
As a child, I always did what I was told. (Mom, stop laughing, I’m trying to make a point here.) But I can’t say I didn’t resent certain restrictions. And I’m not alone. Most people hate being told not to do something, and if they can’t see a good reason for it, may well go …
The future of the sun
Think the sun is kind of boring, just hanging around up there burning brightly? Well, just wait. In about five billion years it will look something like this: Credit: NASA, ESA, and K. Noll (STScI) Acknowledgement: The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
My latest live walk and vlog
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