Knovel

A major source for scienctific and engineering information, Knovel released an online tool for converting units, might be useful for students...

www.knovel.com/unitconverter

Computer Model of Human Brain

Reverse engineering human brain
An ambitious project to create an accurate computer model of the brain has reached an impressive milestone. Scientists in Switzerland working with IBM researchers have shown that their computer simulation of the neocortical column, arguably the most complex part of a mammal's brain, appears to behave like its biological counterpart. By demonstrating that their simulation is realistic, the researchers say, these results suggest that an entire mammal brain could be completely modeled within three years, and a human brain within the next decade.

"What we're doing is reverse-engineering the brain," says Henry Markram, codirector of the Brain Mind Institute at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, in Switzerland, who led the work, called the Blue Brain project, which began in 2005. (See "IBM: The Computer Brain.") By mimicking the behavior of the brain down to the individual neuron, the researchers aim to create a modeling tool that can be used by neuroscientists to run experiments, test hypotheses, and analyze the effects of drugs more efficiently than they could using real brain tissue.

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Amazon Kindle

A new gadget from Amazon.com is Amazon Kindle. It's is an amazing e-book reader but it has many new cool features.

It has free wireless access to sprint cell phone network, so you can get latest books, newspapers and blogs online.

Here's the link for the product: http://www.amazon.com/kindle This page includes nice videos that demonstrates key features of the product...

Windows Feedback Program

You can get a free product from Microsoft if you sign up for Windows Feedback Program. Sorry but only for US residents.

You choose one from the following list but you need to fill out s survey and install an automated feedback application.

• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit DVD)
• Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007
• Microsoft Money Plus Premium
• Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2008
• Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008

And here's the web-address:

http://wfp.microsoft.com

Science Fiction to Reality: Stopping cars with radiation

A technology that we see in science fiction is becoming a reality and soon will be deployed in law enforcement vehicles around the nation. Researchers at Eureka Aerospace developed a device that emits microwave that can shut the microprocessor of an engine causing it to stop in its track.

Such a device could be used by law enforcement to stop fleeing and noncooperative vehicles at security checkpoints, or as perimeter protection for military bases, communication centers, and oil platforms in the open seas.

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