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chathu50

Gadgets

Microsoft: “Sayonara Vista…Hello 7!”

By Tom Conlon Posted on 2.9.2009 27 Comments
Is Microsoft finally admitting that Windows Vista is a lost cause? Well, that’s certainly not the official company line, but it does kind of seem that way to me. The embattled OS’s successor, Windows 7, wraps up a public beta in a few days and speculation is that Microsoft is planning to crown its heir to the Windows kingdom as early as the Fall. By then, Vista will have been on store shelves for less than three years. That’s not a very long time compared to XP, which was top dog for five years before being replaced by Vista—if it was ever really replaced at all.

2.13.2009 at 09:44am - Comment by chathu50

I wouldn't say VISTA is bad. I've taken a look at it but never installed it. Simply because I'm happy with XP and Vista offers me nothing better. My computer should handle Vista. But it handles XP better. I like office 2007, but fortunately it runs fine on XP. And if i had a blazing fast computer that handles Vista perfectly, I'd stick with XP and get an even better performance on games. Besides I can't be bothered finding out if my hardware would have problems with Vista. I think the problem is simply that Microsoft Outdid itself. Till XP came out OS's were shaky. I've tried every windows operating system from 3.1, 98, 2000, NT, ME. With XP i've stopped. And I'm happy. All i expect from an OS is stability and support from everything else. And I don't see my self bothering with an upgrade it W7 is properly tested.
Science

The Science of YouTube: Lightning

By PopSci Staff Posted on 10.27.2008 7 Comments
John Pavlus and Christopher Mims, also known as Small Mammal, are here again with the latest episode of The Science of YouTube, the Popular Science video series that humanely anesthetizes YouTube videos, dissects them deftly, and labels their exposed organs for all to enjoy. What happens when lightning strikes? A lot of bad language, for starters.

10.25.2008 at 03:43am - Comment by chathu50

I live in a country with a lot of lightning. I've personally never seen a purple colour. Personally I don't think I'll try to find it. Its way too bright to distinguish any colour in there. As for the video i think the real question is the step leader on the outside. I don't think anyone can actually see it. without slow motion video at least.
Science

In Defense of the LHC

By Posted on 3.18.2009 23 Comments
Today’s most ambitious scientific instruments are modern-day cathedrals in their size and complexity, if not in their purpose—these are, after all, structures built to shatter worldviews, not to reinforce them. And the grandest of all, pictured on these pages and fired into action today, will take us on a journey to one of the least-accessible places imaginable: the realm of quantum particles, less than a billionth the size of a single atom.

9.11.2008 at 04:52am - Comment by chathu50

You know. Put that way. This looks pretty cheap. Specially considering how little the B2's have been used. And that whats they've done so far hasn't been irreplaceable. Afterall a little human error, a lucky bullet or a good missile and there goes 1 billion. Come to think of it. This is a much safer investment too.
Cars

An American Autobahn

By Posted on 6.24.2008 25 Comments
As the host of one of the oldest and most famous racing events in the world, Indiana has always been known for fast cars. For now, those cars are still stuck on the racetrack, but a new study in the journal Transportation Research Record claims the roads are no more dangerous when motorists drive at Andretti-like speeds, providing further data in support of an American autobahn.

7.2.2008 at 04:57am - Comment by chathu50

I drive quite fast at times. My personal experience has been that as long as you drive at a speed you are comfortable with. There is no real link between speed and accidents. I've personally gotten in to more accidents driving at slow speed than at high speed. I admit the risk of serious injury increases with speed but that is not the same as saying high speed will cause more accidents. I think what is needed is better education on safe driving than just speed limits.
Science

Future Human: The Evolution of Immediate Emotion

By Posted on 5.5.2008 6 Comments
In my Science Confirms the Obvious post today, I discussed the first psychological proof (so say the authors) that humans can indeed experience emotions without immediately knowing why. We do this, they say, because we evolved that way. True, scientists love that explanation, but here its quite intriguing. Say youre walking through the woods and encounter a grizzly bear. You see it and freeze that instant—even before your stomach drops with fear.

5.7.2008 at 01:08am - Comment by chathu50

I totaly disagree with this article. What we are talking about is the comparison of individual response to a immediate threat vs the collective response of all people in the world to a forecast event. I've heard plenty of stories about people living in hiding awaiting for the appocalipse, alien invation or something of the sort. They are examples of the long term threat response of the brain which is being called un-developed. Global warming is a still debated issue. Scientists are clammouring to save the plannet (Annother example of the so called under developed response). The ordinary person does not spend his life thinking about global warming. Therefore it does not get enough attention from society as a whole. This is partly a weakness of the political system, that what is out of mind of the news networks gets ignored. I think its wrong to blame this on the brain, when society is simply not acting. Besides scientists are not quite sure even. Afterall as much as global warming is a crisis, so was global cooling a few decades ago (due to man made dust clouds).
Cars

Not All Fuel Standards Are Created Equal

By Posted on 4.29.2008 13 Comments
Could new federal fuel mileage regulations kill sports-car specialists like Porsche? Probably not, but those companies may have to pay heavy fines as the cost of doing business or radically change their US product mix. That's AutoWeek's interpretation of new rules proposed by the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

4.30.2008 at 08:43am - Comment by chathu50

What every one is forgetting is that this mad rush for fuel efficiency from auto makers, governments and every one is only because of market forces. If Oil had never hid $100 a barrel, every one would be happily talking about some other world ending problem. There has been more developments and actual action over fuel efficiency in the last couple of years than for decades, and all this before any regulations came in. Every big car manufacturer is already developing better engines, hybrids and a heap of other developments. With things as they are, why not let the market forces that did so much actually fix this problem. After all how do you regulate the mpg of the eventual electric are that comes out that takes one gallon of oil to generate electricity to power it a mile. Its not like I can afford a Porsche, but I'd still like to have it around.
Cars

Hydrogen-Bombing Down the Track

By Posted on 2.7.2008 2 Comments
For a closer look at the Honda FCX, click 'View Photo Gallery.' And for a rare Q&A with Honda's president and CEO, continue reading on the second page.

4.17.2008 at 06:42am - Comment by chathu50

So when can I get one?
The Environment

Scientists Weigh in on Biofuels vs. Food Debate

By Posted on 4.16.2008 15 Comments
The first annual BioMass conference, attended by biofuels researchers, manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and farmers, is underway here at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Prime on the agenda in the opening session this morning was a question lately blaring from headlines, for instance in a story in today's New York Times: can we grow crops for converting into fuel without catastrophically upsetting the world's food supply?

4.17.2008 at 05:41am - Comment by chathu50

The current food price hike is due to short term market forces of supply and demand. The real question is in the long term can current and easily accesible agricultural land support both world food production and bio fuel production. I think this is an issue that needs much deeper study than a few speeches at a conference. The big picture is that in the long term, any significant use of bio-fuels will either result in a fall in food production or an increase in agricultural use of land. Scientists from different sectors need to work together to decide if the net effect on Carbon emissions justifies the cost in terms of food prices and damange to vegitation. Also scientists need to consider alternate power sources including solar, and more efficient power production, and tell consumers what is best for the world as a whole. I also wonder why the mentioned technique is not in commercial use. Is there serious bottleneck in the process or is it simply just a new process yet to be commercialised.
Technology

Whatever Happened to the Blended Wing?

By Posted on 2.5.2008 15 Comments

2.17.2008 at 01:23am - Comment by chathu50

Must be technical issues with the plane design. I mean In flight entertainment systems are already advanced enough to give external views to passengers. Either that or the funding is tight for Boeing with the 787 and this will come out later once that is done. There is a project Yelowstone to eventually replace all Boeing planes. (Search Boeing Website)