We Have Concerns

According to quantum physics, Planck's Constant is the smallest unit of measure in the universe, beyond which nothing can be further divided. Scientists at the Fermilab are building a Holographic Interferometer, or Holometer, with which they intend to test this theory. If true, it could mean that our entire dimension is a hologram, projected into 3D space like a pixelized image on your computer screen...

Researchers at the University of Bristol are using ultrasound to create invisible objects in the air that you can reach out and touch. Of course, Anthony and Jeff see this as the first step toward full holodeck technology, and and try to determine which industry can accelerate progress to that goal fastest. Hint: it's porn.

An NPR story about NBC's Peter Pan Live television event points out that a significant portion of the audience of major TV hits are people who self-identify as "hate-watching" the programming. In fact, some networks are even programming to take advantage of these tendencies, embracing the live-tweeters who mock and add snide comments to the viewing experience. Jeff and Anthony have a major problem with the idea of "hate-watching", but also both enjoy a great bad movie...

We are consuming more chocolate than we produce, and at the current deficit we may soon be facing a global cocoa shortage. As a fan of chocolatey goodies, Jeff is worried about a potential joyless chocolate-free future, while Anthony welcomes a forced worldwide dietary shift. One thing's for certain, this episode is totally sweet.

By actually printing DNA, researchers are now able to create entirely new species. They started with a glow-in-the-dark plant, and now have plans to design microbes that will live in your stomach and actually change the smell of your fecal matter. Even crazier, they may be able to associate particular gas odors with biological states, so you can effectively have an early warning system built inside you...

Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have synthesized crystalline materials that can bind and store oxygen in high concentrations. That means that we may be able to use crystals to replace oxygen tanks or even allow divers to simply draw oxygen directly out of H2O through the crystal. Anthony has always wanted to breathe underwater, but Jeff is worried about sucking on crystals for more than good vibes.

Anthony and Jeff's debate about the joy to be found in running and exercise contuinues. This time, Jeff has an article from the New York Times about a study which showed that mice will spend time on a running wheel, even when they don't have to. When placed out in the woods, completely unattended, mice and other creatures would jump onto a wheel, and spend time running on it... for fun. Is this the proof Jeff has always wanted, or are these just Anthony's alpha Brock mice?

An open source group has recreated the brain of a worm, neuron for neuron, and recently programmed this data into the body of a Lego Mindspring robot. Rather than dictating specific behavior into the software, the program simply fires each neural imulse exactly as a worm's brain would. The result is remarkably worm-like behavior in Lego form...

A British performance artist is raising money to live inside the Oculus Rift virtual environment nonstop for 28 days. He will be connected at all times with another human being - someone he has never met - seeing what he sees, eating what he eats, sleeping and going to the bathroom only when he does. Jeff and Anthony are fascinated by this idea, but wonder when and how this experience will break down. Also the puking. There's got to be a lot of puking.

Scientists have found the most well preserved mammoth ever- so fresh they even took a bite of mammoth meat. Does its DNA contain enough complete information to clone it? If so, should we? What happens if we bring back exctinct species?