Chemistry Nobel

Peering into the processes of life, into cells and what goes on there, is not just a matter of looking into microscopes. Science needs help, some kind of insider that can report back on what's happening in there. 3 scientists working in America have won this year's Chemistry Nobel Prize for discovering and developing GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein).

Read more.

Large Hadron Collider for dummies

Okay, it's not actually for dummies, but here's a rap video made by geeks for the rest of us. Kate McAlpine, the 'physics rapper', works at CERN, the European Centre for Nuclear Research, which runs the famous Large Hadron Collider. She has a website here . And here's the famous video:

Your battery's charge is in your blood!

Can blood be used to power batteries?

Blood batteries as thin as a sheet of paper are currently under development by scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.This type of battery uses the electrolytes naturally found in bodily fluids such as blood or sweat.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/blood-battery.htm

How important is the Atomic Theory?

Suppose something terrible were to happen to Earth, and we the living could only pass one sentence to the next generation. What would it be? Nobel Prize winning physicist Richard Feynman in his book, Six Easy Pieces, nominates the first sentence of this paragraph.

All things are made of atoms. They are the little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a little distance apart, but repelling upon being squeezed into one another.

The concept of atoms is that important.

For energy, why look further than your body?

So it was only a matter of time before someone came up with this. Charge your iPod as you dance!

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9979040-1.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Can Algae produce oil for our energy needs?

Of all the potential sources for petroleum and oil, this is one of the most interesting that I have come across.

http://news.cnet.com/2300-13840_3-6242586-1.html?hhTest&tag=ne.gall.pg

Eclipses

Just thought I'd share this map of future total solar eclipses. Apparently, the next one to be visible in India is on July 22, 2009. Just over a year away.

There's one on August 1, 2008, but that won't be visible in India. 

Photo credit: www.exploratorium.edu