Computers Give Makeovers; Rank Prettiness

March 31, 2008

It's a sad day in Selfworthland when we start relying on computers to suggest beauty tips and then hold out for affirmation as another one ranks attractiveness. Ok, it's not that bad. But it could go there.

Two computer graphics researchers from the University of California at San Diego have created a free website called Taaz that allows would-be beauty queens to upload photos and then try out more than 4,000 makeup products. And because everyone is going the way of social networking, once you upload on image and make yourself over, you can share with other Taaz friends, who can give you points for style. Press release here.

And if you can't accept your Taaz points as good enough, you could try to get your hands on the sw that ranks facial attractiveness, being developed by computer scientists at Tel Aviv University. Touted as a "substantial advance in the development of artificial intelligence," the program uses an algorithm to crunch 98 beauty characteristics, such as hair color, skin smoothness, and facial symmetry to rank beauty. The numbers ultimately come from rankings that were initially submitted by humans but the computer was able to learn from those and make its own predictions.

What did the computer find beautiful? Mugs that lacked extreme facial characteristics. Hey Big Nose Horse Face. You may need a computerized makeover.

Circuits Do the Twist

March 28, 2008

There's just one word for circuits that help power laptops, cell phones, computers, and just about every other electronic device: rigid. That feature not only makes computer chips brittle and subject to breakage, but also makes them inflexible, which limits where they can be used.

Now researchers have advanced development of stretchable silicon circuits. The electronics can be pulled, compressed, folded, and deformed without adverse effect on their performance. This could make it possible to use them in nonconventional ways, such as wrapping them around rounded objects. Imagine a robot with electronic skin, for example, or a human prosthetic of the same material, for that matter. There is also opportunity for wearable systems that monitor health conditions or offer therapy, as well as systems that wrap around mechanical parts such as aircraft wings and fuselages to check for structural properties.

The researchers, led by John Rogers of the University of Illinois, report their work in this week's issue of Science.

Flying Spaghetti Monster Appears in Tennessee

March 24, 2008

While my artistic skills are limited to stick figures, I gotta say that I enjoy the new public art project in front of the Cumberland County Courthouse in Crossville, Tennessee.

According to the blog of the group that built the art piece, the 21st of March celebrates "the day the Flying Spaghetti Monster appeared from the giant pasta pot....or so the the Cook Book says."

The Flying Spaghetti Monster first appeared in 2005 when Bobby Henderson, a "concerned citizen" who was trying to avoid a job as a slot-machine programmer in Las Vegas, sent an open letter to the Kansas Board of Education prior to their hearings on the teaching of evolution in science classrooms.  In the letter Henderson satirically posited the existence of a new deity, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and in essence claimed that his new faith-based deity had as much reason to be taught in classrooms as a faith-based theory like Intelligent Design.  Since then "Pastafarianism" has grown and become a de facto symbol against Creationism and Intelligent Design.

Here is the text of Installation Ceremony Speech, via BoingBoing.

    Statement at Installation Ceremony
    March 21, 2008

    We are lucky enough to live in a country that allows us, its citizens, the freedom of speech. I have chosen to put up a statue of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to represent the discourse between people of all different beliefs. The many faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds of Cumberland County’s residents make our community a stronger richer place. I respect and am proud that on the people’s lawn, the county courthouse, all of these diverse beliefs can come together in a positive dialogue. Here, we are all able to share the issues close to our hearts whether it is through a memorial to the soldiers killed fighting for our country, the Statue of Liberty honoring our nations welcoming promise to all, a group’s fight to stop homelessness, or powerful symbols of faith. I greatly treasure this open forum between everyone in the community.

    The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a pile of noodles and meatballs, but it is meant to open up discussion and provoke thought. Being able to put up a statue is a celebration of our freedom as Americans; a freedom to be different, to express those differences, and to do it amongst neighbors -— even if it is in a noodley way.

Telomerase Ecstacy

After reading a recent Stanford University press release, I feel like I am about to swoon in scientific ecstasy over telomerase. 

This "intriguing workhorse" is a "behemoth" that "basic scientists" pursue with "avid interest" in an attempt to "get their hands on it" so they can find out "what it is".   

"Until now."

Apparently the writer has a very deep voice.  Maybe they could do the announcement for my next monster truck rally.  I bet they could belt out the "Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!" part really well.  I'd even be willing to foot the bill for some seizure-inducing flashes to get more attention.

Back to the science though: we now know what telemerase is!

Science actually knows quite a bit about it.  Telomers sit at each end of a chromosome, the elongated X-shaped thing that contains our DNA.  After cells divide a little chunk of the telomer disappears, aging the cells.  Old cells off-themselves so they don't pass on harmful mutations.

Telemerase is an enzyme that repairs damaged telomeres.  Cancer cells have telemerase, and normal cells don't (it vanishes shortly after birth) which is why cancer cells live forever.  A drug that blocks telemerase should help block cancer, or a drug that induces telemerase could extend life.

So what did Stanford scientists do?  "With gene in hand" and "many technical advances" the scientists "chopped the massive telomerase complex into tiny protein pieces," put them through a "sensative device that detected the pieces" and found two proteins in telomerase.  They disabled one protein using "genetic trickery" in petri dish cells and found out which gene produced the protein or proteins.

Photo: Phoenix 

SmartCane Helps Prevent Senseless Falls

March 21, 2008

More than 4 million people in the U.S. use canes. And although the staff is meant to help, sometimes it does more harm than good. People use canes improperly, experience repetitive stress injuries, or rely on the device in the presence of obstacles, which can lead to a bad fall.

Now researchers have developed an electronic cane that is embedded with sensors, a computer, and wireless networking technology. The SmartCane can, among other things, detect usage patterns, predicts outcomes, such as a fall, and inform the patient or caregiver about how the device is being used in the first place--which can improve safety and performance.

The technology comes out of the University of California, Los Angeles and was recently presented at the BodyNets 2008 conference.

I'm Speechless

March 20, 2008

See more at Boston Dynamics.

Science finds how body breaks bacteria's middle finger

March 19, 2008

From start to finish the human gut plays host to trillions of foreign bacteria. While a few of these guests are happy to kick in few bucks to the owner in the form of vitamins and proteins, others, like e. coli and H. pylori the bacteria that causes ulcers, throw tantrums if they aren't happy.

Now researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in a March 4th article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences have found a new chemical that, while maybe not keeping these unwelcome guests happy at least keeps them docile.  The enzyme, intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), is produced by a full small intestine.  An empty intestine produces no IAP.  The research helps explain why patients recieving IV fluids and nutrients still need food in their stomach to avoid infection.

IAP attacks lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a molecule found on the surface of many foreign and pathogenic bacteria.  Because I like the image and I'm paraphrasing very roughly from the Harvard Focus, LPS "taunts" the immune system, essentially giving it the middle finger.  While the rest of the body takes the moral high ground, IAP breaks the offending finger, in this case a phosphate group at the end of the LPS molecule.  The bacteria slink off in shame, cradling their injured surface proteins.

Come Together, Right Now, on Google Maps

I like collaborating with people, getting their ideas, their opinions, their nay-saying, their agreements. And for that reason, I like collaborative web projects like Wikipedia. Yeah, I know it's not always 100 percent accurate. But it certainly serves as a good place to start in order to dig deeper into an idea. And more to the point, it's a place where people come together.

And now I can add Google Maps to the list. Because according to a blog posted yesterday, it has now updated it's function to allow everyday cartographers to edit places. Check it out. 

Oh F-117, we hardly knew (or saw) you

March 18, 2008

The US Air Force is set to retire the remaining members of its stealth fighter fleet, the F-117, to make money available for its next-generation air fighter, the F-22 Raptor.  The Raptor is also equipped with stealth technology.

The black, angular plane was the first to use stealth technology, which while not making it completely invisible to radar, made it much more difficult to detect.  The single-seat aircraft served for more than 27 years in the Air Force, and was in action from Serbia to Iraq.  Not one F-117 was ever damaged in combat.

The aircraft was originally designed back in the 1970s and was first flown over Nevada's basin and range topography in 1981. 

Only 59 F-117s were ever made.  37 planes have already been retired and seven have crashed. The remaining planes will be placed at Tonopah Test Range Airfield in Nevada on April 22.

Photo: AP

Aunt Barb Takes on Rockeffeller University

In last week's issue of Science, researchers from Rockefeller University figured out how DEET, the widely used insect repellent, works.  The chemical shuts down a specific receptor, Or83b, in the 'nose' of the mosquito, making it impossible to detect a scent like sweat. 

It's a cool piece of research, but I wonder what my step-Aunt Barb, with her Bible-thumping southerness, would say about this new result?  Let's ask her.

"Well [with a gentil laugh] that's great that scientists know why bugs don't like bug spray, but doesn't everyone already know that?  And this won't stop me from getting bit by the little nasties as I sit outside next to my pool, will it?

"Probably not, but Aunt Barb, you never sit outside. You spend all your time indoor knitting socks for your grandkids."

"Yeah!  But if I wanted to sit outside next to the pool your uncle blew up  [true story, by the way]  and not get bit by the little devils, I don't think this would stop them from biting me.  And didn't you tell me that Science is like a really important magazine?  Why would a big important magazine be saying something everybody already knows?"

"Well Aunt Barb, I suppose they think that now that scientists know why DEET works someone might be able to make a better DEET that keeps mosquitoes from biting people."

"I guess that makes sense, but why do they have to know that?  Why can't they just make a better bug spray?"

Image: mydigitallife