Sunday 29 September 2013

The Curiosity Machine




The Curiosity Machine

The Curiosity Machine is a web based STEM learning portal that introduces young students to scientists and their work. There are videos of scientists talking about their research, along with instructions for associated experiments for kids to partake in. Even better: there’s an interactive portion, where the students can upload videos of their experiment for the scientists to give feedback on.

Should the rules of war be included in computer games?

The Red Cross wants to have a greater influence in the virtual world of battlefields.
The aid organisation is arguing that as virtual war games are becoming close to reality, the rules of war should be included.
It claims games such as Medal of Honour, or Call of Duty should make sure that actions which could be war crimes are not rewarded with victory in a virtual battle.


Wednesday 18 September 2013

How Smartphones Became Vital Tools Against Dengue In Pakistan


So far this year, the Lahore metropolitan area has recorded a few dozen cases of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease characterized by fever, headache, and joint pain. The number is significantly lower than in past years, thanks to a smartphone app created by computer scientist Umar Saif that allows officials to track all efforts to prevent the disease's spread. This includes photologging crews of sanitation workers as they clear out pools of standing water that can serve as mosquito breeding grounds.




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Meet the Drone That's Guiding New Students Around MIT This Fall




Tuesday 17 September 2013

James Lyne: Everyday cybercrime -- and what you can do about it



How do you pick up a malicious online virus, the kind of malware that snoops on your data and taps your bank account? Often, it's through simple things you do each day without thinking twice. James Lyne reminds us that it's not only the NSA that's watching us, but ever-more-sophisticated cybercriminals, who exploit both weak code and trusting human nature.






Friday 13 September 2013

Smart approach to house spider survey





If you're not afraid of them, autumn is the best time of year to see one of the arachnids as males come out of their usual hiding places in search of a mate.

And according to the Society of Biology, which has launched a newrecording scheme, the spiders may have started early.
Thanks to a smartphone app they have already received 3,000 reports - including sightings in August - but there have been few previous studies of this kind for accurate comparison.