Scientists create fully-functional brain neurons from mouse skin cells

It’s a good excuse to shoehorn Pinky and the Brain on to the site, but scientists have managed to graft neurons reprogrammed from skin cells into the brains of mice. It isn’t the first time that’s been done, but it is the first time the researchers have had any luck with the neurons surviving into long-term stability. Better still, six months after implantation, the neurons had become fully-functional inside the brain. Cell replacement therapy would be able to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, replacing non-working neurons with new cells reprogrammed from elsewhere. It’s still a ways off, however, according to stem cell research head Prof. Schwamborn: “I am sure successful cell replacement therapies will exist in future. Our research results have taken us a step further in this direction.”

Filed under: Science

Comments

Source: Alpha Gallileo

.CPlase_panel display:none;

Google sheds light on its child porn detector after sex offender arrest

Thanks to Google, a sex offender was recently arrested after the company tipped off authorities about finding illegal photos of children in his email. Despite the good that came out of it, it raised a number of questions, such as “does Google regularly look into the contents of our email?” A Gmail spokesperson has gotten in touch with AFP to clear the air and revealed that each image that depicts child sexual abuse actually has a unique digital fingerprint, which a special Google technology can detect. While the spokesperson didn’t talk about it in detail, that technology might be what the company supposedly developed last year: a system that can trawl the web and email accounts for child sex images. Gmail’s rep made clear, however, that Mountain View only uses the system to detect child porn — it can’t actually parse emails that contain details of any other criminal activity, like burglary.

Filed under: Misc, Internet

Comments

Source: AFP

.CPlase_panel display:none;

US billboards to display interactive paintings to teach you art history

Several billboards in Times Square displayed something a lot different than the usual on August 4th — instead of ads, they displayed some of the most recognizable American paintings. What happened in Times Square marks the launch of the Art Everywhere US project, which touts itself as the “largest outdoor art exhibition ever conceived.” Its organizers plan to showcase 58 artworks (voted by people out of the original 100, with Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks topping the list) across the country throughout the month of August.

If you slept during most of your art classes and can’t really name many of the paintings to be displayed (the artwork above is called the American Gothic by Grant Wood, by the way), don’t worry: these displays are actually interactive. So long as you have the Augmented Reality advertising app Blippar on your Android, iOS or Windows Phone device, you can just look at the painting through your phone to see its info, along with audio guides and other AR elements. To catch the “art exhibit” as it goes from coast to coast, check out Art Everywhere’s official map or follow the project’s Twitter or Facebook pages.

[Image credit: Art Everywhere US/Facebook]

Filed under: Misc

Comments

Via: The Creators Project

Source: Art Everywhere US

.CPlase_panel display:none;

Square just bought a restaurant delivery company

Here’s something unexpected: Square — the company that turned your cell phone into a credit card reader — just purchased Caviar, a company that delivers food from restaurants that don’t normally deliver. It’s an unexpected acquisition; Caviar is a consumer facing service, while Square tends to market its services to independent businesses. Still, Square CEO Jack Dorsey says the purchase is completely on track with the company’s goals.

“Caviar’s curated, seamless delivery experience is exactly the kind of service we want to provide buyers and sellers,” the CEO explained. “By making delivery such a fast, friendly and easy process, Caviar gives time back to restaurants so they can focus on what they do best — cooking great food for their customers.” Caviar will still operate independently of Square, at least for now, but it gives the company one more service to offer to independent businesses to help them grow. Maybe this acquisition makes sense after all.

[Image credit: Getty Images]

Filed under: Internet

Comments

Source: Square, Caviar

.CPlase_panel display:none;

SpaceX’s new rocket facility officially lands in Brownsville, Texas

SpaceX made clear that it was going to put a launch facility in Texas before long, and today we’ve received the full skinny on just where that base is going. As suspected, the Governor’s Office has announced that the commercial spaceport will be built in Brownsville, near the Mexico border. The state says it will pump a total of $15.3 million into the region to help create the necessary infrastructure. This isn’t SpaceX’s first Texan location (it already has a development site in McGregor), but it will certainly be the most conspicuous — especially if rumors of multiple vehicle launches per day ultimately prove true.

Comments

Source: Office of the Governor

.CPlase_panel display:none;

Engadget Daily: robotic exoskeletons, what you need to know about EVs and more!

Today, we explore the technology behind electric vehicles, Microsoft puts the Surface in the hands of NFL coaches, and we learn about ship-building robotic exoskeletons and more. Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last 24 hours.

Comments

.CPlase_panel display:none;