What a find! paper models for all sorts of cool things: Space:1999 stun gun and comlock, Diskworld Luggage, Cavorite Sphere, Gizmonic Institute Model, Trojan Rabbit Model, classic Flying Saucer, and much more!
Author: John
Slow Light Laser
Could this be the basis of quantum computers? Maybe…
Physicists in Australia have slowed a speeding laser pulse and captured it in a crystal, a feat that could be instrumental in creating quantum computers.
The scientists slowed the laser light pulse from 300,000 kilometers per second to just several hundred meters per second, allowing them to capture the pulse for about a second.
Wired News: This Laser Trick’s a Quantum Leap
(Thank you Special Agent Steve for this info)
OS X for Legacy Macs
Have an old Mac and want to run something other than Systm 9 on it? Have a look here, if you can find your antique in the list of supported hardware head on down to the local Apple store and get yourself a copy of OS X and load it up.
Adaptive Optics Produces Ultrasharp Images Of Sunspot
Greg sent this to me:
The Dunn has two high-order adaptive optics benches, the only telescope in the world with two systems, which enhances instrument setup and operations.
This image was built from a series of 80 images, each 1/100th of a second long (10 ms), taken over a period of 3 seconds by a high-resolution Dalsa 4M30 CCD camera in its first observing run after being added to the Dunn. Speckle imaging reconstruction then compiles the 80 images and greatly reduces residual seeing aberrations.
I wonder if any digital camera makers will ever offer adaptive optics on their products. It may not be practical to do the layering of images if your subject is moving, but it might be useful to chart out the lens flaws and build a digital filter to correct them in camera.
Nope, Its Not Your Eyes That Are Going bad Afterall
Lovely, looks like if you have a camera (still or video) that uses a Sony CCD it my be susceptible to moisture leaking into the sensor and messing up the images.
Konica Minolta, Canon, Nikon Fujifilm, also issue CCD alerts
Dr. Mabuse
A few nights ago I happened to see an old B&W German film by Fritz Lang called “Testament of Dr. Mabuse”. It was fantastic! I have long been a fan of German expressionism in films like ‘Metropolis’ and ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’, the use of light and shadow in these films is just breathtaking.
The story behind Marbuse is one of a sinister and pure evil man bent on social destruction and chaos. He’s not like an evil genius of today where he has some major character flaw or he ultimately wants money or power. Marbuse wants chaos and anarchy. Ordering his men to steal a quarter million Marks worth of gems and jewels in order to buy as many narcotics is one thing. But to also order that the drugs be given away for free to anyone that wants them and thus hooking more of the population is just pure evil.
If you want to own a copy of this great film, pick up the Criterion release. It’s going to be well worth it.
For more info on this film, take a look at:
Bright Lights Film Journal – Dr. Mabuse