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Topic: Cool Science
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CK
Member (Idle past 4127 days) Posts: 3221 Joined: 07-04-2004
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Message 1 of 5 (328804)
07-04-2006 3:49 PM
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I saw an article I wanted to share but could not think of a good existing thread to do it on - so here's the Cool science thread. That's scientific work, principles and application of science that makes you go "Wow that's cool! " To start us off:
quote: Every so often, we like to take a look at things whose functionality isn’t measured in gigabytes or megabangs, but instead just look amazing. This magnetic floating bed, I submit, may be among the coolest things we’ve ever covered. Designed by Dutchman Janjaap Ruijssenaars, it’s got enough magnets to keep 900 kilograms (1,984 pounds) floating in the air. To make sure that the bed doesn’t float away should it become windy (or “interesting,” wink wink), it’s tethered to the walls by four cables.
Magnetic Floating Bed: Oh. Your. God. (Pictures - article in dutch) Nieuwe Revu
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Crue Knight
Inactive Member
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Message 2 of 5 (329128)
07-05-2006 10:51 PM
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Reply to: Message 1 by CK 07-04-2006 3:49 PM
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Wow thats cool . ... What is a magnetic bed for? Is it supposed to reduce drag like the bullet train? Edited by Crue Knight, : No reason given.
This message is a reply to: | | Message 1 by CK, posted 07-04-2006 3:49 PM | | CK has not replied |
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arachnophilia
Member (Idle past 1343 days) Posts: 9069 From: god's waiting room Joined: 05-21-2004
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Message 3 of 5 (329134)
07-05-2006 10:56 PM
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Reply to: Message 1 by CK 07-04-2006 3:49 PM
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ONE POINT FIVE MILLION?!?!?! i'm sure there has to be a cheaper way. (also, hope you never, ever, ever want to use an electronic devices in the same room.)
This message is a reply to: | | Message 1 by CK, posted 07-04-2006 3:49 PM | | CK has not replied |
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CK
Member (Idle past 4127 days) Posts: 3221 Joined: 07-04-2004
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Message 4 of 5 (331389)
07-13-2006 7:35 AM
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Paralyzed man masters thought control
quote: ONDON - A paralyzed man using a new brain sensor has been able to move a computer cursor, open e-mail and control a robotic device simply by thinking about doing it, a team of scientists said Wednesday. They believe the BrainGate sensor, which involves implanting electrodes in the brain, could offer new hope to people paralyzed by injuries or illnesses. “This is the first step in an ongoing clinical trial of a device that is encouraging for its potential to help people with paralysis,” Dr. Leigh Hochberg of Massachusetts General Hospital said in an interview. Story continues below advertisement The 25-year-old man, who suffered paralysis of all four limbs three years earlier, completed tasks such as moving a cursor on a screen and controlling a robotic arm. He is the first of four patients with spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, stroke or motor neuron disease testing the brain-to-movement system developed by Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems Inc. in Masschusetts. “This is the dawn of major neurotechnology, where the ability to take signals out of the brain has taken a big step forward. We have the ability to put signals into the brain, but getting signals out is a real challenge. I think this represents a landmark event,” said John Donoghue, a professor at Brown University and the chief scientific officer of Cyberkinetics. The scientists implanted a tiny silicon chip with 100 electrodes into an area of the brain responsible for movement. The activity of the cells was recorded and sent to a computer, which translated the commands and enabled the patient to move and control the external device. “This part of the brain, the motor cortex, which usually sends its signals down the spinal cord and out to the limbs to control movement, can still be used by this participant to control an external device, even after years had gone by since his spinal cord injury,” added Hochberg, a co-author of the study published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. Although it is not the first time brain activity has been used to control a cursor, Stephen Scott of Queen’s University in Ontario said it advances the technology. “This research suggests that implanted prosthetics are a viable approach for assisting severely impaired individuals to communicate and interact with the environment,” he said in a commentary in the journal.
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Replies to this message: | | Message 5 by subbie, posted 07-13-2006 7:40 PM | | CK has not replied |
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subbie
Member (Idle past 1254 days) Posts: 3509 Joined: 02-26-2006
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Message 5 of 5 (331616)
07-13-2006 7:40 PM
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Reply to: Message 4 by CK 07-13-2006 7:35 AM
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Re: Paralyzed man masters thought control
In addition to being one of the coolest things I have ever heard of, this has the added benefit of also being quite useful, as opposed to that stupid magnobed.
Those who would sacrifice an essential liberty for a temporary security will lose both, and deserve neither. -- Benjamin Franklin
This message is a reply to: | | Message 4 by CK, posted 07-13-2006 7:35 AM | | CK has not replied |
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