Monthly Archives: February 2016

Feb 14

SciTech #ScienceSunday Digest – 07/2016.

Posted on by

SciTech #ScienceSunday Digest – 07/2016.

Permalink here: http://www.scitechdigest.net/2016/02/brain-preservation-win-stent-bci-dna.html

Brain preservation win, Stent BCI, DNA nanocage chemistry, Cell transformation mastery, Gravity waves confirmed, Electron fluid on graphene, Laser boosts superconductivity, Better GPS, Artificial capillary networks, Protein nanoneedles. 

1. Long Term Structural Brain Preservation

The brain preservation prize has been claimed by a new aldehyde-stabilised cryopreservation procedure that proves that near perfect, long term structural preservation of intact mammalian brains is possible, with every neuron and synapse appearing to be captured even after freezing and thawing http://www.brainpreservation.org/small-mammal-announcement/. This is a very big step towards validating cryonics and cryogenic preservation for life extension, stasis, and future uploading applications. 

2. Stentode is a Less Invasive BCI

A DARPA team has created an electrode-laden stent as a neural recording device that, like similar conventional stents, is designed to be introduced through blood vessels in the neck to reach capillaries in the desired region of the brain in order to record neural firing and function as a less invasive brain computer interface http://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2015-02-08. Proof of concept successfully measured motor cortex signals in sheep and human studies are planned for 2017. In related news we had a new design for an implanted wireless power device for BCIs http://www.kurzweilai.net/powering-brain-implants-without-wires-with-thin-film-wireless-power-transmission-system. 

3. DNA Nanocages Accelerate Enzyme Function

Self-assembled DNA origami nanocages have been formed in which enzymes are confined and localised along with their substrate molecules and serving to both accelerate the rate of enzymatic reactions and shield the enzymes from typical degradation processes https://asunow.asu.edu/20160210-chemical-cages-new-technique-advances-synthetic-biology. More complex cages and scaffolds in future might allow more sophisticated enzyme cascades that could perform a wide range of useful functions; another small step on the path to atomically precise fabrication. 

4. Mogrify is a Cell Transformation Algorithm

Mogrify is a new algorithm that draws on a large database of human cell and tissue types and, according to the research team, is able to predict the optimal set of factors required to transform any cell type into any other cell type http://www.sciencealert.com/new-algorithm-points-the-way-towards-regrowing-limbs-and-organs/page-2. Initial studies have confirmed this but more are needed and it is expected to become more accurate over time as more data is acquired. 

5. Gravity Waves Confirmed

In the biggest news of the week the existence of gravity waves has been confirmed by the LIGO experiment, and made possible after a large and expensive detector sensitivity upgrade https://www.quantamagazine.org/20160211-gravitational-waves-discovered-at-long-last/. The finding was confirmed by two separate, correlated detection events at two different LIGO detectors whose signal profiles matched theoretical models and predictions, and believed to be caused by a black hole merger in which three times the mass of our sun was converted into gravitational wave energy. Setting up LIGO detectors in India, Japan, and other sites will help cement gravity wave astronomy and allow pinpointing of gravity wave sources. 

6. Liquid Nature of Graphene Electrons

The surface electrons on ultra-pure graphene surfaces have been observed acting like a collective fluid describable by hydrodynamics, with individual electrons behaving like massless relativistic objects https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2016/02/metal-that-behaves-like-water. Energy injected into the system flowed across many electrons, like a wave through water. Such a fluid allows for simulating and experimenting with black hole physics and other high energy environments. It’d be interesting to know what the other properties are for the waves in this fluid; if frictionless then energy and charge transfer without losses might be possible. 

7. Laser-Boosted Superconductivity

Work to boost superconducting transition temperatures with lasers continues with a new class of fullerene materials in which laser pulses induce superconductivity at minus 170 degrees Celsius instead of minus 250 degrees Celsius without the laser https://www.mpg.de/9949877/superconductivity-fullerenes-light-induced. It is hoped that additional work helps to unveil a general mechanism by which this phenomena can be controlled at ever-higher temperatures. In related news endohedral fullerenes (fullerene cages with a single atom trapped inside) are now available commercially http://arstechnica.co.uk/science/2015/12/oxford-company-now-selling-endohedral-fullerenes-priced-at-110-million-per-gram/. 

8. Consumer GPS to Centimeter Accuracy

Newly reformulated algorithms for calculating GPS position are much more efficient and look set to enable mobile and wearable devices to achieve centimeter-level positional GPS accuracy http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/34932. The technique combines measurements from a GPS unit, an inertial measurement unit, and an internal navigation system. This should prove useful for phones, drones, and internet of things applications. 

9. Better Artificial Capillary Networks for Engineered Organs

Using a $40 cotton candy machine allows researchers to spin out special hydrogels into threads that are comparable to normal capillaries and which form three dimensional microfluidic networks able to facilitate the transport of fluids, nutrients, and oxygen through bulk materials http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2016/02/cotton-candy-machines-may-hold-key-for-making-artificial-organs/. The proof of concept artificial organ structures were able to keep cells throughout the structure alive and well for much longer than other approaches and provide a promising platform on which to develop better-performing artificial organs. 

10. Retractable Protein Nanoneedles

Protein nanoneedles are found in bacteria where they are used to puncture cell membranes. These structures, which rapidly extend from a coil to a needle and back again depending on changes in pH past a threshold, are being engineered as a tool in synthetic biology as an alternative mechanism to deliver material such as genes into cells http://wyss.harvard.edu/viewpressrelease/245. However, these little actuators might be commandeered en masse to create functional and responsive materials at the nanoscale, for example (i) helping to build little motors for tiny devices, (ii) altering the shape and properties of a material, or (iii) being used in controlled chemical and enzymatic production processes e.g. combined with #3 above offers interesting possibilities. 

SciTech Tip Jar: http://www.scitechdigest.net/p/donate.html

Feb 13

Well, my short story submissions are back up to six.

Posted on by

Well, my short story submissions are back up to six. I’ve sent a YA piece I’ve had kicking round for ages to Cast of Wonders, the new YA podcast from Escape Artists; “Castle” to Fantastic Stories of the Imagination; and Brother Blue to Asimov’s. 

Yes, I’ve submitted a novella (albeit a short one – 18,700 words) to Asimov’s, knowing that they only take one per issue, at most, and that I’m competing with the best SF writers in the world. 

It’s an act of chutzpah, but I don’t want to pre-reject my story on their behalf. I think it’s some of my best work so far. 

Feb 10

An excessively pessimistic view of marriage here, but great story fodder in this list of 100 marriages of different…

Posted on by

An excessively pessimistic view of marriage here, but great story fodder in this list of 100 marriages of different social classes (followed by 12 more in depth). Via The Public Domain Review. 

https://archive.org/stream/sexuallifeofourt00blociala#page/222/mode/1up
Feb 10

When I review books, the ones that earn five stars have both fresh, interesting ideas and excellent execution.

Posted on by

When I review books, the ones that earn five stars have both fresh, interesting ideas and excellent execution. One or the other gets four stars, unless the weaker one is especially weak.

This is basically what Rachel Aaron is talking about, from a writer’s perspective, in this post, using the metaphor of the Great British Bakeoff.

Originally shared by Rachel Aaron

Writing Wednesday: Flavor vs. Bake

First up, if you’re at all interested in the self publishing business, go and check out the latest Author Earnings Report . It’s one of their better ones and paints an amazing picture of the current Amazon book market (which is pretty much the #1 most impor…

Feb 09

From standoutbooks, a simple formula for effective blurb writing:

Posted on by

From standoutbooks, a simple formula for effective blurb writing:

1. Hook (context; why this story is interesting, usually because of a setting or character).

2. Conflict (what goes wrong).

3. Teaser of how the story might develop, the possibilities for triumph and disaster. 

4. An indication of how the story might make the reader feel.

5. Involve the reader with the word “you”. 

The post makes the point that structuring a blurb this way gives the potential buyer the experience of already reading the book and wanting to read more. 

I would warn, though, especially for indie books, if you praise your own book too much in step 4 (“a stunning triumph of literature such as you’ve never read before”), it’s more likely to repel readers than attract them. Use that step like a restaurant sign: this is the kind of experience the book offers. In other words, give genre clues, so the potential purchaser can decide whether that’s the experience they want today. 

http://sumo.ly/fmc1
Feb 09

There’s value in proceeding with confidence in your process, even when you don’t have clear evidence yet that it’s…

Posted on by

There’s value in proceeding with confidence in your process, even when you don’t have clear evidence yet that it’s going to produce results.

Originally shared by Art Markman

http://www.fastcompany.com/3056421/hit-the-ground-running/the-benefits-of-being-comfortable-with-uncertainty
Feb 09

In connection with my day job, I just listened to this online interview series about the Internet of Things.

Posted on by

In connection with my day job, I just listened to this online interview series about the Internet of Things.

There were a few points that interested me as someone who likes to think about, and write fiction set in, the future:

– Industry will need different kinds of workers (more flexible, participating in lifetime learning, good at working in teams, doing more decisionmaking).

– Therefore, a different approach to education and a different education system will be needed.

– Who owns the data produced by the things you own? The manufacturer? You? The government?

– Resilience of the system is important as complexity increases – ability to “reboot” in an acceptable timeframe, or otherwise deal with failure in a way that doesn’t cascade into other, linked systems.

I also came up with a story idea: in a world of automated machines which cooperate according to their digital model of the world, a person is voluntarily or involuntarily excluded from that world, and therefore at risk as well as free – the machines can’t “see” the person.

https://open.sap.com/courses/iot1

Feb 08

The latest Author Earnings report from Hugh Howey and Data Guy refines the methodology of earlier reports, using…

Posted on by

The latest Author Earnings report from Hugh Howey and Data Guy refines the methodology of earlier reports, using better data, and finds that the previous figures were actually pretty accurate. 

Indie growth continues in ebook sales, as expected, but also in print and audio. And ebook sales overall continue to grow, now to over $2 billion a year from Amazon alone (almost half of which isn’t accounted for by the sources that traditional publishers, and most journalists, use, because of books that don’t have ISBNs). 

http://authorearnings.com/report/february-2016-author-earnings-report/
Feb 07

Here’s how things are looking for the Makers of Magic themed single-author collection that I talked about the other…

Posted on by

Here’s how things are looking for the Makers of Magic themed single-author collection that I talked about the other day. 

Of course, my editor may come back to me and say that the three stories I have with her are no good, or the market may not want them. But all going well, you should see this collection around the middle of next year.