As I've been struggling to find one last interesting topic to write about, I've decided to finish this assignment off with a reflection, instead. As far as assignments go, I can think of far worse ones. I might even go so far as to say that it has been kind of enjoyable. The one thing that really dissapointed me however, was the lack of discussion that took place. I suppose I really shouldn't have expected much in the first place, but it certainly would have made this more enjoyable to do.
Looking back, I'm not certain that I've done much that was really directly to the material, and perhaps it would have been better to do more along those lines. Of course, looking at some of the other weblogs, I see that I'm not entirely alone in choosing a great deal of semi-off topic topics. I also didn't get to write about several of the topics I had originally wanted to do. A month or two ago, there was an article in a paper from home about chimeric experimentation (mixing the genetic material of two different species) that I had wanted to look at. I also had an article from Air & Space magazine that examined the Challenger accident and took a tour of the process of manufacturing the SRBs. I had planned on hosting the article on my server space here, so that people could read it, but I had some trouble in getting it scanned.
4.28.2005
4.26.2005
Induced Hibernation
It seems that an interesting and useful new medical technology is in the works...
This article from CNN's site will give you the details. In short, small amounts of Hydrogen Sulfide gas can be used to tremendously lower the metabolism of lab mice, something on the order of 90%.
This reduction results in inducing hypothermia (a technique already being used in some operations today) and by greatly lowering oxygen/energy requirements of the subject. Merely supplying fresh air is enough to bring the subject back to normal metabolism. The principal application being looked at currently would be allowing people who are recieving organ transplants to survive waiting for a longer period of time. It would also seem that one of the staples of sci-fi, induced hybernation, is drawing a bit closer to becoming a reality.
This article from CNN's site will give you the details. In short, small amounts of Hydrogen Sulfide gas can be used to tremendously lower the metabolism of lab mice, something on the order of 90%.
This reduction results in inducing hypothermia (a technique already being used in some operations today) and by greatly lowering oxygen/energy requirements of the subject. Merely supplying fresh air is enough to bring the subject back to normal metabolism. The principal application being looked at currently would be allowing people who are recieving organ transplants to survive waiting for a longer period of time. It would also seem that one of the staples of sci-fi, induced hybernation, is drawing a bit closer to becoming a reality.
4.19.2005
Futurists
While watching the video in class, I noticed that several of the guest speakers were given the title "Futurist". I had remembered reading something about Futurism in another class, but my memory was a little bit fuzzy, so I did a little bit of digging on the internet. Seems that Futurism was an artistic movement that originated in Italy, and was a denunciation of Romanticism. The movement also had very strong Facist overtones. Some of the ideas proposed in the stuff I remember reading does seem very bold and creative, but very... unsettling at the same time. Take these two quotes as examples of the more disturbing thoughts. Points 9 and 10 from the original futurist manifesto...
"We will glorify war—the world’s only hygiene—militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of freedom-bringers, beautiful ideas worth dying for, and scorn for woman."
"We will destroy the museums, libraries, academies of every kind, will fight moralism, feminism, every opportunistic or utilitarian cowardice."
Personally, I'm not sure where to begin to respond to something like this... As a history student, I feel more than mildly insulted. As someone who believes in the idea of a moral way of doing things, I feel further insulted. It only goes on from there.
And the authors very well knew what sort of impact that this manifesto would have on readers...
"You have objections?—Enough! Enough! We know them... We’ve understood!... Our fine deceitful intelligence tells us that we are the revival and extension of our ancestors—Perhaps!... If only it were so!—But who cares? We don’t want to understand!... Woe to anyone who says those infamous words to us again!"
I've included some links for your reading enjoyment. There seem to be a few popups associated with the last two, but nothing really malicious.
Futurism Manifestos
FLUXEUROPA: FUTURISM
Mark Harden's Artchive: "Futurism"
"We will glorify war—the world’s only hygiene—militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of freedom-bringers, beautiful ideas worth dying for, and scorn for woman."
"We will destroy the museums, libraries, academies of every kind, will fight moralism, feminism, every opportunistic or utilitarian cowardice."
Personally, I'm not sure where to begin to respond to something like this... As a history student, I feel more than mildly insulted. As someone who believes in the idea of a moral way of doing things, I feel further insulted. It only goes on from there.
And the authors very well knew what sort of impact that this manifesto would have on readers...
"You have objections?—Enough! Enough! We know them... We’ve understood!... Our fine deceitful intelligence tells us that we are the revival and extension of our ancestors—Perhaps!... If only it were so!—But who cares? We don’t want to understand!... Woe to anyone who says those infamous words to us again!"
I've included some links for your reading enjoyment. There seem to be a few popups associated with the last two, but nothing really malicious.
Futurism Manifestos
FLUXEUROPA: FUTURISM
Mark Harden's Artchive: "Futurism"
4.12.2005
Something to fan the flames...
I was doing a bit of research, when I happened upon this...
I took a screen cap because I thought it was interesting to note that there are others who draw a distinction between science and technology... I'm not going to make an argument either way at this point, I'm just putting that tidbit out there for others to discuss.
I took a screen cap because I thought it was interesting to note that there are others who draw a distinction between science and technology... I'm not going to make an argument either way at this point, I'm just putting that tidbit out there for others to discuss.
4.04.2005
Yet Another Weapon Post
Another new weapon system that I stumbled on while writing the last post.
In the course of reading, I saw a weapon called the Multiple Projectile Delivery System mentioned as being a possible armament for the Talon robots discussed in the previous post. The article contained a link which detailed the weapon system. The weapon system has also been dubbed DREAD (I couldn't find any mention of whether or not this is another acronym, or not). If you take the time to read the article and consider it a bit, chances are you'll probably agree that the name fits. From a military standpoint, this has the potential to be a dream wepaon. Extremely low maintanence, huge ammo capacity, no danger of ammo explosion, capable of extremly accurate and devestating fire, and no sound or muzzle flash to expose the operator or vehicle to counterfire. From the perspective of a soldier, this is probably another Pandora's Box. If I were a soldier, I would most certainly not like to be on the recieving end of something like this at all. The prospect of recieving fire that cannot be pinpointed by sound or sight that in all likelihood will be rather lethal is quite frightening to certain. This system, properly utilized could be even more devestating to moral than something like a sniper.
Hopefully, I won't keep stumbling on to stuff like this, so that there will be a bit more variety in future posts...
In the course of reading, I saw a weapon called the Multiple Projectile Delivery System mentioned as being a possible armament for the Talon robots discussed in the previous post. The article contained a link which detailed the weapon system. The weapon system has also been dubbed DREAD (I couldn't find any mention of whether or not this is another acronym, or not). If you take the time to read the article and consider it a bit, chances are you'll probably agree that the name fits. From a military standpoint, this has the potential to be a dream wepaon. Extremely low maintanence, huge ammo capacity, no danger of ammo explosion, capable of extremly accurate and devestating fire, and no sound or muzzle flash to expose the operator or vehicle to counterfire. From the perspective of a soldier, this is probably another Pandora's Box. If I were a soldier, I would most certainly not like to be on the recieving end of something like this at all. The prospect of recieving fire that cannot be pinpointed by sound or sight that in all likelihood will be rather lethal is quite frightening to certain. This system, properly utilized could be even more devestating to moral than something like a sniper.
Hopefully, I won't keep stumbling on to stuff like this, so that there will be a bit more variety in future posts...
A Continuation of the Previous Post
In my previous post, I talked briefly about a new type of gun. If you happened to take a peek at the official website, you probably noticed this little fellow. Well, the robot itself is known as Talon. The actual system is being called SWORDS, which is an annoying military acronym for Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System. The Talon robot has been around for a while as a remote operated vehicle for hazardous duties like bomb disposal. Now it is being adapted for use as a support weapons platform for use in environments such as the current engagement in Iraq.
A few articles to provide more specific details:
Wired.Com
DefenseTech
News.Com
A few articles to provide more specific details:
Wired.Com
DefenseTech
News.Com
Always a Bigger Gun
This isn't American originated technology per se, but if what one of the articles suggests is true, then it's likely to end up being used by the American military in the near future.
One of my friends came to visit me during the weekend, and during the course of supper one evening, he happened to mention a new type of gun that he had read about at some point.
After doing a little bit of digging around, I was able to find a few articles concerning this new style of weapon as well as the company's website. It seems that this gun, dubbed Metal Storm, is operated entirely through electronic rather than mechanical means. The gun itself basically consists of a barrel (or barrels) filled with rounds very similar to caseless rounds and a firing mechanism. The rounds are stacked inside the barrel with propellant sandwiched behind each round. Electricity is used to ignite the propellant for each round almost simultaneously. The effect is that a staggeringly high effective rate of fire can be achieved. Another selling point of the system is that it is easily locked down, so that unauthorized personnel cannot make use of the weapon. It will be interesting to see (and possibly terrifying, if the test-firing videos are any measure) of what becomes of this technology in the future.
CNN Article
Another Article
Metal Storm website
I mentioned caseless ammunition earlier... This provides an explanation of what caseless ammunition is, and it tells the tale of the ill-fated H&K G11, which is an interesting enough story in and of itself
One of my friends came to visit me during the weekend, and during the course of supper one evening, he happened to mention a new type of gun that he had read about at some point.
After doing a little bit of digging around, I was able to find a few articles concerning this new style of weapon as well as the company's website. It seems that this gun, dubbed Metal Storm, is operated entirely through electronic rather than mechanical means. The gun itself basically consists of a barrel (or barrels) filled with rounds very similar to caseless rounds and a firing mechanism. The rounds are stacked inside the barrel with propellant sandwiched behind each round. Electricity is used to ignite the propellant for each round almost simultaneously. The effect is that a staggeringly high effective rate of fire can be achieved. Another selling point of the system is that it is easily locked down, so that unauthorized personnel cannot make use of the weapon. It will be interesting to see (and possibly terrifying, if the test-firing videos are any measure) of what becomes of this technology in the future.
CNN Article
Another Article
Metal Storm website
I mentioned caseless ammunition earlier... This provides an explanation of what caseless ammunition is, and it tells the tale of the ill-fated H&K G11, which is an interesting enough story in and of itself
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