Top Science News of 2007

Even though we are already one month into 2008, it’s never too late to reminisce on the past. I’ve come across an article on Discover.com highlighting the Top 100 Science Stories 0f 2007. Here a few of my top picks out of the many list. Other equally interesting science stories are welcomed in the comments J.

16. Astronomers Find Huge Hole in Space

I’ve first read about this story on when dailytech.com reported it here. A huge void nearly a billion light-years across might not seem like much of a story, but its mere existences, or lack thereof, has scientist baffled, and has now got them searching for explanations to its creation, and could possibly have astrophysicists reconsider theories of how large-scale structures in the universe formed.

29. First Step to Wireless Electricity

Another dailytech.com first read, MIT engineers used the principle of magnetically coupled resonance to power a 60 watt light bulb form seven feet away!

60. Diamonds From Outer Space

The strange characteristics of carbonado diamonds seem to more in line with that of an extraterrestrial origin.

63. Cloned Hamburger, Anyone?

Last year, the FDA approved the selling of cloned meat, claiming that they are safe to eat. Expect to see it at the local super market shelves soon. Although completely identical, many groups to at least see a label distinguishing the two apart.

96. And Here’s Why You Have an Appendix:

When you’re sick, it re-boots your gut with good bacteria. The mystery can at last be put to rest.

Sprout: The Online WYSIWYG Editor for Flash

Sprout is a browser-based, WYSIWYG editor for Flash with an interface reminiscent of Photoshop or Dreamweaver. Designers can use it to create, publish and track Flash widgets, websites and mash ups, thereby obviating the need for them to work with programmers who would cost time and money, and who might not execute designs satisfactorily.

read more | digg story

Tech Appearance

We come a long way since wood finishing, metal casings, and antenna feelers sticking out of just about any product. We’ve gone from boxy styles with sharp corners to curves that allow for the user to easily fit in the user’s hands. It’s quite evident that the appearances of products today are by far more attractive and eye-pleasing.While some designers have looked in the past to for inspiration (such as Apple’s designers) others strive forward with their own creative designs. Although, any sort of creative design is enough to be eye-catching, there have been plenty of misses in the past. For instance, when Sony first revealed the PlayStation 3 at E3 2005, they also showed a radically redesign controller from the traditional Dualshock 2 controllers that came with the PS2. The controller looked like it belonged on Batman’s utility belt more than in the hands of gamers; it was affectionately dubbed the “Battarrang.” Other console controller controversy involved Microsoft with the original Xbox controller. A massive pile of plastic, with a considerable amount of inputs, it could only be held comfortable if you had the hands of a gorilla. Sony got some post-E3 sense knocked into them and went back to the original Dualshock design, and even thought Microsoft quietly replaced the original with the S-model (basically a smaller version of the same controller) they still based the design of S-model, and eventually the Xbox 360 controller on the original.

Though we have yet to see anything as futuristic looking from what we were promised in 1950’s Tomorrowland expos, we have created trends and distinct attributes in the appearance of our technology. Today, I’ve been able to sit down with my roommate, Evan Asher, about his thoughts on the appearances’ of the future our technology and the shapes and forms it will one day be presented to us. A mechanical engineer here at our very own University of Miami, he is a man concerned about his image, as well as those around him, and projects he will one day be working on.

As a mechanical engineer, what do see yourself designing throughout your career?

My plans for the future, or so I hope, is to be a member of some company that designs and build planes and anything else that can travel through the atmosphere, or even outside for that matter. As of now, I am not exactly sure what that is, but I know its going to be the most fantastic things you’ve ever seen. Whatever the world needs is what I want to do. Whether it be relating to the fuels, cost effectiveness, or efficiency, I don’t know what it’s going to be. I just want to do something interesting that will change the world.

Over the year, airplanes have change drastically in appearance. The wings, cockpits, their size shapes and curve have all change. What would you say appearance does for a plane?

All planes work well, they get you from point A to point B 99.9% of the time, no problem. A lot of people though, are willing to pay the extra money for first class seats, or even just for the service of a specific airlines company. The service, the comfort, the appearance is a very big deal. Why else would someone pay an extra 300 bucks for a flight? And as much as I love the mechanic of planes, it makes a big difference when it comes down to attracting customers. With a plane that looks safe, the passengers will feel safe. That’s all a client has to trust. They don’t see the insides of the plane; all they can do is rely on the competence of the engineer’s design, the crew and the pilot.

Where do you do think you’ll see appearance play a crucial role in the technology that is yet to come?

I think there are two different sides, because the technology is one part, and the appearance is another. But a lot of firms, they don’t design things without a design for an appearance. Usually when we have someone design something, you also have someone designing its looks at the same time so they grow as a pair. You can look at cars now. The fastest cars are built to be aerodynamic. They are built to be weighted correctly. They are built to be just very slick on the road, and that’s how they look and their beautiful. It’s going to be like that with everything, even a TV. Now you see Hi-def TVs, they are four inches thick, getting thinner, and as the technology gets better, they will get even smaller.