Cat-O-Vision

~In the video below (from 2009), scientists at UC-Berkeley demonstrate how they can directly capture images of what a cat sees, not from its eyes, but directly from its brain.

Sure, it’s a neat use of technology…but watch until the video reaches the 1:04 mark.  That’s when things get interesting.  If you’ve ever wondered what your cat really sees when it looks at you, wonder no longer:

 

Rise of the Machines

~The chart below shows yesterday’s top stories on the BBC News website.  Perhaps they’re onto something?

Links:

• Skynet seeks idle computer power
• Supercomputer predicts revolution

Now it’s only a matter of time before Skynet develops time travel:

The wonders all around us

~Yesterday evening, while I was at work, there was a sudden intense storm that lasted for about half an hour. When it was over, a break in the clouds let some sunlight through, and a beautiful rainbow appeared on the horizon.

I ducked my head into the nearby computer lab, a windowless room where around a dozen students were variously typing, talking, and looking at Facebook. "If anyone's interested," I said, pointing out the door, "there's a rainbow outside." Some of the students glanced up, looking at me blankly.  I returned to my desk and enjoyed watching the rainbow through a window. After a couple of minutes, the clouds closed, and the rainbow disappeared.

None of the students bothered to look.

Apollo Site Pictures from Lunar Orbit

~The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has been orbiting the Moon since 2009, creating detailed maps of the lunar surface.  NASA recently released several images showing the landing sites from Apollo 12, 14, and 17.  Here’s one showing the Apollo 17 site:

 

^ “The Apollo 17 landing site: To the far right, the Lunar Roving Vehicle; Toward the center, the descent stage of the Challenger lunar module. The lines are tracks and cables.”

Click on the above image for a larger view, or see more of the images here.  Or explore the surface of the moon with Google Moon!