« hot science: February 2006 | Main | hot science: April 2006 »
March 27, 2006
Learning A Foreign Language
And how much more foreign can you get than the native tongue of the humpback whale? Yes after years of research scientists have concluded that humpbacks do have their own dialogue. They won't call it a language yet, but they do admit the songs sung by these creatures are not random, are not simple repetitive sounds. No, the songs are full of complexity, very similar to human languages.
Humpback songs are arranged within a hierarchical structure with equivalents to themes, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, and words themselves. The only major difference is human language averages 10 bits of information per second - that is to say with our grammar, intonations, and inflections, we can communicate whole ideas within one second. A humpback whale on the other hand can only communicate 1 bit of information per second. Scientists believe this may be an evolutionary trait more than a deficiency in language. Humpbacks live in the vast oceans which require their "language" to travel at great distances. What this means is sounds need to be long and stretched out so that they can be carried for hundred and thousands of miles without degradation. In order for the humpbacks to communicate an idea, it would require multiple sounds overlapping. This is probably why they are arranged more like songs.
It's absolutely fascinating. I even wanted to see if it were possible for humans to mimic those sounds. Apparently its nearly impossible for us since much of the tones are only reproducible in water; not to mention our vocal chords don't support many of the sounds whales make. I guess I'll never learn "whale" then.
via Discovery News
Posted by tranism at 12:50 AM | Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
Hydrogen Powered Mazda RX-8
Japan's 4th largest automaker Mazda is serious about fusing eco-technology and alternative energy with their sports heritage. The new (not so new since the concept appeared years ago) hydrogen powered RX-8 is proof of that.
Now to be fair, this isn't powered purely by hydrogen but rather its a hydrogen/electric hybrid. Just image a prius you pump with hydrogen instead of gasoline. Mazda has delivered two of them to different companies in Japan and as the country's hydrogen infrastructure expands, Mazda hopes to deliver more.
I applaud Mazda for doing so and of course I can't forget Honda who has a small fleet of hydrogen cars in California. I wish the big three automakers here in America would take their concepts and put them to the real test. Yes its expensive but part of pushing in new technology is educating the public and what better way to that than to put those vehicles on the road.
Posted by tranism at 12:28 AM | Permalink
| Comments (0)
|
|
|
March 19, 2006
Never Eat Spoiled Food Again
Milk and orange juice. Those are the two items that ALWAYS go to waste in my fridge. I need my milk for cereal, and I need my juice for, well, juice! Worst is when I forget to check the label, prepare my meal, sit down ready to chow only to be greeted by the most disgusting soured taste. I check expiry date and get upset at myself.
A test product exists called Smart Labels (color changing) that inform the consumer of food quality by using special ink that disappears thru oxidation. Why this isn't on food products already is a mystery to me. It's a conspiracy, must be.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 4:41 AM | Permalink
| Comments (1)
|
|
|
March 15, 2006
Powered By Termites
Scientists are closer to understanding how bacteria inside the hardy termite digests wood because the byproduct is pure hydrogen. The hydrogen could then be processed to power our fuel cell future possibly creating a carbon neutral way of making power. It's plausible and if successful, it's a win-win situation for both us (power needy fools we are) and the termites (them hungry mofo's).
Biotech engineers could mass produce the tiny microbes inside termites responsible for digestion for hydrogen production on an industrial scale. The only real setback right now is funding (like all alternative energy research), but because termites are a naturally occurring resource, you wouldn't need quite as much money as say - developing some mechanical way of producing hydrogen.
A future possibly fueled by these little eaters; that's pretty damn cool!
Posted by tranism at 6:30 PM | Permalink
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack (0)
|
|
|