X-Message-Number: 15821 Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2001 10:10:41 +0000 From: "Joseph Kehoe" <> Subject: [off-topic] snippets http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,42223,00.html?tw=wn20010307 Gene Project Nears Finish Line by Kristen Philipkoski 10:50 a.m. Mar. 6, 2001 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- A scientific effort to map all of the small but vital genetic variations between humans is nearly complete. It's free to the public, ahead of schedule and under budget. http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,42255,00.html?tw=wn20010307 Light At the End of the Silicon Reuters 6:00 a.m. Mar. 7, 2001 PST LONDON -- British scientists said on Wednesday they have squeezed light out of silicon, overcoming a decade-old obstacle holding back the computer industry and assuring that microchips can get smaller and faster. Until now, making light in this material has been virtually impossible and threatened to stall further miniaturization of silicon chips. http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/sci/tech/newsid_904000/904722.stm 'Anti-age' drug found For the first time, scientists have succeeded in boosting an animal's life span with drugs. Microscopic worms given the therapy lived nearly 50% longer than normal. The researchers say the experiments are the first real indication that ageing can be treated. They believe the drugs might be useful for combating human diseases that strike in later life. Clinical trials for disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's could take place in the near future. http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/sci/tech/newsid_1065000/1065760.stm The relentless upward march of computer processing power looks set to continue for at least the next decade with the prospect of computer chips 10 times more powerful than those of today. Chip giant Intel has dismissed speculation that computer chips are running out of steam by unveiling research that will help it produce working components made of elements only a few atoms wide. If realised, the technology promises to put enormous amounts of computer power at people's fingertips - though Intel said the technology would take a while to get into everyday computers. And to reap the full benefits of the breakthrough, Intel said it had yet to overcome several other technological hurdles. Joseph. ---------------------------------------------- Joseph Kehoe, MSc Raven Internet Technologies Ltd. ph: +353 503 52450 www.raven.ie Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=15821