Hexup

I’m out of town this weekend and Dan is painting his heart out, but that doesn’t mean nothing interesting and awesome happeneed in the world. From crazy carbon computers to awesome models and maps to robots that will fucking cut you, it’s the Hexup!

Carbon Computing

A headline that’s only interesting if you’re from my hometown and a mac nerd. If the former, we should hang out. If the latter, we forgive you. This time. Anyway, engineers at Stanford have built a basic computer out of carbon nanotubes. these semiconducters could lead to processors that run much faster than silicon ones. The researchers have been ironing out the inherent flaws in nanotube production through vapirizing bits and clever algorithims. As a side benefit, a nanotube computer wouldn’t be so hot that it tries to burn your house down, which is my Athlon processor’s mission in life.

Real World Civ

In a manifestation of a strategy gamer’s wet dream, Professor Peter Turchin of the University of Connecticut has built a Civilization style model based on the real world to see how warfare played a role in social evolution. According to the article on New Scientist, “The researchers ran the model between the years 1500 BC, when organised groups were few and far between, and AD 1500. When compared with historical records, it predicted where and when large empires would form and persist with 65 per cent accuracy.” Dear Prof. Turchin, please put your model on Steam Greenlight. Pretty please. With sugar.

Robots with knives

I can’t clean a fish, but in the future there will be robots to do that for me. A Norway fishery is developing is developing a system that uses 3d modelling to figure out the proper way to cut, and then a robot arm with a knife to do the actual cutting. It’s not better than experienced workers yet, but they’re hoping to equip their entire production line with robots armed with razor sharp blades in time for the machine uprising. Definitely check out the video on the New Scientist, complete with robot sexytime music.

Music from your Biodata

Want to march to the beat of your own drum? Now you can. Mu_ uses sensors placed on your body to create dance tracks. It’s apparently one of many apps that does this, according to an article from the New Scientist. I imagine that my body would produce a Mozart sonata, but it’s more likely to be terrible Danish house music.

40 Must-See Photos

Some brilliant things and some terrible things have happened since we started taking pictures. These 40 photos are just a slice of them. They grab some historical moments, some human moments, and some really amazing things. Definitely take a look.

42 Maps

We love maps, and so does Hank Green. So this week we’ll finish with a video he made talking about 42 maps that show him his place in the wrold. My favourite is always the Australian world map, that shows Antarctica on the top.