Bionic Ears, Illegal Numbers, And Our Favourite Space Oddity.

This week’s Hexup will be a little short and very video heavy, but at least it’s here! Today we look at some cool space stuff including a look at exoplanets and what some are calling the first music video filmed in space. We’ll also take a look at some of the latest cyborg tech and computer tech. Also the Opportunity rover begins to make the most of it’s mileage and we risk getting arrested as we look at illegal numbers. Enjoy!

Take That Apollo!

May 15th 2013 marks the day that NASA’s rover Opportunity has officially broken the record for the longest distance traveled by any NASA vehicle on a planet other than Earth. This record had previously been held by the astronauts of Apollo 17. Not bad for a little rover that was only supposed to run for a few months. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-166

 

Illegal Numbers

This video uses numbers to highlight some interesting ideas around property and legality. This video talks about how numbers govern all kinds of things we use everyday and what would happen if we made some of these numbers illegal. It’s also one of the weirdest things I have learned about numbers since I learned that some infinities are actually much larger or smaller than others.

 

Printable Bionic Ears

130501193208-largeScientists at Princeton University have developed a bionic cyborg ear using 3D printer technology. This ear is able to “hear” sounds that range far beyond the normal human range. The project wants to not just replicate, but extend the capability  of the human ear. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130501193208.htm

 

Exoplanets Explained

So according to the spell check “exoplanet” is not a word. Well partly that’s because I think this spell check is from the ’70’s and also because they’re new. Here is a quick and interesting video that should serve as an introduction to exoplanets (and some other cool astrophysics stuff). Don’t worry there are tons of pictures.

 

Tech Companies Buy In to “Quantum” Computer

Several tech companies and research organizations including NASA and Google have bought into a $15m computer that they say will revolutionize the way they operate. While not strictly speaking a “quantum” computer it does utilize some quantum effects that make it good at quickly solving certain kinds of problems. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22554494

 

Chris Hadfield Says Farewell To The ISS

This week marked the end of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield’s six month mission aboard the ISS. I can’t think of anyone who has done more to generate interest in space research and exploration in my lifetime. A real hero, Chris decides to say good bye in style.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!!

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