G+ Archive: Engineering and Technology

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

YES!!1!

YES!!1!

Originally shared by Vilmar Simson (Ves)
http://www.blog.google/products/chrome/taking-aim-annoying-page-jumps-chrome/

'Neuron-Reading' Nanowires Could Accelerate Development of Drugs for Neurological Diseases

Originally shared by Neuroscience News

'Neuron-Reading' Nanowires Could Accelerate Development of Drugs for Neurological Diseases

A team led by engineers at the University of California San Diego has developed nanowires that can record the electrical activity of neurons in fine detail. The new nanowire technology could one day serve as a platform to screen drugs for neurological diseases and could enable researchers to better understand how single cells communicate in large neuronal networks.

The research is in Nano Letters. (full access paywall)

#nanotech
http://neurosciencenews.com/nanowires-neurology-neurons-6388

Saturday, April 1, 2017

They may not be visible but we rely on many algorithms to run our complex, technological society.

They may not be visible but we rely on many algorithms to run our complex, technological society. Up until recently, algorithms have been created and tested by humans. Recently, computer-generated algorithms are coming into their own. Humans still need to test them but even that is going to be (already is?) done automatically.

As usual, to get the full effect of a Yonatan Zunger post you have to read the comments over there.

Originally shared by Yonatan Zunger

This line gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. That feeling you get when something hits the mark way too well.

(ETA: To highlight a point that David Cameron Staples made in depth in a comment, the key word of both of these lines is "just." It's the use of the algorithm, or the orders, as an excuse to deny responsibility for one's own actions.)

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Ugh.

Ugh.

Originally shared by Guy Kawasaki

“If someone calls and asks, ‘Can you hear me?’, do not answer yes,” advised the Better Business Bureau. “Just hang up. Scammers change their tactics as the public catches on, so be alert for other questions designed to solicit a simple yes answer.” http://lat.ms/2nEQlT7

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Unintended engineering.

Unintended engineering.

Originally shared by Colin Sullender

Motor protein traversing a microtubule

Kinesin is a motor protein found in eukaryotic cells that helps transport cargo during critical cellular functions such as mitosis and meiosis. This animation depicts the proposed "hand-over-hand" walking mechanism by which the protein traverses a microtubule while carrying a cargo vesicle. The seesaw motion is caused by conformational changes during the binding and hydrolysis of the high-energy molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Because microtubules are polar, motor proteins are only capable of traveling in a specific direction. Most kinesins move from the center of the cell towards the periphery.

Source: https://goo.gl/jdkgy9 (XVIVO + Harvard)

#ScienceGIF #Science #GIF #Protein #Kinesin #Microtubule #Mobility #Cell #Microscopic #Vesicle #Biology #Cellular #Biochemistry #Filaments #ATP #Cargo #Transport

How to protect yourself from ATM crime

Originally shared by Mike Elgan

How to protect yourself from ATM crime

(Read my column: https://goo.gl/3xVZiL )

ATM crooks are getting super sophisticated. ATM skimmers now use pinhole cameras to steal your PIN, and tiny skimmers that fit inside the ATM's card scanner where they can't be seen and where they don't interfere with its normal operation.

The good news is that starting Monday, all 13,000 Wells Fargo ATMs will enable you to withdraw money without using your card. Later this year, they'll even let you use Apple Pay or Android Pay to access your account at ATMs.

In fact all the major banks are adding better security to ATMs.

It won't stop ATM crime. Here's why:

http://www.computerworld.com/article/3184884/financial-it/how-to-protect-yourself-from-atm-crime.html

#atm #atmskimming #atmshimming