Great Moments In The History Of Technological Innovation
Green Energy

Great Moments In The History Of Technological Innovation


The Infidel World vs. The Muslim World

First, the Infidel World, from Al Fin:

Genetics Magic: Two Examples of a Startling Future

Here are two fascinating examples of genetics magic:

Brain cells from skin cells
Skin cells called fibroblasts can be transformed into neurons quickly and efficiently with just a few genetic tweaks, according to new research. The surprisingly simple conversion, which doesn't require the cells to be returned to an embryonic state, suggests that differentiated adult cells are much more flexible than previously thought.

If the research, published in the journal Nature yesterday, can be repeated in human cells, it would provide an easier method for generating replacement neurons from individual patients. Brain cells derived from a skin graft would be genetically identical to the patient and therefore remove the risk of immune rejection--such an approach might one day be used to treat Parkinson's or other neurodegenerative diseases.

"It's almost scary to see how flexible these cell fates are," says Marius Wernig, a biologist at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford, who led the research. "You just need a few factors, and within four to five days you see signs of neuronal properties in these cells." _TechnologyReview
Humans will soon be living longer, but in order for those longer lives to be meaningful, humans must have ways to keep their brains and other organs young and fully functional. Using common skin fibroblasts to provide replacement cells for aging brains would be the bare beginning steps to the regenerative society.


Diesel from bacteria
Jay Keasling, professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering at UC Berkeley and one of LS9's founders, and scientists at LS9 report engineering E. coli bacteria to synthesize and excrete the enzyme hemicellulase, which breaks down cellulose into sugars. The bacteria can then convert those sugars into a variety of chemicals--diesel fuel among them. The final products are excreted by the bacteria and then float to the top of the fermentation vat before being siphoned off.

Using these methods, it's possible to create a range of fuels from biomass, but LS9 is focusing on diesel rather than fuels similar to gasoline for the time being, says Stephen del Cardayre, the company's vice president of research and development. Diesel specifications are easier to meet and the market for diesel is growing by 2 to 4 percent a year, while that for gasoline is flat. Last May, LS9 partnered with Procter & Gamble to develop fuels as well as commodity chemicals. _TechnologyReview

Biomass can be grown in the oceans, in the deserts, on land, and in all ranges of climate. If a microbe can easily convert biomass to fuels on a large enough scale, you can say goodbye to fears of energy depletion.

The reprogramming of cellular genetic mechanisms allows humans to use living cells as molecular manufacturing plants, and as cell replication factories. Programmed replacement brain cells can perform their normal functions plus secrete neuroprotective molecules to preserve their neighbors. Re-programmed probiotics in the gut can provide a full range of nutrients and supplementary molecules to promote full body regeneration. Programmed cells in the skin can use sunlight to synthesise a wide range of energy-providing molecules to power the body and brain. Programmed biomass can turn itself into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc. with a minimum of post-harvest processing.


And, what are the tech people up to in the Muslim World? (From Weasel Zippers)

New Muslim Washing Machine Recites the Koran While Cleaning Your Clothes...

Indesit-washing-machine

Harness the stain-fighting power of Allah!...

A MALAYSIAN company has invented a machine it said would help Muslims purify themselves before prayers without excessively wasting water.

The ornate machine comes with automatic sensors and basins to curb water usage during "wudu", an Arabic word used to describe the act of washing the face, arms and legs before prayers.

The device, which also emits recorded Koranic versesand is 1.65m tall, only uses 1.3 litres of water compared to the conventional methods, which usually involve leaving taps running for the duration of the washing ritual, which can last for several minutes, AACE Chairman Anthony Gomez said.

The wudu, or ablution, rite precedes the five daily prayers Muslims are obligated to perform.





- While Muslims Are Throwing A Worldwide Tantrum, Rioting And Whining About Islamophobia, Infidels Are Closing In On A Cure For Cancer
From the Independent: For the past 20 years, the former academics who set up Immunocore have worked hard on realising their dream of developing a totally new approach to cancer treatment, and finally it looks as if their endeavours are beginning to pay...

- Look What Those God Damned Infidels Are Up To
While the Islamic world continues apace on it's 1300 year odyssey of murdering, raping, and pillaging, the Infidels nerds are figuring out how to reshape life at the molecular level through the use of Nanowires. Hell, I don't even understand what...

- Biofuels
What are Biofuels? Biofuels are fuel having energy from geologically recent carbon fixation which are produced from living organisms. Carbon fixation exists in plants and micro algae. These fuels are produced from a biomass conversion. There are...

- Hydrogen Energy
Hydrogen is the simplest element. An atom of hydrogen consists of only one proton and one electron. It's also the most plentiful element in the universe. Despite its simplicity and abundance, hydrogen doesn't occur naturally as a gas on the...

- Researchers Create Efficient, Recyclable Solar Cells From Trees
Researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology‘s Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE), in collaboration with Purdue University have unveiled a new efficient, recyclable organic solar cell made from trees—or, more specifically, from...



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