Over 10 years ago researchers using worms showed cancer genes could be prevented from replicating if  double-stranded small interfering RNA chains (siRNAs) was used to cut the messenger RNA cancer cells used to replicate, rather than the RNA or DNA itself. The problem was getting into human cancer cells.

Now more than a decade later another team of Nobel Prize researchers including Davis and Ribas have successfully used a specialized polymer nanoparticle injected into people’s bloodstream to get the shut off message to cancer cells. While the trial is just in the first of possible three test stages the possible implications for the future of medicine is hope inspiring.

By preventing the proteins from replicating, it means not only a possible cure of cancer but for a variety of other diseases as well for e.g. Alzheimer and Diabetes.  Unfortunately because of the complexity and risk of such research, this hope will not materialize for a lot of us but maybe we are on the right path for future generations.

image via technewsworld

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While this particular article is about the human speed limit, focus is on the Olympic 100m gold medal winner, the “fastest man” in the world, Usain Bolt. In 2009, Bolt ran 100m in 9.58s knocking 0.11s off his previous record.

Mark Denny of Stanford University has attempted to calculate if Bolt could possibly go any faster or if he has maxed out the human speed limit. His research involved not only humans but a look at the speed pattern for other animals such as horses and greyhounds. He theorizes that the human power-to-weight ratio is what is responsible for a person’s speed and after a certain level stronger muscles and longer limbs will be negated by the increase in energy required to move a greater load.

Long and short of the story, humans generally increase in speed until they reach a plateau and Bolt is almost there. The fastest he could possibly go is 9.48s for the 100m, just 0.1s under his present record.

Regardless of the speed limit for humans, Bolt must feel good to know that he is only 0.1s away.

A word to Mr. Denny though, most Jamaicans would tend to view the human speed limit as they do the driving speed limit. A value is not the maximum but rather the minimum which they should go…….

photo via berlin.iaaf.org

Free Hide IP is a free open source utility designed to hide your IP address, surf anonymously and help keep hackers from hacking your computer through the internet.

Free IP uses proxy servers and instead of having your actual IP address displayed, it replaces it with a fake IP that will also assist with identity theft. Some websites also prevent you from viewing content based on your geographic location and this little utility will give you some assistance with that too.

Download Free Hide IP

YouTube has finally unveiled its new look with mixed reactions. YouTube personnel claim that video is the central theme and they are removing all the unnecessary clutter and going back to basics. Other changes include the Smarter Discovery, Hidden Channels, Trading Stars for Thumbs and User Comments.

Each year a number of launched on All fools Day (April 1^st) are really just jokes but in recent years several  products have actually been launched on this date. Among them are:

1 Google Gmail in 2004 with 1GB of storage to 1000 test users. It was a novel idea as all other competitors were charging for that amount of space. Today they are up to 7.4GB.

2 Yahoo Sideline in 2009. The application allows users to monitor Twitter in real time.

3 Scribd’s Paper to ipaper in 2008. Scanned documents for companies  but the paper was not returned and you had to ship it to them. No longer in operation.

4 Blinx Broadband TV in 2008. The software lets users watch web video programs.

5 Freaking Huge URL in 2009 which takes small URLs and made them larger.

Memory was something you lost with age
An application was for employment
A program was a TV show
A cursor used profanity

A keyboard was a piano
A web was a spider’s home
A virus was the flu
A CD was a bank account

A hard drive was a long trip on the road
A mouse pad was where a mouse lived

And if you had a 3 inch floppy.
You just hoped nobody ever found out!?!

There are a lot of criminals out there and if you are not careful you could easily be a victim. The following video shows one way you can be tricked into giving up your credit or debit card information without knowing. The guy pretends to be a good Samaritan without the victim realizing he was the one that stole her bag.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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The form factor of Netbooks and laptops are great but one thing that gets to some users is the size of the keyboard. This Folding keyboard concept designed by Yang Yongchang allows you to have a full size keyboard on your Laptop without increasing screen size.

Its a good concept but, how much will it increase the thickness of the laptop?

Yanko

I Knew movies use a lot of green screen tech to create effects but what I didn’t know is how much is actually used in regular TV shows. This video from Stargate Studios shows how green screen is used in some TV shows and also that seeing is definitely not believing . Take a look at the video it is just amazing.

Click here to view the embedded video.