Here First - Science and Technology Blog

When Helium is cooled to 2 degree above absolute zero, a dramatic transformation takes place. Helium, which usually can be seen as a bubbling, rapidly evaporating substance, becomes stable and starts looking a bit like water. This liquid, called superfluid helium, will leak through a glass surface when poured on it. Here’s a short video demonstrating the phenomenon. Enjoy!

This watch is great for recording a prank or just for spying on someone. You will find spy watches all over the internet for 150-200$, but this Spy Camera Watch will let you have fun with your friends for just $68 . Featuring a "built-in pinhole-sized video camera and 4GB of flash memory." Video quality test here. If you think this is too expensive, you can try this SPY PEN for 32$ . It can stores up to 20 hours of video at a time, which can be archived on your computer. Same video quality, but cheaper. This DVR Pen Camera is a great little gadget. The price is good and it produces very good color video and sound. The set up is easy as long as you follow the manufacturer's simple instructions and install the KMPlayer on your computer. I bought it as a casual toy but now I am going to use it as a backup camcorder when I travel --- among other uses. This is the best "spy pen" for the money.

Robotic fish, developed by UK scientists, are to be released into the sea for the first time to detect pollution. This robotic fish is about 1.5 meters (1.6 yards) long, will be released in the port of Gijón in Asturias, Spain. If the project is a succes and the fish detects contaminated waters, it will then be used in rivers, lakes and seas all over the world. The robotic fish looks like a normal carp and swims like one, but is much more expensive. This roughly $29,000 fish swims at a speed of about one meter per second. It contains chemical sensors which aid in finding dangerous pollutants such as leakage from boats or underwater pipelines. If the fish finds traces of contamination, it then sends the information wirelessly back to the control center. This fish lasts about eight hours before it swims itself to a charging hub to refresh. “While using shoals of robotic fish for pollution detection in harbours might appear like something straight out of science fiction, there are very pr...

The Model S is being designed as a high performance electric sedan, competing with such cars as the BMW 5-series. This is primarily in order to justify the high costs of high density lithium ion batteries. This business model follows that of the the high performance Tesla Roadster sports car, which has a base price of $109,000 USD / € 99,000. Initial pricing is estimated at $57,400 for the standard model with a 150 mi (240 km) range or $65,000 for a premium model with greater performance and a 300 mi (480 km) range.[5][6] The company also announced plans to rent or lease high capacity battery packs which offer a 300-mile range.Profits from the Model S are expected to fund development of a more affordable third vehicle codenamed "BlueStar". The chassis, body, motor and energy storage system will likely be unique to Tesla Motors. Construction of the assembly factory in Albuquerque, New Mexico (a central location for shipping) was supposed to begin in April 2007, but was cancele...

Natural gas locked up in water crystals could be a source of enormous amounts of energy – and if a new technology delivers what scientists are claiming, then it could even be emissions-free too. For a normal eye, clathrate hydrate looks like regular ice. However, while it is made up partly of water, the water molecules are organised into "cages", which trap individual molecules of methane inside them. If we compare this to other fossil fuels, methane – also known as natural gas – releases less carbon dioxide per unit of energy generated. But burning it still releases carbon dioxide and thus drives climate change. However, according to research presented this week at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society , ...

Djikic, a professor at the Institute for Biochemistry at Goethe University and CEF (Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt) Institute has presented his latest discovery of a mechanism that mammals’ cells use for disposal of malign substances. He believes the discovery could be used to create more- successful medications. The scientist identified proteins that take part in the process of cells’ removal of substances linked to tumours and neuro-degenerative diseases. That mechanism has been known to scientists for a long time, but Djikic discovered receptors that make the process selective. An article about this breakthrough discovery has been published in the well-known science magazine "Molecular Cell." photo credit © Wikipedia

The following video is a good reason! Top 10 reasons to Quit Smoking: 1. You will reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. 2. You will reduce your chances of getting lung cancer, emphysema, and other lung diseases. 3. You will have better smelling clothes, hair, breath, home, and car. 4. Smoking causes poor circulation, which makes for cold hands and feet. 5. If you quit smoking now, you could avoid getting wrinkles before you are thirty. 6. You will be free of my morning cough. 7. I will reduce the number of coughs, colds, and earaches my child will have. 8. You will have more energy to pursue physical activities you enjoy. 9. You will treat yourself to new books or music with the money you save from not buying cigarettes. 10. You will have more control over your life.

Jonathan Moreno of the Center for American Progress, outlines the promise of stem cell research and explains the significance of President Obama's decision to lift the ban on federal funding for new stem cell research.

Tokyo Flash makes timepieces like no other, and its Star Performer is a stellar example of its futuristic design ethos. This tall-profile stainless steel digital men's watch has a sleek black ionic plating and a white LED display. Time is indicated by the number that's lighted up in each of the four vertical rows--for example, 1-2-5-3 would be 12:53. The display also has four icons at the top that indicate the selected mode--clock for time, martini glass for PM, sun icon for day and date, and dollar sign ($) for year. Amazon is selling the Tokyo Flash Star Performer watch for $144.43 shipped, originally priced at $199.99.

Scientists say they have identified an enzyme that helps cancer spread around the body. Cancer metastasis is responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. Why? Metastasis means the spread of cancer. Cancer cells can break away from a primary tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system (the system that produces, stores, and carries the cells that fight infections). That is how cancer cells spread to other parts of the body. Institute of Cancer Research scientists have found that an enzyme called LOX is crucial in promoting metastasis, Cancer Cell journal reports. "This new discovery provides real hope that we can develop a drug which will fight the spreading of cancer." said Lead researcher Dr Janine Erler. The scientists hope that drugs to block this enzyme's action will stop the spread of cancer. They studied breast cancer in mice, and hope that their findings will apply to humans with other types of cancer. LOX (lysyl oxidase) works by sending out signals to pr...

Tia-Mae McCarthy received all her vital nutrients through a tube for the last ten years.. Starting from a few tentative spoonfuls of yoghurt, she has now progressed to Angel Delight, mousse, ice cream, tomato soup, custard and semolina. Her mother said she is delighted with her progress. "It's lovely to see her eating," she said. "We can go out for dinner now. I take a little pot of soup for her and she sits and eats with us. Then for pudding, she chooses ice cream or custard. "I can't believe that just before Christmas, all she was eating was a few mouthfuls of yoghurt and now we have got this long list of things that she will sit down and happily eat. I never thought it would happen." The girl was born three months prematurely with a large gap between her oesophagus and her stomach. She spent first part of her life in hospital. Surgery corrected her medical problems and there was no physical reason why she couldn't eat or drink. In a desperate que...

At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show Maserati will unveil the Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic , a new model powered by a 440hp 4.7 V8 engine coupled with a ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox. Maserati’s commitment to introduce a new model at each international car show, the GranTurismo S Automatic will première at the next Geneva Auto Show. The new Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic features a 4.7 V8 which develops 440hp (323kW) at 7000rpm. The maximum torque is 490Nm at 4,750rpm. Regarding the exterior design, the Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic features some stylistic differences which make it immediately recognisable: the new under-door mini-skirts featuring a prominent shape, which enhances the dynamism of its profile and the new 20” wheel rims with “Trident” design.

It is said that sometimes fiction is stranger than life. This is one of those cases, because this robot will convince you that real life is in most cases the strangest of all. We humans are not immortal, so it’s important that we - or our memories live on somehow after our bodies turn to worm food. When it comes to strange things, the Japanese are the first in line to give as a solution. What is OBOE? Oboe is a robot made with sole purpose of carrying human thoughts through time. The Oboe was designed by Arnaud Deloustal as a robot that would ‘hang-out’ with the elderly and carry memories of them. Oboe would store within it all the information that is to be gained about the certain individual. This way as much of their “essence” as possible will live on. You can see how the future might play out with “Oboe”. We continue to live, in a sense, in robot form. Oboe is designed so that memories of an individual live on long after the person is gone. This is not really a case of artificial i...

Mycologist Paul Stamets studies the mycelium -- and lists 6 ways that this astonishing fungus can help save the world. We all know the Earth is in trouble, so his plan to save the world can be taken serious at this time. I think we have so very to learn from the natural world and I love the way that Paul is getting his work out to the world.

Have you heard about the 'Eco-Friendly' Florida Mansion? Well, a local developer wants $29 million dollars for this 15,000 square-foot mansion that was built using Ecological methods. Everything is Eco-friendly, the design is luxurious, agreeable and fashionable, combining every single detail into a splendorous vacation resort.   Frank McKinney is a developer in Florida, and he likes to engage into large projects, just like this one. He has built what he calls an "Eco-mansion" at 620 South Ocean Boulevard on Manalapan Beach in Florida. If you find yourself in the area, you can go for a visit. The 15,000-square-foot mansion is placed on 1.6 acres of land and it's probably inspired by architecture found in Tahiti, Fiji, Bali and Hawaii. Although most posts on the Internet refer to it as "Eco-Friendly Florida Mansion",  Mr. McKinney named it "Acqua Liana," which is the Tahitian word for "water flower". The mansion was build ...

The latest discovery increases the chances of life existing on the planet in the recent past, or even surviving today. That can be scarry at some level. Scientists have identified the gullies inside a crater that appear to be not more than 1.25 million years old. The theory is that the channels must have been sculpted by surface water from melting ice. There is evidence of water-borne sediments being carried down from high ground and deposited in low-lying alluvial fans. The gully system is in Promethal Terra, an area of cratered highlands south of the Martian equator. Professor James Head , from Brown University in Rhode Island, USA, was in the team that reported the discovery in the journal Geology. He said: "We think there was recent water on Mars. This is a big step in the direction to proving that." The best theory for the gullies is melting snow and ice rather than groundwater bubbling up to the surface. This lobe it's probable to be about the same age. The other th...

In a BBC TV interview, Britain's Sir David Attenborough said he is "absolutely baffled" by footprints that may have been left by such a creature. This coould mean that yet, or abominable snowman, could exist. "Very, very convincing footprints have been found," at 19,000-foot elevations, he said. "Nobody goes up to 19,000 feet just to make a joke." When asked about the Loch Ness Monster, Attenborough answered with skepticism. He argued that there would have to be more than one, and that they would likely need to come up for air and expose themselves. Attenborough, 82, is known for his coverage of animals and nature for the BBC. A photograph shows an alleged footprint of a yeti taken in December 1951 near Mount Everest. British naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough said Friday he thinks it's possible that the legendary abominable snowman, or yeti, exists.