If you are a woman, you are familiar with all the pressures and challenges attached to your reproductive system. Especially in particular, your biological clock and the increasing risks to your health and your childs developmental health the later in life you decide to have kids.
However, I was surprised to learn recently that now they have now discovered a link between older fathers and a risk of Autism and Schizophrenia in children. It has been shown that older men are more likely to have children with autism or schizophrenia than younger ones. This is due to the fact that older fathers pass on significantly more random genetic mutations onto their children increasing the risk of their children having these conditions.
What is happiness? What makes people happy? The answers to these questions are still heavily debated because it is still uncertain what conditions and interventions improve happiness or quality of life. On the 29th May 2012, I attended a talk at UCL on behalf of Dr Eyman, entitled ‘The Science of Happiness’.
Again, apologies for taking so long between posts but mama comes first and I have been busy helping her complete her physio routine until she gets more confidant with it all. Today, we took mama to get her stitches removed post her knee replacement surgery. (Thank you to the lovely nurse who did her job brilliantly today). I have been meaning to post about this amazing young boy since I first came across his story and I thought what better day than today.
This young boy, Tony Hansberry II, age 14, has made medical history by developing a stitching technique that reduces surgical complications and the chance of error among less experienced surgeons. Say whaaaaat? I mean, really, do you remember what you were doing at the age of 14? 14!!! He is quoted as saying:
“The project I did was basically the comparison of novel laparoscopic instruments in doing a hysterectomy repair”
Click here to read more about his story and click play to watch him present his work to renowned surgeons.
-
Recently, a huge amount of negative press has been circulating around young black men (London Riots, Trayvon Martin, Hunger Games twitts! etc). I hope you share this post as here is a positive and beautiful story about a young black boy. Tony is born to African-American parents and we should ALL be PROUD of his outstanding achievement so early on in his life. Everyone should be amazed by his story, black, yellow, white, purple or green.
I could not think of a better song than this to express to you how this story made me feel, if you do not know who Esperanza Spalding is and/or you have not heard this song, you NEED to click play. Enjoy.
-
Have a great weekend everyone and I will try and keep up, I have loads if Q’s to answer, I will get onto them, I promise.
This one is for all my tech and camera geeks. Scientists at the Institute of Technology in Cambridge have handed us the ability to see behind walls using a camera! WHAT! Like Superman, this camera could be invaluable in dangerous or inaccessible locations, such as inside machinery with moving parts, or in highly contaminated areas. However, as with any innovation, the worry is if Lex Luther got a hold of it and gave it to his troops, who knows what could happen…fill-in-the-gaps.
Back to the science. Click play and watch this pretty dope video to see for yourself how it works:
-
Remember, a normal camera can only see objects that are right in front of it. Light that reaches the sensor from beyond the direct line of sight is too diffuse to convey useful information about the hidden scene, having been scattered by multiple reflections.
The new set-up, described today in Nature Communications (Hardcore tech geeks, click on the link for hard-core science), overcomes this problem by capturing ultra-fast time-of-flight information ( Love this Phrase, it basically means how long each photon has taken to reach the camera). This information is then decoded by a reconstruction algorithm developed by team member Andreas Velten. Currently, the whole process takes several minutes, but researchers hope that in the future, it will be reduced to less than 10 seconds.
10 Seconds! WOW, faster than a Polaroid picture , sha sha shake it, shake it, shake it like a Polaroid picture. EVERYONE NEEDS A LITTLE OUTKAST IN THEIR LIFE. ENJOY.
Until next time. Hope the sun is shinning where you are and you catch some sunspiration (my made up word that is a hybrid of sun and inspiration, I want to be included in your life, share it, Tweet it, Re-Tweet, blog it).
Last-night I was watching BBC news at 10pm and they had a short review on the use of the “new” and controversial introduction of the Stun Gun Taser for the Met police force, the biggest police force in the UK. Produced and sold by Taser International, unlike the current Taser X26, which fires darts attached to short wires, the XREP is wire-free. Its projectile, the size of a shotgun cartridge, is designed to pierce the target’s skin and contains battery-powered circuits that deliver a debilitating shock. It has a range of 20 metres or more, compared with 5 metres for previous Tasers.
Many dangers are associated with Taser guns but more worrying is the fact that when combined with pepper spray or any liquid spray it can lead to burning or fire. When the concept was first introduced, the first reaction was it will be too expensive to use on an everyday basis. Now they stand at a cool $150 each, cheap as chips. I find it interesting that this has come about post the recent London riots.
Anyway, being the unashamed Geek that I am, I needed to know more and did some more research into the scientific research world behind such developments. Some of what I came across BLEW MY MIND.
Jason Bourne will be in much trouble when the CIA agents get their hands on these LASER SEEKING SELF-STEERING BULLETS. A laser sensor in the bullet’s nose instructs the bullet to finely twist tiny rudder-like fins on its rear end to keep it on target. Currently deemed too expensive for everyday use, but I am sure they are working on the expenses as we speak.
FINS!! I mean why didn’t I think of that?? lol, just kidding, not my playing field at all. Click here to find out more. And if you don’t want to read more here is short video of the bullet in-action.
I came across this post on the BBC website and wanted to share it with you. Mainly because a lot of the questions I get asked as a friend, Dr and educator come from stories read in the paper, tabloids and magazines.
Someone at the beeb put together a list of 100 interesting and unexpected facts we didn’t know about last year that featured in our daily news reads. Some will make you laugh out loud, others will make you go aaaaaahhh and some are just ridiculous.
OK, they keep changing the time, is it 15 mins or 26 mins? Big difference brain Drs.. work it out maaaaan. Please and Thank you.
3- The world’s atmosphereis worth £4.3 quadrillion, going by the air we breathe in and the price of CO2. More details (Metro)
I mean, they really put a PRICE on the ATMOSPHERE!!! WOW
4- Chimps can outperform eight-year-olds in solving problems. More details
CRAZY!!!
5- The male waterboatman insect sings with its penis. More details
WHAT!!! I mean, why do we need to know that? lol
ok I know I said 5 but this one is a BONUS, just because they quote, Mohamed Ali, Messi and Marodona as examples
Heart disease isless common among religious people. More details
I am not sure what to say here…but please remember to weigh up the validity of your Science Education source.
Click on the video for some background music and then Click here for the full list and remember to always think it over! What are your top 5? Leave them as a comment, I’m interested to know
Last week, I went to the Science Museum to visit the RobotVille exhibition. Very exciting stuff. the Robotics field is advancing very fast, probably much faster then we are allowed to know!
The latest bunch of Robots on show had a range of skills. Some could follow your emotions and mimic you (e.g if you smiled it would smile back at you). Some could respond to orders and questions, others can shake your hand, grab a ball from you and even hand it back. Amazing.
Robots create a whole bunch of questions in my mind. Exactly what are they going to be used for when they have reached the levels of Will Smith’s i-robot?
Robots are already being used successfully in the medical and technology fields. They have huge educational benefits and are an exciting way off attracting young people into the fields such as mechanics, engineering and technology.
But, a part of me really fears what comes next? War? Medical Morals? Domestic Aids?
I managed to sneak in some photos and videos on my phone to share with you all;
Chillin’ like a Villain
Catch me if you can
Do the Robot Dance
The Audios attached to the videos are from the EP When Robots Go To War- featuring Ty and Motet produced (an original composition) by Gus ‘Steve Austin’ Modeste (Catch me if you can) and remixed by Daz I Q (Do the Robot Dance) who are members of Uprock Recordings. If you do not know about these music geeks already, DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR click on the links and check them out.
You can also support them by buying the EP from itunes
And if you enjoyed reading the post and videos please support me by sharing the blog via FB and/or twitter and leave me a comment.
