iblog

Rushda: A photograph taken on Mars by a Nasa spacecraft has sparked much excitement and many debates across the internet, as the photo appears to show a figure similar to that of a man striding across the surface of the red planet. This a new craze to hit net users, many of whom now believe that this is essential proof that there is conscious life on Mars.

The photograph taken by spacecraft Spirit in 2004 can be seen here. As you can see, there is a tiny peculiar shape in the left of the image which looks almost human. Whilst most would say that this is just a coincidental angle on an ordinary rock, others believe that this is something more incredible. Initially when the photographs were viewed after the mission, many were disappointed that there was nothing unusual in them, and only now have they discovered something that may be not so mundane.

What is particularly interesting and amusing is the number and variety of the theories posted online from excited space fans (who may, or may not, have been watching too much science-fiction). Bloggers have said everything from the figure being a conventional alien to the Virgin Mary, or even a mermaid. And the list doesn’t stop there. Garden gnome and Bigfoot are also on the list amongst others. The most popular opinion is that the figure resembles the Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

Funnily enough, if we think about it properly, all the hype surrounds a centimetre of something blurry which is identical to all the rocks around it in everything but its shape (which, too, isn’t very detailed). As Badastronomy.com said,

“A man? It’s a tiny rock only a few inches high. It’s only a few feet from the rover!”

I guess it’s up to everyone to make their own mind up now. Personally, I think we’re all just desperate to hear some good old cosmic goss’ but like others I’m unconvinced that such a small image is anything more than a funny-shaped rock.

Virgil: It’s not a product from Apple, but perhaps the ‘i’ of the i-Snake is a homage to being yet another revolutionary gadget. The snake is a new surgical device hoping to decrease the amount of invasive surgery needed in hospitals; rather than cut people open, the long thin tube contains motors, sensors (the ‘eyes’ that surely also contribute to the moniker) and other imaging devices that will stand in for a surgeon’s hands. The snake is more flexible, dextrous and precise than any implement previously used, and will make it possible to more safely conduct operations that previously required very invasive techniques.

A team from Imperial College London has been granted 2.1 million pounds for the development of the i-Snake. They envisage the tool being used for heart bypass surgery, but also note that it could aid in any number of procedures, such as the diagnosis of problems in the guts and bowels. The ultimate aim for surgeons is to manage to conduct these procedures without any skin incisions at all. Such surgery can leave scars, keep patients in hospital far too long, and involve a much longer recovery time. Health Minister Lord Ara Dazi, who is on the development team, commented that:

“The unrivalled imaging and sensing capabilities coupled with the accessibility and sensitivity of i-Snake will enable more complex diagnostic and therapeutic procedures than are currently possible. The cost benefits that i-Snake will introduce include earlier, cheaper and less invasive treatment, faster recovery and procedure times and intangible benefits through an increase in patient care and quality of life.”

All of these procedures are to be tested in a lab before they are to be used on any real patients. However despite this caution, the innovation of the device is no doubt only the beginning of a whole range of smarter and more flexible surgery tools that are bringing us closer to the idea of an operation no longer being dangerous. Dr Ted Bianco, director of the Wellcome Trust, comments: “Gone are the days when the surgeon’s knife ruled in the operating theatre. The future of surgery is in smart devices like i-Snake.”

Rushda: Many girls across the world will be disappointed to hear that one of the world’s richest and most eligible bachelors, Google’s co-founder Larry Page, is marrying his girlfriend Lucy Southworth on a private island in the Caribbean. Larry Page, who is the joint fifth-richest man in the United States, has an estimated fortune of $18.5bn (£9bn). It is rumoured that he has invited over 600 guests to the wedding. The private 74-acre paradise is called Necker Island, and is owned by Sir Richard Branson who is also Page’s best man for the wedding.

The couple are said to have been dating for around a year, and it is not known whether or not they are signing a prenuptial agreement. Though Lucy and Larry themselves have not confirmed the event to the media, it is certain that the wedding will be taking place. The 600 guests were told that they only required a valid passport for the weekend as private planes would be provided to take them to the island. Over the past 6 months wedding planners have booked up all the hotels on the neighbouring island of Virgin Gorda in order to ensure there will be enough room for all the guests. As one source has said:

“They rented all of Virgin Gorda. They took over the island.”

Though much of the guest-list is kept a secret, it does contain such high-profile figures as Bill and Hillary Clinton, and other celebrities such as U2 singer Bono.

Kayleigh: The online bookseller Amazon has created a digital bookreader - The Kindle- which can store up to 200 books.

Amazon’s aim was to create a devicethat could provide its consumers with a wider variety of entertainment, like the Ipod does with music.

The device is about about the same size as a standard paperback, weighs around 290g, and offers access to about 90,000 books and 11 daily newspapers.

“We’ve been working on Kindle for more than three years,” said Amazon boss Jeff Bezos. “Our top design objective was for Kindle to disappear in your hands -to get out of the way so you can enjoy your reading.”

Once you have bought a Kindle, however, (which is £195) that doesn’t mean you get to read these books for free. Costs range from 75 cents to download a national newspaper and classic books cost around $1.99 each. Best sellers are naturally pricier, and can be downloaded for $9.99, but it is still cheaper than books bought in a store.

The device also offers access to online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, and about 300 blogs. It can also play MP3 music files and has a slot so it can store a memory card which enables it to hold hundreds of books.

“We want to make sure everything anyone wants to read is on the Kindle,” said Laura Porco, Amazon’s director of digital text. “We won’t stop until we can offer millions of books.”

Although I think this is a good invention, and is good for book lovers, I myself will not be buying one. Why buy a device that costs almost £200 when you can read the books for free online on your laptop?

Kayleigh: Celebrities such as Girls Aloud, Leona Lewis, and Penny Lancaster have all posted personal clips on YouTube aiming to help people who are being bullied.

The clips were made because of the increasing number of ‘happy slapping’ videos that are being filmed with mobile phones and then published online for all to see.

The stars are asking people to use the beat bullying channel on YouTube which is designed to help children who are being bullied. On the channel, children and teenagers can share their own experiences of bullying and can give each other help and advice.

Many people are bullied online, through social networking sites and emails. Many young people have also received death threats by text messages.

Singer Kimberley Walsh from Girls Aloud said:

“Happy-slapping may be funny to you, until it is a member of your family sat at a bus stop being slapped. How would you feel if someone made a humiliating video of you or a member of your family and put it online for everyone to see? This year more than 20 people will take their own lives in the UK alone because of bullying. It’s not funny.”

Penny Lancaster said on her clip: “My main memories of school are when I was bullied. I had one boy race his bike up against the back of my legs and I was bleeding and I couldn’t really hide that so I’d go home crying, it was very traumatic.”

Beatbullying director Sarah Dyer said: “The Beatbullying YouTube channel will revolutionise how young people access information on how to avoid being bullied and, importantly, on how to avoid being a bully. It is frighteningly easy for a young person who would never consider being a bully in real life, to do something online which they think is funny or humorous but in fact is a terrible act of bullying.”

I am really glad celebrities have done these videos. Bullying isn’t acceptable and maybe bullies will think twice when they see their favourite celeb disapproving of their behaviour. Bullying is a serious matter, and many children and teenagers take their own lives because of it. I hope this videos will help tackle bullying in Britain.

Kayleigh: The government has launched a social networking site for the over-50s so they can talk directly to the government about issues that concern them.

The website, called Generation Xperience, introduces topics into its forums, but also allows members of the public to start forums of their own. The topics the site has welcomed so far are “The internet” and “60 goals for the over 60s.”

The site also lists local events such as music and dance events, and encourages its audience to join in by visiting the government website Directgov. It also links to other websites that might interest the over-50s such as the Government News Network and Age Concern.

The site also intends to have its own groups on other popular social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and Youtube.

The site makes it clear that although ministers will take note of the over-50s, they cannot answer their questions directly on the site. Instead, representatives from the Department of Work and Pensions will keep the site running and up to date.

Lynne Williams, 50, believes the site is a good idea. She said: “I don’t go to council meetings but I can now talk to the government from the comfort of my own home to voice my concerns now, which is great.”

Personally, I think the website is a good idea, but why don’t they create a site for young people. It seems to me that most young people aren’t very interested in politics but if the government tried to interact with them using modern technology that young people use, they might get more of a response.

Rushda: Recent studies into the rapidly increasing use of mobiles has revealed that, on average, Britons send 1,000,000,000 text messages in a single week. Indeed, according to figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA), roughly 4,000 text messages are sent every second. The total over a week is 25% more than a year ago and in fact now totals the same amount as sent in an entire year in 1999. This leaves one only to wonder what will happen in future.

When asked what accounted for the popularity of text messages, head of MDA Mike Short said:

“It’s convenient, comprehensive, it’s on every handset and network and it is cost effective.”

It is easy to forget how we used to manage without it, as text messaging has now become an integral part of many people’s lives. It really is convenient for all those things that you want to say that don’t warrant having an entire conversation. Furthermore, the study also found that text messaging is fast becoming popular in businesses as well as a way of contacting lots of employees at once. As Mr Short explains:

“It’s a lot more convenient for a business now to notify lots of their employees about an urgent message using a text message.”

The UK now “sits within the top 6 of the global league of countries sending text messages,” and it is no surprise why. We live in a fast world where constant ability to communicate is key - whether it be mass texting within companies or short notes to a friend to say you will be late. Though text messaging may not be the most elegant or romantic form of communication (espclly whn typng lik tis), no one can deny how useful it can be.

Jeanne: Cape Town is currently embarking on a new initiative to go green. With the help of 2 of South Africa’s largest energy companies, the city has installed 4 solar-powered traffic lights at different points throughout the town and suburbs. It is hoped that this project will encourage the implementation of other green initiatives across the country. South Africa, like other developing nations, has often overlooked environmental issues in favour of economic advancements.

The traffic lights utilise a 3.6 square metre solar panel. It is hoped that these panels, which have been specifically designed to capture as much of the sun’s rays as possible, will also be cost-effective. The traffic lights have also been fitted with specialised LEDs designed to use considerably less power than conventional traffic lights. However, the South African authorities are leaving little to chance. Evaluations of the cost-effectiveness of the project are to be carried out after 3 months. Furthermore, in order to discourage vandalism, designers have installed the device atop 16-metre-high poles. Batteries are encased in concrete boxes to prevent them from being stolen and used for other purposes.

Cape Town’s director of transport and roads explained the rationale behind the aforementioned plan in a recent interview with news agencies:

“The city is very much environmentally conscious. We are hoping to get uninterrupted power supply for traffic lights in Cape Town so when there are power outages like we have had over the past 2 years, we will not have traffic jams. Power interruptions mean traffic officers have to be sent to the affected junctions, and given the limited resources it is near impossible to get to all the junctions around the city. So far it seems like it is working reasonably well… but we have not had any power outages recently, so we will have to cut the power at some stage to look at the implications.”

Rushda: Art enthusiasts will be excited to see that one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous paintings, The Last Supper, has been put up on the internet at a 16 billion pixel resolution. The 15th-century artwork can now be seen here in fine detail, 1,600 times more detail than traditional 10 megapixel cameras.

The work, which is displayed in Italy’s Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and viewed by 350,000 tourists a year, can now be seen by experts on their computers as though it were mere centimetres away. The picture can be seen without all the graininess associated with zooming in on ordinary photographs. As art curator Alberto Artioli explains:

“You can see how Leonardo made the cups transparent, something you can’t ordinarily see. You can also note the state of degradation the painting is in.”

Perhaps now Da Vinci code enthusiasts will be able to analyse the painting for themselves and put their minds to rest at last - or perhaps bring to light a further conspiracy.

Virgil: Yesterday saw the release of Apple’s latest operating system, codenamed “Leopard“ and more formally known as Mac OS X Version 10.5. The sixth major release of Apple’s flagship core product, and successor to the widely acclaimed “Tiger” (Version 10.4), the £85 piece of software hopes to rival the much-slated arch enemy Windows Vista.

With over 300 improvements on its predecessors (but most of them merely enhancements and improvements on the familiar) it is understandable why veteran technology writer Walt Mossberg dubbed the operating system “evolutionary, not revolutionary.” He goes on to say:

“I believe it builds on Apple’s quality advantage over Windows. In my view, Leopard is better and faster than Vista, with a set of new features that make Macs even easier to use.”

Apple has sold 2.2 million of its desktop computers (Macs) in the last 3 months, and hopes that this new release will boost sales even further. Nik Rawlinson, editor of MacUser magazine, optimistically writes that “when Tiger was launched it earned Apple $120m very quickly and all the expectations are that sales will be double that.” Nevertheless, one Mac user interviewed at the MacLiveExpo, held in London, commented that:

“I never buy any operating system when it first comes out. I normally wait until it has been out for six months or a year. Tiger does what I need it to do right now. I’ve not seen anything in Leopard to make me want to buy it immediately.”

Whether Leopard will have what it takes to outdo rival operating system Windows Vista from Microsoft remains to be seen. Whilst the market for Macs is still far below that of desktop PCs, 99% of which come pre-installed with Windows software, the abundance of handy features that Apple’s new super-user-friendly system provides may begin to tip the balance. As Rawlinson writes:

“Vista has been quite a disappointment for many people and Leopard could be the reason many people make the switch to Macs.”

Unfortunately, if only the “switch to Macs” didn’t necessitate switching so very much more too, Apple might have more luck - but as usual they uphold a silent policy of making sure that if one thing you own is from Apple, so is everything else too.