From the category archives:

Technology

Researchers working on killer leftover detector

by Jason on March 27, 2007

I usually try to spread submissions out so this doesn’t happen, but I just realized that I posted two stories from Magic Stones in a row. And you know what? It felt right, and I’m going with it.

HAPPY MAGIC STONES DAY!

Next up: researchers at the University of South Carolina are working on some kind of dipstick that you can stick in your food to see if it’s going to kill you. The intended uses would range from double checking your leftovers (“did we have beans last week or last month?”) to checking restaurant food (now WHY CAN’T THEY MAKE A CHICKEN AND FISH DETECTOR? But I digress). The best part? The stick will change colour to indicate a problem. The colour of danger is now yellow. Why is this awesome? Because there’s a joke about yellow snow in there somewhere, and one that rhymes with mellow, and maybe even one that combines the two. Researchers in rival state North Carolina are reportedly working on finding the funny, but I think you can beat them to it – post your thoughts in the comments!

Oh, and have a great Magic Stones day – she deserves it, and so do all of you.

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DNA testing helps track down ivory poachers

by Jason on February 27, 2007

SataMama reports that authorities have started using DNA technology to track ivory poachers. Maybe I don’t live in the right income bracket, but finding “faux ivory” never seems to be a problem for me, since I can’t think of anything I or anyone I know has that’s made of the stuff, except for Stampy the elephant. Still, the price of ivory has quadrupled as of late, which is motivating poachers something fierce. This brings us back to the DNA thing, which, since it’s used on ivory that’s already been removed from elephants, is too late for the victim, but can be used to identify the region where the elephant may have lived, which can lead to identification of trade routes, which can lead to — science justice attack! — arrests of poachers. So nice to see other uses for DNA than the OJ trial and Jurassic Park movies, no? Link.

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New biodiesel to power mobile phone infrastructure in India

February 13, 2007

kunsjoi sent in a biodiesel story that didn’t once mention animal fat! Sorry, but if you read enough stories about alternative fuels you’d think that animal by-products were essential to the future of energy. However. In this case, the new fuel of the moment is to be derived from cotton and shrubbery, [...]

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Chicken fat the next big biodiesel ingredient?

January 3, 2007

bfischer send in the latest depressing article about animal-based biodiesel companies, this time focusing on the conversion of chicken fat to fuel. While biodiesel can be (and is) made from soy oil, chicken fat is about 33% cheaper, so there’s a push to use it for something other than pet food and soap. [...]

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New vaccine production technique to reduce egg usage

January 2, 2007

Nessie sent in news of some advances in vaccine production. In the past, certain flu vaccines were crafted inside hen’s eggs, with a yield of one shot per egg. Under this new technique, a big bowl of bacteria can produce 10,000 shots in a single two pint batch. There’s still all kinds [...]

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The interweb makes everything easier – even ritual sacrifice

January 2, 2007

kunsjoi reports that the interweb has made it easier to get sacrificial animals. That’s right, no longer do people have to go to market and pick out a sheep – a few clicks of the mouse is all it takes now, and the animal of your choice is delivered to your door. A quick [...]

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CBS eggs on the vegans

July 26, 2006

If marketers are supposed to be experts at connecting with their audience, doesn’t it sound odd to hear from CBS Marketing Group president George Schweitzer that a campaign involving eggs is “intrusive and inclusive”? As AimeeLeigh79 reports, CBS is planning on etching messages advertising their fall season directly onto eggs. Granted, they’re using [...]

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I know what I’d wish for!

July 20, 2006

AimeeLeigh79 sends word of a vegan-friendly wishbone replacement for your tofu roasts, or maybe your favourite pie. You know, if they really want to replicate a Thanksgiving dinner, they need to include a patch or pill that makes it hard to stand up after the meal, or maybe a coupon for pants that only [...]

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Beef industry to start feeding on itself

July 18, 2006

There’s a scene in Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle where cows march up a ramp to the top floor of the slaughterhouse to be killed so that gravity can be used to aid in the processing. From a physics perspective, the cows are providing energy to fuel their own destruction. Flash forward to today, [...]

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Urban farming on the rise as condos and apartments grow

May 25, 2006

I’ve been jokingly referring to my sprouter as my indoor garden, but apparently there have been quite a few new products out recently that allow people without backyards to grow small quantities of food. I particularly like the upside down tomato planter, but obviously I’m not a fan of rooftop beekeeping. What about [...]

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