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Posts Tagged “Google”

mad genomics

Should Google be Able to Read Your Genome?

Gene-sequencing technology is taking off, but George Church at Harvard University is taking it to the next level: he wants to sequence the genomes of 100,000 people. Right now, about 12 human genomes have been sequenced and Church's ambitious plan is likely to cost cost around $1 billion to complete. Recently Google — who in February announced its Google Health software for storing electronic medical records — agreed to foot a major part of the bill. Google gives us free email, chat, search, a shopping client, and so on and all they've ever asked is that we let them look at all over our most private information. Seems like a fair trade, but does that extend to our DNA? More »

april fools jokes

Please Help Us Send Google To Mars

If only today's announcement from Google and Virgin were true. Supposedly Google and Virgin Inc. are teaming up to create Virgle, a scheme to settle Mars by about 2015, possibly because Mars is the last place Google can keep its server farms the right temperature. In this video, Google founders Sergey and Larry ask you to send in your Youtube videos explaining why you should be one of the first Mars settlers. More »

satellites

Google Takes Initiative to Find Extraterrestrials by 2012

MIT's teaming up with Google to design the first satellite that can really, truly search the sky for planets similar to Earth in size and terrain, taking us a giant step closer to making contact with extraterrestrials. Google is funding the development of a six high-res, wide-field digital cameras with a 192-megapixel resolution for TESS—the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. That's enough resolution to gauge the brightness of two million stars. MIT scientists are currently hard at work with the design of TESS' observatory. More »

Google Sky Lets You Browse Nearby Galaxies
Last night Google rolled out its latest mapping application, which allows you to browse the night sky and zoom in on nearby galaxies and stars. Called Google Sky, it's just about the most fun I've had with a mapping application since . . . well, Google Earth. But unlike Earth, Sky doesn't require you to download a bunch of software. You can browse the heavens as easily as you browse your neighborhood on Google Maps. And there are no annoying little pushpins — only helpful information boxes about what astronomical objects you're gawking at. You won't be able to look away. [Google Sky]

futurism

The Pros and Cons of a Google Brain Implant

In John Varley's upcoming scifi novel Rolling Thunder, everyone has a brain implant that lets them google information constantly. And many futurists are saying this technology will become a reality long before we colonize Mars. The question isn't whether we'll have google brain implants (or the futuristic search engine equivalent), but how we'll handle them. What exactly would be the plusses and minuses of being able to google information instantaneously in your head, without anybody knowing you're doing it? More »

social control

Beware Google's Surveillance Death-Ray

What happens when Google street view is no longer content with showing incredibly detailed pictures of the outside of your house? This hilarious science fiction video by the Vacationeers follows Google's omni-cam to its most invasive extreme... and of course they posted it on YouTube. More »