“Living Camera” Uses Bacteria To Capture Image

FSM bacteria photoNew Scientist reports that a “living camera” has been developed from bacteria:

A dense bed of light-sensitive bacteria has been developed as a unique kind of photographic film. Although it takes 4 hours to take a picture and only works in red light, it also delivers extremely high resolution.

The “living camera” uses light to switch on genes in a genetically modified bacterium that then cause an image-recording chemical to darken. The bacteria are tiny, allowing the sensor to deliver a resolution of 100 megapixels per square inch.

To make their novel biosensor, Chris Voigt’s team at the University of California in San Francisco, US, chose E. Coli, the food-poisoning gut bacterium. One of the reasons for that choice is that E. Coli does not normally use light – photosynthesising bacteria could have used light to prompt other, unwanted, biological processes.

The researchers used genetic engineering techniques to shuttle genes from photosynthesising blue-green algae into the cell membrane of the E. Coli. One gene codes for a protein that reacts to red light. Once activated, that protein acts to shut down the action of a second gene. This switch-off turns an added indicator solution black.

As a result, a monochrome image could be permanently “printed” on a dense bed of the modified E. Coli.

I think it’s quite fitting that the first image made was that of the Flying Spaghetti Monster… 🙂

del.icio.us playtagger

del.icio.usYou may have noticed that the MP3 Of The Day in the left sidebar now has a “play icon” () next to it.

del.icio.us’ Play Tagger allows you to easily play mp3 files directly on your website or blog. Simply include a tiny javascript, and your mp3 links will automatically become playable right on the page. In addition, your visitors will have the opportunity to easily tag and post the mp3 link to del.icio.us. This script is extrememely lightweight, as is the flash movie that plays on demand.

Very cool…

NES Covers

Something Awful “Forums user kalocin started up a thread a little while ago asking people for songs that he would then cover using a synthesizer based on the classic nintendo entertainment system’s psg audio system.” The result is 16 retro synthesizer covers available as downloadable MP3s:

  1. REM – Losing My Religion
  2. Europe – Final Countdown
  3. Radiohead – Karma Police
  4. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
  5. Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
  6. Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven
  7. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
  8. Led Zeppelin – Kashmir
  9. Slayer – Angel of Death
  10. David Pomeranz – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now
  11. Coldplay – Yellow
  12. Rick James – Superfreak
  13. Semisonic – Closing Time
  14. (Silence)
  15. Hidden NESmix Intro
  16. Zero Wing (Opening Theme) (4×4 Remix)
  17. Tetris (Music A) (Piano Practice)

Definitely worth the download… 🙂

TiVo Adds Overlap Protection

TiVoIn its latest software update (7.2.1, which I have not yet received), TiVo is finally adding Overlap Protection, which will allow you to combat the networks’ extremely annoying practice of making shows run a couple of minutes longer. In the event of a conflict, TiVo used to just refuse to record the next show, but now you will be able to set Overlap Protection options to clip the lower priority program. It’s about damn time…