Cambridge
MIT creates remote-controlled zombie moths
By adamg - 2/11/12 - 9:29 amElectronics Weekly reports researchers at MIT have managed to stuff an electrode into a moth that can be used to control the moth's behavior:
"This is a major advance," says insect neurobiologist Roy Ritzmann at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. DARPA hopes this kind of control will one day allow intelligence agencies to use insects to carry surveillance equipment and spy on unsuspecting enemies.
The article does not say if they are also experimenting with ill tempered sea bass.
Via BostInnovation.
Why is that guy smiling at me?
By adamg - 2/9/12 - 11:54 amJason Mihalko tweets:
I have said good morning and smiled at 12 people today. All have looked away. We can be so unfriendly in Cambridge.
Some tweets in response (may take a second or two to come up):
We lose another online entrepreneur - but not to Silicon Valley this time
By adamg - 2/8/12 - 8:38 amCaffeine huffing just the thing for people who don't have time for one of those little energy-drink bottles
By adamg - 2/8/12 - 7:42 amAssociated Press highlights the controversy over a caffeine inhaler invented by a Harvard professor. It got mixed reviews at Northeastern, where the company marketing the thing gave away free fixes samples. The company says caffeine snorting is the perfect way "for people with active lifestyles to get their caffeine fix."
Mayorless city still manages to raise kids with brains enough to stay out of traffic
By adamg - 2/7/12 - 6:30 pmIn addition to wrangling over its next mayor, the Cambridge City Council continues to tussle with the issue of a rich guy with a large piece of land who wants to put in a second driveway. The driveway is opposed by some neighbors as the possible breaking of the seal that unleashes the spawn of Satan, but Cambridge Day reports one neighbor testified this week he is not concerned about kids getting hurt on the tiny street onto which the driveway would enter because:
When a car arrives, they get out of the way. After the car parks, they play more.
Rudderless city continues to drift along municipal shoals without a mayor
By adamg - 2/6/12 - 10:57 pmYep, the Cambridge City Council once again failed to elect a mayor.
Why monkey with a good thing? Curious George bookstore to re-open in Harvard Square
By adamg - 2/6/12 - 1:50 pmWicked Local Cambridge reports a Roslindale couple is working to re-open the shuttered kids' bookstore in the heart of the square. Reopening is sometime this spring.
Wait, we have a Miss Boston?
By adamg - 2/6/12 - 6:41 amIndeed we do, and a Harvard sophomore is one of 10 competitors:
"Being from Harvard makes me unique, but I'm sure they all have their strengths and components that make them unique," Beck said.
It's amazing what you can get on Etsy these days
By adamg - 2/2/12 - 4:32 pm
At least, we're assuming this guy got his unique jacket on Etsy - just look at that fine handcrafted design!
Rima Chaddha Mycynek spotted man and jacket at Harvard Square today.
Sandwich chain doing its part to destroy the wallet industry
By adamg - 2/2/12 - 8:38 amStreet Fight interviews Mike Conley, director of marketing at Sebastians Cafe, which now has 2,200 people signed up for its phone-based payment and loyalty programs - customers use their phones rather than old-fashioned cash or credit cards to pay for lunch. Naturally, the chain started with its Kendall Square location first.
It's just an easier, great way to pay. I forgot my wallet one day, going into a meeting, and I was like: "Oh, crap. I can't pay for food. Oh, wait a minute. I have my phone. I have LevelUp." It's interesting that everyone is starting to realize how this is a very usable tool for payments.
