Hydrogen beast is closing in on the Milky Way

It's large, it's fast, and it's heading toward the Milky Way. Less than 40 million years from now, a giant cloud of hydrogen gas, clocked at 250 kilometers per second, will smash into our home galaxy, likely setting off a huge burst of star formation.

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Big Brain Theory: Have Cosmologists Lost Theirs?

A bizarre scenario takes theories of modern cosmology to the limit. If true, it would mean that you yourself reading this article are more likely to be some momentary fluctuation in a field of matter and energy out in space than a person with a real past born through billions of years of evolution in an orderly star-spangled cosmos.

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Microsofts' spy patent can monitor even your heartbeat

Every aspect of computer users’ lives — from their heartbeat to a guilty smile — could be monitored and immediately analysed under the futuristic system detailed in Microsoft’s patent application. The systems work not only through desktop or laptop computers but even through mobile phones or handheld PCs

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Intel Quits One Laptop Per Child Program

That didn't last long! Citing disagreements with the organization, Intel Corp. said Thursday it has abandoned the One Laptop Per Child program, dealing a big blow to the ambitious project seeking to bring millions of low-cost laptops to children in developing countries.

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eSATA to shed the power plug

eSATA is an external version of the Serial ATA technology used to hook up internal PCs, but today external eSATA drives need their own power supply. But recently, the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) announced it's working on a version that will let external drives draw power over the cable that connects the drive to a computer.

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Ubuntu releases ten lessons for the desktop

In the latest Ubuntu weekly newsletter the Ubuntu folks announced the release of the Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop Course. The modular course should take two days to complete all 10 of the lessons offered, but it is possible to cover topics and lessons independently of each other, learning whatever is of interest.

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How to fix your Windows MBR with an Ubuntu liveCD

Something happen to a windows Master Boot Record (MBR) that you’re responsible for? Want a very quick, very easy way to restore it with nothing but your craft, native intelligence and a liveCD?

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3 Ways To Access Linux Partitions (ext2/ext3) From Windows

If you have a dual-boot Windows/Linux system, you probably know this problem: you can access files from your Windows installation while you are in Linux, but not the other way round. This guide shows 3 ways to access your Linux partitions from within Windows: Explore2fs, DiskInternals Linux Reader, and the Ext2 Installable File System for Windows.

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Yahoo Implements OpenID; Massive Win For The Project

Will more than triple the number of current OpenIDs.

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Google's Answer to Wikipedia

Google's Knol project aims to make online information easier to find and more authoritative.

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Interview: Why Warner Went Full Throttle With Blu-ray

Warner announced earlier today it was 100 percent Blu-ray. We just talked a bit with Warner about some of the whys behind the decision. In a sentence: Because the format war is killing regular DVD sales on top of hurting sales of both HD formats.

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New Apple MacBook Air Is World's Thinnest

It's real and I want to buy one and lick it. The fabled MacBook Air actually exists. It's ultra-thin, has a solid state drive and, except for a couple ports, it's all about wireless connectivity.

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