Beauty Perceived Differently by Men and Women

According to an article in Ars Technica, a collaborative ressearch project has revealed that men and women use different sides of the brain to perceive beauty. By measuring areas of brain activity, men apparently focus on the global picture while women in addition look at specific details. This is probably related to the different roles of men and women in hunter gatherer societies, in which women being the primary gatherers would have to pay more attention to fruits and berries.

The Internet Kills

Use of the internet is leading to increased social isolation, according to Dr. Aric Sigman in an article on The Register. It has long been known that singles live shorter lives and that social interaction is beneficial to health. Although the internet is providing means of communications across the globe and some of that is interactive, this is no substitute for real-world interpersonal social contact. Even in the home individuals are spending more time behind their own screens on the internet rather than talking to each other. In the long term this may lead to increased ailments associated with social isolation, such as depression and reducing the body´s natural immune system.

Violent Video Games

Following on from on of previous posts about violent video games may actually help in the devlopment of young boys, California have apparently reversed a judges decision to ban selling violent video games to minors, according to The Register. In another ruling which implies that porn is considered more harmful than graphic violence, one wonders where priorities in the US lie. One cannot compare Tom and Jerry to Fallout 3 and classification of video games is there for a reason. Adults should take some responsibility in considering what is right for children so why isn´t selling an 18 rated video game to a minor at the same level as selling alcohol to someone who is underage?

Hitler Spared Blackpool

During the second world war the Germans knew that soldiers on leave stayed in Blackpool area and that there was even aerospace manufacturing for the Wellingtonm bomber in the area. The area was spared from bombing because Hitler wanted to use the town as his private resort after he´d conquered Britain, according to The Register. Now although Blackpool was the resort for the working communities of East Lancashire and lovely when it´s sunny, and retains a certain Victorian feel, it is distinctively grey when the weather is bad. I don´t know whether he actually visited the place, but one wonders about the quality of German intelligence.

Violent Video Games are Good for Boys

When I was a boy we used to kick a ball around outside or play army or tag. The current generation seem to have a limited concept of what playing outside means, or people are increasingly living in areas where this is isn´t possible. In any case, the games console has become a surrogate for real social interaction.

With all these cries against violient video games and the effects they may have on the youth, this article from Ars Technica was a welcome relief. Peg Tyre´s book The Trouble With Boys covers something which is perfectly logical if you think about it. Some kids have more energy than others and playing is a part of growing up and learning social interaction. If children cannot be exposed to the traditional methods (football, army, tag) which are all perfectly natural and healthy boyish pastimes, then games like Halo might actually be a good substitute. Shielding children too much in our over-politically correct world may actually be hindering their development.

Nuclear Fusion - A Star On Earth?

Horizon had a programme last week about the current state of nuclear fusion research and whether it would be possible to get beyond the research phase and supply electricity with it before 2030.

There were some interesting points regarding the actual facts and figures of global energy usage and that alternative energy sources alone can´t plug the gap because of the amount of energy oil contains. There were also some insights into current research such as the mini nuclear blast tests in the Z-machine at the Lawrence Livermore labs and projects in the short term in Korea and in France (ITER). The concept is to ignite a mini-star that is then fed with fusion to glue deuterium and tritium to produce energy and helium.

When Nuclear Subs Collide

How big does an ocean have to be to prevent two friendly nuclear subs from straying into each other's path? An collision between HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant early in February has been confirmed by First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band according to the BBC. The collision occured at low speed and there was no danger of a nuclear incident, though the British sub got scraped and the French one suffered a damaged sonar dome. Of course it could have been a lot worse and reassurances that this will not be a repeated have been requested by MPs. One explanation is that the anti-sonar equipment was so effective that the vessels didn't hear each other coming, which says something about their stealth capabilities.