{"id":8453,"date":"2013-05-07T15:58:13","date_gmt":"2013-05-07T20:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/2013\/05\/06\/"},"modified":"2013-05-07T15:58:13","modified_gmt":"2013-05-07T20:58:13","slug":"geek-month-in-review-april-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=8453","title":{"rendered":"Geek Month in Review: April 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JB Sanders<\/p>\n

Spring!<\/p>\n

Hagfish Slime — the New Silk?<\/a> <\/Strong>
\nSeriously, the hagfish (which is neither hag nor fish) is a bottom-feeding vertebrate that exudes a nasty slime when threatened. Scientists are exploring ways to duplicate the fibers that are part of this slime to create a pseudo-silk with more in common with spider silk than traditional silk. Such as being super-strong.<\/p>\n

The Anti-Drone Hoodie<\/a><\/Strong>
\nI see this thing and can only think: The Latest Fashion in Cult Robes. Every drone-avoiding cultist should have one.<\/p>\n

How Far is it to Mars?<\/a> <\/Strong>
\nHandy website that graphically displays how far it is from Earth to Mars, although no information about whether they use an average distance or whether they’re savvy enough to calculate Mars’ position and update their info.<\/p>\n

Decoding Our Dreams — Using Science!<\/a> <\/Strong>
\nScientists have developed a program that helps decode images of brains taken while the subject is asleep. It isn’t exactly reading our minds via machines, but it’s interesting.<\/p>\n

3D Camera with Range<\/a><\/Strong>
\nOh sure, 3D cameras — nothing new. Only this one uses lasers and has a range of 1km. Oh, and it’s not so good at human skin, so don’t worry that people are snapping your 3D picture from a thousand yards away.<\/p>\n

Attack of the Magnetic Putty!<\/Strong>
\nTake iron filings, silly putty and a rare-earth magnetic. Mix. Then film it using a time-lapse camera. Result: cool but kinda creepy.<\/p>\n