mrv3000 | (no subject)

I love NOVA. I was completely fascinated by this episode last night, which you can watch here (very cool):

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/watch/

I hate to say "fascinated" again, but I was especially fascinated by the RNAi segment. It blew me away. It's stuff like that that makes me want to go work in a bioscience field. Not that I'm smart, but I could bring the smart ones coffee.

The fuel cell segment was also really informative. You always hear about the fuel cell cars and how they will save us in a few short years, but the segment shows how it's really a technology that we don't have yet and probably won't for a while.

UNRELATED - anyone have any recommendations for portable DVD players? An el cheapo one under $200. (Am feeling the need to buy myself something in my somewhat depressed state, but I'm still Dutch, dammit.) But I still want to have more than a teeny tiny screen to watch as my plane will no doubt skid off the runway in a month. (OMG.) Do all batteries only last around 2 - 2.5 hours? I demand better battery science! Maybe NOVA can investigate for me.

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The people I know who travel regularly and watch DVDs on their laptops while travelling actually don't use the disks at all. They rip the DVDs to their Hard Drive, and carry an extra battery where the DVD-ROM drive would normally sit.

This does two things. Firstly, it gives them 4-5 hours of battery life. And secondly it means they can watch a lot more. The reason you probably only get 2 - 2.5 hours of battery life from a DVD player is that spinning that disk is a huge drain on the batteries. That's why ripping to a local HDD is much more efficient battery wise.

If only I had the $$ to get a snifty laptop. That'd be COOL!

Yes, well.

In the mean time, check this out -> http://reviews.cnet.com/4521-6531_7-5021437-5.html

Oh cool! Thanks!

There's another one over on about.com somewhere, but I couldn't be bothered with the link. I prefer geek!site reviews anyway.

Yeah, they usually know more.

I demand better battery science! Maybe NOVA can investigate for me.

I'm sure they will if you write them enough letters. And when it airs it will, in likelyhood, be (dare I say it?) fascinating. =D

Dear NOVA,

I WUV you. Could you do something about DVD player batteries? Like, poke someone or something? Or at least make an animation? *smoooooch*

A *Fascinated* Viewer

I loved the segment with the little chefs cooking up the recipes. I learned a lot about the inner workings of the cells. Wonderful animation.

And seeing Tom and Ray, well, they're sillier on film than on the radio

I loved the segment with the little chefs cooking up the recipes. I learned a lot about the inner workings of the cells. Wonderful animation.

I know! I'd imagine they had some complaints about "dumbing down" science, but hell, I learned something!

And seeing Tom and Ray, well, they're sillier on film than on the radio

I also love them! If I'm driving around on Saturday or Sunday, I'll switch over to NPR to see if they're on. And I HATE cars! :D

Fascination = whee. Thanks for the link! :)

Have fun watching!