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The idea of spooky "Aliens" having come and visited people really makes me think that it's all a product of the subconcious creating some entity as a cause for the paranoia and fear that we all exhibit, because it's an evolutionary advantage. I imagine that the universe, however, is teeming with all kinds of beings. I don't know why they aren't here yet, but I'm sure we'll find out soon. I don't think that space will be similarly teeming with communication though, radio broadcasting is may be too wasteful for any advanced civilization to use. (We may have to stop once fossil fuels run out and energy becomes more expensive.) As for time travel and telekinesis, they seem too .. fictiony? or too anthropocentric. Maybe they're too obvious/intuitive? I dunno, doesn't seem like they'll exist. I think the new discoveries will be things we're not expecting at all. Think how strange Quantum pheneomena are. My Grandad did some research into psychic ability, last time it was in vogue. He did tests with different kinds of cards, and any psychics they did find were eventually found to be average after continued tests. We're of the shared opinion that while extra-sensory ability is certainly possible (and probable), it will manifest itself in a way that is completely perpendicular to the common conception of ESP. The brain is massively complicated. However, I know it works by electricity, and has an induced magnetic field. What I know about magnetic fields is that they can influence each other at a distance - so by some leap of logic two brains can interact remotely.

In Our Time is an awsome radio programme on Radio 4 (in the UK) on thursdays at 09:00 and 21:00. Bragg gets a few experts into the studio and they talk through all kinds of cool subjects. He makes sure they clearly explain the ideas, and don't overrun into esoterica. What's extra exciting is that all the programmes are online, in Real player* format or podcast. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime_archive_home.shtml Enjoy * If you're on windows, you might wanna get Realplayer Alternative, which is windows media player classic with a RM codec.

I think there's an age limit on donations, yeah. It's 17-50 or something, the NHS sent me a creepy letter on my 17th birthday asking for my body parts. I don't understand the cause/effect for life expentancy to rise here? I thought that longer lifespan was due to improved medicine and hygiene?

Indeed, dttom, it's not just oxygen, there's all the "radicals" earlier posts have discussed. I thought that it wasn't the organs that "wore out", but instead the helices of DNA in every cell are sort of "burned out", so they can no longer divide properly. However, IANAB (i am not a biologist )

same difference, they share core parts. one isn't an offshoot of the other.

Probably know what we're talking about? The cheek! Yeah, anyway, Google's "i'm feeling lucky" is magical.

Perhaps people who oppose stem cell research think that even taking one stem cell from an embryo is evil? (I'm as confused as you Martin.)

Internet explorer has major over-arching flaws in it's design, which MS isn't fixing speedily at all. For instance, it's embedded too deeply in the Windows OS, which is inherently insecure. Also, *conspiracy theorising*, it pays off for them because they can sell software to, such as MS anti-spyware, to fix up the problems they've made. The problems with Firefox are a lot smaller in magnitude and are often fixed faster. Remember- just because there are more problems identified isn't a bad thing- it just means more people are looking, and then the security issues can be fixed.

It depends how you look at it (and how much Stephen Baxter, etc, you've read). I understood it that the reason was died (simply put,) is because oxygen is basically a combustable fuel. It's necessary for life, but really is a highly reactive and corrosive substance (think rust, fire etc.). We could live longer if we used oxygen at a slower rate- like whales and tortoises. However, would you want to give up your dexterity and speed of thought? I think it's a compromise. Also, We live longer by becomming a different sort of life. Moving from organic materials to computers is a fun idea.

I was afraid to click the link at first! I thought there'd be some evil music lurking there like the video in "the ring" Yeah, anyway, maybe that song's just resonating with you for some reason? The different intervals and rhytms in music hide all sorts of emotions, I think. It reminds me of when my cousin, after hearing the start of a song, somehow guessed what the song was about pretty precisely - down to the actual words used.

In the case of turbines in power stations, it's the magnets that are inducing the current. However, the source of energy is the boiling water that is moving the magnets (giving them kinetic energy).

I've just been set an essay today on the moral implications of stem cell research, if there are no silly religious arguments any more, I'll have nothing to write about! This research seems like an extraordinary amount of fuss to save one embryo. Surely it would be a lot more fun just to create a new one?

SF (science/speculative fiction) is my favourite genre! Have you guys read any Stephen Baxter? His books are awsome. I also like reading popular science books and random novels. The last few books I've read: 1) Mammoth trilogy by Baxter 2) Cosmos by Sagan 3) Star wars - last comand (as an experiment into space opera, but it confirmed my worst fears about the genre )

I dunno what .ASF is, but I couldn't see it- here's the flash version: Yatta in Flash http://web.mit.edu/patil/www/media/video/yatta%20(economy).swf *nostalgic sigh* Yatta, a life changing experience for us all, i'm sure

That sort of freedom is awsome. Does the school give you the funds? We're doing "practicals" for A-level (17-18 y/o) that is one fixed project Does a Science Fair mean it'll be a competition (like on the Simpsons)?