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The Smithsonian Is Uploading Its Lost Treasures to the Internet

With over 137 million artifacts, works of art, and specimens in its collections, the Smithsonian can’t display even one percent of that at any given time. Many historically significant pieces won’t go on display in our lifetimes and other likely won’t ever see the light of day again. But their replicants will. Read more…        

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The Smithsonian Is Uploading Its Lost Treasures to the Internet

Digital Textbook Startup Kno Was Sold For $15 Million

Nate the greatest writes “Intel didn’t mention how much they paid for digital textbook startup Kno when they announced the acquisition last week but inside sources are now saying that the digital textbook startup was picked up for a song. GigaOm reported earlier today that their sources told them that Kno sold effectively for pennies on the dollar: ‘Well placed sources who were in the know told us that the company sold for $15 million with some retention bonuses for the employees. Intel bought the company mostly for its hardware-related intellectual property and the employees. Intel also was one of the largest investors in the company — having pumped in $20 million via its Intel Capital arm.’ Kno had raised $73 million in venture capital since it was founded 4 years ago, and it picked up another $20 million in debt. This deal was nothing less than a fire sale, and that does not bode well for the digital textbook market or other startups in this niche. Inkling, for example, just raised $20 million dollars this summer in order to compete in a market that where one of their competitors failed.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Digital Textbook Startup Kno Was Sold For $15 Million

The Throwable, Panoramic Ball Cam Is Finally Here—and It’s Incredible

When we first got wind of a throwable, 36-lens compound camera that automatically snaps 360-degree panoramas at the height of its toss, we were already impressed—and that was jus the prototype (seen above on the right). Now, the officially named Panono camera is nearly half its former size, just as powerful, and finally ready to be caught by consumer hands. And after playing around with the ball for a bit, we can officially say that, yes, it is every bit as awesome as it seems. Read more…        

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The Throwable, Panoramic Ball Cam Is Finally Here—and It’s Incredible

How the Paris World’s Fair brought Art Nouveau to the Masses in 1900

The Paris World’s Fair of 1900 (also known as The Exposition Universelle) was held in Paris between 15 April and 12 November. On display were many new inventions: matryoshka dolls, Diesel engines, talking film, and the telegraphone. But more importantly, the architecture and design of this World’s Fair brought the wonderful Art Nouveau style into popular culture. These photos and illustrations of the Fair show why the world fell in love with Art Nouveau. Read more…        

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How the Paris World’s Fair brought Art Nouveau to the Masses in 1900

Bionic humans are about to get an upgrade, thanks to monkey cyborgs

In a big step towards making humans more bionic, scientists have trained monkeys to control not just one, but two virtual arms by thoughts alone. The work could someday be a boon to double amputees or quadriplegics. Read more…        

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Bionic humans are about to get an upgrade, thanks to monkey cyborgs

Watch all 30 minutes of recovered Return of the Jedi footage

A few weeks ago, drips of lost footage filled with cut takes from Return of the Jedi began appearing online. Now you can see all 30 minutes of the recovered footage, compiled into a single video. Read more…        

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Watch all 30 minutes of recovered Return of the Jedi footage

Abu Dhabi’s Massive New Airport Terminal Rises In the Desert

A new airport complex is taking shape in Abu Dhabi, where roughly 12, 000 construction workers are on-site daily to finish the massive structure, whose floor area is larger than that of the Pentagon. According to UAE paper The National , it will take 84, 000 tons of steel to build the structure’s dramatic arches, designed by New York-based KPF . Read more…        

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Abu Dhabi’s Massive New Airport Terminal Rises In the Desert

This is the most accurate model yet of what DNA looks like

This is a stunning 3D map that shows how six feet of of DNA can be crammed inside a single chromosome — a space that’s only a hundredth of a millimeter across. Not surprisingly, it looks like something that would go well with meatballs. Read more…        

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This is the most accurate model yet of what DNA looks like

3D-Printed Mini Human Liver Survives 40 Days, Works Like the Real Thing

Organovo’s 3D-printed mini-liver just shattered its own record, carrying out the same cellular functions as a natural human liver for 40 days in the lab. That may not seem like a lot — human liver cells are replaced about every 300 to 500 days — but the company’s previous millimeter-sized liver slivers only managed five days. The trick: Organovo uses the same mix of hepatocytes (the cells that carry out liver functions) and endothelial cells (which form the liver’s architectural support) found in nature, leading cells to develop more naturally than other experiments that used only the functional cells. It’s a small but significant step for the more than 120, 000 people on organ transplant waiting lists worldwide. Read more…        

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3D-Printed Mini Human Liver Survives 40 Days, Works Like the Real Thing