DNA Testing Breaks Down Barriers in the Court Room
November 13, 2007
DNA testing has three major applications for forensic studies: identification of missing persons; identification of victims of wars, accidents, and natural disasters; and crime investigation. Annually, more than 20,000 forensic DNA tests are performed in the UK. Two out of three of all criminal cases using DNA evidence involve sexual assault, the rest are cases dealing with burglary, murder, and other types of violent crime. During the last 15 years, DNA analysis became an indispensable police tool in fighting crime because it allows unambiguous identification of the criminal by traces of biological material left at the crime scene. It can also acquit innocent suspects based on DNA evidence.
Criminal justice system now relies heavily on DNA-based evidence. Since it was first used in the Enderby murder case (1986), thousands of perpetrators has been convicted of various crimes with the help of DNA evidence, and hundreds wrongfully convicted people have been exonerated.
The most common samples collected at the crime scene are blood, semen, and saliva; virtually any biological material or objects handled by a perpetrator can be now used for forensic DNA testing. Clothing, furniture, and other items which may have traces of DNA, are now routinely used for obtaining DNA evidence. The technology is so sensitive that it allows identification of a person by analysing DNA collected from a fingerprint left on the surface of an object or from a single hair left at a crime scene.
DNA Testing Has Changed Everything
November 12, 2007
Since its discovery 20 years ago, the use of DNA for human identity and relationship testing has emerged as a powerful tool in both civil and criminal justice systems. DNA testing can reveal whether two or more individuals are related as well as determining the nature of their relationship. Today, it is possible to identify people by a single hair, as well as obtain information about their gender and ethnic background, and, within the next couple of years, identify their age.
Before the advent of DNA testing, human identity testing was largely carried out through blood typing. DNA analysis has now superseded blood testing and is the most accurate method currently available for human identification.
The possibility that DNA could be used for human identity and relationship testing had been discussed from the time DNA was first revealed as the molecule which makes people unique. Yet, it was not until the discovery of DNA fingerprinting by Prof. Alec Jeffreys (now Sir Alec) of Leicester University in 1984 when the first practical testing system became available. As with conventional fingerprinting, where various loops and whorls are compared between two fingerprints, DNA testing relies on comparing certain DNA features called DNA markers between two individuals. If DNA patterns between the samples are identical, then they are likely to come from the same person. If the profiles are not identical but big similarities are observed, then the samples most probably come from related individuals. The degree of the similarity between DNA profiles is a representation of the degree of relatedness between people.
Dream Therapy and Learning thru Human Hibernation
November 11, 2007
Want to learn a new language? Would you like to earn a PhD in Physics; perfect your backstroke tennis swing, golf finesse or fly-fishing techniques, while you sleep? While, your immune system catches your body back up on your lack of exercise, fitness and proper diet? How about if I told you, that you most likely will shed about 20-25 lbs of extra weight while all this is going on? Well, if we further develop our sleep research, human hibernation studies and mind or brain advances we will be able to do all this and more in the near future, perhaps less than 5-years.
Let me tell you about a few of the latest new rapidly approaching and potentially converging technologies, which will make all this possible. First human hibernation, suspended animation and cryogenics are moving forward. Recently Mark Roth and his medical research team were able to use Hydrogen Sulfide gas, usually a deadly toxin, at a certain ration to induce hibernation in mice, slowing the mammalian bodies down by 90%. Second the Brain research being funded by DARPA is coming along well. Third we have Stanford Sleep Researchers making break thrus on a weekly basis.
Pandemic Crisis Cure Concept
November 11, 2007
What happens if the world is faced with a Pandemic, for which no cure currently exists but one is on the verge of being discovered? Here is a concept, which with the proper protocols could save the human race from near extinction. Human Hibernation. Put as many of the Pandemic victims to sleep as possible before they succumb to the virus or pathogen. Then isolate a team of scientists to figure out a cure. Once the cure is discovered inoculate the scientific team and have them go around to wake everyone up. Wake up the largest groups first and train them with videos how to inoculate the all those people that there is enough vaccine for.
Each time enlisting more recovering people to help and train others; eventually over many months waking back up the entire human race from their suspended animation or hibernation event. Think it sounds to Sci Fi like for you? Well think again, because within a couple of years it will be possible. One groups of scientists have discovered that using a certain ratio of hydrogen sulfide gas that they could induce hibernation in mice. Bears and ground hogs and many other mammals can hibernate and it is likely that all mammals can do this, yes, including human beings. Therefore as this technology becomes available and with the proper protocols it is possible to save the entire human race from such a Pandemic or possible extinction. We need to have a plan, think on this.
Saving People in Disaster Crisis, Concept
November 10, 2007
So often when we see huge Natural Disasters there are many people killed, but for everyone who perishes there are 5-10 people injured; many very seriously. So often too the region of the world were the disaster occurs does not have enough hospital beds, medical professionals or the right equipment needed to help save those lives. Well, there is a new discovery, which might change all that. Mark Roth and his colleagues have made a rather fascinating discovery; they have found a way to put mice into a suspended animation state. They used a very toxic gas; hydrogen sulfide, which when used in smaller amounts puts these small mammals into temporary hibernation. Similar to a bear when it hibernates.
If we had tanks of hydrogen sulfide and put accident victims which needed help but there was not enough staff or facilities to help them into suspended animation or temporarily induced hibernation, that would buy us additional time to handle the crisis. Here is how it might work; each victim is administered the necessary temporary help to stop the bleeding. Those which need additional help, which is unavailable are put into a room which has the proper percentage of gas in it, which puts them to sleep. Their bodies like the mice would slow down 90% and thus we could work on the victims which staff was available for. Protocol would need to be worked out of course, but by doing this we could save lives and not have so many injured die due to lack of medical facilities or medical staffing in that time of need. Think on this please.
Acoustic Transducers for High Altitude Balloon Control
November 9, 2007
Using acoustic transducers it maybe possible to create a small region of thicker air underneath a blimp and use that patch as a platform of air to float on while blowing ever so slightly low pressure air underneath the blimp like a hover craft. Although this idea sounds like a long shot it can be done by use of a screen, which shoots the directed frequency waves into the waves created by the acoustic transducers. In fact it maybe possible to place the acoustic transducers on poles, which hang down from the blimp and right below that place a screen which rolls out below the blimp. The wave interference once airborne allow the use the thicker air which is made thru alignment of the air molecules as resistance for the low pressure air blown against it. Any thicker air, which is pushed down or away from the blimp as it moves will freely flow thru the large holes in the screen.
Why bother to make a blimp float easier? Because you need less volume of lighter than air gas to float the blimp. Meaning your aircraft can be smaller and more maneuverable. Also it allows for more aerodynamic options with regards to shape thus higher airspeeds can be obtained.
Spray on Dirt for Camouflage
November 8, 2007
Super sticky spray on dirt or mud simulation coating or wash-off-able paint is needed to protect our troops in combat. It can be used for aircraft bottoms, helicopters and humvees. Sounds like a good idea right? But how would you get the sticky dirt onto the vehicles for instance camouflage? Well there are several thoughts on this. Hudson Sprayer, Aerosol Spray cans, Pressure washer with inline injection or use the nozzles on a water truck. Any of these ways could in fact work. Of course we must eliminate the aerosol can spray idea, that might be good for model airplanes, but it would take forever to do only one vehicle. Using a Hudson sprayer or small air compressor like sprayer could also work, but once again the time constraints are not conducive.
Hibernating Humans for Space Flight
November 7, 2007
Can we hibernate humans using hydrogen sulfide gas for long-term space flight? The answer is most likely; "YES". Scientists have successfully hibernated mice spontaneously using hydrogen sulfide gas. The next step for let’s say NASA using this data would be to take some mice up on the next space shuttle launch and hibernate them in zero gravity. Theoretically it should be possible and will most likely work. If we can put many mice on the ISS, International Space Station, under varying lengths of hibernation then we can prove concept. This maybe an ideal way to hibernate humans for long-term space-travel to distant stars, for instance to Alpha Centari and back.
Hydrogen Sulfide is toxic in high doses and therefore the mice’s bodies may shut down to prevent excess intake of the gas, thus triggering a simulated hibernation event or suspended animation. We know other mammals hibernate such as; bears, ground hogs, etc. and there are many cases of human beings, generally children going into hibernation. Every once in a while, there is an adult case of hibernation in the instance of a drowning in icy waters. In the case of the hydrogen sulfide gas in the mice; when they were left in this environment for six hours, their metabolic rate dropped by 90 percent explained Mark Roth whose team made the discovery.
Ground Targets Via Space Laser Weapons
November 6, 2007
It is now possible to overwhelm our enemy from space or near space (ultra high-altitude) Blimp weapons. Right now we watch as 11 Western States have massive wild fires, most caused by lightning, but they could just as easily be caused by laser weaponry. Like a lightning bolt from God, airborne laser weapons could wreak havoc on an enemy. Today the United States Air Force Research Laboratory is testing airborne laser weapons where a THEL type system is put inside of a 747 Boeing Jet Aircraft.
THEL stands for Tactical High Energy Laser and they are made to shoot down incoming missiles from the enemy.
http://www.brooks.af.mil/AFRL/HED/HEDO/hel.htm
Missiles such as the SCUD missiles that Saddam Hussein had shot at Israel during Gulf War I can now be shot down in mid-flight. Today the incoming missiles are getting better, but the THEL system will be able to take them out. The systems being developed for the 747 are primarily missile defense weapons to take out ICBM Nuclear Multi-Warhead Missiles. The system is completely capable of doing this, but the materials used for the laser are quite dangerous and the aircraft could self explode if everything is not perfect, thus the meaning of zero-defects is an understatement.
Smart Dust and Virtual Keyboards
November 6, 2007
Using Smart Dust which is sprinkled onto a rock it maybe possible to type information into a small computer or PDA very rapidly. This could be quite handy for many things such as; Search and Rescue, Fire Fighting, Civil Air Patrol, Hikers and Mountain Climbers and of course military applications. Think for a second the possibilities for Net Centric Warfare for Special Forces Troops. But how exactly can all this work? Well, simple really, you find a flat rock and spinkle your micro-electro-mechanical "Smart Dust and then put on a set of glasses which has a little clip on lens which has a grid pattern of a key board. Then you move your fingers across the virtual keyboard as if typing onto the rock. It is quite easy to use actually because your eyes see it as if it is real on the rock and the glasses you are wearing interpret each tap onto the pressure sensitive smart dust as a strike. The data is then put into a small computer you wear connected to the glasses by a wire. The data is then sent through a hot or helmet and uploaded directly to the satellite.
