Cool Science

[windhound]

I think most of the controversy was over embryonic stem cell research
There's likely a bit of residual knee-jerk against stem cell research because of it, but using other cells or your urine shouldn't be an issue. 

[Shadow]

There have been ways of getting stem cells for years now that don't involve embryos (google induced pluripotent stem cells), but some people hear "stem cell" and freak out. There will always be irrational opposition to important research because some people are just that.

[windhound]

http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/2569

Neat stuff.  Explains the process of making a Raspberry Pi ($35 ARM computer)
More engineering than science, but hey

...
Correct me if I'm wrong Shadow, but didn't the bulk of stem cell research focus on embryonic stem cells initially?
If anything, the screaming from the "life begins at conception" crowd was just consistent and not really irrational (based on the aforementioned belief).  Now its been past the need for embryonic cells for a little while now, but it started with such bad press its not really surprising people still view it as wrong.

[Shadow]

I'm not sure what the field was like in the beginning - though you are probably right that it started with embryonic cells. However, that has not been the case for a long time, and it's still an issue in government because politicians.

[Ruddertail]

and it's still an issue in government because politicians.

because politicians

This is now the ultimate reason for everything bad. Thanks, Shadow.

[windhound]

http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3300121&cid=42212869
The Pioneer program itself is remarkable, with useful data still coming back 40 years later.

[Shadow]

Amazing that such a precise reading can be taken on the time and length scales being worked with.

[Shadow]

Revival!

Turns out it's now possible to turn skin cells into via eggs and sperm and create live animals from them:
http://www.nature.com/news/stem-cells-egg-engineers-1.13582

[Gen. Volkov]

I'd be hesitant about accepting that one at face value. That's a pretty impressive achievement, and the last guy who claimed he had done something like that turned out to be lying. So probably a good idea to wait and see if anyone can replicate it.

[Shadow]

Direct evidence that abiogenesis is possible?
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25471-spark-of-life-metabolism-appears-in-lab-without-cells.html

[Gen. Volkov]

That is some very cool stuff indeed.

[windhound]

^

[Wordsarecool]

Somebody needs to hurry up and find a way to create a device that directs the energy of a nuclear explosion in a single direction. A nuclear shaped charge, if you will.

That would be incredible.

[Shadow]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_propulsion

[Gen. Volkov]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_pumped_laser