March 12, 2012

Good Morning,

The oldest fossil with a "primitive" spinal cord has been discovered, marking the earliest ancestor of humans ever found. Check out the second article for all the exciting details.

Until Next Time,
Erin

Questions? Comments? Email me at: mailto:gizmo@gophercentral.com
Email your comments

P.S. You can discuss this issue or any other topic in the new Gizmorama forum. Check it out here...
http://gizmorama.gophercentral.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Security said primary for cloud computing

AMES, Iowa - U.S. computer engineers say cloud computing must face up to its security issues to guarantee its eventual adoption and acceptance. Researchers at Iowa State University have identified six essential aspects of security with which cloud computing -- the use of remote computers accessed via the Internet to store, manage and process data -- must concern itself. Among them are confidentiality, insuring data is kept secret; integrity, ensuring data remains unaltered without permission; and availability, so that data is always accessible to those authorized to use it. Also vital, researchers said, is that data can be processed by those authorized to access it and validated as authentic, and that users have full control over their own data. Shortcomings, real or perceived, in any of these six areas could dissuade some users from adopting cloud computing, researchers reported in the International Journal of Communication Networks and Distributed Systems. Cloud computing applications and services include Web-based e-mail, media streaming systems, online data storage and backup, and content delivery networks for Web sites and blogs.


Earliest ancestor of humans described

CAMBRIDGE, England - A fossilized eel-like creature unearthed in Canada is the oldest life form found with a primitive spinal cord, making it man's earliest ancestor, experts say. The species Pikaia gracilens is a precursor to vertebrates, which makes it the direct ancestor of all members of the chordate family, which includes fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals -- and humans, researchers say. The fossils where found in shale beds in Canada 100 years ago by American paleontologist Charles Doolittle Walcott, who suggested they could have been an early type of leech or worm. Because they lacked a fully developed backbone, there remained doubts about exactly which category of species they should fall into. A new analysis of specimens by Cambridge University scientists and Canadian colleagues has identified lumps of skeletal muscle tissue known as myomeres associated with a notochord, a simple type of primitive spinal chord, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported. "The discovery of myomeres is the smoking gun that we have long been seeking," lead study author Simon Conway Morris said. "Now with
myomeres, a nerve chord, a notochord and a vascular system all identified, this study clearly places Pikaia as the planet's most primitive chordate."


U.S. running robot sets speed record

WASHINGTON - U.S. defense engineers say their new ground robot has set a speed record as part of research into scientific and engineering advances in robot mobility. The "Cheetah" robot is part of the Pentagon's Maximum Mobility and Manipulation program to overcome limitations on robot capabilities to allow them to assist soldiers in a range of combat missions, TG Daily reported. The "Cheetah," which researchers said is patterned after the fast-running big cats in nature, can gallop at up to 18 mph, setting a speed record for legged robots. The previous record was 13.1 mph, set in 1989. The robot lengthens its stride and increases its speed by flexing and unflexing its back with each step as a real cheetah does, researchers said. Although the current version of the Cheetah robot runs on a treadmill using external power and a boom-like device to keep it running in the center of the treadmill, testing of a free-running prototype is planned for later this year, they said.


iPad 3 sold out before worldwide release

CUPERTINO, Calif. - Apple says it sold out the iPad 3 in every country where it is to be released Friday, and tells customers to expect a shipping delay of up to three weeks. All pre-orders placed on the online Apple store will now ship March 19 in the United States and Canada, although those who ordered early will receive their tablet on March 16. Australian orders are set to ship on March 22, while customers in France, Japan, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom will have to wait two to three weeks. In Hong Kong, the new device is simply unavailable. Computerworld reports the worldwide backlog, similar to the one that occurred after the release of the iPad 2 last year, has been a boon to resellers on eBay. Such sellers are promising to have the new device available by next week, asking for as much as a 140 percent markup over the list price of $499.

------------------------------------------------------------
Check out Viral Videos on the Net at EVTV1.com
http://www.evtv1.com/
EVTV1.com