Citizen Science Quarterly: CC-licensed journal for citizen science

Cory Doctorow 8:45 am Sun May 29, 2011

I've finally gotten around to reading the inaugural edition of the Citizen Science Quarterly, a reader-support, Creative Commons licensed journal devoted to nonexpert experimentation and discovery. It's an extremely eclectic read, with a good mix of editorial, experimental writeups, polemics, practical HOWTOs and miscellania. I really enjoyed Andrew Hessel's op-ed on bioinformatics and fabrication, which explored the idea that cells can be thought of as bio-fabricators, 3D printers whose operating system we have yet to master. I was also engrossed by a brief "molecular gastronomy" HOWTO, a piece on culturing yeast, information on sourcing supplies for DIY bioscience, and a manifesto for involving patients' experiments and input in medical research. The copyediting and writing are a little uneven, but that just lends CSQ a nice, homespun feeling. All in all, this is an exciting new journal and a treat to read.

Citizen Science Quarterly

MacOs, Windows and Linux running simultaneously on an old PC

Luke Metoki virtualized MacOS and Windows simultaneously on an 2000s-era PC, with Arch Linux as the host organism. The mad science worked, but Windows was "very sluggish" if not given the lion's share of RAM. If you want me to write more about this, contact me. READ THE REST
Monkey plays pong … with its MIND

This video shows a monkey playing Pong using Neuralink, the Elon Musk-backed brain interface tech. Neuralink touts a new breakthrough technology, but a little skepticism is warranted, because we've been here before and paddle games are always the demonstrator. READ THE REST
Big tech eager to minimize remote working

Promises of "permanent" and "full-time" work-from-home were panic hype and tech workers who thought it was for real are finding themselves getting hauled back in to the office, reports the BBC. I hope you didn't move anywhere outside "commuting distance" during the pandemic! As of 1 September, she said, employees wishing to work from home… READ THE REST
Earn four top CompTIA cybersecurity certifications that can get you hired or promoted

For any companies or individuals who fear being hacked by malevolent cybercriminals, there's some good news… and some bad news. According to an annual M-Trends report on cyber attacks, companies are spotting intrusions on their networks a lot faster than in the past. Last year, it took an average of 56 days from a first incursion… READ THE REST
Add this professional-grade blender to your kitchen arsenal for under $100

If you're looking for a demarcation point between people who have a kitchen and people who actually use their kitchen, a quality blender might be a solid way of telling the difference between the two. For those whose culinary abilities don't go far beyond microwave popcorn and frozen pizza, there's likely little reason to even devote… READ THE REST
This hyper-cool, minimalist floor lamp is guaranteed to spark a conversation

We're all looking for home furnishings that come with extra gear. Of course, we want basic functionality or a certain decorative flair for that coffee table or piece of wall art or those window coverings that we bring into our home. But every once in a while, we run across a home furnishing item that… READ THE REST