ants Archives - Breakpoint Book

150-WORD BOOK REVIEW – Breakpoint by Jeff Stibel

October 22, 2013 By Lennon Cole

The blurb that comes on the front cover of this book doesn’t augur well – ‘Why the web will implode, search will be obsolete, and everything else you need to know about technology is in your brain’.

It reminded me of a similar threat on the cover of Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance that this ‘book will change your life forever’. For once, or for twice in this case, both proclamations are very probably true.

Stibel’s book is powerful and full of facts for the layman and the passive expert about how the workings of the brain and the internet are alike. He loves ants a little too much when he speaks of colony power, but this book made my brain break.

Everything I need to know about technology may be in my brain, but it took me a couple of days to get over that. An excellent read and recommended

REVIEW: 8.5/10 (A VERY STRONG 8.5)

This review was written by Monty and originally appeared on Mob 76 Outlook

Author interview – Jeff Stibel, ‘Breakpoint’ – An Excerpt from Engineering and Technology Magazine

September 18, 2013 By Lennon Cole

Screen Shot 2013-09-18 at 10.07.15 AM There will come a point when the Internet will reach its physical limit and hit what author Jeff Stibel calls ‘breakpoint’. But that is not necessarily as catastrophic as it sounds.

We could be forgiven for thinking that the Internet is infinite. In scale it is certainly the biggest thing humans have ever invented, and there is no doubt, at least not in Jeff Stibel’s mind, that it has grown to “epic proportions”.

We’re used to reading that if an alien arrived on Earth it would probably assume that the Internet was the largest living organism on the planet, and yet the author of ‘Breakpoint’ says that it has a long way to go before it becomes as sophisticated as a human brain. This is because, while computers are very good at storing information and making calculations, they have nothing like the brain’s power to communicate. In fact, when we hook up two computers together the result is only a “rudimentary brain”.

Original article appeared on Engineering and Technology Magazine. Read the full article.

Smaller Size, Greater Intelligence

July 31, 2013 By Catherine Shalloe

One might assume that bigger is better, but that’s not necessarily the case.

Millions of years ago, dinosaurs roamed the earth, towering over itty bitty creatures building colonies in the dirt. Now fast-forward to modern day earth. Those itty bitty creatures are still among us while dinosaur bones are strung up in museums.

Author Jeff Stibel makes it known that “ants outlived the dinosaurs, and will most likely outlive us.” Scary stuff, huh?

Can you think of some examples where smaller is better than bigger? Here’s a quick few to get you thinking:

Smaller debt is better than bigger debt
Cockroaches outlived the dinosaurs
A mosquito is more dangerous than a lion
A smaller hole in the ozone makes Al Gore happier

Get your copy of the Breakpoint today to find out more fun facts and interesting quotes on why smaller can be better!

(CC photo by: Ramesh NG)

What Does Breakpoint Mean?

July 30, 2013 By Catherine Shalloe

With people come networks, and with networks come breakpoints. Whether you’re in social media, business, or just dealing with people, a network forms and eventually hits its limit.

Lucky for you, you can acquaint yourself with these so-called breakpoints before it happens. Author Jeff Stibel reveals that “by learning about [the consistent cycles of networks in biology] you can learn how to build better businesses.”

Quirkily enough, ants are the key to understanding how to deal with a breakpoint. Ants know when they hit their breakpoint. So, instead of producing more and more ants, they take their 10,000 or so ants and become a sophisticated, collective society that sustains itself.

If you want to learn more about the sophistication of ant colonies and how to know a breakpoint when you see one, get your copy of Breakpoint today!

(CC photo credit: davecobb)

Seagulls Get ‘Drunk’ on Flying Ants

July 22, 2013 By Catherine Shalloe

Recycling is good for the environment as well as the brain

With incurable diseases such as Huntington’s, Scientists have now realized that the rates of proteostasis may be the clue in figuring out why certain nerve cells die. Proteostasis is the biological machinery dominating the environmental movements of the cell. By studying this, scientists learn that recycling in cells helps the brain.

A study using rat cells indicates that quickly clearing out defective proteins in the brain may prevent loss of brain cells.

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Seagulls Get ‘Drunk’ on Flying Ants

There have been multiple sightings of inebriated seagulls in southwest England. Known as “anting”, these birds flail around acting, as some say, like drunk birds. And unlike alcohol making humans drunk, can you guess what animal causes seagulls to act drunk?

Seagulls in southwest England are getting ‘drunk’ off the formic acid in the bodies of flying ants, creating a nuisance of themselves.

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Google Now Serves 25 Percent of North American Internet Traffic

With a jump from 6% to 25% persuasion is key in Google’s huge leap forward in taking over the North American internet traffic. To handle this amount of growth google is expanding like crazy and now has data centers on four different continents.

Everyone knows Google is big. But the truth is that it’s huge. On an average day, Google accounts for about 25 percent of all consumer internet traffic running through North American ISPs. That’s a far larger slice of than previously thought, and it means that with so many consumer devices connecting to Google each day, it’s bigger than Facebook, Netflix, and Instagram combined.

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How Microsoft SkyDrive Is Making Cloud Storage Less Painful

With people’s data needs increasing by 50% every year, and the capacity of device capacity only increasing by 25% there is a clear issue confronting the amount of data storage a person can have. That is why Microsoft has fallen in love with the idea of Cloud Storage. Through the Microsoft SkyDrive they make cloud storage a lot easier for anyone to use to the cloud.

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Not Just Ants, Thieves Too Target Circuit Wires

June 25, 2013 By Catherine Shalloe

Grand Prix for Good: Ants March With Leaf Billboards in BBDO’s WWF Stunt

Ants that make a statement. Yes, you read that right, leaf-cutter ants are now activists for themselves and for the World Wildlife Fund. Ants protested with leaves reading “Help now!”, “Save Trees” and many other phrases supporting the environment. Look here for the awards won and a video showing the protest itself.

CANNES, France-One of the biggest cheers at Saturday’s award ceremony here at Cannes Lions was reserved for the Grand Prix for Good winner, which amusingly and ingeniously harnessed the power of …

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Can conservation biology save the planet’s biodiversity?

A new, innovative though coming from wildlife perservers and nature lovers is that wildlife needs room to grow and expand. It simply cannot be constrained to isolated parks throughout the world if it is expected to completely flourish. Different people share their views of what wildlife should look like, their experiences in wildlife, and some of the bumps along the road.

A new school of thought argues that wildlife needs land to roam — and that preserving isolated parks isn’t enough

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Not just ants, thieves too target circuit wires

Now we’ve all heard of the “Twanny Crazy Ants” by now, but in case you have not, they are ants that will destroy your technology. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) have contracted a number of complaints about missing copper and auxiliary foils from signal boxes. 5 culprits have been detained and arrested for such actions.

RPF nabs a gang of thieves that would rip off copper and aluminium foils from circuits at railway signals and sell them to scrap dealers, causing disruptions in train services

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Google Ventures and its investing tactics a new formula for venture capital business

A short synopsis of how Google approaches venture capital for business. Instead of taking it as an art form, Googles look at if from a science. The key is to collect data, organize and finally study the information, only the will money begin to emanate.

Here is how the venture capital game used to be played around here:

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Are fungus-farming ants the key to better biofuel?

With climate change and global warming everyone is constantly trying find new ways to fuel our society’s needs. Although ants are not everyone’s favorites, fungus-farming ants may be the next answer in creating biofuel to keep society going. The chemical enzymes used by these ants to breakdown leaves, can also be used to breakdown corn byproducts that will make fuel.

A group of scientists discovered a chemical key that could revitalize corn-based ethanol by allowing it to be made from stalks, leaves, and other bits beside the cob itself. Turns out, the savior of ethanol could be the South American leafcutter ant.

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Tech Can Make Immortality a Reality

June 21, 2013 By Catherine Shalloe

The First Farmers

Who comes to mind when you think of farming? Most likely you thought of humans, but did you know that humans were actually the 4th species to discover farming. Humans figured it out after some of the smaller creatures discovered it tens of thousands of years ago. And little did you know the first to discover farming was the ant! Check out what they grew and what other creepy crawlers farmed before humans.

Did you know that farming began about ten thousand years ago? Actually, before humans, there were other species that deliberately grew their own food. Learn more on this Moment of Science.

Tech Can Make Immortality a Reality, Says Head Google Engineer

Google engineers predict that somewhere in the next 10 to 20 years, science will experience huge growth. Within the next 15 years science will hit a breakpoint with the amount of time they add onto a persons life because of such substantial growth. See what Ray Kurzweil, Head Google Engineer, has to say about the scientific progress and see how immortality may in fact become some sort of a reality.

Rapidly evolving technology is making immortality more realistic, Google’s engineering director told the Global Future 2045 World Conference.

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It’s Not All Miss Utah’s Fault That Her Response Was So Ridiculous – Some of it is Biology

Can you really believe that biology could cause such a silly response in the Miss USA pageant? Well you should. Scientists point out that when under pressure, stress can cause your brain to enter into “fight or flight” mode at the worst possible times. So maybe it’s not fully Miss Utah’s fault she came up with such an unlucky answer, blame the brain.

I caught just enough of the Miss USA pageant this weekend to be weirded out by Nick Jonas and Mo Rocca existing in the same space, but not enough to see the unfortunate answer that Miss Utah …

Here are your top 20 U.S. cities for venture capital investment

Starting up a new small business and in need of venture capital? Well here is your very own list of top cities that rank the highest with venture capital investment. Check it out, maybe some of the cities will pleasantly surprise you.

San Francisco and San Jose, sure. Boston, New York and Austin? Certainly. But technology startups shouldn’t ignore Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta.

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Using crowdsourcing technology to change the way we save lives

Crowd sourcing technology is the new innovative way of helping people get through disasters. By using texts, maps, and live-feed donor lists, people and cities will be even more prepared for disasters, thanks to crowd sourcing.

One scroll through your Facebook or Twitter news feed and you’d think the world was going crazy. People share their addresses, their heated political commentaries, and strange pictures of cats […]

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Lumosity launches new web-based data methodology for conducting human cognitive performance research

Lumosity has just announced the starting of the Human Cognition Project! A new web-based data methodology for running cognitive performance research. By doing this on the web, researchers gain speed, scale, efficiency and more range of topics in studying human cognition. Check out what the project entails and what scientists hope to gain from it…

Lumosity, the leading brain training company, today announced a new web-based, big data methodology for conducting human cognitive performance research. Lumosity’s research platform, the Human …

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Scientists use new ‘computational cell biology’ to kill cancer cells by making them sick

Scientists from Ottawa, Ontario are beating cancer by engineering viruses to contaminate and kill cancer cells. By using mathematical models these scientists are finding ways to kill cancerous cells without harming normal cells and eventually could be the next great way to cure cancer.

From The Raw Story 16 June 2013 – Scientists use new ‘computational cell biology’ to kill cancer cells by making them sick. One doesn’t often think of cancer cells themselves being vulnerable to …

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Technology makes Europe accessible

There is no sense in denying that travel has changed with technology. Rick Steves reminisces on his backpacking through Europe days and talks about how technology has changed the backpacking experience. It helps with budgeting, communication and so much more. Check out the different ways technology has changed the way you travel.

Internet is a quick and easy way to find economic options for overseas trip

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What is Responsive Web Design?

A web design that can tell whether the customer is on a smart phone, computer or tablet is a responsive web design. There are multiple compelling reasons why small businesses should format their websites with a responsive web designs, one of which is the fact that it’s cost effective. Check out more reasons and how to make the switch in this article.

Websites built with responsive Web design can better serve customers by adapting to different screens on different devices.

Small dam construction to reduce greenhouse emissions is causing ecosystem disruption

Small dams help the environment, but they also hurt it. See how a small dam construction that helps reduce greenhouse emissions, also hurts the ecosystems surrounding it. Researchers point out that with main dams more people pay attention to ecosystems and take care of them, however with smaller dams, like this, less people notice the harm it brings to the biodiversity and the ecosystem.

Researchers conclude in a new report that a global push for small hydropower projects, supported by various nations and also the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, may cause unanticipated and potentially significant losses of habitat and biodiversity.

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Control a Cockroach’s Brain

June 18, 2013 By Catherine Shalloe

Hey, kids: Now there’s a new kit that lets you control a cockroach’s brain

Trying to teach kids about neuroscience and neurotechnology? What better way to engage a class then by taking over a cockroach’s brain! The RoboRoach allows a class to perform brain surgery on a cockroach and after the brief surgery, they can control its every move through bluetooth on a smartphone. Definitely a thrilling, new way to excite students about science.

For $100 — and a little bit of surgery — the RoboRoach can control a cockroach’s brain patterns to make it move via smartphone app. It’s aimed at helping kids understand neuroscience and neurotechnology in a more hands-on way.

‘Tawny crazy ants’ invade Fla. by millions

We all know how irritating ants can be, but nothing tops the infuriation of technology killing, livestock attacking ants. Now spread in over 20 counties in Florida and extending into Texas, millions of “Twany Crazy Ants” are slowly, but surely spreading around the States.

Insects called “Tawny Crazy Ants” have invaded 20 Florida counties by the millions.
Researchers said these ants can reach densities 100 times greater than all other ants in the area combined.

Wow, A Lot Of Stuff Just Happened In SEO

SEO news skyrocketed in the past week. Between Apple, Google, Yelp, and Facebook all incorporating new products and features, companies are demonstrating how fast search engines are growing. Take a further look to see exactly what happened in the past week with SEO…

It’s been a pretty big week for search and SEO news. There have been a lot of announcements, not only from Google, but from Google competitors. Let’s recap, and discuss in the comments. Which of the latest announcements do you

Wearable technology: This time it’s a $2,000 helmet

Wouldn’t it be handy for a motorcyclist with no sense of direction to safely navigate while riding? Well LiveMap, a Russian startup, created a helmet that will do just that. Using augmented-reality LiveMap devised a way for cyclists to navigate with ease through their very own helmet.

Russian startup LiveMap is working on a state-of-art motorbike helmet with a built-in navigation system that can take voice commands.

Google Fiber Helped a Sick Boy Throw a Baseball Pitch with Robots

Nick LeGrande is a 14 year old who loves baseball. But unlike most 14 year olds he suffers from a life-threatening blood disease called Aplastic Anemia, which makes it impossible for him to go to his favorite sports games. After Nick was diagnosed, Google Fiber went to Kansas City looking for ways high speed internet could impact peoples lives. They connected with Nick and found a way for him to participate in a baseball game 1,800 miles away. Check out how Google Fiber helped Nick LeGrande throw out the first ever telerobotic pitch at the Oakland A’s v New York Yankee’s game all the way from Kansas City.

When you combine Google Fiber, a robot and a boy 1,800 miles away from a baseball game, you already know it’s going to be a good story. Like most boys, Nick LeGrande wanted to play ball when he …

Mozilla launches Science Lab to help researchers transform scientific practice through the open Web

Mozilla draws attention to the fact that scientists created the web. They also draw attention to the fact that science researchers have yet to fully use the web in order benefit the science community and furthermore, society. Mozilla’s Science Lab hopes to bring scientists together by starting a dialogue about ongoing projects that may better society. Check out what Mozilla’s hopes are for this project and their plan to make this website a successful one.

Mozilla today announced the Mozilla Science Lab, a new initiative to help researchers around the world use the open Web to shape science’s future, taking it out of the analog… Keep reading

Restaurant Industry Embraces Apps and Mobile Technology to Enhance Customer Service and Operational Efficiency

With the Age of Apps upon us, it’s not surprising that companies have begun creating apps to simplify the functionality of restaurants. Restaurants now have the option to download apps that help with seating, management, serving, and more. This innovation will most definitely serve as a victory for both the restaurant and the customer.

Restaurants Using Apps, Like the New Suite from HME Wireless, to Enhance Customer Service (PRWeb June 14, 2013)

Nuclear bomb tests reveal brain regeneration in humans

Nuclear bomb tests throughout the cold war prove beneficial to science. Scientists found that throughout adulthood a specific set of genes called dentate gyrus recreate themselves, staying forever youthful. Check out more about the idea of brain regeneration in News Scientist….

Carbon dating brain cells provides conclusive evidence that part of the adult human brain constantly renews itself – and that this neurogenesis persists in old age.

Google Glass Gets A Teardown, Revealing It Can Be Hacked To Prescription Glasses

The Google Glass has been broken down to see exactly how it pieces together, and may have some people wanting it more. See some of the key features of Google Glass and what it takes to make up this brand new product…

Google Glass isn’t in the hands of consumers yet, but a pair of intrepid Glass explorers didn’t let that stop them from taking the thing apart to see what makes it tick. This teardown is also …

Most Insurance Agencies Say Technology Helped Fiscal Growth: Survey

Insurance agencies are linking their use of technology to their bump in revenues. An astounding 92% of the medium sized firms grew in 2012. However are insurance companies also linking their successes to mobile technology or are they finding it to be a hinderance?

The majority of insurance agencies (77 percent) directly attribute their fiscal growth during 2012-2013 to the use of technology, according to a new industry survey. The survey, conducted by …