Researchers build self-healing plastic

US scientists have developed a self-healing material that uses a fibre optic nervous system to detect and address cracks.

The material was expected to be used in large-scale composite structures for which human intervention would be difficult – for example, wind turbines, satellites, aircraft and the Mars Rover — via redwolf.newsvine.com

MV Agusta 750 Sport

MV Agusta 750 Sport

MV Agusta is firmly ensconced in the motorcycling psyche as a maker of superbikes. But it wasn’t always so. The first road-legal, big-capacity motorcycle from Meccanica Verghera Agusta was this stunning 750 Sport. It was loaded with the top-notch componentry of the day, including Borrani rims, Ceriani suspension and Grimeca drum brakes. Four Dell’Orto carburetors fed the engine, and shaft drive transmitted a heady 65bhp to the back wheel. This particular machine was built in 1972, and it’s owned by Washington resident Peter Calles. — via Bike EXIF

Paypal shut my account today because my business donated money to wikileaks: WTF

I go to log into my business account, and it’s locked. The girl on the phone told me it’s because my account handles a large amount of money (it’s a biz account), I recently sent a lot of money ($4000) overseas, and I also sent money to WikiLeaks. My account is being investigated for illegal activities and I have to account for what the money was used for. They want invoices and such — via benno.newsvine.com

Project Squid Skin: Pentagon Gives $6 Million to Mimic Marine Life

Biomimicry, or the emulation of nature to solve human problems, inspires some fascinating scientific research. Marine animals in particular are useful sources of information; last year, for example, MIT researchers began work on electronic screens and ink that use less than one hundredth the energy of traditional screens–and are based on the color-changing abilities of cuttlefish. Now the U.S. Department of Defense is giving a $6 million grant to researchers at Rice University and the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole for metamaterials that mimic skin colors and patterns seen in sea creatures — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Survey: iPad news-reading eating away at print media

Many thought that the iPad would save journalism—but, as it turns out, you can’t save journalism without breaking a few eggs… wrapped in newspapers. A survey by the Donald W. Reylonds Journalism Institute (RJI) at the University of Missouri found that the iPad could have a deleterious effect on print newspapers, with many iPad users being likely to axe their print subscriptions in favor of consuming news on their tablets — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Anonymous Wikileaks supporters mull change in tactics

Web attacks carried out in support of WikiLeaks are being wound down as activists consider changing tactics.

Attacks against Amazon were called off late on 9 December and re-directed towards net payments firm Paypal. Analysis suggests the earlier attacks were made more effective by the involvement of hi-tech criminals — via dungbeetlemania.newsvine.com

Google working on Gmail-Exchange syncing

Google is introducing a new service called Google Message Continuity that syncs on-premise message platforms such as Microsoft Exchange with Gmail. There are a couple distinct advantages for cloud-based messaging platforms like Gmail, including availability and reliability, and Google Message Continuity enables organizations to get the best of both worlds — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Migrating a Family to Google Apps from Gmail, Thunderbird, Outlook and others: The Definitive Guide

The migration is complete. The Hanselman Family has moved to Google Apps. Why? Here’s why:

  • I trust them (more or less)
  • I’m smart (I think), but I’ve recently lost 3 years of a family member’s email. Backups are hard
  • It’s clean and easy
  • Family members now have 10 gigs of space vs their previous 50 megs

However, we had a complex setup, as I assume most families do. Or at least, most Geek Families. This includes not just my wife, but also parents, brothers, cousins, in-laws, etc. Being IT for the family is hard. I’ve changed the names to protect the innocent, but all the tech is real — via Scott Hanselman

H&R Erbacher The One

H&R Erbacher The One

The One is so new it doesn’t appear to be featured on the Fat Attack website, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of it as it does the rounds of the shows. And if you’re interested, Fat Attack will build one for you. The price is 110,000 Euros, or US$145,000. Any takers? — via Bike EXIF

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