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MinION USB stick decodes DNA in a matter of seconds
If you happen to be "special," then this $900 USB device is just about the worst thing ever. The aptly named MINion serves its masters by interrogating the cells of living organisms and rooting out their genetic secrets. We won't pretend to know exactly how it works, but it starts by pulling a strand of DNA through a razor-like nanotube that unzips the double helix. The nucleotide bases are then electrocuted one by one until they give up their code. The resulting sequence is stored like a ticker-tape readout, for the whole world to see. The MinION can complete its task in seconds and, unlike most other DNA sequencers, it's portable and simply plugs into a laptop. Luckily, it has so far only been shown to work on very short genomes, like those belonging viruses and bacteria, so for now you're probably safe.
Masi Oka loves his PSP
Time traveling Hiro Nakamura is a fan-favorite character in NBC's superhero drama, Heroes. Masi Oka recently spoke about his undying love for the PSP system, saving him from the more boring aspects of being an actor, like the constant waiting and traveling he must do. "That's all I do on planes, is whip out my PSP and just stay focused on it the whole ride through. I won't even get food. I'm not a big fan of flying, so the PSP system helps me."Oka takes advantage of all of PSP's capabilities, from games, to music to UMD movies. He's incredibly excited for the advanced Remote Play functionality with the PS3: "With PS3, I'm sure you'll be able to use the PSP system to play games down the line," said Oka. "It'd be cool to play Madden that way. I can't remember all of the plays, and when I'm playing against someone, I don't like the plays to be shown on the screen, but with a PSP, you could select plays for the PS3 Madden and not show anyone what you're thinking."The full interview is available at PlayStation.com. You can catch Hiro, being a hero, on Heroes on NBC. It returns next Monday at 9PM.
