A paper in a recent issue of the journal Nature (see the Nature News Report) reports an x-ray imaging study of the ~2100 year-old bronze Antikythera Mechanism used as an astronomical calendar.
What is remarkable is not only the fact that this is the oldest/most complex geared mechanism known (over 30 intricate bronze gears) – but that nothing as complex is known to exist for at least another 1000 years.
Also, it is quite interesting that such a sophisticated technology should just vanish. Why didn’t a civilization advanced enough to create such a device continue on, advancing in technology? Why did it just stagnate for 1000 years, and we don’t see another example of such tech until the Middle Ages in Europe?
X-ray imaging of the Antikythera Mechanism:
It was found in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece, and is in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. It had been underwater for over 2000 years, so its condition is remarkable. The artifact is basically priceless, so it wasn’t allowed to leave the museum. So, over 12 tons of x-ray equipment were transported to Athens from the UK to image the device.
Rendering of Antikythera Mechanism:
Back dials
Front dials
Read the Nature News report for a great background story. Also see the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project page for more info.
Google has a great new service: Google Patent Search. I tried “gene sequence” and got back over 1200 hits. This is disturbing on a couple of levels, for example: a patent on the Coding sequences of the human BRCA1 gene.
Two things are big issues here:
- How can the (idiotic?) US Patent office grant patents on what any normal person would call a work of Nature? Didn’t the courts shoot that down? They should. This isn’t an “invention”, it’s a discovery of something Nature has done.
- The above patent (and others like it) are also a concern, since mutations to the BRCA1 gene are linked to human ovarian and breast cancer. Thus, patenting the sequence prevents production of generic techniques for detecting such mutations. The patent does also include specific techniques for detecting mutations. I don’t have a problem with patenting certain techniques – but there is a fine line. Patenting the *sequence* crosses it, though.
Somebody needs to give the USPTO a wakeup call.
Spent a pleasant afternoon at Cascade Falls, Patapsco State Park in Ellicott City, MD at a Small Group Shoot directed by Christine Kent Bowles. She’s a great instructor, and I highly recommend her workshops (either at shoots or classroom).
We took Dylan to Medieval Times at Arundel Mills for his birthday. Everyone liked the show, though I think we boys liked it more than Kirsten. :)
Nicely choreographed jousts and horseback riding exhibitions. More believable (if you are suspending disbelief) than, say, the Renaissance Fair jousts. But this is *way* too pricey at something like 45.00 per person (though the birthday boy was free)
