The 1st Question 46 - 31 Mar 09

Quotes

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur C. Clarke

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.
Arnold H. Glasow

Questions

For the answers go to The 1st Question blog at SLCN

1) It is billed as a "light-emitting material" that consists of less than an inch thick tile that is composed of four layers of spatial glass, a rare gas and serigraphed phosphors. It should last for about ten years. The result of over six years of research, this technology offers specifications that make it the world's first light-emitting material. This marks a true revolution in the lighting industry, as light no longer radiates from a light bulb or any other light source, but from the material itself. What is it?

2) Robot Land, a robot theme park planned for this country is finally getting started. It’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy has convinced the government to set aside $559 million for construction work.. It is hoped that the park would open in 2013. What country will this park be in?

3) This specially-equipped Roomba robot can now sense human emotions. "Using Bio-electrical Signals to Influence the Social Behaviors of Domesticated Robots." Is out now from Calgary! When a person shows high stress the robot enters its cleaning mode but moves away from the user so as not annoy them. When a person is relaxed, the robot (if cleaning) approaches the person and then stops, simulating a pet sitting next to its owner. What kind of cleaning does the Roomba perform?

4) HRP-4C is a robotic woman lately unveiled to reporters in Japan. This cybernetic human sells for about $200,000. and is able walk and follow some basic commands. The robotic woman is about the same size and weight as an average young woman. Thirty motors in the body help it to walk and move; eight motors power facial expressions. In film, the female robot has been around for almost 80 years. In what early movie does the robotic woman make her debut?

5) Physicists have created a laser weapon that targets mosquitoes. It is hoped that by finding an effective weapon against mosquitoes, the incidence of malaria could be reduced. Today, malaria kills about one million people every year around the world. We'd be delighted if we destabilize the human-mosquito balance of power," says Jordin Kare, an astrophysicist who once worked at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the birthplace of some of the deadliest weapons known to man. He worked on the mosquito laser, built from parts bought where?

6) A recent survey of women leaders in information technology shows that 92% of those surveyed believe that this is key to their overall success, and view their approach as very different from the style of their male colleagues. What is it that almost 100% of Female Chief Information Officers cite as their most important leading edge?

7) What monarch acceded to the throne of England and Ireland, becoming James I of England and unifying the crowns of the three kingdoms for the first time? This was in 1603

8) He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his tuberculosis findings in 1905. He had some fiasco over his ineffective TB cure "tuberculin", although his pupils found the organisms responsible for typhoid, pneumonia, gonorrhea, leprosy, bubonic plague, and tetanus, syphilis, among others, by using his methods. And he has a crater on the moon named after him. Who was one of the founders of microbiology?

9) The licensed Force Trainer from Uncle Milton uses a wireless headset that reads alpha and beta waves via electroencephalography (EEG) technology. Alpha and Beta waves are the names given to electrical activity in the brain between 7.5 and 30Hz - - which for the purposes of the game identifies when you are relaxed and concentrated. When the player achieves this state of inner calm a fan at the bottom of the unit kicks-in and a ball rises up a clear plastic tower giving the player the sense that they are indeed manipulating it with their mind. What famous movie series holds the license name?

10) It is the name given to a recently-discovered, large-scale electronic spying operation, based mainly in China, which has infiltrated at almost 1,300 computers in 103 countries. Computer systems belonging to embassies, foreign ministries and other government offices, as well as the Dalai Lama's Tibetan exile centers in India, Brussels, London and New York City were compromised. What is the name of this global electronic espionage system?

11) Ecotricity is a green energy company based in England specialising in wind power. Its wind power only car recently set a new land speed record for a wind-powered vehicle at blistering 126.1mph. What is the name of this remarkable all carbon fiber land yacht?

12) The land yacht mentioned is a very high performance sailboat that uses a solid wing, rather than a sail, to generate movement. The aerodynamic design and light weight allows the vehicle to achieve speeds three to five times faster than the wind speed which was just 30mph, thanks to a phenomenon known as what?

13) last fall, NASA launched this to observe the edge of our solar system from a 200,000-mile Earth orbit and determine whether or not we’re, well, doomed. Over the next two years, it will study the area of space where solar wind hits the wider galaxy – hopefully it will also find out why the solar wind, which shields us from harmful cosmic rays, has decreased by 25% in the last ten years, part of NASA’s low-cost data-gathering missions. What is this 23-inch high octagonal craft called?

14) This aims to top airborne opulence by equipping a four story converted heavy lift aircraft with 18 luxuriously-appointed room hotels. Including soundproofed rooms, each boasting a queen-sized bed, a mini-bar, coffee machine, wireless internet access, and all the luxurious appointments you’d expect from a flying five star hotel - there's even the promise of room service. It will be ready for its maiden flight in June 26th. What is it?

15) A Solar car called Power Of One (Xof1) claimed a new unofficial world distance record for a solar powered car when it arrived in Los Angeles on March 6th having driven over (20,000 km) using only sunshine as fuel. The Guinness World Records Longest journey by a solar electric vehicle is still held by The Midnight Sun solar car team from where?