Miscellaneous links, 2006-04-22

Here's where I put interesting stuff I don't have time to write about in detail. Mostly it will be noteworthy Web sites or great articles that stand on their own without further commentary.

The Brain from Top to Bottom

A superb, interactive tutorial on brain structure and function. Covers most important topics, like memory, emotions, and the senses. It offers separate discussions on three different levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Discussions are also classified in terms of level of physical organization (social, psychological, neurological, cellular, and molecular). Each discussion has many internal cross references to others, as well as external links on each page.

Questions and Answers About Avian Flu

Very good set of questions and answers by Denise Grady and Gina Kolata, published March 27, 2006 in the New York Times.

Nanotechnology: CTF Essays, Part 1

This is a press release from the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, announcing a series of new research papers in which industry experts predict profound impacts of nanotechnology on society. A couple of the authors (Ray Kurzweil and David Brin) will be known to a fairly wide audience. Papers which have already been published are available here, along with forums for online discussion of the topics. (Press release also available here.)

Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

From the site: "The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology is a non-profit research and advocacy organization concerned with the major societal and environmental implications of advanced nanotechnology." Useful content of the site includes issues, external links, nanotech FAQ, glossary, and a blog.

KurzweilAI.net

Kurzweil is, among other things, a futurist. (More about him here or here, if you need it.) Have a look at his Web site if you're interested in any of the following: AI, virtual reality, life extension, nanotechnology, or robotics. (It could take weeks to get through all of it.)

MIT OpenCourseWare

As the name suggests, this is course material, such as syllabi, reading material, and sometimes lecture notes, from actual MIT courses. From the site: "a free and open educational resource for faculty, students, and self-learners around the world." It won't guarantee you'll ace your final in Quantum Field Theory. Or make up for the classes you cut in Developmental Biology. But it may help you learn a little about either of those subjects, and many others, if you haven't had the chance to crack a book on one of them before.

The Hundred Greatest Theorems

As rated by Paul and Jack Abad in 1999. Math grad student Nathan Kahl put the list up on the Web, with links to information about the theroems (when available), as well as links to biographical information on the mathematician credited with proving each theorem. Kahl also has a list of useful math links.