Everytime I read about a new fat reduction technology, I’m always stricken with feelings of ambivalence. On the one hand, I’m happy because I know the technology is important to somebody, but on the other I know it’s just another way for us to hide the effects of our overconsuptive consumerism and to further the ridiculous overemphasis on beauty in our society. To be honest, I actually didn’t want to post this, but since the technique can also treat heart disesase and acne and since they’re firing lasers at the fat I guess it’s okay.

First, we had nano devices that *could* move. Now we have nano-devices that *can* move themselves by absorbing light. About as wide as a strand of DNA, apparently. The future is tiny.

What makes a body a planet? The consensus of astronomers, that’s what. Robert Britt would like to see an end to the arguments, and certainly doesn’t approve of nicknaming eccentric solar system objects after TV show characters. He may have a point.

Alex Steffen over at WorldChanging has done an excellent job of listing the tools that enable us to envision (and in some cases embody) the future.

Noah Shachtman of Defense Tech fame has penned an fascinating article for Popular Mechanics about the Pentagon’s weapon systems plans. Many of the most expensive systems seem the least suited for fighting the war on terrorism.