Oh, brother. A survey over here in the UK seems to reveal that respondents are more concerned about internet crime (phishing, pharming and so on) than they are about meatspace attacks on their property or person (mugging, burglary and so on). While this indicates a heartening level of awareness of the potential risks of doing business online, it is disappointing to realise that almost all the cybercrimes mentioned can be easily prevented by the use of some software and some common sense – I for one am still far more concerned about crossing the rough side of town after dark than about checking my bank balance online – I’ve not had a mis-spelled phishing email pull a knife on me yet.

In troubled times, the advice from the Hitchhiker’s Guide is always well worth remembering. OK, so North Korea has performed a nuclear weapons test, and I’m not going to try downplaying that fact. But it’s worth bearing in mind that the jury is definitely out on how well it went, with some commentators pretty convinced it was actually the first failed test of a simple fission device ever. I’m with John Scalzi though, as to wondering how long it’ll be before someone blames it all on Bill Clinton…

In the study of human intelligence, the major controversy is over what model applies best to the function of the human mind. Supporters of the computer metaphor have just received extra ammunition – a psychology professor has published research that appears to indicate that the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, the parts of the brain most critical to high-order intellectual abilities, do in fact operate in a manner analogous to that of a digital computer. This discovery will hopefully lead to a greater understanding of the way intelligence works, and will doubtless encourage singularitarians in their efforts to simulate the human mind electronically.

The publishing world went ballistic with the lawsuits when Google started digitising their books and making them searchable online – then theory being that doing so would reduce the number of copies they would sell. However, some publishers are now speaking up to say that, on the contrary, having their material available in this way has actually increased the number of units they shift. The sweet smell of profit is sure to be an influence on other publishers realising that it’s better to move with the times than try to legislate against inevitable progress.

Science fiction and routes into space are two of my favourite subjects. Now there’s an opportunity to get both in one convenient package – the ESA sponsors an annual science fiction contest, the Clarke-Bradbury International Science Fiction Competition, and this year the theme was ‘space elevators’. The winning entries are collected in a book entitled ‘Running The Line’, available from print-on-demand site LuLu.