Extending the human lifespan is a long-held dream of science, but there have been few concrete methods for retarding the ageing process so far. The latest suggestion from Oxford University here in the UK is that food fortified with deuterium, the ‘heavy’ isotope of hydrogen, might strengthen the chemical bonds in the cells of our bodies and give us longer healthier lives in the process. Other scientists in the field are not so enthusiastic about the idea, so aspiring transhumanists may wish to wait for further research before changing their diet.

One thing is for certain – once the wearable computing revolution kicks off properly, using keyboards and mice will be not just passée but impractical. Some UK researchers think that a shoulder-mounted attention tracking camera could replace hands-on interface devices, determining appropriate actions by watching what your hands are doing. I wonder if they need beta testers?

Enough with the serious stuff – the weekend is here. Whichever side you support in the OS wars, you’re sure to get a grin out of this post about what would happen if operating systems ran airlines. And as if caring about operating systems wasn’t geeky enough, RPG fans will love this Friendly AI critical failure table, as linked to by Accelerating Future.

Science fiction fans (and writers) love airships. After all, what’s not to love about one of the more gracefully archaic modes of transport ever invented? Now there’s a whole new twist to the trope for writers to play with (if they haven’t already) – a bunch of Swiss scientists have built a prototype blimp powered by artificial muscles that swims through the air like a fish. Rumours of grant offers from imaginary decadent magical empires may or may not be completely unfounded.

Young people get a pretty bad press. After a constant barrage of media handwringing over illiteracy, disrespect, criminal behaviour and believing that wrestling isn’t staged, I get a warm glow when something positive slips under the radar – like the story of two Singaporean teens who made a working chameleon suit as a science project. Good going, lads.