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.

Ian Pearson has my dream job: he’s a futurologist for British Telecom. IT Wales’ interview with him has got an average of one good SF story idea per sentence (and is pretty scary if you’ve got a fondness for the human race).

Buttons is a camera that takes someone else’s picture. When you click the shutter, it records the exact time you pressed the button and searches Flickr for other photos taken at that same time. Eventually (when a photo with the right time stamp is uploaded) Buttons displays your photo. Random, meaningful links: it’s the future of community.