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Aug 7, 2012 5:00 PM   In 2009, Usain Bolt "shattered" Tyson Gay's world record in the 100-meter dash by a whopping .11 seconds. How do we know that? Because an ultra-precise, automated timekeeping machine told us so. It didn't used to be that way. Olympic officials wisely relinquished control over the clock long ago, but once upon a time a guy held a stopwatch in his hand and started and stopped it to the best of his ability. Omega has been the official timekeeper for the Olympics since 1932, and the Olympic Pocket Watch 1932 above is a replica of the watch used that year. It keeps the regular time of day, and has a built-in stopwatch operated by the start and stop pushers on top. The gorgeous pocket chronograph looks nothing like the big digital readouts we see in London, but don't let its old style fool you. The movement is very precise. It's just that humans suck at using it. [Omega via Christies via Business Insider] View the original article here This p...

Some mice that once were blind can now see, thanks to a breakthrough from researchers at UC Berkley. And humans might not be far behind. There are two main causes of blindness—retinitis pigmentosa, which is genetic, and macular degeneration, an age-related problem your grandmother might have. Both ailments are related in that the retina's rods and cones, or photoreceptors, die. The mice were genetically engineered so their rods and cones would die just after birth, and they regained sight after they were injected with a chemical called AAQ. Juts how is AAQ able to make cells respond to light yet again? Per Science Daily: AQ is a photoswitch that binds to protein ion channels on the surface of retinal cells. When switched on by light, AAQ alters the flow of ions through the channels and activates these neurons much the way rods and cones are activated by light. The researchers could tell that the animals could see again because after they switched the lights on, the little vermin ...