06 Jan 2009
Vikings' bleeding-edge tech came from Afghanistan

Interesting, but not all that surprising, given the range of the trade routes in the so-called "Dark Ages".

Boffins at the UK's famous National Physical Laboratory (NPL) - birthplace of the Dambusters' bouncing bomb and perhaps the internet - say they have used an electron microscope to analyse Viking swords. In a surprise twist, it turns out that the old-time Scandinavian pests, many of whom moved to England to become our ancestors, actually imported their best steel from Afghanistan.

(link) [The Register]

22:49 /Technology | 0 comments | permanent link

China to 'clean up' the internet

Gosh, I wonder if sites that criticize the government are "unhealthy"? I wonder if Google will cave to the tyrants on this one, too?

China launches a new campaign to get rid of unhealthy, vulgar and pornographic content on the internet.

(link) [BBC News]

07:46 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link