This kid makes me proud of my generation.
Kickass Kid of the Day: A Maryland-based scientist has developed an incredibly accurate mechanism for detecting pancreatic cancer, which is faster than current methods, as well as 100 times more sensitive and 28 times cheaper. Oh, and the scientist is 15 years old.
For his discovery, high school freshman Jack Andraka just won the Gordon E. Moore Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which comes with a $75,000 prize.
Andraka’s method uses single-walled carbon nanotubes — which he calls “the superheroes of material science” — to detect a pancreatic cancer marker in urine and blood samples. In a blind test, it had a 100% success rate.
“I did not expect for it to be this good,” he said, “I was blown away by how sensitive it was.”
[huffpo.]
Movie Trailer of the Day: Flashy first trailer for Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann’s movie adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, starring Tobey Maguire as narrator Nick Carraway, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, and Leonardo DiCaprio as the titular Gatsby.
Here’s the official synopsis:
The Great Gatsby follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings.
Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.
The Great Gatsby opens in 3D on December 25th.
[collider]
I just saw The Avengers this evening, so I figured this little tidbit was appropriate.
(via moonbrains)
“I’ve said it a million times, and I’ll say it again… (though I’m starting to think that no one is listening):
My generation is tired of the culture wars.
We are tired of fighting, tired of vain efforts to advance the Kingdom through politics and power, tired of drawing lines in the sand, tired of being known for what we are against, not what we are for.”
It is officially summer!
Well, my first week of summer has been a total success. I guess it hasn’t even been a full week, but if I wait a full week then I will have WAY to much to share! First of all, I managed to only get one B this semester. Last time that happened I was pretty bummed because I tried really hard… This time around I really couldn’t have cared less about the class, so even though I really wanted (and thought I would get) an A, I didn’t feel like it was the end of the world.
Then, Al and I went to the zoo!
Al made a friend which we named The General (for his generally stoic/grumpy military appearance), and we thoroughly enjoyed hanging out. Also, isn’t that tiger gorgeous? I hadn’t had a chance to see the tigers yet, so I was really excited that this one was sitting right by the window. I love that this picture makes it look like I am standing right next to him. Awesome!
And of course, what summer can be complete without rummaging through antique stores. Figure 1, this hat:
If the summer has started out this well, I don’t know if I will be able to handle the rest of it!
