Announcing the Recipients for the Accelerating Science Award (Public Library of Science) One of the three award recipients was recognized for their work in “Visualizing Complex Science.” The Open Access Media Importer (OAMI) is a bot which can find and download supplementary multimedia files from reusably licensed Open Access research articles and then upload them to Wikimedia Commons. OAMI assists those who may not have access to academic libraries find accurate information to understand STEM concepts, helping them build a foundation for further learning.
Google May Be Launching Floating Data Centers Off U.S. Coasts (Mashable) Google filed a patent in 2008 that describes a data center on a ship that is perpetually powered by ocean currents and cooled by seawater. An investigative report by CNET found a great deal of evidence connecting Google to the mysterious "Building 3” in San Francisco which seems to the base for a mysterious four-story structure on a nearby barge that experts say is consistent with a floating data center.
Increasing Number of Regulations Challenge Manufacturers (IndustryWeek) A recent report commissioned by the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), suggests that if federal agencies maintain their current pace of regulatory activity, the additional regulations will reduce manufacturing output by up to 6% over the next decade and by as much as $500 billion this year alone. The CEO of MAPI argues that the regulations do not undergo a cost-benefit analysis, while agencies argue the regulations are necessary.
Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center Lands $7.6 Million NSF Grant (HPC Wire) The National Science Foundation approved a grant to Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center to develop a prototype Data Exacell, a next-generation system for storing, handling and analyzing vast amounts of data.
Public college enrollment dip leads to cutbacks (The Columbus Dispatch) After rapid enrollment growth following the 2007 economic meltdown, the number of students attending college in Ohio has fallen for the past two years. Colleges and universities have had to slash budgets and lay off faculty. Schools have struggled with cuts in student financial aid and declining numbers of high school graduates.
U.S. factory, housing data suggest economy losing steam (Reuters) Economic reports released on Monday showed economic activity was on weak footing even before a 16-day partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government early in October that is expected to weigh on fourth quarter growth. The reports contrast with upbeat business surveys, but that optimism is not reflected in the numbers.
