Pretend Martians wanted: must be short, non-smoker

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Are you interested in experiencing isolation, confinement, close quarters, lack of privacy, high workload, repetitive food, and limited communication with the outside world? Are you highly motivated, a non-smoker, not in jail, shorter than 185cm, physically and psychologically fit, and a fluent speaker of English or Russian (preferably both)? The Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow seeks volunteers to pretend they are living on Mars for 520 days, on behalf of the European Space Agency. It includes 250 days to ‘reach Mars’, 30 days ‘on Mars’ and 240 days to ‘return to Earth’. Compensation is “in line with international standards for participation in clinical studies.” Serious inquiries only. [GT]

Volunteers wanted for trip to ‘Mars’

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US Congressional Caucus on Robotics

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Congressman Mike Doyle, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, and Congressman Zack Wamp, a Republican from Tennessee, have formed a bi-partisan Congressional Caucus on Robotics. “Robots are now being used well beyond traditional industrial automation applications like assembling automobiles,” said Doyle. “Today, they are also being used to defend our nation, perform surgery, fill prescriptions, deliver supplies and materials, and even as tools to educate our children, so it is important that we create a forum by which Congress can familiarize itself with the impact this first great technology of the 21st century is likely to have on the lives of all Americans.”

Levi's mobile phone comes in silver and sand

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Levi’s Jeans having already manufactured iPod jeans has decided that the next logical step is to brand a cellphone with a detachable chain that attaches the cellphone to your jeans. The Levi’s phone is offered in metallic silver, black and brown copper. “Shiny silver” and “shiny sand” editions, featuring a “mirror” screen have also been created to appeal to the fashion conscious. No word on whether the Levi’s phone will be compatible with other brands of pants. [GT]

Levi’s phone [via Digital Tech News]

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Hoarding old mobile phones slows EU recycle drive

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The EU wants to recycle 45% of old mobiles — a tough target, because people tend to throw their old mobiles in the back of drawers and leave them there. Even the president of the the European Battery Recycling Association admitted he still has his first mobile phone. “It is in a drawer, and every three years I change, I put it in and I keep the old accumulators,” EBRA President Bertrand Schutz said. “Forty-five percent is challenging.” Oxfam notes that fewer than 5% of retired mobiles in the UK will be recycled — but if you’ve got one (or several) that you want to get rid of, you can either send them via freepost to the Oxfam Bring Bring Scheme or drop them off at any Oxfam store. [GT]

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DIY: Green Lantern ring — it even glows!

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“In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight! Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power: Green Lantern’s light!” Make your own GL beams complete with healthful green glow courtesy of Instructables’ How to make a Green Lantern ring. The original GL DIY was sterling silver, but this one is transparent green resin, since most people don’t have access to silver casting, and since making a resin-made ring glow is much easier. [GT]

How to make a Green Lantern ring- including a glowing version! (via MAKE)

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