Michael Crichton and Steven Speilberg were onto something with Jurassic Park. Unfortunately, it wasn’t real science. This is. Paleontologist Jack Horner and his team are attempting to reconstruct and grow dinosaurs by genetically engineering chickens. Yes, chickens. As one of the most common living descendants of the dinosaurs, they may be able to be manipulated by activating ancestral traits that are remnants from their roots. Using soft tissue, they’ve been able to find just about everything they need other than DNA itself. Crichton’s dream may be impossible, but this technique may…

Google has never really had a problem with getting or presenting data. They have so much information stored in rows of petabyte servers spanning the world that acquiring data has become second nature. Finding the data… that’s the hard part. In these 17 videos, Google demonstrates in nice 16-second snippets different ways to make searching its volumes of bytes and pieces easier. 17 videos may sound like a lot, but at 16-seconds each, it’s less than 5-minutes of viewing time. Start watching: Google Weather: Google Local Businesses: Google Unit Conversion: Google Movie Times: Google Sports…

With all of the hype surrounding E3 and the new technologies, improving systems, and stunning games, it’s easy to miss one of the most important (for old gaming geeks like myself) games to be previewed at the event. Many hours have been spent by millions of people around the world on the Mario Kart franchise. The latest and (hopefully) greatest variation, Mario Kart 3D, launched its debut trailer at E3 yesterday. Here’s it is in its complete HD glory. Underwater, over land, and in the sky – Mario Kart 3D looks like a winner. Hat tip to Machinima. …

I suppose we should have expected it. Those of us who have dreamed of battling as a Jedi with real lightsabers have been waiting for a virtual version (so that we don’t chop off our own arms, of course). Microsoft appears to have attempted to oblige us at E3 with their initial release of a demonstration of next year’s release. While some would say that they “can’t wait,” I’ll have to pass until a better version is made available. It looks bad. It looks boring. It looks like a game that will be a novelty for an hour or less and then retired forever. Here are a couple of videos – the official release and YouTube…

While we wait in anticipation for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, MarianHak of Ozi has put together some gamer geek folly to tide us over (for at leat 11 minutes, 47 seconds). Built in Minecraft and starring Modern Warfare 2 characters Roach and Soap, this project took “a few months” to make. It was worth the wait. At least it’s not a Black Ops mashup. …

The barriers between Apple and PC users often creates humorous results “when geeks collide.” Such was the case in Hamburg, Germany last week when some clever pranksters vandalized the under-construction Apple store with a Windows logo. All it takes sometimes is desire, some sheet metal, and orange vests. As you can see in the video below, they nonchalantly walked up with a ladder, “installed” the windows logo on the side of the construction facade, and walked away. At the end of the video, notice that a passerby quickly started snapping shots with her camera. Well played, sirs. Well played. …

The same technology used in 3D postcards and glasses-free 3D televisions is being used by a Japanese research group at the University of Electro-Communications to develop flooring designed to guide pedestrians to the right. The flooring would “trick” the mind into walking towards the right by sending visual cues. These cues would, in theory, affect the optical aspect of our perceived balance. In crowded walking areas such as train stations and malls, this type of flooring could help the flow of traffic by adding order to the mass of people using it. “The images on the sheets laid on the floor beneath…

Most geeks have had a longing at one point or another for some sort of remote controlled flying toy. We picture ourselves in dogfights with our friends using WWII planes, X-Wing fighters, or whatever other known flying device strikes our fancy. It took some imagination, skill, and creativity to bring the RC Superhero to life, but the results are pretty darn geeky. We approve. …

There is something beautiful about this video, directed by Philip Andelman. It is difficult to explain. Perhaps it is a nod to the quality and passion that one must put in to perform an art so old and — what some might consider — obsolete. We have digital watches, but yet these people measure time much differently than the rest of us. It’s certainly worth witnessing….

I don’t know what it is about LEGOs, but they are awesome. But what is even more awesome is when someone puts in the time and effort to create something absolutely spectacular with something that is already so amazing. In that case, it becomes indescribable. But I guess that is why they invented video… for moments like these. So sit back, relax, and enjoy what might be the most enjoyable 8 minutes you’ll ever have watching LEGO at work….