Ten nuggets of knowledge to take away for the weekend, including Dublin’s data boom, STEM summer camps and the spectre of super humans.
1. Data boom will make Dublin one of the world’s most important digital cities
A perfect storm comprising Dublin’s data centre capacity and the fast-emerging worlds of the internet of things (IoT) and big data will make Ireland one of the world’s most important digital cities, Maurice Mortell, the head of global data centre giant Equinix’s Irish operations, has told Siliconrepublic.com.
2. 12 super summer camps to spark kids’ interest in STEM
Most secondary schools in Ireland finish up for the summer today (Friday 3 June) and, as the long school holidays stretch ahead, parents’ thoughts are no doubt turning to how they will keep their kids occupied during the summer months. This guide should help.
3. Synthetic genome proposal raises spectre of super humans
A group of 25 scientists has launched a proposal to create a synthetic human genome, or genetic blueprint, raising controversial questions about the prospect of designer or super humans.
4. Researchers ‘blown away’ by stroke treatment using stem cells
A team from the Stanford University School of Medicine has, using stem cells, seemingly achieved a major breakthrough in the recovery process for stroke victims.
5. Cork schoolkids showcase entrepreneurial expertise
The Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) saw Cork primary school students show off some of their 40 different products this week to celebrate the nationwide project.
6. Newgrange discovery suggests dogs were domesticated twice
A study into bone remains at Newgrange has shed new light on how dogs were domesticated by humans, with it likely to have happened separately, and concurrently, across the continents.
7. 72 new emojis incoming and, yes, there’s a selfie one
Emoji lovers will soon be getting their hands on 72 new emojis, following the latest update by Unicode, with new ones including a selfie, a facepalm and… a stuffed flatbread?
8. Snapchat now has more daily users than Twitter
Messaging app Snapchat has reportedly surpassed Twitter in daily usage figures for the first time.
9. Ireland forges Start-up Exchange pact with Oregon
A mutually beneficial alliance has been forged between Ireland and the US state of Oregon. ConnectIreland has signed a three-year Ireland-Oregon Start-up Exchange Partnership with the US state.
10. Universe expanding up to 9pc faster than we once thought
Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, a team of astronomers has discovered that the universe is expanding much faster than we once thought, and it could be due to the weirdness of dark matter.
BBQ image via The Studios on Flickr/Creative Commons