Brain-Like Computing, New Non-Addictive Painkillers are Hot Stuff, and More. AcceleRoundup 4/27/10
More evidence that the singularity is near? Researchers get Brain-Like Computing on Organic Molecular Material: "An international research team from Japan and Michigan Technological University has created a similar process of circuit evolution in an organic molecular layer that can solve complex problems." Link
Science Daily reports that "A substance similar to capsaicin, which gives chili peppers their heat, is generated at the site of pain in the human body. Scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have discovered how to block these capsaicin-like molecules and created a new class of non-addictive painkillers." Link
Gene Silencing Prevents It’s First Human Disease (according to New Scientist) "The discovery over a decade ago that snippets of RNA can be used as gene silencers in worms garnered a Nobel prize in 2006. Now, for the first time, RNA interference (RNAi) has been proven effective against a human disease – a common respiratory virus." Link