Welcome to the World of the Future!

Some interesting things in New Scientist this week:

One interesting thing is that there is now a 'Happiness Implant.' This is described as a 'pacemaker for the brain' and can be installed in people who have depression so they can control their moods. It's very Dickesque.

Also a synaesthete artist who tastes things when she hears sounds (as well as seeing colours like a normal synaesthete.) When she hears a minor sixth she tastes cream, a major sixth is low-fat cream (yuk) and a fourth is just like mown grass! Should make for some interesting compositions. Her favourite appears to be Bach whome she says "is particularly creamy."

And finally (I haven't finished reading it yet, fell asleep on the train), pain studies have gone further and the US military are now developing a device that pulses pain at people. The device is a 'Pulsed Energy Projectile,' which sends a pulse of expanding plasma that shoud bring down a target. Apparently it is only going to be used for riots but I have an image of some crazed dictator firing it at crowds until cries of "Mein Fuhrer" reach the right pitch. Obviously the liberals conducting pain research in Britain are very upset about it although I imagine the s&m crowd are waiting with bated breath.

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