Last August, astronomers working on the analysis of data being acquired by NASA’s WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe) satellite announced that they found a huge void in the universe. A void is a region of space that has much less material (stars, nebulae, dust and other material) than the average. Since our universe is relatively heterogeneous, empty spaces are not rare, but in this case the enormous magnitude of the hole is way outside the expected range. The hole found in the constellation of Eridanus is about a billion light years across, which is roughly 10,000 times as large as our galaxy or 400 times the distance to Andromeda, the closest “large” galaxy.

The dimension of the hole is so big that at first glance, it results impossible to explain under the current cosmological theories, although scientists put forward some explanations based on certain theoretical models that might predict the existence of “giant knots” in space known as topological defects.

However, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill physics Professor Laura Mersini-Houghton made a staggering claim. She says, “Standard cosmology cannot explain such a giant cosmic hole” and goes further with the ground-breaking hypothesis that the huge void is “… the unmistakable imprint of another universe beyond the edge of our own“.

The idea of alternative, or parallel universes has been around for quite a while and has provided considerable inspiration for Sci-Fi literature and sparked endless philosophical debate, but although begin seriously considered within the scientific realm it never crossed the limits of speculative of purely theoretical grounds. Perhaps until now. If Mersini-Houghton is right, Eridanus’ giant hole would be the first experimental evidence for the existence of another universe. The implications of this possibility are obviously of huge importance for everybody, but it also has further relevance for the astrophysics community as it would bring support for the hotly debated string theory and other central debates.

But Mersini-Houghton and colleagues’ theory of entangled universes make testable predictions, providing the opportunity to confirm or refute the claim as more data arrive to the astronomers’ computers. Her model predicts the existence of two voids rather than one, one in each hemisphere of our universe. The one that has been found by WMAP’s data lies in the Northern hemisphere. They expect new data will show a second similar void in the Southern side. This and other cutting-edge experimental projects testing Mersini-Houghton’s ideas will tell us whether a new era in cosmological thinking has indeed arrived.

Yesterday, Radiohead gave an interview to Steve Lamacq of BBC Radio 6, during which the band briefly discussed two internet-bred conspiracy theories concerning their new album, In Rainbows. First there’s the “Binary Code/Tens Theory,” which suggests that Radiohead were obsessed with the number ten on In Rainbows. Here’s the evidence: The album was released on October 10th, or 10/10; In Rainbows is ten letters long and has ten tracks; and just before the album’s release date, posts on Radiohead’s website featured phrases like “March Wa X” and “Xendless Xurbia,” spotlighting the roman numeral X. While the band didn’t specifically refute this theory, Thom Yorke did refer to “all these mad theories on the net.”Another of those “mad” theories is the Golden Section theory. “If you’re really, really, really, really stuck for something to do, you could always read up about that [theory],” Yorke said. Rather than read up, we’ll try to explain (with an assist by Wikipedia): The theory centers around a work of ancient mathematics called the Golden Ratio. During the Renaissance, architects and artists used the ratio — which is an actual number, or 1.618 to 1 – to proportion objects in buildings and paintings and thus make the work aesthetically pleasing. What does this have to do with In Rainbows? Well, 61.8 percent way through the album – or 1/1.618 — the strings kick in and the album title’s name is sung in the background vocals. Just a coincidence? Or is Radiohead channeling Da Vinci? You decide. Also during the interview, we learned that Yorke, like most people, paid nothing to download the album (”I thought it would be silly to pay any money. I’d swap it from one pocket to the other.”), and the band confirmed earlier reports that they would embark on a U.S. tour in May.

I understand how scissors can beat paper, and I get how rock can beat scissors, but there’s no bloody way paper can beat rock. Is paper supposed to magically wrap around rock and leave it immobile!? Why the hell can’t paper do this to scissors? Screw scissors, why can’t paper do this to people? Why aren’t sheets of ruled notebook paper constantly suffocating students as they take notes in class? I’ll tell you why, because paper can’t beat anybody. A rock would tear that shit up in two seconds. When I play scissors, paper, rock - I always choose rock. Then when somebody claims to have beaten me with their paper I can punch them in the face with my already clenched fist and say, “oh shit I’m sorry, I thought the paper would protect you.”

Tired of Windows? The next generation of laptops may let you jump from one operating system to another to play movies, surf the Web or read e-mail. Phoenix Technologies Ltd., a leading maker of the software that controls Windows computers most basic workings, announced this week that it will offer a feature it calls HyperSpace to laptop manufacturers.

Woody Hobbs, the Milpitas, Calif.-based company’s chief executive, said the first application of the technology probably will show up next summer in the shape of laptops that can play DVDs outside Windows.

User will be able to boot in a few seconds straight into the DVD player, skipping the longer Windows startup, or switch to the DVD player from Windows. If Windows is running at the same time, it can be put in sleep mode, prolonging battery life.

Laptops with a media player separate from Windows already exist, but the players don’t run parallel to Windows (you have to boot into the player, then shut it down and boot into Windows to switch tasks).

Laptops with HyperSpace would likely have a separate button that instantly switches away from Windows.

In a second phase, Hobbs sees things like Web browsers, e-mail programs and Web conferencing software like Skype being built into HyperSpace. Computer management functions like antivirus scanning could also be performed outside Windows, improving security, Hobbs said.

The technology would move PCs closer to being appliances - always on and available - and give computer manufacturers a chance to differentiate themselves in what is in many respects a commodity business, by pre-loading different applications.

The HyperSpace environment would be based on Linux, giving the freely distributed operating system what could be its biggest break yet in the struggle to gain traction against Windows on PCs.