Here at Dvice we love giant science installations like the Large Hadron Collider, but who knew they had something nearly as awesome in Canada? This amazing looking sphere is actually an observatory of sorts, although one that’s more than a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Unlike regular telescopes which use optics to get a visual fix on their subject, the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory is designed to measure neutrinos reaching earth due to fusion reactions within the sun. The depth is necessary to reduce the background noise cause by cosmic rays detectable nearer the surface. The Neutrinos pass through 1,000 tons of heavy water on loan from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, which then causes flashes of light called Cerenkov radiation. The radiation is picked up by the 9,522 ultra sensitive photomultiplier tubes positioned around the 60 foot sphere. While the original experiment is now completed, a follow up experiment will replace the heavy water with something called liquid scintillator to provide even deeper understanding into the behavior of neutrinos. That’s all great, but I just think it looks stunning. All photos by Roy Kaltschmidt for the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Sudbury Neutrino Observatory , via Make Blog

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Canada’s underground obesrvatory keeps a fly like eye on the sun

I’d like to take this time to thank all the servicemen and women who have given their lives so that I can write without fear or censorship. And to those still serving: keep up the good work, and come home safe. Here’s to you, The Geekologie Writer

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Freedom Isn’t Free: Happy Memorial Day

Traveling around the world with only the bare essentials has always been a key part of the hippie ethos, but in today’s high-tech world, the definition of what’s an essential has changed. Few of us are willing to go without our modern electronic devices, so to carry them around the world, you’ll need an equally high-tech take on the traditional backpack. The Shuttle series of carbon fiber backpacks looks the part, providing incredibly strong but lightweight protection for even the most delicate tech gear. The four models will be named after each of the soon to be retired space shuttles, starting with the Discovery shown here. This all looks pretty cool, but seriously dude, isn’t that thing going to make you stand out as you trek through Kathmandu? The Shuttle Discovery backpack is available now for between $2,725 and $3,467 depending on options. Nikola Design , via Born Rich

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Carbon fiber backpack is perfect for today’s high tech hippies

While few under 30s are likely to have even heard of Commodore computers, they were one of the big players way back in the home computing dark ages of the 1980s. Now the brand looks set to make a comeback in the form of an updated version of the Commodore 64 called Phoenix, and this combination keyboard, PC, and touch screen called Invictus. Details are still pretty sketchy, but with wireless HDMI, an Atom processor, small touch screen display, and nVidia ION graphics, it looks set to go head to head against the Asus Eee keyboard PC . Pricing and availability are not yet available. Commodore USA , via Techfresh

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Integrated keyboard PC marks the return of a familiar name

Tokyo based accessories inventor Tunewear just cooked up the perfect tool for those looking to bring the iPad’s utility into the kitchen, to the beach, or even into one’s bubble bath. Dubbed the Waterwear , the transparent case allows you to operate the touch computer seamlessly in all elements while your iPad remains secure in a durable plastic housing. Obviously expecting many users to take the device into the shower, the makers also equipped the Waterwear with an adjustable strap allowing you to enjoy your iPad as it dangles from your shower nozzle (of course it’s only a matter of time before some rapper uses this to make the iPad the new neck-bling accessory of the moment). You can pick up your Waterwear iPad cover for 3,480 yen ($38) here . Via IT Media

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Waterwear: Bathe with your iPad and live to tell about it

Remember Japan’s plans to put a humanoid robot on the moon by 2015 ? Well apparently that’s only Phase 1 of their $2 billion master plan , because now they want an entire robotic colony on the moon by 2020. Not if I have anything to do with it! (I don’t is the f***ing problem) As currently envisioned, the robots that will land on the lunar surface in 2015 will be 660-pound behemoths equipped with rolling tank-like treads, solar panels, seismographs, high-def cameras and a smattering of scientific instruments. They’ll also have human-like arms for collecting rock samples that will be returned to Earth via rocket. The robots will be controlled from Earth, but they’ll also be imbued with their own kind of machine intelligence, making decisions on their own and operating with a high degree of autonomy. Those initial surveyor bots will pave the way for the construction of the unmanned moon base near the lunar south pole, which the robots will construct for themselves. That base will be solar powered and provide a working/living space future robot colonizers, as well as — presumably — a jumping off point for future human moon dwellers. God, can you imagine if the first contact we have with aliens is through Japan’s robotic moon colony? They’ll Alderaan our asses! Japan Plans a Moon Base by 2020, Built by Robots for Robots [popsci] Thanks to Mike, Stealth Logic, jondeelee, Tom, Bender and Monsterrod Von Hugenstien, who are all voting ‘NO’ this November on Proposition Moonbase 2020.

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Dammit Japan, That’s Nacho Green Cheese!: Japan’s Plan For Robotic Moonbase By 2020

Note: Video is after the jump because real men don’t cry on the homepage. This is a video of 8-month old Jonathan having his cochlear implant activated and hearing his mother’s voice for the first time. It’s heartwarming. The burrito I got from a roadside stand last night at 3AM? That was heart burning . Plus I woke up with diarrhea. Hit the jump for your daily dose of aawwwwwwwh.

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Precious Moments: Infant’s Cochlear Implant Activated, Hears Mother’s Voice For First Time

NOTE: Full-res picture HERE in case you’re into cancerous moles and back hair. Remember Avatar tattoo guy? First it was the left shoulder , then the right , and now a full-body Neytiri next to his spine. Based on the quality, I’m gonna assume he got this one in the slammer. Which, fun fact: is where I met my first boyfriend. Picture Thanks to Steve, who has a pterodactyl tat across his back that flaps its wings when he does the funky chicken, making it cool and not so cool at the same time.

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It’s Addicting!: Avatar Tattoo Guy Is Back At It

There’s a common misconception that deaf people can’t appreciate music. Sure, they can’t hear it in the same way as those of us with normal hearing, but with a typically enhanced sense of touch, they feel the music in a way most hearing people can’t. To feel the music, you’ll need something that can vibrate more than just your eardrums, and that’s where the Music For Deaf People collar comes in. Instead of regular speaker drivers, the collar has several small membranes that transfer vibrations into the wearer’s neck, shoulders and collarbone. A built in radio and an MP3 player connection provide the tunes, while controls near the ends of the collar let you adjust the volume, and change the track or station. Okay, so they should probably work on the name. Perhaps something more like that similar device from the ’80s called the Bone Fone would work. The Design Blog

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Sound collar delivers the good vibes of music to the deaf

Want it make it look like your head’s sewn on? Well you’re in luck, thanks to these $15 necklaces from Etsy seller VonErickson. YOU GONNA LOOK LIKE FRANKENSTEIN , YO! The Original VonErickson Stitch Choker Carefully skull-pted and cast in a durable Vinyl by yours cruely! Adjustable, “one size” styling. This one’s ALL black in color with Medium stitches Alternatively, stop being a pussy and just chop your damn head off already. Then have a friend sew it back on for you. But make sure they’re a real friend first (I’d recommend a pinky swear or something)! Otherwise you might wake up with the thing sewn on backwards as a joke! Now I know what you’re thinking, and no — it won’t be anything like a reach-around. Hit the jump for a several more pictures of the different models, including a bloody neck necklace. Whee!

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Holy Crap You’re Frankenstein: Necklaces That Make It Look Like Your Head’s Sewn On