Ponderings of a Scientist

Very Cool…

from Slashdot by kdawson

Luyseyal writes “IBM has developed a process for scrubbing waste silicon wafers clean, allowing the otherwise highly secret waste to be sold. The silicon quality usually necessary for solar production is very high and the cost of solar panels reflects it. Recycling this waste should help bring down the cost in the long run and add a new profit vector for chip manufacturers. The article notes that IBM has such a high profile in the chip business that this recycling tech should spread rapidly.”Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Addie has her first tooth, er… sort of.  Yesterday, the tooth was rearing its bright white and shining tip surrounded by flaming red and irritated gums.  This morning the tooth is hiding beneath a small bump of pink gum.  Apparently, teeth can go back into the gum before making their final appearance.  She’s a bit cranky and didn’t sleep well last night, so hopefully this tooth gets its act together and erupts soon, so I can get my happy baby back.

If you haven’t already read them, I overwhelmingly suggest “A Thousand Splendid Suns” and “Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. I finished “A Thousand Splendid Suns” last night, all 200 pages I had left! I couldn’t put it down. My heart was beating out of my chest with anxiety and sympathetic tears were in my eyes, as Hosseini painted such a vivid and heart-wrenching picture of life in Afghanistan. Both of these novels are poignant, not only are they great stories, but they also highlight the socio-political state of Afghanistan. I had to keep reminding myself that these novels were set in the present time and reflected the realities of present day Afghanistan, because the lives the characters lead are so different then my own.

New images of Addie are also up on Shutterfly!

She’s Eating

She’s “Walking”

Also more images at henninger.shutterfly.com