A gene that blocks the HIV virus and the onset of AIDS has been discovered by a research group at the University of Alberta.

Stephen Barr, a molecular virologist in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, says his team has identified a gene called TRIM22 that can block HIV infection in a cell culture by preventing the assembly of the virus.

"When we put this gene in cells, it prevents the assembly of the HIV virus," said Barr, a postdoctoral fellow. "This means the virus cannot get out of the cells to infect other cells, thereby blocking the spread of the virus."

The next step is to find out why this gene doesn’t work in people who have HIV, and investigate possible ways to activate it. Link

Melbell makes and sells hair barrettes in the shape of thought bubbles! There are lots of thoughts available, both geeky and non-geeky, or you can get your thoughts custom made. Link -via Everlasting Blort

The first subway in America was not a train, but a pneumatic people mover! Opening for business in 1870, the subway worked on the same principle as the pneumatic tubes we use at a drive-through bank. Giant fans at either end provided pressure to blow a carriage through Manhattan.

For a fare of two bits per passenger– all of which was donated to a charity for soldiers' orphans– twenty guests at a time could take a ride on the pneumatic carriage. The custom-built, fifty-ton blower was situated in an adjacent chamber, separated from the waiting area by a long corridor. The Æolor blower was twenty-one feet high, sixteen feet long, and thirteen feet wide, and it contained two colossal lengthwise paddles which rotated to draw air in one side and out the other. The magnificent blower was outfitted with a special set of adjustable baffles which allowed her to switch from suck to blow without reversing rotation. By tapping a telegraph wire, the conductor signaled the boiler engineer to engage the 100 horsepower steam engine. Atmospheric pressure increased by "a few grains per inch," pressing the carriage into the tunnel as the air rushed to escape through the vent at the far end.

Financial problems led to the closing of the carrier in the 1870s. The tunnel was sealed until 1912, when it was reopened for the installation of an electric subway line. Link

The Consumerist reports that a customer who requested Comcast cable to stop sending direct mailers found a $1.99 “change of service” fee on his bill.

I had in fact called Comcast a few weeks earlier and asked them to stop sending me anything except a monthly bill. They were happy to do so, but had not told me that they would try and stick me for $2.

Fortunately, he was able to get this charge removed via an online chat with customer service. But how many people would never notice the extra fee? Link - via J-Walk Blog

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Maybe they just didn’t have enough cable. Or an axe. Or sense. -via Arbroath

The House in the Clouds was originally a water tower! The house was built around a water tank in 1923 to make it look less ugly. It served the Suffolk neighborhood until 1977, and the tank was removed in 1979. It’s now a 5 bedroom, 3 bath house that you can rent for a minimum two night stay. http://deputy-dog.com/2008/02/28/how-to-disguise-a-water-tower-and-confuse-the-public/

This impossible triangle is also called a Penrose triangle {wiki} or tribar. These step-by-step instructions will help you impress and baffle your kids. Link -via the Presurfer

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This guy rigged up his Wiimote to control his curtains! Then he posted how he did it. Link -via Cynical-C

A cactus has been found growing in Australia with spines tough enough to penetrate tires! It’s been known to kill koalas, who develop infections because the spines are so difficult to remove.

Once spines of the hudson pear cactus penetrate the skin, they often require pliers to pull them out. It is potentially the worst cactus species to spread in Australia since prickly pear in the 1920s.

Primary Industries Department Biosecurity Queensland land protection officer Jodie Sippel said yesterday there was anecdotal evidence the cactus had caused a fatality at Lightning Ridge in NSW when a person fell into a clump of pear and had a heart attack.

The Hudson pear cactus is an invasive species native to Mexico. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23283785-2,00.html -via J-Walk Blog

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The Evolution of Dance is the most-viewed YouTube video ever. In this relatively short parody, Optimus Prime shows off his moves! -via Gorilla Mask

Could the traditional Japanese belly warmer become a new fashion trend worldwide? Probably not, but they could help you stay warm in the winter. The idea is that if you keep your torso warm enough, the blood flowing to the rest of your body will stay warm. Link -via Metafilter, where you’ll find more haramaki links.

This photo of a sign in Argentina was posted by Dan Harris. Link -via Digg

John McClane is a hero. He’s saved America over and over.

*In 1988, John McClane defused the hostage crisis at Los Angeles’ Nakatomi Tower.
*In 1990, John McClane foiled a terrorist plot to seize control of Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC.
*In 1995, John McClane foiled the New York Federal Reserve Heist.
*In 2007, John McClane stopped the greatest cyberterrorism conspiracy in history.
*John McClane has defeated terrorists in elevator shafts on numerous occasions.

John McClane will keep us safe from terrorists, like he always has. A tough man for tough times. Yippie-Kay-Yay, America! Link -via Cynical-C

This article has nothing to do with the supernatural; it’s about real bodies that just can’t seem to rest in peace, or at least had to wait for their chance. You are familiar with King Tut’s mummy and Lenin’s corpse, but I bet you haven’t heard about all of these! Link

Disclaimer: I wrote this, with inspiration from Neatorama authors Gail Hapke and JT Pednaud.

Waclaw Sierpinski was the mathematician who first described the fractal that became known as the Sierpienski carpet {wiki}. Andrew Pike has created a tile mosaic portrait of Sierpinski, using Sierpinski carpets! Link -via Dump Trumpet