MaRS

The gecko: A disruptive innovation

Imagine a laboratory devoted to the research and development of complex systems. It costs nothing to run and doesn’t have any senior managers. All of its products are open source. And it’s managed to remain relevant over 3.8 billion years of changing market conditions.

Many scientists use the products of this laboratory (aka “nature”) as inspiration for cutting edge technologies. Velcro is the oft-cited example, a manufactured version of the tiny hooks on burrs that cling to fabric. The philosophy is biomimicry.

Good advice, the quick and easy way.

Click here. Or here. Or here. Startup Quote is the quickest, easiest and prettiest way to get advice from established entrepreneurs.

So pour a cup of coffee, grab a seat and prepare to lose an afternoon. What you lose in productivity, you’ll gain in knowledge. And who knows–maybe one day, you’ll find your own face gracing the front page of startupquote.com.

Got a computer? Help map space

“Contribute to real science by helping classify galaxies with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey’s Galaxy Zoo.”

In March, a world record was set for the most explosive man-made collision between two particles (3.5 TeV for all you physicists). Such experiments, conducted at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva, are expected to yield valuable insights into the early moments of our Universe.

The LHC has heralded some other firsts, namely the first paper authored by over 1000 people. The paper represents a new way of conducting science that allows for unprecedented, rapid collaboration.

How can social innovators adopt strategic tech?

When it comes to social and mobile technology, the question is no longer whether or not we should be using it, but rather, how can we adopt it in a strategic way?  And how can social innovators use it to create greater impact?

Net Change 2010, powered by MaRS, is week-long series of events launching June 7^th. It will explore the intersection between technology and social change. And the opportunities this intersection presents.

Television: Now with 100% more social web!

TV: it’s not just on TVs anymore! It’s no surprise that viewers are using different devices to watch.

Do you ever watch television and surf the net at the same time? Then you might already be sharing your thoughts about TV programs on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Social TV, through which people exchange opinions about the content, is a fast-growing trend.