Near-infrared images of Orion taken through the ESO's new VISTA telescope:

via wired science: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/02/vista-orion/

From Wired:

"The Pentagon’s mad science arm may have come up with its most radical project yet. Darpa is looking to re-write the laws of evolution to the military’s advantage, creating 'synthetic organisms' that can live forever — or can be killed with the flick of a molecular switch.

As part of its budget for the next year, Darpa is investing $6 million into a project called BioDesign, with the goal of eliminating 'the randomness of natural evolutionary advancement.' The plan would assemble the latest bio-tech knowledge to come up with living, breathing creatures that are genetically engineered to “produce the intended biological effect.” Darpa wants the organisms to be fortified with molecules that bolster cell resistance to death, so that the lab-monsters can 'ultimately be programmed to live indefinitely.'"

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/02/pentagon-looks-to-breed-immortal-synthetic-organisms-molecular-kill-switch-included/

So I know I'm a grown freaking adult and it's nowhere near my birthday but...

Terminator Salvation T-600 Power Fist

# Mechanical firing action
# Chrome Plated
# Super-human look and feel!
# Become a TERMINATOR!
# Join the resistance today

price:  $29.95

http://www.roboticstoys.com/store/p/6136-Terminator-T-600-Power-Fist.aspx

Terminator T-600 Skull Helmet

"Ever wish you had a super-human robot skull? Check out this Terminator Voice Changing Helmet from the 2009 Terminator Salvation movie. It features lights, sounds, and voice-changing capability. Plus, it's steel plated in chrome to protect all the computer chips rolling around inside. This Voice 'N Vision Skull is all you need to become an advanced T-600 robot of the future! Measures approximately 10-inches tall x 8-inches wide x 9-inches long."

price:  $39.95

http://www.roboticstoys.com/store/p/6135-Terminator-T-600-Skull-Helmet.aspx

from crux42's travels in sapporo

I love the tone of their announcement.  Makes me want to dust off my Trossen forum login...

"Trossen Robotics Announces the Grand Opening of their new sister store RoboticsToys.com

Assimilate them early! Corrupt their minds before they have a chance to live a life free from fascination with robots. Yes, we are talking about our youth. We must teach them to master the machines to avoid enslavement in the future.

Trossen Robotics has been filling the professional hobby robotics niche for half a decade now. We've all seen the crazy projects mentally unstable adults have been creating over there, but now it's time to help pass the torch. The droids at Trossen Robotics are happy to announce the Grand Opening of their new sister store for the youngins, Roboticstoys.com.

To celebrate the opening of the store sure to be the favorite of baby John (and Sarah) Conners everywhere we are giving away a free robot to the first 50 orders! In reality these are spybots that we plan to put into every home as part of a secret government program, but for now you can have one free. Isn't that exciting!?

Roboticstoys.com aims to be the number one place to find all your robotics kits, toys, and décor for that budding roboticist in your family. Robotics is a great way to spark an early interest with children in mathematics, engineering, and the sciences. There is nothing quite like building your first interactive creation and watching it come to life to kickoff a lifelong fascination with discovery and invention. Just be careful with how much time they spend behind closed doors or you just might come home to find this thing "negotiating" allowance increases with you.
  - The Trossen Robotics Team"