Many people were shocked when they found out a computer can beat a human at Go, the ancient Chinese game. It was a smaller board, but take into consideration that this game is exponentially more complex than chess. Surprised? Not me. Let me know when they can make scrambled eggs, no shell. When computers can do that, then I'll be shocked. tjc

For a good time, follow this link: One man's quest to pay his utility bill with a spider drawing. And some time travel for good measure. I must say, I expected a "hit 'em with the late fee" ending. No dice. (thx Em) tjc

Turkey's bid to join the European Union has made nationalists angry, and their showing it through murder. jmj

The Ig Nobel Prizes (ig⋅no⋅ble - adj., completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose) are given out for "achievements that first make people laugh then make them think." One example: tjc

CHEMISTRY PRIZE. Sharee A. Umpierre of the University of Puerto Rico, Joseph A. Hill of The Fertility Centers of New England (USA), Deborah J. Anderson of Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School (USA), for discovering that Coca-Cola is an effective spermicide, and to Chuang-Ye Hong of Taipei Medical University (Taiwan), C.C. Shieh, P. Wu, and B.N. Chiang (all of Taiwan) for discovering that it is not.

Bookmark this until you try it: Grow Cube, an internet puzzle. tjc

How do you total up the greeenhouse emissions for an entire country? Slate's Brian Palmer has the answer. jmj

Tierney Labs: enjoy the fractal mystery on Nova. Love me some Mandelbrot sets! tjc

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia took home the American League MVP award on Tuesday, making him the first AL second baseman to do so since Nellie Fox in 1959. jmj