Chad Clark's Open Journal : 2007-09-11

1) Radio frequencies "burn" salt water

An Associated Press article claims radio energy can break bonds in salt
water and provide enough energy to cause the hydrogen to combust.

I only found this article and it is light on details.  I think we will have
to wait for some confirmation tests before getting too excited about this.

The reaction might have applications.  The article does not report how much
energy is required to sustain the reaction or how much is released so who
knows if it can be used as a fuel source.

2) Alex the parrot at Brandeis University has died.

Here is the Boston Globe article.  Irene Pepperberg bought Alex at a pet
store in 1977 and has worked with him ever since.

  Alex learned enough speech elements to identify 50 different objects,
  seven colors, and five shapes. He learned to count quantities up to six,
  including zero, was able to articulate certain desires, and even could
  express frustration with repetitive scientific trials.
  
  Emotionally, his development was similar to that of a
  2-year-old. Intellectually, he had the brain of a typical 5-year-old.

There is more information about Alex on wikipedia.