Rachel Kaufman

Freelance writer, editor, and blogger in the Washington, D.C. metro area

New and Cool

Marine Machines Made in Nature’s Image

If it looks like a fish and swims like a fish, it could be a robot–such as the University of Bath’s Gymnobot, inspired by an Amazonian knifefish.

Researchers worldwide are developing robots that look and act like aquatic creatures. That’s because biomimetic gadgets–bots that take inspiration from nature–are often more efficient than their clunkier counterparts.

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Finance

Savings Splurge: Local Experts on Federal Tax Credits»

Those aspiring to own real estate who didn’t think they’d make the deadline for a tax credit now have eight thousand more reasons to buy: On Nov. 6, the government extended the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers for another six months. Instead of expiring on Nov. 30, buyers now have until April 30, 2010 to sign a contract for a home.

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Arts

Here’s Looking at Everybody»

Your iPhone embeds geodata into every picture you upload to Flickr. Facebook posts your address without your permission. Your E-ZPass knows where you’ve been driving.

Scary, but is this art? A show at Arlington Arts Center asks, why not?

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Blog

Social Media Success»

As some of you already know, this year I’m making the transition from “writer, editor, and blogger” to “writer, editor, blogger, and author. That’s right. I am gonna sell a book this year, darn it!
As part of that goal, I’ve added a bunch of agent blogs and writing blogs to my RSS reader, figuring I [...]

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