Beer-Coated CDs are Optical Biocomputers

commodoresloat writes "A DJ and scientist in Melbourne whose research is in the area of communication through biological cells, serendipitously created an 'optical biocomputer' when he spilled beer on his CDs and left them over night. The resulting fungus that formed distorted the sound of the CDs in interesting and meaningful ways. Here's some of his research, and some media samples which include mp3s of the distorted music." Yes, the term biocomputer is used in the loosest sense.

This is an Evil Plot by RIAA blackhats

[trolman]

Jones says that he has yet to damage any of his discs or players with his pioneering work, but warns that the technique does crash CD players on computers because the software cannot cope.

This is an obvious attempt by RIAA [uiuc.edu] blackhats [blackhat.com] to get everyone to buy new CDs while simultaneously destroying computer CD-RW. Time to grep for a good lawyer [harvard.edu].

great example!

[craigtay]

This is another good example of how beer benfits our lives. First I found out if I drink a beer a day it somehow helps my heart, but now... now.. my life is complete.

Whew.

[Anonymous Coward]

As long as the fungus is on the cd and not actually ON Britney Spears, I'm fine with it. I need my baby to be tip-top for her man.

Warning

[Anonymous Coward]

Coating CDs in beer, wine, whiskey, or any other hard or malt liquor/liquer is a violation of the DMCA.

Allowable liquids:

Windex
Water
Pepsi (One, Blue, Vanilla)

Mmmmmm, beer...

[xkenny13]

Beer, is there anything it can't do?

Apt

[samj]

It's precisely beer o'clock down under (17:18 Friday), so while this article is otherwise a complete waste of 1's and 0's, at least it's aptly timed.

Better not try this on a Linux distro

[narratorDan]

or the next thing you know SCO will own beer too.

SCO Sues Miller For Copyright Violations

SCO: See! The beer and fungus are derived from Linux which is derived from Unix which is owned by us, so pay up!

NarratorDan

This just can't be believed at all

[Anonymous Coward]

Aussies don't have any beverages that could be regarded at beer.

As the Monty Python Joke goes:

What is the difference between making love in a canoe and Austrailian Beer?

Nothing. They are both fucking close to water!

It's even more insidious!

[teamhasnoi]

I have reason to believe that this is a joint venture between the RIAA and the MPAA to...

COPYRIGHT BEER! Yes, 12 year old girls are not enough! Now they want to sue us for drinking beer!

Those SOBs! If only Rainbow Brite were alive. She would know what to do.

Well, back to my beer...er, research. *hic*

Nothing new here...

[Solo-Malee]

...I've had Beer on my AOL coasters for 10 years now.

Australia's booze is under threat

[donscarletti]

Another reason I am proud to be an Austrailan

However this part of our culture is under threat from the tea totaling anti-Australian premier of NSW [theage.com.au].

I am calling apon all Australians to fight this anti-booze sentiment to restore the nationalistic pride of the only country to have ever used rum as a national currency, and who's national food: vegimite is made from beer extract.

Victorians, remember that your scientific research as well as your VB swilling nature is under direct threat so even if us New South Welsh people are overcome with soberity I beg you to fight on.

Re:Australians and Beer

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm Australian, and I don't like beer. Is there something wrong with me?

Yes, you probably drank Foster's.

Re:Music?

[xkenny13]

Hmmmm ... gives new meaning to the term, "Moldy Oldies".

Here in Bavaria...

[Advocadus Diaboli]

... it is a sin to spill beer. Beer is a basic food and people should drink it and not spill it. This separates the tourists from the real bavarian men at the Octoberfest.

Caution: Be aware that beer contains a lot of female hormons. If you drink too much you start takling nonsense and you're unable to drive a car.

Re:Mmmmmm, beer...

[NanoGator]

"Beer, is there anything it can't do?"

So far it hasn't been able to get you laid. The experiment's still running though...

Re:Better not try this on a Linux distro

[Anonvmous Coward]

"SCO: See! The beer and fungus are derived from Linux which is derived from Unix which is owned by us, so pay up!"

By using these jokes, aren't you deriving work from SCO's previous works? (And those of about 3 million other Slashdotters with +4, Funny's next to their names?)

I felt a disturbence.

[SmallFurryCreature]

I felt a disturbence in the music. Allmost as if a million yeast cells cried out in pain and then were silenced as they were lasered to death.

So now we know why skynet wants to whipe out the human race.

Re:This is an Evil Plot by RIAA blackhats

[afidel]

Just use the stuff packaged by Annheiser Bush or any of the other major US beverage distributors. It's not really beer so no harm done.

Re:It's even more insidious!

[fuzzix]

Rainbow Brite was a SHE?! You mean I'm not gay? This is confusing...

Re:Apt

[modme2]

this was on abc.net.au a couple of days ago, i was going to submit it, but then i thought who on slashdot would be interested in a story about beer and cd's? ;)

In related news...

[PimpNinjaWannaBee]

"A student and teenager in Australia whose research is in the area of communication
through pick-up-lines, serendipitously created an 'optical biocomputer' when he spilled
beer on down his throat and left it there for a couple of hours. The resulting drunkeness
that formed distorted the sound of his voice in interesting and meaningful ways. Here's
some of his research [tig.com.au], media samples which include mp3s of the distorted "music" coming soon."
Yes, the term biocomputer is used in the loosest sense.

I'm afraid so

[hayden]

I'm Australian, and I don't like beer. Is there something wrong with me?

This is a serious condition you're suffering there. Fortunately help is at hand. An important step in your recovery is to find yourself a support group (otherwise known as a bunch of piss heads). Gatherings are usually carried out on regular basis (especially on occasions known as sporting events, BBQs, birthdays hard days at work, good days at work, indifferent days at work, having visitors around and generally any day ending in the letter y).

You'll also need a supply of the beer itself. While most Australians would drink tray slops if that's all that was available, it takes many years of practice to achieve this level of sophistication. I'd suggest you start out with something more mainstream but only the good stuff. I'd recommend Boags Premium or Coopers Pale Ale. Get the full strength stuff. Light beer is un-Australian and vaguely suspect.

Once you have your gathering the tough work begins. Start drinking. Push on through the taste for the first half dozen and you'll be there! If you are completely unable to start drinking beer then you may have to start with some other girlie drink for the first couple of hours and then move on to the nectar of the gods later in the evening (afternoon or morning depending on when the support group gathered).

A couple of sessions such as this and you'll be able to stand proudly at the bar at your next public engagement and say "Beer thanks mate".

Pfft... that's nothing

[nathanh]

I've created an olfactory biocomputer in my shoes, but you don't see me bragging about it.

Re:This is an Evil Plot by RIAA blackhats

[allanweber]

How do you get the idea to put a CD covered with fungus in your cd-player in the first place????

Ruined Disc

[Potor]

The following week, he put on a CD by Nine Inch Nails and found that it would not play properly because fungus had grown on it. But the fungus had not ruined the disc.

Indeed, I think NIN ruined the disk.

Seriously, though, I cannot be alone in having stumbled upon these effects by accident myself.

Although it was interesting to learn the difference in growth patterns between fungus and bacteria, I can in no way see what is "pioneering," or even interesting, about this.

Fungus changed music

[chthonicdaemon]

The resulting fungus that formed distorted the sound of the CDs in interesting and meaningful ways

Whe else thought that the guy imbibed the fungus for these effects?

Re:This is an Evil Plot by RIAA blackhats

[troc]

By drinking beer of course :)

it really works!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

i poured beer all over my Windows 98 CD rom, and all over my computer, and they have never run more smoothly!!!

Re:This is an Evil Plot by RIAA blackhats

[azaroth42]

And the stuff distributed on CDs by the RIAA is not really music either ... A perfect match! :)

--Azaroth

Yahoo Serious

[techstar25]

Did anyone else picture Yahoo Serious [imdb.com] doing this as they read the summary?

Re:Music?

[mmol_6453]

cat /vmlinuz > /dev/dsp

The sound of Linux. :P

This Webpage is the way Science SHOULD Be!

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm tired of going to science websites that DON'T have Bikini girls [swin.edu.au]. That's what science needs to be taken seriously, more Bikini Girls! And the massive emphasis on beer makes it a Hooome Runnn with *this* hard-drinking girl-loving quantum physicist.

Yup, I'm bookmarking this one, for sure. As my favorite politician says, "I'll be back!"

Re:Doesn't seem all that impressive

[Xyde]

BUT IT'S BEER! ON A SOPHIE MONK CD!!!1111ONE ONE ONE!11

Can't you see the impact this discovery could have on the music industry? "Britney Spears - now with more BEER!"

Not only can they appeal to the horny 14 year old male population, but also the impotent overweight 40 year old couch potato male population!

4. Profit!!!

Why do you people always have to be so critical of things - this guy has managed to put beer on a CD. I for one welcome our fungal music overlords, and think this is worthy of a patent. "Method of placing beverage on a CD." :D

Australian scientists and beer

[Gallowglass]

Didn't we have story a year or so ago about some Aussie boffins researching the physics of the "fall" of bubbles in Guinness? (Do the bubbles go up or do they go down?)

I'm beginning there might be some connection between Australian scientists and foamy malt beverages. But, YMMV.

Allready Copyrighted

[Anonymous Coward]

SCO commented that it allready holds a copyright on part of the source code (ingredients)for this Beer. SCO claims that Miller, Budweiser, etc., illegaly obtained this code (known has Higher Open Protocol Syntax or HOPS), and must pay a licensing fee in order to remain legal in production.

troll generating perl-retrieved database column

[gorjusborg]

"Examples are given for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cellular interference with optically stored data. Differences in cellular parameters such as organelle density, refractivity, and gross morphology (branching versus aggregation) are shown to impact on error correction using the Cross Interleaved Reed-Solomon Code."

Holy crap. You could have just said, "Hey, when I grow shit on my CD's it sounds funny."

Re:great example!

[sharkey]

Wine helps your hearth.

I don't have a fireplace, so I suppose I should skip the wine.