Business Over 30

Research scientists have found a way to improve general problem solving ability, also known as fluid intelligence, by using a rigorous training method. This Brain Fitness program could leave Nintendo's Brain Age training far behind. The most important point is that they have shown that it is possible to improve intelligence, something which has long been thought of as "hard-wired" in people - you either had it or you didnt - now you may be able to train for it. Other work in this area involved getting test subjects to train using the "n-back task" a very difficult audio visual test of memory. The test group trained for half an hour a day over a three week period, and at the end of it, improved their intelligence scores by more than 40%. Read more in Wired Magazine.

Businessweek has produced a list of the top 50 most innovative companies. These include a mix of companies in USA, Asia and Europe. The top 10 are: Apple, Google, Toyota Motor, General Electric, Microsoft, Tata Group, Nintendo, Proctor & Gamble, Sony, and Nokia.

Here are some of the some of the innovative products produced by them: iphone, ipod, Google Search, Google Earth, Google Adwords, Google Labs, The Prius hybrid, GE financial services, Windows Vista?, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, PS3, Blu-ray, and the Nokia N93 Camera Phone. Just missing the top ten are: Amazon, IBM, RIM and BMW. Read more on Businessweek

Scientists have come up with a new way to improve on medical gauze used to stop bleeding. In certain situations trauma victims can bleed to death before they can be brought to hospital, and this is especially where the wounds are deep or in difficult areas such as in the neck or groin. Combat Gauze, named for its typical use, is a special gauze which is impregnated with nanoparticles which cause the blood to trigger clotting immediately and is a significant improvement on the regular medical gauze.

Read more in Wired Magazine

Every year the USA's largest companies are ranked into the Fortune 500 list. Here's the top 10:

Wal-Mart Stores, the number 1 company is the worlds largest retailer with rock bottom prices. Their revenue for 2007 was $378 billion with profits of $12 billion. See the full list and read all about these companies which are the backbone of the USA on the CNN Money site

The cost of gene sequencing is reducing all the time and by 2015 new babies may have their complete DNA sequenced on birth. But this has major social implications as the film Gatacca explored. A new form of discrimination may emerge when potential employers and insurance companies get access to this information. No doubt there will be legislation preventing this, but once the information is available there is potential it will be abused. Other consequences include foetal testing with potential abortion requests if the screening shows future medical conditions, and once you open up that Pandora's box there's no knowing where it will end.

Of course there are major benefits to be had from DNA sequencing such as identification of future problems and avoiding them, so no doubt there will be major scientific, ethical, political and religious debates ahead.
Charles Arthur's does not discuss all these issues in his article in the Guardian, but he does dicuss other benefits and the costs of DNA profiling. Read more about this issue in the Guardian

Its the brainchild of Deepak Nayar, who was behind such films as “Buena Vista Social Club” and “Bend it Like Beckham,” and Sandy Grushow, the former chairman of Fox Television Entertainment Group.

The judges of the competition include directors Werner Herzog, Wim Wenders, and Paul Schrader Read more on the Reuters site And visit the Filmaka.com site here.

The Economist research unit has determined that Denmark is the best place in the world to do business. Ten measures are used to determine the rankings, including: macroeconomic stability, infrastructure and policy towards private enterprise. The USA has slipped to 10th place and the bottom of the list includes, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. Read more in the Economist

Professor Jeffrey Frankel at Harvard University believes that the Euro could surpass the Dollar as the dominant world currency as early as 2015. The rapid decline of the Dollar in recent times along with the continued loss of popular and political support for the USA by the rest of the world, is driving this. Read the full article in VoxEU.org here and then call your broker to trade your dollars for euros.