CMU scientists announced significant progress in deciphering how the brain encodes language, resulting in a testable neurosemantic theory predicting what area of the brain will activate for specific nouns. Find out more in the press release or the research paper (PDF format). Adam Claflin sent us links to his handmade robots which look like a cross between BEAM robots and art objects. If you see one you like, you can probably pick it up on his Etsy site. If you're looking to buy a robot in Australia, Michael Gruber writes to tell us that his retail robot store, called the Robot E Shop carries the Metal Fighter robot made by Mini Robot of Korea. They also sell Innovati robotic systems and Gestream's tiny BeRobot humanoid. VIA, always working on smaller computers, announced the Mobile-ITX, a 6x6cm form factor x86 module. The Swirling Brain has swirled up a couple of interesting stories too, including a new artificial larnyx that synthesizes speech in response to a tongue-activate palatometer and the all-time creepiest baby-headed robot ever conceived. Know any other robot news, gossip, or amazing facts we should report? Send 'em our way please. And don't forget to follow us on twitter.