ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Monday, February 15, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Cameras of the future: Heart researchers create revolutionary photographic technique (February 15, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a revolutionary way of capturing a high-resolution still image alongside very high-speed video -- a new technology that is attractive for science, industry and consumer sectors alike. ... > full story
Virtual museum guide (February 15, 2010) -- Archaeological treasures are being brought to life by new software. Real images are enriched with digital information on a virtual tour through ancient buildings, creating a more vivid experience for the museum visitor. ... > full story
Scientists turn light into electrical current using a golden nanoscale system (February 14, 2010) -- Material scientists have created a system, using nano-sized molecules of gold, that induces and projects electrical current across molecules, similar to that of photovoltaic solar cells. ... > full story
Computer simulations can be as effective as direct observation at teaching students (February 14, 2010) -- Students can learn some science concepts just as well from computers simulations as they do from direct observation, new research suggests. A study found that people who used computer simulations to learn about moon phases understood the concepts just as well -- and in some cases better -- than did those who learned from collecting data from viewing the moon. ... > full story
Layers in a Mars crater record a history of changes (February 14, 2010) -- Near the center of a Martian crater about the size of Connecticut, hundreds of exposed rock layers form a mound as tall as the Rockies and reveal a record of major environmental changes on Mars billions of years ago. ... > full story
Molecule with promising semiconductor properties created (February 14, 2010) -- Chemists have synthesized the first-ever stable derivative of nonacene, creating a compound that holds significant promise in the manufacture of flexible organic electronics such as large displays, solar cells and radio frequency identification tags. ... > full story
Breakthrough for mobile television (February 14, 2010) -- Long Term Evolution, a new mobile telecommunications standard, is poised to revolutionize mobile internet. High transmission rates will soon be possible on mobile devices. For this purpose, researchers in Germany developed the cross-layer design SVC over LTE -- a coding method that offers HD films in real-time in the appropriate format for cell phones or netbooks. ... > full story
Assistive technology helps dementia sufferers get through the day (February 14, 2010) -- Tens of millions of elderly people in the EU suffering from mild dementia may be able to look after themselves, and free up their carers, thanks to a new system. ... > full story
New fiber nanogenerators could lead to electric clothing (February 13, 2010) -- In research that gives literal meaning to the term "power suit," engineers have created energy-scavenging nanofibers that could one day be woven into clothing and textiles. The technology could eventually lead to wearable "smart clothes" that can power hand-held electronics through ordinary body movements. ... > full story
Nanoscale structures with superior mechanical properties developed (February 13, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a way to make some notoriously brittle materials ductile -- yet stronger than ever -- simply by reducing their size. The work could eventually lead to the development of innovative, superstrong, yet light and damage-tolerant materials. These new materials could be used as components in structural applications, such as in lightweight aerospace vehicles that last longer under extreme environmental conditions and in naval vessels that are resistant to corrosion and wear. ... > full story
New sensor exploits traditional weakness of nano devices (February 13, 2010) -- By taking advantage of a phenomenon that until now has been a virtual showstopper for electronics designers, scientists are developing a chemical and biological sensor with unprecedented sensitivity. ... > full story
Scientists synthesize unique family of anti-cancer compounds (February 13, 2010) -- Scientists have streamlined the process for synthesizing a family of compounds with the potential to kill cancer and other diseased cells, and have found that they represent a unique category of anti-cancer agents. ... > full story
Single-step technique produces both p-type and n-type doping for future graphene devices (February 13, 2010) -- A simple one-step process that produces both n-type and p-type doping of large-area graphene surfaces could facilitate use of the promising material for future electronic devices. The doping technique can also be used to increase conductivity in graphene nanoribbons used for interconnects. ... > full story
High-tech applications envisioned for 'multiferroic' crystals (February 13, 2010) -- Scientists have had surprising results involving an unusual family of crystalline minerals. Their findings could lay the groundwork for future researchers seeking to develop a new generation of computer chips and other information-storage devices that can hold vast amounts of data and be strongly encrypted for security purposes. ... > full story
Science used to decode the secrets of Olympic skeleton sliding (February 12, 2010) -- Olympic skeleton athletes will hit the ice next month in Vancouver, where one-hundredths of a second can dictate the difference between victory and defeat. Using state-of-the-art flow measurements, engineers are employing science and technology to help the US skeleton team trim track times and gain an edge over other sliders. ... > full story
Spitzer goes to the Olympics: Art professor to show space telescope-inspired work at Winter Olympics digital art exhibition (February 12, 2010) -- Artwork inspired by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope is making an appearance at this year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. No, it's not battling other telescopes for the "gold," but its observations are now on display as part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad Festival. ... > full story
Scientists explore the future of high-energy physics (February 12, 2010) -- In a 1954 speech to the American Physical Society, the University of Chicago's Enrico Fermi fancifully envisioned a particle accelerator that encircled the globe. Such would be the ultimate theoretical outcome, Fermi surmised, of the quest for the ever-more powerful accelerators needed to discover new laws of physics. Researchers take a new step toward this vision. ... > full story
Marshall Islands research could lead to resettlement after nuclear tests (February 12, 2010) -- Through Laboratory soil cleanup methods, residents of Bikini, Enjebi and Rongelap Islands -- where nuclear tests were conducted on the atolls and in the ocean surrounding them in the 1950s -- could have lower radioactive levels than the average background dose for residents in the United States and Europe. ... > full story
Posttraumatic stress disorder: Virtual reality and other technologies offer hope (February 12, 2010) -- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) threatens to overload healthcare and social support systems worldwide as the number of cases rises and existing treatments are not sufficiently effective. New approaches to treatment are relying on technology, such as virtual reality, to alleviate the psychologically damaging effects of PTSD. ... > full story
Chemists create synthetic 'gene-like' crystals for carbon dioxide capture (February 12, 2010) -- Chemists report creating a synthetic "gene," which could capture heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide contributes to global warming, rising sea levels and increased acidity of oceans. ... > full story
Seeing the quantum in chemistry: Scientists control chemical reactions of ultracold molecules (February 12, 2010) -- Physicists have for the first time observed chemical reactions near absolute zero, demonstrating that chemistry is possible at ultralow temperatures and that reaction rates can be controlled using quantum mechanics, the peculiar rules of submicroscopic physics. ... > full story
Going for Gold: a physiologist’s view of champion cross-country skiers (February 12, 2010) -- Cross-country skiing is one of the most demanding of all Olympic sports, with skiers propelling themselves at speeds that exceed 20-25 km per hour over distances as long as 50 km. Yet the difference between winners and losers in these grueling races can be decided by just the tip of a ski, as a glance at any recent world-class competition will show. So just what gives top racers the advantage? ... > full story
Saturn's aurora offer stunning double show (February 12, 2010) -- Researchers recently took advantage of a rare opportunity to record Saturn when its rings are edge on, resulting in a unique movie featuring both of the giant planet's poles. Saturn is only in this position every 15 years and this favorable orientation has allowed a sustained study of Saturn's almost symmetric northern and southern lights. ... > full story
Nanomaterials may help fight cancer (February 12, 2010) -- Brain cancer is notoriously difficult to treat with standard cancer-fighting methods, so scientists have been looking outside standard medicine and into nanomaterials as a treatment alternative. ... > full story
NASA successfully launches a new eye on the sun (February 11, 2010) -- NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, has lifted off on a first-of-a-kind mission to reveal the sun's inner workings in unprecedented detail. The most technologically advanced of NASA's heliophysics spacecraft, SDO will take images of the sun every 0.75 seconds and daily send back about 1.5 terabytes of data to Earth -- the equivalent of streaming 380 full-length movies. ... > full story
Electric cars are going places (February 11, 2010) -- Electric cars have many merits: They are quieter and require less maintenance than cars with internal combustion engines. A network of smartly located charging stations covering the entire Harz region in Germany is bound to make electric cars a regional feature. ... > full story
New magnetic tuning method enhances data storage (February 11, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a method for controlling the properties of magnets that could be used to improve the storage capacity of next-generation computer hard drives. ... > full story
Geographers help map devastation in Haiti (February 11, 2010) -- In the wake of the earthquake in Haiti, geography students are participating in a global effort to enhance the international response and recovery effort by helping to assess damage, using images hosted by Google Earth and the Virtual Disaster Viewer, which shares imagery of disasters from various sources. ... > full story
Millimeter-scale, energy-harvesting sensor system can operate nearly perpetually (February 11, 2010) -- A newly developed 9 cubic millimeter solar-powered sensor system is the smallest that can harvest energy from its surroundings to operate nearly perpetually. ... > full story
Extra large carbon: Heaviest halo nucleus discovered (February 11, 2010) -- The nucleus of one form of carbon is much larger and more stable than expected. ... > full story
Perfectly shaped solid components (February 11, 2010) -- When metals are shaped, the materials they are made of are often damaged in the process. One cause of this is excessive press force, which cracks and perforates the material. By running simulations on a PC, research scientists can now calculate how to avoid component defects. ... > full story
Home computers around the world unite to map the Milky Way (February 11, 2010) -- At this very moment, tens of thousands of home computers around the world are quietly working together to solve the largest and most basic mysteries of our galaxy. Volunteers from Africa to Australia are donating their computing power to help researchers map the shape of our Milky Way galaxy. Now, just this month, the collected computing power of these humble home computers has surpassed one petaflop, a computing speed that surpasses the world's second fastest supercomputer. ... > full story
Study reveals need to evaluate and regulate 'electronic cigarettes' (February 11, 2010) -- Electronic cigarettes should be evaluated, regulated, labeled and packaged in a manner consistent with cartridge content and product effect -- even if that effect is a total failure to deliver nicotine as demonstrated in a new study. ... > full story
High-performance microring resonator developed (February 11, 2010) -- A new, more efficient low-cost microring resonator for high speed telecommunications systems has been developed. This technological advance capitalizes on the benefits of optical fibers to transmit large quantities of data at ultra-fast speeds. ... > full story
Agricultural scientists sequence genome of grass that can be a biofuel model crop (February 10, 2010) -- Scientists have completed sequencing the genome of a kind of wild grass that will enable researchers to shed light on the genetics behind hardier varieties of wheat and improved varieties of biofuel crops. ... > full story
Social networking sites could solve many communication problems when disaster strikes (February 10, 2010) -- Online social networking sites could solve many problems plaguing information dissemination and communications when disaster strikes, according to a new report. ... > full story
Orion in a new light (February 10, 2010) -- The Orion Nebula reveals many of its hidden secrets in a dramatic image taken by ESO's new VISTA survey telescope. The telescope's huge field of view can show the full splendor of the whole nebula and VISTA's infrared vision also allows it to peer deeply into dusty regions that are normally hidden and expose the curious behavior of the very active young stars buried there. ... > full story
Comprehensive study using bioinformatics predicts the molecular causes of many genetic diseases (February 10, 2010) -- It is widely known that genetic mutations cause disease. What are largely unknown are the mechanisms by which these mutations wreak havoc at the molecular level, giving rise to clinically observable symptoms in patients. Now a new study using bioinformatics reports the ability to predict the molecular cause of many inherited genetic diseases. These predictions have led to the creation of a web-based tool available to academic researchers who study disease. ... > full story
Silver nanoparticles may one day be key to devices that keep hearts beating strong and steady (February 10, 2010) -- Diamonds and gold may make some hearts flutter on Valentine's Day, but in one laboratory, silver nanoparticles are being designed to do just the opposite. ... > full story
Battery-less radios developed (February 10, 2010) -- Scientists report a 2.4GHz/915MHz wake-up receiver which consumes only 51µW power. This record low power achievement opens the door to battery-less or energy-harvesting based radios for a wide range of applications including long-range RFID and wireless sensor nodes for logistics, smart buildings, healthcare etc. ... > full story
Climate 'tipping points' may arrive without warning, says top forecaster (February 10, 2010) -- A new study by a top ecological forecaster says it is harder than experts thought to predict when sudden shifts in Earth's natural systems will occur -- a worrisome finding for scientists trying to identify the tipping points that could push climate change into an irreparable global disaster. ... > full story
High, not flat: nanowires for a new chip architecture (February 10, 2010) -- Silicon is the most prevalent material in electronics, whether for mobile phones, solar cells or computers. Nanometer-sized wires made of silicon have a large potential for a completely new chip architecture. But this requires a detailed investigation and understanding of their electronic properties which is technologically challenging due to the ultra-small size of the nanowires. Researchers were able to describe the electrical resistance and current flow inside individual silicon nanowires. ... > full story
Electrons on the brink: Fractal patterns may be key to semiconductor magnetism (February 10, 2010) -- Scientists have observed electrons in a semiconductor on the brink of the metal-insulator transition for the first time. Caught in the act, the electrons formed complex patterns resembling those seen in turbulent fluids, confirming some long-held predictions and providing new insights into how semiconductors can be turned into magnets. The work also could lead to the production of smaller and more energy-efficient computers. ... > full story
Understanding cement, right down to the atomic scale (February 10, 2010) -- Two thousand years after the Romans invented cement, this material is still the most commonly used in construction throughout the world. Its complex internal structure means that many questions about this material continue to have unsatisfactory answers. ... > full story
Cell-phone bans while driving have more impact in dense, urban areas (February 10, 2010) -- A new study analyzing the impact of hand-held cell phone legislation on driving safety concludes that usage-ban laws had more of an impact in densely populated urban areas with a higher number of licensed drivers than in rural areas where there are fewer licensed drivers. ... > full story
New perspective for understanding the mechanisms of catalytic conversion (February 10, 2010) -- The oxidation of toxic carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide occurs every day in millions of cars. Despite being one of the most studied catalytic processes, the exact mechanism of interaction between the carbon monoxide molecule and the catalyst, often platinum, is not fully understood. An important step in the reaction is the adsorption of CO on the surface of the catalyst. Scientists have now managed to see how the electrons in the platinum reorganize as the adsorption is taking place and why catalysts are “poisoned”, i.e. why their activity is reduced. ... > full story
New genome sequence will aid study of important food, fuel crops (February 10, 2010) -- A global initiative has successfully sequenced the genome of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon, which will serve as a model to speed research on improved varieties of wheat, oats and barley, as well as switchgrass, a crop of major interest for biofuel production. ... > full story
First member of the wheat and barley group of grasses is sequenced (February 10, 2010) -- A few grass species provide the bulk of our food supply and new grass crops are being domesticated for sustainable energy and feedstock production. However there are significant barriers limiting crop improvement, such as a lack of knowledge of gene function and their large and complex genomes. Now an international consortium present an analysis of the complete genome sequence of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon. ... > full story
Copyright 1995-2008 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your account click here  |
No comments:
Post a Comment