ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Friday, March 5, 2010
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Precursors of life-enabling organic molecules in Orion Nebula unveiled by Herschel Space Observatory (March 5, 2010) -- ESA's Herschel Space Observatory has revealed the chemical fingerprints of potential life-enabling organic molecules in the Orion Nebula, a nearby stellar nursery in our Milky Way galaxy. ... > full story
NASA's Kepler Mission Celebrates One Year in Space (March 5, 2010) -- One year ago this week, NASA's Kepler mission soared into the dark night sky, leaving a bright glow in its wake as it began to search for other worlds like Earth. ... > full story
NASA Mars Orbiter Speeds Past Data Milestone (March 5, 2010) -- NASA's newest Mars orbiter, completing its fourth year at the Red Planet next week, has just passed a data-volume milestone unimaginable a generation ago and still difficult to fathom: 100 terabits. ... > full story
Waste could generate up to 7 percent of electricity in Spain (March 5, 2010) -- Researchers have calculated the energy and economic potential of urban solid waste, sludge from water treatment plants and livestock slurry for generating electricity in Spain. These residues are alternative sources of renewable energy, which are more environmentally friendly and, in the case of solid urban waste, more cost effective. ... > full story
Asteroid killed off the dinosaurs, says international scientific panel (March 4, 2010) -- The Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction, which wiped out the dinosaurs and more than half of species on Earth, was caused by an asteroid colliding with Earth and not massive volcanic activity, according to a comprehensive review of all the available evidence. ... > full story
'Match' Madness: Picking upsets a losing strategy (March 4, 2010) -- Soon Americans nationwide will begin poring over NCAA men's basketball tournament brackets in their annual attempt at glory -- and maybe even a little cash -- in winning the ubiquitous, albeit illegal, office pool. New research has found that strategists, regardless of their sports expertise, would be better off sticking with the numbers even when upsets are likely. Probability matching, say the researchers, might be tempting but is a losing bet. ... > full story
Measuring impact nanoparticles on health and environment by looking at blood stream of chicken embryos (March 4, 2010) -- Researchers are a step closer to helping solve a complex problem in nanotechnology: the impact nanoparticles have on human health and the environment. They have developed a methodology to measure various aspects of nanoparticles in the blood stream of chicken embryos. ... > full story
'Tunnel anxiety' can be reduced (March 4, 2010) -- Many people feel insecure when they drive in tunnels. However, their anxiety can be reduced. Driving in tunnels is actually twice as safe as driving in the open air, when all factors are taken into account, say experts. ... > full story
Exotic antimatter detected at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider: Heaviest known antinucleus heralds new frontier in physics (March 4, 2010) -- A worldwide team of researchers has for the first time created a particle that is believed to have been in existence immediately after the creation of the universe -- the so-called "Big Bang" -- and it could lead to new questions and answers about some of the basic laws of physics because in essence, it creates a new form of matter. ... > full story
Mars Express Phobos flyby a success: Unlocking mystery of 'second generation' moons (March 4, 2010) -- Mars Express encountered Phobos March 3, smoothly skimming past at just 67 km, the closest any artificial object has ever approached Mars' enigmatic moon. The data collected could help unlock the origin of not just Phobos but other "second generation" moons. ... > full story
Nuclear physics promises earlier detection of brain tumors with just one scan (March 4, 2010) -- Time taken to detect brain tumors could soon be significantly reduced, thanks to researchers in the UK who are developing the technology for next generation SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) imaging that is set to revolutionize the medical imaging process improving future diagnosis of cancer . ... > full story
First of missing primitive stars found (March 4, 2010) -- Astronomers have discovered a relic from the early universe -- a star that may have been among the second generation of stars to form after the Big Bang. Located in the dwarf galaxy Sculptor some 290,000 light-years away, the star has a remarkably similar chemical make-up to the Milky Way's oldest stars. Its presence supports the theory that our galaxy underwent a "cannibal" phase, growing to its current size by swallowing dwarf galaxies and other galactic building blocks. ... > full story
Weakness discovered in common digital security system (March 4, 2010) -- The most common digital security technique used to protect both media copyright and Internet communications has a major weakness, computer scientists have discovered. ... > full story
Understanding chaotic motion of a solid body in a fluid (March 4, 2010) -- Scientists shed new light on the chaotic motion of a solid body moving through a fluid. They claim to have discovered two basic mechanisms that lead to chaotic motion of the body as it interacts with its vortex wake. The work may lead to better understanding and control of real body-vortex interactions. ... > full story
More, better biodiesel (March 4, 2010) -- Higher yields of better-performing biodiesel could be produced using a new method. ... > full story
Quantifying the electron transport effects of placing metal contacts onto graphene (March 4, 2010) -- Using large-scale supercomputer calculations, researchers have analyzed how the placement of metallic contacts on graphene changes the electron transport properties of the material as a factor of junction length, width and orientation. ... > full story
How to hunt for exoplanets (March 3, 2010) -- A new report explains how new technological advances have seen the discovery of more than 400 exoplanets to date, a number expected to rise to thousands in the next few years. ... > full story
'Cosmic Bat': Island of stars in the making on outskirts of Orion (March 3, 2010) -- The delicate nebula NGC 1788, located in a dark and often neglected corner of the Orion constellation, is revealed in a new and finely nuanced image that astronomers have released. Although this ghostly cloud is rather isolated from Orion's bright stars, the latter's powerful winds and light have had a strong impact on the nebula, forging its shape and making it home to a multitude of infant suns. ... > full story
Aerial surveillance technology could keep soldiers safer (March 3, 2010) -- New technology that enables aerial vehicles to plan and verify missions could mean there is less need for military personnel to conduct dangerous surveillance operations in war zones. Developed for use in multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, the sophisticated autonomous computer framework allows one operator to control a number of vehicles from a safe position on the ground. It would also make surveillance missions significantly cheaper. ... > full story
'History Detectives' investigate the case of the mylar mystery (March 3, 2010) -- There is a mystery afoot at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center -- the case of the mylar mystery to be exact. The PBS show "The History Detectives" recently investigated questions surrounding one clue -- a small, unassuming, silver sample of mylar with pink residue on one side. The mystery to be solved was whether or not this bit of mylar was from Goddard's Echo II satelloon project. Satelloons are a combination of satellites and balloons which were constructed out of bright, metallic mylar for increased visibility. ... > full story
Artificial bee silk a big step closer to reality (March 3, 2010) -- Scientists have achieved another important milestone in the international quest to artificially produce insect silk. ... > full story
Sorting device for analyzing biological reactions puts the power of a lab in a researcher’s pocket (March 3, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated a new microfluidic sorting device that rapidly analyzes millions of biological reactions. Smaller than an iPod Nano, the device analyzes reactions a 1,000-times faster and uses 10 million-fold less volumes of reagent than conventional state-of-the-art robotic methods. The scientists anticipate that the invention could reduce screening costs by 1 million-fold and make directed evolution more commonplace in the lab. ... > full story
Prostate cancer surgeons 'feel' with their eyes; 3-D HD view gives surgeons compensatory illusion of tactile sensation (March 3, 2010) -- Robotic surgical technology with its three-dimensional, high-definition view gives surgeons the sensation of touch, even as they operate from a remote console. A new study describes the phenomenon, called intersensory integration, and reports that surgical outcomes for prostate cancer surgery using minimally invasive robotic technology compare favorably with traditional invasive surgery. ... > full story
Glue, fly, glue: Caddisflies' underwater silk adhesive might suture wounds (March 3, 2010) -- Like silkworm moths, butterflies and spiders, caddisfly larvae spin silk, but they do so underwater instead on dry land. Now, researchers have discovered why the fly's silk is sticky when wet and how that may make it valuable as an adhesive tape during surgery. ... > full story
Leaf veins inspire a new model for distribution networks (March 3, 2010) -- A straight line may be the shortest path from A to B, but it's not always the most reliable or efficient way to go. In fact, depending on what's traveling where, the best route may run in circles, according to a new model that bucks decades of theorizing on the subject. A team of biophysicists have developed a mathematical model showing that complex sets of interconnecting loops -- like the netted veins that transport water in a leaf -- provide the best distribution network for supplying fluctuating loads to varying parts of the system. It also shows that such a network can best handle damage. ... > full story
Hangover-free booze? Increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcohol may reduce negative side effects (March 2, 2010) -- Oxygen for ethanol oxidation is normally supplied through breathing, the stomach, and the skin. A new study has found that increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcohol may help to reduce alcohol-related side effects and accidents. ... > full story
Software sniffs out criminals by the shape of their nose (March 2, 2010) -- Forget iris and fingerprint scans -- scanning noses could be a quicker and easier way to verify a person’s identity, according to scientists in the UK. ... > full story
Teens with more screen time have lower-quality relationships (March 2, 2010) -- Teens who spend more time watching television or using computers appear to have poorer relationships with their parents and peers, according to new study. ... > full story
NASA radar finds ice deposits at Moon's north pole; additional evidence of water activity on Moon (March 2, 2010) -- Using data from a NASA radar that flew aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, scientists have detected ice deposits near the moon's north pole. NASA's Mini-SAR instrument, a lightweight, synthetic aperture radar, found more than 40 small craters with water ice. The craters range in size from 1 to 9 miles (2 to15 km) in diameter. Although the total amount of ice depends on its thickness in each crater, it's estimated there could be at least 600 million metric tons of water ice. ... > full story
New device for ultrafast optical communications (March 2, 2010) -- A new device invented by engineers in California could make it much faster to convert pulses of light into electronic signals and back again. The technology could be applied to ultrafast, high-capacity communications, imaging of the Earth's surface and for encrypting secure messages. ... > full story
Biologists use mathematics to advance our understanding of health and disease (March 2, 2010) -- Math-based computer models are a powerful tool for discovering the details of complex living systems. A Virginia biologist is creating such models to discover how cells process information and make decisions. ... > full story
Artificial neural networks help identify predisposing factors for conversion of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease (March 2, 2010) -- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is often considered an early symptom of Alzheimer's disease. An analysis of genetic risk factors predisposing to MCI is critical for accessing individual predisposition and reliably evaluating the effectiveness of early treatment. In a groundbreaking study, researchers successfully used artificial neural networks to help understand the causal relation between multiple factors and the occurrence of neurodegenerative disorders. ... > full story
Violent video game play makes more aggressive kids, study shows (March 2, 2010) -- Exposure to violent video games is a causal risk factor for increased aggressive thoughts and behavior, and decreased empathy and prosocial behavior in youths, a new study finds. ... > full story
Exotic magnetar has extremely strong magnetic fields (March 2, 2010) -- Astronomers have observed an uncommon neutron star. Classified as magnetar, its nature is as peculiar as its official name: SGR 0418+5729. The observations reached an unprecedented depth at optical wavelengths for this kind of sources, helping in constraining the physical properties of this celestial body characterized by extremely strong magnetic fields. ... > full story
Computer games can teach schools some lessons (March 2, 2010) -- If schools adopted some of the strategies that video games use, they could educate children more effectively, according to experts. ... > full story
Can mobile phones help people 'EatWell?' (March 2, 2010) -- Most people know the rules of healthy eating, but most of us might eat a little healthier if we were reminded. Now a researcher is testing using a mobile phone to help community members steer themselves away from that chocolate cake and toward the fruits and veggies. ... > full story
Salt-seeking satellite shaken by quake, but not stirred (March 2, 2010) -- NASA's Aquarius instrument, and the Argentinian spacecraft that will carry it into space, the Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas (SAC-D), successfully rode out one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history Feb. 27 with no problems. ... > full story
Mars Express heading for closest flyby of Phobos (March 1, 2010) -- ESA's Mars Express will skim the surface of Mars' largest moon Phobos on March 3. Passing by at an altitude of 67 km, precise radio tracking will allow researchers to peer inside the mysterious moon. ... > full story
Physicist writes a better formula to predict baseball success (March 1, 2010) -- A physicist has developed a new formula to predict baseball success. The basic formula, which has been tweaked over the years, uses the number of runs scored per game (RPG) and runs given up per game to estimate a team's winning percentage. ... > full story
Simple math explains dramatic beak shape variation in Darwin's finches (March 1, 2010) -- In a new study, researchers demonstrate that simple changes in beak length and depth can explain the important morphological diversity of all beak shapes within Darwin's famous finches. Broadly, the work suggests that a few, simple mathematical rules may be responsible for complicated biological adaptations. ... > full story
Widening the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (March 1, 2010) -- The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has been dominated for its first half century by a hunt for unusual radio signals. But bold new innovations are required if we are ever to hear from our cosmic neighbors, says a leading expert. ... > full story
File-sharing software potential threat to health privacy (March 1, 2010) -- The personal health and financial information stored in thousands of North American home computers may be vulnerable to theft through file-sharing software, according to a new study. ... > full story
Astronomically large lenses measure the age and size of the universe (March 1, 2010) -- Using entire galaxies as lenses to look at other galaxies, researchers have a newly precise way to measure the size and age of the universe and how rapidly it is expanding. The measurement determines a value for the Hubble constant, which indicates the size of the universe, and confirms the age of the universe as 13.75 billion years old, within 170 million years. The results also confirm the strength of dark energy, responsible for accelerating the expansion of the universe. ... > full story
New Energy Harvesting Network means batteries not included (March 1, 2010) -- A new Energy Harvesting Network being launched could mean virtually unlimited power supplies for industry. The network will bring together UK academic and industrial researchers and end-users of energy harvesting (EH) technology. ... > full story
Fish can recognize a face based on UV pattern alone (March 1, 2010) -- Two species of damselfish may look identical -- not to mention drab -- to the human eye. But that's because, in comparison to the fish, all of us are essentially colorblind. A new study reveals that the fish can easily tell one species from another based entirely on the shape of the ultraviolet patterns on their faces. ... > full story
By tracking water molecules, physicists hope to unlock secrets of life (March 1, 2010) -- The key to life as we know it is water, a tiny molecule with some highly unusual properties, such as the ability to retain large amounts of heat and to lose, instead of gain, density as it solidifies. It behaves so differently from other liquids, in fact, that by some measures it shouldn't even exist. Now scientists have made a batch of new discoveries about the ubiquitous liquid, suggesting that an individual water molecule's interactions with its neighbors could someday be manipulated to solve some of the world's thorniest problems -- from agriculture to cancer. ... > full story
Robot-assisted option offers advantages for kidney surgery, comparison shows (March 1, 2010) -- A comparison of two types of minimally invasive surgery to repair kidney blockages that prevent urine from draining normally to the bladder found that robot-assisted surgery was faster and resulted in less blood loss and shorter hospital stays. ... > full story
Campaign to end sale of electronic mosquito repellents (March 1, 2010) -- A campaign to stop the sale of electronic mosquito repellents by major airlines is beginning to bear fruit with the immediate withdrawal of the products from KLM flights. The issue, say experts, is that these electronic repellents, sold to airline passengers, many on their way to malaria endemic countries, just don’t work. ... > full story
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