ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Thursday, June 3, 2010
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Using nature's design principles to create specialized nanofabrics (June 3, 2010) -- Bioengineers have developed a new technology based on nature's design principles for self assembly and self organization. The technology can be used to regenerate heart and other tissues and to make nanometer-thick fabrics that are strong and elastic. The key breakthrough came in the development of a matrix that can assemble itself through interaction with a thermosensitive surface. The protein composition of that matrix can be customized to generate specific properties. ... > full story
First images of heavy electrons in action: Characteristics of 'hidden order' in unusual uranium compound (June 3, 2010) -- Using a microscope designed to image the arrangement and interactions of electrons in crystals, scientists have captured the first images of electrons that appear to take on extraordinary mass under certain extreme conditions. The technique reveals the origin of an unusual electronic phase transition in one particular material, and opens the door to further explorations of the properties and functions of so-called heavy fermions. ... > full story
Hubble catches stars on the move: Surprising signs of unrest in massive star cluster (June 2, 2010) -- By exploiting the exquisite image quality of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and comparing two observations made 10 years apart astronomers have, for the first time, managed to measure the tiny motions of several hundred young stars within the central cluster of the star-forming region NGC 3603. The team was surprised to find that the stars are moving in ways that are at odds with the current understanding of how such clusters evolve. ... > full story
Enzyme detector: New technique reliably detects and quantifies enzyme implicated in cancer, atherosclerosis and other diseases (June 2, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new technique that reliably detects and quantifies an enzyme implicated in osteoporosis, arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer metastasis and other disease processes. ... > full story
Visual system interprets sign languages (June 2, 2010) -- Spanish sign language is used by over 100,000 people with hearing impairments and is made up of hundreds of signs. Researchers selected over 20 of these signs to develop a new visual interpretation system which allows deaf people to carry out consultations in the language they commonly use. ... > full story
Cosmic Zoo in the Large Magellanic Cloud (June 2, 2010) -- Astronomers often turn their telescopes to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), one of the closest galaxies to our own Milky Way, in their quest to understand the Universe. In a spectacular new image from the Wide Field Imager (WFI) at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, a celestial menagerie of different objects and phenomena in part of the LMC is on display, ranging from vast globular clusters to the remains left by brilliant supernovae explosions. This fascinating observation provides data for a wide variety of research projects unraveling the life and death of stars and the evolution of galaxies. ... > full story
Copper nanowires enable bendable displays and solar cells; Pin-like copper structures self-assemble in solution (June 2, 2010) -- A team of chemists has perfected a simple way to make tiny copper nanowires in quantity. The cheap conductors are small enough to be transparent, making them ideal for thin-film solar cells, flat-screen TVs and computers, and flexible displays. ... > full story
New automated tool 'debugs' nuclear weapon simulations (June 2, 2010) -- Researchers have created an automated program to "debug" simulations used to more efficiently certify the nation's nuclear weapons. ... > full story
Single-molecule manipulation for the masses: New technique offers dramatic improvements in throughput and cost (June 2, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new massively-parallel approach for manipulating single DNA and protein molecules and studying their interactions under force. ... > full story
Details in structure of a distant quasar: First high-resolution image from LOFAR radio telescope array (June 2, 2010) -- By connecting stations of the international LOFAR radio telescope array, astronomers have now produced the first high-resolution image of a distant quasar at meter radio wavelengths. This wavelength range has not been accessible to such detailed observations before, as the telescopes have to be spaced far apart. The first image showing fine details of the quasar 3C 196 observed at wavelengths between 4 and 10 m was achieved by using just a small fraction of the final LOFAR array that will cover large parts of Europe. ... > full story
New graphene-based electronics could take a page out of the silicon electronics book (June 2, 2010) -- A dopant common in building conventional electronics looks promising for making components out of carbon sheets only one atom thick. ... > full story
Unique eclipsing binary star system discovered (June 2, 2010) -- Astrophysicists have identified two white dwarf stars in an eclipsing binary system, allowing for the first direct radius measurement of a rare white dwarf composed of pure helium. ... > full story
520 days on a simulated flight to Mars (June 2, 2010) -- On June 3, 2010, six 'astronauts' will commence a virtual trip to Mars. Sealed into a cramped container at the Moscow Institute of Biomedical Problems for 520 days, they will experience the rigors and isolation of long-duration spaceflight. ... > full story
Unique computer model used to predict active 2010 hurricane season (June 2, 2010) -- Scientists who have developed a unique computer model with a knack for predicting hurricanes with unprecedented accuracy are forecasting an unusually active season this year. ... > full story
PET scanning probes reveal different cell function within the immune system (June 2, 2010) -- A commonly used probe for positron emission tomography (PET) scanning and a new probe reveal different functions in diverse cells of the immune system, providing a noninvasive and much clearer picture of an immune response in action. ... > full story
PET and SPECT biomedical imaging techniques combined, increasing resolution (June 2, 2010) -- Researchers in the Netherlands have succeeded in combining two forms of medical imaging techniques (microPET and microSPECT) into one piece of equipment. These techniques can be performed simultaneously and give a higher resolution than traditional microSPECT and microPET. The new device is designed for use in fundamental research into the functioning of cells and organs. It can show functional details smaller than half a millimeter. ... > full story
Software developers tackle child grooming on the net (June 2, 2010) -- Four out of five children can't tell when they are talking to an adult posing as a child on the internet, according to researchers working on software to track pedophiles online. Computer scientists in the UK have been working on a tool which can work out a person's age and gender using language analysis techniques. They hope it will eventually be used to help police and law enforcement agencies spot when an adult in a chatroom is masquerading as a child as part of the victim "grooming" process. ... > full story
Cancer information on Wikipedia is accurate, but not very readable, study finds (June 2, 2010) -- It is a commonly held that information on Wikipedia should not be trusted, since it is written and edited by non-experts without professional oversight. But researchers have found differently, according to new data. ... > full story
Fossil-fuel use and feeding world cause greatest environmental impacts: UNEP panel (June 2, 2010) -- A panel of 27 of the world's foremost experts assembled by UNEP has synthesized a comprehensive library of the most authoritative global studies to diagnose which of the planet's many ailments cause the greatest harm, and should therefore be accorded priority government policy treatment. Topping the list, of course: fossil-fuel use. And the mining and/or energy-intense production of certain materials -- especially iron, steel, aluminum and plastics. Sharing the very top tier of trouble is agriculture. ... > full story
Microbe power as a green means to hydrogen production (June 1, 2010) -- Scientists have been hard at work harnessing the power of microbes as an attractive source of clean energy. Now, researchers have investigated a means for enhancing the efficiency of clean energy production by using specialized bacteria. ... > full story
New 'doubly magic' research reveals role of nuclear shell (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers have performed an unprecedented nuclear reaction experiment that explores the unique properties of the "doubly magic" radioactive isotope of 132Sn, or tin-132. The research is part of a broad scientific effort to understand nucleosynthesis, or the process by which the higher elements (those in the periodic table above iron) are created in the supernova explosions of stars. This research focused on the so-called r-process, responsible for the creation of about half of those heavy elements. This process involves interactions at very high energies of highly unstable and rare isotopes that do not naturally occur on Earth, but that can be created in the laboratory. ... > full story
Researchers offer solutions to poisonous well-water crisis in southern Asia (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers offer solutions to poisonous well-water crisis in southern Asia. They have reviewed what scientists understand about this groundwater contamination crisis and offer solutions for the region. ... > full story
Backwards black holes might make bigger jets (June 1, 2010) -- Going against the grain may turn out to be a powerful move for black holes. New research suggests supermassive black holes that spin backwards might produce more ferocious jets of gas. The results have broad implications for how galaxies change over time. ... > full story
Liquid method: pure graphene production (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers have unveiled a new method for producing bulk quantities of pure, one-atom-thick sheets of carbon called graphene. The research could lead to novel, flexible electronics, carbon composites and touch-screen displays. ... > full story
Scientists gain new 'core' understanding of nanoparticles (June 1, 2010) -- A research team has uncovered a mystery in the magnetic response of iron-oxide nanoparticles, one that may be a key to controlling nanoparticle magnetism for future applications. ... > full story
Particle chameleon caught in the act of changing (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers on the OPERA experiment at the Gran Sasso laboratory in Italy have announced the first direct observation of a tau particle in a muon neutrino beam sent through the Earth from CERN, 730 kilometers away. This is a significant result, providing the final missing piece of a puzzle that has been challenging science since the 1960s, and giving tantalizing hints of new physics to come. ... > full story
Revealing the ancient Chinese secret of sticky rice mortar (June 1, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered the secret behind an ancient Chinese mortar made from sticky rice, that delicious "sweet rice" that is a modern mainstay in Asian dishes. They also concluded that the mortar -- a paste used to bind and fill gaps between bricks, stone blocks and other construction materials -- remains the best available material for restoring ancient buildings. ... > full story
Student uses pedal power to create novel machine (June 1, 2010) -- An innovative bicycle-powered water pump, created by a student in the UK, has proved a huge success and is now in regular production in Guatemala, transforming the lives of rural residents. ... > full story
Faster computers with nanotechnology (June 1, 2010) -- The silicon transistors in your computer may be replaced in ten years by transistors based on carbon nanotubes. This is what scientists in Sweden are hoping: they have developed a method to control the nanotubes during production. ... > full story
Breakthrough in nano-optics: Researchers develop plasmonic amplifier (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated net optical amplification in a plasmonic waveguide. The results represent an important breakthrough in the field of plasmonics. Optical amplification is the only feasible strategy to make light travel over sizable distances when it is bound in a plasmonic mode. Achieving such a macroscopic propagation of surface plasma waves is critical for many applications of the emerging plasmonics technology, which range from compact communication devices and optical computing to the detection and characterization of cells, virus particles or even single molecules. ... > full story
Scientists decipher structure of nature's 'light switch' (June 1, 2010) -- Opening a window into the process by which plants turn on the greenery and unleash a floral profusion of color, scientists have deciphered the structure of a molecular "switch" much like the one plants use to sense light. Their findings help explain how the switch works and could be used to design new ways to modify plant growth. ... > full story
Better animal-free test for chemicals that can cause contact dermatitis (June 1, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting development of a fast, simple, inexpensive method for determining whether chemicals in consumer products and workplaces may cause skin allergies in people -- a method that does not involve use of animals. ... > full story
Classic grammar model can be used for computerized parsing (June 1, 2010) -- A classic Nordic grammar model can be used for computerized grammatical analyses and technical applications of modern Swedish text, new research reveals. One such application enables queries answered by a digital text to be generated when it is opened, and then used to search for specific information in the text. ... > full story
NASA completes critical design review of Landsat data continuity mission (June 1, 2010) -- The Landsat Data Continuity Mission reached a major milestone when it successfully completed its Mission Critical Design Review. ... > full story
Air traffic poised to become a major factor in global warming, scientists predict (May 31, 2010) -- The first new projections of future aircraft emissions in 10 years predict that carbon dioxide and other gases from air traffic will become a significant source of global warming as they double or triple by 2050. ... > full story
NASA's airborne infrared observatory sees 'first light' (May 31, 2010) -- The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a joint program by NASA and the German Aerospace Center, achieved a major milestone May 26, with its first in-flight night observations. ... > full story
From butterflies' wings to bank notes: How nature's colors could cut bank fraud (May 31, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a way of mimicking the stunningly bright and beautiful colors found on the wings of tropical butterflies. The findings could have important applications in the security printing industry, helping to make bank notes and credit cards harder to forge. ... > full story
New technology will make election voting more efficient (May 31, 2010) -- Did you stay up all night to hear your local result during the recent election? Time-consuming manual vote-counts and ballot boxes could soon be consigned to the history books, thanks to innovative new secure voting technology. ... > full story
Scientists design a more efficient democratic voting system (May 31, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have developed a relatively simple democratic voting system which improves the efficiency of the usual common plurality voting system, and that protects minorities better and takes them more into consideration. ... > full story
Computational model being developed for estimating populations of large carnivores (May 31, 2010) -- Finnish researchers are developing a computational method for estimating populations of large carnivores. The new method will provide a quicker and more cost-effective way of keeping track of the number of large carnivores. ... > full story
Precise trace gas analysis, without the noise (May 30, 2010) -- Analyzing trace atmospheric gases can now be considerably more precise with the help of a device that delivers stable and reliable power to the lasers used in gas sensors. ... > full story
Improved carbon sponges to strip carbon dioxide from power plant exhausts (May 29, 2010) -- A new class of materials with a record-shattering internal surface area may have the right stuff to efficiently strip carbon dioxide from a power plant's exhaust. ... > full story
Researcher decodes Rembrandt's 'magic' (May 29, 2010) -- A researcher using computer-rendering programs has uncovered what makes Rembrandt's masterful portraits so appealing. Rembrandt may have pioneered a technique that guides the viewer's gaze around a portrait, creating a special narrative and "calmer" viewing experience. ... > full story
Clue to origin of Milky Way gas clouds discovered (May 29, 2010) -- A study of hydrogen gas clouds in two different regions of the Milky Way shows that they are much more abundant above areas of intense star formation, indicating they are blown away from the Galaxy's plane by stellar winds and supernova explosions. ... > full story
Zeroing in on quantum effects: New materials yield clues about high-temperature superconductors (May 29, 2010) -- US and Chinese physicists are zeroing in on critical effects at the heart of the newest high-temperature superconductors, the family of iron-based compounds called "pnictides." The scientists used similarly structured materials called "oxychalcogenides" to investigate the effect of expanding the distance between iron atoms in the crystal lattice. ... > full story
'Law-like' mathematical patterns in human preference behavior discovered (May 28, 2010) -- Scientists have found mathematical patterns underlying the way individuals unconsciously distribute their preferences regarding approaching or avoiding objects in their environment. These patterns appear to meet the strict criteria used to determine whether something is a scientific law and, if confirmed in future studies, could potentially be used to guide diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. ... > full story
Toward a useful quantum computer: Researchers design and test microfabricated planar ion traps (May 28, 2010) -- Researchers are designing, fabricating and testing planar ion traps that can be more readily combined into large, interconnected trap arrays. In the future, these arrays may be used to create a useful quantum computer. ... > full story
Novel 'cuckoo search algorithm' beats particle swarm optimization in engineering design (May 28, 2010) -- The familiar early summer call of the cuckoo has inspired composer and poet alike, but the sound belies the bird's true parasitic nature. Now, researchers have taken the cuckoo's wont to deposit its eggs in the nests of other birds as inspiration for a new approach to engineering design. ... > full story
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