ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Tuesday, June 8, 2010
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Cyclotrons could alleviate medical isotope shortage (June 8, 2010) -- The most widely used medical radioisotope, Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), is essential for an estimated 70,000 medical imaging procedures that take place daily around the world. Aging reactors, production intermittencies and threats of permanent reactor closures have researchers striving to develop alternative methods of supply. In a comparative study, researchers show that medical cyclotrons could be capable of producing this medical isotope. ... > full story
Earth and Moon formed later than previously thought, new research suggests (June 7, 2010) -- Astronomers have theorized that the planet Earth and the Moon were created as the result of a giant collision between two planets the size of Mars and Venus. Until now, the collision was thought to have happened when the solar system was 30 million years old, or approximately 4,537 million years ago. But new research shows that Earth and the Moon must have formed much later -- perhaps up to 150 million years after the formation of the solar system. ... > full story
New 'microbead' radiotherapy more effective with molecular imaging (June 7, 2010) -- Research may change the way that a novel form of radiotherapy is set up and tested prior to treatment. This technique, known as radiomicrosphere therapy, involves the injection of tiny highly radioactive beads that "nestle up" with cancerous tumors and destroy them with precision. ... > full story
NASA rover finds clue to Mars' past and environment for life (June 7, 2010) -- Rocks examined by NASA's Spirit Mars Rover hold evidence of a wet, non-acidic ancient environment that may have been favorable for life. Confirming this mineral clue took four years of analysis by several scientists. ... > full story
Life on Titan? New clues to what's consuming hydrogen, acetylene on Saturn's moon (June 7, 2010) -- Two new papers based on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft scrutinize the complex chemical activity on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan. While non-biological chemistry offers one possible explanation, some scientists believe these chemical signatures bolster the argument for a primitive, exotic form of life or precursor to life on Titan's surface. According to one theory put forth by astrobiologists, the signatures fulfill two important conditions necessary for a hypothesized "methane-based life." ... > full story
Untangling the mystery of knotted flex: Mass experiment to investigate one of the banes of everyday life (June 7, 2010) -- A UK scientist believes his "Loop Conjecture" theory can prevent knots in everything from simple flex through to mountain and sailing ropes and potentially DNA structure. ... > full story
New technique turns proteins into glass: Could lead to new ways to deliver medication (June 7, 2010) -- Researchers have devised a method to dry and preserve proteins in a glassified form that seems to retain the molecules' properties as workhorses of biology. ... > full story
Next generation CT scanner views whole organs in a heartbeat (June 7, 2010) -- A next generation CT scanner allows doctors to image an entire organ in less than a second or track blood flow through the brain or to a tumor -- all with less radiation exposure to patients. ... > full story
Sowing seeds with new agricultural carbon accounting tool (June 7, 2010) -- Carbon dioxide emissions from agricultural activity in the United States can now be tracked with unprecedented resolution, thanks to a recently developed carbon accounting tool. ... > full story
Hold the salt: Engineers develop revolutionary new desalination membrane (June 7, 2010) -- Researchers have unveiled a new class of reverse-osmosis membranes for desalination that resist the clogging which typically occurs when seawater, brackish water and waste water are purified. The highly permeable, surface-structured membrane can easily be incorporated into today's commercial production system, the researchers say, and could help to significantly reduce desalination operating costs. ... > full story
Silver nanoparticles mitigate the cell damage caused by ethanol, study suggests (June 7, 2010) -- In a new study, researchers in Spain describe how nanoparticles formed by very small numbers of silver atoms can protect against the cell damage caused by ethanol. ... > full story
New approach to finding and removing defects in graphene (June 7, 2010) -- Scientists have pinpointed the noncarbon atoms that create defects when graphene is produced through a technique called graphene-oxide reduction. The researchers have also proposed how to make that technique more efficient by precisely applying hydrogen -- rather than heat -- to remove the impurities. ... > full story
Robots big and small showcase their skills (June 6, 2010) -- Two robotics events were designed to prove the viability of advanced technologies for robotic automation of manufacturing and microrobotics. ... > full story
Scientists break barrier to creating potential therapeutic molecules (June 6, 2010) -- Scientists have created a novel technique that for the first time will allow the efficient production of a molecular structure that is common to a vast array of natural molecules. This advance provides a means to explore the potential of this molecular substructure in the search for new therapies. ... > full story
New antenna to aid rural emergency workers developed (June 6, 2010) -- To overcome the challenges of rural communication, engineers have developed a sturdy lightweight antenna that provides a strong, clear, reliable channel even while moving. ... > full story
Yangtze River’s ancient origins revealed (June 6, 2010) -- The Yangtze River began to cut the Three Gorges area around 45 million years ago, making it much older than previously believed, according to new evidence from minerals. ... > full story
Could life survive on Mars? Yes, expert says (June 5, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that methane-eating bacteria survive in a highly unique spring located on Axel Heiberg Island in Canada's extreme North. Microbiologists explain that the Lost Hammer spring supports microbial life, that the spring is similar to possible past or present springs on Mars, and that therefore they too could support life. ... > full story
Video game research project to help blind children exercise (June 5, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a motion-sensing-based tennis and bowling "exergame" that will help the visually impaired, especially children become more physically active. ... > full story
An extra driver behind the wheel (June 5, 2010) -- When the steering wheel starts vibrating strongly, your car is too close to the edge of the road. WayPilot, a new Norwegian product, helps to keep it where it should be in the driving lane. ... > full story
Biomechanics of information: Going more miles per gallon with your brain (June 5, 2010) -- The hunting strategy of a slender fish from the Amazon is giving researchers more insight into how to balance the metabolic cost of information with the metabolic cost of moving around to get that information. ... > full story
Outcrop of long-sought rare rock on Mars found (June 4, 2010) -- A mineral-scouting instrument has found an outcrop of rock rich in carbonate minerals in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater on Mars. ... > full story
Electric fields make ceramic production quicker, cheaper, better (June 4, 2010) -- Researchers have found that applying a small electric field results in faster formation of ceramic products during manufacture at lower temperatures, and enhances the strength of the ceramic itself. ... > full story
Early Earth haze likely provided ultraviolet shield for planet (June 4, 2010) -- A thick organic haze that enshrouded early Earth several billion years ago may have been similar to the haze now hovering above Saturn's largest moon, Titan, and would have protected primordial life on the planet from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. ... > full story
Soccer-playing robots get creative with physics-based planning (June 4, 2010) -- Robot soccer players are warming up to compete in this month's RoboCup 2010 world championship in Singapore. A new algorithm will help newly created robots to predict the ball's behavior based on physics principles. ... > full story
Students develop device to help blind maneuver (June 4, 2010) -- The radar system incorporates a computer, two video cameras and a scanning light source to warn the blind of obstacles with audible alerts. The system detects obstacles -- even those overhead -- by scanning the depth of its surroundings, taken from two different angles -- similar to that of the human eye. ... > full story
Online games new marketing tool for unhealthy foods (June 4, 2010) -- Public health researchers have found that children, who are already saturated with television messages about unhealthy food choices, are the targets of a new medium used to sell high-fat, high-sugar foods: advergames. ... > full story
First paper 'dipstick' test for determining blood type (June 3, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting development of the first "dipstick" test for instantly determining a person's blood type at a cost of just a few pennies. The test involves placing a drop of blood on a specially treated paper strip. ... > full story
On a roll: Designing the next rover to explore Mars (June 3, 2010) -- The concept of a wind-powered vehicle that can be used to explore the surface of Mars -- a "tumbleweed rover" -- has been around for more than 10 years, but there has been no consensus on exactly what that vehicle should look like. Now researchers have developed a computer model that allows engineers to test the attributes of different vehicle designs before creating costly prototypes for testing in real-world conditions. ... > full story
Astronaut's eye view: Mars Express orbiting the Red Planet (June 3, 2010) -- A new video shows what future astronauts would see from their cockpit: Mars turning below as they sweep around the Red Planet. Last month, ESA's Mars Express snapped images every minute to create a unique video that loops through a complete orbit of Earth's neighbor. ... > full story
Nanosponge drug delivery system more effective than direct injection (June 3, 2010) -- When loaded with an anticancer drug, a delivery system based on a novel material called nanosponge is three to five times more effective at reducing tumor growth than direct injection. ... > full story
Going underground to monitor carbon dioxide (June 3, 2010) -- A technique originally, applied to monitor the flow of contaminants into shallow groundwater supplies, has been repurposed to monitor carbon dioxide pumped deep underground for storage. ... > full story
Scientists create artificial mini 'black hole' (June 3, 2010) -- Chinese researchers have successfully built an electromagnetic absorbing device for microwave frequencies. The device, made of a thin cylinder comprising 60 concentric rings of metamaterials, is capable of absorbing microwave radiation, and has been compared to an astrophysical black hole (which, in space, soaks up matter and light). ... > full story
A quick fix for queues (June 3, 2010) -- Queuing, standing in line ... it's what we do well, but complain about the most. Thankfully, science is coming to the rescue as researchers in Taiwan have devised a formula that could revolutionize restaurants, post offices, customer service desks, and theater ticket sales everywhere. ... > full story
Structure of immune molecule that counteracts HIV strains determined (June 3, 2010) -- In findings that contribute to efforts to design an AIDS vaccine, a team of scientists has determined the structure of an immune system antibody molecule that effectively acts against most strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. ... > full story
Nanoparticle PSA test predicts if prostate cancer will return: Ultrasensitive test gives first accurate answer after prostate cancer surgery (June 3, 2010) -- Conventional PSA tests aren't sensitive enough to show if men are cured after having a cancerous prostate gland removed. New research shows an ultrasensitive PSA test using nanoparticle-based technology may be able to definitively predict after surgery if the cancer is cured or if it will recur. The new test is 300 times more sensitive than currently available and may pick up cancer recurrence at a much earlier stage. ... > full story
Physicists reveal how to cope with 'frustration': Quantum simulation can be scaled to large systems (June 3, 2010) -- "Frustrated" systems -- those in which the interactions among the components have no single minimum-energy state -- are of great interest for problems from neural networks and protein folding to social structures and magnetism. But they have been difficult to model. Now a team of physicists has created a scalable quantum-mechanical model. ... > full story
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
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