The EDGE: ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Monday, May 2, 2011

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Monday, May 2, 2011

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Physicists create quantum twin atoms (May 2, 2011) -- Sophisticated chips have been used to create pairs of quantum mechanically connected twin atoms. Until now, similar experiments were only possible using photons. ... > full story

Several baffling puzzles in protein molecular structure solved with new method (May 2, 2011) -- A protein's molecular structure shapes its function. The structures of many protein molecules however, remain unsolved even after experts apply an extensive array of approaches. An international collaboration has led to a new, high-performance method that rapidly determined the structure of protein molecules in several cases where previous methods had failed. Protein structure information is useful in disease research, nanotechnology, and drug design, among other fields. ... > full story

Discovery of structure of radio source from a pulsar orbiting a massive star (May 2, 2011) -- For the first time the morphology of an extended radio source in a binary system formed of a pulsar and a massive star has been determined. In a few such systems, the strong interactions of the stellar winds produces high-energy gamma radiation, up to 10 million times more energetic than visible light. The results show for the first time the effect of the winds colliding and support existing theoretical models of radiation emitted by this type of high-energy binary systems, known as gamma-ray binaries. ... > full story

Spiders in space: Researchers observe arachnid habits in a microgravity environment (May 1, 2011) -- The very idea of spiders in space brings to mind campy, black and white horror films involving eight-legged monsters. In actuality, it is a scientific investigation called Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus Science Insert-05 or CSI-05, in which researchers observe arachnid habits in a microgravity environment. This is the second spider investigation on the International Space Station -- the first was CSI-03 -- and researchers have high hopes that the sequel will eclipse the original. ... > full story

Inverting a standard experiment sometimes produces different results (May 1, 2011) -- The standard experimental setup for measuring the cellular uptake of nanoparticles is to place cells in a well on a culture plate and cover them with culture medium containing nanoparticles. The assumption underlying these experiments is that the particles remain well-dispersed. But when a scientist turned cell cultures upside down, he discovered that this assumption doesn't always hold. Some experiments preparing for the clinical use of nanoparticles may therefore need to be redone. ... > full story

Cells send signals via membrane nanotubes (May 1, 2011) -- A new research discovery may help to explain how cells cooperate to develop tissue in the embryo and how wounds heal. Last year researchers discovered that electrical signals were being passed through nanotubes from one cell to another at high speed (roughly 1-2 m/sec). Now the scientists are seeking answers as to why the cells send signals to each other in this way. The process could explain how cells are coordinated during embryo growth, researchers say. ... > full story

NASA building instrument to study magnetic reconnection (May 1, 2011) -- Whether it's a giant solar flare or a beautiful green-blue aurora, just about everything interesting in space weather happens due to a phenomenon called magnetic reconnection. Several spacecraft have already sent back tantalizing data when they happened to witness a magnetic reconnection event in Earth's magnetosphere. However, there are no spacecraft currently dedicated to the study of this phenomenon, yet. Scientists and engineers are now working on a crucial element of the Magnetospheric Multiscale instrument suite: the Fast Plasma Instrument. ... > full story

Chemist designs new polymer structures for use as 'plastic electronics' (May 1, 2011) -- A chemistry professor is designing new organic polymer structures that conduct electricity and could be useful in solar cells, light-emitting diodes and thin-film transistors. She and her research group are doing fundamental studies of the relationship between the polymer structures and their electronic, physical and optical properties. ... > full story

Video games may help clear airway of cystic fibrosis patients (May 1, 2011) -- Video games controlled by the player's breath can encourage youths with cystic fibrosis to use techniques that can help keep their airways clearer, according to a new study. ... > full story

Spinstars: First polluters of the universe? Imprints of fast rotating massive stars in Milky Way's bulge (April 30, 2011) -- From the analysis of the chemical composition of some of the oldest stars in our galaxy, an international team of astronomers presents new clues on the nature of the first stellar generations in our universe. ... > full story

Electron ping pong in the nano-world (April 30, 2011) -- Researchers in Germany have succeeded in controlling and monitoring strongly accelerated electrons from nano-spheres with extremely short and intense laser pulses. The researchers report how strong electrical fields (near-fields) build up in the vicinity of the nanoparticles and release electrons. The new insights into this light-controlled process can help to generate energetic extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation. ... > full story

Understanding how glasses 'relax' provides some relief for manufacturers (April 30, 2011) -- Researchers have used computer simulations to gain basic insights into a fundamental problem in material science related to glass-forming materials, offering a precise mathematical and physical description of the way temperature affects the rate of flow in this broad class of materials -- a long-standing goal. ... > full story

New solar cell technology greatly boosts efficiency (April 29, 2011) -- With the creation of a 3-D nanocone-based solar cell platform, scientists have boosted the light-to-power conversion efficiency of photovoltaics by nearly 80 percent. ... > full story

A better imaging agent for heart disease and breast cancer (April 29, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development of a process for producing large quantities of a much-needed new imaging agent for computed tomography scans in heart disease, breast cancer and other diseases, and the first evidence that the material is safe for clinical use. The imaging agent is a tantalum oxide nanoparticle, which is inexpensive, and stays in the body long enough to image many different organs. ... > full story

NASA's Swift and Hubble probe asteroid collision debris (April 29, 2011) -- Late last year, astronomers noticed an asteroid named Scheila had unexpectedly brightened, and it was sporting short-lived plumes. Data from NASA's Swift satellite and Hubble Space Telescope showed these changes likely occurred after Scheila was struck by a much smaller asteroid. ... > full story

Fine chemical processes safer and more efficient with new type of reactor (April 29, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a unique chemical reactor, the ‘spinning disc reactor’. This is a cylinder containing a rotor that increases the safety and efficiency of chemical production processes involving gases, liquids and solids through its very high mass transfer rate. This new reactor is particularly beneficial for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. ... > full story

NASA technology looks inside Japan's nuclear reactor (April 29, 2011) -- Design techniques honed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., for Mars rovers were used to create the rover currently examining the inside of Japan's nuclear reactors, in areas not yet deemed safe for human crews. ... > full story

Astronomers unveil portrait of 'exotic super-Earth:' Densest known rocky planet (April 29, 2011) -- Astronomers have revealed details of a "super-exotic" exoplanet that would make the planet Pandora in the movie Avatar pale in comparison. The planet, named 55 Cancri e, is 60 percent larger in diameter than Earth but eight times as massive. Twice as dense as Earth -- almost as dense as lead -- it is the densest solid planet known. ... > full story

Shielding body protects brain from 'shell shocking' blast injuries: Even mild blast exposure damages nerve cells in mice, study shows (April 29, 2011) -- Stronger and tougher body armor to shield the chest, abdomen and back may be just what soldiers fighting in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars need to better protect their brains from mild injuries tied to so-called "shell shock," results of a new study in mice suggest. ... > full story

New microchip revolutionizes medical approach for monitoring for risk of sudden infant death syndrome (April 29, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a microchip sensor that can detect a person's respiratory rate without any contact with the person under observation. The chip allows for constant monitoring of babies in cot beds, hospital patients and other people at risk of obstructive apneas including, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It can be used also for the early detection of sudden sleep of vehicle drivers. ... > full story

Romance is not dead: Digital puts the spark back into relationships (April 29, 2011) -- Few people mull over a text message, however heartfelt, in the same way as a handwritten declaration of love. But researchers in the UK are looking to prove that using digital communication doesn't necessarily mean that romance is dead. ... > full story

Will it fall? Scientists show how the brain's estimate of Newton's laws affects perceived object stability (April 29, 2011) -- Newton's laws of motion predict that an object will fall when its centre-of-mass lies beyond its base of support. But how does your brain know whether the tower will fall or not? Scientists in Germany recently reported that although the physical laws governing object stability are reasonably well represented by the brain, you are a better judge of how objects fall when you are upright than when you lay on your side. ... > full story

Voyager probes set to enter interstellar space (April 29, 2011) -- More than 30 years after they left Earth, NASA's twin Voyager probes are now at the edge of the solar system. Not only that, they're still working. And with each passing day they are beaming back a message that, to scientists, is both unsettling and thrilling. ... > full story

Andromeda’s coat of many colors (April 29, 2011) -- The European Space Agency's fleet of space telescopes has captured the nearby Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31, in different wavelengths. Most of these wavelengths are invisible to the eye and each shows a different aspect of the galaxy's nature. ... > full story

Improved recovery of samples from biohazard events (April 29, 2011) -- In a recent paper, Researchers studied different methods for collecting, extracting and quantifying microbial spores from indoor surfaces to estimate parameters that should be considered in the development of a standard biological sampling protocol. A precise and reliable recovery system is critical to evaluating the success of cleanup efforts following an accidental biohazard contamination or bioterrorist attack (such as the aanthrax spore-laden letters sent to Congress and elsewhere in 2001). ... > full story

Online social network members donate personal data for public health research (April 29, 2011) -- Using a combination of Facebook-like tools and personally controlled health records, researchers have engaged members of an online diabetes social network as participants in public health surveillance. Researchers say that health-focused social networks can be viable resources for chronic disease surveillance. ... > full story

Artificial retinal implants must adapt to unique features of human eye to be effective, experts say (April 28, 2011) -- A professor of physics, psychology and art warns that artificial retinal implants -- a technology fast becoming a reality -- must adapt to the unique features of the human eye in order to become an effective treatment. ... > full story

Electronics: A step toward valleytronics (April 28, 2011) -- Valley-based electronics, also known as valleytronics, is one step closer to reality. Researchers have now shown that the valley degree of freedom in graphene can be polarized through scattering off a line defect. Unlike previously proposed valley filters in graphene, which rely on confined structures that have proven hard to achieve experimentally, the present work is based on a naturally occurring line defect that has already been observed. ... > full story

Good eggs: Nanomagnets offer food for thought about computer memories (April 28, 2011) -- Magnetics researchers colored lots of eggs recently. Bunnies might find the eggs a bit small, but these "eggcentric" nanomagnets have another practical use, suggesting strategies for making future low-power computer memories. ... > full story

Exploring the superconducting transition in ultra thin films (April 28, 2011) -- Researchers are using a precise atom-by-atom layering technique to fabricate an ultrathin transistor-like field effect device to study the conditions that turn insulating materials into high-temperature superconductors. The technical breakthrough is already leading to advances in understanding high-temperature superconductivity, and could also accelerate the development of resistance-free electronic devices. ... > full story

Two graphene layers may be better than one (April 28, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that the electronic properties of two layers of graphene vary on the nanometer scale. Surprising new measurements may bring graphene a step closer to being used in practical electronic devices. ... > full story

Carbohydrate adhesion gives stainless steel implants beneficial new functions (April 28, 2011) -- A new chemical bonding process can add new functions to stainless steel and make it a more useful material for implanted biomedical devices. This new process was developed to address some of the problems associated with the introduction of stainless steel into the human body. ... > full story

A surprise: China’s energy consumption will stabilize (April 28, 2011) -- Well before 2050, China's energy use will level off, even as its population edges past 1.4 billion, according to a new study. There will come a time -- within the next two decades -- when the number of people in China acquiring cars, larger homes, and other accouterments of industrialized societies will peak. Between 2030 and 2035, the steeply rising curve of energy demand in China will begin to moderate and flatten thereafter. ... > full story

Neurorobotics reveals brain mechanisms of self-consciousness (April 27, 2011) -- A new study uses creative engineering to unravel brain mechanisms associated with one of the most fundamental subjective human feelings: self-consciousness. The research identifies a brain region called the temporo-parietal junction as being critical for the feeling of being an entity localized at a particular position in space and for perceiving the world from this position and perspective. ... > full story

Green UV sterilization: Switching on LEDs to save energy and the environment (April 27, 2011) -- Ultraviolet light can safely sterilize food, water and medical equipment by disrupting the DNA and other reproductive molecules in harmful bacteria. Traditionally, mercury lamps have supplied this UV light, however mercury release from power generation and lamp disposal have generated discussion of harmful environmental impact. A potentially energy efficient and non-toxic alternative is the light-emitting diode, or LED, which can be made to emit at almost any desired wavelength. ... > full story

Origami not just for paper anymore: DNA, folded into complex shapes, could have a big impact on nanotechnology (April 27, 2011) -- Scientists have developed software that makes it easier to predict the three-dimensional shape that will result from a given DNA template. While the software doesn't fully automate the design process, it makes it considerably easier for designers to create complex 3-D structures, controlling their flexibility and potentially their folding stability. ... > full story

Researchers advance toward hybrid spintronic computer chips (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers have created the first electronic circuit to merge traditional inorganic semiconductors with organic "spintronics" -- devices that utilize the spin of electrons to read, write and manipulate data. Scientists combined an inorganic semiconductor with a unique plastic material currently under development. ... > full story

Caterpillars inspire new movements in soft robots (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers have been examining the diverse behaviors of caterpillars to find solutions for the new generation of search and rescue soft robots. Despite their extreme flexibility and adaptability, current soft-bodied robots are often limited by their slow speed, leading the researchers to turn to terrestrial soft-bodied animals for inspiration. Some caterpillars have the extraordinary ability to rapidly curl themselves into a wheel and propel themselves away from predators. Researchers saw this as an opportunity to design a robot that mimics this behavior of caterpillars and to develop a better understanding of the mechanics behind ballistic rolling. ... > full story

3-D terahertz cloaking (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers have created a new kind of cloaking material that can render objects invisible in the terahertz range. Though this design can't translate into an invisibility cloak for the visible spectrum, it could have implications in diagnostics, security, and communication. ... > full story

Mercury converted to its most toxic form in ocean waters (April 27, 2011) -- New research has confirmed that a relatively harmless inorganic form of mercury found worldwide in ocean water is transformed into a potent neurotoxin in the seawater itself. ... > full story

Full 3-D invisibility cloak in visible light (April 27, 2011) -- Watching things disappear is an amazing experience. But making items vanish is not the reason scientists work to create invisibility cloaks. Rather, the magic-like tricks are attractive demonstrations of the fantastic capabilities that new optical theories and nanotechnology construction methods now enable. ... > full story

Novel ash analysis validates volcano no-fly zones (April 27, 2011) -- Air safety authorities essentially had to fly blind when the ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull caused them to close the airspace over Europe last year. Now nanoscientists have developed a way to provide the necessary information within hours. ... > full story

Nuclear photonics: Gamma rays search for concealed nuclear threats (April 27, 2011) -- Gamma rays are the most energetic type of light wave and can penetrate through lead and other thick containers. A powerful new source of gamma rays will allow officials to search for hidden reactor fuel/nuclear bomb material. ... > full story

New evidence on origin of supernovas (April 27, 2011) -- Astronomers may now know the cause of an historic supernova explosion that is an important type of object for investigating dark energy in the universe. The discovery also provides strong evidence that a star can survive the explosive impact generated when a companion star goes supernova. ... > full story

New heat pump could last 10,000 years, experts say (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers in Norway are testing an entirely new kind of heat pump. While heat pumps used today typically last 10 to 20 years, the new one will last practically indefinitely, the scientists believe. ... > full story

New 'nanobead' approach could revolutionize sensor technology (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers have found a way to use magnetic "nanobeads" to help detect chemical and biological agents, with possible applications in everything from bioterrorism to medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring or even water and food safety. When fully developed as a hand-held, portable sensor, like something you might see in a science fiction movie, it will provide a whole diagnostic laboratory on a single chip. The research could revolutionize the size, speed and accuracy of chemical detection systems around the world. ... > full story

Wind turbines: In the wake of the wind (April 27, 2011) -- Wind turbines not only produce power, they produce wakes -- similar to what forms in bodies of water -- that are invisible ripples and waves and other disturbances in the atmosphere downstream that can damage turbines and decrease efficiency. Researchers are launching a study of those wakes, with an eye toward improving the efficiency of wind farms. ... > full story

Choosing the right electric vehicles batteries for the future (April 27, 2011) -- One of the most important decisions facing designers of plug-in electric or hybrid vehicles is related to battery choice. Now, researchers have used a life cycle analysis to examine three vehicle battery types to determine which does the best job of powering the vehicle while causing the least amount of environmental impact during its production. ... > full story

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