The EDGE: ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Thursday, July 14, 2011

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Thursday, July 14, 2011

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Faster 3-D nanoimaging a possibility with full color synchrotron light (July 14, 2011) -- Researchers can now see objects more precisely and faster at the nanoscale due to utilizing the full color spectrum of synchrotron light, opening the way for faster 3-D nanoimaging. ... > full story

Expert help from a distance (July 14, 2011) -- When electronic devices refuse to work, you rarely find the solution in the manual. Technicians often face similar problems with industrial machines, and companies end up flying in experts from the manufacturer to get things running again. A new system aims to help manufacturers lend a hand regardless of how far away they are located. ... > full story

Twin ARTEMIS probes to study moon in 3-D (July 13, 2011) -- Almost 2 years ago, two of five THEMIS satellites were boosted from their orbits around Earth toward the moon. The first transitioned into a lunar orbit on June 27, while the second is destined to arrive on Sunday, July 17, to begin mapping the moon's surface magnetic fields and magnetic environment in 3-D. The probes, renamed the ARTEMIS mission, will also look for evidence of plasmoids produced by magnetic reconnection in Earth's magnetotail. ... > full story

Atomic structure discovered for a sodium channel that generates electrical signals in living cells (July 13, 2011) -- Scientists have determined the atomic structure of a sodium channel, a pore in membranes of excitable cells, such as brain or heart cells, that emit electrical signals. They gate charged particles crossing the cell membrane to generate electrical currents. These encode information in the brain and make heart muscle contract. Many medications and neurotoxins act on sodium channels. Never before have researchers obtained a high resolution crystal structure of all atoms of this complex protein molecule and their three dimensional relationships. ... > full story

Evolved stars locked in fatalistic dance (July 13, 2011) -- White dwarfs are the burned-out cores of stars like our sun. Astronomers have discovered a pair of white dwarfs spiraling into one another at breakneck speeds. Today, these white dwarfs are so near they make a complete orbit in just 13 minutes, but they are gradually slipping closer together. About 900,000 years from now -- a blink of an eye in astronomical time -- they will merge and possibly explode as a supernova. ... > full story

Computerized system to prevent SIDS: 'BabyBeat' also has applications in telemedicine and remote monitoring (July 13, 2011) -- A new system using video and computer software to monitor a baby that could be used to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as well as for telemedicine applications, has been developed by two engineering students in Israel. Called "BabyBeat," the system uses computer algorithms to convert video footage to pulses that represent a baby's heartbeat and skin tone. In the event that the system detects an abnormal heartbeat, an alarm sounds to awaken the baby, change its breathing pattern and alert the parents. After further testing, if BabyBeat continues to perform as expected, the students will seek to commercially produce and market the innovation. ... > full story

25 Tesla, world-record 'split magnet' makes its debut (July 13, 2011) -- A custom-built, .5 million "split magnet" system with the potential to revolutionize scientific research in a variety of fields has made its debut at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University. ... > full story

New electric concept car has excellent driving dynamics (July 13, 2011) -- Following months of preliminary work on computer simulations, the first completed prototype of the new electric concept car showed in its first driving tests that it possesses excellent driving properties -- not only in theory, but also in practice. ... > full story

Supramolecules get time to shine: Technique reveals interactions between nanotubes, photoluminescent materials (July 13, 2011) -- What looks like a spongy ball wrapped in strands of yarn -- but a lot smaller -- could be key to unlocking better methods for catalysis, artificial photosynthesis or splitting water into hydrogen, according to chemists who have created a platform to analyze interactions between carbon nanotubes and a wide range of photoluminescent materials. ... > full story

Cat litter to become an edible product? (July 13, 2011) -- Sepiolite is a porous clay material used for example in cat litter that absorbs more liquid than any other known mineral. A Franco-Spanish team of scientists has analyzed twenty different sepiolites extracted from mines around the world, using X-ray and electron diffraction. The results open the path to industrial synthesis of sepiolites and to the design of completely new materials for use in catalysis, energy storage and food. ... > full story

Ancient algae: Genetically engineering a path to new energy sources? (July 13, 2011) -- A team of researchers is making a connection between prehistoric times and the present -- ancient algae that can produce their own biofuel -- that could result in genetically creating a replacement for oil and coal shale deposits. Their discovery could have fundamental implications for the future of Earth's energy supplies. ... > full story

Wireless power could cut cord for patients with implanted heart pumps (July 13, 2011) -- A new system to send electricity over short distances has been shown to reliably power a mechanical heart pump. The system could free patients from being tethered to a battery or external power source, lowering their chance of infection and improving their quality of life. ... > full story

Intelligent street lighting saves up to 80% on energy (July 13, 2011) -- Scientists in the Netherlands are currently testing an intelligent street lighting system which uses up to 80% less electricity than the current systems and is also cheaper to maintain. ... > full story

Scientists model physics of a key dark-energy probe: Simulations improve characterization of cosmology’s 'standard ruler’ (July 13, 2011) -- Researchers are leveraging powerful supercomputers to investigate one of the key observational probes of "dark energy." The project focuses on simulations created on Ohio Supercomputer Center systems to simplify and better characterize a subtle dark-matter clustering feature. The new model allows cosmologists to gain a more accurate understanding of certain aspects of large-scale structure, such as the effect of the expansion of the universe on the growth of density fluctuations. ... > full story

A novel enzymatic catalyst for biodiesel production (July 13, 2011) -- Continuous production of biodiesel can now be envisaged thanks to a novel new catalyst. Biofuel production provides an alternative to fossil fuels. Biodiesels, for instance, are processed products based on oils from oleaginous plants such as oilseed rape, palm, sunflower and soybeans. They result from a chemical reaction, catalyzed in either an acidic or preferably a basic medium, between a vegetable oil (90%) and an alcohol (10%). ... > full story

Innovative system for producing carpets (July 13, 2011) -- In Europe 700 million square meters of carpets are produced each year, and in the United States the volume is ten times higher. Researchers have now developed an enzyme-based biological technology that paves the way for manufacturing carpets that are much lighter, sustainable, biodegradable, and 100% recyclable. A wool carpet manufactured using this innovative system is a completely natural and biodegradable product. At the end of its useful life the entire product can be shredded and turned into organic material, which can then be used, for example, as fertilizer for growing plants. ... > full story

New approaches for aircraft operations aboard carriers examined (July 13, 2011) -- New research has examined how aircraft carrier flight deck crews will manage manned and unmanned air vehicles. ... > full story

Computer learns language by playing games (July 12, 2011) -- Researchers have created a system that allows a computer to learn to play a computer game by learning the language required to read the manual. ... > full story

Deeper insight in the activity of cortical cells (July 12, 2011) -- Scientists can now image the processing of information deeper in the cortex with the help of a new multi-photon microscope design. ... > full story

Hubble's Neptune anniversary pictures (July 12, 2011) -- Today, Neptune has arrived at the same location in space where it was discovered nearly 165 years ago. To commemorate the event, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has taken these "anniversary pictures" of the blue-green giant planet. ... > full story

Greener disaster alerts: Low-energy wireless sensor networks warn of hurricanes, earthquakes (July 12, 2011) -- New software allows wireless sensor networks to run at much lower energy, according to researchers. The technology could improve efficiency for hurricane and other natural disaster warning systems. ... > full story

Cracking the code of the mind (July 12, 2011) -- Researchers have applied advanced mathematical and engineering techniques to connect neurons with electronics and understand how neuronal networks work. In addition to real-world applications, this research also permits scientists to investigate activity patterns of many neurons simultaneously, providing a window on how different parts of the brain communicate with each other. ... > full story

'Automotive Internet': New app reduces motorway pile-ups by 40 percent (July 12, 2011) -- What do you do if you're driving down the motorway and 500 meters ahead of you there is an accident? Now there is an app that tells your car to stop. It does it in half the time of any of the applications, and in contrast to the systems already available on the market, not only does it act on what can be seen from your car but also on what is happening miles away. ... > full story

LiquidText software supports active reading through fingertip manipulation of text (July 12, 2011) -- Researchers have developed innovative software for active reading, an activity that involves highlighting, outlining and taking notes on a document. Taking advantage of touch-screen tablet computers, LiquidText enables active readers to interact with documents using finger motions. LiquidText can significantly enhance the experiences of active readers, a group that includes students, lawyers, managers, corporate strategists and researchers. ... > full story

3-D integrated DRAM-on-logic for low-power mobile applications demonstrated (July 12, 2011) -- Researchers in Belgium have demonstrated the potential of 3-D integration of a commercial DRAM chip on top of a logic IC for next-generation low-power mobile applications. ... > full story

Implant-free quantum-well SiGe pFETs for future high-performance CMOS architectures (July 12, 2011) -- Researchers in Belgium have successfully fabricated implant-free quantum-well (IF-QW) pFETs with an embedded silicon-germanium (SiGe) source/drain. These devices show an excellent short channel control and a record logic performance. A benchmark against various competing technologies showed competitive results. Finally, the device performance was also demonstrated at low operating voltages. These results prove that this device architecture is a viable option for the 16nm technology node and beyond. ... > full story

Breakthroughs in enabling future DRAM and RRAM (July 12, 2011) -- In the frame of its research on future memory architectures, researchers in Belgium made breakthroughs for both DRAM and RRAM memories. Such fundamental understanding of the filament properties is key to bridge the gap in the development of RRAM as a successor memory technology. ... > full story

First student hydrogen racing car revealed (July 11, 2011) -- A student team in the Netherlands has revealed its hydrogen-powered racing car. With this car, the students will be making their first appearance in Formula Student, a worldwide competition among 500 universities. The Delft DUT Racing Team will also be participating in the Formula Student race in the electric racing car they unveiled in June. ... > full story

Physicists discover new way to produce antimatter-containing atom (July 11, 2011) -- Physicists report that they have discovered a new way to create positronium, an exotic and short-lived atom that could help answer what happened to antimatter in the universe, why nature favored matter over antimatter at the universe's creation. The method works at almost any temperature -- including very low temperatures. ... > full story

Just add water and treat brain cancer: Freeze-dried gene therapy system avoids virus, potential complications (July 11, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a technique that delivers gene therapy into human brain cancer cells using nanoparticles that can be freeze-dried and stored for up to three months prior to use. The shelf-stable particles may obviate the need for virus-mediated gene therapy, which has been associated with safety concerns. ... > full story

'BPA-free' bottles live up to manufacturers' claims, new study suggests (July 11, 2011) -- Scientists have found that stainless steel- and/or co-polyester lined-aluminum bottles did not release BPA; however, aluminum bottles lined with epoxy-based resins still resulted in BPA contamination of liquids. ... > full story

Just like teens, parents get personal on Facebook (July 11, 2011) -- They may not dress like Justin Bieber or Selena Gomez, but parents are a whole lot like their teenagers when it comes to their behavior on Facebook. ... > full story

Researchers build an antenna for light (July 11, 2011) -- Researchers have derived inspiration from the photosynthetic apparatus in plants to engineer a new generation of nanomaterials that control and direct the energy absorbed from light. ... > full story

The perfect connection between guitar and computer (July 11, 2011) -- Guitar virtuosos have to master all kinds of playing techniques. But how can the intricate process of playing the instrument be captured digitally? A special thin film on the tailpiece has the answer. Functioning as a sensor, it converts the tension on the string into digital control signals. ... > full story

A flash of insight: Chemist uses lasers to see proteins at work (July 11, 2011) -- Scientists think they have an important brain transport protein -- glutamate transporter -- figured out. And they are using a novel approach to spy on them by taking aim with lasers. ... > full story

Light propagation controlled in photonic chips: Major breakthrough in telecommunications field (July 11, 2011) -- Researchers have built optical nanostructures that enable them to slow photons down and fully control light dispersion. They have shown that it is possible for light to propagate from point A to point B without accumulating any phase, spreading through the artificial medium as if the medium is completely missing in space. This is the first time simultaneous phase and zero-index observations have been made on the chip-scale and at the infrared wavelength. ... > full story

Researchers characterize biomechanics of ovarian cells according to phenotype at stages of cancer (July 11, 2011) -- Using ovarian surface epithelial cells from mice, researchers have released findings from a study that they believe will help in cancer risk assessment, cancer diagnosis, and treatment efficiency. ... > full story

Drug designer: New tool reveals mutations that cause HIV drug resistance (July 11, 2011) -- Protease inhibitor drugs are one of the major weapons in the fight against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but their effectiveness is limited as the virus mutates and develops resistance to the drugs over time. Now a new tool has been developed to help predict the location of the mutations that lead to drug resistance. ... > full story

Extremely rapid water: Scientists decipher a protein-bound water chain (July 11, 2011) -- Researchers have succeeded in providing evidence that a protein is capable of creating a water molecule chain for a few milliseconds for the directed proton transfer. The combination of vibrational spectroscopy and biomolecular simulations enabled the elucidation of the proton pump mechanism of a cell-membrane protein in atomic detail. The researchers demonstrated that protein-bound water molecules play a decisive role in the function. ... > full story

Nanocrystal transformers: Researchers observe structural transformations in single nanocrystals (July 10, 2011) -- Researchers have recorded the first direct observation of structural transformations within a single nanocrystal of copper sulfide. The results break new ground for the design of novel materials that will serve next-generation energy storage batteries and solar energy harvesting devices. ... > full story

Geothermal industry to get boost from new research (July 10, 2011) -- An ambitious project to understand and characterize geothermal potential at nearly 500 sites throughout the Great Basin in the western U.S. is yielding a bounty of information for the geothermal industry to use in developing resources in Nevada, according to a report to the US Department of Energy. ... > full story

Prototype 'optics table on a chip' places microwave photon in two colors at once (July 9, 2011) -- Researchers have created a tunable superconducting circuit on a chip that can place a single microwave photon in two frequencies, or colors, at the same time. ... > full story

World War II bombing raids offer new insight into the effects of aviation on climate (July 8, 2011) -- Climate researchers have turned to the Allied bombing raids of the Second World War for a unique opportunity to study the effect thousands of aircraft had on the English climate at a time when civilian aviation remained rare. The study reveals how civilian and military records can help assess the impact of modern aviation on the climate today. ... > full story

Recycling: A new source of indispensible 'rare earth' materials mined mainly in China (July 8, 2011) -- That axiom of sustainability -- "recycle and reuse" -- could help ease concerns about a reliable supply of substances, indispensable for a modern technological society, that are produced almost exclusively in the Peoples' Republic of China. That's the conclusion of a study on these so-called "rare earth" elements. ... > full story

NASA's final space shuttle mission begins with Atlantis' launch (July 8, 2011) -- Space shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson and his three crewmates are on their way to the International Space Station after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 11:29 a.m. EDT Friday. STS-135 is the final mission of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. ... > full story

Robotics: Safety without protective barriers (July 8, 2011) -- The modern working world is no longer conceivable without robots. They assist humans in manufacturing, laboratories or medicine. In the future, a new projection and camera-based system will prevent collisions between robots and humans working together, German researchers say. ... > full story

Power from the air: Device captures ambient electromagnetic energy to drive small electronic devices (July 8, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a way to capture energy transmitted by such sources as radio and television transmitters and cell phone networks. By scavenging this ambient energy from the air around us, the technique could provide a new way to power networks of wireless sensors or other devices. ... > full story

Chips hold the key to understanding the human brain (July 8, 2011) -- Scientists have taken a key step towards producing a high-performance computer which aims to create working models of human brain functions. ... > full story

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