The EDGE: ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Tuesday, January 24, 2012

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Tuesday, January 24, 2012

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Tactile imaging sensor can assist doctors with early identification of tumors (January 24, 2012) -- A handheld tactile imaging sensor could aid doctors in early identification of cancerous lesions or tumors. ... > full story

Solar Dynamics Observatory helps measure magnetic fields on the sun's surface (January 24, 2012) -- A subset of data that helps map out the sun's magnetic fields was recently released from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Observations that measure the strength and direction of magnetic fields on the solar surface -- known as vector magnetograms -- play a crucial role in understanding how those fields change over time and trigger giant eruptions off the surface of the sun such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). ... > full story

Metadynamics technique offers insight into mineral growth and dissolution (January 24, 2012) -- By using a novel technique to better understand mineral growth and dissolution, researchers are improving predictions of mineral reactions and laying the groundwork for applications ranging from keeping oil pipes clear to sequestering radium. ... > full story

New tool enhances view of muscles (January 24, 2012) -- New research is adding to the arsenal of increasingly sophisticated medical imaging tools with a new signal-processing method for viewing muscle activation details never seen before. A novel method using ultrasound imaging, 3-D motion-capture technology and proprietary data-processing software can scan and capture 3-D maps of the muscle structure in just 90 seconds. Previous methods took 15 minutes -- far too long to ask people to hold a muscle contraction. ... > full story

Ultrafast magnetic processes observed 'live' using an X-ray laser (January 23, 2012) -- In first-of-their-kind experiments, scientists have been able to precisely follow how the magnetic structure of a material changes. The study was carried out on cupric oxide (CuO). The change of structure was initiated by a laser pulse, and then, with the help of short X-ray pulses, near-instantaneous images were obtained at different points in time for individual intermediate steps during the process. ... > full story

Revisiting the 'Pillars of Creation' (January 23, 2012) -- In 1995, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took an iconic image of the Eagle nebula, dubbed the "Pillars of Creation," highlighting its finger-like pillars where new stars are thought to be forming. Now, the Herschel Space Observatory has a new, expansive view of the region captured in longer-wavelength infrared light. ... > full story

Charges going astray: New transfer paths for electrons discovered (January 23, 2012) -- In the development of materials for energy production and distribution, knowledge of molecular processes in electrical charge transfer is fundamental. Scientists have once more discovered that nature provides interesting templates for long-range electron transfer. ... > full story

Easier testing for diabetics? Biochip measures glucose in saliva, not blood (January 23, 2012) -- Engineers have designed a biological device that can measure glucose concentrations in human saliva. The technique could eliminate the need for diabetics to draw blood to check their glucose levels. The biochip uses plasmonic interferometers and could be used to measure a range of biological and environmental substances. ... > full story

Bucky balls for next-generation spintronics devices (January 23, 2012) -- The beauty of an electron’s spin is that it responds very rapidly to small magnetic fields. Such external magnetic fields can be used to reverse the direction of spin. In this way, information can be carried by a flow of electrons. ... > full story

Graphene 'invisible' to water: How the extreme thinness of graphene enables near-perfect wetting transparency (January 23, 2012) -- Graphene is the thinnest material known to science. The nanomaterial is so thin, in fact, water often doesn’t even know it’s there. Engineering researchers coated pieces of gold, copper, and silicon with a single layer of graphene, and then placed a drop of water on the coated surfaces. Surprisingly, the layer of graphene proved to have virtually no impact on the manner in which water spreads on the surfaces. ... > full story

Vaccines to boost immunity where it counts, not just near shot site (January 23, 2012) -- Researchers have created synthetic nanoparticles that target lymph nodes and greatly boost vaccine responses. ... > full story

Nanmaterial detects and removes arsenic from drinking water (January 23, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a nanomaterial which enables simple detection and removal of arsenic from drinking water. ... > full story

Speed limit for birds: Researchers find critical speed above which birds -- and drones -- are sure to crash (January 23, 2012) -- The northern goshawk is one of nature's diehard thrill-seekers. The formidable raptor preys on birds and small mammals, speeding through tree canopies and underbrush to catch its quarry. While speed is a goshawk's greatest asset, researchers say the bird must observe a theoretical speed limit if it wants to avoid a crash. The researchers found that, given a certain density of obstacles, there exists a speed below which a bird -- and any other flying object -- has a fair chance of flying collision-free. Any faster, and a bird or aircraft is sure to smack into something, no matter how much information it has about its environment. ... > full story

Researchers' refinement increases solar concentrator efficiency (January 23, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered that changing the shape of a solar concentrator significantly increases its efficiency, bringing its use closer to reality. ... > full story

Flaky graphene makes reliable chemical sensors (January 23, 2012) -- Researchers have demonstrated that films made of randomly stacked graphene flakes can detect lower concentrations of some chemicals than films made of graphene crystals. ... > full story

Cooling semiconductors by laser light (January 23, 2012) -- Researchers have combined two fields -- quantum physics and nano physics -- and this has led to the discovery of a new method for laser cooling semiconductor membranes. Semiconductors are vital components in many electronics, and the efficient cooling of components is important for future quantum computers and ultrasensitive sensors. The new cooling method works quite paradoxically by heating the material. Using lasers, researchers cooled membrane fluctuations to minus 269 degrees C. ... > full story

A baby crystal is born (January 23, 2012) -- Scientists determine the smallest possible cubic lead sulfide cluster that exhibits the same coordination (a key structural property) as bigger bulk crystals. ... > full story

Metal oxide simulations could help green technology (January 23, 2012) -- Researchers have proposed a radical new way of thinking about the chemical reactions between water and metal oxides, the most common minerals on Earth. The new paradigm could lead to a better understanding of corrosion and how toxic minerals leach from rocks and soil. It could also help in the development of "green" technology: new types of batteries, or catalysts for splitting water to produce hydrogen fuel. ... > full story

3-D view of 1-D nanostructures (January 23, 2012) -- Semiconductor gallium nitride nanowires show great promise in the next generation of nano- and optoelectronic systems. Recently, researchers have found new piezoelectric properties of the nanowires that could make them more useful in self-powered nanodevices. ... > full story

Catching a comet death on camera (January 22, 2012) -- On July 6, 2011, a comet was caught doing something never seen before: die a scorching death as it flew too close to the sun. That the comet met its fate this way was no surprise -- but the chance to watch it first-hand amazed even the most seasoned comet watchers. ... > full story

T-rays technology could help develop Star Trek-style hand-held medical scanners (January 22, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new way to create Terahertz waves (T-rays) that may one day lead to biomedical detective devices similar to the 'tricorder' scanner used in Star Trek. ... > full story

Chemical in personal care products (phthalates) may contribute to child obesity (January 22, 2012) -- Researchers have found an association between exposure to the chemical group known as phthalates and obesity in young children – including increased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. ... > full story

In solar cells, tweaking the tiniest of parts yields big jump in efficiency (January 21, 2012) -- By tweaking the smallest of parts, engineers are hoping to dramatically increase the amount of sunlight that solar cells convert into electricity. ... > full story

Theory explains how new material could improve electronic shelf life (January 21, 2012) -- Engineers have discovered that the new material graphene conducts heat about 20 times faster than silicon, making it an option as a semiconductor material that could produce quieter and longer-lasting computers, cellphones and other devices. ... > full story

'Bubblegram' imaging: Novel approach to view inner workings of viruses (January 20, 2012) -- Since the discovery of the microscope, scientists have tried to visualize smaller and smaller structures to provide insights into the inner workings of human cells, bacteria and viruses. Now, researchers have developed a new way to see structures within viruses that were not clearly seen before. ... > full story

Scientists solve mystery of colorful armchair nanotubes (January 20, 2012) -- Researchers have figured out what gives armchair nanotubes their unique bright colors: hydrogen-like objects called excitons. ... > full story

Mysterious flotsam in Gulf of Mexico came from Deepwater Horizon rig (January 20, 2012) -- Using state-of-the-art chemical forensics and a bit of old-fashioned detective work, scientists confirmed that mysterious material found floating in the Gulf of Mexico came from the Deepwater Horizon rig. They further determined that tracking debris from damaged rigs can help forecast coastal impacts and guide response efforts in future spills. ... > full story

Hearty bacteria help make case for life in the extreme (January 20, 2012) -- The bottom of a glacier is not the most hospitable place on Earth, but at least two types of bacteria happily live there, according to researchers. ... > full story

Almost perfect: Researcher nears creation of superlens (January 20, 2012) -- A superlens would let you see a virus in a drop of blood and open the door to better and cheaper electronics. It might, says one researcher, make ultra-high-resolution microscopes as commonplace as cameras in our cell phones. ... > full story

Cheap beads offer alternative solar-heating storage (January 20, 2012) -- A cheap material that can store heat energy collected from the sun during the day that can be released slowly over night has been developed by researchers in the India. The material, based on paraffin wax and stearic acid, could help keep homes warm in sunny parts of the world that get very cold at night without burning wood or fossil fuels. ... > full story

Using Hollywood technology to unlock the secret of pianist's sounds (January 20, 2012) -- University of Southampton academics are pioneering a new way of using motion capture technology to examine the way pianists play the piano. By using a unique kinematic measurement technique, known as HAWK (Hand And Wrist Kinematics), researchers will be able to look at individual pianists' playing technique - giving an insight into the posture of their hands on the keys and the movements they use - hopefully showing how this translates into the unique sound they create. ... > full story

Magnetic actuation enables nanoscale thermal analysis (January 19, 2012) -- In recent years an atomic force microscope-based technique called nanoscale thermal analysis has been employed to reveal the temperature-dependent properties of materials at the sub-100 nm scale. Typically, nanothermal analysis works best for soft polymers. Researchers have now shown that they can perform nanoscale thermal analysis on stiff materials like epoxies and filled composites. ... > full story

Nanoparticles refined for more accurate delivery of cancer drugs (January 19, 2012) -- A new class of nanoparticles, synthesized to prevent premature drug release, holds promise for greater accuracy and effectiveness in delivering cancer drugs to tumors. ... > full story

Slippery when stacked: Theorists quantify the friction of graphene (January 19, 2012) -- Similar to the way pavement, softened by a hot sun, will slow down a car, graphene slows down an object sliding across its surface. But stack the sheets and graphene gets more slippery, say theorists who developed new software to quantify the material's friction. ... > full story

How protein in teardrops annihilates harmful bacteria: Novel technology reveals lysozymes have jaws (January 19, 2012) -- A disease-fighting protein in our teardrops has been tethered to a tiny transistor, enabling scientists to discover exactly how it destroys dangerous bacteria. The research could prove critical to long-term work aimed at diagnosing cancers and other illnesses in their very early stages. ... > full story

Helix Nebula in new colors (January 19, 2012) -- Astronomers have captured a striking new image of the Helix Nebula. A new picture, taken in infrared light, reveals strands of cold nebular gas that are invisible in images taken in visible light, as well as bringing to light a rich background of stars and galaxies. The Helix Nebula is one of the closest and most remarkable examples of a planetary nebula. ... > full story

Snakes improve search-and-rescue robots: New design uses less energy (January 19, 2012) -- Researchers have studied the movements of snakes to create more efficient search-and-rescue robots. ... > full story

Breast cancer cells targeted, then burned, by gold-filled silicon wafers (January 19, 2012) -- By shining infrared light on specially designed, gold-filled silicon wafers, scientists have successfully targeted and burned breast cancer cells. If the technology is shown to work in human clinical trials, it could provide patients a non-invasive alternative to surgical ablation, and could be used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, to make those treatments more effective. ... > full story

Transparency limits on transparent conducting oxides identified (January 19, 2012) -- Computational materials researchers have used cutting-edge calculations to determine fundamental optical transparency limits in conducting oxide material tin oxide. ... > full story

Most distant dwarf galaxy detected (January 19, 2012) -- Scientists have long struggled to detect the dim dwarf galaxies that orbit our own galaxy. So it came as a surprise on Jan. 18 when a team of astronomers using Keck II telescope's adaptive optics has announced the discovery of a dwarf galaxy halfway across the universe. ... > full story

Optical nanoantennas enable efficient multipurpose particle manipulation (January 19, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that by tuning the properties of laser light illuminating arrays of metal nanoantennas, these nano-scale structures allow for dexterous optical tweezing as well as size-sorting of particles. ... > full story

People behave socially and 'well' even without rules, online avatar study shows (January 19, 2012) -- Millions of online human interactions were assessed during a new study which included actions such as communication, founding and ending friendships, trading goods, sleeping, moving, however also starting hostilities, attacks and punishment. The game does not suggest any rules and everyone can live with their avatar (i.e. with their “game character” in the virtual world) as they choose. ... > full story

Computer simulations revealing how methane and hydrogen pack into gas hydrates could enlighten alternative fuel production and carbon dioxide storage (January 19, 2012) -- For some time, researchers have explored flammable ice for low-carbon or alternative fuel or as a place to store carbon dioxide. Now, a computer analysis of the ice and gas compound, known as a gas hydrate, reveals key details of its structure. The results show that hydrates can hold hydrogen at an optimal capacity of 5 weight-percent, a value that meets the goal of a U.S. Department of Energy standard and makes gas hydrates practical and affordable. ... > full story

Hydrogen advances graphene use (January 19, 2012) -- A dose of hydrogen or helium can render the "super material" graphene even more useful, as shown by physicists. ... > full story

New device creates lipid spheres that mimic cell membranes (January 18, 2012) -- A new way of manipulating fluids on microscopic levels brings us one step closer to "bottom-up" artificial cell constructs. ... > full story

'Quantum critical' theory gets experimental boost (January 18, 2012) -- New evidence supports a theory developed five years ago to explain the electrical properties of unconventional superconductors and other classes of materials that have long vexed scientists. Physicists say the new findings represent an important step toward the ultimate goal of creating a unified theoretical description of quantum effects in electronic materials at the border of magnetism and superconductivity. ... > full story

Faster-than-fast Fourier transform (January 18, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a new algorithm that, in a large range of practically important cases, improves on the fast Fourier transform. Under some circumstances, the improvement can be dramatic -- a tenfold increase in speed. The new algorithm could be particularly useful for image compression, enabling, say, smartphones to wirelessly transmit large video files without draining their batteries or consuming their monthly bandwidth allotments. ... > full story

Quantum uncertainty: Are you certain, Mr. Heisenberg? (January 18, 2012) -- Heisenberg's Uncertainty principle is arguably one of the most famous foundations of quantum physics. It says that not all properties of a quantum particle can be measured with unlimited accuracy. Until now, this has often been justified by the notion that every measurement necessarily has to disturb the quantum particle, which distorts the results of any further measurements. This, however, turns out to be an oversimplification, researchers now say. ... > full story