The EDGE: ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Monday, March 5, 2012

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Monday, March 5, 2012

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Study shows brain flexibility, gives hope for natural-feeling neuroprosthetics (March 4, 2012) -- A new study that shows more flexibility in the brain than previously thought could be a major boost to the development of mind-controlled neuroprosthetic devices that feel natural. ... > full story

Oxygen detected in atmosphere of Saturn's moon Dione: Discovery could mean ingredients for life are abundant on icy space bodies (March 2, 2012) -- An international research team has discovered molecular oxygen ions (O2+) in the upper-most atmosphere of Dione, one of the 62 known moons orbiting the ringed planet. The research was made possible via instruments aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft. ... > full story

Exploding stars: Important clue uncovered for origins of Type Ia supernovae (March 2, 2012) -- The origin of an important type of exploding stars -- Type Ia supernovae -- have now been discovered. Studying supernovae of this type helps researchers measure galaxy distances and can lead to important astronomical discoveries. ... > full story

Squeezing silicone polymers produces chemical energy, but raises doubts about implant safety (March 2, 2012) -- Scientists turned to squeezed polymers and free radicals in a search for new energy sources. They found both promise and problems. The researchers demonstrated that radicals from compressed polymers generate significant amounts of energy that can power chemical reactions in water. They also discovered that a silicone polymer commonly used in medical implants releases a large quantity of harmful free radicals when the polymer is under only a moderate amount of pressure. ... > full story

Atomic view of a histone chaperone (March 2, 2012) -- Researchers have gained insights into the function of a member of a family of specialized proteins called histone chaperones. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, they have determined the 3-D structure and interactions of the histone chaperone Rtt106 down to the atomic details. ... > full story

New computers respond to students' emotions, boredom (March 2, 2012) -- Emotion-sensing computer software that models and responds to students' cognitive and emotional states -- including frustration and boredom -- has now been developed. ... > full story

World's best measurement of W boson mass points to Higgs mass and tests Standard Model (March 2, 2012) -- The latest measurement of the mass of the W boson from the Tevatron experiments. The new combined result is twice as precise as the previous world average, and places limits on the mass of the Higgs consistent with the limits from direct searches at the LHC and Tevatron. ... > full story

Solved: Mystery of the nanoscale crop circles (March 2, 2012) -- A useful alloy of gold and silicon, called a eutectic, melts at a far lower temperature than either of its components. Until now, however, its odd behavior on the nanoscale has confounded researchers. By analyzing peculiar "nanoscale crop circles" formed from ultra-thin layers of gold on silicon, scientists have discovered the eutectic alloy's unique properties, including its special promise for engineering and processing nanoscale materials. ... > full story

Dark matter core, left behind from wreck between massive clusters of galaxies, defies explanation (March 2, 2012) -- Astronomers using data from NASA's Hubble Telescope have observed what appears to be a clump of dark matter left behind from a wreck between massive clusters of galaxies. The result could challenge current theories about dark matter that predict galaxies should be anchored to the invisible substance even during the shock of a collision. ... > full story

New high definition fiber tracking reveals damage caused by traumatic brain injury (March 2, 2012) -- A powerful new imaging technique called High Definition Fiber Tracking will allow doctors to clearly see for the first time neural connections broken by traumatic brain injury and other disorders, much like X-rays show a fractured bone, according to researchers. HDFT could provide an objective way of identifying brain injury, predicting outcome and planning rehabilitation. ... > full story

Fukushima one year on: poor planning hampered Fukushima response (March 2, 2012) -- One year after an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on March 11, 2011, an independent investigation panel has highlighted the country’s failures in disaster planning and crisis management for the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The article shows that agencies were thoroughly unprepared for the cascading nuclear disaster, following a tsunami that should have been anticipated. ... > full story

Pasta-shaped radio waves beamed across Venice (March 2, 2012) -- A group of Italian and Swedish researchers appears to have solved the problem of radio congestion by cleverly twisting radio waves into the shape of fusilli pasta, allowing a potentially infinite number of channels to be broadcast and received. ... > full story

Generating power from salty water: Unique salt allows energy production to move inland (March 1, 2012) -- Production of energy from the difference between salt water and fresh water is most convenient near the oceans, but now, using an ammonium bicarbonate salt solution, researchers can combine bacterial degradation of waste water with energy extracted from the salt-water fresh-water gradient to produce power anywhere. ... > full story

First computer model of how buds grow into leaves (March 1, 2012) -- Leaves come in all shapes and sizes. Scientists have discovered the simple rules that control leaf shape during growth. Using this "recipe," they have developed the first computer model able to accurately emulate leaf growth from a bud. ... > full story

Pioneering research reveals versatile bacterium's secrets (March 1, 2012) -- Ground-breaking research will help to make one of the most versatile of bacteria even more useful to society and the environment. Though it lives naturally in the soil, the bacterium Bacillus subtilis is widely used as a model laboratory organism. It is also used as a 'cell factory' to produce vitamins for the food industry and, in biotechnology, to produce enzymes such as those used in washing powders. ... > full story

In space and on Earth, why build it, when a robot can build it for you? (March 1, 2012) -- Like something straight out of “Star Wars,” armies of robots could nimbly be crawling up towers and skyscrapers to make repairs in the not-so-distant future, so humans don’t have to. ... > full story

Carbon dioxide catchers: New tools for identifying effective carbon capture technologies (March 1, 2012) -- Using techniques from drug discovery, and state-of-the-art advances in mathematics, computational algorithms and supercomputing, researchers have developed a tool for identifying the most efficient porous materials for CO2. ... > full story

Analyses of a tiny comet grain dates Jupiter's formation (March 1, 2012) -- Particles from comet 81P/Wild 2 brought to Earth in 2006 by NASA's Stardust spacecraft indicate that Jupiter formed more than three million years after the formation of the first solids in our Solar System. ... > full story

Graphene-based optical modulators poised to break speed limits in digital communications (March 1, 2012) -- In yet another astounding application of the "wonder material" graphene, scientists have discovered that it makes an excellent active media for optical modulators. Graphene-based modulators are expected to significantly enhance ultra-fast optical communication and computing. ... > full story

Alternative fuels expert plans coast-to-coast U.S. trip on 10 gallons of gas or less (March 1, 2012) -- An alternative fuels expert firmly believes he can go coast-to-coast on l0 gallons of gasoline or less. His attempts will be March 3-8, 2012, and in 2013. ... > full story

Bacteria tend leafcutter ants' gardens (March 1, 2012) -- New research points to two important roles for bacteria that live in the underground fungal gardens of leafcutter ants: they help decompose leaves that ants bring to the gardens and play a major role in turning those leaves into nutrients for both ants and the fungi. The findings could help researchers studying fungal enzymes to convert plants into biofuel. ... > full story

Finding a potent new energy source by listening for Earth's gas bubbles? (February 29, 2012) -- What if we could cheaply and efficiently detect a potent new energy source, while also monitoring for environmental safety? Physicists are using the symphony of sound produced in the ocean to do just that. ... > full story

Astronomers rediscover life on Earth -- by looking at the moon (February 29, 2012) -- By observing the Moon using ESO's Very Large Telescope, astronomers have found evidence of life in the universe -- on Earth. Finding life on our home planet may sound like a trivial observation, but the novel approach may lead to future discoveries of life elsewhere in the universe. ... > full story

Nanofiber breakthrough holds promise for medicine and microprocessors (February 29, 2012) -- A new method for creating nanofibers made of proteins promises to greatly improve drug delivery methods, aid in regenerating human tissue, and pave the way to an organic method of building nanofibers for tiny, powerful microprocessors. Researchers have discovered how to make nanofibers using the COMP protein found in human cartilage. By adding different metal ions, researchers found the fibers would absorb or release drug molecules. ... > full story

Exotic material boosts electromagnetism safely (February 29, 2012) -- Using exotic man-made materials, scientists believe they can greatly enhance the forces of electromagnetism, one of the four fundamental forces of nature, without harming living beings or damaging electrical equipment. ... > full story

Foot bones allow researchers to determine sex of skeletal remains (February 29, 2012) -- Law enforcement officials who are tasked with identifying a body based on partial skeletal remains have a new tool at their disposal. A new paper from North Carolina State University researchers details how to determine the biological sex of skeletal remains based solely on measurements of the seven tarsal bones in the feet. ... > full story

Schizophrenia patients' ability to monitor reality may be helped by computerized training (February 29, 2012) -- People with schizophrenia who completed 80 hours of intensive, computerized cognitive training exercises were better able to perform complex tasks that required them to distinguish their internal thoughts from reality. ... > full story

New model provides different take on planetary accretion: Collapse may take place in 3-D cold dust cloud (February 29, 2012) -- The prevailing model for planetary accretion assumes that the solar system's planets formed in an extremely hot, two-dimensional disk of gas and dust, post-dating the sun. Scientists now propose a radically different model, in which collapse takes place in a cold, three-dimensional dust cloud. ... > full story

New 'magnetic yeast' marks step toward harnessing Nature's magnetic capabilities (February 28, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a method for inducing magnetic sensitivity in an organism that is not naturally magnetic -- yeast. Their technology could potentially be used to magnetize a variety of different cell types in medical, industrial and research applications. ... > full story

Searching for the first stars (February 28, 2012) -- How did the first stars and galaxies bring the young universe out of its dark ages and into the light? Three prominent researchers discuss how new instruments and observational techniques may find the answer. ... > full story

Toppling Raman shift in supercritical carbon dioxide: Vibrational mix shines new light on carbon sequestration measurements (February 28, 2012) -- Just as a wine glass vibrates and sometimes breaks when a diva sings the right note, carbon dioxide vibrates when light or heat serenades it. When it does, carbon dioxide exhibits a vibrational puzzle known as Fermi resonance. Now, researchers studying geologic carbon storage have learned a bit more about the nature of carbon dioxide. ... > full story

Mysterious electron acceleration explained: Computer simulation identifies source of aurora-causing high-speed electrons in space (February 28, 2012) -- A mysterious phenomenon detected by space probes has finally been explained, thanks to a massive computer simulation that was able to precisely align with details of spacecraft observations. The simulation shows that an active region in Earth's magnetotail, where "reconnection" events take place in the magnetic field, is roughly 1,000 times larger than had been thought. ... > full story

Mutated plants may be better for biofuels (February 28, 2012) -- A new study says genetic mutations in plants could make it easier to break down plant cellulose to the sugars that are fermented into biofuels. ... > full story

Developing sustainable power (February 28, 2012) -- Scientists suggest that renewable energy is a viable option for electrical power in developing and emerging nations. Researchers point out that in most of these nations, the demand for energy far exceeds the generating capacity. ... > full story

Enhanced brain-computer interface promises unparalleled autonomy for disabled (February 28, 2012) -- In the 2009 film Surrogates, humans live vicariously through robots while safely remaining in their own homes. That sci-fi future is still a long way off, but recent advances in technology are bringing this technology a step closer to reality in order to give disabled people more autonomy and independence than ever before. ... > full story

Direct measurement of the formation length of photons (February 28, 2012) -- How long does it take an electron to form a photon? The answer would normally be: so short a time that it cannot be measured. However, the scientists responsible for experiment NA63 have now succeeded in dragging out the process, thereby making it measurable. ... > full story

New measuring techniques can improve efficiency, safety of nanoparticles (February 28, 2012) -- Using high-precision microscopy and X-ray scattering techniques, researchers have gained eye-opening insights into the process of applying green chemistry to nanotechnology that results in high yields, improves efficiency and dramatically reduces waste and potential negative exposure to human health or the environment. ... > full story

World's smallest radio stations: Two molecules communicate via single photons (February 28, 2012) -- We know since the dawn of modern physics that although events in our everyday life can be described by classical physics, the interaction of light and matter is down deep governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. Despite this century-old wisdom, accessing truly quantum mechanical situations remains nontrivial, fascinating and noteworthy even in the laboratory. Recently, interest in this area has been boosted beyond academic curiosity because of the potential for more efficient and novel forms of information processing. ... > full story

Optogenetic tool elucidated: Opening of the ion channel with light (February 28, 2012) -- Controlling nerve cells with the aid of light: this is made possible by optogenetics. It enables, for example, the investigation of neurobiological processes with unprecedented spatial and temporal precision. Biophysicists have now succeeded in explaining the switching mechanism. ... > full story

Future smart phones will project images on the wall (February 28, 2012) -- New laser light source has a global market in consumer electronics. Mobile phones currently on the market are capable of showing high quality images and video, but the phones' small size sets insurmountable limits on screen size, and thus the viewing experience. Scientists are now developing a better laser light source for projectors that will be integrated into mobile phones, which will enable accurate and efficient projection of, for example, photographs and movies on any surface. ... > full story

Salty soil can suck water out of atmosphere: Could it happen on Mars? (February 27, 2012) -- The frigid McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are a cold, polar desert, yet the sandy soils there are frequently dotted with moist patches in the spring despite a lack of snowmelt and no possibility of rain. A new study has found that that the salty soils in the region actually suck moisture out of the atmosphere, raising the possibility that such a process could take place on Mars or on other planets. ... > full story

Ultra-fast outflows help monster black holes shape their galaxies (February 27, 2012) -- A curious correlation between the mass of a galaxy's central black hole and the velocity of stars in a vast, roughly spherical structure known as its bulge has puzzled astronomers for years. Astronomers have now identified a new type of black-hole-driven outflow that appears to be both powerful enough and common enough to explain this link. ... > full story

Solving a spintronic mystery: Researchers resolve controversy over gallium manganese arsenide that could boost spintronic performance (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists appear to have resolved a long-standing controversy regarding the semiconductor gallium manganese arsenide, one of the most promising materials for spintronic technology. They've determined the source of the ferromagnetic properties that make gallium manganese arsenide such a hot commodity for the smaller, faster and much cheaper data storage and processing of spintronic devices. ... > full story

Video games depict religion as violent, problematized, study shows (February 27, 2012) -- Many newer-generation video games equate religion with violence in the game narratives, new research shows. ... > full story

Record-speed wireless data bridge demonstrated: Takes high-speed communications the 'last mile' (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists have created a new way to overcome many of the issues associated with bringing high-speed digital communications across challenging terrain and into remote areas, commonly referred to as the "last mile" problem. The researchers developed a record-speed wireless data bridge that transmits digital information much faster than today's state-of-the-art systems. ... > full story

Dwarf galaxy questions current galaxy formation models (February 27, 2012) -- Researcher observed the dwarf galaxy I Zw 18, and found that much of what is known about galaxy formation and evolution might need substantial revision. ... > full story

Reduction in U.S. carbon emissions attributed to cheaper natural gas (February 27, 2012) -- Lower emission from power plants in 2009 was driven by competitive pricing of natural gas versus coal, researchers say. ... > full story

60-year-old definition of surface tension on solids revised (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that surface tension on a solid material is unconnected to the energy required to create a new surface. Consequently, surface tension on a solid does not exist in its conventional meaning. ... > full story

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