The EDGE: ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Thursday, September 29, 2011

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Thursday, September 29, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

'Molecular wipe': Potential treatment for 'pink eye' epidemic (September 29, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting discovery of a potential new drug for epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) -- sometimes called "pink eye" -- a highly infectious eye disease that may occur in 15 million to 20 million people annually in the United States alone. Their report describes an innovative new "molecular wipe" that sweeps up viruses responsible for EKC. ... > full story

Testing cookstoves for Haiti (September 29, 2011) -- Scientists have teamed up with students to run a series of efficiency tests comparing the traditional Haiti cookstove with a variety of low-cost, commercially available alternatives. The long-term goal is to find the safest and most fuel-efficient stove -- or to design a new one that would win favor with the cooks of Haiti. ... > full story

Matter shows abrupt escape from flatness: Lead made to undergo a rapid transition from 'pancake' to hemisphere (September 28, 2011) -- At first glance, it seems as if billions of lead atoms have mysteriously disappeared. When exposed to heat, a layer of lead coated onto a nickel surface becomes almost invisible from one moment to the next. In reality, the slightest disturbance causes these atoms to suddenly switch from a broad “flat pancake” shape to a compact hemisphere. Interestingly, this all takes place at a temperature below the melting point of lead. The hemispheres, too, consist of solid lead. So no mass has been lost, the material has simply taken on a different spatial configuration. ... > full story

Copper film could lower touch screen, LED and solar cell costs (September 28, 2011) -- Copper nanowires may be coming to a little screen near you. These new nanostructures have the potential to drive down the costs of displaying information on cell phones, e-readers and iPads, and they could also help engineers build foldable electronics and improved solar cells, according to new research. ... > full story

Light from galaxy clusters confirms general theory of relativity (September 28, 2011) -- All observations in astronomy are based on light (electromagnetic radiation) emitted from stars and galaxies and, according to the general theory of relativity, the light will be affected by gravity. At the same time all interpretations in astronomy are based on the correctness of the theory of relatively, but it has been difficult to accurately test Einstein's theory of gravity on scales larger than the solar system. Now astrophysicists in Denmark have managed to measure how the light is affected by gravity on its way out of galaxy clusters. The observations confirm the theoretical predictions. ... > full story

Method for creating tiny diamond machines improved (September 28, 2011) -- Diamonds may be best known as a symbol of long-lasting love, but semiconductor makers are also hoping they'll pan out as key components of long-lasting micromachines if a new method for carving these tough, capable crystals proves its worth. ... > full story

Feast your eyes on the Fried Egg Nebula (September 28, 2011) -- Astronomers have used ESO's Very Large Telescope to image a colossal star that belongs to one of the rarest classes of stars in the Universe, the yellow hypergiants. The new picture is the best ever taken of a star in this class and shows for the first time a huge dusty double shell surrounding the central hypergiant. The star and its shells resemble an egg white around a yolky center, leading the astronomers to nickname the object the Fried Egg Nebula. ... > full story

Scanner spies document secrets (September 28, 2011) -- A scanner which combines the convenience of a desktop scanner with the functionality of a powerful laboratory imaging device has been developed and is now being commercialized. ... > full story

Like fish on waves, electrons go surfing (September 28, 2011) -- Physicists have succeeded in taking a decisive step towards the development of more powerful computers. They were able to define two little quantum dots (QDs), occupied with electrons, in a semiconductor and to select a single electron from one of them using a sound wave, and then to transport it to the neighboring QD. ... > full story

Quantum teleportation analysed by mathematical separation tool (September 28, 2011) -- Scientists recently gave a theoretical description of teleportation phenomena in sub-atomic scale physical systems. ... > full story

New technique maps twin faces of smallest Janus nanoparticles (September 28, 2011) -- Chemists have developed the first method that can rapidly and accurately map the surfaces of Janus nanoparticles, tiny particles that possess two chemically distinct faces. The findings have broad potential applications ranging from drug delivery to video displays. ... > full story

Device 'sees' beneath the skin to spot circulation problems (September 28, 2011) -- A ground-breaking device which “sees” beneath the skin to spot circulation problems has passed an important milestone on its journey to commercialization. ... > full story

Two-dimensional learning: Viewing computer images causes long-term changes in nerve cell connections (September 28, 2011) -- Viewing two-dimensional images of the environment, as they occur in computer games, leads to sustained changes in the strength of nerve cell connections in the brain. When the researchers presented rats with new spatial environments on a computer screen, they observed long-lasting changes in the communication between nerve cells in a brain structure which is important for long-term memory (hippocampus). Thus, the researchers showed for the first time that active exploration of the environment is not necessary to obtain this effect. ... > full story

New advanced biofuel identified as an alternative to diesel fuel (September 28, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a terpene called bisabolane as a potential biofuel for replacing diesel fuel. The researchers have also engineered two strains of microbes -- a bacteria and a yeast -- that can be used in the biosynthetic production of this clean, green, renewable and domestic alternative to diesel fuel. ... > full story

Successful rainwater harvesting systems should combine new technology with old social habits (September 28, 2011) -- A combination of modern engineering and ancient social principles makes large-scale rainwater harvesting feasible in a time of drought, and could reduce deadly flash flooding common to parts of Texas, a new article argues. ... > full story

Chemists make first molecular binding measurement of radon (September 28, 2011) -- Even in trace quantities, the radioactive gas radon is very dangerous; it is second only to cigarette smoking as a cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States. The expense and precautions necessary to study it safely have limited research into its properties. Now, chemists have for the first time measured how well radon binds to a molecule, paving the way for future research on it and other noble gasses. ... > full story

Research and innovation: New modelling results link natural resources and armed conflicts (September 28, 2011) -- The EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed a statistical modelling tool which allows the risk of conflict occurrence in developing countries to be analyzed. Combining online news reports with geographical satellite data, the tool establishes a link between natural resources and the risk of conflict. A key advance is the very detailed scale of the data (most being gathered to the square kilometer) and the fact that the modelling is based on the seriousness of the conflicts. When tested, the model successfully identified the correlation between resource-rich areas of land and occurrence of conflict. This approach has potential use in the European Commission's development aid planning and crisis prevention. ... > full story

CERN sets course for extra-low-energy antiprotons (September 28, 2011) -- The kick-off meeting for ELENA, the Extra Low Energy Antiproton Ring, has begun at CERN . Approved by CERN Council in June this year, ELENA is scheduled to deliver its first antiprotons in 2016. ... > full story

Venus weather not boring after all, scientists discover (September 27, 2011) -- At first glance, a weather forecaster for Venus would have either a really easy or a really boring job, depending on your point of view. The climate on Venus is widely known to be unpleasant -- at the surface, the planet roasts at more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit under a suffocating blanket of sulfuric acid clouds and a crushing atmosphere more than 90 times the pressure of Earth's. However, higher up, the weather gets more interesting, according to a new study of old data by NASA and international scientists. ... > full story

Researchers use carbon nanotubes to make solar cells affordable, flexible (September 27, 2011) -- Researchers have found that metallic carbon nanotubes are 50 times more effective than semiconducting ones when used as transparent conductors in organic solar cells. ... > full story

New nanostructure-based process will streamline production of magnetic materials (September 27, 2011) -- Scientists report for the first time designing a simpler method of preparing ordered magnetic materials than ever by coupling magnetic properties to nanostructure formation at low temperatures. The process allows them to create room-temperature ferromagnetic materials that are stable for long periods more effectively and with fewer steps than more complicated existing methods. ... > full story

Sneaking up on the glassy transition of water (September 27, 2011) -- Researchers claim to have settled a long-standing debate over the exact temperature at which water transforms into an exotic glass-like substance believed to be present in comets and other icy objects in the outer solar system, as well as in the coldest regions of the Earth's atmosphere. ... > full story

New 'FeTRAM' is promising computer memory technology (September 27, 2011) -- Researchers are developing a new type of computer memory that could be faster than the existing commercial memory and use far less power than flash memory devices. The technology combines silicon nanowires with a "ferroelectric" polymer. ... > full story

Tracing an elusive killer parasite in Peru (September 27, 2011) -- Despite what Hollywood would have you believe, not all epidemics involve people suffering from zombie-like symptoms -- some can only be uncovered through door-to-door epidemiology and advanced mathematics. Researchers are now in the trenches combining tried-and-true epidemiological approaches with new statistical methods to learn more about the course of a dangerous, contagious disease epidemic. ... > full story

Compression experiments lead to shocking results (September 27, 2011) -- Using acceleration one trillion times faster than a jet fighter in a maximum turn, researchers have gained new insight into dynamic compression of aluminum at ultra-high strain rates. ... > full story

Frankenstein’s moon: Astronomers vindicate account of masterwork (September 27, 2011) -- Victor Frankenstein's infamous monster led a brief, tragic existence, blazing a trail of death and destruction that prompted mobs of angry villagers to take up torches and pitchforks against him on the silver screen. Now, a team of astronomers has applied its unique brand of celestial sleuthing to a long-simmering controversy surrounding the events that inspired author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley to write her legendary novel Frankenstein. Their results shed new light on the question of whether or not Shelley's account of the episode is merely a romantic fiction. ... > full story

Giant star expels multiple dust shells, astronomers find (September 27, 2011) -- An international team of astronomers has discovered not less than a dozen cold dust arcs around the giant star CW Leo. The team used the sensitive PACS instrument on board the Herschel Space Observatory to detect for the first time arcs of dust far away from the star. CW Leo has expelled these shells of dust in different epochs in its life. The faintest shell we can see now was, according to the team, expelled about 16,000 years ago. In the mean time it has drifted away from the star over more than 7,000 billion kilometers. ... > full story

Handling nanoscale particles: 'Next-generation' optical tweezers trap tightly without overheating (September 27, 2011) -- Engineers have created a device that may make it easier to isolate and study tiny particles such as viruses. Their plasmonic nanotweezers use light from a laser to trap nanoscale particles. The new device creates strong forces more efficiently than traditional optical tweezers and eliminates a problem that caused earlier setups to overheat. ... > full story

Catalyst discovery potential has to revolutionize chemical industry (September 27, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a remarkably active catalyst that has the potential to revolutionize the chemical industry. ... > full story

Shape memory materials ready for mass production (September 27, 2011) -- Materials that can remember their shape and switch from one form to another may sound like science fiction, they are actually real and already in use all around us. But the alloy used to produce shape memory materials, based on nickel and titanium is expensive. Some researchers have started looking for cheaper options. ... > full story

New method cleans up textile industry’s most dangerous chemicals (September 27, 2011) -- Textile dying is one of the most environmentally hazardous aspects of the textile industry. During dying, harmful chemicals that are difficult to break down are released, all too often into rivers and agricultural land. However, a researcher in Sweden has developed a new, environmentally friendly purification process which leaves only clean water. ... > full story

Reducing costs of metal casting with plasma technology (September 27, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain are undertaking the innovation of casting processes with its "plasma torch." This new system enables great precision when heating the metal, thus reducing operational costs, enhancing metallurgical quality and saving energy. ... > full story

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory launches TacSat-4 to augment communications needs (September 27, 2011) -- A less expensive, small-sat class system satellite with newer and more flexible technologies, TacSat-4's highly elliptical orbit augments existing geosynchronous satellites by providing near continuous communications to forward deployed forces in the high latitudes. ... > full story

European experts follow satellite reentry (September 27, 2011) -- The European Space Agency closely monitored the Sept. 24, 2011 reentry of the UARS observation satellite. The Agency’s Space Debris Office worked with NASA and international partners in a coordinated prediction and risk-assessment exercise. ... > full story

Bimetallic nanoantenna separates colors of light (September 26, 2011) -- Researchers have built a very simple nanoantenna that directs red and blue colors in opposite directions, even though the antenna is smaller than the wavelength of light. The findings can lead to optical nanosensors being able to detect very low concentrations of gases or biomolecules. ... > full story

Researchers develop optimal algorithm for determining focus error in eyes and cameras (September 26, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered how to extract and use information in an individual image to determine how far objects are from the focus distance, a feat only accomplished by human and animal visual systems until now. ... > full story

How graphene's electrical properties can be tuned (September 26, 2011) -- Graphene is ideally suited for creating components for semiconductor circuits and computers. Now, an accidental discovery in a physicist's laboratory, provides a unique route for tuning the electrical properties of graphene. The researchers found that stacking up three layers of graphene, like pancakes, significantly modifies the material's electrical properties. This simple and convenient "tuning knob" holds great promise for replacing silicon with graphene in the microchip industry. ... > full story

Public image of chemistry: Breaking chemistry's bad rap (September 26, 2011) -- A new show "Breaking Bad" makes chemistry entertaining but is not improving chemistry's tarnished public image, according to a new article. ... > full story

Cheap and efficient solar cell made possible by linked nanoparticles (September 26, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated that electrons can move freely in layers of linked semiconductor nanoparticles under the influence of light. This new knowledge will be very useful for the development of cheap and efficient quantum dot solar cells. ... > full story

Better lithium-ion batteries are on the way (September 26, 2011) -- Lithium-ion batteries power everything from smart phones to electric cars, but especially when it comes to lowering the cost and extending the range of all-electric vehicles, they need to store a lot more energy. The critical component for energy storage is the anode, and scientists have developed a new anode material that can absorb eight times the lithium and has far greater energy capacity than today's designs. ... > full story

Structure of a molecular copy machine: How mitochondrial genes are transcribed (September 26, 2011) -- Mitochondria are compartments within cells and have their own DNA. The key protein required for the expression of the genetic information in this DNA is the mitochondrial RNA polymerase enzyme. Its three-dimensional structure has now been determined in atomic detail. ... > full story

E-textiles get fashion upgrade with memory-storing fiber (September 26, 2011) -- In the future when you upgrade your computer, you may also be upgrading your wardrobe as researchers create novel new textiles that pull double-duty as fabrics and electronics. ... > full story

Gold nanowires in engineered patches enhance electrical signaling and contraction (September 26, 2011) -- A team of physicians, engineers and materials scientists have used nanotechnology and tiny gold wires to engineer cardiac patches, with cells all beating in time, that could someday help heart attack patients. ... > full story

Hints of universal behavior seen in exotic three-atom states (September 26, 2011) -- A novel type of inter-particle binding predicted in 1970 and observed for the first time in 2006, is forming the basis for an intriguing kind of ultracold quantum chemistry. A new experiment observing the four 3-atom cesium states reports that the states' sizes are roughly the same. This has taken theorists by complete surprise. ... > full story

Hog waste producing electricity and carbon offsets (September 26, 2011) -- A pilot waste-to-energy system constructed by Duke University and Duke Energy this week garnered the endorsement of Google Inc., which invests in high-quality carbon offsets from across the nation to fulfill its own carbon neutrality goals. The system, on a hog finishing facility 25 miles west of Winston-Salem, converts hog waste into electricity and creates carbon offset credits. ... > full story

Rotating magnetic moments: Spin pumping effect demonstrated for first time (September 26, 2011) -- Physicists have demonstrated the spin pumping effect in magnetic layers for the first time experimentally. The behavior of the spin pumping had previously only been predicted theoretically. Scientists have now succeeded in measuring the effect using ultrafast X-ray scattering with picosecond resolution. Through their rotation of the magnetic moments, the so-called magnetic precession, single electrons can mutually influence each other's rotation (spin) through a non-magnetic intermediate layer. ... > full story

Ceramics researchers shed light on metal embrittlement (September 26, 2011) -- Liquid metal embrittlement, or LME, has baffled metallurgists for a century. Now, ceramics researchers have obtained atomic-scale images of unprecedented resolution of the grain boundaries, or internal interfaces, where LME occurs. ... > full story

Strong solar storm reaching Earth (September 26, 2011) -- NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center -- the nation's official source of warnings and alerts about space weather and its impacts on Earth -- issued a warning for a strong, G3 geomagnetic storm on Earth resulting from a significant explosion from the sun's corona Saturday morning (Sept. 24, 2011). G-scale solar storms range from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). ... > full story