The EDGE: ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Friday, September 30, 2011

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Friday, September 30, 2011

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Researchers produce cheap sugars for sustainable biofuel production (September 30, 2011) -- Researchers have developed technologies to efficiently produce, recover and separate sugars from the fast pyrolysis of biomass. That's a big deal because those sugars can be further processed into biofuels. ... > full story

Financial crisis: Calculating the probability of extreme events (September 30, 2011) -- It had to happen: the property bubble burst and the global financial market experienced its biggest crisis in the last hundred years. In retrospect, many suspected it was coming, but nobody could have known for sure. The traditional investment strategy failed, as all forms of investment suddenly collapsed at the same time. In order to calculate the probability of several such extreme events occurring at the same time, scientists have developed a new method. ... > full story

Cancer detection from an implantable, flexible LED (September 30, 2011) -- Researchers in South Korea have developed a new concept in cancer detection: a biocompatible, flexible gallium nitride (GaN) LED that can detect prostate cancer. ... > full story

Computational modeling can help plan vaccine introduction, study finds (September 30, 2011) -- Proper planning before the introduction of new vaccines into a developing country's active immunization program could prevent storage problems and transportation bottlenecks that decrease the availability of existing vaccines by as much as two-thirds, according to a new study. Computational models can forecast the impact of new vaccine introduction and identify potential disruptions, concluded the study. ... > full story

Smartphones revolutionize psychological experiments (September 30, 2011) -- Researchers have tapped into smartphone technology to carry out psychological experiments, allowing them access to millions of participants at the touch of a button. ... > full story

3-D microscope opens eyes to prehistoric oceans and present-day resources (September 29, 2011) -- A research team has turned their newly developed 3-D microscope technology on ancient sea creatures and hopes to expand its use. ... > full story

NASA space telescope finds fewer asteroids near Earth (September 29, 2011) -- New observations by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, show there are significantly fewer near-Earth asteroids in the mid-size range than previously thought. The findings also indicate NASA has found more than 90 percent of the largest near-Earth asteroids, meeting a goal agreed to with Congress in 1998. ... > full story

Labor-saving way to monitor vast rangelands (September 29, 2011) -- U.S. agricultural scientists have found that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a tool used by the military, may be suitable for keeping an eye on changing land-use patterns across vast tracts of western rangeland. ... > full story

If you're happy and you know it: Researchers trail Twitter to track world's mood swings (September 29, 2011) -- Using Twitter to monitor the attitudes of 2.4 million people in 84 countries, researchers found that people all over the world awaken in a good mood -- but globally that cheer soon deteriorates once the workday progresses. ... > full story

Orbital observations of Mercury reveal flood lavas, hollows, and unprecedented surface details (September 29, 2011) -- After only six months in orbit around Mercury, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft is sending back information that has revolutionized the way scientists think about the innermost planet. Analyses of new data from the spacecraft show, among other things, new evidence that flood volcanism has been widespread on Mercury, the first close-up views of Mercury's "hollows," the first direct measurements of the chemical composition of Mercury's surface, and the first global inventory of plasma ions within Mercury's space environment. ... > full story

In unique fire tests, outdoor decks will be under firebrand attack (September 29, 2011) -- NIST will unleash its Dragon, an invention that bellows showers of glowing embers, at a unique wind tunnel test facility in Japan, where researchers will evaluate the vulnerability of outdoor deck assemblies and materials to ignition during wildfires, a growing peril that accounts for half of the nation's 10 most costly fires. ... > full story

Stardust discovered in far-off planetary systems (September 29, 2011) -- Searching for extra-solar planets -- which are planets outside of our solar system -- is very popular these days. About 700 planets are known at the moment, a number that is continuously rising due to refined observational techniques. Astronomers have just made a remarkable discovery: they were able to establish proof of so-called debris discs around two stars. The debris discs are remnants of the formation of the planets. ... > full story

Self-cleaning cotton breaks down pesticides, bacteria (September 29, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a self-cleaning cotton fabric that can kill bacteria and break down toxic chemicals such as pesticide residues when exposed to light. ... > full story

Redefining the kilogram and the ampere (September 29, 2011) -- New research using graphene presents the most precise measurements of the quantum Hall effect ever made, one of the key steps in the process to redefine two Système Internationale d'unités (SI) units. New research is underpinning the biggest change in the SI Units since the system began 50 years ago. ... > full story

Spontaneous combustion in nanobubbles inspires compact ultrasonic loudspeaker (September 29, 2011) -- Nanometer-sized bubbles containing the gases hydrogen and oxygen can apparently combust spontaneously, although nothing happens in larger bubbles. For the first time, researchers have demonstrated this spontaneous combustion. They intend to use the phenomenon to construct a compact ultrasonic loudspeaker. ... > full story

Breath-takingly simple test for human exposure to potentially toxic substances (September 29, 2011) -- The search for a rapid, non-invasive way to determine whether people have been exposed to potentially toxic substances in their workplaces, homes and elsewhere in the environment has led scientists to a technology that literally takes a person's breath away. Their report identifies exhaled breath as an ideal indicator of such exposure. ... > full story

'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

New report reveals the impact of global crises on international development (September 28, 2011) -- Global crises and the slow burn of climate change are having a profound impact on the lives and livelihoods of poor people around the world, and bringing into question core ideas about what development is and how it happens, according to a new report. ... > 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