ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Monday, October 24, 2011
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Biggest ever study shows no link between mobile phone use and tumors (October 23, 2011) -- There is no link between long-term use of mobile phones and tumors of the brain or central nervous system, according to new research. In what is described as the largest study on the subject to date, Danish researchers found no evidence that the risk of brain tumors was raised among 358,403 mobile phone subscribers over an 18-year period. ... > full story
Giant flakes make graphene oxide gel: Discovery could boost metamaterials, high-strength fibers (October 23, 2011) -- Slices of graphene oxide in a solution arrange themselves into a nematic liquid crystal. At a sufficient concentration, giant flakes will form a gel, a precursor to manufacturing metamaterals and fibers. ... > full story
Fluoride shuttle increases storage capacity: Researchers develop new concept for rechargeable batteries (October 22, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new concept for rechargeable batteries. Based on a fluoride shuttle -- the transfer of fluoride anions between the electrodes -- it promises to enhance the storage capacity reached by lithium-ion batteries by several factors. Operational safety is also increased, as it can be done without lithium. ... > full story
SideBySide projection system enables projected interaction between mobile devices (October 21, 2011) -- Researchers have devised a system called SideBySide that enables animated images from two separate handheld projectors to interact with each other on the same surface. The system, suitable for games, education and a variety of other applications, is self-contained in special handheld devices. No external cameras or other sensors are required, which enables people to use the projectors to interact with each other anywhere and at anytime. ... > full story
Electrochemistry controlled with a plasma electrode (October 21, 2011) -- Engineers have made an electrochemical cell that uses a plasma for an electrode, instead of solid pieces of metal. The technology may open new pathways for battery and fuel cell design and manufacturing, making hydrogen fuel and synthesizing nanomaterials and polymers. ... > full story
Viruses coaxed to form synthetics with microstructures akin to those of corneas, teeth and skin (October 21, 2011) -- Using a simple, single-step process, engineers and scientists have recently developed a technique to direct benign, filamentous viruses called M13 phages to serve as structural building blocks for materials with a wide range of properties. ... > full story
TapSense: Touchscreen technology distinguishes taps by parts of finger (October 21, 2011) -- Smartphone and tablet computer owners have become adept at using finger taps, flicks and drags to control their touchscreens. But researchers have found that this interaction can be enhanced by taking greater advantage of the finger's anatomy and dexterity. By attaching a microphone to a touchscreen, the scientists have shown they can tell the difference between the tap of a fingertip, the pad of the finger, a fingernail and a knuckle. This technology, called TapSense, enables richer touchscreen interactions. ... > full story
The eyes have it: Computer-inspired creativity (October 21, 2011) -- Constraints on creativity imposed by computer-aided design tools are being overcome, thanks to a novel system that incorporates eye-tracking technology. ... > full story
Astronomers explain blue stragglers: How do mysterious stars stay so young? (October 21, 2011) -- Mysterious "blue stragglers" are old stars that appear younger than they should be: they burn hot and blue. Several theories have attempted to explain why they don't show their age, but, until now, scientists have lacked the crucial observations with which to test each hypothesis. Armed with such observational data, astronomers now report that a mechanism known as mass transfer explains the origins of the blue stragglers. ... > full story
Number of Facebook friends linked to size of brain regions, study suggests (October 21, 2011) -- Scientists have found a direct link between the number of "Facebook friends" a person has and the size of particular brain regions. In a new study researchers also showed that the more Facebook friends a person has, the more "real-world" friends they are likely to have. ... > full story
Reading a book versus a screen: Different reading devices, different modes of reading? (October 21, 2011) -- A book or a screen – which of these two offers more reading comfort? There are no disadvantages to reading from electronic reading devices compared with reading printed texts, according to a new study. ... > full story
'Microring' device could aid in future optical technologies (October 21, 2011) -- Researchers have created a device small enough to fit on a computer chip that converts continuous laser light into numerous ultrashort pulses, a technology that might have applications in more advanced sensors, communications systems and laboratory instruments. ... > full story
Magnetic attraction: Microchip demonstrates concept of 'MRAM for biomolecules' (October 21, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a low-power microchip that uses a combination of microfluidics and magnetic switches to trap and transport magnetic beads. The novel transport chip may have applications in biotechnology and medical diagnostics. ... > full story
New benchtop polymer characterization method developed (October 21, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new and highly efficient way to characterize the structure of polymers at the nanoscale -- effectively designing a routine analytical tool that could be used by industries that rely on polymer science to innovate new products, from drug delivery gels to renewable bio-materials. ... > full story
Aggregating bandwidth for faster mobile networks (October 21, 2011) -- A new study reveals that the value of mobile spectrum, the capacity to transfer data across mobile networks, is only likely to increase as the demand for data transfer increases. However, it is only those telecommunications companies that bought up in government auctions the inexpensive licenses to operate at particularly frequencies of the spectrum that will be in strong position to dominate in the consumer and enterprise markets. ... > full story
Nearby planet-forming disk holds water for thousands of oceans (October 20, 2011) -- For the first time, astronomers have detected around a burgeoning solar system a sprawling cloud of water vapor that's cold enough to form comets, which could eventually deliver oceans to dry planets. ... > full story
Laser makes sure food is fresh (October 20, 2011) -- Minced meat, bread, fruit juice and many other foods are packaged in a protective gas which extends their shelf life. There is currently no good method to check whether the packaging has the correct gas content. However, researchers have now developed a new laser instrument which could solve the problem. The first product is expected to be ready for market launch later in the autumn. ... > full story
Planet-sized object as cool as Earth revealed in record-breaking photo (October 20, 2011) -- Scientists are presenting the photo of a nearby star and its orbiting companion -- whose temperature is like a hot summer day in Arizona. The planet-like companion is the coldest object ever directly photographed outside our solar system, researchers say. ... > full story
What makes tires grip the road on a rainy day? (October 20, 2011) -- Scientists have recently developed a model to predict the friction occurring when a rough surface in wet conditions (such as a road on a rainy day) is in sliding contact with a rubber material (such as a car tire tread block). ... > full story
Piecing together the priceless 'Cairo Genizah' (October 20, 2011) -- The Cairo Genizah is an irreplaceable repository for information about 1,000 years of human history. But the 350,000 fragments that make up the Genizah are scattered worldwide. Researchers are now putting all these pieces back together with a computer program based on facial recognition technology. ... > full story
Key property of potential 'spintronic' material measured (October 20, 2011) -- An advanced material that could help bring about next-generation "spintronic" computers has revealed one of its fundamental secrets to a team of scientists. ... > full story
Lightning strikes, in the form of bits and bytes (October 20, 2011) -- Scientists are utilizing a superfast computer system for simulating lightning strikes. Their objectives are arriving at better understandings of the effects of lightning strikes on humans and machinery and better predictions of those effects. ... > full story
Using new technique, scientists uncover a delicate magnetic balance for superconductivity (October 20, 2011) -- A new imaging technology is giving scientists unprecedented views of the processes that affect the flow of electrons through materials. By modifying a familiar tool in nanoscience -- the scanning tunneling microscope -- researchers have been able to visualize what happens when they change the electronic structure of a "heavy fermion" compound made of uranium, ruthenium and silicon. What they found sheds light on superconductivity -- the movement of electrons without resistance -- which typically occurs at extremely low temperatures and that researchers hope one day to achieve at something close to room temperature, which would revolutionize electronics. ... > full story
Glowing beacons reveal hidden order in dynamical systems: Experimental confirmation of a fundamental physical theorem (October 20, 2011) -- A dynamical system in which repeated measurements on a single particle yield the same mean result as a single measurement of the whole ensemble is said to be ergodic. The ergodic theorem expresses a fundamental physical principle, and its validity for diffusive processes has now been demonstrated. ... > full story
U.S. government releases environmental, health, and safety research strategy for nanotechnology (October 20, 2011) -- The U.S. government has just released a national strategy for ensuring that environmental, health, and safety research needs are fully identified and addressed in the fast-growing field of nanotechnology. ... > full story
NASA's Spitzer detects comet storm in nearby solar system (October 19, 2011) -- NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected signs of icy bodies raining down in an alien solar system. The downpour resembles our own solar system several billion years ago during a period known as the "Late Heavy Bombardment," which may have brought water and other life-forming ingredients to Earth. ... > full story
Computer games help people with Parkinson's disease, pilot study shows (October 19, 2011) -- Playing computer-based physical therapy games can help people with Parkinson's disease improve their gait and balance, according to a new pilot study. More than half the subjects in the three-month research project showed small improvements in walking speed, balance and stride length. ... > full story
Computing building blocks created from bacteria and DNA (October 19, 2011) -- Scientists have successfully demonstrated that they can build some of the basic components for digital devices out of bacteria and DNA, which could pave the way for a new generation of biological computing devices. ... > full story
Ammonia air pollution from cars and trucks worse in winter (October 19, 2011) -- Motor vehicles and industry are primary producers of ammonia in Houston's atmosphere, and cars and trucks appear to boost their output during the winter, according to a new study. ... > full story
How the Milky Way killed off nearby galaxies (October 19, 2011) -- Researchers have revealed for the first time the existence of a new signature of the birth of the first stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way. More than 12 billion years ago, the intense ultraviolet light from these stars dispersed the gas of our Galaxy's nearest companions, virtually putting a halt to their ability to form stars and consigning them to a dim future. Now astronomers have explained why some galaxies were killed off, while stars continued to form in more distant objects. ... > full story
Cellphones exceed U.S. FCC exposure limits by as much as double for children, study finds (October 19, 2011) -- New research shows that cell phones used in the shirt or pants pocket exceed the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exposure guidelines and that children absorb twice as much microwave radiation from phones as do adults. ... > full story
Natural disasters: Networking robots and sensor systems to help first responders react more quickly (October 19, 2011) -- Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes -- natural disasters always catch us by surprise, no matter how many early warning systems are in place. This makes it all the more important for rescue teams to get a quick overview of the situation at hand. Researchers in Germany are working to network the various robots and sensor systems first responders use so that they can react more quickly and efficiently in the case of an emergency to search for victims and survivors. ... > full story
Nano funnel used to generate extreme ultraviolet light pulses (October 19, 2011) -- Scientists have successfully concentrated the energy of infrared laser pulses using a nano funnel enabling them to generate extreme ultraviolet light pulses, which repeated 75 million times per second. ... > full story
Step toward quantum computers: Using commercial photonic components (October 19, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain have developed a model that provides the basis for the application of commercial photonic components to the field of quantum computers and quantum communications. ... > full story
Industrial by-products upgraded into fuel (October 19, 2011) -- Researchers in Finland have achieved good results in using waste and other excess products from industry to develop new and innovative fuels for transport. The researchers have studied the processing of both biobutanol and biogas into transport fuels. ... > full story
After pregnancy loss, Internet forums help women understand they are not alone (October 19, 2011) -- An anonymous survey of more than 1,000 women on pregnancy loss message boards opens a new window into who is using the forums and why. ... > full story
Math professor announces who deserves the Cy Young and most valuable player awards; calls Rangers solid favorite for World Series (October 19, 2011) -- With Major League Baseball's World Series set to begin tomorrow, math professor Bruce Bukiet has once again analyzed the players most deserving of winning baseball's most important awards for the 2011 season. He also provides the probability of Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series. ... > full story
Orion's Belt lights up Cassini's view of Enceladus (October 19, 2011) -- NASA's Cassini mission will take advantage of the position of two of the three stars in Orion's belt when the spacecraft flies by Saturn's moon Enceladus on Oct. 19. As the hot, bright stars pass behind the moon's icy jets, Cassini's ultraviolet imaging spectrograph will acquire a two-dimensional view of these dramatic plumes of water vapor and icy material erupting from the moon's southern polar region. This flyby is the mission's first-ever opportunity to probe the jets with two stars simultaneously, a dual stellar occultation. ... > full story
Seeing through walls: New radar technology provides real-time video of what’s going on behind solid walls (October 18, 2011) -- The ability to see through walls is no longer the stuff of science fiction, thanks to new radar technology. Researchers have built a system that can see through walls from some distance away, giving an instantaneous picture of the activity on the other side. ... > full story
Robotic bug gets wings, sheds light on evolution of flight (October 18, 2011) -- When engineers outfitted a six-legged robotic bug with wings in an effort to improve its mobility, they unexpectedly shed some light on the evolution of flight. The wings nearly doubled the running speed of the 25-gram robot, but was that good enough for takeoff? ... > full story
Food without preservatives -- thanks to self-cleaning equipment (October 18, 2011) -- Éclairs and other pastries should taste light and fluffy. If the pastry dough contains too many microorganisms, though, it will not rise in the oven. Now, researchers have devised a system that cleans itself automatically after every batch of dough. This means the dough is sterile -- and for the first time, it can be made in large quantities off-site for delivery to bakeries. ... > full story
Dark matter mystery deepens (October 18, 2011) -- Like all galaxies, our Milky Way is home to a strange substance called dark matter. Dark matter is invisible, betraying its presence only through its gravitational pull. Without dark matter holding them together, our galaxy's speedy stars would fly off in all directions. The nature of dark matter is a mystery -- a mystery that a new study has only deepened. ... > full story
Testing micro-electronic stimulators for spinal cord injuries (October 18, 2011) -- A new wireless device may help victims of spinal cord injury. Researchers are developing micro-electrical stimulators for individuals with spinal cord injuries. ... > full story
Lithium-ion batteries made faster with new process (October 18, 2011) -- Engineers have been inspired by nature. To fill the porous electrodes of lithium-ion batteries more rapidly with liquid electrolyte, they are using a physico-chemical effect that also provides for transport in trees. The new process increases the throughput of battery production and reduces investment costs. ... > full story
Bioengineering to generate healthy skin (October 18, 2011) -- Scientists are participating in research to study how to make use of the potential for auto regeneration of stem skills from skin, in order to create, in the laboratory, a patient's entire cutaneous surface by means of a combination of biological engineering and tissue engineering techniques. ... > full story
Electrically powered maneuverable public transportation with high capacity (October 17, 2011) -- Electric and hybrid vehicles will be conquering the cities: cars, bicycles, buses and trains. This is why new ideas are in demand for individual and public transportation. ... > full story
Impurity atoms introduce waves of disorder in exotic electronic material (October 17, 2011) -- Scientists reveal how substituting just a few atoms can cause widespread disruption of the delicate electron interactions that give a particular "heavy fermion" material its unique properties, including superconductivity. ... > full story
New record voltage for organic solar cells opens the tech to consumer electronics (October 17, 2011) -- Scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in the performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. They have achieved and demonstrated a record voltage for organic photovoltaic cells that means these highly flexible, low cost solar cells can now be devolved for commercial uses in a wide range of consumer electronics. ... > full story
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