The EDGE: ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Friday, June 8, 2012

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Friday, June 8, 2012

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Rubber wood, coconut shells and fabrics tested for use in hybrid composites (June 7, 2012) -- Opening a way to a new hybrid composite, researchers have tested hybrid composites made of rubberwood, coconut shell and textile fabrics (woven cotton and polyester fabrics). ... > full story

Optical materials: Holey gold (June 7, 2012) -- Imaging nanoporous metals with beams of electrons provides deep insights into the unusual optical properties of these materials. ... > full story

Microscopy: A glance from the nanoworld (June 7, 2012) -- A new patterning technique produces a faithful reproduction of grayscale images down to the micrometer level. ... > full story

Groundbreaking new graphene-based MRI contrast agent (June 7, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new, highly efficacious, potentially safer and more cost effective nanoparticle-based MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) contrast agent for improved disease diagnosis and detection. ... > full story

NASA's Spitzer finds first objects burned furiously (June 7, 2012) -- The faint, lumpy glow given off by the very first objects in the universe may have been detected with the best precision yet, using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. These faint objects might be wildly massive stars or voracious black holes. They are too far away to be seen individually, but Spitzer has captured new, convincing evidence of what appears to be the collective pattern of their infrared light. The observations help confirm the first objects were numerous in quantity and furiously burned cosmic fuel. ... > full story

A super tiny giraffe (June 7, 2012) -- An engineering graduate student wins first place in 'Science as Art' competition for magnified image of nickel, aluminum and carbon that resembles a super tiny giraffe. ... > full story

'Nanocable' could be big boon for energy storage (June 7, 2012) -- Researchers have created a coaxial nanocable capacitor that outperforms previously reported microcapacitors. The three-layer, 100-nanometer-wide cable was produced with techniques pioneered in the nascent graphene field and could be used to build next-generation energy-storage systems. ... > full story

Slashing energy needs for next-generation memory (June 7, 2012) -- Researchers have unveiled a new data-encoding scheme that slashes more than 30 percent of the energy needed to write data onto memory cards that use "phase-change memory" -- a competitor to flash memory that has big backing from industry heavyweights. ... > full story

Quantum computers move closer to reality, thanks to highly enriched and highly purified silicon (June 7, 2012) -- Scientists have made the next step towards making quantum computing a reality -- through the unique properties of highly enriched and highly purified silicon. ... > full story

Armored caterpillar could inspire new body armor (June 7, 2012) -- Military body armor and vehicle and aircraft frames could be transformed by incorporating the unique structure of the club-like arm of a crustacean that looks like an armored caterpillar, according to new findings. ... > full story

Tabletop X-Ray to Image Nanoworld: All the colors of a high-energy rainbow, in a tightly focused beam (June 7, 2012) -- For the first time, researchers have produced a coherent, laser-like, directed beam of light that simultaneously streams ultraviolet light, X-rays, and all wavelengths in between. One of the few light sources to successfully produce a coherent beam that includes X-rays, this new technology is the first to do so using a setup that fits on a laboratory table. ... > full story

How black holes change gear (June 7, 2012) -- Black holes are extremely powerful and efficient engines that not only swallow up matter, but also return a lot of energy to the universe in exchange for the mass they eat. When black holes attract mass they also trigger the release of intense X-ray radiation and power strong jets. But not all black holes do this the same way. This has long baffled astronomers. By studying two active black holes researchers have now gathered evidence that suggests that each black hole can change between two different regimes, like changing the gears of an engine. ... > full story

New twist on old chemical process could boost energy efficiency significantly (June 7, 2012) -- An unappreciated aspect of chemical reactions on the surface of metal oxides could be key in developing more efficient energy systems, including more productive solar cells or hydrogen fuel cells efficient enough for automobiles. ... > full story

Steel-strength plastics: Durable plastic may replace metals (June 7, 2012) -- Chemists have been working hard to develop a more biodegradable plastic to reduce pollution and protect the environment. Now a researcher has taken a different approach -- creating plastics as strong and durable as steel. ... > full story

James Webb Space Telescope’s mirrors get 'shrouded' (June 7, 2012) -- Earlier this year, NASA completed deep-freeze tests on the James Webb Space Telescope mirrors in a "shroud" at the X-ray & Cryogenic Facility (XRCF) at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. ... > full story

Driving without a blind spot may be closer than it appears (June 7, 2012) -- A side mirror that eliminates the dangerous “blind spot” for drivers has now received a U.S. patent. The subtly curved mirror, invented by a mathematics professor, dramatically increases the field of view with minimal distortion. designed his mirror using a mathematical algorithm that precisely controls the angle of light bouncing off of the curving mirror, similar to manipulating the direction of each tiny mirror face on a disco ball to make a smooth, nonuniform curve. ... > full story

Photovoltaic cells tap underwater solar energy (June 7, 2012) -- Scientists have developed solar cells capable of producing sufficient power to operate electronic sensor systems underwater at depths of nine meters. ... > full story

Breaking the limits of classical physics: Light's quantum mechanical properties demonstrated (June 7, 2012) -- With simple arguments, researchers show that nature is complicated! Researchers have made a simple experiment that demonstrates that nature violates common sense. The experiment illustrates that light does not behave according to the principles of classical physics, but that light has quantum mechanical properties. The new method could be used to study whether other systems behave quantum mechanically. ... > full story

Pandemic preparedness (June 7, 2012) -- Researchers have developed the "Texas Pandemic Flu Toolkit" to assist public health officials in planning for and managing a disease outbreak. The toolkit is a web-based service that simulates the spread of pandemic flu through the state, forecasts times of peak demand, and determines where and when to place ventilators to minimize fatalities. ... > full story

Spin structure reveals key to new forms of digital storage, study shows (June 7, 2012) -- A synthetic compound long known to exhibit interesting transition properties may hold the key to new, non-magnetic forms of information storage, say researchers. The latest findings shed light on the complex relationship between a compound's electron spin arrangement and its transport properties, an area researchers have long struggled to understand. ... > full story

Slime moulds work on computer games (June 7, 2012) -- British computer scientists are taking inspiration from slime to help them find ways to calculate the shape of a polygon linking points on a surface. Such calculations are fundamental to creating realistic computer graphics for gaming and animated movies. The quicker the calculations can be done, the smoother and more realistic the graphics. ... > full story

Understanding complex relationships: How global properties of networks become apparent locally (June 7, 2012) -- Scientists have shown how global properties of networks become apparent in local characteristics. From infections spreading around the globe to the onset of an epileptic seizure in the brain: Many phenomena can be seen as the effects of network activity. Often it is vitally important to understand the properties of these networks. However, they are often too complex to be described completely. Scientists have now been able to show how global features of complex networks can be discovered in local statistical properties – which are much more accessible for scientific investigation. ... > full story

Research studies spread of infectious disease on aircraft (June 7, 2012) -- A new study is expected to provide the first detailed information on how infectious diseases may be transmitted aboard airliners. Sponsored by Boeing, the research will document patterns of passenger movement inside aircraft cabins and inventory the microbes present in cabin air and on surfaces. ... > full story

Cassini plasma spectrometer turns off (June 6, 2012) -- The Cassini plasma spectrometer instrument (CAPS) aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft was turned off between Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, when a circuit breaker tripped off after the instrument experienced some unexpected voltage shifts. ... > full story

Dawn mission video shows Vesta's coat of many colors (June 6, 2012) -- A new video from NASA's Dawn mission reveals the dappled, variegated surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. The animation drapes high-resolution false color images over a 3-D model of the Vesta terrain constructed from Dawn's observations. This visualization enables a detailed view of the variation in the material properties of Vesta in the context of its topography. ... > full story

Photosynthesis: A new way of looking at photosystem II (June 6, 2012) -- Using ultrafast, intensely bright pulses of X-rays scientists have obtained the first ever images at room temperature of photosystem II, a protein complex critical for photosynthesis and future artificial photosynthetic systems. ... > full story

Sensors detect contaminants in water in low concentrations (June 6, 2012) -- Many organic contaminants in the air and in drinking water need to be detected at very low-level concentrations. New research could be beneficial in detecting those contaminants. ... > full story

1 million billion billion billion billion billion billion: Number of undiscovered drugs (June 6, 2012) -- A new voyage into "chemical space" – occupied not by stars and planets but substances that could become useful in everyday life – has concluded that scientists have synthesized barely one tenth of one percent of potential medicines. The report estimates that the actual number of these so-called "small molecules" could be one novemdecillion (that's one with 60 zeroes), more than some estimates of the number of stars in the universe. ... > full story

Video games may be helpful in treating 'Lazy eye' in adults (June 6, 2012) -- Suppose someone told you that researchers had discovered that a major cause of vision loss is treatable, and that the most promising new treatment is—playing video games? It may sound far-fetched, but those are the conclusions of a new article. ... > full story

Have you heard? Nearly 15 percent of work email is gossip (June 6, 2012) -- According to some estimates, the average corporate email user sends 112 emails every day. About one out of every seven of those messages, says a new study, can be called gossip. ... > full story

New technique to give us better understanding of human tissues (June 6, 2012) -- Researchers have demonstrated that a relatively new microscopy technique can be used to improve our understanding of human tissues and other biomedical materials. The study focused specifically on eye tissues, which are damaged by scarring in diabetic patients. ... > full story

Artificial noses as diseases busters (June 6, 2012) -- Artificial noses have, until now, been used to detect diseases such as urinary tract infection, Helicobacter pylori, tuberculosis, ear, nose and throat conditions and even lung cancer. They have also been clinically tested for use in continuous monitoring of different disease stages. ... > full story

Compact and flexible thermal storage (June 6, 2012) -- Biogas plants, combined heat and power plants don’t just generate electricity, they also produce heat. However, unlike the electricity they yield, the heat generally dissipates unused. A new technology is set to change this: It will allow the heat to be stored lossfree in the smallest of spaces for lengthy periods of time, for use as and when required. ... > full story

Molecular matchmaking for drug discovery (June 5, 2012) -- Computational drug discovery allows researchers to target a small group of possible molecules for therapeutic use, saving significant time and money. Scientists have now reported on advances in image reconstruction that allow his group to detect the secondary structures of proteins from single particle cryo-electron microscopy. ... > full story

Dream Chaser flight vehicle scales Rocky Mountain summits (June 5, 2012) -- Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) Space Systems' Dream Chaser design passed one of its most complex tests to date with a successful captive-carry test conducted near the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Jefferson County, Colo., on May 29. Just like the space shuttle before it, SNC's Dream Chaser will go through extensive testing to prove its wings will work. The company built a full-scale flight vehicle of the Dream Chaser spacecraft to carry out the evaluations. ... > full story

Venus' transit and the search for other worlds (June 5, 2012) -- It's the final opportunity of the century to witness the rare astronomical reunion of the sun, Venus and Earth. On Tuesday, June 5 or 6, 2012, depending on your location, Venus will make its presence in the solar system visible from Earth's day side. Using special eye safety precautions, viewers may see Venus as a small dot slowly drifting across the golden disk of the sun. ... > full story

Nuclear weapon simulations show performance in molecular detail (June 5, 2012) -- US researchers are perfecting simulations that show a nuclear weapon's performance in precise molecular detail, tools that are becoming critical for national defense because international treaties forbid the detonation of nuclear test weapons. ... > full story

Precise measurement of radiation damage on materials (June 5, 2012) -- Researchers have for the first time simulated and quantified the early stages of radiation damage that will occur in a given material. ... > full story

Keeping up with embryogenesis: New microscope tracks cells as they move and divide (June 5, 2012) -- The transformation of a fertilized egg into a functioning animal requires thousands of cell divisions and intricate rearrangements of those cells. That process is captured with unprecedented speed and precision by a new imaging technology that lets users track each cell in an embryo as it takes shape over hours or days. ... > full story

Halogen bonding helps design new drugs (June 5, 2012) -- Halogens particularly chlorine, bromine, and iodine – have a unique quality which allows them to positively influence the interaction between molecules. This “halogen bonding” has been employed in the area of materials science for some time, but is only now finding applications in the life sciences. ... > full story

Weak bridges identified in Texas (June 5, 2012) -- More than a dozen Gulf Coast bridges in or near Galveston, Texas, would likely suffer severe damage if subjected to a hurricane with a similar landfall as Hurricane Ike but with 30 percent stronger winds, according to researchers. ... > full story

Faster, more sensitive photodetector created by tricking graphene (June 5, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a highly sensitive detector of infrared light that can be used in applications ranging from detection of chemical and biochemical weapons from a distance and better airport body scanners to chemical analysis in the laboratory and studying the structure of the universe through new telescopes. ... > full story

Splitting the unsplittable: Physicists split an atom using quantum mechanics precision (June 5, 2012) -- Researchers have just shown how a single atom can be split into its two halves, pulled apart and put back together again. While the word "atom" literally means "indivisible," the laws of quantum mechanics allow dividing atoms -- similarly to light rays -- and reuniting them. The researchers want to build quantum mechanics bridges by letting the atom touch adjacent atoms while it is being pulled apart so that it works like a bridge span between two pillars. ... > full story

Chiral asymmetry can emerge from maximal symmetry (June 5, 2012) -- Maximally symmetric systems of particles can spontaneously produce two different patterns, which are mirror images of each other, new research shows. The research group is working towards a mathematical design of self-assembling nanomaterials. ... > full story

The mysterious arc of Venus (June 4, 2012) -- When Venus transits the sun on June 5-6, an armada of spacecraft and ground-based telescopes will be on the lookout for something elusive and, until recently, unexpected: the arc of Venus. ... > full story

RHESSI will use Venus transit to improve measurements of the sun's diameter (June 4, 2012) -- With the new data obtained during the Venus transit on June 5-6, 2012, the RHESSI team hopes to improve the knowledge of the exact shape of the sun and provide a more accurate measure of the diameter than has previously been obtained. ... > full story

Energy-dense biofuel from cellulose close to being economical (June 4, 2012) -- A new process for creating biofuels has shown potential to be cost-effective for production scale, opening the door for moving beyond the laboratory setting. ... > full story

Zeroing in on the best shape for cancer-fighting nanoparticles (June 4, 2012) -- A pair of new articles suggests that cancer-fighting nanoparticles ought to be disc-shaped, not spherical or rod-shaped, when targeting cancers at or near blood vessels. ... > full story