ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Monday, June 25, 2012
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Discovery of material with amazing properties (June 24, 2012) -- Normally a material can be either magnetically or electrically polarized, but not both. Now researchers have studied a material that is simultaneously magnetically and electrically polarizable. This opens up new possibilities, for example, for sensors in technology of the future. ... > full story
Lichen can survive in space: Space station research sheds light on origin of life; potential for better sunscreens (June 23, 2012) -- You can freeze it, thaw it, vacuum dry it and expose it to radiation, but still life survives. Research on the International Space Station is giving credibility to theories that life came from outer space -- as well as helping to create better sunscreens. ... > full story
Bringing down the cost of microbial fuel cells (June 23, 2012) -- A new catalyst material could dramatically reduce the cost of producing microbial fuel cells. ... > full story
Forgotten star cluster now found useful in studies of Sun and hunt for Earth-like planets (June 23, 2012) -- A loose group of stars, known for over 180 years but never before studied in detail, has been revealed to be an important new tool in the quest to understand the evolution of stars like the Sun, and in the search for planets like Earth. The star cluster holds great promise for use as a standard gauge in fundamental stellar astrophysics. ... > full story
New technique allows simulation of noncrystalline materials (June 23, 2012) -- Scientists have found a new mathematical approach to simulating the electronic behavior of noncrystalline materials, which may eventually play an important part in new devices including solar cells, organic LED lights and printable, flexible electronic circuits. ... > full story
Reward the second best, ignore the best (June 22, 2012) -- New research suggests reasons why the richest should pay more tax; why rewarding the top performers leads to recurrent crises and scandals; and why we should resist the temptation to learn from and imitate the most successful. ... > full story
Put a cork in it: Research details quiet composite material (June 22, 2012) -- Cork, known for such low-tech applications as wine bottle stoppers and bulletin boards, now shows promise as the core material in composites used in high-tech automotive, aircraft and energy applications. ... > full story
Researchers advance biometric security (June 21, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a way for security systems to combine different biometric measurements -- such as eye color, face shape or fingerprints -- and create a learning system that simulates the brain in making decisions about information from different sources. ... > full story
Proximity of new planets stuns even astronomers (June 21, 2012) -- One is a rocky planet 1.5 times the size of Earth. The other is a gaseous world nearly four times Earth's size. Together they form a spectacular system in which two planets orbit closer to each other than any yet discovered. ... > full story
Study of phase change materials could lead to better computer memory (June 21, 2012) -- Memory devices for computers require a large collection of components that can switch between two states, which represent the ones and zeros of binary language. Engineers hope to make next-generation chips with materials that distinguish between these states by physically rearranging their atoms into different phases. Researchers have now provided new insight into how this phase change happens, which could help engineers make memory storage devices faster and more efficient. ... > full story
Researchers tune the strain in graphene drumheads to create quantum dots (June 21, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that they can tune the strain in graphene suspended like drumheads over microscopic holes in a substrate of silicon oxide using the tip of an advanced scanning probe microscope and a conducting plate below the substrate. Tuning the strain enabled the group to create areas in the graphene where electrons behaved as though they were confined to quantum dots. ... > full story
Could Mars have sustained life? Extensive water in Mars' interior (June 21, 2012) -- Until now, Earth was the only planet known to have vast reservoirs of water in its interior. Scientists analyzed the water content of two Martian meteorites and found that the amount of water in places of the Martian mantle is vastly larger than previous estimates and is similar to that of Earth's. The results affect our understanding about Martian geologic history, how water got to the Martian surface, and whether Mars could have sustained life. ... > full story
Lab-engineered kidney project reaches early milestone (June 21, 2012) -- Regenerative medicine researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have reached an early milestone in a long-term project that aims to build replacement kidneys in the lab to help solve the shortage of donor organs. ... > full story
Nano-infused paint can detect strain (June 21, 2012) -- Nanotube-infused paint can reveal strain in materials by its fluorescence. The material holds promise for detecting strain in aircraft, bridges and buildings. ... > full story
Selenium suppresses staph on implant material (June 21, 2012) -- A coating of selenium nanoparticles significantly reduces the growth of Staphylococcus aureus on polycarbonate, a material common in implanted devices such as catheters and endotracheal tubes, engineers report. ... > full story
Graphene Research: Trapping light in a carbon net (June 21, 2012) -- Graphene, an ordered monolayer of carbon, is the thinnest substance known, and yet has extraordinary mechanical strength. A new study shows that its two-dimensional network of atoms can even trap light. ... > full story
Watching the quantum race of electrons (June 21, 2012) -- For the first time ever, physicists have observed the race of two electrons that are liberated from atoms in the course of photoionization, i.e. under the influence of laser radiation. In order to resolve the electron's movement during only 50 femtoseconds, scientists used an ultra fast terahertz streak camera in combination with a free-electron-laser. The experimental findings will improve the rapidly evolving free-electron-laser technology used in many fields of science - from physics to biology. ... > full story
Brain controlled robotic arm:Scientists read out arm movements from brain's surface (June 21, 2012) -- Interfaces between the brain and a computer could be the key to a more independent life for patients with severe paralysis: Devices that transform the mere thought of a movement into a command for a robotic arm or a cursor on a screen. Scientists have now utilized the brain activity associated with an arm movement recorded from the surface of the brain to steer a cursor in real-time. ... > full story
Work starts on fossil fuel free cargo ship (June 21, 2012) -- Development is underway to design the modern world's first 100 per cent fossil fuel free sailing cargo ships. With rising fossil fuel prices and the global challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this project is set to change the shipping industry by providing efficient and affordable low-carbon shipping. The project combines proven technology, using the state of the art dyna-rig sail propulsion system with an off the shelf Rolls-Royce engine powered by waste derived liquid biomethane (liquid gas). ... > full story
Microelectronics: Two at a time (June 21, 2012) -- A new design reduces the areal footprint of nanowire transistors by a factor of two. Scientists have now integrated two transistors onto a single vertical silicon nanowire, pushing the areal density limit of nanowire transistors even further. ... > full story
Scientists gain understanding of self-cleaning gecko foot hair (June 20, 2012) -- Wall-climbing robots, bioadhesives or other sticky substances can benefit greatly from a recent discovery about the self-cleaning and reuse abilities of a gecko. The sticky yet clean attribute of this discovery is the gecko toe pad and its ability to repeatedly attach and detach to a surface. ... > full story
Asymmetry may provide clue to superconductivity (June 20, 2012) -- Physicists are reporting intriguing new details regarding the quirky electronic properties of high-temperature superconductors (HTS). They discovered an asymmetric electronic order that extends into the superconducting temperature range in a recently discovered iron-based HTS. The asymmetric feature also bears a striking resemblance to the "pseudogap" order found in copper-based HTSs. ... > full story
Researchers estimate ice content of crater at moon's south pole (June 20, 2012) -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft has returned data that indicate ice may make up as much as 22 percent of the surface material in a crater located on the moon's south pole. The team of NASA and university scientists using laser light from LRO's laser altimeter examined the floor of Shackleton crater. They found the crater's floor is brighter than those of other nearby craters, which is consistent with the presence of small amounts of ice. This information will help researchers understand crater formation and study other uncharted areas of the moon. ... > full story
Simple mathematcal pattern describes shape of neuron 'jungle' (June 20, 2012) -- Neurons come in an astounding assortment of shapes and sizes, forming a thick inter-connected jungle of cells. Now, neuroscientists have found that there is a simple pattern that describes the tree-like shape of all neurons. ... > full story
Graphene? From any lab (June 20, 2012) -- Considered by many as the most promising material of the future, graphene still remains an expensive and hard-to-fabricate substance. Researchers have now developed a low cost method for manufacturing multilayered graphene sheets. The new method does not require any specialized equipment and can be implemented in any laboratory. ... > full story
Soon after the Big Bang, heavier elements emerge: Tin-100, a doubly magic nucleus (June 20, 2012) -- A few minutes after the Big Bang the universe contained no other elements than hydrogen and helium. Physicists have now succeeded in producing tin-100, a very unstable yet important element for understanding the formation of heavier elements. ... > full story
All things big and small: The brain's discerning taste for size (June 20, 2012) -- The brain organizes objects based on their physical size, with a specific region of the brain reserved for recognizing large objects and another reserved for small objects, according to a new article. These findings could have major implications for fields like robotics, and could lead to a greater understanding of how the brain organizes and maps information. ... > full story
Graphene is a tunable plasmonic medium (June 20, 2012) -- With a beam of infrared light, scientists have sent ripples of electrons along the surface of graphene and demonstrated that they can control the length and height of these oscillations, called plasmons, using a simple electrical circuit. This is the first time anyone has observed plasmons on graphene, sheets of carbon just one atom thick, and an important step toward using plasmons to process and transmit information in spaces too tight to use light. ... > full story
Megapixel camera? Try gigapixel (June 20, 2012) -- By synchronizing 98 tiny cameras in a single device, electrical engineers have developed a prototype camera that can create images with unprecedented detail. The camera's resolution is five times better than 20/20 human vision over a 120 degree horizontal field. The new camera has the potential to capture up to 50 gigapixels of data, which is 50,000 megapixels. By comparison, most consumer cameras are capable of taking photographs with sizes ranging from 8 to 40 megapixels. ... > full story
Taming light with graphene (June 20, 2012) -- Scientists have visualized the trapping and confinement of light on graphene, making a sheet of carbon atoms the most promising candidate for optical information processing on the nano-scale, optical detection, and ultrafast optoelectronics. ... > full story
Simple new way to clean traces of impurities from drug ingredients (June 20, 2012) -- Scientists are reporting development of a simple new procedure for removing almost 98 percent of an important impurity that can contaminate prescription drugs and potentially increase the risk for adverse health effects in patients. ... > full story
Toward super-size wind turbines: Bigger wind turbines do make greener electricity (June 20, 2012) -- In a study that could solidify the trend toward construction of gigantic windmills, scientists have concluded that the larger the wind turbine, the greener the electricity it produces. ... > full story
Gold nanoparticles capable of 'unzipping' DNA (June 20, 2012) -- Gold nanoparticles with a slight positive charge work collectively to unravel DNA's double helix. This finding has ramifications for gene therapy research and the emerging field of DNA-based electronics. ... > full story
Nano-pesticides: Solution or threat for a cleaner and greener agriculture? (June 20, 2012) -- Research is urgently needed to evaluate the risks and benefits of nano-pesticides to human and environmental health. Scientists recently performed an extensive analysis of this emerging field of research. The study presents the current scientific state of art on nano-pesticides and identifies direction priorities for future research. ... > full story
Stars, jets and batteries: Multi-faceted magnetic phenomenon confirmed in the laboratory for the first time (June 20, 2012) -- Magnetic instabilities play a crucial role in the emergence of black holes and other cosmic phenomena. The confirmation of such a magnetic instability – the Tayler instability – was successfully achieved for the first time. The findings should be able to facilitate construction of large liquid-metal batteries, which are under discussion as cheap storage facilities for renewable energy. ... > full story
Solar nanowire array may increase percentage of sun's frequencies available for energy conversion (June 20, 2012) -- Using a nanowire substrate to anchor advanced photovoltaic materials, researchers are able to alleviate strains between materials that otherwise would shorten life spans for photovoltaic products. ... > full story
Sorghum should be in the biofuel crop mix, experts say (June 20, 2012) -- Sweet and biomass sorghum would meet the need for next-generation biofuels to be environmentally sustainable, easily adopted by producers and take advantage of existing agricultural infrastructure. ... > full story
Very Large Telescope takes a close look at the War and Peace Nebula (June 20, 2012) -- ESO's Very Large Telescope has taken the most detailed image so far of a spectacular part of the stellar nursery called the War and Peace Nebula. The view shows many hot young stars, glowing clouds of gas and weird dust formations sculpted by ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds. ... > full story
Paddle vs. propeller: Which competitive swimming stroke is superior? (June 19, 2012) -- In time for the US Olympic Trials, engineers settle the argument over which swim stroke technique -- deep catch or sculling -- is faster. ... > full story
Eat less meat and farm efficiently to tackle climate change, scientists say (June 19, 2012) -- We need to eat less meat and recycle our waste to re-balance the global carbon cycle and reduce our risk of dangerous levels of climate change, according to scientists. New research shows that if today's meat-eating habits continue, the predicted rise in the global population could spell ecological disaster. But changes in our lifestyle and our farming could make space for growing crops for bioenergy and carbon storage. ... > full story
Most quasars live on snacks, not large meals (June 19, 2012) -- A census of 30 quasar host galaxies, conducted with the Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope, has found that black holes in the early universe may have only needed a few snacks, such as a batch of gas or the occasional small satellite galaxy, rather than one giant meal to fuel their quasars and help them grow. ... > full story
Mars weather report: Size of particles in Martian clouds of carbon dioxide snow calculated (June 19, 2012) -- New research shows that, much like Earth, the polar caps of Mars change with the seasons. In the dead of a Martian winter, clouds of snow blanket the Red Planet's poles -- but unlike our water-based snow, the particles on Mars are frozen crystals of carbon dioxide. Most of the Martian atmosphere is composed of carbon dioxide, and in the winter, the poles get so cold -- cold enough to freeze alcohol -- that the gas condenses, forming tiny particles of snow. ... > full story
New gravitational biology lab allows for testing in artificial gravity (June 19, 2012) -- NASA is expanding its existing capabilities for doing plant and animal tissue investigations on the International Space Station with the delivery of a new centrifuge scheduled for this summer. The centrifuge is a NASA and commercial industry collaboration, and will be housed in the NanoRacks facility. ... > full story
Compact blue dwarf can’t hide from Hubble (June 19, 2012) -- The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a new view of the dwarf galaxy UGC 5497, which looks a bit like salt sprinkled on black velvet in the image. ... > full story
From pomegranate peel to nanoparticles (June 19, 2012) -- Food waste is a growing problem in many parts of the world, but discarded fruit peel, in the case of pomegranates, could be put to good use in the burgeoning field of nanotechnology according to new research. ... > full story
Where to put nuclear waste: My backyard? (June 19, 2012) -- Researchers in Finland have found that acceptance of the site of a spent nuclear fuel repository can depend on gender and economic background. Affluent men more often have a positive opinion on the location of such facilities than women or disadvantaged people. ... > full story
Oxygen 'sensor' may shut down DNA transcription (June 19, 2012) -- A key component found in an ancient anaerobic microorganism may serve as a sensor to detect potentially fatal oxygen, researchers have found. This helps researchers learn more about the function of these components, called iron-sulfur clusters, which occur in different parts of cells in all living creatures. ... > full story
Robots get a feel for the world: Touch more sensitve than a human's (June 18, 2012) -- What does a robot feel when it touches something? Little or nothing until now. Specially designed robots can now be equipped with a sense of touch even more sensitive than that of humans. ... > full story
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