ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Thursday, September 2, 2010
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Metal-mining bacteria are green chemists (September 2, 2010) -- Microbes could soon be used to convert metallic wastes into high-value catalysts for generating clean energy, say scientists. ... > full story
New solar prediction system gives time to prepare for the storms ahead (September 2, 2010) -- A new method of predicting solar storms that could help to avoid widespread power and communications blackouts costing billions of pounds has been launched by researchers in the UK. ... > full story
Economic theory suggests symbiosis is driven by simple self-interest, not rewards or punishment (September 2, 2010) -- Applying employment contract theory to symbiosis, a new paper suggests mutually beneficial relationships are maintained by simple self-interest, with partners benefiting from healthy hosts much as employees benefit from robust employers. The new work discounts the theory that host species have evolved to promote symbiosis by promising rewards or threatening punishment. ... > full story
Less waste with shelf-life indicator for food (September 2, 2010) -- Norwegian food retailers discard over 50,000 tonnes of food annually – much of it of perfectly good quality. New technology the TimeTemp company in cooperation with Norwegian research institutions could substantially reduce this wastefulness. TimeTemp has developed a new method of more precisely measuring the freshness of food items: a shelf-life indicator attached directly to the product. In addition to time, the company’s device also factors in the temperatures to which the item has been exposed. ... > full story
Navigation satellites contend with stormy Sun (September 1, 2010) -- Just as we grow used to satellite navigation in everyday life, media reports argue that a coming surge in solar activity could render satnav devices useless, perhaps even frying satellites themselves. Is it true? No. ... > full story
New material may reveal inner workings of hi-temp superconductors (September 1, 2010) -- New measurements may help physicists develop a clearer understanding of high-temperature superconductors, whose behavior remains in many ways mysterious decades after their discovery. A new copper-based compound exhibits properties never before seen in a superconductor and could be a step toward solving part of the mystery. ... > full story
Airline passengers in developing countries face 13 times crash risk as US (September 1, 2010) -- Passengers who fly in Developing World countries face 13 times the risk of being killed in an air accident as passengers in the First World. The more economically advanced countries in the Developing World have better overall safety records than the others, but even their death risk per flight is seven times as high as that in First World countries. ... > full story
Ultraviolet source helps NASA spacecraft measure the origins of space weather (September 1, 2010) -- With a brilliant, finely tuned spark of ultraviolet light, a physicist has helped NASA scientists successfully position a crucial UV sensor inside a space-borne instrument to observe a "hidden" layer of the Sun where violent space weather can originate. ... > full story
Astronomers find potassium in giant planet's atmosphere (September 1, 2010) -- Astronomers have analyzed light passing through the upper atmosphere of the giant planet HD 80606 b, about 190 light years from Earth, and determined that its atmosphere contains the element potassium. ... > full story
High-speed filter uses electrified nanostructures to purify water at low cost (September 1, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a water-purifying filter that makes the process more than 80,000 times faster than existing filters. The key is coating the filter fabric -- ordinary cotton -- with nanotubes and silver nanowires, then electrifying it. The filter uses very little power, has no moving parts and could be used throughout the developing world. ... > full story
Nanobiotechnology advances point to medical applications (September 1, 2010) -- Scientists have demonstrated the synthesis of nanosize biological particles with the potential to fight cancer and other illnesses. The research introduces new approaches that are considered "green" nanobiotechnology because they use no artificial compounds. ... > full story
Researchers develop simulation to better understand the effects of sound on marine life (September 1, 2010) -- A combination of the biology of marine mammals, mechanical vibrations and acoustics has led to a breakthrough discovery allowing scientists to better understand the potential harmful effects of sound on marine mammals such as whales and dolphins. ... > full story
Off-the-shelf dyes improve solar cells (September 1, 2010) -- Scientists report success in boosting the ability of zinc oxide solar cells to absorb visible light simply by applying a blended mixture of various off-the-shelf dyes commonly used in food and medical industries -- in a soak-then-dry procedure not unlike that used to color a tee-shirt in a home washing machine. ... > full story
Location determines social network influence, study finds; Number of connections less important than proximity to core (September 1, 2010) -- A team of researchers has shed new light on the way that information and infectious diseases proliferate across complex networks. They report that, contrary to conventional wisdom, persons with the most connections are not necessarily the best spreaders. ... > full story
IceCube neutrino observatory nears completion (September 1, 2010) -- In December 2010, IceCube -- the world's first kilometer-scale neutrino observatory, located beneath the Antarctic ice -- will finally be completed after two decades of planning. A new article provides a comprehensive description of the observatory, its instrumentation, and its scientific mission ... > full story
Silicon oxide circuits break barrier: Nanocrystal conductors could lead to massive, robust 3-D storage (September 1, 2010) -- Scientists have created the first two-terminal memory chips that use only silicon, one of the most common substances on the planet, in a way that should be easily adaptable to nanoelectronic manufacturing techniques and promises to extend the limits of miniaturization subject to Moore's Law. ... > full story
A decade of studying the Earth's magnetic shield, in 3-D (September 1, 2010) -- Space scientists around the world are celebrating ten years of ground-breaking discoveries by "Cluster," a mission that is illuminating the mysteries of the magnetosphere, the northern lights and the solar wind. Cluster is a European Space Agency mission, launched in summer 2000. It consists of a unique constellation of four spacecraft flying in formation around Earth, studying the interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. ... > full story
Fuel-efficiency formula needs cars wired with better brainpower, less vroom (September 1, 2010) -- A researcher says it's possible to triple fuel economy in gasoline-powered cars by 2035, but it'll mean getting our automotive kicks from smart electronic technology and other forms of virtual performance rather than horsepower. ... > full story
Snail mail beats phones to help feds sustain ample fish stocks in US coastal waters (September 1, 2010) -- Snail mail might be the answer to help federal officials protect US coastal waters from overfishing. Anglers say the feds currently rely on questionable data from a home phone survey to calculate recreational fishing volume and decide which locales to place off limits so stocks can rebuild. A new study found a snail mail survey netted a higher response rate and more complete data, says a statistician. ... > full story
Tracing the big picture of Mars' atmosphere (August 31, 2010) -- One of the instruments on a 2016 mission to orbit Mars will provide daily maps of global, pole-to-pole, vertical distributions of the temperature, dust, water vapor and ice clouds in the Martian atmosphere. ... > full story
Networks -- not size -- give cities competitive advantage (August 31, 2010) -- A city's size no longer is the key factor in building vibrant local economies, according to a new study. ... > full story
Scientists succeed in filming organs and joints in real time using magnetic resonance imaging (August 31, 2010) -- "Please hold absolutely still": This instruction is crucial for patients being examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is the only way to obtain clear images for diagnosis. Up to now, it was therefore almost impossible to image moving organs using MRI. Researchers in Germany have now succeeded in significantly reducing the time required for recording images -- to just one fiftieth of a second. With this breakthrough, the dynamics of organs and joints can be filmed "live" for the first time: movements of the eye and jaw as well as the bending knee and the beating heart. ... > full story
Microfluidic device allows collection, analysis of hard-to-handle immune cells (August 31, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new microfluidic tool for quickly and accurately isolating neutrophils -- the most abundant type of white blood cell -- from small blood samples, an accomplishment that could provide information essential to better understanding the immune system's response to traumatic injury. ... > full story
Vulnerability in commercial quantum cryptography (August 31, 2010) -- Researchers have recently developed and tested a technique exploiting imperfections in quantum cryptography systems to implement an attack. ... > full story
New Norwegian earplug solution to a deafening problem (August 31, 2010) -- Some 600 cases of noise-induced hearing impairment are reported by the Norwegian petroleum industry every year. A new, intelligent earplug is now set to alleviate the problem. The international energy company Statoil ASA has led efforts to further develop a combined hearing protection and communication product for use on offshore platforms. The QUIETPRO hearing protection and communication device was originally developed for military use by the Trondheim-based company Nacre AS. The company’s customers include the United States Army, which uses QUIETPRO devices in armoured vehicles. ... > full story
Mars's mysterious elongated crater (August 30, 2010) -- Orcus Patera is an enigmatic elliptical depression near Mars's equator, in the eastern hemisphere of the planet. Located between the volcanoes of Elysium Mons and Olympus Mons, its formation remains a mystery. ... > full story
Stretched polymer snaps back smaller than it started (August 30, 2010) -- Crazy bands are cool because no matter how long they've been stretched around a kid's wrist, they always return to their original shape, be it a lion or a kangaroo. Now chemists have found a polymer molecule that's so springy it snaps back from stretching much smaller than it was before. ... > full story
Batteries for battery powered cars are more environmentally friendly than expected (August 30, 2010) -- Battery powered cars will play a major role in future of mobility. What was not known so far, was how environmentally friendly the manufacture, operation and disposal of the batteries are. Researchers have now calculated the ecological footprint of the most commonly used type, the lithium-ion battery. A car with a petrol engine must consume less than 4 liters of fuel per 100km or about 70 mpg (miles per gallon) in order to be as environmentally friendly as modern electric cars. ... > full story
System uses electrical trickery on the brain to induce realistic spaceflight effects (August 30, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a system that can safely induce the sensory and mobility disturbances astronauts often experience when returning to Earth, making it an excellent operational training tool. The Galvanic vestibular stimulation system delivers small amounts of current to a person's vestibular nerve, mimicking sensorimotor disturbances that can affect an astronaut's ability to walk and stand and impact their ability to land a spacecraft. ... > full story
New view of tectonic plates: Computer modeling of Earth's mantle flow, plate motions, and fault zones (August 30, 2010) -- Computational scientists and geophysicists have developed new computer algorithms that for the first time allow for the simultaneous modeling of Earth's mantle flow, large-scale tectonic plate motions, and the behavior of individual fault zones, to produce an unprecedented view of plate tectonics and the forces that drive it. ... > full story
Atmospheric pressure plasma jet from a grounded electrode (August 30, 2010) -- Because they are portable and easy to operate at ambient temperatures, cold atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) should find innovative applications in biomedicine, materials science and fabrication industries. New research investigates an APPJ that extends from the ground electrode of a circuit. ... > full story
Hyperspectral imaging speeds detection of Campylobacter (August 30, 2010) -- A type of high-tech imaging can be used to distinguish the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter from other microorganisms as quickly as 24 hours after a sample is placed on solid media in a Petri dish, according to a new study. ... > full story
Lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding development of new medicines (August 30, 2010) -- An unlikely effort is underway to lift the veil of nearly total secrecy that has surrounded the process of developing new prescription drugs for the last century. The upheaval in traditional practice would make key data available to college students, university professors, and others in an open, collective process. ... > full story
Tiny logo demonstrates advanced display technology using nano-thin metal sheets (August 28, 2010) -- In a step toward more efficient, smaller and higher-definition display screens, a researcher has developed a new type of color filter made of nano-thin sheets of metal with precisely spaced gratings. ... > full story
Secrets of the gecko foot help robot climb (August 28, 2010) -- The science behind gecko toes holds the answer to a dry adhesive that provides an ideal grip for robot feet. A mechanical engineer is using the new material, based on the structure of a gecko foot, to keep his robots climbing. ... > full story
Medicine reaches the target with the help of magnets (August 28, 2010) -- If a drug can be guided to the right place in the body, the treatment is more effective and there are fewer side-effects. Researchers in Sweden have now developed magnetic nanoparticles that can be directed to metallic implants such as artificial knee joints, hip joints and stents in the coronary arteries. ... > full story
Surgical robot could be used for long-distance regional anesthesia (August 28, 2010) -- An existing surgical robot could be used to perform complex regional anesthesia procedures -- in theory, allowing expert anesthesiologists to perform robot-assisted procedures from remote locations, according to a new study. ... > full story
Distant star's sound waves reveal cycle similar to the sun's (August 27, 2010) -- In a bid to unlock longstanding mysteries of the sun, including the impacts on Earth of its 11-year cycle, an international team of scientists has successfully probed a distant star. By monitoring the star's sound waves, the team has observed a magnetic cycle analogous to the sun's solar cycle. ... > full story
New model to help organize, keep private 'vast ocean' of social network data (August 27, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new model to manage the "vast ocean" of user-generated content being generated by the ever-growing social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter. ... > full story
Shrinking atmospheric layer linked to low levels of solar radiation (August 27, 2010) -- Scientists link a recent, temporary shrinking of a high atmospheric layer with a sharp drop in the sun's ultraviolet radiation levels. ... > full story
NASA's Kepler mission discovers two planets transiting same star (August 27, 2010) -- NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered the first confirmed planetary system with more than one planet crossing in front of, or transiting, the same star. ... > full story
Prediction of intrinsic magnetism at silicon surfaces could lead to single-spin magnetoelectronics (August 27, 2010) -- The integration of single-spin magnetoelectronics into standard silicon technology may soon be possible, if experiments confirm a new theoretical prediction made by physicists. ... > full story
NASA's SOFIA will likely help solve mysteries about our galaxy (August 27, 2010) -- How were millions of young stars able to form at the center of our Milky Way galaxy in the presence of an enormous black hole with a mass 4 million times that of the sun? This and other important questions may be answered by the NASA mission SOFIA, which is scheduled to make its first scientific measurements in the next few months. ... > full story
Scientists concerned about environmental impact of recycling of e-waste (August 27, 2010) -- Much of the world's electronic waste is being shipped to China for recycling and the cottage industry that has sprung up there to recover usable materials from computers, cell phones, televisions and other goods may be creating significant health and environmental hazards. ... > full story
First 3-D atomic view of key genetic processes (August 27, 2010) -- Scientists have created the first 3-D picture of genetic processes that happen inside every cell of our bodies. The picture is the first-ever image of a protein interacting with DNA in its tightly packed "nucleosome" form. The research, which reveals new information about genetic processes, is expected to aid future investigations into diseases such as cancer. ... > full story
'Greening' your flat screen TV: Engineers develop an organic LED light source for home electronics, medicine and clean energy (August 27, 2010) -- An estimated 70 percent of heavy metals in US landfills come from discarded electronics, and as big screen TVs get less expensive, environmental costs continue to mount. To remedy this, researchers are applying organic nano-technology to "green" the optics and electronics industry. Their technology could make flat screen TV production more environmentally friendly and can even make medical devices more sensitive. ... > full story
Ten years flying in formation: The legendary Cluster quartet (August 27, 2010) -- Next week marks the 10th anniversary of the start of formation flying for the four satellites of ESA's Cluster quartet, one of the most successful scientific missions ever launched. On 1 September 2000, just a few weeks after launch, the four individual satellites of the Cluster mission began coordinated orbits, marking the formal start of formation flying. Since then, the four satellites -- dubbed Samba, Tango, Rumba and Salsa -- have gone on to collect some of the most detailed data ever on the physical properties of space between Earth and the Sun, and on the interactions between the charged particles of the solar wind and Earth's atmosphere. In all, over 2.6 terabytes of data -- enough to fill 3300 CDROMS -- have been delivered from space. ... > full story
Some asteroids live in own little worlds (August 26, 2010) -- While the common perception of asteroids is that they are giant rocks lumbering about in orbit, a new study shows they actually are constantly changing "little worlds" that can give birth to smaller asteroids that split off to start their own lives as they circle around the sun. ... > full story
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