ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Tuesday, September 21, 2010
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First microwave image of the complete Moon (September 21, 2010) -- The first microwave image of the complete Moon was obtained thanks to the Chinese lunar satellite Chang’E-1. Global brightness temperature maps reveal radiation from the surface and deeper layers of the Moon and its diurnal variation. This will help astronomers to determine the detailed heat flow and, thus, the inner energy of the Moon. ... > full story
Lightweight true random number generators a step closer (September 21, 2010) -- The widespread use of true random number generators has taken a step closer following the creation of the most lightweight designs to date. ... > full story
Herschel Mars observations: First results (September 21, 2010) -- The Herschel Space Observatory is providing its first exciting results on Mars. An accurate globally averaged temperature profile of the Martian atmosphere may cause scientists to revise their models about atmospheric circulation on Mars. And the first sub-millimeter observation of molecular oxygen on the planet may lead to a completely new picture of the oxygen distribution in the Martian atmosphere. ... > full story
Commercial-scale test of new technology to recover coal from sludge successful (September 21, 2010) -- A new technology for removing water from ultrafine coal slurry has been successfully tested at the commercial scale at an operating coal cleaning plant. The technology offers the possibility of reducing the coal slurry impoundment problem from the source. ... > full story
Future of football: GPS and miniature accelerometers to better assess player's training load and fitness levels (September 21, 2010) -- A new research project in the UK may have important implications for the world of football (soccer) through the use of new technology such as GPS and miniature accelerometers to better assess a player's training load and fitness levels. ... > full story
Biofuel from inedible plant material easier to produce following enzyme discovery (September 20, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered key plant enzymes that normally make the energy stored in wood, straw, and other non-edible parts of plants difficult to extract. The findings can be used to improve the viability of sustainable biofuels that do not adversely affect the food chain. ... > full story
Possible 'persistence' switch for tuberculosis found: Computer model finds probable genetic mechanism for TB dormancy (September 20, 2010) -- A model for the genetic "persistence" switch that toggles tuberculosis bacteria into a dormant state that resists antibiotics and immune system responses is described in a new study. An analysis of stress-response genes in the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis has allowed bioengineers to zero in on a gene network that appears to help the bacteria ward off attacks. ... > full story
Magnetic attraction for fish, crabs? Study examines whether magnetic fields from aquatic power sources affect animals (September 20, 2010) -- Scientists are examining how aquatic animals behave around electromagnetic fields similar to those created by marine power devices. ... > full story
Violent video games increase aggression long after the game is turned off, study finds (September 20, 2010) -- Playing a violent video game can increase aggression, and when a player keeps thinking about the game, the potential for aggression can last for as long as 24 hours, according to a new study. ... > full story
End of microplates? Novel electronic biosensing technology could facilitate new era of personalized medicine (September 20, 2010) -- The multi-welled microplate, long a standard tool in biomedical research and diagnostic laboratories, could become a thing of the past thanks to new electronic biosensing technology developed by a team of microelectronics engineers and biomedical scientists. ... > full story
Favorable expectations make people like using a new mobile phone, study finds (September 20, 2010) -- The more a user expects to like using a new mobile phone, the more he or she will like to use it. According to researchers in Finland, users' favorable expectations make them forgive encountered usability problems and perceive new mobile phones usable. ... > full story
Data clippers to set sail to enhance future planetary missions (September 20, 2010) -- A new golden age of sailing may be about to begin -- in space. Future missions to explore the outer planets could employ fleets of ‘data-clippers’ -- manoeuvrable spacecraft equipped with solar sails, to ship vast quantities of scientific data to back Earth. The technology could be ready in time to support mid-term missions to the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. ... > full story
Technology that can withstand extremes of temperature and radiation created (September 20, 2010) -- Radio transmitters that can withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees C could soon be dropped into the depths of the earth to provide early warning of a volcanic eruption. The state-of-the-art technology uses silicon carbide electronics that can withstand temperatures equal to the inside of a jet engine. ... > full story
Human unconscious is transferred to virtual characters (September 20, 2010) -- Virtual characters can behave according to actions carried out unconsciously by humans. Researchers have created a system which measures human physiological parameters, such as respiration or heart rate, and introduces them into computer designed characters in real time. ... > full story
Database to help accelerate drug discovery developed (September 20, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new computational method that will help streamline the analysis of gene expression experiments and provide scientists with a better mechanistic understanding of the differences between diseased and normal cells. ... > full story
Key component identified that helps plants go green (September 20, 2010) -- A team of researchers has found a central part in the machinery that turns plants green when they sense light. In the Rube Goldberg world of cellular mechanics, this key player turns out to be a garbage truck. ... > full story
Magical BEANs: New nano-sized particles could provide mega-sized data storage (September 20, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered an entire new class of phase-change materials that could be applied to PCM and optical data storage technologies. The new materials, alloys of a metal and semiconductor, are called "BEANs," for binary eutectic-alloy nanostructures. ... > full story
Self-organizing traffic lights (September 20, 2010) -- A new patent may revolutionize traffic control, saving fuel, reducing travel times and emissions, and doing it all without limiting drivers' mobility. This truly "green" idea will have drivers waiting less and help us preserve our environment. ... > full story
50-million-year-old snake gets a CT scan (September 20, 2010) -- Even some of the most advanced technology in medicine couldn't get Clarisse to give up all of her secrets. After all, she's protected them for more than 50 million years. Clarisse is a snake, found in the Fossil Butte region of Wyoming, perfectly fossilized in limestone and the only one of her kind known to be in existence. ... > full story
At the crossroads of chromosomes: Study reveals structure of cell division’s key molecule (September 20, 2010) -- On average, one hundred billion cells in the human body divide over the course of a day. Most of the time the body gets it right but sometimes, problems in cell replication can lead to abnormalities in chromosomes resulting in many types of disorders, from cancer to Down Syndrome. Now, researchers have defined the structure of a key molecule that plays a central role in how DNA is duplicated and then moved correctly and equally into two daughter cells to produce two exact copies of the mother cell. Without this molecule, entire chromosomes could be lost during cell division. ... > full story
Chemists discover method to create high-value chemicals from biomass (September 20, 2010) -- Chemist Walter Trahanovsky was trying to produce sugar derivatives from biomass using high-temperature chemistry. He was surprised when his research also produced significant yields of high-value chemicals. ... > full story
Environmental impact of organic solar cells assessed (September 20, 2010) -- To better understand the energy and environmental benefits and detriments of solar power, a research team has conducted one of the first life-cycle assessments of organic solar cells. The study found that the embodied energy -- or the total energy required to make a product -- is less for organic solar cells compared with conventional inorganic devices. ... > full story
Emotional robot pets (September 20, 2010) -- Designers of robot pets are fighting a never-ending battle with consumers to provide entertaining and realistic gadgets that respond to human interaction in ever more nuanced ways, mimicking the behavior of real pet animals or even people. Researchers in Taiwan are now looking at a new design paradigm that could see the development of a robot vision module that might one-day recognize human facial expressions and respond appropriately. ... > full story
Cosmic ice sculptures: Dust pillars in the Carina Nebula (September 19, 2010) -- Enjoying a frozen treat on a hot summer day can leave a sticky mess as it melts in the Sun and deforms. In the cold vacuum of space, there is no edible ice cream, but there is radiation from massive stars that is carving away at cold molecular clouds, creating bizarre, fantasy-like structures. ... > full story
'Nanosprings' offer improved performance in biomedicine, electronics (September 19, 2010) -- Researchers have reported the successful loading of biological molecules onto "nanosprings" -- a type of nanostructure that has gained significant interest in recent years for its ability to maximize surface area in microreactors. ... > full story
Quantum tornado in the electron beam: Manipulating materials with rotating quantum particles (September 18, 2010) -- Researchers have succeeded in producing what are known as electron vortex beams: rotating electron beams, which make it possible to investigate the magnetic properties of materials. In the future, it may even be possible to manipulate the tiniest components in a targeted manner and set them in rotation. ... > full story
Synthetic fuels research aims to reduce oil dependence (September 18, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a facility aimed at learning precisely how coal and biomass are broken down in reactors called gasifiers as part of a project to strengthen the scientific foundations of the synthetic fuel economy. ... > full story
Fish schools and krill swarms take on common shape (September 18, 2010) -- When fish or tiny, shrimp-like krill get together, it appears they follow the same set of "rules." According to a new study, shoals of fish and swarms of krill hang out in groups that take on the same overall shape; it's not a simple sphere, a cylinder, or ovoid, but something more akin to an irregular crystal, the researchers say. ... > full story
Radiometric dating still reliable (again), research shows (September 18, 2010) -- Recent puzzling observations of tiny variations in nuclear decay rates have led some to question the science behind carbon-14 dating and similar techniques. However scientists tested the hypothesis that solar radiation might affect the rate at which radioactive elements decay and found no detectable effect. ... > full story
Physicists cross hurdle in quantum manipulation of matter (September 17, 2010) -- Finding ways to control matter at the level of single atoms and electrons fascinates many scientists and engineers because the ability to manipulate single charges and single magnetic moments (spins) may help researchers penetrate deep into the mysteries of quantum mechanics and modern solid-state physics. It may also allow development of new, highly sensitive magnetometers with nanometer resolution, single-spin transistors for coherent spintronics, and solid-state devices for quantum information processing. ... > full story
Pickle spoilage bacteria may help environment (September 17, 2010) -- Spoilage bacteria that can cause red coloration of pickles' skin during fermentation may actually help clean up dyes in textile industry wastewater, according to a new study. ... > full story
Less is more in the fight against terrorism (September 17, 2010) -- Terrorist networks are complex. Now, a mathematical analysis of their properties suggests that the best way to fight them is to isolate the hubs within the network rather than trying to destroy the network as a whole through short-term battles. ... > full story
New insights into the moon's rich geologic complexity (September 17, 2010) -- The moon is more geologically complex than previously thought, scientists report. Their conclusion is based on data from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment aboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, an unmanned mission to comprehensively map the entire moon. ... > full story
Moon's craters give new clues to early solar system bombardment (September 17, 2010) -- A first-ever uniform, comprehensive catalog of large craters on the Moon is providing new clues to the bombardment history that characterized the chaotic early days of the inner solar system. Researchers have identified and mapped more than 5,000 large craters, established the oldest regions on the moon, and confirmed a theory about past solar system bombardment. ... > full story
Cardiac imaging breakthrough developed (September 17, 2010) -- Cardiologists and surgeons may soon have a new tool to improve outcomes for patients requiring pacemakers, bypass surgery or angioplasties. Imaging research has led to a new process which provides a high resolution, 3-D image of the heart revealing not only its vasculature but also any scar tissue. ... > full story
Fungus among us could become non-food source for biodiesel production (September 17, 2010) -- In the quest for alternatives to soybeans, palm, and other edible oilseed plants as sources for biodiesel production, enter an unlikely new candidate: A fungus, or mold, that produces and socks away large amounts of oils that are suitable for low-cost, eco-friendly biodiesel. ... > full story
Hot water in cold comets: Water around comets produced with unusual properties (September 17, 2010) -- Comets, sometimes called “dirty snowballs”, are largely composed of water. An international research team recently succeeded in deciphering an important aspect of the way in which water molecules often form in space. As a surprise, the water molecules produced under cold, dilute conditions turned out to be produced as particles as hot as 60,000 Kelvin. In their research the physicists, though, did not use a telescope, but a particle accelerator. ... > full story
Strictly high heels: Researchers look at impact of high-heeled Latin dancing (September 17, 2010) -- With ballroom dancing once again on our screens, all eyes are on the sequins and steps. Well, not quite all eyes. British and Chinese scientists are more interested in the height of the ladies' high heels rather than the torsos and twists and have a few strict words on health and safety for professional dancers. ... > full story
Surprisingly complicated molecule found in outer space (September 17, 2010) -- In interstellar clouds of extremely small density scientists have managed to find a molecule that has an unexpectedly complicated structure. The discovery will force a change in the way of thinking about chemical processes occurring in the apparently empty areas of the galaxy. ... > full story
Optical chip enables new approach to quantum computing (September 17, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new approach to quantum computing that could soon be used to perform complex calculations that cannot be done by today's computers. ... > full story
Shape-shifting robot plane offers safer alternative for maritime rescue (September 16, 2010) -- Use of morphing flight control surfaces has enabled the development of a cost effective unmanned air-sea rescue plane that can operate in extreme weather conditions despite its light weight and small size. State-of-the-art avionics and cameras onboard the seaplane ensure a smooth flight for extended rescue and surveillance missions, while reducing risks to material and crews. ... > full story
3-D computer simulations help envision supernovae explosions (September 16, 2010) -- For a brief burst of time, supernovae can radiate more energy than the sun will emit in its lifetime. Now, scientists have found a way to make computer simulations of supernovae exploding in three dimensions, which may lead to new scientific insights. ... > full story
How bacteria acquire immunity: First theoretical description of bacterial system to silence viral genes (September 16, 2010) -- In a new study, scientists have brought the latest tools of computational biology to bear in examining how the processes of natural selection and evolution influence the way bacteria acquire immunity from disease. The study builds upon one of the major discoveries made possible by molecular genetics in the past decade -- the revelation that bacteria and similar single-celled organisms have an acquired immune system. ... > full story
Home's electrical wiring acts as antenna to receive low-power sensor data (September 16, 2010) -- Using a home's electrical wiring as a giant copper antenna allows for wireless sensors that can communicate over a whole house and run for decades on a single watch battery. The device could be used for low-cost medical monitoring or home sensing systems. ... > full story
Discovery of the secrets that enable plants near Chernobyl to shrug off radiation (September 16, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting discovery of the biological secrets that enable plants growing near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to adapt and flourish in highly radioactive soil -- legacy of the 1986 nuclear disaster in the Ukraine. Their study helps solve a long-standing mystery. ... > full story
NASA's lunar spacecraft completes exploration mission phase (September 16, 2010) -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, completes the exploration phase of its mission on Sept. 16, after a number of successes that transformed our understanding of Earth's nearest neighbor. LRO completed a one-year exploration mission in a polar orbit approximately 31 miles above the moon's surface. It produced a comprehensive map of the lunar surface in unprecedented detail; searched for resources and safe landing sites for potential future missions to the moon; and measured lunar temperatures and radiation levels. ... > full story
Planck's first glimpse at galaxy clusters uncovers a new supercluster (September 16, 2010) -- Surveying the microwave sky, Planck has obtained its very first images of galaxy clusters, amongst the largest objects in the Universe, by means of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, a characteristic signature they imprint on the Cosmic Microwave Background. Joining forces in a fruitful collaboration between ESA missions, XMM-Newton followed up Planck's detections and revealed that one of them is a previously unknown supercluster of galaxies. ... > full story
New supercomputer 'sees' well enough to drive a car someday (September 16, 2010) -- Visually interpreting our environment as quickly as we do is an astonishing feat requiring an enormous number of computations -- which is just one reason that coming up with a computer-driven system that can mimic the human brain in visually recognizing objects has proven so difficult. Now a supercomputer based on the human visual system has been developed, operating much more quickly and efficiently than ever before. ... > full story
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