ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Monday, September 27, 2010
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Mystery of disappearing Martian carbon dioxide ice solved? (September 27, 2010) -- Scientists may have solved the mystery of the carbon dioxide ice disappearance early in the Northern Martian springs followed later by its sudden reappearance, revealing a very active water cycle on the planet. ... > full story
Genetic switch underlies noisy cell division: 'Bimodal' signal determines a cell's get-up and go (September 27, 2010) -- While scientists have spent the past 40 years describing the intricate series of events that occur when one mammalian cell divides into two, they still haven't agreed on how the process begins. Two seemingly contradictory theories may now be reconciled by a third theory. ... > full story
Privacy key obstacle to adopting electronic health records, study finds (September 27, 2010) -- The United States could achieve significant health care savings if it achieved widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs), but insufficient privacy protections are hindering public acceptance of the EHR concept, according to a new paper that outlines steps that could be taken to boost privacy and promote the use of EHRs. ... > full story
How molecules escape from cell's nucleus: Key advance in using microscopy to reveal secrets of living cells (September 27, 2010) -- By constructing a microscope apparatus that achieves resolution never before possible in living cells, researchers have illuminated the molecular interactions that occur during one of the most important "trips" in all of biology: the journey of individual messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules from the nucleus into the cytoplasm (the area between the nucleus and cell membrane) so that proteins can be made. ... > full story
Mechanical transmission without contact between parts (September 27, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain are coordinating an international project to develop a new concept of mechanical transmission without contact between parts, based on magnetic forces, which prevents friction and wear as well as making lubrication of the parts unnecessary. ... > full story
Magnetic anomalies: New type of solar wind interaction with airless bodies in our solar system (September 26, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a new type of solar wind interaction with airless bodies in our solar system. Magnetized regions called magnetic anomalies, mostly on the far side of the Moon, were found to strongly deflect the solar wind, shielding the Moon’s surface. This will help scientists understand the solar wind behavior near the lunar surface and how water may be generated in its upper layer. ... > full story
Structure that allows bacteria to resist drugs identified (September 26, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered the crystal structures of pumps that allow bacteria to resist heavy metal toxins and antibiotics. ... > full story
Tool to improve Wikipedia accuracy developed (September 26, 2010) -- Check the Microsoft entry on Wikipedia at some point in the past and you might have learned that the company's name is Microshaft, its products are evil and its logo is a kitten. Similarly, you may have learned from Abraham Lincoln's Wikipedia entry that he was married to Brayson Kondracki, his birth date is March 14 and Pete likes PANCAKES. ... > full story
Robots could improve everyday life at home or work (September 26, 2010) -- They're mundane, yet daunting tasks: Tidying a messy room. Assembling a bookshelf from a kit of parts. Fetching a hairbrush for someone who can't do it herself. ... > full story
UK's shipping emissions six times higher than expected, says new report (September 26, 2010) -- Carbon dioxide emissions produced by UK shipping could be up to six times higher than currently calculated, according to new research. ... > full story
In cyber bullying, depression hits victims hardest (September 26, 2010) -- Young victims of electronic or cyber bullying — which occurs online or by cell phone — are more likely to suffer from depression than their tormentors are, a new study finds. “Kids may be reluctant to tell their parents in case they lose their computer or cell phone privileges,” one of the researchers said. ... > full story
Dust models paint alien's view of the solar system (September 26, 2010) -- New supercomputer simulations tracking the interactions of thousands of dust grains show what the solar system might look like to alien astronomers searching for planets. The models also provide a glimpse of how this view might have changed as our planetary system matured. ... > full story
Newly created material resembles cilia (September 25, 2010) -- Scientists recently imitated Mother Nature by developing, for the first time, a new, skinny-molecule-based material that resembles cilia, the tiny, hair-like structures through which organisms derive smell, vision, hearing and fluid flow. ... > full story
New 'light switch' chloride binder developed (September 25, 2010) -- Chemists have designed a molecule that binds chloride ions -- but can be conveniently compelled to release the ions in the presence of ultraviolet light. ... > full story
Cassini makes first dive inside Saturn’s radio aurora (September 25, 2010) -- The Cassini spacecraft has made the first observations from within the radio aurora of another planet than Earth. The measurements, which were taken when the spacecraft flew through an active auroral region in 2008, show some similarities and some contrasts between the radio auroral emissions generated at Saturn and those at Earth. ... > full story
Sensor important to understanding root, seedling development (September 25, 2010) -- A biosensor utilizing black platinum and carbon nanotubes will help give scientists a better understanding of how the plant hormone auxin regulates root growth and seedling establishment. ... > full story
A biological solution to animal pandemics (September 24, 2010) -- Using all-natural materials -- flax, hemp, jute and natural resin -- researchers in Poland have developed a new absorbent matting ideal for providing a disinfectant barrier for use in animal housing and other food production sites, both at times of outbreak of contagious disease and for routine hygiene. The matting is cheaper than the synthetic alternatives, both initially and because it is fully biodegradable so does not need special disposal. ... > full story
Mimicking nature, water-based 'artificial leaf' produces electricity (September 24, 2010) -- Scientists have shown that water-gel-based solar devices -- "artificial leaves" -- can act like solar cells to produce electricity. The findings prove the concept for making solar cells that more closely mimic nature. They also have the potential to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than the current standard-bearer: silicon-based solar cells. ... > full story
Biometric ID technologies 'inherently fallible,' new report finds (September 24, 2010) -- Biometric systems -- designed to automatically recognize individuals based on biological and behavioral traits such as fingerprints, palm prints, or voice or face recognition -- are "inherently fallible," says a new report, and no single trait has been identified that is stable and distinctive across all groups. ... > full story
'Coreshine' sheds light on the birth of stars: Astronomers discover a new phenomenon in molecular clouds (September 24, 2010) -- Science is literally in the dark when it comes to the birth of stars, which occurs deep inside clouds of gas and dust. These clouds are completely opaque to ordinary light. Now, a group of astronomers has discovered a new astronomical phenomenon that appears to be common in such clouds, and promises a new window onto the earliest phases of star formation. The phenomenon -- infra red light that is scattered by unexpectedly large grains of dust, which the astronomers have termed "coreshine" -- probes the dense cores where stars are born. ... > full story
How heating our homes could help reduce climate change (September 24, 2010) -- A radical new heating system where homes would be heated by district centers rather than in individual households could dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions. ... > full story
Video gaming prepares brain for bigger tasks (September 24, 2010) -- Playing video games for hours on end may prepare your child to become a laparoscopic surgeon one day, a new study has shown. Reorganization of the brain's cortical network in young men with significant experience playing video games gives them an advantage not only in playing the games but also in performing other tasks requiring visuomotor skills. ... > full story
Pair of aluminum atomic clocks reveal Einstein's relativity at a personal scale (September 24, 2010) -- Scientists have known for decades that time passes faster at higher elevations, and more slowly when you move faster, curious aspects of Einstein's theories of relativity. Physicists have now used a pair of the world's best clocks to conduct new "time dilation" experiments to measure these effects at heights and speeds on personal, comprehensible scales. ... > full story
New nanomesh material created: Silicon-based film may lead to efficient thermoelectric devices (September 24, 2010) -- Computers, light bulbs and even people generate heat -- energy that ends up being wasted. Thermoelectric devices, which convert heat to electricity and vice versa, harness that energy. But they're not efficient enough for widespread commercial use or are made from expensive or environmentally harmful rare materials. Researchers have just developed a new type of material -- a nanomesh, composed of a thin film with a grid-like arrangement of tiny holes -- that could lead to efficient thermoelectric devices. ... > full story
Robotic arm's big flaw: Patients in wheelchairs say it's 'too easy' (September 24, 2010) -- Researchers thought the ease of the using a robotic arm's automatic mode would be a huge hit. But they were wrong -- many participants in a pilot study didn't like it because it was "too easy." ... > full story
Less expensive low-temperature catalyst for hydrogen purification discovered (September 24, 2010) -- Engineering researchers have demonstrated the low-temperature efficacy of an atomically dispersed platinum catalyst, which could be suitable for on-board hydrogen production in fuel-cell-powered vehicles of the future. ... > full story
Insight into the impacts of too much communication (September 24, 2010) -- Individuals within a networked system coordinate their activities by communicating to each other information such as their position, speed, or intention. At first glance, it seems that more of this communication will increase the harmony and efficiency of the network. However, scientists have found that this is only true if the communication and its subsequent action are immediate. ... > full story
Computer simulations of real earthquakes made available to worldwide network (September 24, 2010) -- A research team has developed the capability to produce realistic movies of earthquakes based on complex computer simulations that can be made available worldwide within hours of a disastrous upheaval. ... > full story
Magnetic power offers energy-saving alternative (September 24, 2010) -- Researchers have designed a new system called the "Magnetic Energy Recovery Switch" that controls electrical flow for lighting, a highly efficient platform that may spark a new era of power savings. ... > full story
Successful sludge-to-power research developed (September 24, 2010) -- An experiment to transform wastewater sludge to electrical power, dwarfed by the million-gallon tanks, pipes and pumps at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility, has successfully demonstrated a continuous feed low-cost system to dry sludge for conversion to fuel, which could ultimately supply the plant's electrical power on-site. ... > full story
New light on nonlinearity: Peregrine’s soliton observed at last (September 23, 2010) -- Despite its central place as a defining object of nonlinear science for over 25 years, the unique characteristics of the Peregrine soliton have never been directly observed in a continuous physical system -- until now. ... > full story
Secret of oysters' ability to stick together cracked open (September 23, 2010) -- A research team has uncovered the chemical components of the adhesive produced by oysters, providing information that could be useful for fisheries, boating and medicine. A better understanding of oysters' ability to stick together to form complex reefs would help those trying to boost the dwindling oyster population, aid in the creation of materials to keep boat hulls clean without harming the environment, and bring researchers one step closer to creating wet-setting adhesives. ... > full story
Ingredient in soap points toward new drugs for infection that affects two billion (September 23, 2010) -- The antibacterial ingredient in some soaps, toothpastes, odor-fighting socks, and even computer keyboards is pointing scientists toward a long-sought new treatment for a parasitic disease that affects almost two billion people. ... > full story
Mercury’s comet-like appearance spotted by satellites looking at the Sun (September 23, 2010) -- Scientists report that NASA satellites designed to view the escaping atmosphere of the Sun have also recorded evidence of escaping gas from the planet Mercury. The STEREO mission has two satellites placed in the same orbit around the Sun that the Earth has, but at locations ahead and behind it. This configuration offers multi-directional views of the electrons and ions that make up the escaping solar wind. On occasion, the planet Mercury appears in the field of view of one or both satellites. In addition to its appearance as a bright disk of reflected sunlight, a "tail" of emission can be seen in some of the images. ... > full story
Smartphone app for genes on Earth is tool for scientists and entertaining for all (September 23, 2010) -- The scientists who put an innovative tree of life online last year now have made that same resource available -- free -- for smartphones. The new "TimeTree" application lets anyone with an Apple iPhone harness a vast Internet storehouse of data about the diversity of life, from bacteria to humans. The new iPhone app can be fun for people who want to learn how long ago their cat and dog began evolving down different evolutionary paths, and it also is a useful scientific tool. ... > full story
Earth and Venus Lightning: Similar mechanisms on the two planets (September 23, 2010) -- Despite the great differences between the atmospheres of Venus and Earth, scientists have discovered that very similar mechanisms produce lightning on the two planets. The rates of discharge, the intensity and the spatial distribution of lightning are comparable, thus scientists hope to be able to better understand the chemistry, dynamics and evolution of the atmospheres of the two planets. ... > full story
Searching in the microbial world for efficient ways to produce biofuel (September 23, 2010) -- With the help of genetic materials from a cow's rumen, scientists are developing new ways to break down plant fibers for conversion into biofuel. ... > full story
Progress toward terabit-rate high-density recording (September 23, 2010) -- Next-generation high-density storage devices may keep more than 70 times the contents of the entire US Library of Congress on a single disc -- but only if that data can be written quickly enough. Researchers have now demonstrated a way to record onto ferromagnetic films thirty times faster than today's technologies. ... > full story
New computer-tomography method visualizes nano-structure of bones (September 23, 2010) -- A novel nano-tomography method opens the door to computed tomography examinations of minute structures at nanometer resolutions. Three-dimensional detailed imaging of fragile bone structures becomes possible. ... > full story
A new approach to high-performance catalysts (September 23, 2010) -- Over 80% of all products manufactured today in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries require the use of catalysts. Chemists have now demonstrated a new technique using the enantioselective hydrogenation of alkenes as a model. ... > full story
New drug could help stop the spread of disease from coughs, researchers believe (September 22, 2010) -- What if there was a drug that could completely eliminate airborne disease transmission that occurs when someone coughs? Researchers in Canada believe they have found a way to achieve this. ... > full story
Ultrashort laser ablation enables novel metal films (September 22, 2010) -- Laser ablation is well known in medical applications like dermatology and dentistry, and for more than a decade it has been used to vaporize materials that are difficult to evaporate for high-tech applications like the deposition of superconductors. Now researchers have studied the properties of femtosecond laser ablation plumes to better understand how to apply them to specialized films. ... > full story
Breaking waves in the Lagoon Nebula (September 22, 2010) -- A spectacular new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image reveals the heart of the Lagoon Nebula. Seen as a massive cloud of glowing dust and gas, bombarded by the energetic radiation of new stars, this placid name hides a dramatic reality. ... > full story
New luggage inspection methods identify liquid explosives (September 22, 2010) -- Liquid explosives are easy to produce. As a result, terrorists can use the chemicals for attacks -- on aircraft, for instance. In the future, new detection systems at airport security checkpoints will help track down these dangerous substances. Researchers are currently testing equipment. ... > full story
Working from home and online shopping can increase carbon emissions, UK report claims (September 22, 2010) -- Shopping on the Internet or working from home could be increasing carbon emissions rather than helping to reduce them, a new report claims. The research reveals that people who shop online must order more than 25 items otherwise the impact on the environment is likely to be worse than traditional shopping. ... > full story
Human-powered ornithopter becomes first ever of its kind to achieve sustained flight (September 22, 2010) -- Aviation history was made when the University of Toronto's human-powered aircraft with flapping wings became the first of its kind to fly continuously. ... > full story
Titanium foams replace injured bones (September 22, 2010) -- Flexible yet rigid like a human bone, and immediately capable of bearing loads: A new kind of implant, made of titanium foam, resembles the inside of a bone in terms of its structural configuration. Not only does this make it less stiff than conventional massive implants. It also promotes ingrowth into surrounding bones. ... > full story
Universal, primordial magnetic fields discovered in deep space (September 22, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered evidence of "universal ubiquitous magnetic fields" permeating deep space between galaxies since the time of the Big Bang. ... > full story
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