ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Friday, November 5, 2010
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The Large Hadron Collider enters a new phase (November 5, 2010) -- Proton running for 2010 in the LHC at CERN came to a successful conclusion on November 4. Since the end of March, when the first collisions occurred at a total energy of 7 TeV, the machine and experiment teams have achieved all of their objectives for the first year of proton physics at this record energy and new ground has been explored. For the rest of the year the LHC is moving to a different phase of operation, in which lead ions will be accelerated and brought into collision in the machine for the first time. ... > full story
Neutron stars may be too weak to power some gamma-ray bursts; Black holes may be power source (November 5, 2010) -- Long-duration gamma-ray bursts flash across the universe to signal the collapse of a massive star, but this collapsar model predicts either a neutron star or a black hole is left behind. New calculations of the energy released by gamma-ray bursts find it too large to be powered by a neutron star, even highly magnetized, spinning magnetars. Thus, astronomers conclude, the likely power source is a black hole. ... > full story
Deep impact spacecraft successfully flies by comet Hartley 2 (November 4, 2010) -- The EPOXI mission successfully flew by comet Hartley 2 on Nov. 3, 2010, and the spacecraft has begun returning images. Hartley 2 is the fifth comet nucleus visited by any spacecraft and the second one visited by the Deep Impact spacecraft. ... > full story
Built-in timer for improving accuracy of cost saving paper-strip medical tests (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting the development of a simple, built-in timer intended to improve the accuracy of paper tests and test strips for diagnosing diseases inexpensively at-home and elsewhere. ... > full story
Corn starch solution can help shape solid materials (November 4, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a method to shape solid materials using a corn starch solution. The process offers a potential technique for material cutting and manufacturing processes. ... > full story
How some plants spread their seeds: Ready, set, catapult (November 4, 2010) -- Catapults are often associated with a medieval means of destruction, but for some plants, they are an effective way to launch new life. Dispersing seeds greater distances by catapulting can provide selective advantages, including the establishment of populations in new environments and escape from certain threats. Researchers measured the mechanics involved in catapulting seeds for the ballistic disperser Cardamine parviflora. ... > full story
Transparent conductive material could lead to power-generating windows (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists have fabricated transparent thin films capable of absorbing light and generating electric charge over a relatively large area. The material could be used to develop transparent solar panels or even windows that absorb solar energy to generate electricity. ... > full story
Electrons get confused: Researchers may have observed the fastest melting of all time (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists have observed exotic behavior from beryllium oxide (BeO) when they bombarded it with high-speed heavy ions: after being shot in this way, the electrons in the BeO appeared "confused", and seemed to completely forget the material properties of their environment. The researchers' measurements show changes in the electronic structure that can be explained by extremely rapid melting around the firing line of the heavy ions. ... > full story
What will Webb see? Supercomputer models yield sneak previews (November 4, 2010) -- As scientists and engineers work to make NASA's James Webb Space Telescope a reality, they find themselves wondering what new sights the largest space-based observatory ever constructed will reveal. With Webb, astronomers aim to catch planets in the making and identify the universe's first stars and galaxies, yet these are things no telescope -- not even Hubble -- has ever shown them before. ... > full story
'Bouncy' cell membranes behave like cornstarch and water, researchers find (November 3, 2010) -- Mix two parts cornstarch and one part water. Swirl your fingers in it slowly and the mixture is a smoothly flowing liquid. Punch it quickly with your fist and you meet a rubbery solid -- so solid you can jump up and down on a vat of it. It turns out that cell membranes behave the same way. ... > full story
Broadband coming wirelessly to Australia's bush (November 3, 2010) -- A major breakthrough in wireless technology designed to bring broadband to people living beyond the optical fiber network has been unveiled in Australia. ... > full story
Moving holograms: From science fiction to reality (November 3, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new type of holographic telepresence that allows the projection of a three-dimensional, moving image without the need for special eyewear such as 3-D glasses or other auxiliary devices. The technology is likely to take applications ranging from telemedicine, advertising, updatable 3-D maps and entertainment to a new level. ... > full story
New retinal implant enables blind people to see shapes and objects (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers in Germany have developed a retinal implant that has allowed three blind people to see shapes and objects within days of the implant being installed. One blind person was even able to identify and find objects placed on a table in front of him, as well as walking around a room independently and approaching people, reading a clock face and differentiating seven shades of gray. The device represents an unprecedented advance in electronic visual prostheses and could eventually revolutionize the lives of up 200,000 people worldwide who suffer from blindness as a result of retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. ... > full story
Plants and animals under stress may provide the key to better stock market predications (November 3, 2010) -- Stock markets react to crisis in a similar way to plants and the human body, according to a major new study that may help to predict future financial down-turns. An extensive analysis of biological and financial data suggests that systems under stress exhibit similar symptoms, whether they be polluted forests, cancer patients or the FTSE 100. ... > full story
New approaches needed to gauge safety of nanotech-based pesticides, researchers urge (November 3, 2010) -- Nanotechnology is about to emerge in the world of pesticides and pest control, and a range of new approaches are needed to understand the implications for public health, ensure that this is done safely, maximize the potential benefits and prevent possible risks, researchers say in a new report. ... > full story
Quantum simulator and supercomputer at the crossroads (November 3, 2010) -- Scientists in an international collaboration have measured for the first time a many-body phase diagram with ultracold atoms in optical lattices at finite temperatures. ... > full story
Fourth flavor of neutrino? Physics experiment suggests existence of new elementary particle (November 3, 2010) -- The results of a high-profile Fermilab physics experiment appear to confirm strange 20-year-old findings that poke holes in the standard model, suggesting the existence of a new elementary particle: a fourth flavor of neutrino. ... > full story
Unique duality: 'Exotic' superconductor with metallic surface discovered (November 3, 2010) -- A new material with a split personality -- part superconductor, part metal -- has been observed by researchers. The discovery may have implications for the development of next-generation electronics that could transform the way information is stored and processed. ... > full story
Cancer drug linked to quantum dots increases drug uptake, reduces inflammation (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a novel technology using quantum dots that is expected to have major implications for research and treatment of tuberculosis, as well as other inflammatory lung diseases. ... > full story
Phenomenal fabric: How can a cloth clean up toxic waste? (November 3, 2010) -- Ordinary-looking fabric can be used to filter out and destroy incredibly toxic materials, even when they’re only present in tiny amounts, according to new research. ... > full story
New long-range undersea robot goes the distance (November 2, 2010) -- Over the past decade, the undersea robots known as autonomous underwater vehicles have become increasingly important in oceanographic research. Engineers recently demonstrated a new super-efficient AUV that can travel rapidly for hundreds of kilometers, "hover" in the water for weeks at a time, and carry a wide variety of instruments. ... > full story
Braided anyons could lead to more robust quantum computing (November 2, 2010) -- When confined to a 2-dimensional sheet, some exotic particle-like structures known as anyons appear to entwine in ways that could lead to robust quantum computing schemes, according to new research. Physicists are hopeful the anyons can be induced to follow paths that twist into braids that would be much more resistant to disturbances that corrupt data and calculations in quantum computers relying on individual particles. ... > full story
Astronomers find evidence of 'cosmic climate change' (November 2, 2010) -- A team of astronomers has found evidence that the universe may have gone through a warming trend early in its history. They measured the temperature of the gas that lies in between galaxies, and found a clear indication that it had increased steadily over the period from when the universe was one tenth to one quarter of its current age. This cosmic climate change is most likely caused by the huge amount of energy output from young, active galaxies during this epoch. ... > full story
Radically simple technique developed to grow conducting polymer thin films (November 2, 2010) -- Oil and water don't mix, but add in some nanofibers and all bets are off. A team of chemists and engineers has developed a new method for coating large surfaces with nanofiber thin films that are both transparent and electrically conductive. Their method involves the vigorous agitation of water, dense oil, and polymer nanofibers. After this solution is sufficiently agitated it spreads over virtually any surface, creating a thin film. ... > full story
Astrophysicists discover new galaxy clusters revealed by cosmic 'shadows' (November 2, 2010) -- An international team of astrophysicists has discovered 10 new massive galaxy clusters from a large, uniform survey of the southern sky. The survey was conducted using a breakthrough technique that detects "shadows" of galaxy clusters on the cosmic microwave background radiation, a relic of the "big bang" that gave birth to the universe. ... > full story
UV light nearly doubles vacuum's effectiveness in reducing carpet microbes (November 2, 2010) -- New research suggests that the addition of ultraviolet light to the brushing and suction of a vacuum cleaner can almost double the removal of potentially infectious microorganisms from a carpet's surface when compared to vacuuming alone. Researchers say the findings suggest that incorporating the germicidal properties of UV light into vacuuming might have promise in reducing allergens and pathogens from carpets, as well. ... > full story
Voting-machine-allocation method could reduce voters' wait time by 36 percent (November 2, 2010) -- Too many voters have waited in extremely lengthy lines to cast ballots while voters at other precincts within the same county have had only minimal waits. In some instances, lengthy waits have caused people to leave without voting. A research team has created a new voting-machine allocation method, which when applied to 2008 presidential-election data from Franklin County, Ohio, reduced the average voter wait time by 36 percent in a computer simulation. ... > full story
Pivoting hooks of graphene’s chemical cousin could revolutionize work of electron microscopes (November 2, 2010) -- The single layer material graphene was the subject of a Nobel prize this year, and now scientists have found molecular hooks on the surface of its close chemical cousin, graphene oxide, that could provide massive benefits to researchers using transmission electron microscopes. These hooks could even be used in building molecular scale mechanisms. ... > full story
Computer scientist, student design software to combat hacking using keystroke anti-spoofing technique (November 2, 2010) -- One of the serious threats to a user's computer is a software program that might cause unwanted keystroke sequences in order to hack someone's identity. This form of attack is increasing, infecting enterprise and personal computers. A keystroke anti-spoofing technique has received an IEEE Computer Society best paper award and will soon be a part of a new PC security product. ... > full story
Cassini sees Saturn rings oscillate like mini-galaxy (November 1, 2010) -- Scientists believe they finally understand why one of the most dynamic regions in Saturn's rings has such an irregular and varying shape, thanks to images captured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. And the answer is this: The rings are behaving like a miniature version of our own Milky Way galaxy. ... > full story
Microfluidics-imaging platform detects cancer growth signaling in minute biopsy samples (November 1, 2010) -- Researchers have developed an in vitro method to assess kinase activity in minute patient samples. The method involves an integrated microfluidics and imaging platform that can reproducibly measure kinase enzymatic activity from as few as 3,000 cells. The new method will enable faster and more efficient screening and analysis for improved diagnostics of rare cell populations. ... > full story
Microreactor speeds nanotech particle production by 500 times (November 1, 2010) -- Engineers have discovered a new method to speed the production rate of nanoparticles by 500 times, an advance that could play an important role in making nanotechnology products more commercially practical. ... > full story
Triple-mode transistors show potential: Researchers introduce graphene-based amplifiers (November 1, 2010) -- Research that capitalizes on the wide-ranging capabilities of graphene could lead to circuit applications that are far more compact and versatile than what is now feasible with silicon-based technologies. ... > full story
New portable radiation detector can assess safety of potentially contaminated areas (November 1, 2010) -- The UK's National Physical Laboratory has developed a new portable radiation detector that can assess the safety of potentially contaminated areas far quicker than current methods. The prototype was inspired by the aftermath of the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in London 2006. ... > full story
Conserving resources: Producing circuit boards with plasma (November 1, 2010) -- There is a large growth market for flexible circuits, RFID antennas and biosensors on films. Researchers in Germany are presenting a new technology: they can now apply conductive metal circuits to plastic substrates in a process that is energy- and material-conserving and thus more sustainable. ... > full story
Faster CARS, less damage: Chemical microscopy shows potential for cell diagnostics (November 1, 2010) -- Recent research may breathe new life into the use of a powerful -- but tricky -- diagnostic technique for cell biology. A new paper demonstrates that with improved hardware and better signal processing, a powerful form of molecular vibration spectroscopy can quickly deliver detailed molecular maps of the contents of cells without damaging them. ... > full story
New test equipment enhances police traffic surveillance (November 1, 2010) -- Police surveillance of seatbelt compliance and speeding is getting a boost thanks to the development of new test equipment by Finnish researchers. Developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the equipment also measures distance between vehicles, road surface condition and calculates traffic emissions. ... > full story
Scarcity of new energy minerals may trigger trade wars, expert suggests (November 1, 2010) -- It's not hard to argue in favor of alternatives to fossil fuels these days, but one popular argument -- domestic energy security -- may be standing on very shaky legs. A lot of rare metals are needed to make photovoltaic panels, rare earth magnets for wind generators, fuel cells and high-capacity batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. But most industrialized nations, including the United States, are almost entirely dependent on foreign sources for those metals. The only way this is going to change is if there is more domestic exploration and mining, a leading expert says. ... > full story
Mars volcanic deposit tells of warm and wet environment (October 31, 2010) -- Planetary scientists have found a volcanic deposit on Mars that would have been a promising wellspring for life. The silica deposit clearly shows the presence of water and heat. It was formed at a time when Mars' climate turned dry and chilly, which could mark it as one of the most recent habitable microenvironments on the red planet. ... > full story
Isotope near 'doubly magic' tin-100 flouts conventional wisdom (October 31, 2010) -- Tin may seem like the most unassuming of elements, but new experiments are yielding surprising properties in extremely short-lived isotopes near tin-100's "doubly magic" nucleus. Experiments performed with the exotic nucleus tin-101, which has a single neutron orbiting tin-100's closed shell of 50 protons and 50 neutrons, indicate an unexpected reversal in the ordering of lowest states in the nucleus. The finding appears to violate a standard scenario offered by the nuclear shell model that has been the cornerstone for understanding the atomic nucleus for more than half a century. ... > full story
A technique that shows colorful connections in the brain (October 31, 2010) -- The connections between neurons in a young, growing brain are more dynamic and changeable than previously thought, according to research based on a new technique that reveals the brain circuitry of a living mouse. ... > full story
Advance could change modern electronics (October 31, 2010) -- Researchers have solved a quest in fundamental material science that has eluded scientists since the 1960s, and could form the basis of a new approach to electronics. The discovery outlines the creation for the first time of a high-performance "metal-insulator-metal" diode. ... > full story
'Goldilocks' of DNA self-assembly discovered (October 31, 2010) -- Researchers have found a way to optimize the development of DNA self-assembling materials, which hold promise for technologies ranging from drug delivery to molecular sensors. The key to the advance is the discovery of the "Goldilocks" length for DNA strands used in self-assembly -- not too long, not too short, but just right. ... > full story
Avoiding CO<sub>2</sub> capture health risks is possible, Norwegian experts say (October 31, 2010) -- Experts in Norway believe it is possible to develop efficient CO2 capture technologies without generating harmful emissions. ... > full story
New insight into gaseous and dust discs around stars (October 30, 2010) -- Researchers offer new insight into the structure of the gaseous and dust disc around a so-called 'Herbig Be' star. Herbig Be stars are surrounded by a disk with gaseous and solid particles. ... > full story
New software eases analysis of insect in motion (October 30, 2010) -- Researchers are using two high-speed cameras and a computer program they developed to quickly and accurately analyze the simultaneous movement of all 26 leg joints in a walking cockroach. They have made the program free and open-source for other insect researchers to use. ... > full story
Shuttle mice to boost disease research: Experiment on last flight of Discovery will probe spaceflight-induced immune-system impairment (October 30, 2010) -- When the space shuttle Discovery lifts off on its final flight Nov. 2, its six astronauts will be joined by 16 mice -- part of a long-term NASA effort aimed at understanding why spaceflight makes humans more vulnerable to infection by viruses and bacteria. ... > full story
Study links fresh Mars gullies to carbon dioxide (October 30, 2010) -- A growing bounty of images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reveals that the timing of new activity in one type of the enigmatic gullies on Mars implicates carbon-dioxide frost, rather than water, as the agent causing fresh flows of sand. ... > full story
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