ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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Nanotech medicine to rebuild damaged parts of human body (January 19, 2011) -- To rebuild damaged parts of a human body from scratch is a dream that has long fired human imagination, from Mary Shelley's Doctor Frankenstein to modern day surgeons. Now scientists have made a promising contribution to reconstructive surgery, thanks to an original multidisciplinary approach matching cutting-edge medicine to the latest developments in nanotechnology. ... > full story
Cellular traffic: Factors beyond crowding affect how molecules interact within cells, modeling shows (January 19, 2011) -- Using large-scale computer simulations, researchers have identified the most important factors affecting how molecules move through the crowded environment inside living cells. The findings suggest that perturbations caused by hydrodynamic interactions -- similar to what happens when the wake from a large boat affects smaller boats on a lake -- may be the most important factor in this intracellular diffusion. ... > full story
Oxidation mechanisms at gold nanoclusters unraveled (January 19, 2011) -- Researchers believe that the puzzle of catalytic gold is now partially solved. Gold can catalyze an oxidation reaction by first oxidizing itself. New research evidence on gold-oxide phase at room temperature and atmospheric pressure help us to finally understand the oxidation mechanisms of catalytic gold nanoclusters in these conditions. ... > full story
In distant galaxies, new clues to century-old molecule mystery (January 18, 2011) -- In a study that pushes the limits of observations currently possible from Earth, a team of NASA and European scientists recorded the "fingerprints" of mystery molecules in two distant galaxies, Andromeda and the Triangulum. Astronomers can count on one hand the number of galaxies examined so far for such fingerprints, which are thought to belong to large organic molecules. ... > full story
Keeping your digital secrets safe: Researchers develop security application to keep private data private (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a GPS application, Locacino, based on better security design. It provides users with a higher degree of control over their privacy settings, as well as a glimpse into how people really share information between friends over the Internet. ... > full story
Breakthrough in converting heat waste to electricity: Automotive, chemical, brick and glass industries could benefit from discovery (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have placed nanocrystals of rock salt into lead telluride, creating a material that can harness electricity from heat-generating items such as vehicle exhaust systems, industrial processes and equipment and sun light more efficiently than scientists have seen in the past. ... > full story
New synthetic compound created with HIV-fighting promise (January 18, 2011) -- Using chemical compounds found in a Japanese plant as a lead and the clever application of ultraviolet light, a research team has created a unique library of dozens of synthetic compounds to test for biomedical potential. Already, one of the compounds has shown great promise in inhibiting replication of HIV particles and fighting inflammation. ... > full story
Scientists develop 3-D model of the ionosphere F-region (January 18, 2011) -- The first global simulation study of equatorial spread F (ESF) bubble evolution using a comprehensive 3-D ionosphere model, SAMI3, has been demonstrated. The model self-consistently solves for the neutral wind driven dynamo electric field and the gravity driven electric field associated with plasma bubbles. ... > full story
Pulsating star that hosts a giant planet discovered (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain have discovered, for the first time, a delta Scuti pulsating star that hosts a hot giant transiting planet. WASP-33 (also known as HD15082) is hotter, more massive than the Sun (1.5 Msun) and is located at a distance of 378 light years away, in the constellation of Andromeda. It has the peculiarity of being a star that pulsates radially, like a balloon that inflates and deflates continuously, and non-radially, like the tides in Earth's oceans caused by the presence of the moon, which deforms the bodies of water between the poles and the equator. ... > full story
Magnetically controlled pill could boost body's absorption of drugs (January 18, 2011) -- Many drugs can only be absorbed in very specific parts of the intestine. Scientists have now developed a new system that can safely hold a magnetic gelatin capsule in place anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract of a rat. In humans, the system could improve drug delivery and pharmacological research. ... > full story
Radiometer finds sources of fire (January 18, 2011) -- Forest fires usually spread out of control very quickly. Fires that produce a lot of smoke are particularly challenging for the emergency services, because the source of the fire is then especially hard to find. A new radiometric sensor can pinpoint the heart of the flames, even when visibility is limited. ... > full story
New molecular imaging technologies for detecting cellular processes (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain have designed and developed a biomedical scanner that detects cellular processes at the molecular level and indicates malfunctioning of an organ before said malfunction can produce an anatomical change. ... > full story
Off-the-shelf electronics turn up gain on spectroscopy (January 18, 2011) -- A new twist on spectroscopy allows for an unprecedented level of such filtering, one that could transform everything from the search for extraterrestrial intelligence to super-sensitive spy gear to scan hotel rooms for hidden microphones or cameras. ... > full story
Physicists observe exotic state in an unconventional superconductor (January 17, 2011) -- A new fractional vortex state observed in an unconventional superconductor may offer the first glimpse of an exotic state of matter predicted theoretically for more than 30 years. Physicists observed a new fractional vortex state in strontium ruthenium oxide. Such states may provide the basis for a novel form of quantum computing in which quantum information is encoded in the topological properties of a physical system. ... > full story
Silicon microdevices show promise for detecting metastatic breast cancer cells (January 17, 2011) -- Research by engineers and cancer biologists indicates that using specific silicon microdevices might provide a new way to screen breast cancer cells' ability to metastasize. ... > full story
Chandra images torrent of star formation (January 17, 2011) -- A new Chandra X-ray Observatory image of Messier 82, or M82, shows the result of star formation on overdrive. At a distance of only 12 million light years, M82 provides a unique cosmic laboratory for studying conditions similar to those that existed billions of years ago when stars were forming at a furious rate in most galaxies. ... > full story
CT helps identify bullet trajectories (January 17, 2011) -- Multidetector computed tomography provides an efficient, effective way to analyze wounds from bullets and explosive devices, according to a new study. ... > full story
New technique to see neurons of the deep brain for months at a time (January 17, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new technique that allows them to monitor the tiny branches of neurons in a live brain for months at a time. Neuroscientists will now be able to monitor the microscopic changes that occur over the course of progressive brain disease. ... > full story
The 'Spaser' heats up laser technology (January 17, 2011) -- While lasers have revolutionized medicine and telecommunications, their size limits their use in many industries. The "Spaser" is now being tested in prototype as a practical tool by research teams around the world and may overcome these limitations. ... > full story
Improved measurements of sun to advance understanding of climate change (January 17, 2011) -- Scientists have taken a major step toward accurately determining the amount of energy that the sun provides to Earth, and how variations in that energy may contribute to climate change. ... > full story
Interactive window shopping: Just wave your hands (January 17, 2011) -- Researchers want to make shopping trips a special experience in future by enabling passers-by to operate window displays with hand and facial gestures. Four cameras record the 3-D positions of people's hands, face and eyes and transform them into commands for selecting and purchase goods -- even after the shop has closed. ... > full story
Researchers can predict your video game aptitude by imaging your brain (January 16, 2011) -- Researchers report that they can predict "with unprecedented accuracy" how well you will do on a complex task such as a strategic video game simply by analyzing activity in a specific region of your brain. ... > full story
Quantum quirk contained: Discovery moves quantum networks closer to reality (January 16, 2011) -- Researchers are working on a way to make quantum networks a reality. They have demonstrated, for the first time, that a crystal can store information encoded into entangled quantum states of photons. ... > full story
Self-assembling structures open door to new class of materials (January 15, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated bio-inspired structures that self-assemble from simple building blocks: spheres. The helical "supermolecules" are made of tiny colloid balls instead of atoms or molecules. Similar methods could be used to make new materials with the functionality of complex colloidal molecules. ... > full story
Improving plants: New software quantifies leaf venation networks, enables plant biology advances (January 15, 2011) -- Plant biologists are facing pressure to breed plants that can respond to changing environments. One method of monitoring the response of plants to different environments is by studying their vein network patterns. To help address the challenge of how to quickly examine a large quantity of leaves, researchers have developed a user-assisted software tool that extracts macroscopic vein structures directly from leaf images. ... > full story
Living cells used to create 'biotic' video games (January 14, 2011) -- The digital revolution has triggered a wild proliferation of video games, but what of the revolution in biotechnology? Does it have the potential to spawn its own brood of games? A physicist has begun developing "biotic games" involving paramecia and other living organisms. He hopes the games will lead to advances in education and crowd-sourcing of laboratory research while helping to raise the level of public discourse on bio-related issues. ... > full story
Best way to measure dark energy just got better (January 14, 2011) -- Dark energy is a mysterious force that pervades all space, acting as a "push" to accelerate the universe's expansion. Despite being 70 percent of the universe, dark energy was only discovered in 1998 by two teams observing Type Ia supernovae. A Type 1a supernova is a cataclysmic explosion of a white dwarf star. The best way of measuring dark energy just got better, thanks to a new study of Type Ia supernovae. ... > full story
New technique could pinpoint 'Galaxy X': Satellite galaxies located based on the ripples they create in the hydrogen gas (January 14, 2011) -- Many galaxies have smaller satellites, but astronomers can't see them all because many are composed of dark matter. Astronomers have developed a way to find dark satellite galaxies by analyzing the ripples in the hydrogen gas distribution in spiral galaxies. The technique allowed Sukanya Chakrabarti to predict the existence of a satellite of the Milky Way, which is obscured from view because it sits on the opposite side of the galaxy from Earth. ... > full story
Fastest movie in the world recorded: Method to film nanostructures developed (January 14, 2011) -- Processes at a molecular level are minuscule and often extremely fast, and therefore difficult to capture in action. Scientists have taken a good step towards producing a "molecular movie". They can record two pictures at such a short time interval that it will soon be possible to observe molecules and nanostructures in real time. ... > full story
Trapped sunlight cleans water (January 14, 2011) -- High energy costs are one drawback of making clean water from waste effluents. Now a new system that combines two different technologies proposes to break down contaminants using the cheapest possible energy source, sunlight. ... > full story
Driving simulators help older adults improve their road skills (January 14, 2011) -- Older drivers could benefit from training programs that put them behind the wheel -- in a driving simulator, with an observer who helps them develop their skills, according to a new article. ... > full story
Fruit fly nervous system provides new solution to fundamental computer network problem (January 14, 2011) -- The fruit fly has evolved a method for arranging the tiny, hair-like structures it uses to feel and hear the world that's so efficient a team of scientists says it could be used to more effectively deploy wireless sensor networks and other distributed computing applications. ... > full story
New telescope is exploring solar system 'outback' (January 14, 2011) -- In the outer reaches of our solar system lies a mysterious region far more remote and difficult to explore than the Australian outback. It remains the only part of our solar system not visited by spacecraft. A new telescope has begun to virtually explore the solar system outback, and already is scoring discoveries. ... > full story
Rotational motion in living cells: New tool for cell research may help unravel secrets of disease (January 14, 2011) -- Advancements in understanding rotational motion in living cells may help researchers shed light on the causes of deadly diseases, such as Alzheimer's, according to researchers. ... > full story
Taking the pulse of a black hole system (January 14, 2011) -- Astronomers have discovered what drives the "heartbeats" seen in the light from an unusual black hole system. These results give new insight into the ways that black holes can regulate their intake and severely curtail their growth. ... > full story
When metals reach end of life: Researcher develops new method (January 14, 2011) -- Though the prevalence of machinery allowed us to build bigger, travel faster and create more quickly with complexity increasing as science advances, our dependence upon them has limitations. Everything that moves can and will break, especially metals under strain. When they fail, the consequences can be catastrophic. A researcher has developed and proven a novel method to avoid the danger that comes with reaching the breaking point. ... > full story
NASA satellites find high-energy surprises in 'constant' Crab Nebula (January 13, 2011) -- The combined data from several NASA satellites has astonished astronomers by revealing unexpected changes in X-ray emission from the Crab Nebula, once thought to be the steadiest high-energy source in the sky. ... > full story
Chemists develop fully biodegradable and recyclable synthetic resin (January 13, 2011) -- Modern synthetic resins are made from fossil sources, are not biodegradable and can only be burned under strict precautions due to the release of toxic substances. Scientists have now discovered a range of new thermoset resins made from renewable raw materials which are fully biodegradable, non-toxic and non-hazardous. ... > full story
Bisphenol A may have role in ovarian dysfunction (January 13, 2011) -- A recent study found higher bisphenol A (BPA) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared to controls. Furthermore, researchers found a statistically significant positive association between male sex hormones and BPA in these women suggesting a potential role of BPA in ovarian dysfunction. ... > full story
Hydrocarbon breakthrough made using gold catalyst (January 13, 2011) -- Researchers are opening up a new way of using hydrocarbon feedstocks to make a range of valuable products. ... > full story
Light can control electrical properties of graphene (January 13, 2011) -- New research shows how light can be used to control the electrical properties of graphene, paving the way for graphene-based optoelectronic devices and highly sensitive sensors. ... > full story
Cosmology standard candle not so standard after all (January 13, 2011) -- Astronomers have turned up the first direct proof that "standard candles" used to illuminate the size of the universe, termed Cepheids, shrink in mass, making them not quite as standard as once thought. The findings, made with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, will help astronomers make even more precise measurements of the size, age and expansion rate of our universe. ... > full story
Gravitational lensing: Cosmic magnifying lenses distort view of distant galaxies (January 13, 2011) -- Looking deep into space is like experiencing the universe in a house of mirrors where everything is distorted through a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. Astronomers have started to apply this concept in a new way to determine the number of distant galaxies and measure dark matter in the universe. A new article makes the case that the tool may be even more necessary than originally thought when looking at distant galaxies. ... > full story
New microscope records firing of thousands of individual neurons in 3-D (January 13, 2011) -- Neuroscientists have collaborated with physicists to develop a non-invasive, ultra high-speed microscope that can record the firing of thousands of individual brain cells -- neurons -- as they communicate or miscommunicate with each other. ... > full story
Biomedical breakthrough: Blood vessels for lab-grown tissues (January 13, 2011) -- Researchers have broken one of the major roadblocks on the path to growing transplantable tissue in the lab; they've found a way to grow the necessary blood vessels and capillaries needed to keep tissues alive. ... > full story
New responsive click-track software lets drummers set their own pace (January 13, 2011) -- New software has been developed that gives drummers the freedom to speed up or slow down the pace of the music with any pre-programmed material following their lead. ... > full story
Natural dissolved organic matter plays dual role in cycling of mercury (January 13, 2011) -- Nature has a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde relationship with mercury, but researchers have made a discovery that ultimately could help explain the split personality. ... > full story
New approach to modeling power system aims for better monitoring and control of blackouts (January 13, 2011) -- Major power outages are fairly infrequent, but when they happen they can result in billions of dollars in costs -- and even contribute to fatalities. New research has led to the development of an approach by which high-resolution power-system measurements, also referred to as synchrophasors, can be efficiently used to develop reliable models of large power systems, which would help us keep an eye on their health. ... > full story
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