ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Wednesday, July 7, 2010
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Researchers measure single-molecule machines in action (July 7, 2010) -- In the development of future molecular devices, new display technologies, and "artificial muscles" in nanoelectromechanical devices, functional molecules are likely to play a primary role. Rotaxanes, one family of such molecules, are tiny, mechanically interlocked structures that consist of a dumbell-shaped molecule whose rod section is encircled by a ring. These structures behave as molecular "machines," with the ring moving along the rod from one station to another when stimulated by a chemical reaction, light or acidity. ... > full story
Bridge to the quantum world: Darwinian concept of natural selection figures into theory about core of physical reality (July 6, 2010) -- Researchers propose an answer to one of the long-running questions in the study of quantum physics: the mystery of how the world of our sensory experience emerges from the cloudy realm of atoms. ... > full story
Multi-layered images projected onto water droplets with new technology (July 6, 2010) -- AquaLux 3-D, a new projection technology, can target light onto and between individual water droplets, enabling text, video and other moving or still images to be displayed on multiple layers of falling water. ... > full story
With magnetic nanoparticles, scientists remotely control neurons and animal behavior (July 6, 2010) -- Clusters of heated, magnetic nanoparticles targeted to cell membranes can remotely control ion channels, neurons and even animal behavior, according to a new study. ... > full story
Infrared camera may provide a better view for night driving (July 6, 2010) -- Infrared cameras see more than the naked eye and can make road traffic safer. Cameras for the long-wave infrared range, however, have the disadvantage that the sensor requires constant cooling, which adds to the cost and complexity of the device. Now a new type of detector has been developed which functions at room temperature. ... > full story
Barrier to faster integrated circuits may be mere speed bump, scientists say (July 6, 2010) -- Integrated circuits, which enable virtually every electronics gadget you use on a daily basis, are constantly being pushed by the semiconductor industry to become smaller, faster, and cheaper. As has happened many times in the past and will continue in the future, integrated circuit scaling is perpetually in danger of hitting a wall that must be maneuvered around. According to French researchers, in order to continue increasing the speed of integrated circuits, interconnect insulators will require an upgrade to porous, low-dielectric constant materials. ... > full story
Thermal-powered, insect-like robot crawls into microrobot contenders' ring (July 6, 2010) -- Engineers have built an insect-like robot with hundreds of tiny legs. Compared to other such microrobots, this new model excels in its ability to carry heavy loads -- more than seven times its own weight -- and move in any direction. ... > full story
Watch while an asteroid eats a star (July 6, 2010) -- In a rare event on July 8, 2010, skywatchers will be able to see an asteroid briefly block out the light from a star as it passes in front. It may be the only asteroid 'occultation' this century observable with the naked eye. ... > full story
Long-term fate of Gulf oil spill: Computer simulations show oil reaching up the Atlantic coastline and toward Europe (July 6, 2010) -- The possible spread of the oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon rig over the course of one year was studied in a series of computer simulations by a team of researchers. The simulations suggest that the coastlines near northern Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas could see the effects of the oil spill as early as October 2010, while the main branch of the subtropical gyre is likely to transport the oil film towards Europe, although strongly diluted. ... > full story
Adolescent cyberbullies and their victims may have physical, mental health problems (July 6, 2010) -- Adolescent victims and perpetrators of electronic bullying appear more likely to report having psychiatric and physical symptoms and problems, according to a new study. ... > full story
Benchtop biofuels: Fine-tuning growth conditions helps cyanobacteria flourish (July 6, 2010) -- Cyanobacteria are among the oldest living forms in nature, responsible for generating the atmospheric oxygen we breathe today. Now researchers are perfecting the means to culture these microbes -- potentially rich source of biofuels and biomaterials -- significantly greater abundance. ... > full story
Optical imaging could create pathway for radiotracers, study finds (July 6, 2010) -- A new study reports on investigative research of a novel optical imaging technique called "Cerenkov luminescence imaging." According to the authors, the technique could lead to the faster and more cost-effective development of radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other conditions. ... > full story
'Digital embryo' gains wings: Now possible to film development of fruit fly and of zebrafish's eyes and brain (July 6, 2010) -- Scientists in Europe have captured fruit fly development on film, creating the Fly Digital Embryo. In a newly published study, they were also the first to clearly record how a zebrafish's eyes and mid-brain are formed. ... > full story
Planck unveils the Universe -- now and then (July 6, 2010) -- The European Space Agency's Planck mission has delivered its first all-sky image. It not only provides new insight into the way stars and galaxies form but also tells us how the Universe itself came to life after the Big Bang. ... > full story
Simulation-based matchmaking for shape memory alloys (July 6, 2010) -- A new shape memory alloy with up to now unprecedented functional stability was developed by researchers in Germany, the U.S., and Japan. Based on a theoretical prediction, they used combinatorial materials science methods -- so-called materials libraries -- for a targeted search of optimized alloy compositions. The result consists of four components: titanium, nickel, copper and palladium. From the new material, the researchers expect a stable shape memory effect and improved lifetime -- for example, in for applications in medical devices such as stents. ... > full story
Nano-sized advance toward next big treatment era in dentistry (July 5, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting an advance toward the next big treatment revolution in dentistry -- the era in which root canal therapy brings diseased teeth back to life, rather than leaving a "non-vital" or dead tooth in the mouth. Researchers now describe a first-of-its-kind, nano-sized dental film that shows early promise for achieving this long-sought goal. ... > full story
Super-high pressures used to create super battery: 'Most condensed form of energy storage outside of nuclear energy' (July 5, 2010) -- Using super-high pressures similar to those found deep in the Earth or on a giant planet, researchers have created a compact, never-before-seen material capable of storing vast amounts of energy. ... > full story
Graphene 2.0: A new approach to making a unique material (July 5, 2010) -- Since its discovery, graphene -- an unusual and versatile substance composed of a single-layer crystal lattice of carbon atoms -- has caused much excitement in the scientific community. Now, researchers have hit on a new way of making graphene, maximizing the material's enormous potential, particularly for use in high-speed electronic devices. ... > full story
Nanomachines in the powerhouse of the cell: Architecture of the largest protein complex of cellular respiration elucidated (July 5, 2010) -- Scientists in Germany have elucidated the architecture of the largest protein complex of the cellular respiratory chain.They discovered an unknown mechanism of energy conversion in this molecular complex. The mechanism is required to utilize the energy contained in food. ... > full story
Is your flashy school website safe? (July 5, 2010) -- Most educational websites in the US are using Flash applications that fail to adequately secure these pages. This is a growing problem for the Internet as vulnerable sites can be hijacked for malicious and criminal activity, according to a new paper by an expert in digital forensics. ... > full story
Molecules found in blue jean and ink dyes may lead to more efficient solar cells (July 4, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a simple process -- employing molecules typically used in blue jean and ink dyes -- for building an organic framework that could lead to economical, flexible and versatile solar cells. ... > full story
Coolest stars come out of the dark: Spitzer spies frigid brown dwarfs (July 4, 2010) -- Astronomers have uncovered what appear to be 14 of the coldest stars known in our universe. These failed stars, called brown dwarfs, are so cold and faint that they'd be impossible to see with current visible-light telescopes. Spitzer's infrared vision was able to pick out their feeble glow, much as a firefighter uses infrared goggles to find hot spots buried underneath a dark forest floor. ... > full story
Genetic inspiration could show the way to revolutionize information technology (July 4, 2010) -- Chemists in the UK have created a synthetic form of DNA that could transform how digital information is processed and stored. ... > full story
How rules of physics in quantum world change when applied to classical world (July 3, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a potentially important piece of the quantum/classical puzzle -- learning how the rules of physics in the quantum world (think smaller than microscopic) change when applied to the classical world (think every day items, like cars and trees). ... > full story
Cell phone microscope poised to begin trials in Africa (July 3, 2010) -- Engineers have developed a functioning prototype of a cell phone microscope for telemedicine. The lensless imaging platform behind the cell phone microscope is nearing readiness for real world trials, after receiving prestigious awards in the past month from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, National Geographic and the National Science Foundation. ... > full story
Three-legged dogs boost robot research (July 2, 2010) -- Scientists in Germany are examining how three-legged dogs move to help design and develop robots that can adapt in the event of an "injury." The new research looked at walking and running techniques in dogs with fore-limb or hind-limb amputations, using a treadmill and a set of high-tech infra-red cameras. ... > full story
Scrubbing CO<sub>2</sub> from atmosphere could be a long-term commitment (July 2, 2010) -- With carbon dioxide in the atmosphere approaching alarming levels, even halting emissions altogether may not be enough to avert catastrophic climate change. Could scrubbing carbon dioxide from the air be a viable solution? A new study suggests that while removing excess carbon dioxide would cool the planet, keeping carbon dioxide at low levels would require a long-term commitment spanning decades or even centuries. ... > full story
World of lights in the microcosmos (July 2, 2010) -- Light-emitting diodes are gaining ground: They are now being used as background lighting for displays. But the manufacturing of complex LED optics is still complex and expensive. A new technology is revolutionizing production: Large-scale LED components can now be manufactured cost-effectively. ... > full story
Science of soccer: Ball aerodynamics focus of research (July 2, 2010) -- With the attention of sports fans worldwide focused on South Africa and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, US scientist John Eric Goff has made the aerodynamics of the soccer ball a focus of his research. ... > full story
X-ray satellite homes in on a black hole's jets (July 2, 2010) -- Astronomers using NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellite, together with optical, infrared and radio data, find that, at times, most of the X-rays come from Black Hole jets. ... > full story
All-natural personal care products: Chemical engineer patents enzymatic preparation to make natural ingredients in the lab (July 2, 2010) -- A chemical engineer has developed and patented a chemical structure to make all-natural personal care products and purer pharmaceuticals in the laboratory. ... > full story
Switching off your lights has a bigger impact than you might think, says new study (July 1, 2010) -- Switching off lights, turning the television off at the mains and using cooler washing cycles could have a much bigger impact on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power stations than previously thought, according to a new study. Researchers in the UK show that the figure used by government advisers to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide saved by reducing people's electricity consumption is up to 60 percent too low. ... > full story
Man in the Moon has 'graphite whiskers' (July 1, 2010) -- In a new analysis of a lunar sample collected by Apollo 17, researchers have detected and dated carbon on the moon in the form of graphite -- the sooty stuff of pencil lead -- which survived from around 3.8 billion years ago, when the moon was heavily bombarded by meteorites. Up to now, scientists thought the trace amounts of carbon previously detected on the surface of the moon came from the solar wind. ... > full story
New technique improves efficiency of biofuel production (July 1, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a more efficient technique for producing biofuels from woody plants that significantly reduces the waste that results from conventional biofuel production techniques. The technique is a significant step toward creating a commercially viable new source of biofuels. ... > full story
R Coronae Australis: A cosmic watercolor (July 1, 2010) -- A magnificent view of the region around the star R Coronae Australis was created from images taken with the Wide Field Imager (WFI) at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. R Coronae Australis lies at the heart of a nearby star-forming region and is surrounded by a delicate bluish reflection nebula embedded in a huge dust cloud. The image reveals surprising new details in this dramatic area of sky. ... > full story
Genetic Code 2.0: Novel artificial proteins for industry and science (July 1, 2010) -- The creation of synthetic proteins plays an important role for economy and science. By the integration of artificial amino acids in proteins (genetic code engineering), their already existing qualities can be systematically improved, allowing new biological features to arise. Now, scientists in Germany have succeeded in taking another important step in this research area: For the first time, they were able to integrate three different synthetic amino acids into one protein in a single experiment. ... > full story
Unpeeling atoms and molecules from the inside out (July 1, 2010) -- The first published scientific results from the world's most powerful hard X-ray laser show its unique ability to control the behaviors of individual electrons within simple atoms and molecules by stripping them away, one by one -- in some cases creating hollow atoms. ... > full story
New temperature table may help reduce heat-related deaths of children in closed cars (July 1, 2010) -- A team of researchers has developed an easy-to-use table of vehicle temperature changes that may help public officials and media remind the public about the deadly consequences of vehicle-related hyperthermia in children. ... > full story
Electrons are late starters: Contrary to previous assumptions, electrons are catapulted out of an atom during photoemission with a delay (July 1, 2010) -- When physicists search for new semiconductors for chips or lasers, they have been able to rely on sophisticated computer programs - until now. However, it is possible that the models these programs have used to predict the electronic properties of a material oversimplify reality. An international team has now determined this from measurements with extremely short laser pulses. The physicists have concluded from this that electrons which a laser pulse knock out of an atom are catapulted from the particle with a delay of several tens of attoseconds. One attosecond corresponds to a billionth of a billionth of a second. The assumption so far has been that, during photoemission, electrons immediately shoot out when the light pulse impinges on the material. The models with which quantum physicists describe the electronic properties of matter are also based on the electrons behaving in such a way. These models could therefore be too imprecise, at least as far as very accurate predictions are concerned. ... > full story
Stability and utility of floating wind turbines shown in new study (July 1, 2010) -- While offshore wind turbines have already have been constructed as a renewable energy solution, they've traditionally been situated in shallow waters, where the tower extends directly into the seabed. Now a group of researchers in California has studied the feasibility of placing wind turbines on floating platforms. ... > full story
NASA Mars rover seeing destination in more detail (July 1, 2010) -- Mars rover team members have begun informally naming features around the rim of Endeavour Crater, as they develop plans to investigate that destination when NASA's Opportunity rover arrives there after many more months of driving. ... > full story
Engineers assess reaction wheel on NASA's Dawn spacecraft (July 1, 2010) -- Engineers are studying the reaction wheels on NASA's Dawn spacecraft after automatic sensors detected excess friction building up in one of them and powered it off early on the morning of June 17, 2010. Reaction wheels spin to help a spacecraft maintain attitude control, and Dawn, which is exploring the asteroid belt, uses three wheels in normal operations. ... > full story
System that controls sleep may be same for most mammals (June 30, 2010) -- In a novel mathematical model that reproduces sleep patterns for multiple species, an international team of researchers has demonstrated that the neural circuitry that controls the sleep/wake cycle in humans may also control the sleep patterns of 17 different mammalian species. ... > full story
Voyager 2 at 12,000 days: The super-marathon continues (June 30, 2010) -- NASA's plucky Voyager 2 spacecraft has hit a long-haul operations milestone June 28 -- operating continuously for 12,000 days. For nearly 33 years, the venerable spacecraft has been returning data about the giant outer planets, and the characteristics and interaction of solar wind between and beyond the planets. Among its many findings, Voyager 2 discovered Neptune's Great Dark Spot and its 450-meter-per-second (1,000-mph) winds. ... > full story
Drivers mistakenly believe winter is most dangerous travel time, survey shows (June 30, 2010) -- Most Americans interviewed in a national poll believe winter is the most dangerous time for driving, but the truth is that summer is the most dangerous time with 4th of July weekend being the deadliest. ... > full story
More proof that new planet and star are moving together (June 30, 2010) -- A planet about eight times the mass of Jupiter has been confirmed to orbit a sun-like star that's some 300 times farther from its own star than Earth is from its sun. The newly confirmed planet is the least massive planet known to orbit at such a great distance from its host star. ... > full story
Zapping Titan-like atmosphere with UV rays creates life precursors (June 30, 2010) -- The first experimental evidence showing how atmospheric nitrogen can be incorporated into organic macromolecules is being reported by researchers. The finding indicates what organic molecules might be found on Titan, the moon of Saturn that scientists think is a model for the chemistry of pre-life Earth. Earth and Titan are the only known planetary-sized bodies that have thick, predominantly nitrogen atmospheres. ... > full story
Diamonds and the holy grail of quantum computing (June 30, 2010) -- Most candidate systems for quantum computing work only at very low temperatures. Now a team of researchers from China may have a warmer solution. The team is exploring the capabilities of diamond nitrogen vacancy materials. ... > full story
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