ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Friday, July 9, 2010
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RFIDs: Smart little gizmos get even smarter (July 9, 2010) -- With the help of smart RFID technology, things, animals, and people can be identified remotely, and the information can be sent and stored in databases. Now the method will be even smarter, thanks to a researcher in Sweden who is presenting solutions that make this technology more effective and more energy efficient. In fact, as much as 60 percent more efficient. ... > full story
New technology reduces storage needs and costs for genomic data (July 9, 2010) -- A new computer data compression technique called Genomic SQueeZ will allow genetic researchers and others to store, analyze and share massive volumes of data in less space and at lower cost. ... > full story
Rosetta lines up for spectacular asteroid flyby (July 8, 2010) -- On 10 July, ESA's Rosetta will fly past 21 Lutetia, the largest asteroid ever visited by a satellite. After weeks of manoeuvres and a challenging optical navigation campaign, Rosetta is perfectly lined up to skim by at 3162 km. Rosetta is expected to pass Lutetia at a relative speed of 54 000 km/hr, when both are located some 454 million km from Earth. As Lutetia is a major scientific target of Rosetta's mission, most of the orbiter and lander instruments will be on for flyby, studying the asteroid's surface, dust environment, exosphere, magnetic field, mass and density. ... > full story
Drug delivery system uses nanoparticles triggered by electromagnetic field (July 8, 2010) -- A new system for the controlled delivery of pharmaceutical drugs has been developed by a team of chemical engineers using nanoparticles embedded in a liposome that can be triggered by non-invasive electromagnetic fields. ... > full story
Black hole blows big bubble (July 8, 2010) -- Combining observations made with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope, astronomers have uncovered the most powerful pair of jets ever seen from a stellar black hole. This object, also known as a microquasar, blows a huge bubble of hot gas, 1000 light-years across, twice as large and tens of times more powerful than other known microquasars. ... > full story
Pinpoint precision: Delivering a biochemical payload to one cell (July 8, 2010) -- Researchers use precise electrical "tweezers" to place nanowires on predetermined spots on single cells. The technique eventually could produce new ways to deliver medication. ... > full story
New computer program accurately simulates protein folding dramatically faster than previous methods (July 8, 2010) -- A new computer program accurately simulates protein folding dramatically faster than previous methods. It will allow scientists to peer deeper into the roots of diseases caused by proteins that fold incorrectly. ... > full story
Newborn stars discovered in dark cosmic cloud (July 8, 2010) -- A wave of massive star formation appears to have begun within a mysterious dark cloud in the Milky Way. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed a secluded birthplace for stars within a wispy, dark cloud in a region of the galaxy named M17. The new research could shed light on the question of how and when massive stars form. ... > full story
Energy yield of ‘cheap’ solar panels raised from 7 to 9 percent (July 8, 2010) -- Researchers have shown how the energy yield of relatively cheap solar panels, made of amorphous silicon, can be considerably raised: from around 7 percent to 9 percent. ... > full story
Revolutionary medical dressing uses nanotechnology to fight infection (July 8, 2010) -- Researchers are using nanotechnology to develop a medical dressing which will detect and treat infection in wounds. Scientists in the UK are working together with teams across Europe and Australia to create an advanced wound dressing. The dressing will work by releasing antibiotics from nanocapsules triggered by the presence of disease-causing pathogenic bacteria, which will target treatment before the infection takes hold. ... > full story
Robots preclude neck incision for thyroid surgery (July 8, 2010) -- Robots that revolutionized gynecologic and urologic surgery in the past decade now offer the option of removing at least a portion of their diseased thyroid gland without the hallmark neck incision, researchers said. ... > full story
Transformation optics make a U-turn for the better (July 8, 2010) -- Researchers have combined the scientific fields of transformation optics and plasmonics to demonstrate that with only moderate modifications of the dielectric component of a metamaterial, the physical space through which light travels can be altered with promising results, such as the creation of a 180 degree bend that won't alter the energy or properties of a light beam as it makes the U-turn, or a plasmonic version of a Luneburg lens. ... > full story
Road surface purifies air by removing nitrogen oxides, researchers in the Netherlands find (July 8, 2010) -- Road surfaces can make a big contribution to local air purity. This conclusion can be drawn from the first test results on a road surface of air-purifying concrete. This material reduces the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 25 to 45 per cent. ... > full story
One person's waste is another's resource (July 8, 2010) -- With the UK burying more than 18.8 million tonnes of household waste -- two million tonnes more than any other EU country -- a research project is underway to find new uses for both industrial and household waste. ... > full story
Optical tweezers use holographic technology to manipulate 300 nanoparticles at a time (July 7, 2010) -- A new tool, holographic optical tweezers, use holographic technology to manipulate up to 300 nanoparticles at a time, such as beads of glass or polymer, that are too small and delicate to be handled with traditional laboratory instruments. The technology, also known as "optical tweezers," could form the basis for tomorrow's ultra-fast, light-powered communication devices and quantum computers. ... > full story
Reversible watermarking for digital images (July 7, 2010) -- Every picture tells a story, but how do you know that a digital photo has not been manipulated to change the tale being told? A new approach to adding an encrypted watermark to digital images allows the an image to be validated against a pass key, according to new research. ... > full story
Saturn system moves oxygen from Enceladus to Titan (July 7, 2010) -- Complex interactions between Saturn and its satellites have led scientists using NASA's Cassini spacecraft to a comprehensive model that could explain how oxygen may end up on the surface of Saturn's icy moon Titan. The presence of these oxygen atoms could potentially provide the basis for pre-biological chemistry. ... > full story
Shocking results from diamond anvil cell experiments (July 7, 2010) -- Physicists are using an ultra-fast laser-based technique they dubbed "nanoshocks" for something entirely different. In fact, the "nanoshocks" have such a small spatial scale that scientists can use them to study shock behavior in tiny samples such as thin films or other systems with microscopic dimensions (a few tens of micrometers). In particular they have used the technique to shock materials under high static pressure in a diamond anvil cell. ... > full story
Virtual food causes stress in patients affected by eating disorders (July 7, 2010) -- Food presented in a virtual reality environment causes the same emotional responses as real food. Researchers compared the responses of people with anorexia and bulimia, and a control group, to the virtual and real-life snacks, suggesting that virtual food can be used for the evaluation and treatment of eating disorders. ... > full story
Multicolor quantum dots aid in cancer biopsy diagnosis (July 7, 2010) -- The tunable fluorescent nanoparticles known as quantum dots make ideal tools for distinguishing and identifying rare cancer cells in tissue biopsies. Researchers have learned how multicolor quantum dots linked to antibodies can distinguish the Reed-Sternberg cells that are characteristic of Hodgkin's lymphoma. ... > full story
Gender gap persists at highest levels of math and science testing, 30-year study finds (July 7, 2010) -- A study that examined 30 years of standardized test data from the very highest-scoring seventh graders has found that performance differences between boys and girls have narrowed considerably, but boys still outnumber girls by more than about 3-to-1 at extremely high levels of math ability and scientific reasoning. ... > full story
Nano-sized light mill drives micro-sized disk (July 7, 2010) -- Researchers have created a nano-sized light mill motor powerful enough to drive micro-sized disks. With rotational speed and direction controlled by the frequency of incident light waves, this new nanomotor should open the door to a broad range of applications in energy and biology as well as in nanoelectromechanical systems. ... > full story
Scientists design new delivery device for gene therapy (July 7, 2010) -- Scientists have designed a nanoparticle that appears to effectively deliver genetic material into cells with minimal toxic effects. In lab experiments, the researchers have found that this device, a vector, is able to deliver DNA deeply enough into a cell to allow genetic material to be activated -- a critical step in gene therapy. This vector is between two and a half and 10 times more effective than other experimental materials, according to the research. ... > full story
Next Mars rover sports a set of new wheels (July 7, 2010) -- NASA's next Mars rover, Curiosity, is sitting pretty on a set of spiffy new wheels that would be the envy of any car show on Earth. The wheels and a suspension system were added recently by spacecraft technicians and engineers. These new and important touches are a key step in assembling and testing the flight system in advance of a planned 2011 launch. ... > full story
New adhesive for tape, label industry, developed (July 7, 2010) -- An incidental discovery in a wood products lab has produced a new pressure-sensitive adhesive that may revolutionize the tape industry -- an environmentally benign product that works very well and costs much less than existing adhesives based on petrochemicals. ... > full story
TV viewing, video game play contribute to kids' attention problems, study finds (July 7, 2010) -- A study of both elementary school-aged and college-aged subjects found that youths who exceeded the two hours per day of screen time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to be above average in attention problems. ... > full story
New type of light-matter interaction: Advance in quantum computing and energy conversion technology (July 7, 2010) -- Using a unique hybrid nanostructure, researchers have shown a new type of light-matter interaction and also demonstrated the first full quantum control of qubit spin within very tiny colloidal nanostructures (a few nanometers), thus taking a key step forward in efforts to create a quantum computer. ... > full story
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
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