ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Monday, June 20, 2011
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From seawater to freshwater with a nanotechnology filter (June 20, 2011) -- In a new article, researchers describe the role that carbon nanotubes could play in the desalination of water, providing a possible solution to the problem of the world's ever-growing population demanding more and more fresh drinking water. ... > full story
Glimpsing the end of our solar system (June 20, 2011) -- Astronomers are investigating the possible eventual fate of the solar system by examining 'white dwarf' stars elsewhere in our galaxy. ... > full story
Finding reserves on the electrical grid (June 20, 2011) -- The weather determines how much energy wind turbine systems provide. The same applies to power line capacity. On cold and stormy days, this capacity is higher than on days with no wind and high mid-summer temperatures. An autonomously powered sensor network monitors power lines to find the reserves in the lines. ... > full story
Predicting future appearance: New computer-based technique ages photographic images of people's faces (June 20, 2011) -- A graduate student has designed a promising computer program that could serve as a new tool in missing-child investigations and matters of national security. Khoa Luu has developed a more effective computer-based technique to age photographic images of people's faces -- an advance that could help to identify missing kids and criminals on the lam. ... > full story
Green ring fit for a superhero: Spitzer Space Telescope spies powerful light of giant 'O' stars (June 19, 2011) -- This glowing emerald nebula seen by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope is reminiscent of the glowing ring wielded by the superhero Green Lantern. In the comic books, the diminutive Guardians of the Planet "Oa" forged his power ring, but astronomers believe rings like this are actually sculpted by the powerful light of giant "O" stars. O stars are the most massive type of star known to exist. ... > full story
Observation of rare particles may shed light on why the universe has more matter than antimatter (June 19, 2011) -- Physicists have now observed the decays of a rare particle that was present right after the Big Bang. Scientists hope this will help to solve the mystery of why the universe evolved with more matter than antimatter. ... > full story
Intelligent onboard transportation systems to prevent car crashes? (June 19, 2011) -- Since 2000, there have been 110 million car accidents in the United States, more than 443,000 of which have been fatal -- an average of 110 fatalities per day. These statistics make traffic accidents one of the leading causes of death in this country, as well as worldwide. More progress must be made to achieve the long-term goal of "intelligent transportation": cars that can "see" and communicate with other vehicles on the road, making them able to prevent crashes virtually 100 percent of the time. ... > full story
Chirality: New method to consistently make left-handed or right-handed molecules (June 18, 2011) -- Many organic molecules are non-superimposable with their mirror image. The two forms of such a molecule are called enantiomers and can have different properties in biological systems. The problem is to control which enantiomer you want to produce -- a problem that has proved to be important in the pharmaceutical industry. Researchers have now come up with a new method to control the process. ... > full story
'Ultrawideband' could be future of medical monitoring (June 18, 2011) -- New research has confirmed that an electronic technology called "ultrawideband" could hold part of the solution to an ambitious goal in the future of medicine -- health monitoring with sophisticated "body-area networks." Such networks would offer continuous, real-time health diagnosis to reduce the onset of degenerative diseases, save lives and cut health care costs. ... > full story
Phobos slips past Jupiter (June 18, 2011) -- Earlier this month, ESA's Mars Express performed a special maneuver to observe an unusual alignment of Jupiter and the martian moon Phobos. The impressive images of this rare event are now available.. ... > full story
Spectacular Hubble view of Centaurus A (June 17, 2011) -- The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has produced a close-up view of the galaxy Centaurus A. Hubble's out-of-this-world location and world-class Wide Field Camera 3 instrument reveal a dramatic picture of a dynamic galaxy in flux. ... > full story
Coming to TV screens of the future: A sense of smell (June 17, 2011) -- In a new paper, engineers demonstrate that it is possible to generate odor, at will, in a compact device small enough to fit on the back of your TV with potentially thousands of odors. ... > full story
ATV preparing for fiery destruction (June 17, 2011) -- ATV Johannes Kepler has been an important part of the International Space Station since February. Next week, it will complete its mission by undocking and burning up harmlessly in the atmosphere high over an uninhabited area of the Pacific Ocean. ... > full story
Poor 'gut sense' of numbers contributes to persistent math difficulties (June 17, 2011) -- Having a poor "gut sense" of numbers can lead to a mathematical learning disability and difficulty in achieving basic math proficiency. This inaccurate number sense is just one cause of math learning disabilities, according to researchers. ... > full story
Stretchable electronics: Wireless sensor measures and inputs intense body movements to computer (June 17, 2011) -- Electronics that can be bent and stretched might sound like science fiction. But scientists have devised a wireless sensor that can stand to be stretched. For example, the sensor can measure intensive body movements and wirelessly send information directly to a computer. ... > full story
Graphene may gain an on-off switch, adding semiconductor to long list of material's achievements (June 17, 2011) -- A team of researchers has proposed a way to turn the material graphene into a semiconductor, enabling it to control the flow of electrons with a laser "on-off switch." ... > full story
Noninvasive brain implant could someday translate thoughts into movement (June 17, 2011) -- A brain implant developed at the University of Michigan uses the body's skin like a conductor to wirelessly transmit the brain's neural signals to control a computer, and may eventually be used to reactivate paralyzed limbs. ... > full story
Taking the 3-D measure of macromolecules (June 17, 2011) -- Researchers have developed the world's first three-dimensional plasmon rulers, capable of measuring nanometer-scale spatial changes in macromolecular systems. These 3-D plasmon rulers could provide unprecedented details on such critical dynamic events in biology as the interaction of DNA with enzymes, the folding of proteins, the motion of peptides or the vibrations of cell membranes. ... > full story
New sensor to measure structural stresses can heal itself when broken (June 17, 2011) -- Researchers have designed a sensor that can measure strain in structural materials and is capable of healing itself -- an important advance for collecting data to help us make informed decisions about structural safety in the wake of earthquakes, explosions or other unexpected events. ... > full story
Firefighters' communications: Wireless 'breadcrumbs' that won’t become toast when baked ... or soggy when hosed (June 17, 2011) -- When Hansel and Gretel ventured into the forest, they left a trail of breadcrumbs to find their way home. In today's world, digital signals connect us to friends, family, and colleagues and help us find our location and map our routes. Yet, with few exceptions, today's firefighters still rely on 20th century radios, whose outdated analog signals have trouble penetrating the modern forest. ... > full story
Mercury: Messenger orbital data confirm theories, reveal surprises (June 17, 2011) -- In March, the Messenger spacecraft entered orbit around Mercury to become that planet's first orbiter. The tiny craft is providing a wealth of new information and some surprises. For instance, Mercury's surface composition differs from that expected for the innermost of the terrestrial planets, and Mercury's magnetic field has a north-south asymmetry that affects the interaction of the surface with charged particles from the solar wind. ... > full story
Landsat 5 satellite helps emergency managers fight largest fire in Arizona history (June 17, 2011) -- The largest fire in the history of the state of Arizona continues to burn and emergency managers and responders are using satellite data from a variety of instruments to plan their firefighting containment strategies and mitigation efforts once the fires are out. ... > full story
Roadmap published for dynamic mapping of estrogen signaling in breast cancer (June 17, 2011) -- The first roadmap to mathematical modeling of a powerful basic "decision circuit" in breast cancer has been developed. The preliminary mathematical model is the first result of work to develop a systems approach to understanding and treating one of the most common forms of breast cancer. ... > full story
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope completes first round of cryogenic mirror test (June 17, 2011) -- The first six of 18 segments that will form NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror for space observations completed final cryogenic testing this week. The ten week test series included two tests cycles where the mirrors were chilled down to -379 degrees Fahrenheit, then back to ambient temperature to ensure the mirrors respond as expected to the extreme temperatures of space. ... > full story
European endorsement for ESA's space hazards programme (June 17, 2011) -- The European Commission recently set out the EU's main space priorities, which include protection of Europe's space infrastructure. The affirmation spotlights ESA's Space Situational Awareness Preparatory Programme as a strategic European necessity and a cornerstone of Europe's future in space. ... > full story
Large Hadron Collider achieves 2011 data milestone (June 17, 2011) -- On June 17 at around 10:50 CEST, the amount of data accumulated by LHC experiments ATLAS and CMS clicked over from 0.999 to 1 inverse femtobarn, signaling an important milestone in the experiments' quest for new physics. ... > full story
Simulation models offer clarity with regard to energy transition decisions (June 17, 2011) -- As a way of eliminating energy-guzzling incandescent light bulbs from our supermarket shelves, a tax on incandescent light bulbs would be just as effective as an outright ban. Subsidizing new technology, such as Led lighting, could actually reduce its sales, as this can lead to a relatively large number of people buying a light with teething problems, giving the new technology a bad name. ... > full story
Comet Hartley 2 in hyperactive class of its own: CO<sub>2</sub> jets confirmed, new insight into composition, 'excited' rotation (June 16, 2011) -- Comet Hartley 2 is in a hyperactive class of its own compared to other comets visited by spacecraft, says a new study. New, in-depth analysis of the images and data taken during the flyby of the comet last fall by NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft confirms that carbon dioxide is the volatile fuel for Hartley 2's ice-spewing jets and provides new twists in the unfolding story of this small, but dynamic comet. ... > full story
Metallic glass: A crystal at heart (June 16, 2011) -- Glass, by definition, is amorphous. But when scientists squeezed tiny samples of a metallic glass under high pressure, they got a surprise: The atoms lined up in a regular pattern to form a single crystal. The discovery offers a new window into the structure and behavior of metallic glasses, which have been used for decades in products such as anti-theft tags and power transformers but are still poorly understood. ... > full story
Neutrons, simulations reveal details of molecule that complicates next-generation biofuels (June 16, 2011) -- A first-of-its-kind combination of experiment and simulation at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory is providing a close-up look at the molecule that complicates next-generation biofuels. Lignin, a major component of plant cell walls, aggregates to form clumps, which cause problems during the production of cellulosic ethanol. The exact shape and structure of the aggregates, however, have remained largely unknown. Researchers have revealed the surface structure of lignin aggregates down to 1 angstrom -- the equivalent of a 10 billionth of a meter or smaller than the width of a carbon atom. ... > full story
Gamma-ray flash came from star being eaten by massive black hole (June 16, 2011) -- A bright flash of gamma rays observed March 28 by the Swift satellite signaled the death of a star falling into a massive black hole, say a team of astronomers. According to their model, a star the mass of our sun got too close and was ripped apart; one-tenth of the mass was emitted as X-rays and gamma rays, much of it in a collimated jet aimed at Earth. ... > full story
First self-powered device with wireless data transmission (June 16, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development of the first self-powered nano-device that can transmit data wirelessly over long distances. Researchers say it proves the feasibility of a futuristic genre of tiny implantable medical sensors, airborne and stationary surveillance cameras and sensors, wearable personal electronics, and other devices that operate independently without batteries on energy collected from the environment. ... > full story
Using living cells as an 'invisibility cloak' to hide drugs (June 16, 2011) -- The quest for better ways of encapsulating medicine so that it can reach diseased parts of the body has led scientists to harness -- for the first time -- living human cells to produce natural capsules with channels for releasing drugs and diagnostic agents. ... > full story
Scientists prove existence of 'magnetic ropes' that cause solar storms (June 16, 2011) -- Scientists discovered recently that a phenomenon called a giant magnetic rope is the cause of solar storms. Confirming the existence of this formation is a key first step in helping to mitigate the adverse effects that solar storm eruptions can have on satellite communications on Earth. ... > full story
'Glowing hands' in the waiting room improves kids' handwashing (June 16, 2011) -- Hand-hygiene in children was improved with the use of a glowing gel that, when black lit, illustrates bacteria on hands, even after washing. ... > full story
Indication of a new type of neutrino oscillation at the T2K experiment (June 16, 2011) -- Scientists have been working for several years on an experiment in Japan called T2K, or Tokai to Kamioka Long Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiment, which studies the most elusive of fundamental subatomic particles -- the neutrino. The team announced they have an indication of a new type of neutrino transformation or oscillation from a muon neutrino to an electron neutrino. ... > full story
EPOXI finds Hartley 2 is a hyperactive comet (June 16, 2011) -- Hartley 2's hyperactive state, as studied by NASA's EPOXI mission, is detailed in a new paper by an international team of scientists. ... > full story
Searching for the 'perfect glass' (June 16, 2011) -- Glasses differ from crystals. Crystals are organized in repeating patterns that extend in every direction. Glasses lack this strict organization, but do sometimes demonstrate order among neighboring atoms. New research reveals the possibility of creating a metallic glass that is organized on a larger scale. ... > full story
Black hole kills star and blasts 3.8 billion light year beam at Earth (June 16, 2011) -- The flash from one of the biggest and brightest bangs yet recorded by astronomers comes from a massive black hole at the center of a distant galaxy, new research shows. The black hole appears to have ripped apart a star that wandered too close, creating a powerful beam of energy that crossed the 3.8 billion light years to Earth. ... > full story
Neutrinos can change 'flavors', scientists discover (June 16, 2011) -- An international research team may have taken a significant step in discovering why matter trumped antimatter at the time of Big Bang, helping to create virtually all of the galaxies and stars in the universe. ... > full story
Don't stop anonymizing data: Report dispels myths of de-identification (June 16, 2011) -- Canadian privacy experts have issued a new report that strongly backs the practice of de-identification as a key element in the protection of personal information. The report validates that that anonymizing data is a reliable, safe and practical way to protect personal information. ... > full story
New supercomputer will chase novel genes (June 16, 2011) -- A new supercomputer having Northern Europe's largest 'shared memory' can quickly and efficiently process the enormous quantities of genetic information, which is key to advances in green biotechnology, using DNA from tens of thousands of microorganisms to create new cell factories. ... > full story
Recalculating the distance to interstellar space (June 15, 2011) -- Scientists analyzing recent data from NASA's Voyager and Cassini spacecraft have calculated that Voyager 1 could cross over into the frontier of interstellar space at any time and much earlier than previously thought. ... > full story
When size matters: Nanotechnology for energy efficiency (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers are using nanotechnology to create new energy efficient materials. With the increasing worldwide demand for energy, there is a pressure to use the finite energy resources wisely while reducing one of the major areas of energy consumption -- transportation, which accounts for more than 20% of the world’s total primary energy and produces much of the world’s pollution. ... > full story
Researchers break light-matter coupling strength limit in nanoscale semiconductors (June 15, 2011) -- New engineering research demonstrates that polaritons have increased coupling strength when confined to nanoscale semiconductors. This represents a promising advance in the field of photonics: smaller and faster circuits that use light rather than electricity. ... > full story
NASA's Chandra finds massive black holes common in early universe (June 15, 2011) -- Using the deepest X-ray image ever taken, astronomers found the first direct evidence that massive black holes were common in the early universe. This discovery from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory shows that very young black holes grew more aggressively than previously thought, in tandem with the growth of their host galaxies. ... > full story
European experts propose method to harmonize nuclear emergency plans (June 15, 2011) -- A team of European radiological protection specialists has developed a method to calculate benchmark values to help establish whether the local population should be required to take shelter or be evacuated or relocated following a nuclear accident. The study shows that these levels are more restrictive in wet environments than in dry ones. ... > full story
Internet could be 10 times faster than it currently is, researchers say (June 15, 2011) -- Could the Internet just stop working one day? With bandwidth requirement increasing annually as the web becomes an ever larger part of the everyday life, keeping up is a challenge for Internet service providers. A European telecommunications cluster CELTIC-Plus project is pushing capacity upwards. ... > full story
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