ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Friday, April 15, 2011
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Search for dark matter moves one step closer to detecting elusive particle (April 15, 2011) -- Dark matter, the mysterious substance that may account for nearly 25 percent of the universe, has so far evaded direct observation. But researchers participating in the international XENON collaboration say they are now closer than ever before. ... > full story
Sensor determines if packaged meat has spoiled (April 15, 2011) -- When it comes to packaged fish or meat, it is nearly impossible to distinguish between fresh goods and their inedible counterparts. Researchers have now developed a sensor film that can be integrated into the package itself, where it takes over the role of quality control. And if the food has spoiled, it changes color to announce the fact. ... > full story
NASA's next generation space telescope marks key milestone (April 15, 2011) -- The first six of 18 segments that will form NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror for space observations will begin final round-the-clock cryogenic testing this week. These tests will confirm the mirrors will respond as expected to the extreme temperatures of space prior to integration into the telescope's permanent housing structure. ... > full story
Lights and flat-panel displays: Researchers 'brighten' the future of organic light-emitting diode technology (April 15, 2011) -- A one-atom thick sheet of the element chlorine is set to revolutionize the next generation of flat-panel displays and lighting technology. Scientists have found a simple method of using chlorine to drastically reduce traditional organic light-emitting diode (OLED) device complexity and dramatically improve its efficiency all at the same time. ... > full story
NASA announces new homes for shuttle orbiters after retirement (April 15, 2011) -- After 30 years of spaceflight, more than 130 missions, and numerous science and technology firsts, NASA's space shuttle fleet will retire and be on display at institutions across the country to inspire the next generation of explorers and engineers. ... > full story
DNA nanoforms: Miniature architectural forms -- some no larger than viruses -- constructed through DNA origami (April 14, 2011) -- Miniature architectural forms -- some no larger than viruses -- have been constructed through a revolutionary technique known as DNA origami. Now, scientists have expanded the capability of this method to construct arbitrary, two and three-dimensional shapes, mimicking those commonly found in nature. ... > full story
Solar power without solar cells: A hidden magnetic effect of light could make it possible (April 14, 2011) -- A dramatic and surprising magnetic effect of light discovered by researchers could lead to solar power without traditional semiconductor-based solar cells. The researchers found a way to make an "optical battery." In the process, they overturned a century-old tenet of physics. ... > full story
Algae could replace 17 percent of US oil imports, study finds (April 14, 2011) -- A new study shows that 17 percent of the United States' imported oil for transportation could be replaced by biofuel made from algae. Researchers also determined that the water needed to grow that algae could be substantially reduced by cultivating it in the nation's sunniest and most humid regions. ... > full story
Chance discovery may revolutionize hydrogen production (April 14, 2011) -- Producing hydrogen in a sustainable way is a challenge and production cost has so far proven to be too high. Now researchers have discovered that a molybdenum based catalyst is produced at room temperature, inexpensive and efficient. ... > full story
Drug potency: What happens in space? (April 14, 2011) -- Some of the pharmaceuticals intended for the treatment of minor illnesses of astronauts in space may require special packaging and reformulation to remain stable for long periods in the space environment. That's according to a new study that suggests that some of the pharmaceuticals stored on space flights may have shorter shelf-life than they do on Earth. ... > full story
Keeping beer fresh longer (April 14, 2011) -- Researchers are reporting discovery of a scientific basis for extending the shelf life of beer so that it stays fresh and tastes good longer. For the first time, they identified the main substances that cause the bitter, harsh aftertaste of aged beer and suggest that preventing the formation of these substances could help extend its freshness. ... > full story
Physicists create clouds of impenetrable gases that bounce off each other (April 14, 2011) -- When one cloud of gas meets another, they normally pass right through each other. But now, physicists have created clouds of ultracold gases that bounce off each other like bowling balls, even though they are a million times thinner than air -- the first time that such impenetrable gases have been observed. While this experiment involved clouds of lithium atoms, cooled to near absolute zero, the findings could also help explain the behavior of similar systems such as neutron stars, high-temperature superconductors, and quark-gluon plasma, the hot soup of elementary particles that formed immediately after the Big Bang. ... > full story
Star formation linked to sonic booms (April 14, 2011) -- Nearby interstellar clouds contain networks of tangled gaseous filaments, according to new observations. Intriguingly, each filament is approximately the same width, hinting that they may result from interstellar sonic booms throughout our Galaxy. ... > full story
Lightning-fast materials testing using ultrasound (April 14, 2011) -- For years, ultrasound has proven to be a valuable tool in non-destructive materials testing. However, the demands of modern production conditions are increasing all the time. Researchers have now developed a new, more reliable process that delivers testing results at a rate that is up to a hundredfold higher. ... > full story
New fracture resistance mechanisms provided by graphene (April 14, 2011) -- Graphene can be used to enhance the toughness of ceramics, new research shows. This discovery -- which increased the resulting ceramic composite's fracture resistance by over 200 percent -- could potentially be used to enhance toughness for a wide range of high performance ceramic materials for aerospace and other applications. ... > full story
Scientists give computers 'hindsight' to anticipate the future: Useful in online auctions (April 13, 2011) -- Scientists have developed an algorithm to measure variables on the fly and minimize the amount of "virtual regret" a computer program might experience. This research could have an effect on the decision-making processes of computers as they manage online auctions. ... > full story
Ceramic coatings may protect jet engines from volcanic ash (April 13, 2011) -- Last year's billion shutdown of European airspace following a volcanic eruption in Iceland alerted everyone to the danger that ash clouds can pose to aircraft engines. Now, researchers have discovered that a new class of ceramic coatings could offer jet engines special protection against volcanic ash damage in the future. ... > full story
Volcanoes reveal the cooling of Mars (April 13, 2011) -- The mantle of Mars is possibly cooling by 30-40°C every billion years. Based on satellite observations of the composition of the planet's volcanic rocks, researchers have reached this conclusion after reconstructing for the first time the thermal evolution of the planet over the past 4 billion years. These values indicate that cooling is slower than on Earth (70-100°C per billion years) and highlight the specific nature of our planet, where thermal evolution is affected by plate tectonics. ... > full story
Device proves solar cell potential of high bandgap inorganic nanowire arrays (April 13, 2011) -- Proving a theoretical concept for improving the light absorption capabilities of a class of semiconductor materials long-considered impractical for solar energy collection, a team of researchers has successfully fabricated and tested an array of "quantum coaxial cables" -- nanowires structured from inorganic materials that can be fabricated cost-effectively to produce a durable and efficient solar cell. ... > full story
First comprehensive gene map of the human brain: More than 90 percent similarity among humans (April 13, 2011) -- Researchers have released the world's first anatomically and genomically comprehensive human brain map, a previously unthinkable feat made possible through leading-edge technology and more than four years of rigorous studies and documentation. ... > full story
Controlled production of nanometric drops (April 13, 2011) -- When a drop falls on a lotus flower it remains on the surface without wetting it. This is due, firstly, to the chemical components of the leaves of this plant, which are hydrophobic and therefore repel water, and, secondly, to the nanostructure of the surface, which augments the repellent effect. Taking these nanostructural properties as a starting point, researchers have carried out a study in which they demonstrate the physical conditions required for the controlled production of drops between the micro- and nanoscales. ... > full story
Toward a computer model of the brain: New technique poised to untangle brain's complexity (April 12, 2011) -- Scientists have moved a step closer to being able to develop a computer model of the brain after developing a technique to map both the connections and functions of nerve cells in the brain together for the first time. ... > full story
Public relatively unconcerned about nanotechnology risks (April 12, 2011) -- A new study finds that the general public thinks getting a suntan poses a greater public health risk than nanotechnology or other nanoparticle applications. The study compared survey respondents' perceived risk of nanoparticles with 23 other public-health risks. ... > full story
Rainbow-trapping scientist now strives to slow light waves even further (April 12, 2011) -- An electrical engineer who previously demonstrated experimentally the "rainbow trapping effect" -- a phenomenon that could boost optical data storage and communications -- is now working to capture all the colors of the rainbow. ... > full story
Better lasers for optical communications (April 12, 2011) -- A new laser procedure could boost optical fiber communications. The technique could become essential for the future expansion of the Internet, and it also opens up new frontiers in basic research. ... > full story
'Alternative vote' electoral system could lock out extremist candidates, UK researcher says (April 12, 2011) -- Moving to an alternative vote (AV) electoral system could lock extremist candidates out of office and ensue that the least popular politician has the least chance of winning, according to a voting researcher in the UK. ... > full story
Cause of irradiation-induced instability in materials' surfaces discovered (April 12, 2011) -- A new discovery about the dynamic impact of individual energetic particles into a solid surface improves our ability to predict surface stability or instability of materials under irradiation over time. The finding may lead to the design of improved structural materials for nuclear fission and fusion power plants, which must withstand constant irradiation over decades. It may also accelerate the advent of fusion power, which does not produce radioactivity. ... > full story
First galaxies were born much earlier than expected (April 12, 2011) -- Using the amplifying power of a cosmic gravitational lens, astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy whose stars were born unexpectedly early in cosmic history. This result sheds new light on the formation of the first galaxies, as well as on the early evolution of the Universe. ... > full story
Forensics: Developing a tool for identification -- even using very degraded DNA samples (April 12, 2011) -- Frequently the only biological material available to identify persons is DNA in a very degraded state. In these cases, the kits usually employed to carry out DNA identifications do not produce accurate results, given that all the DNA is not available. Biochemists have now developed a tool for identifying persons from these small fragments of DNA. ... > full story
World's smallest wedding rings: Interlocking rings of DNA visible through scanning force microscope (April 12, 2011) -- DNA nanotechnology makes use of the ability of natural DNA strains' capacity for self asssembly. Researchers in Germany were able to create two rings of DNA only 18 nanometers in size, and to interlock them like two links in a chain. One of the researchers, who got married during the time he was working on the nano-rings, believes that they are probably the world's smallest wedding rings. ... > full story
Space jets in a bottle (April 12, 2011) -- By creating space-like conditions in a slim 4-meter vessel, researchers have helped confirm the behavior of astrophysical jets -- streams of charged particles shot out by supermassive black holes and young stars, which stretch several hundred thousand light years across space. ... > full story
How antifreeze proteins bind to surface of ice crystals: Finding may end 30-year debate (April 12, 2011) -- A chance observation by a researcher might have ended a decades-old debate about the precise way antifreeze proteins bind to the surface of ice crystals. ... > full story
Tissue engineers use new system to measure biomaterials, structures (April 12, 2011) -- As cells assemble into a donut shape and ascend a hydrogel cone, they do work and thereby reveal the total power involved in forming a three-dimensional structure. That measure not only could help tissue engineers understand their living building materials better, but could also add insight to the understanding of natural tissue formation. ... > full story
'Green energy' advance: Tandem catalysis in nanocrystal interfaces (April 12, 2011) -- In a development that holds intriguing possibilities for green energy technologies such as artificial photosynthesis, researchers have created the first bilayered metal-metal oxide nanocrystals to feature multiple catalytic sites on nanocrystal interfaces. These multiple catalytic sites allow for multiple, sequential catalytic reactions to be carried out selectively and in tandem. ... > full story
Complex composite materials: Replacement found for rare material indium tin oxide (April 12, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a replacement for indium tin oxide. The replacement material is a transparent, conducting film produced in water, and based on electrically conducting carbon nanotubes and plastic nanoparticles. ... > full story
Why academic start-up companies can fail (April 12, 2011) -- Many academic spin-out companies face significant difficulties in transforming an initial idea into a wealth-creating and sustainable business, according to an empirical analysis of 160 such companies formed in Italy during a five-year period. The research suggests that a lack of entrepreneurial orientation by the researchers promoting and managing the spin-out companies is to blame. ... > full story
Diesel-engine exhaust filter reduces harmful particles by 98 percent (April 11, 2011) -- A commercially available particle trap can filter microscopic pollutants in diesel-engine exhaust and prevent about 98 percent of them from reaching the air, according to new research. ... > full story
Fracking controversy: Using water, sand and chemicals to extract natural gas from shale (April 11, 2011) -- The turmoil in oil-producing nations is triggering turmoil at home, as rising oil prices force Americans to pay more at the pump. Meanwhile, there's a growing industry that's promising jobs and access to cheaper energy resources on American soil, but it's not without its controversy. ... > full story
Physicists discover new way to visualize warped space and time (April 11, 2011) -- When black holes slam into each other, the surrounding space and time surge and undulate like a heaving sea during a storm. This warping of space and time is so complicated that physicists haven't been able to understand the details of what goes on -- until now. ... > full story
NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson perform first space-Earth flute duet (April 11, 2011) -- Harmony reached new heights recently as NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, circling Earth aboard the International Space Station, and musician Ian Anderson, founder of the rock band Jethro Tull, collaborated for the first space-Earth duet. ... > full story
Saturn's moon Titan shaped by weather, not ice volcanoes? (April 11, 2011) -- Have the surface and belly of Saturn's smog-shrouded moon, Titan, recently simmered like a chilly, bubbling cauldron with ice volcanoes, or has this distant moon gone cold? In a newly published analysis, scientists analyzing data collected by the Cassini spacecraft suggest Titan may be much less geologically active than some scientists have thought. ... > full story
Free software makes computer mouse easier for people with disabilities (April 11, 2011) -- As the population ages, more people are having trouble with motor control, but now scientists have invented two mouse cursors that make clicking targets a whole lot easier. ... > full story
Virtual reality lab focuses on conservation (April 11, 2011) -- Timber! Cutting down a tree in a virtual forest can bring new ideas of conservation crashing down on you If a tree falls in a virtual reality forest, will anyone hear an environmental message? They will, as long as they were the ones who cut down the make-believe redwood. Cutting down a virtual redwood with a virtual chainsaw may lead you to save trees by recycling more paper. That finding is an example of how real-world behavior can be changed by immersing people in virtual reality environments. ... > full story
New research advances understanding of lead selenide nanowires (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists have shown how to control the characteristics of semiconductor nanowires made of a promising material: lead selenide. ... > full story
NASA's Jupiter-bound spacecraft arrives in Florida (April 11, 2011) -- NASA's Juno spacecraft has arrived in Florida to begin final preparations for a launch this summer. The spacecraft was shipped from Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, to the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., on April 8, 2011. The solar-powered Juno spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere. ... > full story
Cutting-edge X-ray free electron laser facility unveiled in japan (April 11, 2011) -- RIKEN and the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) have cut the ribbon on a new cutting-edge X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facility in Harima, the first such facility in Japan and only the second in the whole world. Nicknamed 'SACLA' (SPring-8 Angstrom Compact Free Electron Laser), the new XFEL’s intense beams will open a unique window onto the minuscule structure of molecules and rapid reaction of chemical species. ... > full story
'Good cholesterol' nanoparticles seek and destroy cancer cells (April 10, 2011) -- High-density lipoprotein's hauls excess cholesterol to the liver for disposal, but new research suggests "good cholesterol" can also act as a special delivery vehicle of destruction for cancer. ... > full story
Giant batteries for green power (April 10, 2011) -- In the future, the growing amounts of solar and wind energy will need to be stored for dark or low-wind periods. One solution is redox flow batteries that can supply current for up to 2000 households. Scientists are now working on these fluid batteries of the future. ... > full story
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