Space Season: ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Monday, April 18, 2011

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Monday, April 18, 2011

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The heat is on: Zeroing in on energy consumption of ice makers (April 18, 2011) -- In tests of four different types of new refrigerators, researchers found that ice makers increased rated energy consumption by 12 to 20 percent. About three-fourths of that additional energy cost is due to the electric heaters used to release the ice bits from the molds. ... > full story

Celestial fireworks from dying stars (April 18, 2011) -- A new image of the nebula NGC 3582 shows giant loops of gas bearing a striking resemblance to solar prominences. These loops are thought to have been ejected by dying stars, but new stars are also being born within this stellar nursery. These energetic youngsters emit intense ultraviolet radiation that makes the gas in the nebula glow, producing a fiery display. ... > full story

Introducing the world's first intubation robot (April 18, 2011) -- Researchers have introduced the first intubation robot operated by remote control. The robotic system may facilitate the intubation procedure and reduce some complications associated with airway management. ... > full story

Hydrocarbons deep within Earth: New computational study reveals how (April 17, 2011) -- A new computational study reveals how hydrocarbons may be formed from methane in deep Earth at extreme pressures and temperatures. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties of hydrocarbons at high pressures and temperature are important for understanding carbon reservoirs and fluxes in Earth. ... > full story

Best-ever look at pulsars: LOFAR takes the pulse of the radio sky (April 17, 2011) -- A powerful new telescope is allowing an international team of scientists to have their "best-ever look" at pulsars -- rapidly rotating neutron stars created when massive stars die. ... > full story

Recipe for radioactive compounds aids nuclear waste and fuel storage pools studies (April 17, 2011) -- Easy-to-follow recipes for radioactive compounds like those found in nuclear fuel storage pools, liquid waste containment areas and other contaminated aqueous environments have been developed by researchers. ... > full story

Toward a 'green grid' for delivering solar and wind-based electricity (April 17, 2011) -- After years of neglect, scientists and policy makers are focusing more attention on developing technologies needed to make the so-called "green grid" possible, according to a new article. That's the much-needed future electrical grid, an interconnected network for delivering solar and wind-based electricity from suppliers to consumers. ... > full story

New elastic material changes color in UV light (April 16, 2011) -- Researchers have created a range of soft, elastic gels that change color when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light -- and change back when the UV light is removed or the material is heated up. ... > full story

Solar activity heats up: Sunspots finally return (April 16, 2011) -- As 2011 unfolds, sunspots have returned and they are crackling with activity. On February 15 and again on March 9, Earth orbiting satellites detected a pair of "X-class" solar flares -- the most powerful kind of X-ray flare. ... > full story

Novel ionic liquid batteries (April 15, 2011) -- Limits imposed by using corrosive electrolytes often result in severe restrictions to battery geometry and the need for special corrosive-resistant battery containers. The use of reactive ionic liquids in non-aqueous cells replace the more hazardous highly alkaline electrolytes. ... > full story

New spin on graphene makes it magnetic (April 15, 2011) -- Scientists have found a way to make wonder material graphene magnetic, opening up a new range of opportunities for the world's thinnest material in the area of spintronics. ... > full story

A bicycle built for none: Riderless bike helps researchers learn how balance rolls along (April 15, 2011) -- In a discovery that could lead to better and safer bicycle design, researchers have shown that long-accepted "gyro" and "caster" effects are not needed to make a bike balance itself. In fact, it's a mixture of complicated physical effects -- linked to the distribution of mass -- that allows a bicycle to remain up when moving. ... > full story

Forest byproducts, shells may be key to removing radioactive contaminants from drinking water (April 15, 2011) -- A combination of forest byproducts and crustacean shells may be the key to removing radioactive materials from drinking water, researchers have found. ... > full story

Carbon fiber used to reinforce buildings; protect from explosion (April 15, 2011) -- Most buildings are not constructed to withstand an unexpected explosion or impact. Now, a researcher is working with the US Army to test a method of retrofitting buildings to protect them in the case of a terrorist attack. ... > full story

Fast-rotating asteroid winks for astronomer's camera (April 15, 2011) -- Video imaging of newly discovered asteroid 2011 GP59 shows the object appearing to blink on and off about once every four minutes. ... > full story

WISE delivers millions of galaxies, stars, asteroids (April 15, 2011) -- Astronomers across the globe can now sift through hundreds of millions of galaxies, stars and asteroids collected in the first bundle of data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. ... > full story

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