Jumat, 19 Agustus 2011

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Friday, August 19, 2011

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Friday, August 19, 2011

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DNA construction software saves time, resources and money (August 19, 2011) -- Scientists have developed the first software package for automating DNA construction that not only makes the process faster and more efficient but -- with an eye on the economics of scientific discovery -- also identifies which construction strategy would be the most cost-effective. ... > full story

Cashless parking: Windshield microchip to make it easier (August 19, 2011) -- Vacant parking spaces in town are thin on the ground. Finding one is just as tiresome as making sure you have the right change for the parking machine. An adhesive microchip on the windshield will make things much easier by unlocking the door to cashless parking. ... > full story

Ions control shape of nanofibers grown on clear substrate (August 19, 2011) -- Researchers have found a new way to develop straight carbon nanofibers on a transparent substrate. Growing such nanofiber coatings is important for use in novel biomedical research tools, solar cells, water repellent coatings and others. The technique utilizes a charged chromium grid, and relies on ions to ensure the nanofibers are straight, rather than curling -- which limits their utility. ... > full story

Disordered networks synchronise faster than small world networks (August 19, 2011) -- Synchronization occurs when individual elements in a complex network behave in line with each other. This applies to real-life examples such as the way neurons fire during an epileptic seizure or the phenomenon of crickets falling into step with one another. ... > full story

Physicists uncover new data on adenine, a crucial building block of life (August 18, 2011) -- Physicists have shown that one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA, adenine, has an unexpectedly variable range of ionization energies along its reaction pathways. ... > full story

Study exposes habit formation in smartphone users (August 18, 2011) -- Smartphone users develop the habit of frequently checking their phones for e-mail, social media, and news, shows a new study. The researchers were surprised to find users engaging in checking behaviors throughout the waking hours. Furthermore, a sizable proportion of smartphone use consists solely of checkings. ... > full story

Honeycomb carbon crystals possibly detected in space (August 18, 2011) -- NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has spotted the signature of flat carbon flakes, called graphene, in space. If confirmed, this would be the first-ever cosmic detection of the material -- which is arranged like chicken wire in flat sheets that are one atom thick. ... > full story

Embryo development obeys the laws of hydrodynamics (August 18, 2011) -- The law of hydrodynamics can contribute to our understanding of how a cluster of embryonic cells can transform into an animal within the first 36 hours of development, according to new research. ... > full story

Football analysis leads to advance in artificial intelligence (August 18, 2011) -- Computer scientists in the field of artificial intelligence have made an important advance that blends computer vision, machine learning and automated planning, and created a new system that may improve everything from factory efficiency to airport operation or nursing care. And it's based on watching the Oregon State University Beavers play football. ... > full story

Ensuring reliable wireless alarm beacons for first responders (August 18, 2011) -- New tests are helping to ensure that wireless safety equipment such as alarm beacons for firefighters and other emergency responders will operate reliably in the presence of other wireless devices. ... > full story

New method can speed development of organic semiconductors for flexible displays (August 18, 2011) -- Researchers have not only created a new material for high-speed organic semiconductors, they have also come up with a new approach that can take months, even years, off the development timeline. ... > full story

No technical know-how needed: Endless forms web site helps users 'breed' 3-D printable objects (August 18, 2011) -- Forget draft tables and complicated computer-aided design programs: You dream it. Endless Forms helps you design it. Engineers are allowing anyone to point, click, collaborate and create online in the evolution of printable, three-dimensional objects. ... > full story

Moon younger than previously thought, analysis of lunar rock reveals (August 18, 2011) -- Analysis of a piece of lunar rock brought back to Earth by the Apollo 16 mission in 1972 has shown that the Moon may be much younger than previously believed. This is concluded in new research conducted by an international team of scientists that includes James Connelly from the Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen. Their work has just been published in Nature. ... > full story

Computers will be able to tell social traits from human faces, researchers predict (August 18, 2011) -- Researchers have developed new computational tools that help computers determine whether faces fall into categories like attractive or threatening, according to a recent paper. ... > full story

Computational method predicts new uses for existing medicines; Match-making program uses gene expression patterns (August 18, 2011) -- Scientists used computers and publicly available genomic information to predict new uses for existing medicines. The approach could save time and money compared to traditional drug discovery methods. Among the study's surprise findings: an anti-ulcer medicine that slowed the growth of lung cancer, and an anticonvulsant that might alleviate inflammatory bowel diseases. ... > full story

Researchers find way to align gold nanorods on a large scale (August 18, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a simple, scalable way to align gold nanorods, particles with optical properties that could be used for emerging biomedical imaging technologies. ... > full story

Near-infrared imaging system shows promise as future pancreatic cancer diagnostic tool (August 18, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that optical coherence tomography (OCT), a high resolution optical imaging technique that works by bouncing near-infrared laser light off biological tissue, can reliably distinguish between pancreatic cysts that are low-risk and high-risk for becoming malignant. ... > full story

Physicists undo the 'coffee ring effect' (August 17, 2011) -- A team of physicists has shown how to disrupt the "coffee ring effect" -- the ring-shaped stain of particles leftover after coffee drops evaporate -- by changing the particle shape. The discovery provides new tools for engineers to deposit uniform coatings. ... > full story

Robotic refueling module, soon to be relocated to permanent space station position (August 17, 2011) -- NASA's groundbreaking Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) will reach a key milestone in September when the International Space Station (ISS) robots transfer the module to its permanent home on space station's ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-4. Robotic operations for the technology demonstration are currently slated to begin soon afterwards. ... > full story

Can stock markets regulate themselves? History of markets offers insight into effects of regulation on success of initial public offerings (August 17, 2011) -- Whenever crisis threatens the financial markets, voices are loud in calling for greater control. It is dubious, however, whether tighter regulation would actually offer investors better protection against losing their capital, economists argue in a new historical review of the markets. ... > full story

Reliability issues for carbon nanotubes in future electronics uncovered (August 17, 2011) -- Carbon nanotubes theoretically can carry 1,000 times more electric current than a metal conductor of the same size, so researchers hope they might replace copper wiring in future nanoscale electronics, but recent tests suggest device reliability is a major issue. ... > full story

Wind-turbine placement produces tenfold power increase, researchers say (August 17, 2011) -- The power output of wind farms can be increased at least tenfold simply by optimizing the placement of turbines on a given plot of land, say researchers conducting a unique field study at an experimental two-acre wind farm in northern Los Angeles County, California. ... > full story

New tool allows first responders to visualize post-event disaster environments (August 17, 2011) -- Using iPad™ mobile devices, emergency preparedness officials and first responders participating in an exercise, were able, for the first time, to make use of a new, science-based software tool that allows them to view and modify accurate models of building damage and other post-event disaster effects. ... > full story

Researchers improving GPS accuracy in the third dimension (August 17, 2011) -- Researchers who are working to fix global positioning system (GPS) errors have devised software to take a more accurate measurement of altitude -- particularly in mountainous areas. The software is still under development, but in initial tests it enabled centimeter-scale GPS positioning -- including altitude -- as often as 97 percent of the time. ... > full story

Phone losing charge? With photovoltaic polarizers, devices could be powered by sunlight, own backlight (August 17, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a novel energy harvesting and recycling concept for electronic devices -- incorporating their LCD screens with built-in photovoltaic polarizers -- so they could convert ambient light, sunlight, and the device's own backlight into electricity. Called polarizing organic photovoltaics (or ZOPVs), these can potentially boost the function of a LCD, Light Crystal Displays, by working simultaneously as a polarizer, as a photovoltaic device and as an ambient light or sunlight photovoltaic panel. ... > full story

A new look below the surface of nanomaterials (August 17, 2011) -- Scientists can now look deeper into new materials to study their structure and behavior. A new technique will enable more detailed study of new types of materials for use in electronics, energy production, chemistry and other applications. ... > full story

Holograms reveal brain's inner workings: Microscopy technique used to observe activity of neurons like never before (August 17, 2011) -- Like far away galaxies, powerful tools are required to bring the minute inner workings of neurons into focus. Borrowing a technique from materials science, a team of neurobiologists, psychiatrists, and advanced imaging specialists from Switzerland report how digital holographic microscopy can now be used to observe neuronal activity in real-time and in three dimensions -- with up to 50 times greater resolution than ever before. ... > full story

Mimicking biological complexity, in a tiny particle (August 17, 2011) -- Tiny particles made of polymers hold great promise for targeted delivery of drugs and as structural scaffolds for building artificial tissues. However, current production methods for such microparticles yield a limited array of shapes and can only be made with certain materials, restricting their usefulness. New technology could lead to better drug delivery and artificial tissues that imitate natural tissue. ... > full story

Gemini-Scout robot likely to reach trapped miners ahead of rescuers (August 17, 2011) -- Robotics engineers have designed the Gemini-Scout Mine Rescue Robot, which finds dangers and can provide relief to trapped miners. ... > full story

Cosmological evolution of dark matter is similar to that of visible matter (August 17, 2011) -- Large cosmic structures made up of dark and normal matter evolve along the same lines -- this is one of the most important conclusions emerging from the latest computer simulations. ... > full story

Diamond’s quantum memory (August 17, 2011) -- Two completely different quantum systems have been successfully joined. This should pave the way to feasible quantum-computer microchips. ... > full story

Moon and Earth may be younger than originally thought (August 17, 2011) -- New research using a technique that measures the isotopes of lead and neodymium in lunar crustal rocks shows that the moon and Earth may be millions of years younger than originally thought. ... > full story

Scientists find new uses for existing drugs by mining gene-activity data banks (August 17, 2011) -- Researchers have paired up medicines and maladies with help from a molecular matchmaker. When the scientists applied an "opposites attract" algorithm to publicly available databases, surprising sparks flew: They found potential compatibilities between numerous existing drugs and diseases for which those drugs had never before been thought to be beneficial. ... > full story

Man in the moon looking younger (August 17, 2011) -- Earth's Moon could be younger than previously thought. The prevailing theory of our Moon's origin is that it was created by a giant impact between a large planet-like object and the proto-Earth. The Moon formed from melted material that was ejected into space. Analysis of lunar rock samples thought to have been derived from the original magma has given scientists a new estimate of the Moon's age. ... > full story

Future of inks, paints and coatings takes shape: Researchers determine that particle shape affects the 'coffee ring effect' (August 17, 2011) -- If you've ever spilled a drop of coffee on a surface, you might have noticed the curious way the color concentrates at the edges when the coffee dries. This is known as the "coffee ring effect," and recently, researchers have determined that the shape of the particles in the liquid is an important factor in creating this pattern. ... > full story

Carbon nanotube structures changed by ‘attack’ from within, researchers discover (August 16, 2011) -- A team of researchers has shown for the first time that chemical reactions at the nano-level which change the structure of carbon nanotubes can be sparked by an 'attack' from within. ... > full story

Tiny gold particles boost organic solar cell efficiency: Plasmonic technique helps enhance power conversion by up to 20 percent (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated how they inserted a gold nanoparticle layer between two subcells to combine the tandem cell strategy with the plasmonic effect -- a process that concentrates light via scattering from nanoparticles. As a result, a 20 percent improvement of power conversion efficiency has been attained by the light concentration of gold nanoparticles. ... > full story

Dramatic simplification paves the way for building a quantum computer (August 16, 2011) -- Scientists have demonstrated a new technique that dramatically simplifies quantum circuits, bringing quantum computers closer to reality. ... > full story

Researchers unravel the magic of flocks of starlings (August 16, 2011) -- Do fish swimming in schools or birds flying in flocks have a collective spirit that enables them to move as one? Are they animals with highly developed cognition, a complex instinct or a telepathic gift? A recent study conducted researchers in the Netherlands points in another direction. Mathematical models of self-organization show that complicated collective behavior can be the consequence of a few simple behavioral rules. ... > full story

What caused a giant arrow-shaped cloud on Saturn's moon Titan? (August 16, 2011) -- Why does Titan, Saturn's largest moon, have what looks like an enormous white arrow about the size of Texas on its surface? A research group has answered this question by using a global circulation model of Titan to demonstrate how planetary-scale atmospheric waves affect the moon's weather patterns, leading to a "stenciling" effect that results in sharp and sometimes surprising cloud shapes. ... > full story

Bending light with better precision (August 16, 2011) -- Physicists have demonstrated a new technique to control the speed and direction of light using memory metamaterials whose properties can be repeatedly changed. A metamaterial is a structure engineered from a variety of substances that, when put together, yield optical properties that do not exist in nature. ... > full story

Hint of elusive Higgs boson: An update from the Large Hadron Collider (August 16, 2011) -- The physics world was abuzz with some tantalizing news a couple of weeks ago. At a meeting of the European Physical Society in Grenoble, France, physicists announced that the latest data from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) might hint at the existence of the ever-elusive Higgs boson. ... > full story

Single, key gene discovery could streamline production of biofuels (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have pinpointed the exact, single gene that controls ethanol production capacity in a microorganism. This discovery could be the missing link in developing biomass crops that produce higher concentrations of ethanol at lower costs. ... > full story

Novel microscopy generates new view of fuel cells (August 16, 2011) -- A novel microscopy method is helping scientists probe the reactions that limit widespread deployment of fuel cell technologies. ... > full story

Strain and spin may enable ultra-low-energy computing (August 16, 2011) -- A new type of integrated circuit may be so energy efficient that it could run simply by harvesting energy from the environment. ... > full story

Measurements reveal extent of leakage from Japan's damaged Fukushima reactor (August 16, 2011) -- From distance of 5,800 miles, researchers calculated how much radiation leaked from damaged fuel at the Fukushima nuclear reactor after an earthquake and tsunami disabled normal cooling systems. Nuclear reactions in the seawater used to douse overheating fuel created a pulse of radioactive sulfur dioxide gas and sulfate particles that revealed the magnitude of the leak. This labeled sulfur will also help researchers to trace sulfur in the atmosphere, an important factor for understanding climate change. ... > full story

New device exposes explosive vapors (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have designed an ultra-portable device to detect trace amounts of explosives such as TNT. The prototype is sensitive and inexpensive, and may one day be adapted to help clear dangerous landmines. ... > full story

Pathogen research inspires robotics design for medicine and military (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have made significant findings about the swimming and attachment of the microorganism Giardia. The findings can aid in designs for drug discovery and underwater vehicles. ... > full story


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