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Friday, September 6, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

ScienceDaily: Top Technology News


Made-to-order materials: Engineers focus on the nano to create strong, lightweight materials

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:30 PM PDT

Engineers have mimicked lightweight yet strong biological materials by creating nanostructured, hollow ceramic scaffolds, and have found that their small building blocks, or unit cells, display remarkable strength and resistance to failure despite being more than 85 percent air.

Device to detect biodiesel contamination developed

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:30 PM PDT

A professor and student team has developed a quick and easy-to-use sensor that can detect trace amounts of biodiesel contamination in diesel.

New coating may reduce blood clot risk inside stents

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:30 PM PDT

A new stent coating may someday eliminate a common side effect of the treatment.

Coldest brown dwarfs blur lines between stars and planets

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 01:05 PM PDT

Astronomers are constantly on the hunt for ever-colder star-like bodies, and two years ago a new class of such objects was discovered. However, until now no one has known exactly how cool their surfaces really are -- some evidence suggested they could be room temperature. A new study shows that while these brown dwarfs, sometimes called failed stars, are warmer than previously thought with temperatures about 250-350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Interstellar winds buffeting our solar system have shifted direction

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 11:28 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered that the particles streaming into the solar system from interstellar space have likely changed direction over the last 40 years.

Powerful jets discovered blowing material out of galaxy

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 11:27 AM PDT

Astronomers using a worldwide network of radio telescopes have found strong evidence that a powerful jet of material propelled to nearly light speed by a galaxy's central black hole is blowing massive amounts of gas out of the galaxy. This process, they said, is limiting the growth of the black hole and the rate of star formation in the galaxy, and thus is a key to understanding how galaxies develop.

Terramechanics research aims to keep Mars rovers rolling

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 08:40 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a model that accurately simulates Mars rover mobility over various types of soil and terrain.

Arresting model stops cars

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 08:40 AM PDT

Researchers in China have developed a mathematical model that could help engineers design a flexible vehicle-arrest system for stopping cars involved in criminal activity or terrorism, such as suspect car bombers attempting break through a check point, without wrecking the car or killing the occupants.

Authenticated brain waves improve driver security

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 08:40 AM PDT

One-time entry authentication methods are suitable for to a protected building or a private web page. But, a continuous biometric system is needed for authenticating drivers of vehicles carrying valuable commodities and money, and even public transport vehicles and taxis. Now, such a system based on scanning the driver's brain waves could make hijacks of such vehicles a thing of the past.

Study IDs trouble areas, aims to speed up construction projects

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 08:37 AM PDT

Researchers have identified factors that cause construction site managers to schedule more time than necessary for specific tasks. Understanding these factors and whether they can be reduced or eliminated could help the industry complete construction projects more quickly.

Engineers make golden breakthrough to improve electronic devices

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 08:21 AM PDT

Chemical engineering team has discovered that a new member of the ultrathin materials family has great potential to improve electronic and thermal devices. The researchers studied molybdenum disulfide and found that manipulating it with gold atoms improves its electrical characteristics.

No evidence of planetary influence on solar activity

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT

In 2012, Astronomy & Astrophysics published a statistical study of the isotopic records of solar activity, in which scientists claimed that there is evidence of planetary influence on solar activity. A&A is publishing a new analysis of these isotopic data. It corrects technical errors in the statistical tests performed earlier. They find no evidence of any planetary effect on solar activity.

New computational approaches speed up the exploration of the universe

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT

Chemical analyzes can take a long time to complete. Now a potentially groundbreaking collaboration between a chemist and a computer scientist shows that time spent on chemical analyzes can be reduced considerably. Among other things this means, that researchers can now speed up the exploration of the chemistry behind the origin of life in our universe.

Telemedicine initiative allows remote hearing tests for newborns

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 07:17 AM PDT

A telemedicine initiative is working to make follow-up hearing tests for newborns more accessible in rural areas of Tennessee, while teaching young pediatric audiology and pediatric speech language pathology students to treat patients remotely.

Hydraulic fracturing in Michigan investigated

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 07:17 AM PDT

Researchers have just released seven technical reports that together form the most comprehensive Michigan-focused resource on hydraulic fracturing, the controversial natural gas and oil extraction process commonly known as fracking.

Cheaper Chinese solar panels are not due to low-cost labor

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:59 AM PDT

A study of the photovoltaic industries in the US and China shows that China's dominance in solar panel manufacturing is not driven solely by cheaper labor and government support, but by larger-scale manufacturing and resulting supply-chain benefits.

Robotic therapy aids kids' handwriting skills

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:57 AM PDT

Researchers are working to develop an exciting new robotic device that helps children to practice and improve their hand coordination.  

The ship that waves won't rock

Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:56 AM PDT

This ship makes it easier to find one's sea legs, thanks to opposing waves created in specially-designed tanks fitted in the hull. The ship will house personnel working on offshore installations, and is optimized to provide the best possible comfort when serving a platform.

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