ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

---

• Hydrogen fuel from sunlight
• From cancer treatment to ion thruster: The newest little idea for nanosat micro rockets
• Novel topological crystalline insulator shows mass appeal
• 'Trojan' asteroids in far reaches of solar system more common than previously thought
• Transparent artificial muscle plays music to prove a point
• NASA's Chandra Observatory catches giant black hole rejecting material
• NASA's Hubble sees a cosmic caterpillar
• Reproducing nature's chemistry: Researchers alter molecular properties in a new way
• New sensor is almost as sensitive as a dog's nose
• Why electrons pass through very tiny wires less smoothly than expected: Light shed on 20-year-old mystery
• Neutron stars in the computer cloud

Hydrogen fuel from sunlight Posted: 29 Aug 2013 12:58 PM PDT Researchers have developed a way to interface a molecular hydrogen-producing catalyst with a visible light absorbing semiconductor. With this approach, hydrogen fuel can be produced off a photocathode using sunlight.

From cancer treatment to ion thruster: The newest little idea for nanosat micro rockets Posted: 29 Aug 2013 12:56 PM PDT The next generation of micro rockets could be built around a magnetic fluid that appears to defy gravity.

Novel topological crystalline insulator shows mass appeal Posted: 29 Aug 2013 11:52 AM PDT Physicists have theorized that topological crystalline insulators possess unique surface states as a result of crystalline symmetry. An international team of researchers has confirmed that experimental signature and revealed that disrupting the lattice-like structure imparts mass upon previously mass-less electrons. Furthermore, the researchers found manipulating structural symmetry offers a degree of control over the electronic phases of the solid-state material.

'Trojan' asteroids in far reaches of solar system more common than previously thought Posted: 29 Aug 2013 11:52 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered the first Trojan asteroid sharing the orbit of Uranus, and believe 2011 QF99 is part of a larger-than-expected population of transient objects temporarily trapped by the gravitational pull of the solar system's giant planets.

Transparent artificial muscle plays music to prove a point Posted: 29 Aug 2013 11:50 AM PDT In a materials science laboratory, a transparent disk connected to a laptop fills the room with music —- it's the "Morning" prelude from Peer Gynt, played on an ionic speaker. No ordinary speaker, it consists of a thin sheet of rubber sandwiched between two layers of a saltwater gel, and it's as clear as a window.

NASA's Chandra Observatory catches giant black hole rejecting material Posted: 29 Aug 2013 11:23 AM PDT Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have taken a major step in explaining why material around the giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy is extraordinarily faint in X-rays. This discovery holds important implications for understanding black holes.

NASA's Hubble sees a cosmic caterpillar Posted: 29 Aug 2013 09:34 AM PDT The light-year-long knot of interstellar gas and dust, seen in a new Hubble photo, resembles a caterpillar on its way to a feast. Harsh winds from extremely bright stars are blasting ultraviolet radiation at this 'wanna-be' star and sculpting the gas and dust into its long shape.

Reproducing nature's chemistry: Researchers alter molecular properties in a new way Posted: 29 Aug 2013 08:04 AM PDT Taking cues from nature, researchers have tested a new method for achieving particular molecular properties: by changing the geometry of the surface to which the molecule is bound.

New sensor is almost as sensitive as a dog's nose Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:33 AM PDT Using carbon nanotubes, scientists have developed a sensor that greatly amplifies the sensitivity of commonly used but typically weak vibrational spectroscopic methods, such as Raman spectroscopy. This type of sensor makes it possible to detect molecules present in the tiniest of concentrations.

Why electrons pass through very tiny wires less smoothly than expected: Light shed on 20-year-old mystery Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:31 AM PDT Scientists have found an explanation for a mystery that has been puzzling the physics community since 1995. They explain why electrons pass through very tiny wires (known as quantum point contacts) less smoothly than expected. The observations will affect electronics on a nanoscale: 'Our thinking about this has been too naïve so far.'

Neutron stars in the computer cloud Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:30 AM PDT Einstein@Home discovers 24 new pulsars in archival data. The combined computing power of 200,000 private PCs helps astronomers take an inventory of the Milky Way.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Top Technology News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610