ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

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• Carbon monoxide predicts 'red and dead' future of gas guzzler galaxy
• Six cases where big data can reduce healthcare costs
• New technologies fuel patient participation and data collection in research
• Friction from tides could help distant Earth-sized planets survive, and thrive
• NASA Mars Orbiter views rover crossing into new zone
• Using sand to improve battery performance
• Planet Mercury a result of early hit-and-run collisions
• Virtual reality crowds produce real behavior insights
• Solar energy gets a boost: 'Singlet fission' can increase solar cell efficiency by as much as 30 percent
• Astronomers bring the third dimension to a doomed star's outburst
• Stretching forces shaped Jupiter moon's surface, laboratory model suggests
• Cognitive assessment provides window into proficiency level of robot-assisted surgeons
• Sun sends more 'tsunami waves' to Voyager 1
• Something is amiss in the Universe: Cosmic accounting reveals missing light crisis
• Same genes drive mathematics and reading ability
• Highly reactive gold carbene complex shines in emerald green
• Better visualizing of fitness-app data helps discover trends, reach goals
• Transparent two-sided touchable display wall developed
• Damage assessment of runaway barges at Marseilles lock and dam
• Was da Vinci wrong? New research shows friction and fracture are interrelated, with implications for earthquakes
• Nanotechnology: Paving the way for electronic applications
• Solar cells: Powered by nanoholes
• Nano-optics: Getting the most out of tiny lasers
• Plasmonics: Minimizing loss by thinning, smoothing
• Improving the stability of clay for construction
• More California gas stations can provide hydrogen than previously thought
• New smartphone app offers easy and inexpensive solution for hearing screening
• FDA-approved transcatheter heart valve offered to patients
• Silicon sponge improves lithium-ion battery performance
• A hotspot for powerful cosmic rays, most energetic particles in the universe
• Collisions with robots, without risk of injury
• Orgainic solar modules embedded in glass last longer
• Safe harbor: Freight transport logistics
• Energy study commissioned by California Air Resources Board recommends three reforms to protect cap-and-trade

Carbon monoxide predicts 'red and dead' future of gas guzzler galaxy Posted: 08 Jul 2014 02:32 PM PDT Astronomers have studied the carbon monoxide in a galaxy over 12 billion light years from Earth and discovered that it's running out of gas, quite literally, and headed for a 'red and dead' future. The galaxy, known as ALESS65, was observed by the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in 2011 and is one of fewer than 20 known distant galaxies to contain carbon monoxide.

Six cases where big data can reduce healthcare costs Posted: 08 Jul 2014 01:58 PM PDT Some of the clearest opportunities to reduce costs through the use of big data have been highlighted by researchers in a new article. Specifically, researchers discuss the role of algorithms in reducing cost in the following categories: high-cost patients, readmissions, triage, decompensation (when a patient's condition worsens), adverse events, and treatment optimization for diseases affecting multiple organ systems.

New technologies fuel patient participation and data collection in research Posted: 08 Jul 2014 01:57 PM PDT The changing dynamic of health studies driven by "big data" research projects will empower patients to become active participants who provide real-time information such as symptoms, side effects and clinical outcomes, according to researchers. The analysis lays out a new paradigm for health research, particularly comparative effectiveness studies that are designed to assess which therapies work best in routine clinical practice.

Friction from tides could help distant Earth-sized planets survive, and thrive Posted: 08 Jul 2014 01:32 PM PDT As anybody who has started a campfire by rubbing sticks knows, friction generates heat. Now, computer modeling by NASA scientists shows that friction could be the key to survival for some distant Earth-sized planets traveling in dangerous orbits. The findings are consistent with observations that Earth-sized planets appear to be very common in other star systems. Although heat can be a destructive force for some planets, the right amount of friction, and therefore heat, can be helpful and perhaps create conditions for habitability.

NASA Mars Orbiter views rover crossing into new zone Posted: 08 Jul 2014 12:43 PM PDT NASA Mars rover Curiosity has driven out of the ellipse, approximately 4 miles wide and 12 miles long (7 kilometers by 20 kilometers), that was mapped as safe terrain for its 2012 landing inside Gale Crater.

Using sand to improve battery performance Posted: 08 Jul 2014 12:39 PM PDT Researchers have created a lithium ion battery that outperforms the current industry standard by three times. The key material: sand. Yes, sand. Researchers are now focused on using silicon at the nanoscale, or billionths of a meter, level as a replacement for graphite.

Planet Mercury a result of early hit-and-run collisions Posted: 08 Jul 2014 12:39 PM PDT New simulations show that Mercury and other unusually metal-rich objects in the solar system may be relics left behind by hit-and-run collisions in the early solar system. The origin of planet Mercury has been a difficult question in planetary science because its composition is very different from that of the other terrestrial planets and the moon.

Virtual reality crowds produce real behavior insights Posted: 08 Jul 2014 11:09 AM PDT Scientists are advancing virtual reality technology in the service of studying the science of the swarm: how patterns of crowd movement emerge from individual behaviors. They have developed a wireless virtual reality system to study how pedestrians interact with each other and how those individual behaviors, in turn, generate patterns of crowd movement. It's an everyday experience for all kinds of animals including ants, birds, fish and people.

Solar energy gets a boost: 'Singlet fission' can increase solar cell efficiency by as much as 30 percent Posted: 08 Jul 2014 10:21 AM PDT Scientists have reviewed chemists' work on "singlet fission," a process in which a single photon generates a pair of excited states. This conversion process has the potential to boost solar cell efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

Astronomers bring the third dimension to a doomed star's outburst Posted: 08 Jul 2014 10:19 AM PDT In the middle of the 19th century, the massive binary system Eta Carinae underwent an eruption that ejected at least 10 times the sun's mass and made it the second-brightest star in the sky. Now, a team of astronomers has used extensive new observations to create the first high-resolution 3-D model of the expanding cloud produced by this outburst.

Stretching forces shaped Jupiter moon's surface, laboratory model suggests Posted: 08 Jul 2014 10:18 AM PDT Processes that shaped the ridges and troughs on the surface of Jupiter's icy moon Ganymede are likely similar to tectonic processes seen on Earth, according to a team of researchers. To arrive at this conclusion, the team subjected physical models made of clay to stretching forces that simulate tectonic action.

Cognitive assessment provides window into proficiency level of robot-assisted surgeons Posted: 08 Jul 2014 10:17 AM PDT Cognitive assessment can effectively measure the expertise of robotic surgeons with varying levels of experience, researchers have determined. For the cognitive testing, the participants' cognitive engagement, mental workload and mental state were calculated from the measured EEG during each task. When they compared the results of both testing approaches among the three groups, the researchers found that cognitive assessment detected significant differences that were not identified by the tool-based metrics available through the surgical robot.

Sun sends more 'tsunami waves' to Voyager 1 Posted: 08 Jul 2014 09:55 AM PDT NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has experienced a new "tsunami wave" from the sun as it sails through interstellar space. Such waves are what led scientists to the conclusion, in the fall of 2013, that Voyager had indeed left our sun's bubble, entering a new frontier.

Something is amiss in the Universe: Cosmic accounting reveals missing light crisis Posted: 08 Jul 2014 09:17 AM PDT Something is amiss in the Universe. There appears to be an enormous deficit of ultraviolet light in the cosmic budget. The vast reaches of empty space between galaxies are bridged by tendrils of hydrogen and helium, which can be used as a precise 'light meter.' In a recent study a team of scientists finds that the light from known populations of galaxies and quasars is not nearly enough to explain observations of intergalactic hydrogen. The difference is a stunning 400 percent.

Same genes drive mathematics and reading ability Posted: 08 Jul 2014 09:17 AM PDT About half of the genes that influence how well a child can read also play a role in their mathematics ability, say scientists who led a study into the genetic basis of cognitive traits. While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown. The finding deepens scientists' understanding of how nature and nurture interact, highlighting the important role that a child's learning environment may have on the development of reading and mathematics skills, and the complex, shared genetic basis of these cognitive traits.

Highly reactive gold carbene complex shines in emerald green Posted: 08 Jul 2014 09:15 AM PDT With a chemical "trick," scientists have succeeded in isolating a stable gold carbene complex. Chemists have now created the basis for directly examining the otherwise unstable gold-carbon double bond. They explain that highly reactive gold carbene molecules play an important role in landmark catalyzing processes taking place at high speed.

Better visualizing of fitness-app data helps discover trends, reach goals Posted: 08 Jul 2014 09:15 AM PDT Researchers have developed visual tools to help self-trackers understand their daily activity patterns over a longer period and in more detail. They found people had an easier time meeting personal fitness and activity goals when they could see their data presented in a broader, more visual way.

Transparent two-sided touchable display wall developed Posted: 08 Jul 2014 08:12 AM PDT Scientists have recently developed TransWall, a two-sided, touchable, and transparent display wall that greatly enhances users' interpersonal experiences. With an incorporated surface transducer, TransWall offers audio and vibrotactile feedback to the users. As a result, people can collaborate via a shared see-through display and communicate with one another by talking or even touching one another through the wall.

Damage assessment of runaway barges at Marseilles lock and dam Posted: 08 Jul 2014 08:11 AM PDT It takes a synchronized lock and dam system —- operating like a motorized flight of stairs on the Illinois River, using gravity to move the water —- to maintain a minimum depth for boat traffic. A disastrous domino effect occurred on April 19, 2013, when heavy rain and runoff, strong winds, and river currents resulted in seven unmoored barges crashing into the dam at Marseilles. Soil scientists have now studied the extensive repercussions of the incident.

Was da Vinci wrong? New research shows friction and fracture are interrelated, with implications for earthquakes Posted: 08 Jul 2014 08:11 AM PDT Overturning conventional wisdom stretching all the way to Leonardo da Vinci, new research shows that how things break (fracture) and how things slide (friction) are closely interrelated. The breakthrough study marks an important advance in understanding friction and fracture, with implications for describing the mechanics that drive earthquakes.

Nanotechnology: Paving the way for electronic applications Posted: 08 Jul 2014 08:10 AM PDT Two-dimensional sheets of electronic materials, such as graphene, show promise for practical nanoelectronics applications, including transparent electronic circuits used in electronic displays. The formation of electrically conducting 'nanoroads' on atomically thin semiconductor nanosheets enables the integration of electronic components.

Solar cells: Powered by nanoholes Posted: 08 Jul 2014 08:10 AM PDT Increasing the cost-effectiveness of photovoltaic devices is critical to making these renewable energy sources competitive with traditional fossil fuels. One possibility is to use hybrid solar cells that combine silicon nanowires with low-cost, photoresponsive polymers. A simple and inexpensive fabrication procedure boosts the light-capturing capabilities of tiny holes carved into silicon wafers.

Nano-optics: Getting the most out of tiny lasers Posted: 08 Jul 2014 08:10 AM PDT Semiconductor optical devices are becoming increasingly commonplace. For example, light-emitting diodes, as they become more power efficient, are rapidly replacing conventional light bulbs. Lasers too are now found in every barcode scanner and compact-disc reader. An off-center waveguide enables light to be efficiently extracted from nanoscale lasers.

Plasmonics: Minimizing loss by thinning, smoothing Posted: 08 Jul 2014 08:10 AM PDT A gas cluster ion beam smoothing produces ultrathin silver films and lithographically patterned structures to enhance plasmonic performance, researchers report. Plasmonic devices -- such as superlenses, hyperlenses and plasmonic waveguides -- have exciting potential for research and commercial applications because they permit optical lithography, imaging and waveguiding to be performed at resolutions below the diffraction limit of light.

Improving the stability of clay for construction Posted: 08 Jul 2014 08:10 AM PDT New research set out to improve the engineering quality of clay using waste materials and a secret binder ingredient. Clay is a natural material composed primarily of fine-grain minerals. It consists of tiny particles that have plastic and adhesive properties. Clay also possesses small voids and pores, so it's capable of retaining water. In this condition, it tends to expand and shrink, which can lead to settlement.

More California gas stations can provide hydrogen than previously thought Posted: 08 Jul 2014 08:09 AM PDT A new study concludes that a number of existing gas stations in California can safely store and dispense hydrogen, suggesting a broader network of hydrogen fueling stations may be within reach.

New smartphone app offers easy and inexpensive solution for hearing screening Posted: 08 Jul 2014 07:16 AM PDT A lightweight, automated and easy-to-use mobile health solution called hearScreen is ideal for developing countries and use in rural areas.

FDA-approved transcatheter heart valve offered to patients Posted: 08 Jul 2014 07:15 AM PDT The new FDA-approved transcatheter heart valve therapy helps patients with aortic valve disease who are at high risk to undergo open-heart surgery. The CoreValve System replaces a diseased aortic heart valve through a minimally invasive procedure, without open-heart surgery and without surgical removal of the diseased valve. The device is typically inserted via an artery in the leg or upper chest, and then guided through the arteries into the heart.

Silicon sponge improves lithium-ion battery performance Posted: 08 Jul 2014 06:29 AM PDT A sponge-like silicon material could help lithium-ion batteries run longer on a single charge by giving the batteries' electrodes the space they need to expand without breaking.

A hotspot for powerful cosmic rays, most energetic particles in the universe Posted: 08 Jul 2014 06:29 AM PDT An observatory found a 'hotspot' beneath the Big Dipper emitting a disproportionate number of the highest-energy cosmic rays. The discovery moves physics another step toward identifying the mysterious sources of the most energetic particles in the universe.

Collisions with robots, without risk of injury Posted: 08 Jul 2014 06:25 AM PDT Teamwork between humans and robots will be the motto of the future. But robots may not injure humans at all. When does contact cause an injury, though? Researchers are exploring this for the first time in a study.

Orgainic solar modules embedded in glass last longer Posted: 08 Jul 2014 06:21 AM PDT Organic solar modules have advantages over silicon solar cells. However, one critical problem is their shorter operating life. Researchers are working on a promising solution: they are using flexible glass as a carrier substrate that better protects the components.

Safe harbor: Freight transport logistics Posted: 08 Jul 2014 06:21 AM PDT One of the most important means of connecting with foreign countries is by sea, especially for the transport of freight. Researchers are assessing harbor safety using simulations in order to help provide smooth and efficient navigation.

Energy study commissioned by California Air Resources Board recommends three reforms to protect cap-and-trade Posted: 07 Jul 2014 06:25 PM PDT California's landmark cap-and-trade system for regulating greenhouse gases could be vulnerable to price spikes and market manipulation, according to a study. But the state's air-quality regulators can prevent that outcome with three straightforward reforms, the study says.

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