ScienceDaily Technology Headlines -- for Thursday, June 2, 2011

ScienceDaily Technology Headlines

for Thursday, June 2, 2011

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Honeysuckle extract: Natural sunblock for UV-protective clothing (June 2, 2011) -- With those months of blazing summer sunshine head, scientists are reporting that an extract of the honeysuckle plant could make a highly effective natural coating for clothing designed to protect people from exposure to potentially harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. ... > full story

A night with the stars ... in a conference room (June 2, 2011) -- Ancient astronomers looked up at the dark skies in wonder, as the stars marched by overhead like precision dancers. In the early 17th century, Galileo Galilei brought the world one step closer to the heavens with his telescope, discovering, among other celestial marvels, moons around Jupiter, and our own moon's pockmarked surface. Nowadays, the stars are closer to us than ever, thanks to powerful telescopes in space and on the ground. Modern astronomers don't have to step outside, because they get precise data delivered straight to their own laptops. If Galileo could see us now, he'd probably be thrilled by the advances -- and also a little puzzled that astronomy no longer means gazing through telescopes at the twinkling, dark skies. ... > full story

Simulator will improve hydrogen safety (June 2, 2011) -- What happens when hydrogen begins dispersing from a leak? A Norwegian firm has the answers about how explosive the situation may become. ... > full story

Quantum knowledge cools computers: New understanding of entropy (June 1, 2011) -- From a laptop warming a knee to a supercomputer heating a room, the fact that computers generate heat is familiar to everyone. But theoretical physicists have discovered something astonishing: not only do computational processes sometimes generate no heat, under certain conditions they can even have a cooling effect. Behind this finding are fundamental considerations relating to knowledge and a lack of knowledge. ... > full story

Bacterial protein secreting sticky appendages: Atomic-level images suggest new targets for antibacterial drugs (June 1, 2011) -- New atomic-level "snapshots" reveal details of how bacteria such as E. coli produce and secrete sticky appendages called pili, which help the microbes attach to and infect human cells. These crystal structures unravel a complex choreography of protein-protein interactions that will aid in the design of new antibacterial drugs. ... > full story

Safety of nanoparticles in food crops is still unclear (June 1, 2011) -- With the curtain about to rise on a much-anticipated new era of "nanoagriculture" -- using nanotechnology to boost the productivity of plants for food, fuel, and other uses -- scientists are reporting a huge gap in knowledge about the effects of nanoparticles on corn, tomatoes, rice and other food crops. ... > full story

Thomas Edison also invented the concrete house, researcher says (June 1, 2011) -- Afficionados of modern poured-concrete design were in for a rude awakening last month when they heard Matt Burgermaster's presentation at the 64th annual meeting of the Society of Architectural Historians. He illustrated how Thomas Edison invented and patented in 1917 an innovative construction system to mass produce prefabricated and seamless concrete houses. Typically most people associate this style of architectural design and type of building technology with the European avant-garde of the early 20th century. ... > full story

Randomness rules in turbulent flows (June 1, 2011) -- Computer experiments reveal that, in principle, two identical small beads dropped into the same turbulent flow at precisely the same starting location will end up at different -- and entirely random -- destinations. ... > full story

A postcard from extragalactic space? A spiral galaxy that resembles our Milky Way (June 1, 2011) -- Astronomers have used the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope to capture an image of NGC 6744. This impressive spiral galaxy lies about 30 million light-years away in the southern constellation of Pavo (the Peacock). But this view could almost be a picture postcard of our own Milky Way, taken and sent by an extragalactic friend, as this galaxy closely resembles our own. ... > full story

Making complex fluids look simple (June 1, 2011) -- Scientists have successfully developed a widely applicable method for discovering the physical foundations of complex fluids for the first time. Researchers have developed a microscopic theory that describes the interactions between the various components of a complex polymer mixture. ... > full story

'Dead' galaxies aren't so dead after all (June 1, 2011) -- Astronomers examined old galaxies and were surprised to discover that they are still making new stars. The results provide insights into how galaxies evolve with time. ... > full story

Noninvasive wireless near-infrared device provides reliable diagnosis of bladder dysfunction (June 1, 2011) -- A cell phone-sized, wireless near-infrared device is as reliable as the current "gold standard" invasive tests in determining bladder disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Biodegradable products may be bad for the environment (June 1, 2011) -- New research shows that so-called biodegradable products are likely doing more harm than good in landfills, because they are releasing a powerful greenhouse gas as they break down. ... > full story

New way to help nanoscale engineers choose self-assembling proteins (June 1, 2011) -- Engineering structures on the smallest possible scales -- using molecules and individual atoms as building blocks -- is both physically and conceptually challenging. An interdisciplinary team of researchers has now developed a method of computationally selecting the best of these blocks, drawing inspiration from the similar behavior of proteins in making biological structures. ... > full story

Working toward sending humans to Mars (June 1, 2011) -- What would it take to send astronauts to Mars? A team of aeronautical and textile engineering students believe part of the solution may lie in advanced textile materials. The students joined forces to tackle life-support challenges that the aerospace industry has been grappling with for decades. ... > full story

Stamping out low cost nanodevices (June 1, 2011) -- A team of engineers has developed a rapid and low-cost imprinting process that can stamp out a variety of devices that have unique optical, electrical, chemical and mechanical properties. ... > full story

Researchers create nanoscale waveguide for future photonics (May 31, 2011) -- The creation of a new quasiparticle called the "hybrid plasmon polariton" may throw open the doors to integrated photonic circuits and optical computing for the 21st century. Researchers have demonstrated the first true nanoscale waveguides for next generation on-chip optical communication systems. ... > full story

Mobile virtual world with a flexible virtual reality system (May 31, 2011) -- Product developers, vehicle design engineers and trainee pilots increasingly utilize 3-D worlds, operating in a virtual space created by realistic images in real time. Researchers have now created precisely a new virtual reality system. The Flexible Reconfigurable Cave (FRAVE) offers a wealth of advantages over the previously established CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment): it is much cheaper, more flexible, features a modular structure and a smaller footprint. ... > full story

Clean energy technology: Direct methanol fuel cell system moves forward (May 31, 2011) -- A team of scientists has developed a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell technology for future U.S. Department of Defense and commercial applications. ... > full story

Code green: Energy-efficient programming to curb computers' power use (May 31, 2011) -- A new system called EnerJ helps computer programmers go green, letting them cut a program's energy consumption by up to 50 percent. ... > full story

'E-waste pollution' a threat to human health, new research suggests (May 31, 2011) -- In addition to its damaging effect on the environment and its illegal smuggling into developing countries, researchers have now linked e-waste to adverse effects on human health, such as inflammation and oxidative stress -- precursors to cardiovascular disease, DNA damage and possibly cancer. ... > full story

Cell phones and cancer: Assessment classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (May 31, 2011) -- A new World Health Organization report classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use. ... > full story

Honing household helpers: Computer scientists work toward improving robots’ ability to plan and perform complex actions, domestically and elsewhere (May 31, 2011) -- Imagine a robot able to retrieve a pile of laundry from the back of a cluttered closet, deliver it to a washing machine, start the cycle and then zip off to the kitchen to start preparing dinner. This may have been a domestic dream a half-century ago, when the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence first captured public imagination. However, it quickly became clear that even "simple" human actions are extremely difficult to replicate in robots. Now, computer scientists are tackling the problem with a hierarchical, progressive algorithm that has the potential to greatly reduce the computational cost associated with performing complex actions. ... > full story

Hide files within files for better data security: Using executable program files to hide data with steganography (May 31, 2011) -- A new approach to hiding data within executable computer program files could make it almost impossible to detect hidden documents. ... > full story

'Nanowire' measurements could improve computer memory (May 31, 2011) -- Recent measurements may have revealed the optimal characteristics for a new type of highly efficient computer memory now under development -- nanowire-based charge-trapping memory devices. ... > full story

Listening with one atom: New record for measuring magnetic vibrations using the spin of a single atom (May 31, 2011) -- Scientists have set a new record for measuring magnetic vibrations using the spin of a single atom: 100 times more accurate than the previous record. ... > full story

Defect in graphene may present bouquet of possibilities (May 31, 2011) -- A class of decorative, flower-like defects in the nanomaterial graphene could have potentially important effects on the material's already unique electrical and mechanical properties, according to researchers. ... > full story

Exotic behavior when mechanical devices reach the nanoscale (May 31, 2011) -- Mechanical resonators are extensively used in high-tech industry, to mark time in electronic components, and to stabilize radio transmissions. Most mechanical resonators damp (slow down) in a well-understood linear manner, but ground-breaking work has now shown that resonators formed from nanoscale graphene and carbon nanotubes exhibit nonlinear damping, opening up exciting possibilities for super-sensitive detectors of force or mass. ... > full story

Cover crop seeder pulls triple duty for small farms (May 31, 2011) -- Farmers using a cover crop seeder developed by agricultural scientists may eventually need only a single trip across the field to accomplish what takes most farmers three passes and several pieces of equipment to do. ... > full story

Graphene can polarize light: Researchers demonstrate world's thinnest polarizer (May 30, 2011) -- Graphene, an ultra-flat monolayer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal crystal lattice, has attracted a strong wave of research interest due to its unique electrical and photonic properties. Now, researchers have demonstrated the world's thinnest polarizer, which relies on the coupling, guiding and polarizing of electromagnetic waves by graphene. They claim that this breakthrough will someday allow the integration on all-photonic circuits for high-speed optical communications. ... > full story

Making complex composite materials to order (May 30, 2011) -- Scientists have found a way to make complex composite materials whose attributes can be fine-tuned to give various desirable combinations of properties such as stiffness, strength, resistance to impacts and energy dissipation. ... > full story

Flexible films for photovoltaics (May 30, 2011) -- Displays that can be rolled up and flexible solar cells -- both are potential future markets. Barrier layers that protect thin-film solar cells from oxygen and water vapor and thus increase their useful life are an essential component. ... > full story

Mars: Red planet's rapid formation explains its small size relative to Earth (May 30, 2011) -- Mars developed in as little as two to four million years after the birth of the solar system, far more quickly than Earth, according to a new study. The red planet's rapid formation helps explain why it is so small, say researchers. ... > full story

New synchrotron technique could see hidden building blocks of life (May 30, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new synchrotron X-ray technique that may revolutionize the chemical analysis of rare materials like meteoric rock samples or fossils. ... > full story

Method for detecting toxic substances in leather and footwear developed (May 30, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new analytical method that improves detection of the allergen dimethyl fumarate (DMFu) in leather and footwear. ... > full story

Biological circuits for synthetic biology (May 29, 2011) -- Using the tools of synthetic biology, researchers have engineered the first RNA-based regulatory system that can independently control the transcription activities of multiple targets in a single cell. This is a significant advance for the design and construction of programmable genetic networks. ... > full story

New software tool helps evaluate natural cooling options for buildings (May 29, 2011) -- A new, free software tool could prove to be a breath of fresh air for architects and designers of ventilation systems for "green" commercial buildings. ... > full story

Teasing apart galaxy collisions: Spitzer photo atlas of galactic 'train wrecks' (May 29, 2011) -- Five billion years from now, our Milky Way galaxy will collide with the Andromeda galaxy. This will mark a moment of both destruction and creation. The galaxies will lose their separate identities as they merge into one. At the same time, cosmic clouds of gas and dust will smash together, triggering the birth of new stars. To understand our past and imagine our future, we must understand what happens when galaxies collide. ... > full story

Stars help researchers track space junk (May 29, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a method to track the movement of geostationary objects using the position of the stars, which could help to monitor space debris. The technique can be used with small telescopes and in places that are not very dark. ... > full story

Dangerous side effect of common drug combination -- Paxil and Pravachol -- discovered by data mining (May 29, 2011) -- A widely used combination of two common medications may cause unexpected increases in blood glucose levels, according to a new study. Researchers were surprised at the finding because neither of the two drugs -- one, an antidepressant marketed as Paxil, and the other, a cholesterol-lowering medication called Pravachol -- has a similar effect alone. ... > full story

Scientists argue against conclusion that bacteria consumed Deepwater Horizon methane (May 29, 2011) -- New research casts doubt on a widely publicized study that concluded that a bacterial bloom in the Gulf of Mexico consumed the methane discharged from the Deepwater Horizon well. ... > full story

Better passwords get with the beat (May 29, 2011) -- No password is 100 percent secure. There are always ways and means for those with malicious intent to hack, crack or socially engineer access to a password. Indeed, there are more and more websites and databases compromised on a seemingly daily basis. A new approach to verifying passwords that also takes into account the speed with which a user types in their login and the gaps between characters would render a stolen password useless. ... > full story

Better viewing through fluorescent nanotubes when peering into innards of a mouse (May 28, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a way to see deeper -- and more clearly -- into bodily organs of laboratory mice used in studies of medications. Fluorescent carbon nanotubes, injected into the mice, provide clearer images. ... > full story

New hope of detecting gravitational waves: Final piece of Einstein's jigsaw puzzle (May 28, 2011) -- Direct evidence of the existence of gravitational waves is something that has long eluded researchers. However, new research has suggested that adding just one of the proposed detectors in Japan, Australia and India will drastically increase the expected rate of detection. ... > full story

Chameleon magnets: Ability to switch magnets 'on' or 'off' could revolutionize computing (May 28, 2011) -- What causes a magnet to be a magnet, and how can we control a magnet's behavior? These are the questions that researchers have been exploring over many years. ... > full story

Students struggling with math may have a neurocognitive disorder called dyscalculia: Disorder affects roughly as many people as dyslexia (May 28, 2011) -- Students who struggle to learn mathematics may have a neurocognitive disorder that inhibits the acquisition of basic numerical and arithmetic concepts, according to a new article. Specialized teaching for individuals with dyscalculia, the mathematical equivalent of dyslexia, should be made widely available in mainstream education, according to a new review. ... > full story

Physicists explain the long, useful lifetime of carbon-14 (May 28, 2011) -- Physicists have discovered the reasons behind the unexpectedly slow decay of carbon-14. That slow decay makes it possible for scientists to use carbon dating techniques to accurately date the relics of history. Understanding the decay of carbon-14 could also help researchers unravel other mysteries of matter. ... > full story

Astronomers unveil most complete 3-D map of local universe (May 27, 2011) -- Astronomers have unveiled the most complete 3-D map of the local universe (out to a distance of 380 million light-years) ever created. Taking more than 10 years to complete, the 2MASS Redshift Survey (2MRS) also is notable for extending closer to the Galactic plane than previous surveys -- a region that's generally obscured by dust. ... > full story