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Hair follicles to foil felons
By Emily Clark
20:06 February 26, 2008 PST
February 27, 2008 DNA contained in hair is currently used in crime fighting to determine the identity of those who commit illicit acts. Thanks to new research, hair may now also help police track past movements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims by revealing the general location where a person drank water. Read More
"Strikingly similar" planetary system discovered
23:20 February 19, 2008 PST
February 20, 2008 With upwards of 100 billion stars in our own Milky Way and at least that number of galaxies in the observable universe, the odds have long pointed to the likely existence of planets beyond our own solar system. The first discovery of such an extra-solar planet to receive subsequent confirmation took place in 1988 and two decades later, as detection techniques and equipment continue to improve, that number is now approaching 300. Now news that Astronomers from the University of St Andrews have found a new planetary system some 5,000 light years away that bears "striking similarities" to our Solar system. Read More
Second Sight announces milestone in groundbreaking retinal implant trial
15:58 February 19, 2008 PST
February 20, 2008 It has to be among the most powerful examples of the miraculous potential of modern science and technology - restoring sight to the blind. Following approval from the US FDA last year, Second Sight Medical Products Inc has now announced that enrollment is complete for the first phase of clinical trials on a system that restores a basic level of sight to sufferers of retinal eye diseases. Enrollment at key European sites also underway. Ten subjects have been recruited for the Phase I trial of the second-generation electronic retinal implant known as The Argus II, which is capable of restoring rudimentary vision using an external camera and transmitter mounted in eyeglasses linked to a tiny array of 60 electrodes that are attached to the retina. Read More
European mobile calls to exceed fixed line
By Emily Clark
14:38 February 10, 2008 PST
February 11, 2008 According to new research from Analysys, the average volume of mobile voice calls will exceed that of traditional fixed networks in Western Europe as a whole for the first time as soon as the second quarter of 2008. Read More
Low cost, nano-based solar cell from GE
By Emily Clark
17:58 January 21, 2008 PST
January 22, 2008 GE Global Research, has demonstrated a scalable silicon nanowire-based solar cell, which has the potential to achieve up to 18% efficiency. The breakthrough by the lab’s Nano Photovoltaics (PV) team is a promising new development in making PV systems more economically viable for consumers than conventional solar options. Read More
High-tech doll to assist brain injury research
By Emily Clark
22:19 January 13, 2008 PST
January 14, 2008 Researchers in forensic medicine at the University of Oslo are learning more about brain injuries in infants caused by shaking with the assistance of a very high-tech doll. Read More
Researchers developing solar technology that works at night
By Darren Quick
16:05 January 3, 2008 PST
January 4, 2008 Idaho National Laboratory (INL) reports that research conducted in conjunction with partners at Microcontinuum Inc. (Cambridge, MA) and Patrick Pinhero of the University of Missouri is promising a method for developing cheap solar energy technology that could be imprinted on flexible materials and still draw energy after the sun has set. The technology uses a special manufacturing process to stamp tiny square spirals, or “nanoantennas”, of conduction metal onto a sheet of plastic and the team estimates individual nanoantennas can absorb close to 80 percent of the available energy in comparison to current commercial solar panels which usually transform less that 20 percent of the usable energy that strikes them into electricity – this is even more impressive than the 30% conversion rate offered by the recently discussed development of nano flakes. Read More
Personal Robot industry to grow to $15 Billion by 2015
19:52 January 1, 2008 PST
January 2, 2008 A new study by ABI Research predicts that the personal robotics market will be worth $15 billion by 2015. The report examines the consumer market for toy robots like Sony's Aibo and the recently released iSobot, as well as increasingly sophisticated single-function “task” robots such as the Roomba vacuum cleaner and Looj gutter cleaning robot from iRobot. Read More
Nano Flakes promise greater solar energy efficiency
By Emily Clark
19:53 December 19, 2007 PST
December 20, 2007 The inefficiency of solar cells in converting the sun’s rays into electricity is a key contributor to the high costs of solar energy, but new research into a novel shape of semiconductor nanostructures known as "nano flakes" may revolutionize the process and help improve the viability of clean energy derived from the sun. Read More
Communications “Gizmo” to aid emergency response
By Jude Garvey
17:46 December 18, 2007 PST
December 19, 2007 It may look like just another remote-controlled toy truck, but this "Gizmo" has the potential to save lives in disaster response situations. Javier Rodriguez Molina, a 24 year old electrical engineering graduate student and programmer analyst at the UC San Diego's California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), is designing an advanced mobile, wireless communications machine that can venture into environments too dangerous for humans and collect and transmit critical information to emergency personnel. It is hoped that the design platform - which is will not be limited to its current toy-truck guise - can provide real-time assistance in emergency situations such as terrorist attacks, building collapses or hurricanes. Read More
New research sheds light on Solar Wind
19:03 December 10, 2007 PST
December 11, 2007 New images and data from the Hinode space mission have provided a better understanding of the sun’s magnetic field and the origin of solar winds that blast through the solar system. Eruptions of magnetic energy from solar winds threaten satellites, telecommunications and electric power grids on Earth and a better understanding of the solar winds, which are propelled from the sun at speeds of almost one million miles per hour, could aid in the early prediction of damaging radiation waves before they reach satellites. Read More
Self-powered biosensor wins iGEM Environmental award
By Darren Quick
17:46 December 9, 2007 PST
December 10, 2007 A team of students from the University of Glasgow have designed the world’s first self-powered biosensor as part of the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. The device, which took first prize in the Environment section of the awards, would have the ability to detect toxic leaks in environments that are unsuitable for humans and could be used as an early warning system in a range of industrial applications. Read More
Mobile phone sales continue to soar
By Emily Clark
22:22 November 29, 2007 PST
November 30, 2007 According to new research from Gartner, sales of mobile phones in the third quarter of this year reached 289 million worldwide. Sales for the full year are expected to hit around 1.134 billion handsets sales to end users, a marked increase on last year. Read More
Internet demand could outstrip network capacity by 2010
15:10 November 20, 2007 PST
November 20, 2007 A new research report on the ability of Internet infrastructure to cope with burgeoning demand warns that usage could outstrip network capacity both in North America and worldwide as early as 2010. Read More
Smartphone sales to overtake laptops
By Emily Clark
22:20 November 13, 2007 PST
November 14, 2007 New research indicates that smartphones are moving out of the realm of "clever gadgets" and increasingly becoming a productive tool for business users with a report from In-Stat estimating that sales will grow by 30% annually over the next five years and exceed the unit sales for laptops. Read More
New technology promises solar cell efficiency boost
By Emily Clark
23:43 November 12, 2007 PST
November 13, 2007 Global Warming Solutions has announced the development of new solar energy conversion technology based on a special coating that can be applied to existing solar cells. The company expects that application of the technology will increase increase efficiency by 11-15% and boost the market value of a solar cell by more than 60 cents per watt, while at the same time raising manufacturing expenses by just 10 cents a watt. Read More
SOLiD System - a next-gen DNA sequencing platform announced
By Darren Quick
19:16 October 26, 2007 PDT
October 27, 2007 At the 57th annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Applied Biosystems announced the worldwide commercial availability of SOLiD, the company’s next-generation DNA sequencing platform. The SOLiD System is an end-to-end next-generation genetic analysis solution comprised of the sequencing unit, chemistry, a computing cluster and data storage which promises unparalleled throughput, scalability, accuracy, and application flexibility. Read More
PhD student develops technology to make broadband Internet 200 times faster
By Darren Quick
04:05 October 25, 2007 PDT
October 25, 2007 The Melbourne Herald Sun has reported that an Australian PhD student has developed technology that will delver Internet speeds up to 250Mbps over existing copper phone lines, negating the need to install costly fiber optic cables. Dr John Papandriopoulos, a research fellow at the University of Melbourne, spent a year developing the technology, which uses mathematic coding to reduce the interference that slows down Internet speeds. Read More
Researchers create a transparent composite plastic as strong as steel
By Darren Quick
23:38 October 21, 2007 PDT
October 22, 2007 Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a light-weight, transparent composite plastic that’s as strong as steel. The material mimics the brick-and-mortar molecular structure of mother of pearl, the iridescent lining of mussel and oyster shells, which is built layer by layer and is one of the toughest natural mineral based materials. Read More
World Record 304km Wi-Fi connection
23:43 August 26, 2007 PDT
August 27, 2007 A new world record distance for a 5 GHz Wi-Fi link has been achieved by the Italian Center for Radio Activities (C.I.S.A.R), and Ubiquiti Networks, a leading innovator in outdoor wireless broadband solutions. The distance of 304km (188.89 miles) was established from Sardinia Island to Central Italy achieving data-rates of about 5Mbps, using Ubiquiti’s XtremeRange5 (XR5) High-Power Carrier Class mini-PCI radio module and 35dBi 5 GHz parabolic dish antennas. Read More
Time machine theory: a step forward in travelling backwards?
21:10 August 6, 2007 PDT
August 7, 2007 From H.G Wells' classic novel to Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, the popular imagination has long been enthralled by the prospect of time travel. Now researchers at the Israel Institute of Technology, Techion, have released a paper outlining theoretical advances that could one day assist in liberating the notion of a time-machine from the realms of pure science fiction. The research by Prof. Amos Ori of the Technion’s Faculty of Physics centers around a new model of space-time that overcomes some (but not all) of the theoretical stumbling blocks that would prevent the required curvature of space-time needed to facilitate time travel. Read More
Americas most wanted: the self-cleaning garbage can
17:10 August 4, 2007 PDT
August 5, 2007 Inventors and entrepreneurs take note; a new study in the United States has revealed that Americans are craving new technology that would enable them to relinquish more of their household chores. This seem a little obvious, but the catch is finding someone to invent the laundry folding dryer or the self-cleaning garbage can to meet the growing demands on the wish list of time-poor consumers. Read More
Good vibrations: tiny generator harnesses kinetic energy to power wireless electrical systems
July 6, 2007 Researchers at the University of Southampton have developed a kinetic energy generator which derives electrical energy from the vibrations and movements that occur within its environment. Developed by Dr Steve Beeby and his team at the University's School of Electronics & Computer Science (ECS), the tiny generator (less than 1 cubic cm in size) is 10 times more powerful than anything yet developed in the field and could form the basis of technology for self-powered pace makers and other embedded applications that require periodic replacement of batteries. Read More
Game Advertising growing at 33% CAGR - more than any other medium
By Mike Hanlon
June 29, 2007 Computer games, be they console- or PC-based, elicit a level of involvement far beyond anything man’s ingenuity has previously created. The ability to produce an instantaneous and appropriate response to every action can generate a realism and intensity of connection waaay beyond the passive experience of watching television, or the audio wallpaper of radio, with a passion approaching that of procreation. This has not escaped the world’s most creative and influential minds (aka advertising creative directors) who see this as the ideal circumstance in which to deliver a message that will stay with us – gaming offers both a wonderful new way to interact with a brand, and an opportune time to tattoo a brand name on the psyche while the brain is open and engaged. Right now, household penetration of game consoles is approaching mainstream media status, yet the average monthly household advertising expenditure of the medium is less than 50 cents, compared to US$37 for broadcast TV. Is it any wonder then that this seriously under-leveraged advertising medium will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33% until 2012, much higher than that of other major advertising media, including TV, radio, print, and the Internet. Read More
30th Anniversary of Deep-Sea Vent discovery
June 26, 2007 A discovery that radically changed our understanding of the planet we live on celebrates its 30th anniversary this month. Scientists first discovered volcanic hot vents surrounded by bizarre animals thriving in total darkness at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean in 1977 and at the end of June an international team of scientists, including many of the original explorers, will honor the landmark discovery at a special meeting and public event in the Galápagos Islands, located just south of the discovery site. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
