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Thursday, January 23, 2014

ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

ScienceDaily: Top Technology News


Cooling microprocessors with carbon nanotubes

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST

Researchers have developed a "process friendly" technique to enable the cooling of microprocessor chips through the use of carbon nanotubes.

Galaxies on FIRE: Star feedback results in less massive galaxies

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST

For decades, astrophysicists have encountered a contradiction: although many galactic-wind models -- simulations of how matter is distributed in our universe -- predict that most matter exists in stars at the center of galaxies, in actuality these stars account for less than 10 percent of the matter in the universe. New simulations offer insight into this mismatch between the models and reality: energy released by individual stars can have a substantial effect on where matter ends up.

3-D imaging provides window into living cells, no dye required

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 10:43 AM PST

Living cells are ready for their close-ups, thanks to a new imaging technique that needs no dyes or other chemicals, yet renders high-resolution, three-dimensional, quantitative imagery of cells and their internal structures -- all with conventional microscopes and white light. Called white-light diffraction tomography, the imaging technique opens a window into the life of a cell without disturbing it and could allow cellular biologists unprecedented insight into cellular processes, drug effects and stem cell differentiation.

Liquid crystal turns water droplets into 'gemstones'

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 10:43 AM PST

Researchers have described new research into a type of liquid crystal that dissolves in water rather than avoids it as do the oily liquid crystals found in displays. This property means that these liquid crystals hold potential for biomedical applications, where their changing internal patterns could signal the presence of specific proteins or other biological macromolecules.

The unexpected power of baby math: Adults still think about numbers like kids

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 10:42 AM PST

A new study has found new evidence that educated adults retain traces of their innate sense of numbers from childhood -- and that it's more powerful than many scientists think. The findings could contribute to the development of methods to more effectively educate or treat children with learning disabilities and people with brain injuries.

Holographic diagnostics in medicine

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 10:41 AM PST

'Smart' holograms, which are currently being tested to monitor diabetes, and could be used to monitor a wide range of medical and environmental conditions in future, have been developed by researchers.

Bright star reveals new Neptune-size exoplanet

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 10:40 AM PST

A team of astronomers has discovered a new exoplanet, christened Kepler-410A b. The planet is about the size of Neptune and orbits the brightest star in a double star system 425 light years from Earth.

Just how do our brains control our arms?

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 10:38 AM PST

How do the neurons in the brain control planned versus unplanned arm movements? Bioengineers wanted to answer that question as part of ongoing efforts to develop and improve brain-controlled prosthetic devices.

Herschel telescope detects water on dwarf planet in asteroid belt

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 10:25 AM PST

Scientists using the Herschel space observatory have made the first definitive detection of water vapor on the largest and roundest object in the asteroid belt, Ceres. Plumes of water vapor are thought to shoot up periodically from Ceres when portions of its icy surface warm slightly. Ceres is classified as a dwarf planet, a solar system body bigger than an asteroid and smaller than a planet.

Researchers model macroscale plasmonic convection to control fluid and particle motion

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 08:27 AM PST

Researchers have developed a new theoretical model that explains macroscale fluid convection induced by plasmonic (metal) nanostructures. This work is the first to establish both theoretically and experimentally that micron/s fluid velocities can be generated using a plasmonic architecture, and provides important insight into the flows affecting particle dynamics in plasmonic optical trapping experiments.

Best techniques for intracellular particle tracking

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 07:40 AM PST

A new article describes a contest for the best technique of intracellular particle tracking. Intracellular particle tracking requires simultaneous tracking of the motions of hundreds and thousands of intracellular organelles, virions and even individual molecules. Techniques proposed by all the participants find their own ways for solving the problem.

Organic chemical origins in hydrothermal systems

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 06:24 AM PST

Researchers have revealed the mechanisms for the formation of methane, which may have been a crucial stage in the origin of life on Earth.

Soft hydrogels turned into ionic conductors with diverse applications, from artificial muscles to transparent speakers

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 06:24 AM PST

An innovative design turns soft hydrogels into ionic conductors with diverse applications, from artificial muscles to transparent audio speakers.

Small elliptical exercise device may promote activity while sitting

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 06:19 AM PST

People may be able to keep the weight off by using a compact elliptical device while sitting at a desk or watching TV, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

Fever-reducing meds may help spread the flu

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 06:13 AM PST

Researchers assembled information from many sources, including experiments on human volunteers and on ferrets, then used a mathematical model to compute how the increase in the amount of virus given off by a single person taking fever-reducing drugs would increase the overall number of cases in a typical year. The bottom line is that fever suppression increases the number of annual cases by approximately 5%, corresponding to more than 1,000 additional deaths from influenza in a typical year across North America.

Internet advertising: Paid search ads don't always pay off, study finds

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 06:13 AM PST

Businesses spend billions to reach customers through online advertising but just how effective are paid search ads? Using data from eBay, economists compared whether consumers are more likely to click on paid ads than on free, generic search results and found that advertisers may not be getting their money's worth.

Engineers create light-activated 'curtains'

Posted: 21 Jan 2014 04:26 PM PST

Forget remote-controlled curtains. A new development could lead to curtains and other materials that move in response to light, no batteries needed.

E-whiskers: Highly sensitive tactile sensors developed for robotics and other applications

Posted: 21 Jan 2014 04:14 PM PST

From the world of nanotechnology we've gotten electronic skin, or e-skin, and electronic eye implants or e-eyes. Now we're on the verge of electronic whiskers. Researchers have created tactile sensors from composite films of carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles similar to the highly sensitive whiskers of cats and rats. These new e-whiskers respond to pressure as slight as a single Pascal, about the pressure exerted on a table surface by a dollar bill. Among their many potential applications is giving robots new abilities to "see" and "feel" their surrounding environment.

Unlocking the brain's secrets using sound

Posted: 21 Jan 2014 10:00 AM PST

Scientists might be on the verge of finally understanding how ultrasound affects nerve cells. The breakthrough could lead the way to important new medical advances, including the noninvasive treatment of epileptic seizures and restoration of sight.

Turkeys inspire smartphone-capable early warning system for toxins

Posted: 21 Jan 2014 08:34 AM PST

Bioengineers looked to turkeys for inspiration when developing a new type of biosensor that changes color when exposed to chemical vapors. They mimicked the way turkey skin changes color to create easy-to-read sensors that can detect toxins or airborne pathogens.

Students remember more with personalized review, even after classes end

Posted: 21 Jan 2014 06:30 AM PST

Struggling to remember information presented months earlier is a source of anxiety for students the world over. New research suggests that a computer-based individualized study schedule could be the solution. The study findings show that personalized review helped students remember significantly more material on a tests given at the end of the semester and a month later.

New method for studying social processes brings clarity to global economic, political change

Posted: 21 Jan 2014 06:29 AM PST

Social science aims to explain phenomena such as segregation, democratization, economic development and cultural change. In recent years, a lot of data describing these kinds of global changes have become available for research. Social science research increasingly requires systematic analysis of such data to identify important dynamics and interdependencies. Automating the process of discovering allows more potential theories to be tested.

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