Σάββατο 17 Μαΐου 2014

ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

ScienceDaily: Top Technology News


Lighting the way to graphene-based devices

Posted: 16 May 2014 05:33 PM PDT

A technique whereby semiconductors made from graphene and boron nitride can be charge-doped to alter their electronic properties using only visible light has been demonstrated by researchers. Graphene continues to reign as the next potential superstar material for the electronics industry, a slimmer, stronger and much faster electron conductor than silicon.

Ground breaking hip and stem cell surgery completed using 3D printed implant

Posted: 16 May 2014 05:33 PM PDT

Doctors and scientists have completed their first hip surgery with a 3D printed implant and bone stem cell graft. The 3D printed hip, made from titanium, was designed using the patient's CT scan and CAD CAM (computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing) technology, meaning it was designed to the patient's exact specifications and measurements. The implant will provide a new socket for the ball of the femur bone to enter. Behind the implant and between the pelvis, doctors have inserted a graft containing bone stem cells.

Fast and curious: Electrons hurtle into the interior of a new class of quantum materials

Posted: 16 May 2014 08:09 AM PDT

Scientists have made a step forward in developing a new class of materials that could be used in future technologies. They have discovered a new quantum effect that enables electrons -- the negative-charge-carrying particles that make today's electronic devices possible -- to dash through the interior of these materials with very little resistance.

Tricking the uncertainty principle

Posted: 16 May 2014 06:23 AM PDT

Today, we can measure the position of an object with unprecedented accuracy, but the uncertainty principle places fundamental limits on our ability to measure. Noise that results from of the quantum nature of the fields used to make measurements imposes what is called the 'standard quantum limit.' This background noise keeps us from knowing an object's exact location, but a recent study provides a solution for rerouting some of that noise away from the measurement.

Rotary sensors: Getting the right spin

Posted: 16 May 2014 06:20 AM PDT

Rotary sensors can help determine the position of a moveable body in relation to an axis. They are essential to the smooth running of car engines in the automotive industry, for example. Researchers have developed a new kind of sensor that combines precision measurement with flexible handling, allowing it to be customized to specific measurement tasks.

Cameras and displays: Organic photodiodes for sensor applications

Posted: 16 May 2014 06:20 AM PDT

Powerful, inexpensive and even flexible when they need to be, organic photodiodes are a promising alternative to silicon-based photodetectors. They are used to improve light sensitivity in cameras and to check displays for homogeneous color composition. Scientists are now developing just this kind of component to fit customer-specific requirements.

Hope for paraplegic patients: Implantable microelectrode stimulates spinal cord with electric impulses

Posted: 16 May 2014 06:20 AM PDT

People with severe injuries to their spinal cord currently have little or no prospect of recovery and remain confined to their wheelchairs. Now, all that could change with a new treatment that stimulates the spinal cord using electric impulses. The hope is that the technique will help paraplegic patients learn to walk again.

Marijuana use involved in more fatal accidents since commercialization of medical marijuana

Posted: 15 May 2014 02:35 PM PDT

The proportion of marijuana-positive drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes in Colorado has increased dramatically since the commercialization of medical marijuana in the middle of 2009, according to a study. The study raises important concerns about the increase in the proportion of drivers in a fatal motor vehicle crash who were marijuana-positive since the commercialization of medical marijuana in Colorado, particularly in comparison to the 34 non-medical marijuana states.

Favored by God in warfare? How WWI sowed seeds for future international conflicts

Posted: 15 May 2014 12:38 PM PDT

World War I — the "war to end all wars" — in fact sowed seeds for future international conflicts in a way that has been largely overlooked: through religion, says a historian and author. Widespread belief in the supernatural was a driving force during the war and helped mold all three of the major religions -- Christianity, Judaism and Islam -- paving the way for modern views of religion and violence, he said.

Mathematics to improve running

Posted: 15 May 2014 06:08 AM PDT

How can runners improve their performance, weight and fitness? Researchers have produced a mathematical model to optimize running, which could lead to personal e-coaching customized to each individual's physiological state. It also confirms a well-known fact in the sports community: runners who vary their speed spend their energy better and thus run longer. Mathematics gives them the opportunity to switch from simple statistical tools to personalized sporting advice.

Inhibiting protein family helps mice survive radiation exposure, study finds

Posted: 14 May 2014 11:24 AM PDT

Tinkering with a molecular pathway that governs how intestinal cells respond to stress can help mice survive a normally fatal dose of abdominal radiation, according to a new study. Because the technique is still partially effective up to 24 hours after exposure, the study suggests a possible treatment for people unintentionally exposed to large amounts of radiation, such as first responders at the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

Women's empowerment and Olympic success

Posted: 13 May 2014 10:26 AM PDT

Nations with greater women's empowerment win more medals and send more athletes to the Summer Olympics, research shows. The study provides evidence for the popular but previously untested hypothesis that women's empowerment leads to international athletic success. The authors examined the success of more than 130 nations participating in the Summer Olympics from 1996 through 2012. Similar to previous studies, they found that more populous and wealthier nations were more successful.

Unassuming rampant polluters on two wheels: Small mopeds cause more air pollution than cars

Posted: 13 May 2014 08:33 AM PDT

Not cars or trucks, but mopeds with their two-stroke engines are the main source of fine particles and other air contaminants in many towns in Asia, Africa and southern Europe. The reasons for the high emissions are the combustion properties in two-stroke engines and the overly lenient emission requirements for small two-wheelers.

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