ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

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• New manufacturing methods for 'soft' machines, robots
• Making smartphones smarter with see-through sensors: Pack more apps into new real estate, the display glass itself
• Crucial security problem in Google Play: Thousands of secret keys found in android apps
• Counterterrorism, ethics, and global health
• Breathalyzer test may detect deadliest cancer
• Familiar yet strange: Water's 'split personality' revealed by computer model
• Scientists take first dip into water's mysterious 'no-man's land'
• When it comes to numbers, culture counts
• Modeling how neurons work together may help design robotic limbs
• Molecule vital for creating water exists in dying sun-like stars
• Titan flybys test the talents of NASA's Cassini team
• Sexting among youth more prevalent than thought? Minors unaware of harsh legal consequences, survey shows
• New method to identify inks could help preserve historical documents
• Ban on pavement sealant lowered levels of potentially harmful compounds in lake
• Collecting light with artificial moth eyes: Producing hydrogen with sunlight
• MERS-related abnormality distribution on CT identifed, clarified
• Horizontal levitation: The ultimate solution to particle separation
• New quantum mechanism to trigger the emission of tunable light at terahertz frequencies
• Shortage of cybersecurity professionals poses risk to U.S. national security
• New printing method for mass production of thin film transistors
• Energy-optimized buildings: Keeping a cool head at the workplace
• World’s first light technology to control proteins in living cells
• Finland to become a model country for sustainable transport by 2020
• Soccer-related facial fractures examined
• Even more hooked on social media: Norwegians intend to continue relationship with Facebook, other media
• Marriage legalization could lead to dissolution of same-sex relationships, new study shows

New manufacturing methods for 'soft' machines, robots Posted: 18 Jun 2014 03:46 PM PDT Researchers have developed a technique that might be used to produce 'soft machines' made of elastic materials and liquid metals for potential applications in robotics, medical devices and consumer electronics. Such an elastic technology could make possible robots that have sensory skin and stretchable garments that people might wear to interact with computers or for therapeutic purposes.

Making smartphones smarter with see-through sensors: Pack more apps into new real estate, the display glass itself Posted: 18 Jun 2014 01:51 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new laser-writing technique that embeds smartphone display glass with layer-upon-layer of see-through sensors -- enabling applications like temperature sensors and biomedical monitors to be manufactured directly into the display. The work is the first laser-based light-guided system that is efficient enough for commercial use.

Crucial security problem in Google Play: Thousands of secret keys found in android apps Posted: 18 Jun 2014 01:39 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a crucial security problem in Google Play, the official Android app store. The study is the first to make a large-scale measurement of the huge marketplace, using PlayDrone, a tool they developed to circumvent Google security to successfully download Google Play apps and recover their sources.

Counterterrorism, ethics, and global health Posted: 18 Jun 2014 12:38 PM PDT The surge in murders of polio vaccination workers in Pakistan has made headlines this year, but little attention has been devoted to the ethical issues surrounding the global health impact of current counterterrorism policy and practice. A new essay reviews the range of harms to population health traceable to counterterrorism operations.

Breathalyzer test may detect deadliest cancer Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT Lung cancer causes more deaths in the US than the next three most common cancers combined. Now a new breathalyzer test, embedded with a 'NaNose' nanotech chip to literally 'sniff out' cancer tumors, has been developed by a team of international researchers. It may turn the tide by both accurately detecting lung cancer and identifying its stage of progression.

Familiar yet strange: Water's 'split personality' revealed by computer model Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT Using computer models, researchers found that as water freezes it takes on a sort of split personality wherein, at very cold temperatures and above a certain pressure, it may spontaneously split into two liquid forms. Finding this dual nature could lead to a better understanding of how water behaves in high-altitude clouds, which could improve the predictive ability of current weather and climate models.

Scientists take first dip into water's mysterious 'no-man's land' Posted: 18 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have made the first structural observations of liquid water at temperatures down to minus 51 degrees Fahrenheit, within an elusive 'no-man's land' where water's strange properties are super-amplified.

When it comes to numbers, culture counts Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:20 AM PDT A new study finds that in a Bolivian rainforest society, children learn to count just like in the US, but on a delayed timetable.

Modeling how neurons work together may help design robotic limbs Posted: 18 Jun 2014 10:20 AM PDT A highly accurate model of how neurons behave when performing complex movements could aid in the design of robotic limbs which behave more realistically. While an action such as reaching for a cup of coffee may seem straightforward, the millions of neurons in the brain's motor cortex must work together to prepare and execute the movement before the coffee ever reaches our lips. These signals are transmitted across synapses -- the junctions between neurons.

Molecule vital for creating water exists in dying sun-like stars Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:38 AM PDT Using ESA's Herschel space observatory, astronomers have discovered that a molecule vital for creating water exists in the burning embers of dying Sun-like stars.

Titan flybys test the talents of NASA's Cassini team Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:36 AM PDT As NASA's Cassini spacecraft zooms toward Saturn's smoggy moon Titan for a targeted flyby on June 18, mission scientists are excitedly hoping to repeat a scientific tour de force that will provide valuable new insights into the nature of the moon's surface and atmosphere.

Sexting among youth more prevalent than thought? Minors unaware of harsh legal consequences, survey shows Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:22 AM PDT Sexting among youth is more prevalent than previously thought, according to a new study. More than 50 percent of those surveyed reported that they had exchanged sexually explicit text messages, with or without photographic images, as minors. The study also found that the majority of young people are not aware of the legal ramifications of underage sexting.

New method to identify inks could help preserve historical documents Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:22 AM PDT The inks on historical documents can hold many secrets. Its ingredients can help trace trade routes and help understand a work's historical significance. And knowing how the ink breaks down can help cultural heritage scientists preserve valuable treasures. Researchers report the development of a new, non-destructive method that can identify many types of inks on various papers and other surfaces.

Ban on pavement sealant lowered levels of potentially harmful compounds in lake Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:22 AM PDT In 2006, Austin, Texas, became the first city in the country to ban a commonly used pavement sealant over concerns that it was a major source of cancer-causing compounds in the environment. Eight years later, the city's action seems to have made a big dent in the targeted compounds' levels -- researchers now report that the concentrations have dropped significantly.

Collecting light with artificial moth eyes: Producing hydrogen with sunlight Posted: 18 Jun 2014 09:21 AM PDT All over the world researchers are investigating solar cells which imitate plant photosynthesis, using sunlight and water to create synthetic fuels such as hydrogen. Researchers have developed such a photoelectrochemical cell, recreating a moth's eye to drastically increase its light collecting efficiency. The cell is made of cheap raw materials – iron and tungsten oxide.

MERS-related abnormality distribution on CT identifed, clarified Posted: 18 Jun 2014 08:20 AM PDT Key defining characteristics of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in CT imaging of patients confirmed as having the disease have been identified by researchers. The study found that the most common CT finding in hospitalized patients with MERS infection is suggestive of an organizing pneumonia pattern.

Horizontal levitation: The ultimate solution to particle separation Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:05 AM PDT Separating particles from the liquid they are in can now be done with a new concept. Magnetic separators exploit the difference in magnetic properties between minerals, for example when separating magnetite from quartz. But this exercise becomes considerably more complex when the particles are not magnetic. In the wake of previous particle levitation experiments under high-power magnetic fields, a new study reveals that particles are deflected away from the magnet's round-shaped bore center in a horizontal direction.

New quantum mechanism to trigger the emission of tunable light at terahertz frequencies Posted: 18 Jun 2014 07:05 AM PDT Scientists have found that two-dimensional (2-D) nanostructures with asymmetric design enable a new quantum mechanism, triggering the emission of tunable light at terahertz frequencies-with unprecedented efficiency. The researchers found that quantum wells, 2-D nanostructures formed of several layers of semi-conductor alloys placed on top of each other like a sandwich, can enhance light emission in a technological challenging spectral range.

Shortage of cybersecurity professionals poses risk to U.S. national security Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:20 AM PDT The nationwide shortage of cybersecurity professionals -- particularly for positions within the federal government -- creates risks for national and homeland security, according to a new study. Demand for trained cybersecurity professionals who work to protect organizations from cybercrime is high nationwide, but the shortage is particularly severe in the federal government, which does not offer salaries as high as the private sector.

New printing method for mass production of thin film transistors Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT Scientists have developed a method for the manufacture of thin film transistors using a roll-to-roll technique only. Thin film transistors can now be manufactured using roll-to-roll techniques, such as printing, for the deposition of patterns on the substrate layer of film. This is set to expand the range of electronic components and products, while slashing their production costs.

Energy-optimized buildings: Keeping a cool head at the workplace Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT A new climate chamber has been built to study what it is like to work in a comfortable air-conditioned room at high temperatures. The study focused on comfort and user behavior at office workplaces in energy-optimized buildings, with a focus on the effect of ceiling fans under summer conditions. The result: The fan enhances comfort only if it has a cooling effect, and users feel that their control power over the fan is effective.

World’s first light technology to control proteins in living cells Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT The world's first technology to control specific protein functions in living cells by using lights has been developed, which may be useful in future cancer cell research. The research group has found that this technology allows scientists to inactivate critical biological phenomena, including cell migration and cell division, by using only lights, and without the assistance of chemical drug treatments or genetic modification.

Finland to become a model country for sustainable transport by 2020 Posted: 18 Jun 2014 04:17 AM PDT Roads in Finland in 2020 will hum to the sound of low-emission vehicles running on renewable energy, electricity, hydrogen and sustainable biofuels. The share of public transport and car pooling in densely populated urban areas will increase. Mobility arranged through easy-to-use services will become a viable alternative to buying a private car.

Soccer-related facial fractures examined Posted: 17 Jun 2014 07:24 AM PDT Fractures of the nose and other facial bones are a relatively common and potentially serious injury in soccer players, reports a Brazilian study. Through their analysis, researchers report that he nose and upper jaw (maxilla) accounted for 35 percent of fractures and the cheekbone (zygomatic bone) for another 35 percent. Most of the remaining fractures were of the lower jaw (mandible) and eye socket (orbit). Eighty-seven percent of the injuries were caused by collision with another player; the rest occurred when the player was struck by the ball.

Even more hooked on social media: Norwegians intend to continue relationship with Facebook, other media Posted: 17 Jun 2014 06:29 AM PDT Although Norwegians are not very satisfied with the services, more and more will continue to use Facebook and other social media. A new study analyzes the country's relationship with Facebook, Twitter and other outlets.

Marriage legalization could lead to dissolution of same-sex relationships, new study shows Posted: 17 Jun 2014 06:17 AM PDT A new study by economists shows that relationship hazard rates – the threat of dissolution – among same-sex daters and cohabiters will likely increase with the probability of legalization. The model generated surprising predictions regarding why and how marriage would improve household economics. The researchers found that for some same-sex couples, marriage would not improve the economics of their households, and in some cases it would worsen them.

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