ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

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• Laser instrument on NASA Mars rover tops 100,000 zaps
• Growing giants: Huge grains of copper promote better graphene growth
• Squeezing transistors really hard generates energy savings
• Three-dimensional view helps laser in building new molecules
• Thermoelectric materials nearing production scale
• High-tech athletic shoe for pure running pleasure

Laser instrument on NASA Mars rover tops 100,000 zaps Posted: 06 Dec 2013 11:42 AM PST NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has passed the milestone of 100,000 shots fired by its laser. It uses the laser as one way to check which chemical elements are in rocks and soils.

Growing giants: Huge grains of copper promote better graphene growth Posted: 06 Dec 2013 08:17 AM PST To technology insiders, graphene is a certified big deal. The one-atom thick carbon-based material elicits rhapsodic descriptions as the strongest, thinnest material known. It also is light, flexible, and able to conduct electricity as well as copper. Graphene-based electronics promise advances such as faster internet speeds, cheaper solar cells, novel sensors, space suits spun from graphene yarn, and more. Now a research team may help bring graphene's promise closer to reality.

Squeezing transistors really hard generates energy savings Posted: 06 Dec 2013 06:14 AM PST If silicon is squeezed, this affects the freedom of movement of the electrons in this material. This can promote or restrict the flow of electrical current. Compare it to a garden hose. When you stand on it, less water comes out. But strangely enough, the flow of electrons in silicon actually increases when the material is compressed.

Three-dimensional view helps laser in building new molecules Posted: 06 Dec 2013 06:10 AM PST Scientists have developed a new feedback method for optimizing the laser pulse shapes used in the control of chemical reactions.

Thermoelectric materials nearing production scale Posted: 05 Dec 2013 06:20 AM PST Half-Heusler compounds are especially suited for manufacturing thermoelectric modules. Waste heat can be converted to electricity with them. Researchers have manufactured the alloys for the first time in kilogram quantities.

High-tech athletic shoe for pure running pleasure Posted: 05 Dec 2013 06:20 AM PST Jogging keeps you fit and is healthy. However, athletes that start training can overdo it and easily pull and tear ligaments. A new high-tech running shoe will evaluate running form in real time and thereby counter these injuries in future.

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