Robots that mimic fish could prevent car crashesOctober 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Japanese car firm Nissan has developed robots that mimic the behaviour of fish, and could be used in crash avoidance systems. According to a report by BBC News, the tiny robots, called Eporo, can move in a fleet without bumping into their travelling companions.
Physicists observe magnetism in gas for the first timeOctober 3rd, 2009 TORONTO - An international team of physicists has for the first time observed magnetic behaviour in an atomic gas, addressing a decades-old debate as to whether it is possible for a gas or liquid to become ferromagnetic and exhibit magnetic properties. "Magnets are all around us - holding postcards on the refrigerator, pointing to magnetic north on a compass, and in speakers and headphones - yet some mysteries remain," said Joseph H.
Robot that mimics humans from the inside outSeptember 17th, 2009 LONDON - Boffins have developed an amazing skeleton robot that moves just like humans. The creation is known as an "anthropomimetic robot".
Ultra-fine fibres can now be strengthened with carbonSeptember 15th, 2009 SYDNEY - Researchers have discovered a way to strengthen plastic nanofibres or ultra-fine fibres, with one of the world's strongest materials, carbon. The added strength could lead to new uses of nanofibres.
Graphite's potential as mass data storage medium comes a step closer to realitySeptember 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists at Rice University have used industry-standard lithographic techniques to deposit 10-nanometer stripes of amorphous graphite onto silicon, which brings graphite's potential as a mass data storage medium a step closer to reality. The research, by James Tour and postdoctoral associate Alexander Sinitskii from Rice University, facilitates the creation of potentially very dense, very stable nonvolatile memory for all kinds of digital devices.
New graphite-based nano-material may herald next generation of electronic devicesSeptember 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - An international team of researchers has designed a new graphite-based, magnetic nano-material that acts as a semiconductor and could help material scientists create the next generation of electronic devices like microchips. The nano-material was designed by a team of researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU); Peking University in Beijing, China; the Chinese Academy of Science in Shanghai, China; and Tohoku University in Sedai, Japan.
Scientists use camera flash to turn insulating material into conductorAugust 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Can camera flash actually turn an insulating material into a conductor? Yes, if Northwestern University researchers are to be believed. Lead researcher Jiaxing Huang, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science have found a novel way of turning graphite oxide - a low-cost insulator made by oxidizing graphite powder-into graphene, a material that conducts electricity.
Is there more oil deep within the earth?July 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have found that petroleum can be formed under the very high pressure and temperature conditions found deep within the earth. The finding potentially multiplies underground oil deposits manifold.
Scientists find evidence of hydrocarbons in Earth's upper mantleJuly 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have found for the first time that ethane and heavier hydrocarbons can be synthesized under the pressure-temperature conditions of the upper mantle of the Earth. The research was conducted by scientists at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory, with colleagues from Russia and Sweden.
New nanotechnology technique may boost longevity of dental fillingsJuly 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A novel nanotechnology technique can boost the longevity of dental fillings, claims a Medical College of Georgia (MCG) researcher. The tooth-coloured fillings are usually more attractive than silver ones, but the bonds between the white filling and the tooth quickly age and degrade.
Indian origin scientist makes breakthrough in developing "spintronic devices"June 27th, 2009 LONDON - A team of researchers led by a scientist of Indian origin has created new 'superatoms' with magnetic properties for the first time, a breakthrough that could be used to make "spintronic devices", faster computer processors and denser memory storage. According to a report in New Scientist, the research was led by Shiv Khanna from Virginia Commonwealth University.
North Korea's nuke blast could have been a mock testJune 17th, 2009 LONDON - Reports indicate that a global network of sensors designed to verify nuclear testing has failed to pick up radioactive gases from North Korea's nuclear blast, which indicates that the country might have used conventional explosives to mimic a nuclear test. North Korea conducted what it claims was its second nuclear test on May 25 this year.
'Magnetic superatoms' maybe used to create faster computers with larger memoryJune 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have discovered a 'magnetic superatom', which one day may be used to create molecular electronic devices for the next generation of faster computers with larger memory storage. Found by a team of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) scientists, the 'magnetic superatom' is a stable cluster of atoms that can mimic different elements of the periodic table.
Parrots can not only mimic humans, but groove tooMay 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Parrots which can mimic voices can also groove as well as their human counterparts, implying an evolutionary link between the two capacities, a new study has found. The study was led by Adena Schachner, along with co-authors Marc Hauser and Irene Pepperberg at Harvard and Timothy Brady at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Biochemical twist in yeast holds key to longevityMarch 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered a new energy-making biochemical twist that can boost the lifespan of yeast cells, and can even do the same for humans. The findings have revealed that making glucose is highly influenced by a large enzyme complex already known to fix damaged DNA, and which apparently affects yeast life span through a common chemical process-acetylation.
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