SPOTLIGHT
Graphene quantum dot may solve some quantum computing problems
Around the world, many scientists are working on various models of a quantum computer. One of the proposed models is a quantum computer that makes use of electron spins.
Flexible Electronics Melded With Contact Lens Creates Bionic Eye
Engineers at the University of Washington (UW) have for the first time used microscopic manufacturing techniques to combine a flexible, biologically safe contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights.
Life-forming chemicals in distant galaxy
Radio astronomers say they have found evidence of large quantities of the chemical building blocks for life in a galaxy about 250 million light-years from Earth.
US Teens Confident In Their Inventiveness; Hands-on, Project-based Learning Needed
Teens are confident they can invent solutions to some of the world’s pressing challenges, such as protecting and restoring the natural environment, but more than half feel unprepared for careers in technology and engineering, the Lemelson-MIT Invention Index has found this year.
Scientists make human embryo clones
Scientists in California say they have produced embryos that are clones of two men, a potential step toward developing scientifically valuable stem cells. The cloning approach involves inserting DNA from a person into an egg, and then growing the egg into an embryo about five days old before extracting the stem cells. At that stage, the embryo is a sphere of about 150 cells.
Monkey Think, Robot Do
In a major step toward helping victims of paralysis walk again, researchers at Duke University Medical Center today announced that they had proved monkeys can use their brainpower to control the walking patterns of robots.
Scientists Create Carbon Nanopipettes That Are Smaller Than Cells And Measure Electric Current
University of Pennsylvania engineers and physicians have developed a carbon nanopipette thousands of times thinner than a human hair that measures electric current and delivers fluids into cells.
Smaller is stronger — now scientists know why
As structures made of metal get smaller — as their dimensions approach the micrometer scale (millionths of a meter) or less — they get stronger. Scientists discovered this phenomenon 50 years ago while measuring the strength of tin “whiskers” a few micrometers in diameter and a few millimeters in length.
Science and Engineering Indicators 2008
Members of the National Science Board today delivered to the President and the Congress Science and Engineering Indicators 2008 (SEI’08), the Board’s biennial report on the state of science and engineering research and education in the United States. Read the full report at NSF.gov
Engineers Produce a Rocket-Powered Human Arm
Michael Goldfarb, prof of mechanical engineering, Vanderbilt University, with a prototype of an artifical arm powered by a tiny rocket motor.
MESSENGER Space Probe’s Flyby Of Mercury A Success
At 2:04 p.m. EST on Jan. 14, 2008, the MESSENGER spacecraft skimmed 200 kilometers (124 miles) above the surface of Mercury in the first of three flybys of the planet. Initial indications from the radio signals indicate the spacecraft is still operating nominally.
Self-Paced Brain-Computer Interface Gets Closer to Reality
Using the human mind to control computers could lead to a wide range of applications, such as giving people with limited motion the ability to operate machines. However, translating thoughts into actions is a great challenge for researchers.
Artificial Muscles: New materials flex without bulky power source
Robots with oxygen-breathing muscles, aircraft that change the shape of their wings while in the air and other technical advances may be on the way, thanks to a new generation of artificial muscles. Scientists have designed the muscles to run on fuels rather than batteries or electricity from power cords.
Violent Lives Of Galaxies: Dark Matter Found Tugging At Galaxies In Supercluster
Astronomers are using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to dissect one of the largest structures in the Universe as part of a quest to understand the violent lives of galaxies.
Feeling the Heat: Thermoelectric Breakthrough in Silicon Nanowires
Rough silicon nanowires synthesized by Berkeley Lab researchers demonstrated high performance thermoelectric properties even at room temperature when connected between two suspended heating pads. In this illustration, one pad serves as the heat source (pink), the other as the sensor.
Beating Heart Created In Laboratory
By using a process called whole organ decellularization, scientists from the University of Minnesota Center for Cardiovascular Repair grew functioning heart tissue by taking dead rat and pig hearts and reseeding them with a mixture of live cells.
