How soon will we see nanotube art?

5/30/2008

In this December 2006 photomicrograph released Thursday by The Nakao Hamaguchi Laboratory of the Univ.

Gold-tipped “nanobatons” could carry drugs or fight pollution

5/30/2008

Self-assembly is rapidly gaining in sophistication. Rice Univ. scientists have made gold-tipped carbon nanotubes which react predictably with water and oil by forming spherical sacs of oil in water. By manipulating the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of these nanobatons, scientist hope to find some real-world uses.

Budget quantum key encoder keeps quality up, costs down

5/30/2008

Quantum key distribution (QKD) systems, which rely on quantum theory for unbreakable encryption conditions, have been held back by the cost of detectors. A new system from NIST which minimizes the detectors required cuts costs dramatically while maintaining enough bandwidth for webcam-quality video streams protected by QKD.

Artificial retina brings sight to the blind

5/30/2008

Retinal diseases are a major cause of blindness-tens of millions have been affected. An implantable visual prosthesis is no longer science fiction, however. The two-part device collects data in a spectacle frame, which telemetrically transmits information to electrodes directly attached to undamaged nerve cells.

Breaking surf inspires high-power medical imaging solution

5/30/2008

At sea, waves are uniform (linear constructive interference), but as they approach land, shore variations create multiple peaks and valleys. This effect, says electrical and mathematics experts in a new paper, can be used on a standard CMOS chip to bring microwave imaging technology up to terahertz levels, replacing x-rays.

Materials engineers create perfect light “sponge”

5/30/2008

Building on previous research which focused on high-performance terahertz devices, Boston Univ. and Duke Univ. scientists have created a metamaterial that takes in all light of a specific frequency range. It absorbs all incident radiation-electric and magnetic.

Not your normal laboratory glassware

5/29/2008

The U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Savannah River National Laboratory recently developed a new geometric form of porous glass: hollow glass microspheres (HGMs), with unique porous walls-PWHGMs.

Celery and green peppers could help our brains as we age

5/29/2008

Yesterday’s R&D Daily discussed the beneficial potential for isofavonoids in medicine. In a similar way, the flavonoid luteolin, widely found in vegetables, may be useful, say scientists, in helping reduce the harmful effects of inflammation. Though a necessary bodily function, inflammatory response can be particularly damaging to the brain, specifically the hippocampus.

Robotic dexterity is tough to control, even in space

5/29/2008

The 3-joint arm of the Mars Phoenix Lander will require a week of preparation before it begins scooping into reddish soil. Other arms, like the one just attached to the International Space Station, are much more complicated. An intensive testing regimen at MIT hopes to find clues about how to integrate human spatial cognition with control systems.

Baby teeth find their way back to the laboratory

5/29/2008

In the 1960s, tens of thousands of baby teeth were collected from St. Louis-area families to study the effects of radiation from atmospheric nuclear tests. Found nearly 40 years later, the teeth are showing their scientific use again in to help link radiation exposure with cancer.

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The hidden inflexibility of plastic

Jul 7

Every week, the small plastic bag filled with our collected plastic and metal tidbits—a partial fossil record of the consuming habits two American adults—hits the curb beside the cardboard. It's recycling day. But much of the plastic will never see the light of day again.

An explosive idea

Jun 17

The leak in the Gulf’s seafloor dike is growing and plugging it is simply not working. The nuclear option would work, say scientists, who cite prior successes. But fears of what could go wrong have kept the decision-makers firmly on the conservative course. But for how long?

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CC Radio - Episode 43

Jul 23

Study Seeks to Determine Why One Sibling Gets Sick, and the Other Doesn't. For transcripts of this and other NIH Clinical Center podcasts, visit http://www.cc.nih.gov/podcast/

CC Radio - Episode 42

Jul 22

CC Chef Participates in "Chefs Move to Schools" Campaign. For transcripts of this and other NIH Clinical Center podcasts, visit http://www.cc.nih.gov/podcast/