February 4, 2009 
Editor's Take:
Mercury is still rising
By Michelle Tuchol. While both world and U.S. government agencies agree that mercury exposure represents a persistent health threat, efforts to set safe standards appear half-hearted at best. |
Magnetism pulls integrated biosensors together
The new Bead Array Sensor System is equipped to use giant magnetoresistance and “probe” DNA to perform assays on magnetically labeled biomolecules. |
IBM gets contract for most powerful computer yet
Sequoia will assist in nuclear stockpile computations. At 20 petaflops and 1.6 million processing cores, it would exceed the combined power of the world’s top computers. |
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Why Engineers Are Switching to Digital Microscopes
A downloadable report: Reasons Why Engineers Choose the VHX-600, describes the technological advancements that make the KEYENCE VHX-600 the choice of engineers and microscope users. An “all-in-one” design, the VHX-600 has an incomparable depth-of-field, 3D Image Composition, dynamic topographic displays, on-screen measurements and more. Newly developed algorithms optimize illumination, display and suppress glare.
Download report |
 The guitar of endless acoustics
An MIT student’s Chameleon Guitar can electronically read the acoustic signal from a removable soundboard and send it to software that interprets and generates the sound. |
Corporate investment cuts may keep U.S. economy down
According to the study, firms that hoard funds right now, instead of using them for investments and operations, are directly contributing to the downward cycle. |
Sorting out life’s complex regulations
Gene regulatory networks are the blueprints for animal development. Using these, we are unlocking the creation of T cells in mice and neural function in lampreys. |
 Big picture captures big event
The Gigipan camera system, using stitching software already responsible for riveting Martian shots, recorded 1,474 megapixels worth of the recent presidential inauguration. |
$58 million in Calif. stem cell grants delayed
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is now feeling the effects of a reeling state budget. Enough money is available to guarantee grants through September 2009. |
Invisible electronics: the best transistors yet
A recent paper from engineers in California details a powerful new carbon nanotube-based circuit design specifically geared toward transparent displays. |
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Evaporators produce 320 LPM of nitrogen
NitroVap-1LV and NitroVap-2LV Nitrogen Generators are non-electrical units that use filtration and membrane separation to supply pure evaporation-grade nitrogen to more than 100 evaporator nozzle positions.
Adjustable speed control of 3-phase motors
The NFX9000 series adjustable frequency AC drives provide quiet motor operation by utilizing a 32-bit microprocessor and insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). Other features include high motor efficiency and smooth low speed performance. |
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