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Mars Express buzzes Phobos

Mars Express buzzes Phobos

Images from the recent flyby of Phobos—a proposed landing for an upcoming mission—were captured on the rarely seen “dark side” of the Martian moon thanks to the highly elliptical orbit of the Mars Express that takes outside the moon’s path. The images were also taken as part of the High Resolution Stereo Camera experiment.

Evidence: Snowball Earth was iced to the equator

Evidence: Snowball Earth was iced to the equator

Ancient tropical rocks that now reside in the remote northern reaches of Canada tell the tale: about 716.5 million years ago the Earth lay bound in a layer of ice that limited life to eukaryotes. Strangely, this glaciation—history’s most extensive at 5 million years, say researchers at NSF and Harvard—occurred at about the same time that animals appear in the fossil record.

Earthquake engineers send second recon team

Earthquake engineers send second recon team

It’s been a busy time for seismologists, but massive earthquakes also provides work for experts in civil engineering, urban planning, architecture, geography, and social support. The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute had just published its team report of the magnitude 7.0 quake in Haiti when the Chilean city of Concepción was moved 10 feet to the west by the most recent 8.8 magnitude earthquake.

Oldest measurement of Earth's magnetic field reveals battle between sun and Earth

Oldest measurement of Earth's magnetic field reveals battle between sun and Earth

According to findings by Univ. of Rochester researchers who visited sites in Africa known to contain extremely old rocks, the Earth’s magnetic field 3.5 billion years ago was only half as strong as it is today. This may mean the Sun took away much of Earth’s hydrogen and water.

Evidence of hydrothermal vents on the seafloor near Antarctica

Evidence of hydrothermal vents on the seafloor near Antarctica

Scientists at Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory have found evidence of hydrothermal vents on the seafloor near Antarctica, formerly a blank spot on the map for researchers wanting to learn more about seafloor formation and the bizarre life forms drawn to these extreme environments.

Geothermal power could be solution for abandoned coal mines

Vacant coal mines in southwest Indiana could once again generate energy, not from coal, but from the water reservoirs now found on their surface and deep underground. That is the objective of Purdue Univ. geologists studying how to transform old strip and shaft mines into new sources of geothermal power.

Ganymede and Callisto. What’s the difference?

Ganymede and Callisto. What’s the difference?

Similar in size and bulk composition characteristics, Ganymede and Callisto are famously but inexplicably different in appearance. Southwest Research Institute scientists now say differences in the dynamics of cometary impacts on each moon about 3.8 billion years ago sent their futures into wildly different directions.

An Opportunity to see deep inside Mars

An Opportunity to see deep inside Mars

Digging into a rock named Marquette Island perched on a rippled Martian plain, the rover Opportunity is helping scientist examine a geological curiosity that differs from any other mineral yet found. It may have originated from deep under the planet’s crust, and could tell us more about the Red Planet’s formation.

Disaster apps bring hope

Disaster apps bring hope

Connectedness is not a luxury—it’s a tool for survival because it stimulates response. Haitians and their loved ones see the direct benefits in efforts by Google to provide up-to-minute news on the whereabouts of individuals. And, more indirectly, the rapid giving model is accelerating philanthropy in ravaged lands.

Haiti quake devastation intensified by location

Haiti quake devastation intensified by location

It’s been more than 200 years since Haiti was struck by a major earthquake, but the circumstances of yesterday's quake contributed to the great loss of life. The epicenter, just 10 miles from Port-au-Prince and a mere 6.2 miles underground, wreaked havoc on the country's capital. Also, a low degree of slippage between the Caribbean and North American plates, experts say, gave no indication that an earthquake of this magnitude was imminent.

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Much ado about next to nothing

Much ado about next to nothing

The recent review of the past 10 years of the National Nanotechnology Initiative--as presented by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology--suggested the rise of nanomanufacturing as the near future of nanotechnology. But the actual proposed funding reflects a cautious approach, even about nanotech in general.

Lunar tires, space MRSA, and resonating microfluidics

Lunar tires, space MRSA, and resonating microfluidics

I typically attend the annual Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy each year in pursuit of specific coverage. This year, I sought out candidates for coverage in a vacuum technology article, and pulled together some instruments for a spectroscopy guide. But as busy as that kept me, it wasn’t all mass spectrometers and vacuum pumps on the show floor.  

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NuGard Coating Ashburn Hill

NuGard Coating Ashburn Hill

NuGard First Response Protective Clothing are lightweight coveralls, jackets, and pants that provide protection from heat and flame while keeping the wearers body temperature constant.

Multi-Touch Music Maker

Multi-Touch Music Maker

Professor David Wessel shows his multi-touch interface that uses computer technologies that allow him to experiment with fine controls to "caress" the instrument.

New To Market

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Submersible FlowCAM catches particle images and data in-situ and real-time
Submersible FlowCAM catches particle images and data in-situ and real-time

Fluid Imaging Technologies recently introduced its Submersible FlowCAM particle and cell imaging and analysis system at Ocean Sciences 2010 in Portland, Ore. The remote sensing platform can be used for continuous, unattended monitoring tethered to research vessels or autonomous submersibles.

Daytime running light has just two LEDs

The new OSTAR Compact LED from OSRAM has been developed specifically for use in vehicle headlights. Despite drawing just 5 W, the device provides 300 lumens of power and meets ECE/SAE color binning requirements for use on motor vehicles.

Tools & Technology

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Benchtop NMR analyzer
Benchtop NMR analyzer

Oxford Instruments America, Inc.’s Magnetic Resonance Group released the second generation of its MQC analyzers.

Software solution for microarray image analysis

BioDiscovery Inc. released ImaGene 9.0 for microarray image analysis. The new features include improved memory performance for the latest high density arrays, streamlined processing pipeline focused on image quantification and intensity extraction, and new modular design with options to add modules for analysis of gene/miRNA expression or CGH data.

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