Avalanche airbag rises above the rush of snow

Jan 11 | News

For more than a quarter century, avalanche airbags have been used to help skiers and hikers gain additional buoyancy in the event of a slab of snow breaking free. But until a new device recently launched via research at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany gave companions the ability to trigger the device remotely, such safety devices couldn’t be activated in time.

Nanoengineering discovery could lead to enhanced electronics

Jan 8 | News

Nanoscience has the potential to play an enormous role in enhancing a range of products. Scientists in this field have created a multitude of nano scale materials. However, despite their appeal, it has remained an astounding challenge to engineer the orientation and placement of these materials into the desired device architectures that are reproducible in high yields and at low costs, until now. A team of researchers from UC San Diego, have discovered that one way to bridge this gap is to use biomolecules.

In building CNT supercapacitors, more defects are better

11/23/2009 | News

Most people would like to be able to charge their cell phones and other personal electronics quickly and not too often. A recent discovery made by UC San Diego engineers could lead to carbon nanotube-based supercapacitors that could do just this.

Smartphone app illuminates power consumption

11/22/2009 | News

A new application for the Android smartphone shows users and software developers how much power their applications are consuming. PowerTutor was developed by doctoral students and professors at the Univ. of Michigan.

Mantis shrimps could show us the way to a better DVD

10/26/2009 | News

The remarkable eyes of a marine crustacean could inspire the next generation of DVD and CD players, according to a new study from the Univ. of Bristol. Special light-sensitive cells in mantis shrimp eyes act as quarter-wave plates—which can rotate the plane of the oscillations (the polarization) of a light wave as it travels through it. This capability makes it possible for mantis shrimps to convert linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light and vice versa.

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Much ado about next to nothing

Mar 15

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

Mar 5

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

Jan 7

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

Jan 7

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