News
Scientists capture first direct proof of Hofstadter butterfly effect
May 17, 2013 12:50 pm | by EurekAlert! | CommentsA team of researchers from several universities – including UCF –has observed a rare quantum physics effect that produces a repeating butterfly-shaped energy spectrum in a magnetic field, confirming the longstanding prediction of the quantum fractal energy structure called Hofstadter's butterfly.
New insights into how materials transfer heat could lead to improved electronics
May 17, 2013 12:45 pm | by EurekAlert! | CommentsU of T Engineering researchers, working with colleagues from Carnegie Mellon University, have published new insights into how materials transfer heat, which could lead eventually to smaller, more powerful electronic devices. Integrated circuits and other electronic parts have been shrinking in size and growing in complexity and power for decades.
Security risks found in sensors for heart devices, consumer electronics
May 17, 2013 12:43 pm | by EurekAlert! | CommentsThe type of sensors that pick up the rhythm of a beating heart in implanted cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers are vulnerable to tampering, according to a new study conducted in controlled laboratory conditions. Implantable defibrillators monitor the heart for irregular beating and, when necessary, administer an electric shock...
UT Arlington physicist's tool has potential for brain mapping
May 17, 2013 12:40 pm | by University of Texas Arlington | CommentsA new tool being developed by UT Arlington assistant professor of physics could help scientists map and track the interactions between neurons inside different areas of the brain. The journal Optics Letters recently published a paper by Samarendra Mohanty on the development of a fiber-optic, two-photon, optogenetic stimulator...
Add boron for better batteries
May 17, 2013 12:35 pm | by Rice University | CommentsFrustration led to revelation when Rice University scientists determined how graphene might be made useful for high-capacity batteries. Calculations found a graphene/boron anode should be able to hold a lot of lithium and perform at a proper voltage for use in lithium-ion batteries.
As yen falls, goods from Japan are more affordable
May 17, 2013 12:42 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsJapanese goods are getting more affordable. For consumers worldwide — and for Japan's economy — it's welcome news. Credit Japan's drive to pump cash into its economy to stimulate growth. The extra money flooding its financial system is helping shrink the value of the yen. A U.S. dollar now buys...
J.C. Penney posts bigger 1Q loss than expected
May 16, 2013 6:00 pm | by ANNE D'INNOCENZIO - AP Retail Writer - Associated Press | CommentsThe legacy of J.C. Penney's former CEO continues to cast a dark cloud over the department-store chain. Penney on Thursday reported that it widened its loss in the first quarter on a 16 percent plunge in revenue. It marks the fifth straight quarter that the struggling company has posted massive...
Labor group says Apple making progress at Foxconn
May 16, 2013 5:34 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsA labor group Apple Inc. joined to assess working conditions at three manufacturing plants in China, where its products are made, says conditions are improving. But employees are still working more hours than the country's legal limit. The Fair Labor Association said Thursday that Apple's largest...
Dell's 1Q earnings fall 79 pct as PC sales sag
May 16, 2013 5:07 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsDell's earnings plunged 79 percent in the latest quarter as the shift to smartphones and tablets reduced demand for the company's personal computers. The dismal performance announced Thursday actually might work to the advantage of Dell Inc.'s board. That's because Dell's directors are trying to...
Brocade 2Q profit up 20 pct., sales disappoint
May 16, 2013 4:49 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsBrocade Communications Systems Inc., a maker of computer networking technology, said Thursday that fiscal second-quarter sales fell because of a slowdown in the storage market. Still, the company increased its profit in what it termed a "challenging" market, helped by a tax benefit. Net income...
Strong standards for school snacks increase lunches and revenue
May 16, 2013 4:05 pm | by Yale UniversityYale University | CommentsSchools that implement strong nutrition standards for snacks sold at school increase student meal participation and school revenue, according to a study by the Yale Rudd Center and the Harvard School of Public Health. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, provides support for efforts to implement strong national nutrition standards for all food sold at school while promoting student participation in the National School Lu...
Best Buy seeks to spark interest in '4K' TVs
May 16, 2013 3:45 pm | by MAE ANDERSON - AP Retail Writer - Associated Press | CommentsBest Buy will start offering the high-end Sony 4K Ultra High Definition TV sets in 700 of its U.S. stores on Sunday in an effort to shake up the stagnant TV category. The TVs — which have 8.3 million pixels compared with the 2.1 million pixels on regular high-definition TVs — are purported to...
In a bowl of breakfast cereal, principles of attraction on display
May 16, 2013 3:33 pm | by Yale UniversityYale University | CommentsAndong He saw a phenomenon at work in his breakfast bowl that he couldn’t explain. It prompted this question: How does cereal shape influence the way cereals floating in the milk join?...
Renault and ESI Group sign a framework agreement for strategic collaboration
May 16, 2013 11:49 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsTo accelerate innovation with Virtual Prototyping Paris, France - May 16, 2013 - ESI Group , pioneer and world-leading solution provider in ...
Apple says App Store hit 50 billion downloads
May 16, 2013 11:16 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsApple says its customers have downloaded more than 50 billon applications from its App Store since its launch in 2008. Apple Inc. said Thursday that the 50 billionth download was a game called "Say the Same Thing" by Space Inch. The App Store had 500 apps when it first opened. It now has more...
