News
Researchers design sensitive new microphone modeled on fly ear
June 3, 2013 10:29 am | by EurekAlert! | CommentsUsing the sensitive ears of a parasitic fly for inspiration, a group of researchers has created a new type of microphone that achieves better acoustical performance than what is currently available in hearing aids. The scientists will present their results at the 21st International Congress on Acoustics, held June 2-7 in Montreal.
Reality catches up with sci-fi in storm drones
June 3, 2013 10:23 am | by JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS, Associated Press | CommentsAt the time it premiered, "Twister" put forth a fantastical science fiction idea: Release probes into a storm in order to figure out which tornadoes could develop into killers. It's no longer fiction. Oklahoma State University researchers are designing and building sleek, Kevlar-reinforced unmanned aircraft...
3-D printing goes from sci-fi fantasy to reality
June 3, 2013 10:14 am | by MARTHA MENDOZA, AP National Writer | CommentsInvisalign, a San Jose company, uses 3-D printing to make each mouthful of customized, transparent braces. Mackenzies Chocolates, a confectioner in Santa Cruz, uses a 3-D printer to pump out chocolate molds. And earlier this year, Cornell University researchers used a 3-D printer, along with injections of a special collagen gel, to create a human-shaped ear.
Engineer pushes environmental approach in processes
June 3, 2013 9:57 am | by Heather R. Smith, Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center Public Affairs | CommentsWords like green and sustainability are often used to refer to recycling, taking better care of the Earth, and new or alternative forms of energy, such as solar- or wind-power. Army engineer Gregory Harris would say it's much more than that and is working to make that point to the Army and to manufacturers involved in developing the latest military technology.
Corn-Feds: Army plans to power plants with plants
June 3, 2013 9:49 am | by Audra Calloway (AMC) | CommentsPicatinny has formed a partnership with private industry to develop a fuel cell that runs off ethanol, which could potentially power the Army's ammunition facilities as an environmentally friendly energy source. A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts a fuel source into electricity.
Combined immunotherapy shows promising results against advanced melanoma
June 3, 2013 9:31 am | by Yale UniversityYale University | CommentsCombining two cancer immunotherapy drugs in patients with advanced melanoma produced rates of tumor regression that appeared greater than in prior trials with either drug alone. Data from this Phase 1 clinical trial are being formally presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago. The abstract was made public by ASCO in advance of the meeting....
Taiwan makers showcase computers at Computex
June 3, 2013 2:33 am | by ANNIE HUANG - Associated Press - Associated Press | CommentsTaiwan's struggling PC makers are unveiling a new generation of ultra-thin laptops at the world's second-biggest computer show this week, even as they tap into the ever-expanding tablet market to help compensate for declining computer sales. It won't be an easy transition for them, but the makers...
Distracted drivers: Your habits are to blame
June 3, 2013 12:00 am | by Georgia Institute of Technology | CommentsIn two peer-reviewed academic journals, Georgia Tech Assistant Professor Robert Rosenberger explains that, because people talk on the phone on a regular basis, they have developed learned habits that take over their awareness while driving, sometimes entirely....
Apple antitrust suit over e-books set for NY trial
June 2, 2013 1:28 pm | by LARRY NEUMEISTER - Associated Press - Associated Press | CommentsIn a civil case where the words of Steve Jobs play prominently, the government and Apple Inc. are set to square off over allegations that Apple Inc. conspired with the country's largest book publishers to make consumers pay more for electronic books. U.S. District Judge Denise Cote is scheduled...
LinkedIn offers extra step to guard user accounts
May 31, 2013 5:03 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsMOUNTAIN VIEW, California (AP) — LinkedIn is joining the crowd of Internet services tying account security to mobile phones. In a change announced Friday, the roughly 225 million users of LinkedIn Corp.'s online professional networking service can now choose to require a code to be sent to their...
How flames change the sound of a firefighters' personal safety alarm
May 31, 2013 4:02 pm | by EurekAlert! | CommentsThe PASS, short for "Personal Alert Safety System," has been used by firefighters for thirty years to help track members of their team who might be injured and need assistance to escape a fire. Though the alarm has saved many lives, there are cases in which the device is working correctly but is not heard or not recognized.
New technology modifies music hall acoustics
May 31, 2013 3:59 pm | by EurekAlert! | CommentsA new technology that relies on a system of inflatable sound absorbers may help make any performance hall instantly convertible into a venue for music ranging from classical to hard rock. The technology will be described at the 21st International Congress on Acoustics (ICA 2013), held June 2-7 in Montreal.
Magnetic monopoles erase data
May 31, 2013 3:53 pm | by EurekAlert! | CommentsA physical particle postulated 80 years ago could provide a decisive step toward the realization of novel, highly efficient data storage devices. Scientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), the Technische Universitaet Dresden and the University of Cologne found that with magnetic monopoles in magnetic vortices, called skyrmions, information can be written and erased.
Plant intelligence for better swarm robots
May 31, 2013 3:46 pm | by EurekAlert! | CommentsJohn Innes Centre scientists will participate in new €2 million EU-funded research to program more "intelligent" and adaptable robot swarms. The collaborative research will also be useful for improving other complex systems that can be challenged by their environment, such as smart phone networks.
View your Facebook profile, get a boost
May 31, 2013 3:42 pm | by EurekAlert! | CommentsA Facebook profile is an ideal version of self, full of photos and posts curated for the eyes of family, friends and acquaintances. A new study shows that this version of self can provide beneficial psychological effects and influence behavior. Catalina Toma, a UW-Madison assistant professor of communication arts, used the Implicit Association Test to measure Facebook users' self-esteem....
