News
NASA rover prototype set to explore Greenland ice sheet
May 2, 2013 2:32 pm | by Eurekalert! | CommentsNASA's newest scientific rover is set for testing May 3 through June 8 in the highest part of Greenland. The robot known as GROVER, which stands for both Greenland Rover and Goddard Remotely Operated Vehicle for Exploration and Research, will roam the frigid landscape collecting measurements...
Bonding with your virtual self may alter your actual perceptions
May 2, 2013 2:28 pm | by Eurekalert! | CommentsWhen people create and modify their virtual reality avatars, the hardships faced by their alter egos can influence how they perceive virtual environments, according to researchers.A group of students who saw that a backpack was attached to an avatar that they had created overestimated the heights of virtual hills...
On-site asbestos detector offers promise of better workplace safety
May 2, 2013 2:27 pm | by Eurekalert! | CommentsAsbestos was once called a miracle material because of its toughness and fire-resistant properties. It was used as insulation, incorporated into cement and even woven into firemen's protective clothing. Over time, however, scientists pinned the cause of lung cancers such as mesothelioma on asbestos fiber inhalation.
Calories draw people to food, like it or not
May 2, 2013 12:05 pm | by Yale UniversityYale University | CommentsPeople like food because it contains calories they need to survive. However, researchers from The John B Pierce Laboratory and Yale have discovered an interesting twist to the basic biology story: Calories trigger responses in areas of the brain that control eating behavior independently of how much the subject likes the flavor....
Use of laser light yields versatile manipulation of a quantum bit
May 2, 2013 11:37 am | by EurekAlert! | CommentsBy using light, researchers at UC Santa Barbara have manipulated the quantum state of a single atomic-sized defect in diamond –– the nitrogen-vacancy center –– in a method that not only allows for more unified control than conventional processes, but is more versatile, and opens up the possibility of exploring new solid-state quantum systems.
NIST demonstrates transfer of ultraprecise time signals over a wireless optical channel
May 2, 2013 11:37 am | by EurekAlert! | CommentsBy bouncing eye-safe laser pulses off a mirror on a hillside, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have transferred ultraprecise time signals through open air with unprecedented precision equivalent to the "ticking" of the world's best next-generation atomic clocks.
Intel taps COO Krzanich as chipmaker's next CEO
May 2, 2013 11:31 am | by PETER SVENSSON - AP Technology Writer - Associated Press | CommentsIntel said Thursday that it has chosen its chief operating officer, Brian Krzanich, as its new CEO. He will steer the world's largest chipmaker in an era where PC sales are cratering while smartphones and tablets thrive. Krzanich, who is 52, will replace Paul Otellini on May 16, at the company's...
Shaking things up: NIST researchers propose new old way to purify carbon nanotubes
May 2, 2013 11:28 am | by EurekAlert! | CommentsAn old, somewhat passé, trick used to purify protein samples based on their affinity for water has found new fans at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where materials scientists are using it to divvy up solutions of carbon nanotubes, separating the metallic nanotubes from semiconductors.
UK man jailed for selling fake bomb detectors
May 2, 2013 11:26 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsA British judge on Thursday sentenced a businessman who sold fake bomb detectors to 10 years in jail, saying the millionaire had shown a cavalier disregard for potentially fatal consequences. James McCormick made an estimated 50 million pounds ($77.8 million) from the sales of his non-working detectors...
Gartner 1Q profit rises but misses Street's view
May 2, 2013 11:20 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsTechnology research and consulting firm Gartner Inc. said Thursday that its net income climbed 7 percent in the first quarter, led by improved performances at its research and events segments. But its results missed analysts' expectations, and shares dropped in morning trading. For the period...
New NIST measurement tool is on target for the fast-growing MEMS industry
May 2, 2013 11:13 am | by EurekAlert! | CommentsAs markets for miniature, hybrid machines known as MEMS grow and diversify, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has introduced a long-awaited measurement tool that will help growing numbers of device designers, manufacturers and customers to see eye to eye on eight dimensional and material property measurements...
Harman Int'l 3Q adjusted profit beats Street view
May 2, 2013 10:53 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsHarman International Industries Inc. said Thursday that its fiscal third-quarter net income dropped 80 percent absent a large tax-related gain recorded in the same period last year. But the company's adjusted results topped Wall Street's expectations, and it raised its full-year earnings forecast....
Tele-what? YouTube touts itself not as a TV alternative, but a new-generation video platform
May 2, 2013 9:35 am | by JAKE COYLE AP Entertainment Writer | CommentsYouTube vs. TV? YouTube says the battle - if there ever was one - is over. In a flashy presentation to advertisers Wednesday night, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt declined to forecast that Internet video will displace television watching. Instead he declared: "That's already happened."
HEALTHBEAT: Not 'Star Trek' tricorder, but new smartphone tools may help people monitor health
May 2, 2013 9:34 am | by LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer | CommentsIt's not a "Star Trek" tricorder, but by hooking a variety of gadgets onto a smartphone you could almost get a complete physical - without the paper gown or even a visit to the doctor's office. Blood pressure? Just plug the arm cuff into the phone for a quick reading.
Police and politicians push for more surveillance cameras after Boston bombings
May 2, 2013 9:33 am | by TAMI ABDOLLAH Associated Press | CommentsPolice and politicians across the U.S. are pointing to the example of surveillance video that was used to help identify the Boston Marathon bombing suspects as a reason to get more electronic eyes on their streets. From Los Angeles to Philadelphia, efforts include trying to gain police access to cameras used to monitor traffic,
