Latest news of science and technology, new electronics

A regularly updated selection of the most interesting news in science and technology, new electronics. Large archive of articles from 2000 to 2024. Based on materials from periodicals and the Internet.

timeline

supermassive star 03.03.2011

English astronomers working at an observatory in Chile have discovered a star in the Tarantula Nebula, designated R136a1. It is 300 times heavier and a million times brighter than the Sun. It is the most massive star known at present, located 165 light-years from Earth. Since R136a1 is part of a dense star cluster, where there are a million stars per cubic light year, doubts arose: could it be that we take two, or even three, for one huge star, rotating around a common center of gravity? Such cases have already happened. However, a group of German astronomers who tested the discovery of the British, also claims that this is one superheavy star. It remains a mystery how it can exist: according to the theory now accepted, stars that exceed the mass of the Sun by more than 150 times should be unstable. ... >>

The forest was cut down - a crater appeared 02.03.2011

Geophysicist Giovanni Monegato from the University of Padua (Italy), studying satellite photographs of African rivers, accidentally discovered an unknown crater with a diameter of 36 kilometers on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It became visible from the sky only because of the destruction of the rainforest. An expedition is being prepared to study this structure on the spot, but scientists suggest that this is a trace from a meteorite impact with a diameter of about two kilometers and this meteorite fell at least 45 million years ago. ... >>

Radiometer on fire 28.02.2011

A device has been created that can distinguish the source of a fire even underground. To easily overcome a forest fire, you need to notice its source in time. Alas, as a rule, it is hidden by vegetation, and sometimes it can even be located under the soil surface. Devices installed on fire planes that study signals in the infrared range cannot recognize such foci. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Technology, led by Dr. Nora von Wahl, decided to create a new device. They noticed that particles of dust, smoke, and plant branches are practically transparent to microwave radiation at a frequency of 22 GHz. Having made a receiver operating at this frequency, they hung it in the air on a balloon robot. As measurements have shown, such a device at a height of one hundred meters sees a fire seat five by five meters in size, with an accuracy of 2,5 meters. The infrared sensor is more accurate, but the microwave one sees much better - even a layer of soil above the fire does not matter to him, and this is especially ... >>

three-eyed worker 27.02.2011

The Germans come up with a robot that can be put on the conveyor. The shortage of workers is a serious problem in developed countries. It is associated with both low birth rates and a high level of social security. It can be solved in three ways - to invite workers from abroad, to raise salaries for locals, or to create robots. The third way is trying to master the engineers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Systems and Process Design with the support of the European Commission. The robot, created by a group led by Dr. Dragoljub Surdilovich, will look like a person. Same size, two hands, sensitive fingers, three eyes. He will be able to take the place of a worker at the conveyor and, for example, put a gear on the shaft. If it does not fit right away, the robot will twist the product in its fingers and find the correct position - a modern XNUMXD camera will help it with this. In another shop, where the robot will check the quality of the coating, it will need two additional eyes. Since each of them ... >>

New cameras 25.02.2011

Compared to last CES, this year's camera market is not going to change much. Manufacturers finally abandoned the increase in the number of megapixels and focused more on functionality, which results in the addition of touch screens, Wi-Fi modules, and additional self-portrait displays to cameras. In addition, compact cameras with interchangeable lenses continue their offensive. This year, Olympus brought the E-PL2 camera to CES, and Samsung showed the NX11, which received a number of improvements, in particular, better video capture. Improving the quality of video recording in still cameras is another of the trends that will be most pronounced in 2011. ... >>

New laptops 24.02.2011

With the release of the new 32nm Intel Sandy Bridge processors and the AMD Fusion platform, laptops in 2011 will become even more productive, generate less heat and last longer on a single battery charge. In addition, we should expect more active use of SSDs, these drives will not yet be able to replace hard drives, but they will appear more often in top-end laptops. It is also worth noting the general trend towards the release of models with a 11,6-inch display, such devices are more convenient to use than netbooks, but in terms of size and weight they are not far from them. Last year, manufacturers only experimented with adding 3D to a few models, but this year the number will increase. Basically, these will be multimedia laptops with a screen diagonal of 15-18", but smaller devices are not far off. ... >>

New tablets 21.02.2011

In 2010, the tablet market has experienced major changes due to the release of the iPad, and, quite naturally, its major players are preparing to win back the leadership in this segment from Apple. They all go to the “war” armed with the Google Android operating system, and only in rare cases can you find models on Windows 7. The hardware characteristics of such devices are as follows: touch displays with a diagonal of 5,7 or 10 inches, NVIDIA Tegra 2 chips, Qualcomm Snapdragon, as well as Intel Atom. Ha CES 2011 Google announced the imminent release of Android 3.0, which was developed specifically for tablets, but in action it never showed. Most manufacturers have not yet seen this platform and will release devices under Android 2.3 for now. Despite expectations, Microsoft did not introduce a tablet operating system at CES, continuing to recommend Windows 7 for this purpose. According to Steve Balmer, the next version of Windows will include a tablet operating system. ... >>

New LED TVs 20.02.2011

If last year the manufacturers of these devices made the main bet on 3D, then this year they found a worthy company for this technology. "Internet television" is a new stage in the development of TV, and everything is ready for its implementation. In 2011, TVs will become even more like computers, will support the installation of simple applications, will be able to display websites and make Skype video calls. For example, the Smart TV concept used by LG and Samsung allows you to view a variety of content from the Internet on the TV screen, analyze users' preferences and offer them new movies according to their tastes. Despite the active "Internetization" of TV, 3D support will not go anywhere, most of the TVs presented at CES are able to form a stereoscopic image. ... >>

Looking at the sick makes us healthier 19.02.2011

Employees of the University of British Columbia (Canada) showed volunteers photographs of men with weapons aimed at the viewer and pictures of sick people. Although the photographs of armed men were regarded by the test subjects as more unpleasant and disturbing, on a physiological level, photographs of the sick were more influenced. A blood test showed that after viewing pictures with patients, the participants in the experiment increased immunity. In the blood, the level of a protective compound, interleukin, increased by 24%. From an evolutionary point of view, such a reaction is understandable, says psychologist Mark Schaller, one of the authors of the study. If you see sick people around you, it makes sense to strengthen the immune system. But how exactly the mechanism that links vision with immunity works is not yet clear. ... >>

Flying over Venus 18.02.2011

The European space probe "Venus Express", circling around Venus since April 2006, measured the density of its upper atmosphere in an unusual way. The control center, located in Darmstadt (Germany), deployed one of the two solar panels of the device "upright" - so that it stood across the direction of its movement, and the other remained parallel to the course. Then the probe's orbit was lowered closer to the surface of the planet, to a height of 175 kilometers from it, and they began to watch how the device tends to turn under the oncoming flow of Venusian air. According to the results of measurements, the atmosphere in the circumpolar regions at such a height turned out to be 60% more rarefied than previously thought. ... >>

Projector smaller than a thimble 16.02.2011

A small company, organized at the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne (Switzerland), begins production of a video projector developed by the school's specialists, the main unit of which occupies a volume of one cubic centimeter. The projector will be built into cell phones, PDAs, laptops, netbooks and other portable electronics. At a distance of half a meter from the screen, it gives an image with a diagonal of 38 centimeters and a clarity of 640 by 480 pixels. ... >>

moon silver 15.02.2011

In October 2009, the American space probe LCROSS crashed into the surface of the Moon at space speed near the south pole of our natural satellite. Analyzing the spectrum of the flash and clouds of particles raised by the impact, the experimenters found water vapor - which means there is water on the Moon. Further analysis made it possible to detect silver atoms in the dust raised by the impact. It is believed that the metal is contained in the subsurface layers of the lunar rock. How much of it there is, only research on the spot can show. ... >>

Seismology of crimes 14.02.2011

As mathematician George Mohler of the University of Los Angeles (USA) has shown, a computer program developed by seismologists in order to predict the possibility of repeated aftershocks after a major earthquake can predict crime. Mohler took data on 2803 burglaries in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in 2004 and, looking at them day by day, tried to use seismological algorithms to predict where the next day's burglaries would be. It turned out that if this technique had been used in 2004, the police could have increased vigils in the predicted risk areas and reduced the number of such crimes in the area by a quarter. After that, the mathematician looked at the data on the bloody skirmishes between local street gangs for 1999-2002 and was able to successfully predict, to within a few days and meters, when and where the next fight would occur. ... >>

bees at the airport 13.02.2011

Several beehives have been set up at Dusseldorf International Airport (Germany). It turns out that analyzing the composition of honey and bee bread is a convenient and reliable way to monitor environmental pollution. After all, bees collect raw materials for their work - nectar and pollen from surrounding plants - while concentrating all the impurities in honey. Twice a year, honey samples are analyzed for the presence of hydrocarbons and heavy metals, which can be released into the air from the exhaust of aircraft engines and the engines of numerous airport support vehicles. Checks show that the quality of honey from the airport corresponds to the product from areas free from any industry. Six other German airports followed the example of Düsseldorf. ... >>

Life could have originated on Titan 12.02.2011

Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has a dense atmosphere composed mostly of nitrogen with a dash of methane. At the Central School of Engineering in France, an international team of researchers irradiated the same mixture of gases with microwaves, simulating the constant bombardment of Titan's upper atmosphere by ultraviolet rays from the Sun and charged particles flying from the sun and deflected towards Titan by Saturn's magnetic field. After some time, rather complex organic molecules were found in a steel vessel containing a mixture of gases - the nucleotides cytosine, adenine, thymine, guanine and uracil, which are part of DNA and RNA. In addition, simple amino acids - glycine and alanine, which are part of proteins, were spontaneously synthesized. A haze of unknown composition floats in the upper atmosphere of Titan, making it impossible to see the surface of the satellite. It is possible that over millions of years of evolution in this thickness of aerosols, not only molecules were formed, which on Earth are part of everything ... >>

phone on hydrogen 11.02.2011

A Singaporean company has launched a pocket hydrogen fuel cell that can charge cell phones, digital players and other portable electronics. A one and a half to two watt battery uses hydrogen from a replaceable cartridge, which can be recharged with combustible gas up to a thousand times. Hydrogen is stored in the cartridge as a powder of rare metal hydrides, so there is no danger of explosion (metal hydrides are even allowed to be transported in the cabin of an airliner). The hydrogen energy reserve in the cartridge is 15 watt-hours, which allows you to charge a regular phone two or three times. ... >>

Radar in the temple 10.02.2011

German archaeologists examined the large Gothic cathedral in Magdeburg, built from 1209 to 1520, using a radar that penetrates the ground to a depth of two meters with its impulses. As a result of radio wave transmission under the cathedral, the remains of the foundations of two churches that used to stand on this site were found, and in one of these foundations there was a lead sarcophagus with the remains of Queen Edith of Germany (910-946). She was buried in the monastery, which at that time was on the site of the cathedral. ... >>

Knotted bicycle 09.02.2011

Folding bikes are not new, but young English designer Kevin Scott came up with a new approach that also solves the problem of bike theft. The two frame elements in its design are made of short lengths of pipes strung on a strong, taut cable. When driving, such a frame works like a normal one. In the parking lot, the cyclist loosens the cables, wraps his car around any pole, and padlocks both wheels. To return the bike to working condition, it is necessary to tighten the cables again, for which there is a miniature winch on the frame. With an average of 52 bikes stolen daily in London alone, Scott's model is likely to be in demand. ... >>

How many genes does a person have 08.02.2011

Although it was possible to read the human genome for the first time ten years ago, it is still not known not only what each gene does, but also how many of them. By most estimates, there are about 22 genes in humans, which is fewer than grapes (30) but more than chickens (434). The database maintained by the National Institutes of Health (USA) lists the number 16. Another American database lists 736; the English one lists 22 genes. And in the catalog of mammalian genes, compiled by the efforts of many geneticists from around the world, only 333 genes are given for humans. This discrepancy is due to the fact that genes make up only about one percent of the three billion nucleotides that make up the DNA chain of each of us. And they are not arranged in order, in a single system, but are abundantly layered with sections of DNA that do not code for any proteins. Such inserts are also present within each gene. British geneticists recently started a project to determine the number of genes in humans ... >>

Under a glass roof 07.02.2011

A Swedish company has begun producing glass tiles for the roof of the new system. A black fabric is laid under the transparent roof with a gap of about 10 centimeters. It turns out a greenhouse, from which heated air enters the rooms of the house. The system can also be used to produce warm water. Even in a not too hot country like Sweden, a glass roof promises considerable fuel and electricity savings. At the exhibition of new materials, held in 2010 in Stockholm, glass tiles were awarded a gold medal. ... >>

protein potatoes 06.02.2011

Indian geneticists have genetically engineered a potato variety containing one and a half times more protein than conventional varieties. In addition, the new variety has increased photosynthesis, and therefore the yield is 15-25% higher. The secret is that the potato was transplanted with a gene from amaranth, a South American plant widely cultivated in the tropics for its delicious high-protein seeds and green mass for livestock feed. Amaranth has a special, highly efficient type of photosynthesis. Tests on laboratory animals have confirmed the safety of the new variety, and now its creators are awaiting permission from the authorities for widespread introduction. ... >>

Your pills are calling you 04.02.2011

According to the World Health Organization, only about half of patients who are prescribed some kind of medication fully comply with their regimen. The rest forget to take a pill, cut the dose for some reason, or refuse the medicine completely. To avoid harm to health, the US began to produce a "smart" jar for pills. The doctor programs it for a certain medication regimen, and at the appointed time, the jar, if it has not been opened, sends a radio signal to a miniature base station plugged into any outlet in the apartment. This station, similar to a regular night light, starts flashing light and emitting soft beeps. If the pill box is still not opened, the signals gradually increase. If this does not help, an SMS with a reminder is sent to the cell phone of the oblivious patient. The device can also complain to the attending physician, also via SMS. Early results: patients taking antihypertensive drugs, supplying ... >>

Keyboard disinfection 03.02.2011

A prefix to a computer keyboard that kills microbes with ultraviolet light, developed in the UK. The average number of germs on a keyboard is about 500 per square centimeter. So have shown studies conducted in medical institutions in England. The problem is exacerbated in cases where several people use the computer, so that infection can spread. The prefix is ​​installed on the keyboard in such a way that the light of the ultraviolet lamp is directed only to the keys. The lamp turns on only when there is a break in the work and the hands of the worker are not above the keyboard. In two minutes, 99% of germs are destroyed. The prefix is ​​in demand in hospitals, clinics, libraries, student classrooms, Internet cafes and wherever a personal computer does not belong to one person. ... >>

DPP-3 - TDK-Lambda three-phase DIN rail power supplies 31.01.2011

The DPP-3 series consists of 4 power ratings: 120, 240, 480 or 960 W with output voltages of 12, 24, 48 V and is designed for industrial automation, measurement and control systems, distributed power systems. The DPP-3 power supplies operate on a 3-phase AC mains in the range 340...575 V, frequency 47...63 Hz without the need for switching or adjustment. Each model contains a power factor corrector. An important property of the series is two-phase performance: if one phase fails, the unit will continue to work with a power reduction of up to 80%! The output voltage of the module can be adjusted using the potentiometer on the front panel. This is necessary to compensate for the voltage drop in the power conductors to the load. Parallel connection of 2 modules is possible to increase power. Load instability with parallel connection is + 5%, with single operation - + 1%. For added convenience in 24-volt automation and control applications ... >>

12W LED Drivers from TDK-Lambda 29.01.2011

AL12 is a series of AC/D 12W LED C-drivers in sealed plastic housing. AL12 have two modifications ALV12 and ALC12. ALV12 drivers operate in voltage regulation mode, and ALC12 in current regulation mode. Distinctive features of this series are: high efficiency (82%), wide temperature range from -10 to 60°С (the manufacturer guarantees switching on at -20°С), high degree of protection against external influences IP66. ALV12 power supply modules have the following range of output voltages: 12, 15, 24 V. The range of output currents for ALC12 drivers includes 350 and 750 mA, and the output voltage range is from 3 to 18 V or from 3 to 36 V, depending on the model. AL12 series complies with EN55011-B/EN55022-B, EN55015, VCCI-B, CISPR22-B, UL1310 (Class 2), IEC61347-1, IEC61347-2-13. ... >>

IP 16 and 25 W for dimmer-controlled LED luminaires 28.01.2011

Mean Well has introduced new 16W and 25W LED power supplies that support triac dimmer light control. The PCD-16/25 series power supplies are compatible with both rising edge and falling edge dimmers, which is an advantage over similar solutions, most of which are capable of working with only one of these types of dimmers. The new series of power supplies maintain a constant output current, supplying LED lighting devices with operating currents from 350mA to 1,4A. : "A" for 16 V networks (25...115 V), and "B" for 90 V networks (135...230 V). The efficiency of power supplies of the PCD-180/295 series is at the level of 16%, which allows them to operate in the temperature range from -25 to 82 ° C with natural ... >>

Sharp LED lights 27.01.2011

Sharp presented a project in Varna (Bulgaria) to introduce a new energy-saving technology in the field of street lighting. The first phase of the installation was lit on December 2, 2010. Along the 3,8 km section of the highway leading from Varna Airport to the city, 186 LED lights were installed. Their application will not only reduce municipal costs, but also provide a significant reduction in CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. ... >>

E-book ASUS EeeNote EA800 22.01.2011

The new electronic notebook from ASUS is controlled by a Linux-based operating system. The device supports PDF, EPUB, MP3, JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG formats. When importing txt, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx documents from a computer, they are automatically converted to PDF/EPUB. The dimensions of the novelty are 139x222,4x11 mm, weight - 520 gr. ... >>

Google Nexus S 21.01.2011

A new Google phone based on Android OS is planned to be released by Samsung. The Nexus S is based on the familiar hardware platform used in the Galaxy S. This is a Hummingbird SoC system based on the ARM Cortex A8 architecture with a frequency of 1 GHz. The device is equipped with 16 GB of internal flash memory, in addition to the accelerometer, it is also equipped with a gyroscope, and also includes an NFC chip. RAM in the phone 512 MB. There is also a 5-megapixel camera with flash and autofocus. The device will ship with the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, which will please with many useful innovations. ... >>

good luck gene 20.01.2011

In many cultures, a four-leaf clover is considered to bring good luck. American geneticist Wayne Parrot found in the genome of white clover a gene on which the formation of such leaves depends. This gene occurs in two forms: the dominant one prevents the occurrence of a quadruple leaflet, the recessive one allows it to form. If two recessive forms of a gene meet in a plant, which happens infrequently, rare four-lobed leaves are formed. ... >>

yunnan syndrome 19.01.2011

Every year during the rainy season, Chinese doctors note cases of strange death from sudden cardiac arrest in Yunnan province in the southwest of the country. Over the past 30 years, since deaths began to be recorded in local villages, four hundred local peasants have died in this way. The phenomenon has even been called "Yunnan Sudden Death Syndrome". It looks like the cause has been found: experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing link the mysterious syndrome to the fungus of the genus Trogia eaten here. These mushrooms, climbing out of the ground after every rain, quickly deteriorate, so they are not taken to the markets, but only the mushroom pickers themselves eat them. What kind of toxin is contained in these toadstools has not yet been clarified, but they have already found a high content of barium, which is dangerous for the heart. Perhaps only those who already had heart problems die from a fungus that concentrates this metal from the soil. ... >>

How to wake up quickly 18.01.2011

At the World Congress of Sleep Researchers, recently held in Texas (USA), a group of physiologists from Stanford University reported on a new way to quickly "bring to life" a sleepy person. This is done with short bursts of bright white light. Volunteers who fell asleep at night were awakened two hours after falling asleep and the reaction time was checked. It, of course, was slow compared to the reaction of a waking person. But, if the awakened were irradiated once a minute with bright flashes of light lasting two milliseconds (approximately like a modern flashlight), they quickly came to their senses and the reaction time was reduced. Improved, according to sleep deprivation, and general subjective well-being. Scientists believe that flashes can cheer up both workers on the night shift and sailors during the "dog watch". ... >>

Walruses do not have enough space in the sea 17.01.2011

In the northwest of Alaska, zoologists observe the mass transition of thousands of walruses to land. Usually a walrus, having eaten mollusks and crayfish, which he collects at the bottom, lays down to digest food on floating ice. But this year, due to global warming, the ice has moved so far from the coast of Alaska that the pinniped giants have to congregate on suitable beaches. Since there are few convenient places on the coast, large concentrations of walruses are formed. Local authorities fear that if there is a panic among the animals, walruses (each weighing about a ton) will pass each other. Therefore, the issue of transferring some air routes over Alaska is being considered in order not to frighten the walruses with the noise of aircraft. ... >>

Mud volcanoes on Mars 13.01.2011

Japanese planetary scientist Goro Komatsu found structures in orbital images of Mars that are very reminiscent of terrestrial mud volcanoes. In the northern hemisphere of the planet, on the Khrize Plain, Komatsu discovered dozens of such formations, the shape and size of which are very similar to the mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan, Romania or California. Six years ago, traces of methane were found in the atmosphere of Mars, and the suspicion immediately arose that this gas was a product of life that had not yet been discovered on the Red Planet. In any case, 90% of the methane present in the Earth's atmosphere is of biological origin. If Goro Komatsu's discovery is confirmed, then opponents of the existence of life on Mars will have a new argument: Martian methane may be of purely volcanic origin. ... >>

There is water on the asteroid Cybele 12.01.2011

An international team of astronomers working at the Canary Islands Observatory has reported the discovery of water ice on asteroid number 65, named after Cybele, the Phrygian goddess of fertility and motherhood. This is the second asteroid on which water has been found - six months ago, the same scientists discovered water on Themis. On both minor planets (the diameter of Themis is 200 kilometers, Cybele - about 300), in addition to water, organic molecules were found. This supports the hypothesis that the materials necessary for the origin of life could have come to Earth with falling asteroids and comets. ... >>

Multicellular organisms have grown old 10.01.2011

French paleontologists have found in Gabon the remains of multicellular organisms with a real cell nucleus. Until now, it was believed that such relatively highly developed creatures appeared at the earliest 630 million years ago, and before them, the Earth was inhabited only by single-celled non-nuclear bacteria. A well-preserved fossil from Gabon 2,1 billion years old, these were rather large (1 to 12 centimeters) jellyfish that swam at a depth of 30-40 meters in the river delta. The river, which has not existed for a long time, has brought here sand, which has developed into sandstone over billions of years, and fossils have been found in a quarry where this rock is being developed. ... >>

Intercontinental flights of pterosaurs 09.01.2011

According to the American paleontologist Michael Habib, large pterosaurs could make non-stop intercontinental flights 65 million years ago. In 1975, the remains of a huge pterosaur were discovered in Texas, which, in terms of wingspan, could compete with a modern fighter. Standing on the ground with folded wings, he was as tall as a giraffe. Later, such fossils were found on other continents. Habib, on the basis of calculations, claims that such giant flying reptiles could travel up to 16 thousand kilometers without landing. According to the estimates of the paleontologist, this "aircraft" weighed almost 300 kilograms, and for the flight from Texas to Europe or Australia, he lightened 70 kilograms, spending spare fat. Nowadays, some small birds make even longer flights, almost from pole to pole, and lose about half their weight. ... >>

Magnetic sheet 08.01.2011

German chemists from the Institute for Research on Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam managed to completely replace organic matter in the thinnest veins of green leaves with iron carbide. Since this compound is magnetic, the converted sheets are attracted to the magnet. In addition, as iron carbide is supposed to, the openwork network of veins conducts electricity, which means that other substances can be deposited on it by electrolysis. This is not just an interesting scientific trick. Chemists usually try to shape the catalyst so that it is in as much contact with the medium as possible. It is impossible to find a better model than thin biological structures that can be replaced by the desired compound. ... >>

Eyes will tell you what number is hidden 07.01.2011

By the eyes you can understand what number a person has guessed. So say neurologists from the University of Melbourne (Australia). The researchers asked the participants in the experiment to name in turn any number from 1 to 30 that came to their mind, and at the same time followed the movements of the subjects' eyes. They noticed that if a person is going to name a number less than the one named before, his gaze moves to the left down, if more - to the right up. Apparently, people at the same time imagine a chain of numbers going from left to right from smaller to larger. Data from a video camera connected to a computer that tracked eye movements was processed by a special program that accurately measured the range of these movements, and as a result, experimenters could often even guess the intended number. But with a "simple eye", without the help of technology, one cannot follow these small movements. In addition, the amplitude of eye movements when guessing numbers is different for each person, so before a guessing session, a "graduation" must be carried out. Ig ... >>

Mexico City sinks into the ground 06.01.2011

The German scientific satellite TerraSAR-X, launched in 2007, is capable of conducting radar of the earth's surface with a resolution of up to one meter. Maps of the Mexican capital built according to his data showed that most areas of the huge city (population with suburbs about 18 million people) sink into the ground. In just four months, from September 2009 to January 2010, in places there was a subsidence of 10 centimeters. This is due to the pumping of underground water to supply the townspeople. It is not yet clear whether the previous level of the soil is restored after a season of heavy rains replenishing underground reservoirs. ... >>

Volcano sensor 05.01.2011

Specialists from the Center for Extreme Technologies at Newcastle University (UK) are working on creating a sensor that, dropped from an aircraft into the mouth of an erupting volcano, will be able to transmit data on the magma temperature, pressure and composition of volcanic gases from there. The electronics of the device is based on silicon carbide - a semiconductor that can operate at temperatures of 600 and even 900 degrees Celsius. All the necessary components have already been created, and now it remains to integrate them into a single case the size of a cell phone. Monitoring volcanoes is a very urgent task: on Earth, half a billion people live in the vicinity of fire-breathing mountains. ... >>

Tsunami waves rise to the sky 04.01.2011

As discovered by geophysicists from the Paris University. Diderot, a tsunami wave, passing through the ocean, causes high above itself, in the ionosphere, changes in the concentration of electrons. Satellite measurements have shown that this electron wave travels at the same speed and in the same direction as the ocean wave below it. The phenomenon was observed during three Pacific tsunamis caused by earthquakes: 2006 in the Kuril region, 2009 in Samoa and 2010 in Chile. ... >>

cockroach cure 03.01.2011

Microbiologist Simon Lee from the University of Nottingham (England) discovered powerful antibiotics in the nerve tissues of American cockroaches and locusts. Extracts from the nerve ganglions of these insects killed more than 90% of the microbes that cause meningitis and coped with staphylococci resistant to known antibiotics. Experiments have also shown that these extracts are harmless to human cells. The chemical nature of the new antibiotics has not yet been clarified, it is only known that in locusts they are represented by nine different compounds. ... >>

Refraction of light in coffee 02.01.2011

A pocket refractometer has been launched in the USA to determine the quality of coffee by its light refractive index. Two milliliters of the drink is poured with a pipette onto the objective lens on the front panel, and the display gives numbers indicating the strength of the coffee and the content of extracted substances in it. The device is intended mainly for professionals working in cafes, but amateurs who want to brew coffee in their kitchen "by science" also buy it. ... >>

Wanderlust impoverishes life 01.01.2011

We are often cited as an example of the mobility of Americans: there is no work in your city - you packed your things and moved. However, psychologist Shigehiro Oishi from the University of Virginia (USA), based on extensive sociological material, argues that people who have changed their place of residence many times often feel more unhappy than those who live in one place. They have fewer friends, including those on the social networks of the Internet, and the ties with those friends that they do have are less strong and less cordial than those of "homebodies". And a more general conclusion of Professor Oishi: in those countries where the mobility of the population is less, families and friendships are stronger. ... >>

Power supplies for HLG-H LEDs work in 40 degrees below zero 31.12.2010

A series of secondary power supplies HLG from MeanWell company consists of modules HLG100, HLG-120, HLG-150, HLG-185, HLG-240 with a power of 100...240 W in a sealed metal case according to IP67 or IP65. A wide operating temperature range of -40...70°C and a high degree of protection against external influences allow these power supplies to be used as part of street lighting fixtures, as well as in a variety of equipment operating in difficult conditions, including those in the northern regions of Russia. A distinctive feature of HLG-H power supplies is the availability of models with an extended input voltage range of 90...305 V, which is in great demand in domestic networks with unstable voltage. HLG-H power supplies have a built-in power factor corrector (PFC, PFC), high efficiency of 90...95%, a set of protections against short circuit, overcurrent, overvoltage, overheating, input/output dielectric strength 3,75 kV AC ... >>

TSC103 - new high voltage current sense amplifier 30.12.2010

STMicroelectronics has launched the TSC103 high voltage current sense amplifier. This IC measures the small differential voltage across the shunt resistor and converts it into a proportional output voltage. The gain is controlled by two input signals and can be set from 20V/V to 100V/V. The wide input common-mode voltage range, quiescent current, and small package of the TSSOP8 allow it to be used in a wide variety of applications. The input common-mode voltage and supply voltage are independent of each other. The common mode voltage can vary from 2,9 to 70 V in single supply mode or can be shifted in case of dual supply mode. With a consumption lower than 360 µA and practically zero incoming leakage current in standby mode, the power consumption is reduced to zero. ... >>

Trap for the light 28.12.2010

By exciting mechanical vibrations, one can trap light and create an optical transistor. Two years ago, Dr. Albert Schlisser of the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Physics suggested that photons could be entangled for a long time in the vibrations of atoms - phonons. The essence of the idea is that a microscopic piece of material can turn out to be an optical trap: at a certain ratio of the size of this piece and the wavelength, the laser light will enter it, but will not be able to exit. And the lock in the trap is the vibrational waves of the atoms of this material - phonons. Schlisser, on the other hand, suggested unlocking the lock with a light key - a beam of the second laser: the light pressure caused by it will change the phonon spectrum and the locked light will be able to go free. Now this idea could be tested experimentally: Schlisser's colleagues from the Lausanne Federal Polytechnic School, led by Dr. Samuel Deleglise, have grown such a device - an optomechanical transistor. Its main body is a silicon toroid (shown in dark). How ... >>

thin x-ray beam 27.12.2010

A desktop X-ray beam source of micron diameter has been created. Usually, an x-ray beam is obtained by deceleration of electrons dispersed in an electric field against a metal target. Such a beam cannot be called either bright or sharply directed. That is, it is possible to enlighten a patient or a piece of metal with it, but it is impossible to scan an object and reveal its structure with micron accuracy. A narrow bright beam is obtained at the synchrotron, but this is a huge accelerator, the radiation on it is produced by electrons accelerated to near-light speeds. It seems that soon he will have a quite compact fellow, which fits in a small room. An international team of scientists led by Dr. Stefan Kneipp of Imperial College London has created a prototype of a new X-ray source in which a powerful laser shines on a thin column of helium atoms. Helium is ionized, and in it a laser pulse creates a charge separation: a bubble is formed from positively charged nuclei, surrounded by a cloud of free electrons. Between ... >>

robot surgeon 25.12.2010

British doctors have made a robot for heart surgery. Robot Amigo, that is, "friend" in Spanish, created at the University of Leicester, is able to treat cardiac arrhythmias. One of the causes of this disease is the incorrect work of some part of the heart muscle. You can get rid of arrhythmia by inserting a catheter into the heart through an artery, which reaches the damaged area and burns it out with an electric discharge. The operation, if carried out manually, takes several hours, and under an X-ray source: after all, the doctor needs to see if the catheter has reached the right place. The robot helps to perform the operation faster, and in addition, it protects the doctor from radiation. The fact is that the robot not only moves the catheter, but also constantly transmits a three-dimensional image of the heart to the display in the next room where the doctor is located. Scientists made this robot quite recently. At first, he had only a mechanical arm with a catheter, and now an imaging system has been added to it, and with the help of Amigo, he ... >>

Smartphone Nokia C5-03 24.12.2010

The new model of the C5-03 smartphone based on the Symbian operating system from Nokia is made in a monoblock form factor and is equipped with a 3,2-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 640x360 pixels, which occupies almost the entire front panel of the device. The device uses 40 MB of internal memory, a 5-megapixel camera, GPS navigation unit, digital compass, FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR and Wi-Fi wireless modules. ... >>

E Ink Color Paper 23.12.2010

E Ink has officially unveiled the first e-paper-based color display. The principle of its operation is almost the same as that in the black and white version. The matrix contains microcapsules filled with colored oil with electrically charged white particles, it also has an optical filter, due to which a color image is formed using reflected light. ... >>

Apple MacBook Air 22.12.2010

As part of the next presentation, Apple introduced the iLife 'I software package, the latest version of Mac OS X Lion and, finally, new MacBook Air configurations, positioned as a kind of hybrid of iPad and laptop. There are now two devices in the line - with screens of 13,3 "and 11,6". The older model has become even thinner and lighter, while the characteristics are close to the 13-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro. It features a Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics, a multi-touch touchpad, and a FaceTime-enabled camera. One of the most important features is the lack of an optical drive and hard drive. Instead of HDD, SSD drives are used here. ... >>

Nanotechnology against mosquitoes 20.12.2010

Thailand's National Nanotechnology Center in Bangkok has developed an insecticidal impregnation for mosquito netting that lasts five times longer than normal, even with periodic washing of the net. Such durability is ensured by bringing the insecticide particles to nanosize, so small particles do not settle on the mesh threads, but are built into their structure. The problem of protection against malarial mosquitoes is acute in all tropical countries. ... >>

plastic muscles 19.12.2010

Specialists from the Danish company Danfoss have synthesized a polymer, the film of which shrinks when an electrical voltage is applied to it and can thereby lift a load or perform other work, for example, open and close valves in pumps and other devices, close and open contacts. On the basis of such a film, they even suggest making medical underwear that will massage the sore spot itself. The voltage required is high, in the order of thousands of volts, but at very low currents, so that the polymer is safe to handle. The effect is reversible: if the film is compressed, stretched or bent, an electric potential is formed on it. Therefore, motion sensors and microphones can be made based on the new polymer. ... >>

Airplane on algae 17.12.2010

The European airline concern EADS, the manufacturer of Airbuses, launched into the sky an experimental four-seater aircraft, the engines of which run on biofuel obtained from single-celled algae. From 100 kilograms of algae, 21 liters of liquid fuel are produced. "Algae" fuel is required one and a half liters per hour less than conventional aviation fuel, and engine exhaust becomes much cleaner. True, algae fuel is significantly more expensive than oil, but the developers are confident that the mass production of a new type of fuel will significantly reduce the price. ... >>

Mammoth put a thermometer 16.12.2010

Physicist Robert Eagle and his colleagues at the California Institute of Technology (USA) learned how to measure the temperature at which calcium carbonate crystals formed. They determine it by the composition of carbon and oxygen isotopes included in the crystals. And since it is calcium carbonate that is the main building material of bones and teeth, it is possible to determine the body temperature of the animal to which the bones and teeth belong by its isotopes. First, Eagle for control determined the temperature of the white rhino - 37 degrees and the tiger shark - 23 degrees Celsius, which very accurately coincided with real data. Then he took samples of mammoth bones, and it turned out that the temperature of the mammoth was 38 degrees Celsius. The next step is to measure the temperature of other extinct animals. ... >>

Horizontal wind turbine 15.12.2010

The British company Wind Power is designing a wind power generator, the impeller of which is copied from a maple seed rotating in flight. This configuration, according to engineers, will be able to use the air flow most efficiently. The rotor of an unusual shape and a diameter of 275 meters will be installed on a vertical axis in the sea, where its rotation will not interfere with anyone. ... >>

When detour doesn't help 13.12.2010

What to do if a congestion of cars regularly paralyzes traffic on a busy highway? It would seem that the answer is obvious: we need to build another road. But it was not there. According to a paradox formulated in 1968 by the German mathematician Dietrich Brass, an additional road will not help solve the transport problem at all. It will only increase the time that motorists spend on the passage of a problematic section of the highway. If mathematical ignorance prevails and an additional road is nevertheless built, the only right decision is to get rid of it as soon as possible, returning the transport network to its former structure. Indeed, there have been real cases (in Seoul, Stuttgart, New York and other major cities) where the closure of a newly built bypass speeds up traffic and reduces traffic jams. The transport collapse of recent years forced mathematicians from the University of Massachusetts (USA) to return to the well-known paradox again. The calculations showed ... >>

What does a crack in plastic smell like? 12.12.2010

Engineer Christoph Koplin from the Institute of Mechanics of Materials (Freiburg, Germany), having introduced microcapsules with aromatic oil into polypropylene, obtained a plastic that warns by smell about the beginning of its destruction. When microcracks appear in a plastic product, capsules with a diameter of 1-50 micrometers burst, releasing a characteristic odor into the air. Such plastic can be used, for example, to make a helmet for a cyclist, warning about the loss of strength after a fall or impact. ... >>

Bird protection glass 11.12.2010

According to statistics, 100 million birds per year in the United States are killed by crashing against the windows of skyscrapers. Comparable figures are also given for Europe. Birds are deceived by the reflection of the sky in mirrored glasses. A small German company, Arnold Glas, began producing window glass with a web-like pattern applied to it. The pattern is visible only in the ultraviolet range, to which bird vision is sensitive. A person does not notice anything special in such glass, but a bird, seeing a huge "web", turns aside. Experiments have shown that the new glass prevents 75% of collisions. ... >>

Airliner in shark skin 08.12.2010

Already half a century ago, zoologists have established that microscopic bumps, depressions and grooves on the skin of a shark reduce the turbulence of the water flow around the fish and allow the shark to develop high speed with little effort. The Bremen Institute of Machining Technology and Applied Materials Science (Germany) has created a formula for a special lacquer that, when cured, imitates the texture of shark skin. Films with such a microrelief are produced that can be glued to the fuselage of an aircraft or ship's hull, reducing the resistance of the environment and fuel consumption. But it is difficult to fix the film on the surface of a complex shape, namely the surface of the wings and fuselage of a modern aircraft. The varnish, which includes special nanoparticles, acquires the desired surface structure when solidified. It is easy to apply to a metal case of any shape. They are offered to cover the blades of wind turbines, as air resistance reduces their efficiency. The lacquer is durable and can withstand temperatures from min. ... >>

Around the world on solar power 07.12.2010

The trimaran "Turanor" (in the language of elves from Tolkien's epic "The Lord of the Rings" this name means "power of the Sun") was built at a shipyard in Kiel (Germany). Almost the entire deck of the vessel, 31 meters long and 15 meters wide, is covered with solar panels with a total area of ​​500 square meters, which power the electric motors. At night, lithium-ion batteries weighing about 12 tons provide energy. In 2011, the Swiss entrepreneur Rafael Domzhan intends to circumnavigate the world with a length of 50 kilometers on this solar vessel. According to his calculations, the journey will take 160 days. ... >>

Weather does not affect mood 06.12.2010

So say psychologists from the University of Maastricht (Netherlands), for several years, day after day, tracking the mood of more than 14 thousand experimental volunteers. They were given questionnaires in which they had to evaluate their mood in points every day. It turned out that neither fluctuations in temperature, nor sunlight or overcast, nor rain or a bucket have a significant effect on our mood. In any case, this is the case with the Dutch. ... >>

Treasures of Lake Kivu 05.12.2010

The large African Lake Kivu, lying on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, hides in its depths a real energy treasure. At a depth of 300-500 meters, methane is dissolved in lake water - as much as 65 cubic kilometers of natural gas. Rwanda has recently begun to develop these reserves by placing in its waters a floating platform of the type used for the extraction of gas and oil in the seas. From a depth of 320 meters, a thousand cubic meters of gas are pumped out every hour. It operates a 30-megawatt thermal power plant located nearby. It is planned to increase its capacity to 2013 megawatts by 200 in order to supply electricity to neighboring countries. Gas reserves will last at least a hundred years. Where does the methane in the lake come from? It has accumulated over millennia thanks to the activity of bacteria that decompose the remains of dead plants and animals that sink to the bottom. But with this gas, the content of which in the lake has increased by 30% over the past 20 years, there may be a danger associated. Lake Kivu lies on the ... >>

Why the bird flu pandemic didn't happen 04.12.2010

British environmentalists explained why migratory birds did not spread the bird flu virus around the world, a pandemic that was feared in 2005-2007. It turned out that the incubation period, during which the bird is still able to fly, but is already infectious, in different species is only 5 to 15 days. Data on the movements of 228 birds of 19 species over Asia, Europe and Africa showed that intercontinental transmission of the virus by sick birds is unlikely over such a period. Taking into account stops and overnight stays on the way, during the incubation period, an infected bird, as a rule, can fly 500 kilometers, no more. ... >>

tiered mushroom 03.12.2010

On the islands of New Caledonia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, French biologists from the Paris Museum of Natural History discovered an extremely unusual mushroom. It kind of resembles a fox, but has a pink color and grows in several tiers. A new type of fungus lives in symbiosis with a local species of eucalyptus, braiding its roots with a shell of mycelium. New Caledonia is considered one of the "hot spots" of species diversity, here the process of emergence of new species is particularly fast. It is suggested that this may be due to the high content of metals in local soils, which causes mutations in all living things. About 3000 species of mushrooms are known on the islands, but it is estimated that 25-30 thousand have not yet been discovered. ... >>

Work has begun on deciphering the Christmas tree 02.12.2010

One of the charitable foundations allocated about seven million dollars to the University of the Swedish city of Umea to decipher the genome of the common spruce. This tree, which is sold in myriads before Christmas, is estimated to bring more money into the Swedish treasury in the form of taxes than any other species. The first, draft version of the genome map should be ready by 2013. According to preliminary estimates, a Christmas tree has about the same number of genes as a person, but they are repeated many times, as a result, the total genome is 7-10 times larger than a human one. The number of chromosomes in spruce cells is 12 (humans have 46), so the genes are packed very closely. Knowing the structure of spruce heredity, it will be possible to select specimens with the best properties for reproduction. ... >>

MSP430 with Full-Speed ​​USB 2.0 30.11.2010

The range of MSP430 microcontrollers has been replenished with new models with an integrated USB module. There are a number of applications that require a USB connection to varying degrees, such as data acquisition systems from analog and digital sensors, portable meters, etc. USB integration in the MSP430, along with intuitive debugging tools and software, will help developers integrate USB into projects. ... >>

Latest AM389x Sitara ARM microprocessors 29.11.2010

Texas Instruments (TI) today announced the addition of the AM389x Sitara ARM microprocessor to its industry-leading Sitara ARM microprocessor portfolio, dramatically improving performance and integration. Built around the industry's highest performing single-core ARM Cortex-A8 processors up to 1,5GHz, the AM389x Sitara ARM microprocessors include peripherals that make them ideal for single board computers, gateways, routers, servers, industrial automation, human - machine interfaces (HMI) and data processing terminals at service points. These new high performance AM389x Sitara ARM microprocessors enable the development of faster end products including network connectivity, graphical user interfaces, display and multi-application capabilities on various operating systems such as Linux, Microso ... >>

Cooling heart attack 28.11.2010

A decrease in body temperature protects the heart in case of a heart attack. One of the methods of dealing with a heart attack is the so-called emergency coronary balloon angioplasty: a catheter is inserted into a vessel on the thigh or on the arm, brought to the site of the blockage of the coronary artery, where the balloon expanding it is inflated. After that, the blood can flow freely again. Such an operation takes time, but it just doesn’t exist, since the heart muscle left without food is rapidly dying. You can slow down the process by lowering your body temperature. But how to do that? Scientists from Lund University, led by Professor David Erlinge, have developed the following methodology. As soon as possible after a heart attack, a person is injected with saline cooled to 35°C. Rapidly spreading through the blood vessels, it enters the heart and cools it. After cooling, the operation is performed with a cold catheter. As a result, the survival of patients with a heart attack increased by a third. Both cooling and angioplasty are performed without anesthesia, ... >>

Ultrasound heals a fracture 27.11.2010

After the application of weak ultrasound, the bones grow together much better. Many doubt the miraculous healing ability of weak ultrasound and classify the manufacturers of such devices as charlatans. This point of view has a justification: according to the laws of statistical physics, it is impossible to notice the effect of an energy source whose power is comparable to the thermal movement of molecules. However, as Rene Descartes noted, any theory pales in front of experimental data. For example, doctors from the University Hospital in Marburg and Ulm University, led by Dr. Jon Block, at the request of a company that manufactures weak ultrasound devices, conducted the first stage of clinical trials. They involved 101 people with a broken leg. Half of them were irradiated with ultrasound for 20 minutes a day for 16 weeks, and in the control there was no sound from the device. As expected, the experiment took place with a random selection of patients. The result struck ... >>

NVIDIA began to assemble some video cards on its own 26.11.2010

NVIDIA has announced certain changes to its policy. If earlier it only provided third-party assemblers with reference models that could be used to design accelerators with a similar cooling system and other design elements, now NVIDIA intends to produce video cards on its own production lines. ... >>

BlackBerry Playbook tablet 25.11.2010

The products of the Canadian company RIM are known under the BlackBerry trademark. Not so long ago, she announced a new PlayBook tablet running the BlackBerry Tablet OS. The hardware of the device includes a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1 GHz, a 7-inch capacitive touch screen (1024x600) with multi-touch support, and 1 GB of RAM. Communication capabilities - Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. ... >>

Sony Ericsson LiveView Accessory 24.11.2010

Sony Ericsson has developed an accessory called LiveView specifically for Android smartphone owners. By the way, supported devices are not limited to Sony Ericsson products. LiveView notifies you of incoming calls, displays the caller's name, allows you to view incoming text messages and social media updates. Also, the device can control the media player. The resolution of the 1,3-inch display is 128x128 pixels. ... >>

Intel intends to overtake Apple in the tablet market 23.11.2010

This was stated by the executive director of the corporation Paul Ottelini. He noted that Steve Jobs's company has made significant progress with the iPad, which will undoubtedly affect the level of PC sales. Nevertheless, Intel plans to use all available means to become a leader in this segment. According to Ottelini, new tablets running Windows, Android and MeeGo should appear on the market in the near future. ... >>

Microsoft Windows Phone 7 22.11.2010

Microsoft held an official presentation of the Windows Phone 7 mobile platform. The exceptional importance of this event is evidenced by the fact that Steve Ballmer himself opened the event. During the press conference, manufacturing partners presented the first models of smartphones that will operate under this OS. Among them are the NTS HD7, Samsung OMNIA 7, LG Optimus 7 and Dell Venue Pro, and all devices use Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM processor with a frequency of 1 GHz. Zune and Xbox Live services are integrated into the new mobile OS from Microsoft. In addition, the work of office applications is simplified and social functions are provided. ... >>

Light from everywhere 21.11.2010

Take a look at the glowing display of your cell phone. It is made from so-called organic light-emitting diodes. Unlike conventional LEDs, which are based on a semiconductor chip that glows when energized, an OLED is made up of layers of special polymers that have the same property. And the light comes not from one point, but from the whole plane. Until now, organic light-emitting diodes required low voltage direct current, so they were used only in small portable devices powered by batteries. Engineers from the Dutch company Philips have created organic light-emitting diodes that can be powered from the mains. This opens up the possibility of making wall panels or entire ceilings luminous. And since luminous polymers can be transparent, they can cover window glass, and in the evening the room will be illuminated as during the day - through the windows. Organic LEDs, like conventional LEDs, are very economical and durable. The developers expect that the new type of ... >>

Folding electric car 20.11.2010

At the exhibition of new vehicles in Berlin, they recently showed a prototype of the electric car "Hiriko", developed by three Spanish firms in collaboration with American engineers. The 2,5-meter-long car folds up in the parking lot, becoming a meter shorter. Double electric car speeds up to 50 km / h and can travel up to 120 km without recharging. The installation series is to be tested on the streets of major European cities in 2012. "Hiriko" is not a Japanese word, as it may seem. In the Basque language, it means "for the city". ... >>

Indigestion in plants 19.11.2010

Insectivorous plants in the southeastern United States suffer from food poisoning. A recent study showed that the insects that feed on these plants often contain poisons introduced by humans into the environment: traces of insecticides, herbicides and salts of heavy metals, mainly copper and cadmium. If plants have a sufficiently effective mechanism for regulating the absorption of copper, then they are defenseless against cadmium. This poisonous metal, accumulating in the stems, interferes with the absorption of water and mineral nutrients. ... >>

Comet dust in Antarctica 18.11.2010

Employees of the Franco-Italian scientific Antarctic station "Concordia" found microscopic particles less than a millimeter in diameter in a clean layer of snow at a depth of four meters. The total weight of the collected particles is about one milligram. At 50-80% they consist of carbonaceous material - highly modified organic matter. They contain deuterium, and the ratio of its amount to ordinary hydrogen is ten times higher than in terrestrial water. Scientists suggest that this is the dust of some kind of comet - a sample of the material from which the solar system arose. The dust fell on the pristine Antarctic snow as the Earth passed through the comet's tail. ... >>

Nanomagnets purify the blood 15.11.2010

Employees of the Institute of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences in Zurich (Switzerland) offer a new way to purify blood from microbes and toxins. They inject iron carbide magnets about 30 nanometers in diameter into the blood, clad in antibodies to the type of microbe or substance to be extracted from the blood. When harmful microorganisms or poisons stick to the surface of the tiny magnetic balls, everything collected is extracted from the blood with a powerful magnet. So far, experiments have been carried out only in flasks. Only one gram of magnetic powder is required to purify the blood of an adult. ... >>

City attracts hurricanes 14.11.2010

Meteorologists from the University of Hong Kong found that tropical cyclones seem to be attracted to large cities and forests. Both of them are areas with a complex relief, where wind eddies arise, feeding the cyclone. Observations showed that the cyclone, passing by a large city on its own, can deviate towards it, making a "hook" more than 30 kilometers long. For an atmospheric eddy structure several hundred kilometers in diameter, this deviation is small, but for city dwellers it can literally be a matter of life and death. River deltas extend the life of a cyclone if it hits such an area. The fact is that there is a large evaporation of water, which, with warm air, brings additional energy into the atmosphere. US cities located in the Mississippi Delta have suffered from powerful cyclones more than once. ... >>

Acoustics of Stonehenge 13.11.2010

A group of archaeologists from the University of Salford (England) is studying the famous Bronze Age megalithic monument Stonehenge from the point of view of acoustics. Computer simulations have shown that sound reflections from standing stones should produce interesting acoustic effects. Experiments and measurements carried out on Stonehenge itself and its concrete reconstruction, built in the USA (the monument itself was partially destroyed many centuries ago), confirmed this conclusion. The echo from sharp clicks made in the center of the stone ring lasts 1,2 seconds. Although the structure does not have a ceiling, its acoustics are comparable to a good auditorium or concert hall. The words of the person standing in the center of the ring of stones are clearly audible to all gathered around. Apparently, the builders specially created such an effect for holding religious ceremonies here. It is not for nothing that the outer sides of the stones that make up the monument are only roughly hewn, while the inner side is made even, well reflecting sound. And claim that the wind ... >>

When the cherry blossoms 12.11.2010

Sakura, a type of cherry tree, is a traditional symbol of Japan along with such as Mount Fuji or the chrysanthemum. Cherry blossom is a national holiday. In one of the temples of Kyoto, the date of the beginning of flowering (and the flowering itself lasts less than a week) is recorded annually starting from 850. A centuries-old graph compiled from this data shows that Japanese cherry blossoms have been blooming earlier and earlier over the past half century. This is another evidence of global warming. ... >>

The sun influences the rate of radioactive decay 11.11.2010

Practically since the discovery of the phenomenon of radioactivity, physicists know for sure that the rate of radioactive decay is constant for each element capable of it and does not change depending on external conditions. However, long-term data collected by American and German physicists cast doubt on this postulate. According to long-term observations by the Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA) and the Federal Institute of Physics and Technology in Germany, silicon-32 and radium-226 isotopes decay slightly faster in winter than in summer, when the Earth moves away from the Sun in its orbit. And a day and a half before a major flare on the Sun and all the time while it lasted, the decay of manganese-54 slowed down. In addition, small fluctuations in the rate of isotope decay were found, occurring every 28 days, which is close to the speed of the Sun's rotation around its axis (33 days). All three observations point to some role of the Sun in the process of radioactive decay on Earth. The authors of the work believe that here ... >>

heels and muscles 09.11.2010

An unusual announcement appeared in the most widespread newspaper in Manchester (England): "Scientific research requires women who have worn shoes with heels five centimeters high or more for at least two years, five days a week." 80 fashionistas responded. Among them, Dr. Marco Narici, an employee of the University of Manchester, selected those who complained that walking in low heels was uncomfortable for them. For control, he also found several women who preferred low heels. The study of the calf muscles of both groups of women using ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance showed that in hairpin lovers, the length of muscle fibers was reduced by an average of 13%, and the Achilles tendon (the wide flat ligament that attaches the calf muscle to the heel) was thickened and lost flexibility. Apparently, this compensates for the partial loss of strength of the calf muscles and this may also explain the discomfort experienced by fashionistas when they switch to low heels. Dr. Narici recommends special ... >>

Drop dance 08.11.2010

In one of the laboratories of the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnologies (Lille, France), the behavior of water microdroplets under the action of ultrasound is studied. The droplets are placed on the surface of a piezoelectric ceramic and a high-frequency alternating current is applied to it. Everything that happens is filmed at a frequency of 9000 frames per second. Drops change shape, can bounce on a vibrating surface. Larger droplets simply spread over the piezoelectric. These studies are important for the creation of a nanolaboratory that will be located on a single microcircuit and will allow analyzing microscopic volumes of various liquids. The ultrasound will serve to move and mix the reagents. ... >>

When walls kill 07.11.2010

A serious problem for hospitals around the world is Staphylococcus aureus, which has become resistant to most antibiotics. A new method of dealing with it was proposed by nanotechnologists from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA). They created a wall paint that was mixed with carbon nanotubes dressed in lysostaphin. This enzyme, produced by another species of bacteria, destroys Staphylococcus aureus cells, and resistance to the enzyme is not known to develop. On a surface covered with such paint, 99% of staphylococci die in ten minutes. Other microbes are not affected. ... >>

Elevator test tower 05.11.2010

The rapid construction of skyscrapers in China and the Arab countries has caused a great demand for elevators. The Japanese firm Hitachi, one of the world's leading manufacturers of lifting machines, has built the world's tallest elevator test tower. Its height above the ground is 213 meters, and the underground floors go deeper by another 15 meters. The tower has nine elevator shafts. A new elevator will be tested here, capable of delivering 60-70 passengers to a height of up to 1080 meters per minute (such tall buildings do not yet exist, but the company is looking ahead), as well as a five-ton freight elevator, developing a speed of 600 meters per minute. Hitachi's new high-speed elevators have a system for smoothly changing the air pressure in the cabin so that passengers do not get stuffy in their ears during a quick rise. ... >>

Greenland pops up 04.11.2010

Measurements by American geophysicists, carried out using the GPS satellite navigation system, show that as a result of the melting of glaciers, Greenland becomes lighter and "floats" on the earth's mantle. Since the beginning of 2010, the island has risen by nine millimetres. And compared to 2000, when these measurements began, the rise was about five centimeters. It is calculated that this rate of rise corresponds to the annual melting of eight billion tons of ice. ... >>

Bus over the road 03.11.2010

The Beijing city government is set to implement an unusual project that should reduce traffic congestion by 30%: a bus with high "legs" that allow other vehicles to pass under it. Rails are laid along the sides of the road, and along them runs a long articulated structure with a ground clearance of more than two meters and a width of up to six meters, accommodating 1200-1400 passengers. Cars will be able to pass under this "superbus". Of course, special stopping pavilions will have to be built on the road, corresponding to the height of the floor of a giant bus. And the road itself should be as straight as possible, without slopes and not have bridges below five meters. In the near future, they promise to lay an experimental section of such a road six kilometers long in the west of the Chinese capital. If the tests are successful, in two years the total length of roads suitable for the "superbus" will be 186 kilometers. This will include the route to the Beijing International ... >>

New MOSFETs from 30 to 100 volts in SOT-23 package 31.10.2010

International Rectifier has introduced a family of new HEXFET MOSFETs featuring ultra-low Rds(on) open channel resistance in a standard SOT-23 package. MOSFETs are designed for a variety of applications such as battery switches, load switches, motor drives, telecommunications equipment. By utilizing the most advanced silicon fabrication technology in the manufacturing of the new MOSFETs, it has been possible to achieve a significant improvement in current values ​​(up to 90%) by reducing Rds(on) and thus offer designers an optimized efficiency/price ratio for their application. The new transistor line-up covers the entire -30V to 100V voltage range and has a variety of Rds(on) and Qg gate charges, giving engineers more choice to develop compact, cost effective solutions. ... >>

DC/DC Converters L598x 29.10.2010

The L598x is STMicroelectronics' new family of switching buck converters that is small in size and low in price. Converters are widely used in industrial, consumer segments, personal computers and data transmission. With an output current of up to 2A, a lower output voltage limit of 0,6V, and a wide input voltage range of 2,9V to 18V, this family offers great flexibility and versatility. The built-in p-channel MOSFET (150 mΩ) with low drain-to-source resistance allows the converter to control the duty cycle up to 100%. The switching frequency can be configured from 250 kHz to 1 MHz using an external resistor. The family has additional monitoring and protection functions: overcurrent control, supply voltage control (UVLO), overtemperature control and built-in digital soft start mode. Combined in a heat-resistant DFN3x3-8L package, these functions allow you to implement ... >>

Panel computer from EVOC 28.10.2010

EVOC is China's leading embedded industrial computer manufacturer, focusing on the design and manufacture of industrial automation systems, industrial and panel computers, single board PCs, PCI, PC/104 and CompactPCI data acquisition boards, hub control interfaces, and more. . The company provides an individual approach to customers who are engaged in the development of their own equipment, and helps to choose the most effective and fully satisfying solutions for the customer. In 2009, EVOC launched the WPC120 ruggedized panel computer with a 12,1-inch high-brightness 800 cd/m2 LCD screen. The panel computer is a fully sealed terminal for use on board an automobile vehicle, including heavily polluted and dusty environments, as well as environments with increased electromagnetic radiation and negative temperatures. Thanks to its features ... >>

Industrial fanless PC fits in the palm of your hand 27.10.2010

Miniature industrial computer AMOS-3001-1E10A1 manufactured by VIA Technologies is made in an embedded industrial case and can operate in the temperature range from -20 to 70°C. The computer is absolutely silent, as there are no moving parts in it. The core of the system is a low-power 1,0 GHz VIA Eden ULV processor with low heat dissipation, which made it possible to abandon the active cooling system (no fans). Instead of a hard drive, an SSD is used. A large number of external interfaces (HDMI, LAN, 4xUSB, 1xRS-232, 1xRS-232/422/485/GPIO) allows the computer to be used in a wide range of applications. AMOS-3001-1E10A1 comes preinstalled with Windows XP. ... >>

The laser will take the missile away from the target 26.10.2010

Preparing for the wars of the present and future, the Americans do not get tired of developing means of protecting their military personnel. Helicopters are now successfully replacing cavalry, providing the transfer of troops over long distances. And they fight them with the help of small rockets equipped with a heat sensor to accurately hit the engine. How to protect a helicopter from such a missile? Another method was proposed by University of Michigan professor Mohammed Islam, who founded his company and received a one million dollar grant from the army agency DARPA to create production. At the heart of the protection is a supercontinuum fiber laser operating at medium infrared frequencies. Such lasers in the visible range emit light in a wide range of wavelengths. An infrared laser with a similar wide spectrum creates the illusion of a warm object, and the rocket flies towards this phantom, and not towards a real helicopter. The laser created by Professor Islam, unlike other examples of such protection, does not have moving parts. ... >>

Microelectrodes help to find out the word made by a person 25.10.2010

Someone considers telepathy science fiction, someone charlatanism. Scientists do not get tired of looking for a way to read minds. They are driven not only by scientific curiosity, but also by the desire to help paralyzed people communicate with the outside world. Another success was achieved by physiologists from the University of Utah, led by Associate Professor Bradley Greger. One of the patients of the clinic, suffering from epilepsy, agreed to take part in their work. To combat the disease, his skull was opened and several electrodes were installed on the surface of the brain - the signal applied to them extinguishes the seizure in the bud. Greger and his colleagues added 16 more microelectrodes to them, which were placed above the area responsible for speech. Then the patient began to think of words - there were 10 words in total: "yes", "no", "warm", "cold", "hunger", "satiation", "hello", "bye", "more", "less" , - and the electrodes recorded the electrical impulse arising from each of them. After that, it's time to decrypt. When choosing from two words - "yes" and "no" - luck smiled at the researchers ... >>

New models of Sony Reader 24.10.2010

The Sony Reader PRS300 and PRS-600 e-book readers will soon be replaced by the new Sony Reader Pocket Edition and Reader Touch Edition. Like their predecessors, they are equipped with a 5- and 6-inch E-Ink display, respectively. The manufacturer promises a reduced response time of the matrix (which means that the page turning speed will increase), more flash memory (2 GB) and improved autonomy. ... >>

Smartphones HTC Desire HD and Z 23.10.2010

A number of new products were demonstrated by HTC. Among them are the HTC Desire Z, HTC Desire HD smartphones, the updated HTC Sense shell and the HTCsense.com online service. Desire Z is equipped with a hardware QWERTY keyboard, which is located on a special hinge and after opening the device is flush with the display, and not below it, as is customary in traditional sliders. The Desire HD is similar in many ways to the HD2 WM Smartphone, but runs on Android 2.2. Among the announced features of the HTC Sense shell is an application for working with the camera, software for reading books and other useful things. ... >>

Apple iPod Family 22.10.2010

On September 1, Apple held a large-scale presentation, in which it introduced updated models of the iPod lines. The latest iPod Shuffle players have added hardware control and retained voice control. The iPod nano no longer has a traditional wheel, but it has a full touch display (1,54 inches, 240x240, multi-touch support). The device has become 46% more compact and 42% lighter. iPod touch "lost weight" to 7,2 mm, but significantly improved its filling and functionality. He received the same processor (Apple A4) and screen (Retina) as the iPhone 4, and in addition, he got two cameras and a gyroscope. ... >>

Winters will be cold 21.10.2010

Europe will experience a series of very cold winters in the coming decades. Such a prediction is made by meteorologists from the University of Reading (England), who analyzed weather data and the number of sunspots over the past 350 years. Periods with a small number of sunspots, that is, with low solar activity, have always responded in Europe with very cold winters. There is a possibility that in the next half century the activity of the Sun will be as low as between 1650 and 1700, when Europe was frozen (this half century is even called the Little Ice Age). ... >>

Satellite-controlled mushroom picking 20.10.2010

An interesting experiment was conducted by employees of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. For two seasons, they watched mushroom pickers from a Mexican village, comparing the successes in the "silent hunt" of men and women. The experimenter who accompanied each group of peasants had a satellite navigation device with him, which made it possible to map the wanderings of mushroom pickers. And each mushroom picker was equipped with a pulse rate recorder - from this data, energy consumption can be calculated. The collected mushrooms were weighed. On average, judging by the weight of the collected baskets, both men and women were equally successful in picking mushrooms. But women stopped more often to cut even a single mushroom, while men preferred to stop only for the sake of a whole mushroom family. In addition, men went further into the forest, climbed higher into the mountains and expended 70% more energy than women. ... >>

Phone key 19.10.2010

In England, the production of a miniature key fob begins, which clings to a bunch of keys and constantly communicates via radio with the owner's cell phone. If the phone is more than 10 meters away from the security key fob, it is blocked, and the key fob starts beeping loudly. This prevents theft or loss of the machine. In addition, the contents of the phone's SIM card are constantly copied to the keyfob's memory, so the information will not be lost in any case. ... >>

Tire carborundum 18.10.2010

The problem of using used car tires is acute all over the world. A new option is offered by the Turkish research company Tubitak: carborundum can be made from tires, a material whose price reaches 13 thousand dollars per ton. Carborundum (silicon carbide) consists of carbon and silicon atoms arranged in a diamond-like crystal lattice. It is not far behind diamond in hardness. Carborundum is used as an abrasive, in cutting tools, in racing car brake pads, in bulletproof vests, and even as a semiconductor in high voltage electronics. According to the Turkish method, tires are heated with limited oxygen, and the rubber turns into soot and a mixture of combustible gases with a predominance of hydrogen. Soot is mixed with sand (a source of silicon) and, using the released combustible gases, is heated to 2000 degrees Celsius. It turns out high-quality carborundum. ... >>

A man stomps stronger than an elephant 17.10.2010

After studying the gait of elephants, Belgian physiologists found that it was unusually smooth. They taught 34 elephants to run along a track lined with strain gauges, with video cameras filmed from the side of the runner. The footage shows that even at the fastest run, the center of gravity of the elephant fluctuates up and down by no more than three centimeters. And the legs of the thick-skinned giant hit the road with a force of at most 1,4 times its weight. When a person runs, he kicks into the ground with a force that exceeds his own weight three times. ... >>

Children as a remedy for hypertension 16.10.2010

Children often get on their parents' nerves, but protect their blood vessels. This conclusion was reached by American physiologists who supplied 200 men and women aged 20 to 68 with a blood pressure monitor. The pressure was recorded day and night. It turned out that it was noticeably higher in the childless participants of the experiment. The difference is especially great in women: in mothers, systolic (upper) pressure is on average 12 millimeters, and diastolic (lower) pressure is 7 millimeters lower than in childless ones. The authors of the study believe that children give their parents a sense of "necessity", which serves as a buffer against many of life's troubles and stresses. ... >>

Gold poisoning 13.10.2010

French scientists, having analyzed a lock of hair of Diane de Poitiers (1499-1566), an omnipotent courtesan at the courts of two French kings, found a large amount of gold in her hair - 500 times higher than the norm. The surviving memoirs of the time report that Diana drank a dose of the "elixir of youth" every morning, an expensive medicine potion, consisting mainly of gold chloride. The authors of the study believe that chronic gold poisoning brought her to the grave - after all, this is one of the dangerous heavy metals. The hair of the courtesan's curl, preserved in the castle that belonged to her, is characterized by increased brittleness - one of the symptoms of such poisoning. Another sign is the special whiteness of the skin, noted by contemporaries and noticeable in lifetime portraits. This symptom indicates anemia, also associated with a long-term intake of gold in the body. ... >>

Crater in the desert 12.10.2010

Studying satellite images of the Earth, Egyptian and Italian astronomers discovered in the desert near the Egyptian city of Kamal, near the border with Tunisia, a previously unknown meteorite crater. A small depression with a diameter of 45 meters was formed about two thousand years ago when an iron meteorite weighing about 1600 kilograms fell into the ground at a speed of more than three kilometers per second. Upon impact, the meteorite shattered into thousands of fragments weighing from one gram to 83 kilograms. Craters from the fall of small meteorites are quite rare, there are only 300 such depressions with a diameter of less than 15 meters on Earth. Not very large meteorites often break up in the atmosphere, and if they do leave a crater, it usually quickly overgrows and is masked by erosion. ... >>

Why are prions needed? 11.10.2010

It has long been proven that some human and animal diseases, in which microscopic pores form in the brain, arise due to special proteins - prions. The most famous of these diseases is the sensational "rabies of cows" in its time. Prions are normally present on the surface of all nerve cells, but the disease begins when some of the prions change their configuration for some unknown reason. These pathogenic molecules can infect normal ones, causing them to also reconfigure to pathogenic ones. Why does the body need these potentially dangerous proteins? Adriano Aguzzi, a neurologist at the University of Zurich (Switzerland), genetically engineered a breed of mice devoid of prions. It turned out that in such individuals, the "isolation" of the nerves is broken, as a result, the propagation of signals along them slows down. The insulating sheath of nerve fibers consists of myelin, a lipid-protein complex deposited by special cells. This process, apparently, is controlled by prions. ... >>

Coffee - stroke protection 10.10.2010

According to a study conducted at the University of Cambridge (England) involving more than 20 Caucasian men and women aged 39 to 79, coffee may protect against strokes. Over 12 years, 855 cases of stroke were noted in this large sample. Among coffee drinkers there were 29% fewer of them than among those who prefer other drinks. And it doesn’t matter what method the espresso coffee was prepared with, simple boiling, drip coffee maker or another method. So does decaffeinated coffee, and even instant coffee. The protective effect applies to those who drink four cups a day, and those who need one. The reasons for the phenomenon remain unclear, but it is suggested that it may be due to the expansion of brain vessels under the influence of coffee. ... >>

The ring monitors the pulse 07.10.2010

In France, the production of a ring with a heart rate monitor has begun. The LCD screen shows the number of heartbeats per minute, which is convenient for athletes and people who are forced to monitor their heartbeat for medical reasons. On the device, you can set the limit of the pulse rate, after which an audible signal sounds. The ring can also serve as a watch. ... >>

Greenlanders came from Siberia 05.10.2010

More than 20 years ago, Danish archaeologists unearthed the remains of a man who lived there 4000 years ago in the permafrost of Greenland. Recently, geneticists from the University of Copenhagen were able to read almost the entire genome of the ancient Greenlander. It turned out that it is closely connected with the hereditary material of the small peoples of Siberia - the Nganasans, the Koryaks, and especially the Chukchi. The picture of the settlement of Greenland, arising from this discovery, is as follows. Approximately 5500 years ago, Siberian nomads crossed the Bering Strait in boats (there was no longer a land "bridge" between Asia and America). Some of the travelers stayed in America, joining numerous tribes of Indians (who descend from other Asians who managed to move to America through the "bridge" several thousand years earlier). The other part continued to move east and settled in Greenland, the climate of which was then not as severe as it is now. ... >>

It is useful for athletes to rinse their mouth with syrup 04.10.2010

As physiologists from the University of Auckland (New Zealand) have shown, a sweet drink rich in carbohydrates, even if you do not swallow it, but rinse your mouth with it and spit it out, gives energy to a person. Sixteen experimental volunteers who repeatedly lifted a heavy load were given a mouth rinse with either a sugar solution or an equally sweet sweetener solution. Already a second after this, the force of contraction of the biceps in those who used sugar water increased, although even traces of sugar, if they did get into the stomach, could be absorbed in no less than 10 minutes. Physiologists suggest that taste buds give a signal to tired muscles: "hold on, reinforcements are on the way." This experiment also shows that our taste buds are able to distinguish real sugar from synthetic substitutes. ... >>

The smallest laser 03.10.2010

Swiss engineers from the Higher Polytechnic School in Zurich have created the smallest laser in the world, and its length is less than the wavelength of the light emitted by it: 30 micrometers versus 200 (this is the infrared region). The new device can be built into the electronic circuits required for photonic computers in the near future. ... >>

Islands don't want to sink 01.10.2010

Despite worrisome forecasts, many Pacific islands will not sink due to rising ocean levels associated with global warming. New Zealand geographers analyzed high-resolution aerial and satellite photographs taken over 27 Pacific islands over the past 60 years. During this time, the ocean level rose by an average of two millimeters per year and the water rose by 12 centimeters. However, only four islands partially submerged in the ocean. The area of ​​the remaining 23 did not change or even increased. What explains this phenomenon? Many tropical islands are surrounded by coral atolls. Waves and wind constantly bring fragments of calcareous coral skeletons from the atoll to the coast of the island, and the corals continue to grow, compensating for the losses. As a result, for example, the islet of Funamanu has grown by 60 hectares over 0,44 years, which is almost 30% of its former area. ... >>

Could there be dark matter at the center of the sun? 30.09.2010

In physics, there is a problem of solar neutrinos: their flux, fixed by neutrino observatories, is small for nuclear reactions taking place there. In an attempt to get out, physicists put forward the idea of ​​oscillations: on the way to the Earth, solar neutrinos pass from one type to another. This idea seems to be supported by complex experiments. However, there is an opinion that oscillations have nothing to do with it, and the whole point is in the imperfection of registration methods. And Dr. Stephen West from the University of London proposed a hypothesis, from which one more solution to the problem of solar neutrino deficiency follows indirectly. Every galaxy has a halo of dark matter around it. The sun, moving along the galactic orbit, inevitably sweeps up dark matter, and its particles gather in the center of the star (recall that there the force of gravity is zero and a kind of gravitational trap is obtained). As West's calculation showed, these particles can absorb the heat of the solar core and re-radiate it outward, thereby lowering the observed temperature. ... >>

Games with energy quanta 29.09.2010

By adding a few quanta of energy, it is possible to slow down the decay of cold matter. Here is the experience set to study the features of quantum dynamics by Kenneth Yanda from the University of California at Irvine. A mixture of neon, helium, and bromine vapor was blown through a nozzle, as a result of which the gases cooled strongly and gave rise to solid particles in the form of tetrahedral complexes of a bromine molecule and two neon atoms. The bromine molecule was excited by a laser pulse, and the complex decomposed in ten picoseconds, which affected the spectral characteristic. However, when they began to count the quanta of energy that got into the complex, everything turned out to be not so simple. Indeed, having received 16 quanta, the complex of bromine and neons disintegrated, with each neon flying away independently of the other. But 23 quanta brought the bromine molecule into such an oscillation mode that neon could not fly away from it - the impact energy was divided between both atoms. As a result, instead of disintegration, a liquid drop was obtained. The next impulse, like ... >>

American robot walked 23 km 335 m 28.09.2010

The Americans are known for their success in combat robotics: they have created robotic planes bombing Afghanistan and Iraq. They say that a robot tank will appear soon, a robot fly will supply the squad leader with important information, and there it’s not far from a robot soldier. In any case, tests conducted at Cornell University (USA) showed that the robot can walk quite a decent distance, equal to the daily transition of an infantryman. Cornell's walking robot is similar to a monkey in its mode of locomotion: it rests on the ground with both hands, brings two legs forward, then brings its arms forward, and the cycle repeats. Above the long limbs is a small body with brains, eyes and batteries - in proportion, the robot is similar to a haymaker spider. During tests conducted at the university stadium, the robot walked more than twenty-three kilometers at a fast pace on a single battery charge - support engineers had to almost run after their brainchild - after which it became exhausted ... >>

Scientists combine brain cells and a silicon chip 27.09.2010

This was done by specialists from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Calgary, who worked in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada. Unlike previous technological solutions for studying brain activity, the novelty allows interaction with many brain cells at the same time. Previously, scientists had the ability to monitor the work of only one or two cells. ... >>

Instead of paper books - electronic 26.09.2010

One of the oldest and most distinguished American publishers of paperback books, Dorchester, decided to start selling its entire range in electronic form and in the future to focus on this direction. Dorchester, like most publishers, was hit hard by the economic crisis. For example, total sales last year decreased by 25%. ... >>

Livescribe Echo Smartpen Gadget 25.09.2010

Livescribe continues to improve the original gadget, which is a kind of hybrid of a ballpoint pen and a laptop. The new model, called the Echo, adds a number of additional features, but the main function remains the same - saving handwritten notes digitally and recording audio synchronized with them. ... >>

Amazon Kindle e-book 23.09.2010

In the III quarter. This year, a new generation of e-readers Amazon Kindle 3 should appear on sale, which differs from previous versions in many improved parameters. They are 20% more compact and 15% lighter than their predecessors. Thanks to the new screen based on E-lnk Perl, the contrast ratio will increase by 50%. The device is equipped with a 3G module, a simple audio player, external speakers and 4 GB of internal memory. If you do not use wireless access, then the Amazon Kindle 3 e-reader will be able to work on a single charge for a whole month. Estimated price - $189. ... >>

Soluble transistor 22.09.2010

Stanford University (USA) created a transistor based on biocompatible electrically conductive polymers with semiconductor properties. Placed in an environment that mimics the conditions in the tissues of the body, it is able to work for a month, and over the next 40 days it dissolves almost without residue. Microcircuits based on such transistors can be used in temporary implants, for example, in devices that gradually deliver a certain drug into the blood, which is needed for a month. Prior to the actual application, it is necessary to reduce the voltage at which the biosoluble transistor operates. Now he needs a voltage of 40 volts, and for work in the body a voltage of no more than two volts is permissible. ... >>

Rain can be caused by a laser 21.09.2010

An international team of physicists and meteorologists from the universities of Berlin, Geneva and Lyon, using a super-powerful laser that emits pulses of red light with a power of up to five terawatts, has achieved the condensation of moisture in the air to form droplets. Condensation occurs along the path of the red beam. The mechanism of condensation is still not very clear. ... >>

Anchor for drilling platform 20.09.2010

Norwegian drilling platforms are held in place in the sea by huge suction cups: something like a diving bell is lowered to the bottom, from which water is pumped out, and the pressure of the surrounding water presses this anchor to the bottom. However, such a system is suitable only for a flat bottom and is unreliable in a storm. Engineers at the Institute of Technology in Trondheim (Norway) proposed an unusually shaped anchor, 13 meters long and weighing 80 tons. The design is made in Lithuania. Such an anchor is lowered on a cable under the control of the winch brake, and at a height of 75 meters above the bottom, the winch drum is released, and a heavy projectile pierces the ground at a speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour, deepening 30-40 meters. One platform, depending on its size, requires 12-16 anchors. The system tests were successful. ... >>

You can lose weight in the mountains 18.09.2010

Gastroenterologist Florian Lipl from the University Hospital of Munich conducted an interesting experiment: he settled 20 obese men in a hut on top of Germany's highest mountain (2962 meters above sea level). The diet was not changed, but the participants of the experiment were forbidden to walk around the housing and generally move a lot (for control, each was given a pedometer). They spent a week at the top, and during this time they lost an average of one and a half kilograms. Improved blood pressure and blood sugar levels. According to Dr. Lipl, these effects are associated with reduced atmospheric pressure at altitude. He plans to try to treat obesity by staying three times a week for two hours in a pressure chamber with reduced air pressure, but already now recommends overweight people take a vacation in the mountains. ... >>

Nanocooling 17.09.2010

Specialists at the Royal Swedish Institute of Technology have shown that by adding certain nanoparticles to water, it is possible to increase its thermal conductivity and thereby improve its cooling properties. Water with nanoparticles of zinc or copper oxides (6-8% of the total volume) cools 60% better than pure water. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but it is assumed that the addition of nanoparticles changes the structure of water. In European countries, 7% of the electricity produced is spent on cooling various equipment. The development of Swedish scientists will reduce these costs and more densely arrange electronic circuits. ... >>

Ball lightning - maybe it's just an illusion 16.09.2010

Among the hypotheses explaining the phenomenon of ball lightning, the following has long appeared: this is just an optical illusion. A close flash of ordinary lightning leaves a floating bright disk in the eyes for several seconds. The hypothesis is revived at the modern level by the Austrian physicists Josef Peer and Alexander Kendl from the University of Innsbruck. In recent years, it has become clear that alternating magnetic fields, acting on the brain, can cause something like hallucinations, up to the appearance of ghosts. Meanwhile, a close lightning strike generates such fields that, according to physicists, in one percent of cases are capable of causing a person standing 20-200 meters from the impact site to see a luminous ball floating in the air for several seconds. The authors of the hypothesis believe that about half of all cases of observation of ball lightning can be explained by such a mechanism. Especially those when the fireball seems to penetrate the wall or window glass, leaving no holes. But, of course, the hypothesis clearly does not fit t ... >>

sky fish 15.09.2010

Swiss inventors have created a prototype airship without motors and propellers. Inside this eight-meter-long inflatable balloon, shaped like a fish, "artificial muscles" are stretched along the entire length, which contract when electrical voltage is applied to them. Curving like a fish, the airship floats across the sky at a speed of half a meter per second. ... >>

Pistol watch 13.09.2010

A pistol stolen from a policeman will not be able to serve as a weapon for a criminal if the system proposed by German gunsmiths comes into wide use. Their new pistol is only capable of firing if the shooter is wearing a special watch connected to the pistol via a radio channel. When the pistol is removed from the watch by more than 45 centimeters, the weapon becomes useless. The watch has a fingerprint sensor and can be programmed for multiple owners. In addition, they introduce the duty schedule of these owners, and the pistol, even when paired with a watch, will not fire while in the hands of an employee who is not currently on duty. True, such a set costs about 10 thousand dollars. ... >>

Beware of moonlight 12.09.2010

Landing in the subpolar regions of the moon can be life-threatening for astronauts, according to American physicist William Farrell. Lunar craters in these areas may have a large electrical charge. Solar wind - a stream of charged particles from the Sun, sliding tangentially over the surface of the satellite, is able to charge the protruding edges of craters with electricity. At best, this effect will cause particles of lunar dust to stick to spacesuits and rovers, at worst, a lightning-like discharge. If lunar lightning fails to penetrate the suit or the descent module skin, then damage to sensitive electronics is guaranteed. ... >>

Amphibious bus 11.09.2010

On the streets of Glasgow (Great Britain) a bus is being tested that can float on the river. With 55 passengers on board, it develops a speed of up to 95 km/h on land, and up to 15 km/h on water with the help of two jet propulsion. If the trials are successful, the Dutch-made bus could replace the ferry linking two parts of the city separated by the Clyde River. ... >>

white roofs 10.09.2010

In 1820, Luke Howard, an English amateur meteorologist, first noted that it was always a little warmer in a big city than in the surrounding countryside (by the way, he also introduced the cloud classification that is still used today). City pavements and roofs bask in the sun more than natural greenery, and they heat up the air of the city. An employee of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (USA) Keith Olson suggests painting the roofs of buildings white. Computer simulations showed that if all the roofs of city houses were painted with white, the difference between temperatures in the city and outside the city would be reduced by a third. The effect will be expressed mainly in summer, mainly for cities in the middle and southern latitudes. In New York, such a measure would reduce the summer temperature by one degree Celsius. Unfortunately, it is hardly possible to paint the asphalt on the streets white. ... >>

The old robbers 09.09.2010

The general aging of the German population, associated with a decrease in the birth rate and an increase in life expectancy, sometimes manifests itself in unexpected ways. Criminologists from the University of Heidelberg report that between 1994 and 2007, crime in the population aged 60 and over increased by 44%. The crimes favored by older people are theft (mainly in shops), arson, gun violations, embezzlement, deception in business, environmental crimes (pollution by waste) and traffic violations. Among older offenders, men predominate (70%). ... >>

Car electric refueling 06.09.2010

A Tokyo taxi company has set up a station in the Japanese capital to refuel its electric vehicles. For speed, the batteries are not charged, but replaced with pre-charged ones. The car drives into the "pit", and the robot, moving down the rails, replaces the empty battery with a full one, and puts the empty one on charge. So far, only 12 lithium-ion batteries are stored at the experimental station, each of which allows a taxi to travel up to 160 kilometers. By the end of 2010, one such station should appear in France, in 2011 - a whole network in Israel. A cooperation agreement has also been signed with a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, which has promised to adapt its vehicles for quick battery replacement. ... >>

Why are dolphins so smart 05.09.2010

Dolphins are smart because they eat fish, says Michael Crawford of the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Nutrition in London. Fish oil contains a lot of so-called omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These acids are required by brain cells, especially at the points of contact (synapses) with other nerve cells. It has been shown that in children who received food with a low content of such acids, the IQ is reduced. In countries where a lot of fish is eaten, there are fewer murders and suicides than in others, fewer cases of depression, schizophrenia and other mental disorders. ... >>

About the benefits of reading 04.09.2010

Sociologists from the University of Nevada (USA) argue that the degree of education of a person depends on how many books were in his parents' house. Scientists analyzed data for 20 years on 73000 families in 27 countries. It turned out that if a child lived in a family with an average level of income and education of parents and there were 500 books or more in the house, then it is more likely that he will receive a good education than if there were no books in the house at all. The more books, the higher the level of education children achieve. ... >>

Old Quadruped 02.09.2010

A few years ago, Polish paleontologist Grzegorz Niedzwiecki found footprints of an unknown creature on a rock in an abandoned quarry in southeastern Poland. Recent measurements of the age of the minerals made it possible to establish that the rock on which the imprints remained is 395 million years old. These are the most ancient traces of a four-legged animal known to science. As far as can be understood from the tracks, it was an animal that outwardly resembled a newt 2,5 meters long. The creature that left the prints hobbled along the bottom of the shallow sea bay, which was then at this place. Since the water level fluctuated with the ebb and flow, it is possible that the animal could also go to land. Until now, it was believed that the emergence of vertebrates on land occurred in fresh waters. ... >>

Microbes against caries 01.09.2010

Dental caries remains the most common disease of mankind. It occurs when harmful bacteria settle on the surface of the tooth enamel, producing acid from sugar, which destroys teeth. German researchers have found a strain of Lactobacillus paracasei bacteria that can help toothache sufferers. These beneficial bacteria cling to the harmful ones and peel them off the enamel. After that, with a simple rinse, harmful bacteria are washed out of the oral cavity. A nutritional supplement based on the new strain is already being produced, and experiments have shown that tooth decay under its action is reduced by a quarter. It is also planned to release toothpaste and chewing gum with beneficial bacteria. ... >>

Navigator looking for parking 31.08.2010

Equipping the city with sensors that tell the driver where he can park is the dream of Spanish researchers. José López Vicario and colleagues from the University of Barcelona offer a solution to the problem of parking in a big city. First, all parking spaces should be equipped with sensors that will determine whether it is occupied or not. Secondly, to connect these sensors via radio channels with the server. Thirdly, to create an urban navigation system that will be more accurate than the space system in determining the position of objects. When the driver wants to park, the navigator in his car will analyze the information from the parking sensors and find out where there are empty spaces nearby. The driver will receive this information and drive to the nearest one, instead of winding circles around the city. For those who do not have such a navigator, special scoreboards will provide information about free places. To some, the idea of ​​so many sensors will seem utopian, but, for example, in Amsterdam there is not a single ... >>

photon flux 30.08.2010

A powerful source of photons for quantum teleportation has been created. Quantum teleportation is when in Paris they act on one photon, and in Tokyo at the same moment the properties of the second photon associated with the first change. Based on this phenomenon, scientists hope to build tamper-resistant communication systems, quantum computers, and many other marvels. Pairs of bound photons are obtained by exciting quantum dots with a laser. However, now only one pair is born per hundred exciting impulses, which does not suit scientists in any way. Specialists from the Laboratory of Photonics and Nanostructures of the Center for Photonics and Nanostructures located in the suburbs of Paris, led by Pascal Senellar, found a way to correct this shortcoming. To do this, they used a design, first created in 1997 in Germany, called the "photonic molecule". This design is a microscopic column grown above or below a quantum dot, the cross section of which has the shape of a dumbbell. Two photons that have fallen into its bulges interact with each other. ... >>

Search for new lands 28.08.2010

Near a distant star, a new method has found the lightest planet, only 15 times heavier than the Earth. One method in the planet hunter's arsenal is to observe the changes in the intensity of the glow of a distant star when it is eclipsed by a large planet. They can also search for small planets, however, not directly, but by changes in the time of such an eclipse. If it really changes for a minute or two, then you should connect the computer and, on the basis of the calculation, find out which planets, invisible to the naked eye, cause such consequences. Dr. Grazian Maciejowski from the University of Jena and colleagues proved the efficiency of this method and found a very light (with a mass like that of Uranus, that is, 15 times heavier than the Earth) planet near the star WASP-3 in the constellation Lyra. A small planet revolves around a star in 3,5 days, and the radius of its orbit is twice that of the main planet of the system - hot Jupiter with a mass of 630 Earth masses. And if there was a planet with a mass of the Earth, would you notice it? Yes, because she ... >>

LG Smartphones 25.08.2010

LG introduced three smartphones in the Optimus line at once: One, Chic and Z models. All of them run Android 2.1, but will be updated to version 2.2 at the end of the year. The processor is the OMAP3630 chip. The devices are equipped with a 3,8-inch touch screen. Among the features worth highlighting the function of recording HD-video, HDMI output and DLNA support. ... >>

Standardization of laptop power supplies 24.08.2010

Many manufacturers Acer, ASUS, Quanta Computer, Compal Electronics, Wistron, Pegatron Technology and Inventec supported this idea. IEEE hopes that as a result, consumers will benefit from lower costs, as a single power supply can charge the batteries of several laptops, and when buying a new device, there will be no need to purchase a power supply for it. ... >>

Apple mac mini 23.08.2010

Steve Jobs' company does more than just the iPhone and iPad. So, Apple recently updated the Mac mini model. The computer received an even more compact (195,6x195,6x35,6 mm) all-aluminum case, inside which the power supply is now hidden. The Mini finally has an HDMI port and an SD/SDHC card reader. The hardware has also been upgraded: the PC is equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo 2,4 GHz processor and an NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics card. The base $700 configuration comes with 2 GB of memory and a 320 GB HDD. ... >>

Notebook Toshiba Libretto W100 22.08.2010

Toshiba plans to release a very unusual laptop at the end of summer. Libretto W100 is equipped with two touch screens 1024x600 pixels each, while one of them can function as a keyboard or a huge touchpad. In addition, the laptop can be used as a two-page e-book. The lightweight (820 grams) and compact aluminum device is based on the Intel CULV platform and is equipped with a 5400 GHz Pentium U1,2 processor, 2 GB of RAM and a 64 GB SSD. Operating system - Windows 7 Home Premium. Estimated price of Libretto W100 is $1100. ... >>

Speed ​​gene 21.08.2010

Based on the recently completed decoding of the horse genome, experts at the University College in Dublin (Ireland) have developed a gene test that allows you to understand how promising a particular individual is in speed competitions. The speed depends on muscle growth, and it is regulated by the protein myostatin. The genome contains a gene for the synthesis of myostatin, and also a separate gene for suppressing its synthesis, which, apparently, is necessary for finer tuning of the process. Two variants of the suppression gene have been found - C and T. If the horse has the C variant, it is a sprinter by nature, if the T is a stayer. The results must be taken into account not only on the run, but also when breeding. The cost of the test is one thousand euros. ... >>

What can be infected by eating sushi 18.08.2010

French biologists, studying the microflora of algae, found that microbes live on them, which have a special enzyme that allows them to digest a substance such as cellulose, which is abundant in these algae. It does not occur anywhere else. When they studied the intestinal microflora of the Japanese, it turned out that in 5 out of 13 volunteers who participated in the experiment, intestinal microbes are able to produce the same enzyme. The researchers speculate that the Japanese gut microflora acquired the gene for the algae-digesting enzyme from microbes that live on algae, often eaten raw. On average, each Japanese eats 14,2 grams of seaweed per day, which are included, for example, in the recipe for sushi. Possession of microbes capable of digesting algae allows for better absorption of such food. Could sushi-addicted Europeans get the same microbes? No, they cannot, because everywhere except Japan, cooks pre-cook the algae. ... >>

Census in the ocean 17.08.2010

More than 2000 biologists from different countries of the world cooperate in the international project "Census of the population of the seas". The project lasted ten years and is nearing completion. More than 50 new forms of marine life have been discovered, including 000 species of marine worms, hundreds of small crustaceans and many microbes. It is believed that a billion species of microbes live in the seas and oceans, and their total number is nonillion - this is one followed by 16 zeros. By weight, microbes can make up 000% of all biomass in the sea. ... >>

Reservoir bombarded with balloons 14.08.2010

A reservoir in California (USA), from which the Los Angeles area with 600 thousand inhabitants is supplied with water, was covered with a layer of black hollow plastic balls. The fact is that natural bromine compounds seep into the reservoir from the soil. Reacting with chlorine, which disinfects water, bromine forms carcinogenic compounds under the action of sunlight. At first, they intended to drain the water and clean the bottom of bromine, but it turned out to be cheaper to cover the mirror of the reservoir with an area of ​​4 hectares with a black screen. At the same time, water losses due to evaporation are reduced. About three million balls were brought up in large bags and shaken into a pond. ... >>

Science station on skis 13.08.2010

Since 1956, the British Antarctic station "Halley" has been operating in Antarctica, on the Brunt ice shelf. It was the employees of this station in 1985 who discovered the ozone hole in the sky over Antarctica. For half a century, five buildings of the station had to be replaced. Firstly, the structures are constantly covered with snow, and secondly, the glacier slides into the sea at a speed of up to 700 meters per year. The sixth building of the station under the same name is currently under construction. It will consist of eight modules placed on skis, which will allow them to be pulled from the edge of the glacier by a tractor from time to time. The modules are being built in Cape Town (South Africa) and delivered to the site by the Russian vessel Igarka. When construction is completed in 2012, 70 scientists will be able to work at the station instead of 120. ... >>

Mercury in Greenland ice 12.08.2010

An international team of scientists, analyzing columns of ice drilled from the Greenland ice sheet, noted that mercury levels in the air have fallen in recent decades. The amount of metal is measured in the air, which is preserved in the form of bubbles in ice that has been deposited for centuries. Judging by the deep layers of ice, before the Second World War, a cubic meter of air over the Northern Hemisphere contained about one and a half millionths of a milligram of mercury in the form of vapor. By the 1970s, as a result of the rapid post-war development of the economy in all countries, this figure doubled. Then the leading industrial powers took measures to reduce mercury emissions, it became less, and by 1990 the content of the metal dropped to pre-war levels. Since then, it has remained almost constant. Apparently, this is due to the growth of industry in China and India. ... >>

Avalanche of information 11.08.2010

According to 2008 data, the average American consumed 3600 exabytes (1 exabyte - billion gigabytes) of information per year from books, computers, television, radio, newspapers, magazines and other sources. Since 1980, American consumption of information has increased by 5,4% annually. In many ways, however, this growth is due to the advent of modern, finely drawn computer games that display huge amounts of rapidly changing data on the monitor screen. More than half of the information Americans receive comes from computer games. In total, US residents spend 11 hours and 48 minutes a day at a computer, watching TV, listening to music or radio programs, and (to a lesser extent) reading. The average American hears, speaks, and reads about 460 words a day (the English translation of War and Peace has about XNUMX words). ... >>

Solar panels under test 09.08.2010

Near Frankfurt am Main (Germany), a laboratory has begun testing solar energy panels that cover the roofs of many German houses. Here they are kept in an atmosphere of high humidity, and then cooled to minus 40 degrees Celsius to check if the resulting ice will break the small cracks and cracks on the panel. Then they are poured with powerful jets of water, heated to plus 90 degrees Celsius, fired with ice balls from a pneumatic gun to check whether the panels can withstand hail. A solar panel on the roof can be dangerous for the house: if, due to some damage, a short circuit occurs in it, a fire can start. Similar laboratories are already operating in the USA and China, and are being created in Japan and India. ... >>

Physicists need ancient Roman lead 08.08.2010

About 2000 years ago, a Roman ship sank off the island of Sardinia with a cargo of lead bullion. Divers lifted this load twenty years ago. An unexpected use of antique lead was found by Italian physicists. They need to shield from radioactivity a facility for studying neutrinos, hidden underground at a depth of 1400 meters. The surrounding rocks are slightly radioactive and may influence the measurement results. But modern, recently smelted lead is not suitable for shielding: it contains the radioactive isotope lead-210 and its decay products, which also emit. In lead, smelted a long time ago, radioactive isotopes have already decayed (lead-210 decays by half in 22 years). Archaeologists agreed to give physicists those ingots that do not have inscriptions, stamps, and other historically interesting features. The lead will be smelted and used to shield an underground chamber with neutrino detectors. In exchange, the physicists promised to make subtle measurements with ... >>

TV advertisement magazine 05.08.2010

In March 2010, the next issue of the Italian magazine "Panorama" surprised readers: a three-millimeter-thick flat screen on liquid crystals was glued into the advertising spread, on which there was an advertisement for the French automobile company Citroen. A flat battery provided five commercials for 80 minutes. The pin connector allows you to recharge the battery and even change the content of the videos, so readers seem to have saved and reused the flat screen of many of the magazine's 10 printed copies. In early April, the same advertisement was pasted into a magazine supplement to the French newspaper Eco. ... >>

Roman horse in Germany 04.08.2010

In a well with a wooden frame 11 meters deep near the German town of Waldgirmes, archaeologists found a bronze head of a horse with remnants of gilding. The life-size head weighs 25 kilograms. Apparently, this is a fragment of a lost ancient Roman statue. The Romans intended to make Waldgirmes the capital of their Germanic colony, but in 9 AD they were defeated by local tribes and evacuated the city. Judging by the rings on the logs of the well log house, the well was dug around the same time. ... >>

The oldest map of the stars 02.08.2010

French astronomers have analyzed the oldest known map of the starry sky, compiled in China in the 1300th century AD. This is a two-meter scroll made of high quality paper with images of 257 stars, distributed over 1 constellations. The scroll was found in an underground Buddhist monastery in western China. Until now, it has been studied mainly by historians and specialists in Chinese civilization. It turned out that the error in determining the coordinates of stars by ancient astronomers was only 3-XNUMX degrees, and even less for some of the brightest stars. To display the star dome on a paper plane, the Chinese used methods discovered in Europe only in the XNUMXth century, almost a thousand years later. Literary sources report even more ancient astronomical maps - the Greek scientist Ptolemy (II century) and the Chinese Chen Zhuo (III century), but these maps have not been preserved. ... >>

Automation against pirates 01.08.2010

The German company Platter, which manufactures fire-fighting equipment, offers an automatic system that, having noticed a small boat approaching a tanker or bulk carrier, raises the alarm when it notices a small vessel approaching a tanker or dry cargo ship using radar and infrared video cameras operating day and night. When outside boats, yachts or boats appear within a radius of 500 meters, loudspeakers turn on with a request to move away. If this appeal did not work and the boat continues to approach, at a distance of 90 meters, the automation launches numerous water cannons that eject up to 5000 liters of water per minute. This flow simply drives the pirates away. Automation can be turned off and the process can be controlled manually. Several major shipowners have already shown interest in the system. However, a representative of the well-known insurance company Lloyd expressed concern that such a shower would only irritate the pirates and they would use more serious weapons, usually available on their boats. ... >>

First GaN power module 0,6-5,5 volts, 30 amps, 3 MHz 28.07.2010

International Rectifier announced the mass production of IP2010 and IP2011 power modules designed for universal high-current multi-phase synchronous buck converters. Each mini-block is made in a 7,7x6,5 mm LGA package using multi-chip packaging technology based on the new GaNPowIR platform and contains all the necessary elements (power transistors, driver and passive components) to build one phase of multi-phase converters. The new platform is the result of IR's development efforts over the past five years to create GaN-on-Si epitaxial technologies. The advantages of implementing converters based on IP20xx are low output voltage, programmable switching frequency, the possibility of parallel connection, high efficiency, as well as a wide area of ​​safe operation. The scope of these power modules are step-down converters for powering central processors in servers and work stations. ... >>

ASUS Eee Tablet 26.07.2010

The resolution of the matrix of the new device Eee Tablet is 2450 dpi, but we are not talking about the number of pixels, but about the resolution of the touch panel. This dpi value allows you to achieve more accurate and smooth input of information, so that the user will have the impression that he is writing on paper. The high resolution touch screen makes ASUS' new device one of the most accurate for entering information with a dedicated stylus. ... >>

Monoblock Sony VAIO J 23.07.2010

The new Sony VAIO J monoblock is equipped with a 21,5-inch touchscreen display with support for Full HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The new product also contains a Core i3-350M processor operating at a frequency of 2,26 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive with a spindle speed of 7200 rpm, a discrete graphics card NVIDIA GeForce 310M with 512 MB of memory and a DVD drive. . ... >>

Apple iPhone 4 21.07.2010

The announcement of the new iPhone model, eagerly awaited by the IT community, took place at the WWDC developer conference in San Francisco. The presentation was given by Steve Jobs himself. According to the head of Apple, the device has more than a hundred innovations. First of all, the completely new design attracts attention. The thickness of the iPhone 4 is only 9,3 mm, which is 24% thinner than the iPhone 3GS. The device has got a front camera for video chat. The display is made using IPS technology and is called Retina. Its resolution is 960x640 pixels with a diagonal of 3,5 inches. ... >>

School class acoustics 19.07.2010

Engineers and physicists examined the acoustics in two hundred empty classrooms in Berlin schools. In each class, a balloon was blown up and pierced with a pin, recording the resulting pop and its echo. If the echo lasts no more than half a second, such acoustics, according to the German standard, is considered good for rooms in which teaching is conducted. But only 15% of the surveyed classes met the standard. In some cases, the echo lasted more than three seconds, making the teacher's speech completely unintelligible. Such conditions are especially difficult for children with impaired hearing and for those whose German is not their native language. Classrooms with poor acoustics will have to be refurbished with sound-absorbing wall and furniture finishes. ... >>

Manometer in the eye 18.07.2010

Glaucoma, increased intraocular fluid pressure, is one of the most common causes of blindness. For prevention, it is necessary to measure intraocular pressure from time to time, but in some cases it would be good to monitor it continuously throughout the day. The Swiss company "Sensimed" has begun production of a manometer built into a contact lens. The miniature device includes a corneal tension sensor, a microprocessor that processes the measurement results, and a radio transmitter. The data from the transmitter is picked up by a receiver placed in the patient's breast pocket. Trials of the new ophthalmologist's assistant showed that out of 50 patients who wore an eye pressure gauge, more than a third, according to him, had to change the course of treatment. ... >>

entomology passing through 17.07.2010

A new method for studying insect fauna was applied by a group of American entomologists and geneticists. They drove the car along the North American continent, from Pennsylvania to New Brunswick, and double-sided adhesive tape was previously reinforced on the front bumper. All insects that crashed on the bumper stuck to the tape. After the run, the residues were scraped off the tape and subjected to DNA analysis. The results were compared with a database of known insect genomes. In total, more than 400 DNA fragments were collected from 2000 insect species, and only 8% of the sequences matched those in the database. True, many of the DNA fragments stuck to the tape may actually belong to microbes and plant pollen. ... >>

Mummies remember stress 14.07.2010

The stress hormone cortisol accumulates in the hair and can be detected even after centuries. Canadian anthropologists who studied ancient Peruvian mummies took advantage of this. The inhabitants of Peru did not bury their dead, but walled them up in caves. The dry climate of the highlands turned the bodies into mummies, which are still well preserved. Canadians examined the hair of ten Peruvians who lived between 550 and 1532. Hair on the head grows at a rate of about a centimeter per month. The average length of hair in the studied mummies is about 25 centimeters, so it is possible to calculate exactly when a person was stressed in the last two years of life. It turned out that the content of cortisol in the hair of mummies is more than twice as high as that characteristic of a modern person. Hormone levels fluctuated greatly over the two years. The causes of stress among the ancient Peruvians are unclear: perhaps these are wars, periods of drought and famine, or near-death diseases. ... >>

Metal detector in the palm of your hand 13.07.2010

The British police began to supply miniature metal detectors. The box begins to vibrate if the policeman's palm touches anything containing even a small amount of metal. By running your hand over a suspect's clothing, you can see if he is hiding a weapon. With the help of a new device, one drug dealer was detained, who was hiding a pack of cannabis wrapped in foil in his bosom. They also managed to detain a bicycle thief who kept wire cutters in his pocket to bite the chain of a bicycle lock. So far, 20 new generation metal detectors have been put into service, but in the next two or three years every policeman will be equipped with a device. ... >>

space scavenger 12.07.2010

Near-Earth orbits are littered with a huge amount of obsolete space technology, various debris and even tools lost by astronauts during spacewalks. All this "waste" poses a threat to orbiting satellites and the International Space Station. Specialists from the University of Surrey (England) propose to use the so-called solar sail to solve the problem: a surface made of a thin aluminized polymer film, mounted on a spacecraft and turned towards the sun's rays. Light pressure can push the satellite a little, counteracting braking in very rarefied layers of the Earth's atmosphere, reaching the near-Earth space. This is far from a new and already tested idea in space. But the British engineers propose, after the end of the satellite's service, to deploy the sail in such a way that it slows down the movement. As a result, the satellite will descend into the dense layers of the atmosphere faster than without additional braking and burn out. Ma ... >>

Windmills - scrapped 10.07.2010

On the territory of Germany, from the Alps to the North Sea, more than 20 thousand wind power generators are now operating. This is a relatively new technique, but from 2020 it will begin to deplete its resource and there will be a problem of recycling old windmills. Reinforced concrete supports, generators and various metal parts are easy to reuse, but what about rotor blades made of fiberglass? After 2020, 15 thousand blades will have to be replaced annually. They consist of a hardened polymer resin stuffed with fiberglass for strength. Burying in landfills is prohibited by law, burning - toxic gases are obtained, which are too expensive to capture with special filters. In addition, melting glass clogs the grates of incinerators. It is possible to melt down crushed fiberglass into other products, such as garden benches, but Germany doesn't need that many benches. A way out of the situation is proposed by the Swiss company "Holzim", a cement manufacturer. Rendered ... >>

Taste of soda and champagne 09.07.2010

Until recently, it was believed that the specific pleasant taste of carbonated drinks is more likely not a taste, but a tactile sensation from carbon dioxide bubbles bursting on the tongue. However, a group of American physiologists conducted an experiment: champagne was opened and drunk in a hyperbaric chamber with increased pressure, where bubbles did not appear when the bottle was uncorked, and if they did, they did not burst. The taste of champagne (at least for the layman) has not changed. Then the physiologists took five groups of mice from which the taste cells responsible for the perception of the five main types of taste were removed by genetic engineering. Judging by the reaction of the nerves and the brain, the taste of carbonated drinks was not felt by those rodents that did not have cells that perceive sour taste. Further research showed that these cells have a special enzyme that allows them to feel carbon dioxide, and not just as sour, but as a special, independent taste. Curiously, climbers who take certain medication for ... >>

Black caviar from Switzerland 07.07.2010

Switzerland is known for its cheeses and chocolate, but sturgeon caviar can join the specialties of this country. In the town of Frutigen (40 kilometers south of Bern), a large greenhouse complex has been operating for two years, heated by warm water, which has to be constantly pumped out of the railway tunnel under the Alps, one of the longest in the world. The tunnel was opened in 2007, and it turned out that underground warm water seeps into it, which cannot be dumped into the local river without cooling, so that the trout do not die from overheating. Bananas, mangoes, papaya and other exotic fruits ripen in greenhouses. Recently, 60 pools were built here, each of which was filled with about a thousand Siberian sturgeon and sterlet. The goal is to achieve an annual "harvest" of 50 tons of sturgeon and three tons of black caviar. ... >>

Salt price 06.07.2010

If Americans reduced their daily salt intake by three grams, they could save between 44 and 92 lives each year by lowering blood pressure and reducing heart attacks and strokes. It would be as good for the health of the nation as cutting smoking in half. Californian cardiologists came to this conclusion. Daily salt intake in the US is now between 7,3 and 10,4 grams per person, and the recommended dietary allowance is 5,8 grams. ... >>

Mystery of the Chameleon Spider 05.07.2010

Crab spiders are known, which can change their color depending on the color of the flower, in the petals of which they hide, waiting for the victim. It is believed that spiders "repaint" for camouflage. Swiss zoologist Rolf Brechbühl set out to test this theory. Together with colleagues, he filmed about two thousand episodes of landing insects on flowers, in which eight-legged predators were hiding. It turned out that the hunt was successful only in 3,6% of cases, and its result did not depend on whether the spider took on a camouflage coloration. It is possible that insects notice the hunter not in the visible range for us, but in the ultraviolet range. Then Brechbühl decided to test another hypothesis: perhaps spiders are hiding not from their victims, but from predators - birds that can peck at them. They tried to transplant spiders onto flowers of a contrasting color, but only in one case did the spider become a victim of a bird. So the meaning of color masking remains unclear. ... >>

Bird flu too cold 01.07.2010

Why didn't the avian flu, which made a lot of noise, turn into the "plague of the 40st century"? According to virologists from Imperial College London (England) and the University of North Carolina (USA), this virus is too cold in humans. In birds, with their extremely active metabolism, the body temperature is constantly very high. So, in ducks, which were mainly accused of spreading bird flu, the normal temperature is 42,5-42 degrees Celsius, in ravens - 44, and in swifts - even 33 degrees. Meanwhile, the temperature of the human nasal mucosa, where the influenza virus must initially multiply, rarely exceeds XNUMX degrees Celsius. To cause a pandemic, the virus must first mutate, adapt to such a low temperature. ... >>

Transistors of the MDMESH V family 30.06.2010

MDMESH V transistors are the best transistors in the world in terms of open channel resistance in the range of operating voltages of 500 ... static current 650 A. At the same time, the gate charge of such a transistor is only 77 nK. The STL65N5M650 is the first MDMESH V transistor in a PowerFlat package. With an operating voltage of 0,033 V, the STL69N200M21 transistor has an open channel resistance of 65 ohms and a maximum static current of 5 A, while its gate charge is 650 nK. ... >>

MDMEDH V in PowerFlat package 29.06.2010

STMicroelectronics, the world leader in power MOSFETs, has developed a new, improved PowerFlat package specifically for surface mount applications for the MDMESH V family of transistors. Case dimensions 8x8 mm with a height of 1 mm (PowerFlat 8x8 HV). Its low height allows you to create thinner power supplies, as well as reduce the size of the printed circuit board or increase the density of the installation. The drain contact in the PowerFlat package is a large, exposed metal surface, which improves heat dissipation and thus improves reliability. This housing is capable of operating in the temperature range -55...150°C. ... >>

Polaroid 300 camera 27.06.2010

The once-famous Polaroid brand is now owned by PLR IP Holdings. Currently, she is working on the revival of the concept of instant photo, therefore, in the near future she intends to release the Polaroid 300 Instant Camera, which combines digital photography and instant processing and printing technologies. Retail price is $90 and a replacement photo cassette is $10. ... >>

Visa + iPhone 26.06.2010

Visa has announced that it has adapted its contactless payment system interface for use with the iPhone. The proposed concept involves the use of third-party software Visa payWave supplied on a memory card. Since none of the iPhone models has its own memory card slot, users will have to use the original visa accessory, which, according to official data, has already been certified by Apple. It is made in the form of a protective case with a corresponding slot and a connector for connecting to a smartphone. ... >>

Intel will show a new Tablet PC 25.06.2010

Intel Vice President Mylee Eden announced the company's intention to showcase a new Tablet PC designed in-house at Computex this month. Intel believes that its new dual-core Atom processors are ideal for use in such products, as they allow not only multitasking, but also high performance. The CEO of the company, Paul Otellini, noted that soon about 50-60 million such devices will be produced annually. ... >>

Color e-paper in 2012 22.06.2010

Plastic Logic has not yet released the promised QUE proReader, and is already making plans to develop the next generation of such a product. In this case, we are talking about the creation of colored electronic paper, which is planned to be used in future devices of this type. At the International Electronics Forum event, held in Dresden (Germany), its representative said that now Plastic Logic engineers are working on a new display in a laboratory in Cambridge. Probably, the first samples of colored electronic paper will appear at the end of 2011, and in 2012 its mass production will begin. ... >>

Again about the Shroud of Turin 21.06.2010

In a 2000-year-old tomb excavated near Jerusalem, an international team of archaeologists found a shroud (burial shroud) from that time. Comparison with the famous Shroud of Turin, in which Christ is believed to have been wrapped during burial, showed that at the time of Christ, woven products were much more primitive. This confirms the results of radiocarbon dating and art history analysis, according to which the Shroud of Turin is not 2000, but approximately 600-700 years old. ... >>

First linen fabric 20.06.2010

The first clothing of an ancient man about 70 thousand years ago was, as far as is known, the skins of animals. Later, people learned to use plant fibers to make clothes. Recently, archaeologists have found the remains of flax fibers from the Paleolithic era in a cave in western Georgia. Some of them are painted with natural pigments in black, pink and turquoise. If the fibers were dyed due to physical and chemical processes in the soil, their colors would be the same, so this is clearly the result of the activities of the ancient textile workers. Linen dyeing is quite a complex process, and it is surprising that Paleolithic people mastered it. Radiocarbon dating showed the age of this flax - about 36 thousand years. Around that time, the first aliens from Africa appeared in Europe, where modern man was born. Apparently, the cool climate of Europe forced them to take care of making clothes. ... >>

Fighting ship foulers - following the example of whales 17.06.2010

A significant problem for the navy is marine plants, corals, mollusks, worms and other animals that settle on the ship's hull. Gradually, they increase the resistance to movement so much that the ship has to be put in a dry dock and cleared of growths. The operation can take up to two years. True, now there are poisonous paints that almost completely prevent unwanted passengers from sticking. But the poison gradually dissolves in water, causing great harm to the environment. The German zoologist Christoph Baum recently discovered that in the skin of some whales there are the thinnest tubules through which mucus with enzymes gradually oozes, dissolving the protein glue that sea creatures attach to any surface. Therefore, the skin of the whale remains clean, and nothing interferes with its fast swimming. This discovery prompted American shipbuilders to the idea of ​​applying harmless slimy substances to the surface of the bottom on the same principle. A layer forms on the steel body ... >>

Samurai watching the crowd 16.06.2010

The streets of big cities, supermarkets, subway stations, railway stations and airports are hung with surveillance cameras. The problem is that vigilant operators must constantly look at their monitors. The University of London has created a self-learning computer program "Samurai", which independently detects suspiciously behaving people in the crowd. "Samurai" raises the alarm if he finds someone's behavior strange. For example, a woman suddenly appeared at the airport with a long stick in her hands, scurrying here and there. In response to an alarm signal, the operator looks at the screen, determines that it is a cleaner with a mop, and cancels the alarm. In the future, the program will not object to the appearance of cleaners. In the supermarket, "Samurai" will be able to learn to distinguish between an indecisive, long-term buyer choosing a product from a thief, looking closely at where something can be stolen unnoticed. ... >>

triangular snowflakes 15.06.2010

As you know, the vast majority of snowflakes have hexagonal symmetry. However, experimenters from the California Institute of Technology managed to obtain, on a specially designed installation, triangular snowflakes that are quite rare in nature, as well as hexagonal ones, which are still based on a triangular shape. ... >>

Mountains grow in warm climates 14.06.2010

Why are all the highest mountains of the Earth located far from the poles, closer to the tropics and the equator? According to geologists from the University of Aarhus (Denmark), who analyzed the features of the mountain ranges in the belt from 60 degrees south to 60 degrees north longitude, it's all about ice erosion. Glaciers flowing down from the summit gradually wear it down, and in warmer climates the ice caps are smaller, allowing the mountains to remain tall. ... >>

Fuel from sleeping tea 12.06.2010

Pakistani scientists from the University of Islamabad, by heating dried tea with cobalt nanoparticles as a catalyst, get a liquid suitable as fuel for diesel engines. By-products - a mixture of ethanol vapors and gases of ethane and methane, as well as coal - can also be used. Mankind annually consumes at least four million tons of dry tea leaves, but if the distribution of this product has been established for a long time, then no one is going to massively accumulate tea drinking waste for fuel production. ... >>

Television and astronomers 11.06.2010

For American astronomers, there was a respite: with the transition of television in the United States to digital broadcasting, radio frequencies in the range of 700-800 megahertz, previously occupied by analog television programs, were temporarily released. It is on these waves that we can expect the discovery of new galaxies that arose at a time when the Universe was half as young as it is now. In addition, experts hope to find signals from new pulsars, neutron stars, periodically emitting radio waves in the freed range. To use the opportunities that have opened up, a new radio receiver has already been mounted on a huge radio telescope in Arecibo (Puerto Rico). True, the respite will last only about a year: the released frequencies are sold at auctions to mobile operators and other interested parties. ... >>

Home CHP 10.06.2010

In Japan, home power units manufactured by Honda have become popular. In the basement there is a soundproof single-cylinder diesel engine running on natural gas. This mini-power plant produces one kilowatt of electricity and 2,8 kilowatts of thermal energy in the form of hot water, which is stored in a thermally insulated tank and gradually used for heating and domestic needs. Home electricity production covers 50% of its annual consumption, and hot water - 80% of the need. It would be possible to put a more powerful engine so that the cottage can do without connecting to the network at all, but then there will be an excess of hot water. 80 such units have already been installed in Japanese homes, they have begun to be exported to the United States, and sales are being prepared in European countries. ... >>

An easy way to check your heart 08.06.2010

Japanese doctors offer a simple test to check the condition of the cardiovascular system. Sit on the floor with your legs extended and try to reach your toes. Experiments conducted on 526 volunteers aged 20 to 83 showed that the loss of body flexibility is accompanied by a loss of flexibility of the arteries, and this threatens with high blood pressure and possibly heart trouble. The biological nature of this connection is not entirely clear, but the author of the study, Professor Kenta Yamamoto, emphasizes that the muscles and ligaments responsible for the flexibility of the body are made of the same materials as the walls of blood vessels. There is some experimental evidence that exercising flexibility can improve the condition of the arteries. But this study was not large enough and still needs to be confirmed. However, American sports medicine specialist Thomas Anthony does not recommend this test for older people. ... >>

pack robot 07.06.2010

Corporation "Boston Dynamics" (USA) designed a four-legged robot capable of carrying a load. This creature the size of a large dog or a small donkey itself weighs 109 kilograms and can carry a load of up to 150 kilograms on level ground, and up to 54 kilograms on rough terrain. The robot is able to overcome slopes up to 35 degrees. The unit is driven by a two-stroke single-cylinder 15-horsepower engine. The control is carried out by radio, but the "donkey" has a GPS module, so as not to get lost. which contains the drug in a bound form. Light of a specially selected wavelength releases the drug. It is absorbed into the skin and exerts its effect without affecting the surrounding healthy skin areas and deeper tissues. The patch can be given any shape or cut to fit the diseased area. ... >>

It got cold all of a sudden 05.06.2010

Significant climate change is considered to occur slowly. However, Canadian researchers from the University of Saskatchewan showed that during the Little Ice Age, which began 12 years ago and lasted 800 years, the cold came into its own very quickly - in just a few months. Canadians have studied sediments that have been accumulating for thousands of years at the bottom of a lake in the west of Ireland. It turned out that 1300 years ago, in less than a year, all living things practically disappeared in this lake. As the authors of the study say, "the lake seemed to have been moved from Ireland to Svalbard in one moment." The reason for such a sharp cooling is known: because of the warming, the ice dams that enclosed the glacial lakes in Canada collapsed. Billions of cubic meters of cold water poured into the Atlantic. Because of this, the warm Gulf Stream was interrupted and the entire Northern Hemisphere was overgrown with ice for thousands of years. ... >>

Silkworm Secrets 04.06.2010

Chinese emperors have guarded the secrets of silk making for thousands of years. Anyone who tried to take silkworms or their testicles out of the country was immediately executed. However, sericulture gradually spread to Japan, Korea and some other countries. Now China offers everyone the secrets of the silkworm in an article about its genome published on the Internet. Chinese geneticists compared the genomes of many local silkworm breeds from different parts of China and other countries, and also compared their DNA with that of wild relatives of this insect. The results of the study showed that domestication occurred relatively quickly. But it remains unclear exactly where, in which region of China, people lived, who 5000 years ago first had the idea to collect a lot of caterpillars, keep them, feed them with fresh mulberry leaves, and then unwind the cocoons of the pupated caterpillars, spin the resulting threads and make magnificent fabrics from them. . Geneticist ... >>

Microcontrollers STM32 Value Line 31.05.2010

STMicroelectronics, one of the leading manufacturers of microcontrollers in the world, announced the start of production of a new 32-bit low-cost microcontroller that takes advantage of the industrial STM32 core and is designed for low-cost applications. Microcontrollers of the STM32F100 ("Value line") family are designed for applications where the power of a 16-bit microcontroller is already insufficient, and the rich set of functionality of conventional 32-bit microcontrollers is redundant. The STM32F100 microcontroller line is based on a modern 24 MHz ARM Cortex-M3 core with peripherals optimized for use in typical applications where 16-bit microcontrollers were used. The performance of this line at 24 MHz, coupled with zero latency access to the built-in flash memory, is 30 DMIPS, which is superior to most 16-bit microcontrollers. The line includes the following peripherals - up to 12 16-bit timers with advanced functions, high-speed 12-bit A ... >>

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy S 29.05.2010

The new flagship smartphone running the Google Android operating system was officially introduced by Samsung. The model, known as the Galaxy S (GT-I9000), is the manufacturer's first phone to feature a 4-inch Super AMOLED display. This solution surpasses in image quality not only LCD matrices, but also traditional AMOLED. In addition to Galaxy S, such screens are used in the first Bada-device Samsung Wave. ... >>

Dual Core Atom for Netbooks 26.05.2010

According to Intel CEO Paul Otellini, new low-cost Atom processors are being prepared for release. The fact that chips with an integrated DDR3 memory controller are under development was mentioned earlier, but this time it became known that Intel intends to introduce dual-core Atoms aimed at netbooks and other portable devices. Prior to that, they were used only in nettops, and single-core chips were used for the needs of netbooks. ... >>

Twitter in the library 25.05.2010

The Library of Congress will digitally archive all publicly available messages posted on Twitter since the service's inception in March 2006. Given that more than 50 million new posts appear on Twitter every day, their total number has long been measured in the billions. The number of Twitter users in January exceeded 75 million people. By the way, now this library has more than 167 TB of information obtained from blogs and websites of politicians and members of Congress. ... >>

There are already 38 thousand applications in the Android Market 23.05.2010

Google has published financial results for the last quarter. During this time, the company earned $ 5,06 billion, which is 19% more than in the same period last year. Net income for 3 months also increased and amounted to $ 1,96 billion in 2009, it was $ 1,4 billion. Part of the profit is the merit of the recently launched Google app store for mobile devices. The Android Market currently has about 38 programs, with 8 of them received during the last month. It should be noted that the 10th barrier was overcome in September last year, and the range reached the 16th mark already in December. ... >>

The Milky Way is almost invisible 22.05.2010

A fifth of humanity is unable to see the Milky Way due to the night light of cities. In the USA, two-thirds of the population cannot see this luminous arc going through the sky, in Western Europe - half. Streetlights, even if only 3% of their light is directed upwards, halve the visibility of stars at an observatory located a hundred kilometers from the city. If, however, 10% of the light of lanterns enters the sky, then visibility at a distant observatory deteriorates by almost six times. ... >>

LED in oil 20.05.2010

An American company has started producing a 4 watt LED light bulb that gives as much light as a conventional 25 watt incandescent bulb. Service time - 35 thousand hours (35 times longer than incandescent lamps). Typically, LEDs only last 15 to 17 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Heating during operation shortens the life of the diode, so LED lamps currently produced are often equipped with a metal accordion-radiator. The bulb of the new lamp is filled with non-flammable and non-poisonous mineral oil, which removes heat. In addition, the oil provides light scattering in all directions (the LED, being a point light source, gives a rather narrow cone of rays). The novelty is screwed into an ordinary cartridge. Brighter models with a power of 8, 12 and 16 watts are prepared for release. ... >>

Health record 19.05.2010

Although this sport has not yet been officially recognized, there are amateurs competing with each other in who can last the longest without breathing and get into the Guinness Book of Records for this. The latest record, set in February 2010, belongs to the Austrian Peter Kolat: he lay face down on the surface of a swimming pool for 19 minutes and 21 seconds (19 seconds longer than the previous record holder). How safe are these exercises? Physiologists from the University of Lund (Sweden) gathered nine trained breath-holders in the laboratory and asked them not to breathe for more than five minutes. At the same time, blood tests were done on the test subjects. It turned out that by the end of the experiment, the oxygen content in the subjects' blood fell by almost 80% - more than it happens with a stroke. In addition, a protein appeared in the blood, which is normally contained in brain cells and is released into the blood only when these cells are damaged. The blood returned to normal only after two hours. ... >>

Laptop without power supply 18.05.2010

Engineers from the Japanese company Fujitsu report that replacing silicon transistors in a laptop power supply with gallium nitride transistors will reduce the size of this block by ten times and fit it into a laptop case instead of making the power supply in a separate box, as it is now. In addition, energy consumption will be reduced. A large server center, transferred to a similar power scheme, can save 12% of energy. The first laptops with built-in power supply may appear as early as 2011. ... >>

A wooden house can withstand an earthquake 17.05.2010

On a special seismic stand, Japanese builders tested a real wooden six-story house weighing 455 tons for earthquake resistance. It turned out that even with underground impacts with a force of up to 7,5 points on the Richter scale, the wooden structure was practically not damaged. Over the past 1400 years of recorded history of seismic disasters in Japan, out of hundreds of wooden pagodas, only two have collapsed. The tradition of building with wood is still strong in Japan today. ... >>

Greens against crime and disease 15.05.2010

As Francis Cuo, a US environmentalist, has shown, greening cities helps reduce crime. Dr. Kyuoh analyzed police statistics for downtown Chicago and compared them with the area occupied by green spaces in each block. It turned out that in houses surrounded by greenery, crime is 52% lower than where there is only solid asphalt and parking lots around. In two other studies, the same author showed that if nature is visible from the windows of the house, and not monotonous buildings and traffic flows, the aggressiveness of the residents of the house is reduced by 27%. And according to surgeons from Texas, if trees are visible from the window of the recovery room, then patients recover faster. They require fewer painkillers and experience fewer complications than patients who have undergone the same operation, lying in a room overlooking a brick wall. ... >>

sublunar cave 14.05.2010

The Japanese spacecraft "Kaguya", an artificial satellite of the Moon, photographed a "hole" on the Moon with a diameter of 65 meters and a depth of 80-85 meters. It is believed that this is the so-called lava tube - a formation that is also found in terrestrial volcanoes. Lava from a lunar volcano once flowed through this pipe, and it seems that the passage leads to a vast cave. Japanese researchers intend to look for other similar formations on the moon. It is possible that volcanic caves of this kind could house the lunar colonies of the future. ... >>

In memory - through the nose 11.05.2010

Employees of the Institute of Neuroendocrinology in Münster (Germany), under the leadership of Christian Benedict, found that interleukin-6, a protein compound with a small molecule produced by leukocytes and involved in the regulation of the inflammation process, can stimulate memory. If you spray into the nose before going to bed from an aerosol can with a solution of interleukin-6, then the transfer of information from short-term to long-term memory that occurs in a dream is facilitated. This has been proven in volunteers who read short stories during the day and, after taking interleukin-6 at night, could retell the content of what they had read much better the next morning. For widespread use, for example, before exams, interleukin-6 is still too expensive, but, apparently, in the future it will be possible to establish its mass production by genetic engineering. ... >>

Self-charging phone 10.05.2010

The Finnish firm Nokia is working on a cell phone that doesn't have to be recharged. In those days, when every young radio amateur started with the creation of a detector receiver, no one was surprised by the fact that such a receiver does not need batteries or mains power. He took the necessary energy from radio waves. The same, according to the company's engineers, could do the phone. The prototype has already been successfully tested, although in order to completely get rid of recharging, it will be necessary to cover the body of the phone with solar panels so that it also uses light energy. ... >>

Aircraft modeled after the maple flyer 09.05.2010

At the School of Engineering at the University of Maryland (USA), a single-winged aircraft was created, the model for which was the maple seed fly. The small craft flies like an autogyro with an asymmetric single-blade main rotor. This rotating wing provides lift. In addition, there is a small pushing propeller at the back, and as a result, the flyer moves forward. The device is controlled by radio. A miniature version has also been made that fits in the palm of your hand. ... >>

Aspirin is the culprit of death 08.05.2010

The flu pandemic of 1918-1919 killed over 25 million people. American physician Karen Starko, after analyzing historical data, argues that the culprit of many deaths was a relatively new then medicine - aspirin. There was still little experience with aspirin. Now four grams is considered a safe daily dose, but in 1918 doctors often prescribed doses from 8 to 31 grams for influenza. The official instructions for the treatment of influenza, sent to American doctors in September 1918, recommended taking 1,3 grams of aspirin every hour. Three weeks later, influenza deaths rose sharply in the United States. It is now known that an overdose of acetylsalicylic acid (the chemical name for aspirin) leads to serious damage to the lungs, brain, liver and kidneys. It is these symptoms that are described in many surviving case histories. They cannot be explained by influenza virus exposure or secondary bacterial infections alone. For children and adolescents under 14 years of age, aspirin is now generally not available. ... >>

Steel Velcro 06.05.2010

Everyone is familiar with the usual Velcro, and in a scientific way - fabric tapes with a loop-hook system, used as convenient fasteners on clothes, shoes and various equipment. Numerous loops are made on one fabric tape, equally numerous curved hooks protrude from the other, with light pressure they create a temporary, but rather tight connection. At the Technical University of Munich (Germany), a steel fastener was made according to the Velcro model. Hooks are stamped on one steel tape, on the other - something like gaping beaks, where the hooks fit tightly. The resulting connection holds well at temperatures up to 800 degrees Celsius, that is, it can be used, for example, for attaching a car exhaust pipe or in rocket technology. Tensile strength - 3,5 kilograms per square centimeter. ... >>

Wind turbine with laser 05.05.2010

Danish engineer Torben Mikkelsen proposed to equip wind turbines with a laser device that measures the wind speed at a distance of 200 meters in front of the turbine. The computer would then be able to rotate the turbine blades around their axes, changing the angle of attack of the blades and achieving the most efficient turbine configuration for each gust of wind. An infrared laser is installed in the center of the hub on which the blades are mounted. Experiments have shown that the efficiency of power generation increases by 5%, wear is reduced and the service life of the blades and generator is increased. ... >>

Britain's oldest rope 04.05.2010

Off the coast of the English Isle of Wight, at a depth of about 10 meters, among the remains of a prehistoric settlement discovered by scuba divers, a piece of rope 11,4 cm long was found. The rope was tied to wooden planks and, apparently, served as a brace during construction. Its age is 8000 years, and it is made of plant fibers, the exact origin of which has not yet been established - perhaps these are nettle or honeysuckle fibers. The settlement was flooded during the rise of the sea level, when the glaciers melted at the end of the last ice age. The oldest rope in the world was found in the desert on the Sinai Peninsula, where, thanks to the dry climate, it lay without rotting for 19 thousand years. Archaeologists say that the invention of the rope is comparable in importance to the further development of technology with the invention of the wheel. ... >>

Stain on a banana 01.05.2010

Brown spots on an overripe banana appear surrounded by a blue band under ultraviolet light. The reasons for the appearance of such spots were investigated by a group of Austrian botanists. It turned out that in the ultraviolet, the decomposition products of the yellow pigment of the banana skin fluoresce. The microscope showed that brown spots usually appear around stomata - microscopic holes in the skin, designed for gas exchange. ... >>

MAXIM solutions for data transmission over the power grid 30.04.2010

MAX2990 is a PLC modem that allows organizing half-duplex asynchronous data transmission at speeds up to 100 kbps in the carrier frequency range of 10...490 kHz using the existing electrical network. The use of digital OFDM modulation provides a reliable connection in low-quality networks under conditions of impulse noise and group signal delays. It also avoids the use of equalizers to compensate for frequency selective signal attenuation. Anti-jamming data coding makes the MAX2990 one of the most reliable PLC modems for industrial applications. The MAX2990 combines both a PHY layer and a MAC layer implemented on a 16-bit RISC microcontroller with a MAXQ core. The built-in flash memory for storing the MAC code and user program is 32 kB, the amount of RAM for data storage is 8 kB. The microcircuit contains a real-time clock, as well as timers with support for PWM mode. For communication with the application microcontroller, ... >>

Black hole for microwaves 27.04.2010

A black hole absorbs everything - both matter and radiation. Microwave black hole, created by Chinese scientists from the Southeastern University in Nanjing, led by Qiang Cheng, does not absorb matter, but does not allow microwave radiation to leave it. This hole is a metamaterial - a substance with a negative refractive index. Recall that the most famous idea associated with the use of such materials is the invisibility cloak or the invisibility carpet, and the most useful is the lens with an infinite focal length. Scientists wound sixty layers of metamaterial on top of each other and got a cylinder, falling on which, the microwave seems to become entangled and cannot fly out. Instead, it is 99% converted into heat. "We hope that this device can be used as a heat emitter or to collect energy. And in the future we want to create the same for visible light," the scientists say. ... >>

artificial nerves 26.04.2010

Carbon conducts electricity. So why not make artificial nerves out of it? But because the human nerve consists of many thousands of the finest nerve fibers, and, therefore, it is necessary to come up with a technology for manufacturing similar fibers, otherwise the nerve will come out as thick as a good cable. Scientists from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA) coped with this task. “In a chemistry lesson, a glass tube is turned into a pipette by heating it in the flame of a burner and stretching the softened glass. We do something like this with glass tubes that are filled with carbon nanotube powder,” says Ilya Ivanov, a participant in the work. Their record was the creation of a cable only four times the diameter of a human hair, which contained 19 individual carbon fibers, each in glass insulation. Thus, each fiber is a separate communication channel. For comparison: the total number of nerve endings on the surface of the human hand is 600. ... >>

Alloy with giant barymagnetic effect 25.04.2010

After freons were outlawed, materials scientists began to actively look for what to make the working body of the refrigerator from. And they keep coming up with the idea of ​​using a solid. It turns out that under the influence of an electric, magnetic field or stretching, some solids cool. Now, scientists from the Universities of Barcelona, ​​Catalonia and Duisburg-Essen, based on the Ni-Mn-ln system, have created a shape memory alloy that has both giant magneto- and baricaloric effects, that is, it cools both under the influence of a magnetic field and when pressure changes. Moreover, the changes that make the crystal lattice of the material unstable and force it to instantly rebuild into a new configuration, which is why the temperature effect occurs, can be quite small. Scientists expect that in the near future, a material with two caloric effects at once will find application in household refrigerators and air conditioners, which will become ... >>

How Lunokhod-1 was found 25.04.2010

"Lunokhod-1" lost many years ago on the surface of the Moon has finally been found! Lunokhod 1 disappeared from radar screens on September 14, 1971, almost a year after it was delivered to the Moon. And this greatly upset the scientists: a French reflector was installed on it, with the help of which, by reflecting a laser beam, physicists hope to measure the distance to the Moon with an accuracy of a millimeter (such accuracy is needed to search for deviations from Einstein's theory of relativity). Since then, four reflectors have remained at their disposal - three were brought by Apollos -11, 14 and 15, and the fourth is on Lunokhod-2. This last one is badly oriented, so it is difficult to use it. And to achieve the required accuracy, five reflectors are required: three for determining the coordinates, one for accounting for tidal forces, and one more for control. And in April 2010, the American satellite "Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter" examined a luminous spot on the surface of the Moon a few kilometers from the place where everyone was looking for "Lunokhod-1". ... >>

Electricity turns to gas 24.04.2010

Turning electricity into methane is the future of alternative energy. Even if we do not take into account the high cost of electricity obtained from sunlight, a breath of wind or the movement of waves, alternative energy systems have an ineradicable drawback - dependence on the weather. The wind blows either strongly or weakly, the clouds cover the Sun, the calm on the sea is replaced by a storm. Power engineers are not accustomed to such whims. To combine the alternative and existing power systems, you need a link that could smooth out peaks and dips in electricity generation. According to scientists from the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research in Baden-Württemberg, the best way is to use alternative sources to produce combustible gas. The scheme is as follows: electricity generated by a windmill or a solar battery is used to electrolyze water, hydrogen reacts with carbon dioxide and methane is obtained. This is what is being launched into a well-developed network of gas pipelines and gas storage facilities. ... >>

Nanodevice generator 23.04.2010

A generator has been created that can draw energy to power nanodevices from the external environment. The work of Professor Zhong Linwang of the Georgia Tech University to create electricity generators based on zinc dioxide nanorods has led to another success: the new generators were able to provide power to sensors for the acidity of the solution and ultraviolet radiation. Zinc dioxide is a piezoelectric, its crystals are capable of generating electricity when deformed. According to an improved technique, a brush of such crystals is chemically grown on a gold-coated substrate. Then it is filled with methyl methacrylate and the upper part is bled off with plasma. As a result, the generator is protected from the environment, and all bristles are of equal length. On top of the resulting plate is attached a layer of silicon with a platinum coating. Such a generator of 20 thousand bristles with an amplitude of deformation oscillations of 2% per second gives a potential difference of 1,2 V. Created in a similar way ... >>

Cotton conductor 22.04.2010

The idea of ​​embedding electronics in clothes has been haunting designers and journalists for a long time. However, engineers are not yet ready to implement it in the required format - that is, in such a way that a T-shirt-player, jacket-flashlight or hat-telephone would be comfortable and safe. One of the problems - obtaining a fabric capable of conducting electricity - is close to being solved. At a fashion show held at Cornell University (USA), Associate Professor of Fiber Optics Juan Inestroza and his Italian colleagues from the Universities of Bologna and Cagliari demonstrated a conductive cotton fabric. Unlike analogues, it is as soft and light as ordinary fabric, and does not lose its conductive properties either when washing, or when ironing, or when repeatedly creasing. To achieve success, scientists have developed a technology for applying a layer of semiconductor polymer with metal nanoparticles to cotton fiber. A graduate student from the Faculty of Design, Abby Leibman, who was involved in the work, managed, by adding a few knots, ... >>

We play in the clouds 20.04.2010

A year ago, a gaming service was announced. OnLive using cloud computing technology. At GDC 2010, it was announced that its official launch will take place on June 17, however, at first only US residents will have access. The subscription price will be $14,95 per month, but there will be special offers from time to time. Gamers can choose between renting games and purchasing them. The first 25 customers are promised three months of free service. There are also publishers who have already supported OnLive with their products. These are EA, Ubisoft, 2K Games, THQ and Warner Bros. ... >>

Smartphone HTC Legend 19.04.2010

Finally officially announced NTS Legend. This is a device in which the developers have tried to remove a number of shortcomings inherent in its predecessor, NTS Nego, and add innovations. So, the body of the smartphone is made of aluminum, while it is completely solid. The operating system is Google Android 2.1 Eclair, a 3,2-inch AMOLED display is used instead of LCD, and the touch panel has become capacitive. In addition, the device has a more powerful Qualcomm MSM 7227 chip with a frequency of 600 MHz. ... >>

Sony PlayStation Move 18.04.2010

At last year's E2010, Sony Computer Entertainment unveiled a prototype next-generation gaming input device. During the GDC XNUMX conference, she announced that the PlayStation Move will be available worldwide this fall. The kit will include the actual motion controller, sub-controller and PlayStation Eye camera. The system is able to recognize both fast and subtle movements: for example, the tilt of a tennis racket or the movement of a brush in the hands of an artist. ... >>

Internet - Nobel Peace Prize 17.04.2010

The Internet is among the nominees for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. The number of applicants reached 237 - a real record. The highest previous value was 205. The Italian version of Wired magazine spoke in favor of the World Wide Web, supported by the 2003 Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and the founder of the $100 Laptop project, Nicholas Negroponte. The winner will be announced on 8 October in Oslo, and if the Internet triumphs, it is not clear who will get the 10 million SEK prize money. At least that was the last year's award, and there is reason to believe that in 2010 the figure will not change. ... >>

Physical culture computer game EA SPORTS Active 2.0 16.04.2010

In addition to its own fitness games like Wii Fit for the Nintendo console, sports-themed products from other companies also come out. Among them, EA Sports Active has gained popularity. As part of the March conference igrodelov Electronic Arts announced a sequel to Sports Active 2.0. Interestingly, among the announced platforms are not only Wii, but also PS3 and iPhone/iPod touch. In the kit, it is planned to supply belts with motion sensors and a heart rate meter. In addition, an online service will be launched that will allow you to easily track your results and communicate with other Active 2.0 users. ... >>

Archeopteryx is not a bird 15.04.2010

This conclusion was reached by an international group of paleontologists, having studied under a microscope one of the ten specimens of this fossil known to our time. Until now, Archeopteryx, who lived about 150 million years ago, was considered the first primitive bird. However, the microscopic structure of the bones shows that they are similar to the bones of dinosaurs, not birds. In addition, in terms of growth rate, Archeopteryx is also closer to dinosaurs: judging by the ring layers of bone, an individual the size of a crow grew after hatching from an egg in 970 days, while a bird reaches this size in two months. So Archeopteryx is just another example of a small feathered dinosaur. Birds appeared millions of years later. ... >>

organic meteorite 14.04.2010

The composition of the meteorite that fell in January 2000 on the ice that covered Lake Tagish in Canada was analyzed using the latest methods. The fragments were soon collected and frozen, so that the meteorite was not exposed to positive temperatures and could not be contaminated with terrestrial organic matter. Analyzes have shown that the carbon in the meteorite is about 6% by weight - this is a record. Almost half of the carbon found is found in organic compounds, among them organic acids - formic, acetic and caproic. The content of formic acid is four times higher than in other meteorites with organic matter. Judging by the ratio of deuterium and ordinary hydrogen in formic acid, this is precisely the "cosmic" acid. By the way, quite a long time ago formic acid was found by radio astronomy methods in interstellar gas clouds. ... >>

Synchrotron in a package 13.04.2010

Physicists working at the synchrotron at Stanford University (USA) have long noticed that on sunny days, which are many in California even in winter, the accelerator beam loses its stability. It turned out that the Sun heats up the asphalt over the ring tunnel of the accelerator and the tunnel is a little "twisted". To disrupt the operation of the synchrotron, it is enough for the deformation to reach one micron per meter of tunnel length. To avoid interference, the asphalt over the tunnel and the first floors of the laboratory building were covered with a 2009 mm thick aluminized polyester film in the summer of 0,05, which was supposed to reflect the sun's rays. The coverage area is about 2000 square meters. ... >>

Cold vs Flu 12.04.2010

In the countries of the Northern Hemisphere, an increase in the number of colds is noted in early September, when children go to school. Epidemiologists in France, Sweden and Norway noted that in September 2009, in parallel with this increase in colds, the number of cases of swine flu temporarily fell. The researchers suggest that rhinoviruses (causative agents of the common cold) compete with the influenza virus and temporarily protect against it. But, for example, in the United States, such an effect has not been found. ... >>

Longevity Elixir from Easter Island 11.04.2010

A few years ago, a fungus was found in ordinary soil from Easter Island that produces a new antibiotic called rapamycin (from the island's local name, Rapa Nui). Rapamycin is used to fight kidney cancer and rejection of transplanted organs. Recently, three American laboratories conducted experiments on the introduction of rapamycin into the diet of mice. Mice were taken elderly - 600 days old, which approximately corresponds to 60 years for a person. An antibiotic mixed into food extended the life of rodents by 9-14%. Its mechanism of action is unclear, in any case, it does not prevent aging, but slows it down. But it is unlikely that this medicine will be used to prolong human life: rapamycin strongly suppresses the immune system. ... >>

Groats with mushrooms replace polystyrene 09.04.2010

Almost all electronics, from huge TVs to pocket players, comes to the buyer in a package made of polystyrene foam, which softens shocks and shocks during transportation. The packaging is good for everyone, but it decomposes very slowly in a landfill, and when burned, it releases toxic gases. In addition, the production of expanded polystyrene is very energy-intensive, and the raw materials are non-renewable hydrocarbons. Two young American inventors founded a firm to produce shock-absorbing packaging developed by them based on biological materials - rice bran, buckwheat and cotton seeds, fastened with mushroom mycelium. The mixture of bran is poured into the form of the desired configuration, infected with mycelium, and after a week the package is ready. Thrown into a landfill, it decomposes in a month, and it is most reasonable to use it for fertilizer, turning it into compost. A factory for the production of packaging from cereals and mushrooms is already operating in the state of New York. ... >>

Tent for other planets 08.04.2010

The American firm ILC, which developed space suits for astronauts who walked on the moon and for American shuttle crews, is now preparing inflatable houses for the future lunar station. A "pipe" with a diameter of three meters is stretched between two metal hemispheres, made of 12 layers of special fabrics and a metallized polymer film. The lunar dwelling is brought into place in the form of a ball, then the middle is inflated with air, and the ball turns into a tubular house for lunar explorers. Air locks and other equipment are located in the end hemispheres. The proposed design can be used both on Mars and on Earth - in the Arctic and Antarctic. ... >>

multimedia refrigerator 07.04.2010

Refrigerator with multimedia functions began to be produced in China. On the door of the unit there is a touch screen, above which there is a video camera eye. The hostess no longer needs to leave notes under the magnet with valuable instructions for the household: you can write information on the screen or record a speech message, for clarity - along with your moving image, in the refrigerator's memory. The recording will start playing when someone approaches the refrigerator. In addition, by touching the screen, you can program various functions of the device - maintaining a certain temperature in different compartments, the frequency of automatic defrosting, making ice cubes, and so on. ... >>

Profession choice - by genes 06.04.2010

In one of the schools in Sichuan Province (PRC), genetic testing of children for early career guidance has been introduced. By swiping a cotton swab along the inner surface of the cheek, the student receives epithelial cells of the oral cavity, on which 11 different genes are analyzed. Among them, for example, genes associated with aggressiveness, enterprise, emotional instability, curiosity for everything new. By the presence and degree of expression of such genes, they try to recommend a future profession to the child. True, serious geneticists believe that such a test says little and may even be harmful to the fate of the child. ... >>

Camera with projector 05.04.2010

The world's first camera with a projector for displaying pictures on a wall or screen began to be produced by the Japanese company Nikon. The diagonal of the projected image is up to a meter. Camera resolution - more than 12 megapixels. ... >>

The city sinks under the weight of man 04.04.2010

Canadian geologists, using precise satellite, radar and laser measurements, have determined that the city of Vancouver, located on the Pacific coast, in the Fraser River Delta, sinks into the soil by 3-8 millimeters per year. This happens under the weight of city buildings. Undeveloped areas of the same delta sink only 1-2 millimeters per year. According to American data, in recent years, some areas of New Orleans have been sinking into the ground by almost 3 centimeters a year. The influence of heavy urban structures on the fate of coastal cities must be taken into account when predicting sea level rise due to global warming. ... >>

Color vision of bats 03.04.2010

After studying the retinas of two species of bats from Central and South America, German physiologists came to the conclusion that these bats can distinguish colors. Cones are found in the retina - cells that work only in good light and allow you to see color. There are two types of them: perceiving yellow-green color and sensitive to ultraviolet. The latter are needed to search for food - flowers with nectar (many flowers glow brightly with reflected light in the ultraviolet range). The proportion of color-sensitive cells in the retina of bats is less than 4% (in humans, approximately 5,3%). ... >>

Dragonfly with TV camera 02.04.2010

Teachers and students of the Delft University of Technology (Holland) have created a miniature aircraft with a wingspan of 10 centimeters. "Dragonfly" weighs 3,07 grams, of which 1 gram falls on a battery, 0,4 grams - on a television camera with a radio transmitter and about a gram - on the engine. Fluttering its wings at a frequency of 30 strokes per second, the "insect" develops speed up to 5 meters per second, while transmitting a color image of everything around to the monitor. One battery charge is enough for three minutes of flight. ... >>

Asphalt with nanotubes 01.04.2010

Winter road icing is a problem in all countries with cold and temperate climates. Another solution is proposed at the University of Houston (USA): to lay carbon nanotubes in asphalt and heat them with a passed current. In this way, it was possible to warm up a block of asphalt with an area of ​​25 square centimeters and a thickness of 10 centimeters from minus ten to zero degrees Celsius in two hours. As a heating layer, paper with an admixture of nanotubes, already mass-produced for electronics and inexpensive, was used. Power consumption was only six watts. Of course, the energy consumption for the whole roadway will be much higher, but the developers hope that it will pay off by saving the cost of chemicals and road clearing by mechanical means. ... >>

ON Semi Launches New 600V N-Channel MOSFETs 31.03.2010

ON Semiconductor announced new NDD04N60Z-1G, NDD04N60ZT4G, NDF06N60ZG, NDF10N60ZG N-channel MOSFETs with operating voltage up to 600V. 4 ohm, Low gate charge down to 6 nK, High ESD protection through built-in zener diodes, TO-10FP, DPAK and IPAK packages. ... >>

NCP694 - 1 amp LDO regulator from ONSemi 29.03.2010

ON Semiconductor Announces NCP694 Series Super Low Dropout LDO Regulator with 1A Output Current, Input Voltage: 1,4V to 6V, Output Current: 1A, Sink Current: 60µA (0,1µA in sleep mode). mode), Voltage drop for Vout = 3,3 V: 50 mV @ 0,3 A, 180 mV @ 1 A The regulator voltage is 694 mV. The "Chip enable" function can be used to put the device into sleep mode, thus greatly reducing current consumption. Ripple suppression up to 1 dB, along with current limiting and thermal protection, make this device versatile and resistant to external influences. The NCP1,2 is available in 3V, 70V, 694V, 0,8V, 1,0V fixed output voltages in miniature HSON-1,2 and SOT-2,5 packages. ... >>

New Linear DC Regulators 28.03.2010

ON Semiconductor introduces the NCP1237, NCP1238, and NCP1288 fixed-frequency, current-controlled controllers for high-efficiency, compact AC/DC converters. Designed for use in laptops, LCDs, printers and other consumer electronics, the instruments offer a choice of operating frequencies and the ability to set one or two overcurrent thresholds. The standard transducer has a built-in 65 kHz oscillator (100 and 133 kHz versions available on request). The patented Soft-Skip mode used in these microcircuits allows you to smoothly reduce the maximum current, reducing the risk of low-frequency noise. This allows you to save on additional components, simplifying the design of the device and transformer. Combining this with current limiting, the new controllers provide a high level of efficiency at low load resistance by reducing the input power at idle. ... >>

A hungry microbe will not touch 27.03.2010

In order to destroy the enemy that has penetrated the body, there is an immune system. And what about the external enemy, living on the so-called border tissue - the surface of the intestines, lungs or on the skin? If you keep the immune system in constant tension, you get chronic inflammation. And if you do not keep, then how to deal with pathogens? Scientists from the University of Bonn, led by Professor Michael Hoch, have discovered a mechanism that is completely independent of the immune system, and hunger is needed to activate it. It turns out that the cells of both the human body and Drosophila flies are capable of producing so-called antimicrobial peptides - they destroy cell membranes and kill microorganisms (the authors of the message do not specify whether they are any or only harmful). The signal for the production of such peptides is given by the FOXO transcription factor. This factor is busy turning on or off some genes. It, in turn, activates the low content of insulin, which falls just when hungry or excessive ... >>

Embroidery of electrons by ion 26.03.2010

The process of autoionization became known not yesterday. Its essence is that if an electron is knocked out of a molecule using X-rays, then after a few femtoseconds another electron will be released. Clarity in the details of this process was made by German physicists from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics and the Fritz Haber Institute. They irradiated small pieces of ice with soft x-rays from a synchrotron source and received electron pairs. It turned out that the second electron does not fly out from the same water molecule that was excited by the absorption of an X-ray photon. Having emitted the first electron, it removes the remaining excitation in a very specific way - passing it on to another molecule, and that one loses its electron. The transfer of excitation occurs in a non-contact way. This phenomenon is called "intermolecular Coulomb decay". "The appearance of a cascade of slow electrons during irradiation makes it possible to better understand why high-energy rays are detrimental to living beings. After all, as it was established ... >>

MusicDNA - successor to MP3 25.03.2010

A new audio file format designed to curb the rise of piracy called MusicDNA is based on MP3 and contains a number of interesting features. For example, it is planned to include additional content in the files, such as lyrics, event updates (dates for future tours, interviews with artists, etc.), images. Content is generated by record companies, musicians, distributors and sent to file owners automatically when updates become available. MusicDNA files can be played on any MP3 player and can also be integrated into social networks. The beta version of the MusicDNA format is scheduled for spring 2010, and the release is expected in the summer. ... >>

Apple iPad Tablet 24.03.2010

As experts predicted, on January 27, Apple introduced its "latest creation" - the Apple iPad tablet. By design, it is similar to other products of the company, for which it has already been nicknamed "iPod-nepepoctok". Touch IPS-display (!) 9,7 inches in size has a slightly forgotten resolution of 1024x768 pixels and supports Multi-touch. The heart of the tablet is an Apple A4 processor with a frequency of 1 GHz. The iPad will support Wi-Fi or 36-connection. The main purpose of the device is to browse the Internet, read e-books (Apple has launched an online iBooks store), listen to music, watch movies, etc. The most remarkable thing about the iPad is the price, which starts at $500 in the US. ... >>

solar fabric 23.03.2010

In one of the stories of science fiction writer Vladimir Nemtsov, Soviet scientists invent a solar battery in the form of fabric, which is much more convenient to handle than rigid solar panels. The dream of a science fiction writer was realized by American specialists, among them Alan Heeger, who received the Nobel Prize in 2000 for creating the first electrically conductive polymers. On the basis of these polymers, as well as thin steel and silver wires coated with a photosensitive polymer, flexible and thin (about a millimeter) panels are produced that generate an electric current when illuminated. The efficiency is only 3%, but the creators of the photovoltaic fabric claim that this is an "honest" efficiency obtained in real conditions, including in a normally lit room, and not on a clear noon at the equator, as measured by other manufacturers. From flexible solar panels, you can, for example, sew tents for tourists and climbers and even clothes. Based on them, they have already begun to make comfortable, folded into a little ... >>

Cow with a methane tank 22.03.2010

Argentine biologists have supplied several cows with a balloon that collects methane produced in the complex stomach of ruminants when they digest food. Experimenters claim that a tube inserted into the stomach for several days does not interfere with the animal. It turned out that a cow weighing 550 kilograms emits 800-1000 liters of methane per day. This gas contributes to the greenhouse effect much more than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that the Argentine cattle population (55 million heads) contributes almost a third of all greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by this country. Biologists intend to experiment with different types of forage to find ways to reduce emissions. ... >>

Origin of gold 21.03.2010

In the early period of its existence, the Earth was semi-molten, and over several tens of millions of years, until its main mass solidified, heavy elements, such as iron and nickel, sank closer to the center. Therefore, the core of the Earth consists mainly of these metals. But it is not clear why such heavy metals as gold or platinum, and the same iron, are still present in the surface rocks of the earth's crust in fairly large quantities. German geophysicist Gerhard Schmidt from the University of Mainz suggests that once upon a time "rain" fell on the Earth from meteorites containing large amounts of heavy elements, and it was he who enriched the earth's crust with these metals. According to Schmidt's calculations, the fall of 160 asteroids with an average diameter of 20 kilometers would be enough to accumulate modern deposits of heavy metals. ... >>

What does the library smell like? 20.03.2010

The smell of old books in any library excites the heart of every book lover. A perfumer would define this fragrance as a mixture of a grassy smell with a hint of vanilla, a touch of mustiness and something sour. Recently, a group of researchers from England and Slovenia proved that by analyzing the smell of old paper, one can determine the condition of a book or document. Using gas chromatography, scientists analyzed the smell of 72 documents and publications of the 15th and XNUMXth centuries and were able to isolate XNUMX volatile compounds, the ratio of which makes it possible to determine the degree of destruction of paper. Such an analysis requires much less time and effort than a detailed review of each page. Inspection of books and documents should begin after the smell gives cause for alarm, and then preventive measures can be taken. The researchers hope that they will be able to design a handheld chromatographic analysis device with which every librarian can quickly check the status of their wards. ... >>

Red wine, white wine, iron 19.03.2010

Everyone knows the rule: red wine is required for meat dishes, and only white wine for fish dishes. The Japanese, who consume large quantities of fish and other seafood in large quantities, know that they also give an unpleasant aftertaste with red wine. Japanese chemists led by Takayuki Tamura decided to find out what is the reason. Experienced tasters were asked to sample red and white wines with scallops (a kind of shellfish) and were asked to rate the presence of an unpleasant aftertaste on a scale from 0 (none) to 4 (strong). It turned out that the wines that give the strongest taste with seafood contain a lot of iron. To test, chemists removed the iron from the wines that contained it and added iron salts to the varieties devoid of it. Indeed, they began to give an unpleasant aftertaste with the scallop. We tried to add or remove other metals - zinc, manganese and copper, but they did not affect in any way. The experimenters came to the conclusion that iron reacts with unsaturated fatty acids, which are abundant in fish and ... >>

Lights in the night sea 18.03.2010

Hundreds of thousands of migratory birds are killed every spring and autumn while crossing the North Sea. The lights of numerous drilling platforms for oil and gas production disturb the orientation of the birds, leading them astray. And in those cases when a flare of associated gas burns on the platform, the birds can die in the fire. Physiologists have determined that birds are much less sensitive to blue and green light than to the usual white, yellow and red lights found on offshore platforms. However, experiments on offshore drilling rigs by a Dutch oil company have shown that blue light has a sleep-inducing effect on night shift workers. Therefore, lighting engineers, in collaboration with physiologists and environmentalists, have developed special lamps and signal lights, the spectrum of which is shifted to the blue-green region. As a result, the number of birds deviating towards drilling platforms at night, on which new lamps are installed, has decreased by 2-10 times. ... >>

The smallest TV camera 16.03.2010

Two Israeli firms have created a subminiature camera for endoscopy. A color television camera, together with a lens, is half a centimeter long and 1,2 millimeters in diameter. The dimensions of the matrix that perceives the image are 0,7 by 0,7 millimeters. The small size of the camera allows you to run it not only into the stomach, but also into the bronchi, and even through a small puncture into the knee joint to see its internal damage. Serial production will begin in the summer of 2010. In mass production, the camera is so cheap that it will be used in disposable endoscopes, which, after examining the next patient, are not sterilized, but simply thrown away. ... >>

centenarians are born 15.03.2010

A child born in an industrialized country after the year 2000 has a good chance of surviving into the 1950nd century. Danish doctors summed up the growth of life expectancy in three dozen countries around the world. When compared with the year of birth in 80, the chances of those born later to live more than 2009 years have doubled. The life expectancy of children born in 104 in the US is approaching XNUMX years. At the beginning of the twentieth century, life expectancy grew mainly due to a decrease in infant mortality, and now - due to improved methods of treating diseases of the elderly. True, this progress will put before the states the problem of population aging. ... >>

Asbestos disposal 14.03.2010

Asbestos, which until relatively recently was widely used in construction, is hazardous to health - its finest fibers, once in the air, can eventually cause a tumor in the lungs. Therefore, all over the world it is necessary to demolish or reconstruct structures that were once built using asbestos. For example, in France, 25-40 million tons of asbestos and asbestos cement will have to go somewhere. Now there are two ways to neutralize a dangerous mineral: bury it in a landfill or burn it with plasma burners so that the thin fibers fuse into a glassy mass and lose their ability to fly through the air. Engineers from the Higher School of Chemistry and Technology in Toulouse (France) dissolve asbestos cement in heated hydrochloric acid. The result is a mixture of harmless (and even necessary for some industries) salts of magnesium, calcium, silicon, iron and aluminum and carbon dioxide. All of this has commercial value. Burial of a ton of asbestos waste costs 330 euros, plasma treatment - 1500 euros, and decontamination ... >>

Instead of a screw - a fish 11.03.2010

The Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany) has created a new type of ship propulsion device that imitates the swimming of fish. Segments are attached to a flexible "spine" one and a half meters long, each of which is movable thanks to an electromagnet. Turning alternately and synchronously, they give the body of the "fish", mounted on the stern of the vessel, a wave-like movement, and the vessel moves forward. Such a propeller is more efficient and less noisy than a propeller. ... >>

museum allergy 10.03.2010

A survey of about a hundred employees of the National Museum of Poland in Warsaw showed that more than 70% of employees suffer from allergies in the form of a runny nose, conjunctivitis, skin rashes and asthma attacks. In a third of cases, symptoms appear only at work, and tests have shown that fungi that start on museum exhibits are the main cause. According to doctors, the ventilation system in the halls is weak, which can be dangerous for the health of visitors. ... >>

Corn has a brain 08.03.2010

Back in the XNUMXth century, physiologists discovered that when a fly lands on a sundew leaf, an electrical signal arises in the leaf, causing it to fold, capture and digest the insect. Later, biocurrents were found in other plants. Italian botanists recently discovered that there is a zone at the tip of the corn root where electrical impulses occur constantly, and in neighboring cells they are coordinated with each other. In a figurative sense, the discoverers even talk about the "brain" of corn. The electrical activity of this site controls the growth of the root. ... >>

Underground pipe repair 07.03.2010

Leaky water pipes in the world's cities waste 88 billion liters of purified water every day, according to the World Bank. Experts consider it acceptable to lose 3500 liters of water per day per kilometer of main pipes. To cope with even such "small" losses, it is necessary either to change the entire system, or to reduce the water pressure in the water supply. Israel has proposed a new way to deal with cracks in underground main pipes. The water in the area is turned off. A "coupling" of two pistons made of elastic material is launched into the pipe. Between them is a viscous solution of a special composition. Water pressure drives this system through the pipe. When it crawls up to the crack, the pressure of water squeezes out a little repair mixture into the crack, which soon hardens. After that, it is necessary to wash the pipes and again let the water into the residential areas. The method can also be applied to oil and gas pipelines. ... >>

Soot on the roof of the world 06.03.2010

The highest weather station in the world, installed a few years ago on Everest, reported that soot covers the snow of the Himalayas. It mostly settles in the morning. Soot is brought by winds from India and Nepal, where the air is heavily polluted by industrial fumes and smoke from the hearths of local residents. The blackening of mountain snows and glaciers accelerates their melting. ... >>

To the sky on a fuel cell 02.03.2010

The German experimental aircraft "Antares" made the first flight on a battery of fuel cells, in which hydrogen, oxidized by atmospheric oxygen on a membrane with a catalyst, gives an electric current. The only resulting emissions are water vapour. Electricity rotates a propeller mounted above the fuselage. The battery gives 25 kilowatts, and for flying in a straight line, the light Antares requires about 10 kilowatts. The supply of hydrogen is enough for five hours of flight at speeds up to 170 km/h. In the foreseeable future, engineers see no prospects for hydrogen-electric aircraft. However, fuel cells can be used in large airliners as an auxiliary source of electricity, for example, for hydraulic system pumps, for interior lighting, and so on. ... >>

Fastest JFET Input Amplifiers 28.02.2010

Texas Instruments Corporation announced the launch of the OPA653 and OPA659 Op-Amps (op-amps) with a pn-junction driver (JFET), providing a slew rate of Vout up to 2,675 kV / µs - three times faster than that of the nearest competitor, which allows to improve impulse response. These op amps combine a broadband voltage feedback amplifier and a high impedance JFET front end. With its wide signal bandwidth (SBR) and low total harmonic distortion, op amps meet the requirements for frequency analysis and fast Fourier transform. ... >>

back hydrotherapy 27.02.2010

A treadmill in a water-filled pool can cure some back injuries. When the spine is broken, doctors usually tell the patient that they will never walk again. Physical therapists don't always agree. For example, Sandra Stephens, doing her PhD research at the University of Middle Tennessee, decided to put such patients on their own feet. This idea was inspired by the work of this university with children who had cerebral palsy. The essence of her proposal is that the patient, without any help, walks along a treadmill set in a pool filled with water. Water, being much denser than air, supports the patient and significantly slows down his movements. Therefore, he has time to concentrate and independently restore the lost balance. Sandra Stevenė's results were very good: she brought back to their feet several people with spinal fractures received during accidents. After a course of treatment ... >>

Forest of white pipes 26.02.2010

Michigan scientists have grown nanotubes from boron nitride. White boron nitride nanotubes differ from the more well-known black carbon nanotubes not only in color, but also in properties. For example, heating up to 1100 ° C is beyond their control. The electrical properties of nitride tubes are also good, with the help of doping they can easily be turned into a semiconductor and used for power electronics. Their hydrophobicity is also very high - a coating of such nanotubes will have a lotus effect, and if it is applied to glass, it will retain transparency. However, it is not easy to obtain tubes from boron nitride: they grow unstable, and the components are poisonous, and the temperature is high, and they readily absorb impurities. Scientists from the Michigan Technological University, led by Associate Professor Ek Kin Yap, coped with these problems and grew a forest of more or less identical boron nitride nanotubes on a substrate. The mechanism of their growth is similar to carbon ones, that is, one cannot do without a catalyst - in the experiment of Ek Kin Yap it was magnesium oxide ... >>

Digital Photo: Through the Looking Glass 24.02.2010

Calling the new fashionable trend in camera design "mirrorless" is a bit of a stretch, as DSLRs still reign supreme in the world of professional photography. But "through the looking glass" - just right. A new class of interchangeable lens cameras equipped with a large sensor but lacking a mirror system is starting to take off with the Olympus Pen E-P1 and Panasonic GF1 joined by the Samsung NX10, which features a large APS-C sensor. There is no doubt that all the leading players are following the success of the pioneers in this field very closely and are probably preparing their own variations on the theme. Other highlights include Sony's new Exmor R back-illuminated CMOS sensor, which significantly reduces noise when shooting at high sensitivities and in low light. Well, we should not forget about the Internet orientation of photo and video devices - many are optimized for use with YouTube, blogs and social networks. ... >>

Interactive and 3D TV 23.02.2010

After Full HD TV and Blu-ray have become commonplace, it's time for the next quantum leap. TVs in 2010 will feature never-before-seen "intellect" and processing power. But the main thing is that television is becoming more and more interactive, and the TV services provided are more computer-friendly. In fact, could anyone recently imagine that we would communicate via Skype using the TV in the living room? But another trend is more interesting. It is safe to say that the era of three-dimensional images has begun in the world of TV. At the exhibition, 3D TV and their indispensable attribute - special glasses - were everywhere, at the stands of every major manufacturer. Moreover, the Blu-ray 3D format has finally been approved, the first 30D video disc has already been created, and equipment for XNUMX broadcasts and video recording is being produced. ... >>

Why does a toucan need a beak 21.02.2010

The toucans, living in the tropical forests of Central and South America, are known for their huge beaks. Various hypotheses have been put forward about its function. It can be used to squeeze the juice from fruit, to crack tough nuts, or to crush the shells of eggs stolen from other people's nests. It happens that birds fight with their powerful beaks. By loudly clicking its beak, the toucan can frighten and drive away enemies. In any case, this huge appendage of the head often complicates the life of its owner. Because of the beak, toucans are clumsy in flight. Some species, so that the beak does not interfere in sleep, even sleep on their backs, lifting it up. Canadian biologists have proven that the beak of a toucan also performs the function of thermoregulation. They placed the bird in an isolated chamber and gradually raised the temperature in it. When the temperature exceeded 25 degrees Celsius, the numerous blood vessels in the beak expanded and the heat began to be released into the air. Thus, the beak of a toucan (as, for example, the ears of an elephant) serves as a cooling radiator. ... >>

Draw at meetings 20.02.2010

Quite often, the participants in the meetings, pretending to take notes, draw little devils or flowers in their notebooks. Psychologists from the University of Plymouth (UK) found that these "handwriting" help memorize the content of the reports. Forty participants in the experiments listened to a sound recording of an uninteresting text read in a monotonous voice. Half of the participants were asked to just sit and listen, half were asked to draw whatever came to mind on a piece of paper. Then they checked how the subjects were able to remember the eight names and eight geographical names mentioned in the text. It turned out that the results for those who drew were 29% better than for those who just listened. Apparently, drawing is not distracting, as one might think, but helps to concentrate. ... >>

India - a country of solar energy 19.02.2010

The Government of India announced plans for the development of solar energy in the country. The program, designed for 30 years, will require an investment of about 19 billion US dollars. Now the country's solar plants have a total capacity of 5 megawatts. By 2020 it should grow to 20 gigawatts, by 2030 to 100 gigawatts and by 2050 to 200 gigawatts. All conventional thermal power plants will be required to have solar plants and generate at least 5% of their power from the sun. The authorities intend to cancel all duties on the import of materials for the construction of solar power plants. ... >>

Night watchman - a profession for the Internet 18.02.2010

4,2 million surveillance cameras have been installed in buildings, streets and roads in the UK to protect against crime. The average Englishman is caught by one camera or another 300 times a day. If an observer sat behind the monitor of each camera, this work would have to be occupied by the entire able-bodied population of London. In fact, at any given moment, someone is monitoring the image of only one camera in a thousand. Meanwhile, crime in England is on the rise. Three Britons came up with the idea: to put a picture from security cameras on the Internet, where there will always be enough users who, having nothing to do, are ready to follow what is happening on the streets of England for a while. Having registered on a special site, you need to go to any of the cameras connected to the Internet at a convenient time for you, and, until you get bored, keep an eye on whether laws are being violated in its field of vision. Having noticed a violation, you need to click the mouse, and the owner of the camera will receive an alarm signal with a fixed frame ... >>

Ceramic gets wet slowly 17.02.2010

Chemist Moira Wilson from the University of Manchester (UK) has proposed a new method for determining the age of ancient pottery. It turns out that the minerals that make up ceramics, after firing and cooling, begin to slowly hydrate - to attach moisture from the air to themselves. By the amount of water in hydrated minerals, you can determine when the product was fired. Experiments on bricks and vessels aged 2000 years, determined by other methods, showed the high accuracy of the new technique. ... >>

Tram without wires 16.02.2010

In Paris, on tram route number three, a tram that does not need wires is being tested. Hidden under its roof are 48 supercapacitor batteries. They are charged with energy in 20 seconds while the tram is at a stop, for which the driver raises the pantograph and connects the car to the wires. During this time, 800-1,6 kilowatt-hours are stored in batteries with a total weight of about 2 kg. This charge is enough to drive 30 meters to the next stop at a speed of up to 400 km / h. Supercapacitors, they are also ionistors, are a special type of capacitors with a very large surface of plates immersed in an electrolyte. Their energy content per kilogram of weight is less than in common types of batteries, but ionistors are lighter than batteries, charge much faster, last longer and withstand much more charge-discharge cycles. Tests of the tram on capacitors will last until autumn 2010. ... >>

Self-adhesive rubber 14.02.2010

Chemists of the French company "Arkema" synthesized rubber based on vegetable oils, the details of which themselves restore their integrity after damage. After some time, the incision site acquires the same strength as before the injury. The new material could have many applications, such as in inner tubes for car tires. ... >>

Aliens pollute the universe 13.02.2010

It is generally believed that civilizations existing in space can impersonate "radio noise" in the VHF band. But the history of the development of terrestrial technology has shown that the era of free radio emission in all directions is relatively short: only half a century has passed since the beginning of the widespread use of television, and television signals mainly began to propagate either via cables or through satellites that radiate strictly to the Earth. American astronomers propose to look in space for traces of synthetic compounds produced only by a fairly advanced civilization. They can be found by infrared radiation. For example, a particularly sensitive infrared telescope is able to detect Freon-type compounds in the planet's atmosphere, even if their concentration is only one part per trillion. Many other synthetic air pollutants also have a characteristic infrared spectrum. ... >>

Control brightness without a slider 10.02.2010

With energy-saving lamps that are now common, conventional dimmers (dimmers) cannot be used. One of the German companies began producing light bulbs, the brightness of which can be controlled using any simple switch. The lamp has four levels of brightness: 100, 66, 33 and 5%. Accordingly, the energy consumption changes. To move from one stage to another, you need to turn off the lamp and turn it on again after three seconds. Power switching is carried out by a microcircuit hidden in the base. ... >>

Internet slows down in summer 09.02.2010

Journalists of the American magazine "Wired", devoted to novelties of electronic technology, became interested in this issue. Since most of the cables that make up the World Wide Web system are made of copper, in the summer the speed of downloading information from the Internet seems to be reduced. As the temperature rises, the resistance of metals increases. However, a review of data on the seasonal change in the speed of 15-20 major world Internet providers showed that, on the contrary, the speed of information transfer is maximum from June to August. The point is simply that most of the Internet users are concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere and in the summer they relax, rarely turning on their computers. Thus, in July 2008, the volume of information transferred was 58% lower than in September, when everyone returned from vacations and surfed the Internet, increasing the load on communications. ... >>

Babies cry in their native language 08.02.2010

A group of psychologists from the University of Würzburg (Germany) recorded the cry of 60 newborns from three to five days old from Germany and France. The recordings were then passed through a computer that produced a spectrogram of the sounds. The resulting diagrams show that German infants start crying with high and loud notes, and then gradually reduce the frequency and volume. French, on the contrary, move from low frequency and volume to high. The authors of the work attribute this to the fact that the child hears his native speech while in the womb, and imitates some features of pronunciation in his crying, even without being able to speak. It is known that the French raise their tone towards the end of the phrase, and their stress is always at the end of the word. In German, the stress is usually closer to the beginning of the word. ... >>

Chimpanzee Inventors 07.02.2010

Chimpanzees, in order to get tasty termites from the termite mound, stick a stick into the termite mound. Insects feeding on wood cling to a stick, after which the monkey licks its fishing gear. Chimpanzees from the Nuabale-Ndoki National Park in the Congo have perfected this method. They found a species of trees that have a sticky sap under the bark, they remove the bark from the branches of this tree with their teeth and stick it into the termite mound. Termites stick, and catches immediately grow. ... >>

Pocket electronic encyclopedia 04.02.2010

One of the American electronic companies has released a small gadget containing three million articles of the popular Internet encyclopedia "Wikipedia". Any article can be called up through the on-screen keyboard and read on a black-and-white screen. However, accompanying illustrations are not shown, only text. Two AAA batteries are enough for several months of operation. The device does not have access to the Internet, but by connecting it to a computer, you can update the content every six months for free ("Wikipedia" is constantly growing, replenished and refined by Internet users). So far, only the English version of the encyclopedia can be carried in your pocket. ... >>

Fertilizers and fish 03.02.2010

In the Mediterranean Sea, stocks of commercial fish species are falling. Only off the coast of Egypt, the fish became larger and more numerous. Studies have shown that the reason is in the Aswan power plant, built in 1955 with the help of the Soviet Union. After the creation of the reservoir, the Nile floods stopped, which for centuries and millennia brought fruitful silt to the fields. Local farmers had to apply more fertilizer (up to 900 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per hectare). Water flowing from the fields carried fertilizer to the Nile, and from there to the sea. In addition, the population has grown, and sewage is often dumped into the river or directly into the sea without treatment. As a result, phytoplankton flourished off the coast of Egypt, followed by microalgae-eating zooplankton and plankton-eating fish. Catches compared with 1955 increased three times. ... >>

NexFET with double-sided cooling 31.01.2010

Texas Instruments announced the release of the industry's first family of standard-mount, high-power MOSFETs that dissipate heat through both the bottom and top of the package for high-current DC/DC applications. This design allows power system designers to efficiently remove heat from printed circuit boards in high voltage DC or AC applications. This makes it possible not only to increase the density of power supplies, but also to expand the range of supported current loads and increase the reliability of systems. The improved package technology reduces the thermal impedance towards the top of the package from 10 to 15°C per 1W to 1,2°C/W, resulting in an increase in heat dissipation capacity of up to 80%. Efficient two-way heat dissipation allows up to 50% more current through the transistor, giving designers the flexibility to use higher current processors without increasing the size. ... >>

Light curtains F3ET and F3EM 30.01.2010

Omron has introduced two new multibeam probes in rugged aluminum housings with an M12 connector. An object with a complex surface shape or a through hole can generate multiple signals when using a sensor with a single light beam. In this case, light barriers and sensors with a contoured detection zone are the ideal solution, which guarantees reliable detection of objects with a non-uniform surface. F3ET is a light barrier in a robust aluminum housing. Housed in a rugged aluminum housing, the F3ET light barrier provides reliable object detection in a 5D area and guarantees quick and easy installation without additional requirements - thanks to 12-pin MXNUMX connectors and optical synchronization of transmitter and receiver. ... >>

potato starch 29.01.2010

Potatoes containing only one type of starch - amylopectin, were bred by German bioengineers. There are two types of starch in ordinary potato tubers: water-insoluble amylopectin and soluble amylose. It is the first that finds application in industry - they process paper to make it smooth, cover threads and use it to make all kinds of sticky binders. In general, the Germans alone consume half a million tons of this substance per year. And they are forced to spend a lot of effort in order to separate it from amylase. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, led by Professor Dirk Prüfer, decided to make life easier for starch manufacturers and grow potatoes with only amylopectin. To do this, they caused mutations in potato seeds, and then, analyzing the first leaves of seedlings, they tried to find those that would have the correct genome: those with suppressed amylose genes. Luck smiled at them after 2748 experiments. Apply scientists tr ... >>

Magnet hammers steel 26.01.2010

The pulse of the magnetic field makes holes in the steel sheet in a fraction of a second. Drilling steel is not easy - the drill quickly becomes blunt, and metal chips remain in the workplace. You can use a laser, but it requires a lot of energy. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Tools and Shaping Technology decided to use the pulse of the magnetic field. The installation consists of a charger, a capacitor and a solenoid. A charge accumulates in the capacitor, then it is discharged in microseconds, and a powerful current arises in the coil, which, in turn, generates a magnetic field pulse. The field is so strong that a piece of steel that is under its action literally flies out of the sheet. "A laser makes a hole in 1,4 seconds, and a magnetic pulse in milliseconds," says project leader Dr. Verena Krausel. The new device is being tested at the Volkswagen plant. ... >>

Paper based batteries 24.01.2010

According to the BBC, one of the papers published in the National Academy of Sciences refers to the creation of batteries, the main material for which should be plain paper. More precisely, it will serve as a kind of framework for new types of batteries, and the tasks of accumulating and storing charge will be assigned to carbon nanotubes. Due to its structure, conventional paper, which consists of millions of interconnected fibers, will serve as an excellent backbone for networks of nanotubes. One of the main advantages of such batteries can be their small thickness and flexibility, which allows you to literally collapse the battery. ... >>

Melissa for astronauts 20.01.2010

Created by engineers and biologists of the European Space Agency, the installation "MELISSA" (an abbreviation of English words translated as "micro-ecological alternative life support system") is intended for deep space flights. The installation simulates the processes occurring in natural water bodies and ensuring the decomposition of waste products to simple compounds, which are then used to create new organic matter. Regeneration systems worked on the Mir space station, they work on the International Space Station, but they can only regenerate air and water. "MELISSA" will allow cosmonauts on a long flight or on an alien base to use solid household waste. A community of bacteria and blue-green algae refines the slurry obtained by grinding solid and liquid waste, after which the resulting nutrient solution enters the hydroponic compartment. Plants that will be used as food for astronauts are grown there: wheat, tomato ... >>

Guest workers in the world 19.01.2010

French statisticians and economists analyzed the activities of labor migrants on a global scale. Guest workers now make up 3% of the world's population (200 million people). Of these, 75% came from southern countries to the north. They send $160 billion a year to their home countries. This is three times more than official international assistance to developing countries. ... >>

Ice on an asteroid 18.01.2010

American astronomers using the NASA infrared telescope, located in the Hawaiian Islands, found ice on the asteroid Themis. This small (160 km across) celestial body was discovered back in 1853. Themis is about three times farther from the Sun than the Earth, and yet the temperature there is such that the ice could evaporate. Why it is still intact is not entirely clear, perhaps a layer of ice is buried several meters below the surface. ... >>

Alcohol leads to cancer 17.01.2010

The French National Institute of Oncology published a report. According to studies, daily consumption of one glass of dry wine increases the likelihood of colon cancer by 9%, breast - by 10%, esophagus - by 28%, oral cavity and pharynx - by as much as 168%. These conclusions are obtained by summarizing the results of 500 studies conducted in different countries. ... >>

Dog 31000 years old 14.01.2010

An international expedition of archaeologists unearthed the remains of a 31-year-old dog in a Belgian cave. This is 18 years older than previously known evidence of dog domestication by humans, and approaches the time dog domestication has been calculated by geneticists - 40 years since the dog split from its wild ancestors. The calculation was made according to the known rate of gene change by comparing the genome of a modern dog with the genome of its ancestors. ... >>

Airplanes - clean air 13.01.2010

How is air supplied to the cabin of an airliner flying in the stratosphere? It is taken from the air intakes, taking away part of the air entering the turbines. But this means an extra load on the engines, so fresh air is diluted with recirculated air that has been cleaned. Usually, 50% of fresh air is taken, but sometimes, to save fuel, pilots bring its content to only 20%. As a rule, a fabric made of special microfibers serves as the main filter element. It traps almost all microscopic particles, but allows viruses to pass through, which is especially annoying in these days of general swine flu preoccupation. English inventor David Hallam proposed a filter in which air passes through a cloud of cold plasma. It destroys 99,999% of any microscopic particles. The system has already been tested on small airliners by several European companies, and pilots claim that cabin air quality has improved and fuel consumption has been reduced. The new system can also be applied in opera ... >>

The doctor who is always with you 12.01.2010

Several Danish firms have teamed up to create a multifunctional human vital sign sensor. A small box, smaller than a matchbox, is glued with a plaster on the body and constantly measures blood pressure, blood oxygen and sugar saturation, registers body temperature and pulse rate. If these parameters go beyond the normal values, the device itself can call an ambulance through the mobile telephony network. ... >>

Who is on the surveillance video 09.01.2010

England is perhaps the most covered by outdoor surveillance cameras of all countries in the world. Over four million cameras have been installed in a relatively small area of ​​the British Isles. Psychologists from the University of London became interested in the question: how confidently can you identify the face of a person caught in the lens on video frames? The participants in the experiments were shown frames and a living person, demanding to determine whether this person is depicted on the screen? We tried different options: a camera with the usual mediocre resolution and a high-quality one, pictures taken a year ago or just three weeks before the experiments, general or close-up. In all cases, the identification errors were significant and sometimes reached 44%. So it is unlikely that the video can serve as irrefutable evidence in court. ... >>

Containers under the cover 07.01.2010

Cargo containers placed on the deck of a container ship create air resistance, to overcome which excess fuel is spent. In calm weather, this is only a few percent of the total fuel consumption, but in a storm, consumption can increase by 60%. Engineers of the Technical University in Hamburg (Germany), having done experiments with models of container ships in a wind tunnel, offer to cover the deck with a streamlined cover. True, skeptics remind that they tried to install collapsible fairings on ships about fifteen years ago, but it turned out that too much time and labor goes into their installation and dismantling. ... >>

Innovative barcode 06.01.2010

Unlike a conventional barcode, the information in which is written in the form of alternating black and white stripes of different thicknesses, QR, a two-dimensional code consists of several rows of black and white stripes. It can contain much more information. If the strips are made multi-colored, the recording density of information will increase even more. Most often, such a code is written down as an address on the Internet. In the case of train timetables, the photographed image caused the phone to go to a site with train information. On the packaging of many products, codes are printed that allow you to go to the manufacturer's website via your phone and find out more about the product. Codes are often printed in Japanese magazines and newspapers next to articles: by photographing the code, you can get additional details or illustrations on your phone. In Europe, such a system is beginning to spread in Spain, Denmark and Germany. ... >>

Phone surfs the internet 05.01.2010

A passenger on the platform of the station takes a picture of an incomprehensible black-and-white pattern posted on the scoreboard with a mobile phone, presses a button - and a detailed train schedule appears on the phone's display. This scene is already common in Japan. Here, almost all cell phones are equipped with a program capable of deciphering information contained in a special type of bar code - QR, a two-dimensional bar code. In other countries, the introduction of this technique is just beginning. ... >>

Classroom with variable lighting 03.01.2010

In one of the schools in Hamburg (Germany), the behavior of primary school students is controlled by changing the lighting of the classroom. Classes start at 8 am, the children are not yet fully awake. The class includes lamps that give an illumination of 1000 lux at a color temperature of 12 kelvins, which corresponds to daylight in clear weather. It helps the students to wake up. When the classroom becomes noisy, the teacher presses a button on the remote control - and the illumination is halved, and the color temperature is reduced to 000 kelvins. The children calm down. For tasks that require a lot of concentration, the illumination is 3200 lux and the color temperature is 1700 Kelvin. The experiment, which lasted for a year, showed that students in a class with variable lighting read almost 6200% faster than those who studied in a class with conventional lamps. The city government decided to equip 35 elementary school classrooms with variable lighting. ... >>

The sun desalinates the water 02.01.2010

On the scale of our planet, the Sun works as a natural desalinator, evaporating water from the oceans. German engineers from the company "Heliotech" forced our luminary to work in the same position, but on a smaller scale. Sea water is poured into a system of glass tubes exposed to the sun. Air pressure is reduced in the tubes so that the water boils at a low temperature. Here it evaporates, and in another compartment of the system, located in the shade, it condenses. From time to time it is necessary to clean the pipes from the accumulated sea salt. The module, measuring 220x200x190 centimeters and weighing 200 kilograms, produces up to 50 liters of fresh water on a sunny day. In the emirate of Dubai, a desalination plant of 400 such modules is already being built. ... >>

Privateers gathered on the moon 01.01.2010

The company "Google" has announced a competition: a non-governmental organization, the first to be able to throw a lunar rover on the moon, which will pass 500 meters, will receive a prize - $ 30 million. The offer is valid until December 31, 2014. The private Romanian Association of Cosmonautics and Aeronautics (ARCA) intends to participate in the lunar race. A three-stage rocket has already been created, which starts from a height of 14 kilometers. There it will be lifted by a stratostat with a volume of two million cubic meters. Since at this altitude most of the atmosphere will be left behind, the rocket may not have a strictly aerodynamic shape. The flight is scheduled for 2011. One group from Russia also participates in the competition. ... >>

600V N-Channel MOSFETs 31.12.2009

ON Semiconductor has announced new NDD04N60Z1G, NDD04N60ZT4G, NDF06N60ZG, NDF10N60ZG N-channel MOSFETs with operating voltage up to 600 V. Versions are available with a drain current of 4 A, 6 A and 10 A. Low resistance RDS(ON) - about 0,65 ohm . Low gate charge - up to 19 nK. High degree of ESD protection through built-in zener diodes. Cases TO-220FP, DPAK and IRAK. ... >>

NCP693 - new low power LDO regulator 30.12.2009

ON Semiconductor has launched the NCP693 series of fixed output voltage LDOs designed for use in high power applications. The maximum output current of the stabilizers is 1 A. Each device contains a reference voltage source, an error signal amplifier, a power transistor, resistors for setting the output voltage, an overcurrent and overtemperature protection circuit. Regulators consume only 65 µA in no load, and < 0,15 µA in standby mode. The NCP693 is available in a 1,8x2,0x0,50mm DFN package. Standard output voltage versions are 0,8V, 1,0V, 1,2V, 2,5V and 3,3V. Key Features. Iq - 65 µA (typ.) at no load. Maximum operating voltage - 6,5 V. Low output voltage - up to 0,8 V. Output voltage setting accuracy - 1%. Built-in auto-discharge function for version D. ... >>

Place windmills tightly 28.12.2009

"When a school of fish swims, each creates a small whirlwind that helps move its neighbor. This is the principle we decided to apply to improve the efficiency of wind farms," ​​says Robert Whittlesey, a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology, who works in the laboratory of Professor John Dabiri, who studies motion. Living creatures. The fact is that if the windmills are placed too tightly, then their overall efficiency will drop, since the wind power will be spent on the rotation of the blades. Robert Whittlesey calculated an alternative windmill system. In them, the blades do not rotate perpendicularly, but parallel to the surface of the earth, and the windmills themselves are located in the same way as fish in a school. As it turned out, in this case, each next turbine is in the zone of action of the vortex created by the previous one. As a result, the amount of energy collected per unit area built up with windmills increases a hundred times. If the idea is taken advantage of by wind energy, there is apparently a chance that with ... >>

Packaging that winks 27.12.2009

Started production of packaging capable of playing cartoons. The Belgian-Dutch research center IMEC, Hassel University and Artist Screen have created a new company, Lumosa, which will actually make flexible displays. That is, to print an image on a thin or thick PVC film using electroluminescent ink, as well as the electronics that control this image and the driver with software. Under the direction of the latter, the image will change, showing the cartoon. This film can be folded, rolled, folded, and performed other manipulations without any damage to the picture. It is assumed that such a film will be used, first of all, for packaging for video films, as well as advertising. However, the possible application is not limited to this. Apparently, the dream of the defenders of the forest will come true very soon - newspapers will be printed on an electronic display, and not on paper. It remains only to ensure that the display created by the Belgians ... >>

Fullerene will not conduct current 25.12.2009

The electric current between two fullerenes in contact goes badly, German physicists have established. In the future, microcircuits are going to be made from individual molecules, most likely from carbon nanotubes. And they will be placed very tightly on the substrate, because the task is to create subminiature devices. How tightly can you pack them without fear of electric current flowing in the wrong directions? The answer to this question was found by physicists from the University of Kiel, headed by Professor Richard Berndt. They carried out the following subtle experiment. Using the probe of a tunneling microscope, they picked up one fullerene ball and delivered it to a predetermined place. Then they picked up the second same molecule and moved it close to the first one. The accuracy of movement in this case amounted to several trillionths of a meter. By passing an electric current through the resulting pair, the researchers found that the conductivity is low: a hundred times less than that of the fullerene molecule itself. Zn ... >>

Apple Magic Mouse 23.12.2009

Magic (Magic) mouse is replacing the mighty (Mighty). In addition to the name, the shape of the hull is also new, plus all mechanical controls have been completely removed. Now, instead of them, a touch panel covering the entire surface of the device. The left and right mouse buttons are emulated, vertical and horizontal scrolling is supported, as well as two-finger gestures. The price for the Magic Mouse is $69. ... >>

There will be no NVIDIA processors 22.12.2009

NVIDIA CEO Jen-Sun Huang denied the recent rumors about the possibility of the company launching its own x86-compatible processor. In response to Broadpoint AmTech's Doug Friedman, he said that NVIDIA's strategy is clear enough and that all efforts are currently focused on developing visual and parallel computing tools. Also, according to Huang, NVIDIA sees the greatest prospects for further growth in the promotion of graphics processors, intending to cover all types of platforms. For example, GPUs can be used in servers for parallel computing, as well as in supercomputers and cloud computing, and finally for video streaming. ... >>

e-books boom predicted in 2010 20.12.2009

According to Gartner, sales volumes of e-readers grew throughout 2009, and it is expected that 2010 will be marked by especially high interest in these devices. A surge in their sales is forecast for next year's holiday season. Such products are becoming more functional, and the number of players in this market continues to grow. In achieving the success of electronic "readers" their price will play an important role. The cost of a full-featured device during the 2009 sales season will not fall below $199, but will subsequently drop to $99 in order to attract buyers. ... >>

Dell Inspiron Zino HD 19.12.2009

The first information about the compact Dell Inspiron PC appeared in August. And recently new details have become known. The Inspiron 300 and Inspiron 400 are available in two configurations. Previously, the device was supposed to be based on NVIDIA ION, but it ended up being different. The younger model is a nettop based on the Atom platform (with the 945GC chipset). It is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, integrated video from Intel, HDD, DVD drive and card reader. The form factor of Zino HD resembles MacMini. ... >>

Windmill on the high seas 18.12.2009

Wind power plants are more profitable to put in the sea, away from the coast. Above the flat surface of the water, the wind is stronger and more stable, and the constant noise from the rotating turbine does not disturb the surrounding residents. Coastal wind farms have existed in the world for 30 years, but far from land, great depths make it difficult to install a tower with a windmill at the bottom. In the summer of 2009, the Norwegian company Statoil-Hydro installed the first wind farm on the high seas, 10 kilometers from the Norwegian island of Karme. This windmill with a capacity of 2,3 megawatts, manufactured by the German company Siemens, does not rest on the bottom, but is only anchored on it with three braces and floats in the water column, protruding 65 meters above the sea. The structure can be installed at depths up to 700 meters, which is seven times the average depth of the North Sea. The system is considered experimental: for two years, engineers will check whether it is easy to maintain and repair a floating power plant, as well as how reliable the transmission of generated energy will be. ... >>

What do computers breathe? 17.12.2009

According to a group of British experts, in 2007 computers, printers, other peripheral devices, cell phones and other modern information devices were responsible for the emission of 830 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which leads to climate warming. That's about 2% of all human-caused carbon dioxide emissions, the same amount as all of the world's aviation. A quarter of "computer" CO2 occurs in the production of this electronic equipment, three quarters - in the process of its use, due to the consumption of electricity, obtained mainly by burning oil and coal. Experts predict that until 2020, when every third person will acquire a personal computer, and every second inhabitant of the Earth will acquire a mobile phone, the volume of these emissions will grow by 6% annually. After 2020, emissions growth will slow down due to the saturation of the electronics market. ... >>

The new role of DNA 14.12.2009

As biologists from the University of Munich (Germany) have shown, the nuclei of light-sensitive cells - rods in the retina of the eyes of nocturnal animals serve as collective lenses. This phenomenon has been found in two dozen species of animals active mainly at night - cats, mice, rats, bats, lemurs, ferrets, opossums, hedgehogs. The light-refracting element is DNA, collected from nocturnal animals in the center of the spherical nucleus, concentrating light and thereby increasing the sensitivity of the eye. In diurnal animals, rod DNA is scattered in a thin layer along the nuclear envelope. ... >>

Greenhouse gas - in business 13.12.2009

Every year, about 28 billion tons of carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere due to human activities. Since this gas is involved in the formation of the greenhouse effect that warms the Earth's climate, scientists are thinking about how to reduce its emissions. German chemists propose to use CO2 as a source of carbon for the synthesis of organic compounds. Based on carbon dioxide, drugs (for example, aspirin), fertilizers (urea), food additives for animal feed, plastics, and even fuel - methanol can be synthesized. The Japanese chemical concern Mitsui is building a plant in Osaka for the synthesis of methanol from CO2 and hydrogen, and the hydrogen will be produced using solar energy. The plant is to start operating in 2010 and produce 100 tons of methanol annually. However, even if all these opportunities are fully realized, only two billion tons of carbon dioxide will be able to bind annually. In addition, the gas is rather inert, reluctant to react, which requires ... >>

Rain water power plant 10.12.2009

Until 1930, there were developments of silver ore in the Harz (Germany). The mines were flooded with groundwater, so 500 years ago, miners created an ingenious system for pumping water. The mill wheels that powered the pumps were rotated by rainwater collected in special storage ponds through an extensive system of ditches. By now, the system has fallen into disrepair, partially overgrown and collapsed, although even before 1965 it was in good condition. At the University of Bonn, a project has been created to restore the ancient system, but the rainwater will be rotated not by pumps, but by electric generators. It is estimated that the annual cost of energy from rain will be several million euros. ... >>

Bicycle monorail 09.12.2009

The original means of communication invented in New Zealand is a bicycle-drawn cableway. So far, such a road operates only in one of the amusement parks in the resort town of Rotorua, but its creators propose building similar systems in large cities choking on traffic jams. Above the street, cyclists do not interfere with anyone and do not risk falling under the wheels of heavy vehicles themselves. ... >>

solar catamaran 08.12.2009

From the spring of 2010, the Copernicus solar catamaran will start running through the port of Larochelle (France). The boat is 13 meters long and has a displacement of 15 tons and takes on board 45 passengers (a team of two people). The maximum speed is 13 kilometers per hour. The battery of nickel-cadmium batteries is charged from solar panels with an area of ​​25 square meters. In bright sunlight, their power is 3,5 kilowatts, on a cloudy day - 800 watts. At night, the Copernicus is on recharging from the shore network. The second such boat is being built - "Galileo". ... >>

Reading by sound 07.12.2009

The noise of a dot matrix printer can read the text that it prints. This conclusion was reached by a group of computer security experts from the University of Saarbrücken (Germany). They printed out words from a dictionary on a printer and recorded the noise they made. Having compiled a database from the recorded sounds, the researchers taught the computer to restore the text from the rattling of the printer. The recognition success is 70%. Although dot-matrix printers are now considered obsolete, 30% of all German banks still use them to print invoices and statements, and 60% of doctors use these printers to keep medical records. So if you walk into a bank or clinic with a miniature voice recorder and record the noise of the printer, you can access highly confidential data. Experience in a real-life doctor's waiting room has confirmed that these data can indeed be read. ... >>

panoramic digital camera 04.12.2009

The French optical company "Giroptik" has released a panoramic digital camera that gives a full circular panorama. The lens is constantly aimed at a hemispherical mirror. After photographing, the result is loaded into a computer and the picture distorted on the mirror hemisphere is converted into a rectangular tape covering the entire horizon around the camera. The photographer himself will also be shot, unless he sets the self-timer to slow down from 10 to 30 seconds and hides during this time. The quality of the picture, however, is not very high, since 8 megapixels of the photosensitive matrix are "smeared" 360 degrees. ... >>

The influenza virus adapts 03.12.2009

Known drugs against influenza viruses - Tamiflu and Relenza (they are also oseltamivir and zanamivir) - are gradually losing their effectiveness. Already during the winter, 2008-2009, influenza epidemic in Germany, about 5% of patients did not respond to Tamiflu treatment. In the US, drug resistance is even higher, according to official figures. And in Denmark, for the first time, a case was noted when Tamiflu was completely useless in the treatment of swine flu. Many countries, in anticipation of the swine flu pandemic, have stockpiled these medicines at great expense, but the effort may be in vain. ... >>

Flying Solar Observatory 02.12.2009

In June 2009, a stratosphere balloon with a reflecting telescope of a meter diameter and other equipment for studying the Sun, created in Germany, made a flight. This flying observatory was launched from a Swedish spaceport located above the Arctic Circle. The total weight of the installation was about two tons, the balloon was filled with 25 thousand cubic meters of helium, and in the stratosphere, at an altitude of about 37 kilometers, it swelled to a volume of one million cubic meters. Constant air currents carried the balloon to the west. When he reached Canada, a radio signal applied caused the balloon to separate, and the equipment descended by parachute. The flight lasted 137 hours (five and a half days). High-resolution images of the solar disk were taken, the total amount of data collected amounted to several terabytes. ... >>

Vultures and antibiotics 01.12.2009

Large birds that feed on carrion - vultures, vultures and vultures, pecking at the bones of cattle and pigs taken to the landfill, suffer from the action of antibiotics that are mixed into the feed on livestock farms. Blood tests taken from birds from the central regions of Spain, where there are many such dumps, show that the immunity of scavengers is reduced here. Judging by the results of the analysis of the droppings, they are more likely to suffer from bacterial and fungal diseases than birds from the south and west of the country, who find food mainly in the wild. ... >>

IGBT modules with a total lead inductance of 15 nH 30.11.2009

SEMIKRON has introduced the latest generation of low inductance 1200 V SEMITRANS IGBT modules designed for use in 20...300 kW converters. Now these modules will be equipped with V-IGBT chips (Fuji), similar in their characteristics to Trench 4 chips. The new IGBTs feature smoother switching characteristics and lower dynamic losses, which improves conversion efficiency. V-IGBT crystals will be installed in three module sizes in three different configurations, designed for use in eight power ranges. The operating current range of the power switches is 150...600 A. The total inductance of SEMITRANS 3 and 4 outputs is reduced to 15 nH. With a typical IGBT switching speed of 5000 A/µs, the amplitude of switching surges is only 75 V. For power switches of the same class available on the market, this value is in the range of 90...125 V. The new modules will ... >>

Sniper Radio 29.11.2009

With the help of radio waves, American engineers managed to notice a man who is hiding behind a wall. Many people want to see a person through a wall. These are rescuers, and soldiers, and special forces, and criminals, of course. Through the efforts of engineers from the University of Utah, led by Associate Professor Neil Patwari, the dream of all these people can come true. And they created a radio tomograph. The device consists of several dozen radio emitters and receivers associated with them, as well as a central processor. Radiators surround the building, and they begin to generate radio waves that easily pass through the walls. As in any tomograph, detectors catch this radiation and form a map of inhomogeneities - after all, any obstacle, including a person, partially absorbs radio waves. But a person, unlike walls, moves. Therefore, having noticed a moving inhomogeneity, the computer isolates it and shows it in bright color. And then the operator decides what to do with the received data, depending on his task. ... >>

Roadside Magnetic Leaves 27.11.2009

According to the leaves of trees, one can judge the level of air pollution, according to American geophysicists. Everything that is contained in the exhaust gases, and not only in them, settles on the leaves of trees, including microscopic particles of iron oxide with magnetic properties. After that, the leaves also become magnetic, and the level of their magnetism can be used to judge how polluted the air is by the products of fuel combustion. This was found out by researchers from the University of Western Washington, led by Bernie Hausen, by analyzing the leaves from trees that grow in the city next to the bus stop, on the next street and outside the city. As expected, the most magnetic, that is, dirty, were the leaves in the area of ​​the stop. On the neighboring street, the pollution level turned out to be 2-8 times lower, and outside the city - 4-10 times lower. It turns out that if, when traveling around the city, you choose not a busy street, but a quiet lane, then not only cleaner air, but much cleaner air will get into your lungs. By the way, ... >>

Camera Pentax Kx 26.11.2009

Pentax has introduced a new device K-x, belonging to the segment of low-cost SLR cameras. It will replace the K2000. This model differs from the previous model in an improved CMOS sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels, which has increased light sensitivity. Its standard range is 200-6400 ISO units, but it is possible to expand its boundaries to 100 from below and 12 from above. ... >>

Firefox 3.6 will detect screen orientation 25.11.2009

The next version of Firefox will be able to detect the orientation of the screen of a computer or laptop and pass this information to applications running in the browser. Naturally, the new feature is not compatible with all devices, but only with those that already have a built-in accelerometer. So far, the main purpose of the game technology, in which the tilt of the laptop can be used to control in-game objects. This approach is widely used in smaller mobile devices such as the iPhone. Initially, this function was just developed for the mobile version of the Mozilla Fennec browser, however, given the fact that some laptops (for example, MacBooks and ThinkPads) are also equipped with accelerometers, it was decided to transfer it to the regular version of Firefox. ... >>

Freecom Hard Drive XS 3.0 - external hard drive with USB 3.0 24.11.2009

The world's first USB 3.0 external hard drive is announced by Freecom. The device, made in a 3,5-inch form factor, is enclosed in a shockproof rubberized case. There are three options for the amount of stored information (1, 1,5 and 2 TB). When using USB 3.0, the declared data transfer rate will be 130 MB / s. Terabyte model will be sold in Europe at a price of 119 euros. ... >>

Broadband Internet is an inalienable human right 23.11.2009

From now on, Finland is the first state in the history of mankind, where the right of any citizen to broadband access to the Internet is enshrined at the legislative level. Starting from July 2010, every inhabitant of the country (and there are only 5,5 million of them) has the right to access the Internet at a speed of 1 Mb/s. In just 5 years - by 2015 - they intend to raise this figure to 100 Mb / s. Naturally, the law implies some variations, for example, a lower connection speed is allowed if it is made via mobile. ... >>

Digital Polaroid 22.11.2009

With the advent of digital cameras, instant development devices fell out of fashion. The well-known American company Polaroid stopped producing not only cameras themselves, but also cassettes with paper for them. But, in order not to disappear from the market, the company starts producing a digital camera with a built-in printer. The device is slightly larger than the usual "soap box" immediately after shooting prints a photo the size of a business card. The necessary colors, as was the case with traditional Polaroid photographic materials, are stored in the paper itself and are developed under the influence of heat. The battery charge is enough for two dozen cards. ... >>

Marine bone glue 21.11.2009

In complex fractures with a large number of small bone fragments, bone fusion becomes difficult. Fragments are tried to be glued together, but the adhesives developed so far are not strong enough and are often poorly compatible with living tissues. Researchers from the University of Utah (USA) became interested in sea worms, which stick together a tubular house from grains of sand and pieces of mollusk shells. The glue consists of proteins with the addition of calcium and magnesium ions. It solidifies shortly after being excreted from the salivary glands of the worm and does not dissolve in water. Based on the glue of these marine inhabitants, scientists created an adhesive mixture based on two polymers, liquid at room temperature, but hardening at body temperature. The new glue is non-toxic, absorbs over time in the body, and sticks twice as strong as the reference sea worm glue. ... >>

Support-generators 20.11.2009

French engineers are proposing to build wind turbines with vertical rotors into power transmission towers. The power of such installations, depending on the height of the mast, can range from one to one hundred kilowatts. There are about half a million pylons on high-voltage lines in France. If at least a third of them are equipped with generators, this will make it possible to do without two nuclear power plants. ... >>

Building material from plastic waste 19.11.2009

Recycling of plastics is a serious problem, even when it comes to thermoplastics, which, it would seem, are easy to melt into new products. Discarded plastic bottles, cans, bags, toys, etc. must not only be washed from contamination, but also sorted into types of plastics, paper and metal inclusions are separated, which greatly raises the cost of recycling. However, a factory has recently opened in England where polymer waste is simply crushed and pressed when heated into sheets that resemble plywood or chipboard in properties and at about the same price. They can be used as roofing material, floor covering, billboards, fencing and fence material. A factory with a capacity of 360 sheets of new material per year operates in the city of Luton near London, and it is planned to open the same production facilities in ten more cities so that polymer waste is not transported far. About five million tons of various plastics are used annually in Britain, and recycled ... >>

Desert plumbing 17.11.2009

The small Arab kingdom of Jordan (pop. 30 million) is in dire need of fresh water. Global warming dries up the country's only river, the Jordan, which is far from full of water. Ninety percent of the territory is occupied by deserts. However, in the south of the country, under the desert, there are large reserves of fresh water that accumulated about 55 thousand years ago. Jordanian engineers have developed a project to extract water from 350 wells in the desert and deliver it through a 1300 km pipeline to the north, to the capital Amman and surrounding settlements. Water will have to be raised by about 4 meters, and 100 kilowatt-hours will be spent on delivering one cubic meter. Since the total volume will be 120 million cubic meters per year, about four percent of the country's energy capacity is expected to be spent on pumping. After the completion of the project, 400 liters of water per capita per day will fall (for comparison: the average Muscovite spends about XNUMX liters per day). ... >>

house on the water 16.11.2009

In the German city of Oldenburg began to build houseboats. The house with an area of ​​40 square meters and a veranda of 17 square meters is equipped with heating, a gas stove, a refrigerator, a dry closet and everything necessary for life. It can be anchored or towed along rivers and canals. Houses from Oldenburg are in demand not only in Germany, but also in Holland. ... >>

How infections spread 15.11.2009

An unusual study is underway in the French town of Berck-sur-Mer. About 800 residents of the town were provided with electronic devices that react to the approach of the same device at a distance of 2 meters or less and register such meetings. As a result, a "diary" of contacts between participants in the experiment is created. Weekly, these volunteers take a swab from the nasal cavity and determine which bacteria live there. Genetic analysis allows you to establish not only the type, but also the strain of bacteria. For six months, information has been accumulated on a billion cases of contact between people and more than 16 thousand data on microbes that participants in the experiment involuntarily exchanged. Data processing will take at least another year and a half, the experimenters hope to find out the laws of the spread of infections. ... >>

Original or copy 14.11.2009

Researchers from the University of Grenada (Spain) have developed a way to determine whether a CD is an original or a copy. The difference lies in the pattern of light diffraction on the surface of a disc recorded in a computer burner and a disc printed at the factory by hot pressing. It is believed that the discovery of Spanish scientists will help fight pirated copies. ... >>

TV prevents babies from learning to speak 13.11.2009

Employees of the Institute of Children's Health in Seattle (USA) installed automatic voice recorders in the families of 329 children aged 2 to 48 months. From the records it was possible to understand whether the TV was turned on, and to follow the conversations taking place in the apartment. It turned out that during those hours when the TV was on, the children heard 500-1000 words less from their parents than when the TV was off, which slowed down the infants' language acquisition. ... >>

Student Companion 12.11.2009

The first satellite, built by students from several French universities, is due to be launched from Kourou in French Guiana at the end of 2009. The satellite is a cube with a side of 10 cm, weighs 1 kg and consumes 1 watt of energy from solar panels. It is designed to study the effect of solar radiation on microelectronic components and is expected to remain in orbit until 2012. ... >>

The rivers of the world are becoming shallow 11.11.2009

According to American hydrologists, between 1948 and 2004, the rivers of Asia and America that flow into the Pacific Ocean reduced their flow by 6%, which corresponds to the annual flow of the Mississippi River. The rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean have become shallow by 3% over the same period. The Ganges became shallower the most - by 19%. Part of the reason is that man is taking more and more water for his needs. Thus, the amount of water stored in reservoirs around the world and not getting into the oceans for a long time has quadrupled since 1960. But the main reason, according to experts, is global warming. As a result, precipitation decreases. Only the rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean become more full-flowing, and this happens due to the melting of ice. ... >>

Scanning photo frame 08.11.2009

Digital photo frames, which are now common, allow you to view photos and video clips taken with digital cameras on a small screen. And the new model, released by the Taiwanese company "Mustek", is also capable of scanning a "paper" photograph in a few seconds, converting it into digital form. Frame memory allows you to store more than 3000 photos. ... >>

What is the mood of the Internet 06.11.2009

A group of mathematicians and psychologists from the University of Vermont (USA) studied almost 2,5 million English-language blogs on the Internet, looking for emotionally charged words to understand what mood - optimistic or pessimistic - prevails in the global network. Conditional scores were assigned to different words, from 1 (bad mood) to 9 (complete euphoria). It turned out that since 2005, the overall mood score of the Internet, calculated in this way, has grown by about 4%. In addition, fluctuations of this indicator were found throughout the year: on Christmas and Valentine's Day, the mood of Internet users rises. November 4, 2008, when Barack Obama was elected President in the United States, marked by an upsurge in mood, and the death of Michael Jackson caused a recession for three days. By age, the happiest Internet users are in the 45-60 year old group, and the gloomiest are teenagers. Women's and men's blogs do not differ in their level of optimism, but women tend to express themselves more emotionally. ... >>

Ant with radio beacon 05.11.2009

English entomologists study the processes of gathering food and choosing a place for a new anthill. They attach a microcircuit with a radio transmitter to the back of the ants, which responds to the locator signal that the researcher directs to the ant tracks. In this way, it is possible to follow the movements of individual ants-scouts and foragers. ... >>

In the crown of the forest giant 04.11.2009

American ecologist Steve Sillet has been studying redwoods for thirteen years, and he was the first to do this not from the ground, but from above, from the crowns of giant trees. He climbs there with the help of a system of cables, blocks and hooks. In 2006, Sillet found the tallest tree on the planet in the Sierra Nevada mountains - from roots to top 115 m 55 cm. This corresponds to a 35-story skyscraper. In the crowns of sequoias, Sillet discovered an independent ecosystem consisting of insects, birds, lichens, ferns, and higher plants, rooting on poor soil that had been blown over hundreds of years by wind into cracks in the bark and into the forks of branches. You can even find blueberry bushes there. On seven of the tallest trees, the ecologist installed electronic recorders that will help to understand how the tree pumps water from the soil to such a height. ... >>

What did Archeopteryx sing about? 01.11.2009

Employees of the London Museum of Natural History measured the length of the canal in the bone part of the hearing aid in 59 living species of reptiles and birds. It turned out that the length of this channel correlates with the hearing range of the animal and the frequency of the sounds it makes. Then, by measuring the corresponding channel in the skull of the first bird - Archeopteryx, scientists came to the conclusion that in terms of hearing and sounds, Archeopteryx is closest to the emu ostrich. ... >>

New low power op amps for portable applications 31.10.2009

One of the world's leading manufacturers of analog products, STMicroelectronics, has announced three new lines of precision operational amplifiers for portable applications. The TSV6xx family has low self-consumption, medium operating frequency and high accuracy. Good attenuation of electromagnetic radiation allows the use of amplifiers in conditions of increased electrical noise, and high resistance against electrostatic discharges and an extended temperature range from 40 to 125 ° C allow them to be used in various types of industrial applications. Operational amplifiers are available in single, dual and quad versions. The active mode current is 11 µA for TSV61x, 29 µA for TSV62x and 60 µA for TSV63x respectively for operating frequencies of 120 kHz, 420 kHz and 880 kHz amplifier models. The advantage is also the ability to work in the supply voltage range from 1,5 to 5,5 V, which allows you to fully ... >>

Evaluation boards for XNUMX- and XNUMX-axis MEMS accelerometers 30.10.2009

Accelerometers are now finding increasing use in a variety of applications ranging from industry to consumer technology. This includes portable control panels, game devices, control and power management systems for devices that must turn on or off at the moment or immediately after touching or moving them. In medicine, such sensors are mainly used to monitor movement, determine the position or activity level of the patient. One of the important applications of accelerometers is the protection of data integrity in hard disk drives. By measuring gravitational acceleration, controlling vibration and how much it compensates, they help prevent valuable data from being lost in the event of accidental bumps or falls. The STEVAL-MKIxxxx family of evaluation boards will help the designer quickly evaluate the capabilities of STMicroelectronics accelerometers and speed up the time to market. ... >>

Expanding the capabilities of the GSM / GPRS modem MAESTRO 100 28.10.2009

The Maestro-100 GSM/GPRS modem is based on the q24pl001 module from Wavecom/Sierra Wireless, so it can load OPEN AT applications written in C for an embedded ARM7 processor. The MAESTRO-100 manufacturer, Fargo Telecom, offers an optional Maestro Smart Pack software module that simplifies the use of the modem in security and telemetry systems. Automatic TCP/ U DP connection. Remote submission of AT commands via SMS. Remote control of I/O port. Filtering incoming calls. Check modem status. ... >>

Wavecom Wireless Processor 27.10.2009

The Wavecom wireless processor from Sierra Wireless works with the CAN bus. The C-CAN solution allows the Q26xx or WMP100 wireless processor to work with the CAN bus. The "C-CAN Application Note" application example uses an external inexpensive CAN 78k0 controller (NEC) and communicates via the SPI interface. To access the CAN transceiver, a free library with a set of simple APIs is offered. Data transmission can be carried out both at low (Low Speed ​​CAN - up to 125 kbps) and high (High Speed ​​CAN up to 1 Mbps) speeds. CAN 2.0A and CAN2.0B interface supported (11 or 29 bit message ID); it is possible to receive up to 15 "message ID" (up to 4 masks); an interrupt signal is provided to wake up from a low bus power state. For rapid CAN-bus prototyping, the "C-CAN 78k0 Development Kit" is available, which includes an additional CAN transceiver board for Q2786 DK/Q2687 DK/WMP100 DK debug kits. ... >>

Silk thread conducts light 26.10.2009

As scientists from the USA have shown, silk is a suitable material for light guides. Doctors do not get tired of inventing new devices that can equip the human body, and materials scientists are looking for materials that can be used to control these devices and receive information from them. In particular, this requires biocompatible light guides - they will allow, for example, to communicate with sensors that measure blood glucose or monitor the appearance of dangerous viruses in the patient's body. Scientists from Tufts University and the University of Illinois decided to make a biocompatible fiber from silk. To do this, they dissolved silkworm cocoons and got a rather thick liquid. This liquid, like a cream on a pie, was applied to a flint plate, and after the solvent dried, straight and curved silk fibers were obtained. If substances that enhance light are added to the liquid for their manufacture, such a fiber will turn out to be a good light guide, as the researchers were convinced of. ... >>

Nanoparticles in silk 25.10.2009

Chemists from the USA have learned how to encrust silk with silver nanoparticles. Precious metal ions have the ability to precipitate from solution on biological fibers and recover to pure metal, forming nanoparticles associated with these fibers. In this case, it is possible to solve two problems: to prevent nanoparticles from sticking together and to evenly distribute them over the volume or surface of the material. It was this ability of theirs that scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology, led by Professor Vladimir Tsukryuk, took advantage of. They dissolved silkworm cocoons and the resulting solution was applied as a thin film on a silicon substrate. Then, a template pattern was drawn on it by nanolithography and placed in a solution containing silver ions. After a few days or even weeks, nanoparticles were deposited on the silk, and a flexible elastic film of the composite was obtained with a thickness of only 100 nm. Its obvious use is a bactericidal dressing material containing, although an insignificant amount of silver, but from this ... >>

Wi-Fi 802.11n approved 24.10.2009

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has approved the specifications for the Wi-Fi 802.11n wireless standard. This event ended the latest version of Wi-Fi in the "draft" state it has been in since 2006. From now on, all companies will be able to develop and use 802.11n Wi-Fi adapters in their equipment without fear that their devices will be incompatible with the final version of the protocol, as happened before. Officially, this standard should be published in mid-October. The new version assumes the transfer of information at a maximum speed of up to 300 Mb / s, which is 6 times faster than using the previous Wi-Fi 802.11g. In addition to the increase in speed, the range should also expand. ... >>

Sony Reader Daily Edition e-book 23.10.2009

At the end of August, Sony introduced another e-reader model called the Reader Daily Edition. The device is equipped with a 7-inch touch screen based on electronic paper E Ink Vizplex, supporting 16 shades of gray. In a vertical position, the display can fit 3035 lines of text. "Reader" understands file formats such as Adobe PDF, EPUB, Microsoft Word, ВВеВ, etc. Sales will begin in December, and the cost will be $399. ... >>

Voice chat on Facebook 20.10.2009

In the near future, users of the social network Facebook will be able to communicate with each other by voice, not only through the site, but also with the help of third-party applications, since the API for implementing communications of this kind will be open. This technology is not developed by Facebook. Vivox software, which is already successfully used in the virtual game worlds of Second Life and EVE Online, will be used for negotiating. ... >>

Apple iPod player 19.10.2009

Traditionally, in September, Apple introduces new models of its iPod players. It was not violated this time either. All model lines of this brand have undergone improvements. The most noticeable modifications in the iPod nano: a camera appeared, the screen size increased (now the diagonal is 2,2 inches), the resolution was increased to 240x376 pixels, the VoiceOver function, already available in the iPod shuffle, was introduced, which allows you to listen to the names of tracks and albums, names of artists. There is also an FM radio. ... >>

Diamond tells the origin of life 18.10.2009

Diamond microcrystals have been discovered in Western Australia, which may indicate a very early appearance of life on Earth. These micron-sized diamonds, located inside the crystals of another mineral - zircon, are 4,25 billion years old. The age was determined from the composition of trace elements in zircon. When studying the diamonds themselves, it turned out that they contain an unusually large amount of the light carbon isotope, the accumulation of which is usually associated with life processes. Therefore, it can be assumed that some living organisms already existed on Earth at the time of the formation of these crystals. This is not the only possible explanation for the find, experts say, but if it is true, then life appeared on our planet at least 400 million years earlier than previously thought. ... >>

Dolphin paradox resolved 16.10.2009

In 1936, English biologist John Gray calculated that a dolphin could not swim at a speed of 35 kilometers per hour, since its muscle mass was insufficient to overcome the resistance of water at such a speed. Since dolphins actually achieve even faster speeds, biologists have started talking about the "dolphin paradox". Gray himself suggested that the matter was in the structural features of the dolphin skin, and since then the problem has been studied from this side. But recently, Professor Timothy Wei of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA) has shown that in fact the muscles of the dolphin are 10 times stronger than it was thought in Gray's time. ... >>

Remote fuse bullet 14.10.2009

The US Army is testing a new weapon against terrorists. These are explosive bullets that can be adjusted to explode at a certain distance. A laser sight mounted on a rifle determines the distance to the target and programs the microcircuit inside the 25 mm explosive bullet. Since in flight the bullet passes through the Earth's magnetic field and, moreover, rotates, an electrical impulse occurs in the microcircuit with each revolution, and the distance flown by the bullet in one revolution is known. After the number of pulses corresponding to the set distance, the fuse is activated. Splinters can hit, for example, a sniper hiding in a house. To do this, the fighter of the anti-terror group will have to measure the distance to the window from which the sniper shoots, and add a meter so that the bullet explodes inside the house. ... >>

Advisor from the garden 13.10.2009

One of the American firms has developed and produces a small device - an adviser to a gardener and gardener. A device resembling a flower is stuck into the soil where any plants are supposed to be planted. During the day, the sensor records soil and air humidity, temperature, and illumination. Then it is removed from the ground, connected to a computer and go to the manufacturer's website. The device uploads the collected data there, you tell where you live, and based on this information, the computer advises which plants are best planted in the garden or in the garden. The sensor is able to work at home, recommending the types of indoor plants that you should have. ... >>

The clearest sky 10.10.2009

Michael Ashley and his colleagues from the University of New South Wales (Australia) studied the climate of Antarctica using data from satellites and scientific stations to find areas most suitable for astronomical observations. These include places with low humidity. The most suitable areas turned out to be near the Chinese and Japanese Antarctic stations, as well as 150 kilometers southwest of them. The air here is drier than in Chile's Atacama Desert, known as a great place to study distant luminaries. But it will be necessary to create new designs of telescopes capable of withstanding the harsh, close to space, conditions of Antarctica. In addition, the Antarctic telescope should be located on a tower with a height of more than 20 meters, since the surface (more precisely, near-ice) layer of air over the Antarctic plateau is very turbulent. Ashley, who spent the winter in Antarctica, is sure that it is quite possible to create conditions for the life and work of astronomers at the southernmost observatory in the world. ... >>

How do ants deal with traffic jams? 09.10.2009

Entomologist Dirk Helbing from Dresden (Germany) simulated the formation of traffic jams on ants. He placed a feeder with sugar syrup near the anthill, and then laid several paths from it to the anthill, scratching them with a stick on the ground layer of fallen leaves and needles. The ants found the shortest route a few hours later, and it nearly got stuck. It would have arisen, but "traffic policemen" suddenly appeared, who blocked access to the crowded "highway" with their bodies. And the ants, thirsty for sugar, were forced to "take a detour" along less convenient roads. Then the block was removed from the short road, and normal traffic was restored. ... >>

Where did the chicken come from and how did they feed the chickens 08.10.2009

The Institute of Nutrition in Norwich (UK) has developed an isotope analysis method to determine where chickens were raised and what they were fed. By the ratio of carbon isotopes in chicken meat, they determine what was the proportion of corn and other cereals in the feed, and by hydrogen isotopes - even the amount of precipitation where the chicken lived. Other isotopes can reliably determine whether a poultry farm is located in Europe, Asia or South America. In addition, with 85% confidence, analysts are able to distinguish between the products of the 21 European poultry farms surveyed so far. ... >>

Protector bees 06.10.2009

Entomologists from the University of Würzburg (Germany) have shown that the buzz of flying bees can scare away caterpillars from eating plants. Soybean and sweet pepper plants were placed under a tent made of transparent polyethylene film, and drinkers with sugar syrup were placed in the corners of the tent. Caterpillars of the little scoop were planted on the leaves. In those cases when fifty bees were launched into the tent, and they buzzed between the drinkers, the caterpillars stopped feeding, curled up and fell from the leaves. The authors of the experiment believe that pests are afraid of bees, mistaking them for wasps that prey on caterpillars. The body of the caterpillar is covered with special hairs that perceive the sound vibrations of the air. ... >>

Record genome 05.10.2009

The record number of genes among the animals studied in this regard belongs to a small freshwater crustacean - the water flea daphnia. The joint work of 350 geneticists from 17 countries of the world made it possible to establish that daphnia has about 39 thousand genes (in humans - about 20 thousand). The water flea lives in rather difficult conditions: the shallow reservoirs where it lives often dry up, get very warm or freeze to the bottom, a thin layer of water penetrates the ultraviolet radiation of the Sun: Perhaps more genes are needed to cope with such difficulties. ... >>

Device permanently turned off 02.10.2009

Many electronic devices glow red or green when turned off, signaling their readiness to turn on at any moment. However, in standby mode, each device consumes some amount of energy - depending on the number of such devices in the house, it can be from 5 to 13% of the total energy consumption. In France, about 17 million kilowatt-hours are used annually in this way, which is equal to the annual energy consumption in Morocco. Therefore, the French company "Koksivatt" began producing a device in the form of a toy ladybug, which is switched on between the wall outlet and the TV and responds to the signals of the TV remote control. When you turn off the TV, the "electronic economy", noticing a sharp drop in consumption, stops supplying current to its two sockets (the second socket allows you to connect auxiliary devices that usually work with the TV and also use standby mode - DVD player, satellite receiver, digital ... >>

The oldest brain 01.10.2009

French paleontologists have successfully used the hard X-rays from the Grenoble synchrotron to reveal small fossils in chunks of opaque amber. They came up with the idea that it is possible to shine through ordinary fossils. Fossil fish from Kansas (USA) were placed under the beam as a test. And in the skull of one of them, a fish about half a meter long, an extinct relative of sharks and rays, they found a preserved brain. Of course, its soft tissues have long been replaced by minerals, mainly phosphates. Using a drill, guided by 300D x-rays, the scientists were able to dissect the brain from the head of the fossilized fish. He is XNUMX million years old. Specialists even see separate parts of the brain on this fossil - the cerebellum, brain stem, optic lobes, outgoing cranial nerves. This is the first case of the discovery of the preserved brain of ancient animals. Such soft tissues are extremely rare in the fossil state. ... >>

New Benchmark MOSFETs International Rectifier 30.09.2009

New Benchmark (reference in its class) MOSFETs International Rectifier IRLB8721PbF; IRLB8743PbF; IRLB8748PbF; IRLB3813PbF 30V ultra-low gate charge (Qg) IRLB30PbF are designed for industrial applications including uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), high efficiency low voltage DC/DC converters, O-Ring applications (power circuit OR power supply connections), power supplies for servers and network workstations. The new devices combine high performance and productivity at an attractive, low cost. The new MOSFETs are a direct and improved replacement for the existing 220V TO-220 packaged MOSFETs and are an evolution of the Benchmark International Rectifier MOSFETs. These MOSFETs are packaged in TO-XNUMXAB and comply with RoHS regulations. ... >>

MOSFETs for industrial applications 29.09.2009

The new International Rectifier Series IRFB46xx and IRFS46xx 150V and 200V ultra-low gate charge (Qg) MOSFET transistors are designed for industrial applications including Switch Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), inverters and DC motor drivers. These devices are optimized for circuit designs where fast switching is required and where low switching losses are important. International Rectifier's new 150V MOSFETs have 59% lower Qg, and 200% lower Qg for 33V than competitors. The new MOSFETs are the best value on the market and are available in TO-220, D2-PAK, TO-262, D-PAK and I-PAK packages, and are RoHS compliant. ... >>

New Large Can DirectFET MOSFET IRF6718 28.09.2009

International Rectifier has announced a new DirectFET MOSFET IRF6718 with the lowest open channel resistance RDS(on). The new 25V device is optimized for applications such as DC switches such as: Active O Ring (power circuit OR power supply connections), Hot Swap (hot swap without power down or shutdown), E-Fuse (electronic fuse). A feature of the IRF6718 is the latest-generation silicon package in a new Large Can DirectFET package. This technology achieves an extremely low RDS(on) RDS(on) of 0,5 mΩ (typical at 10 V) and reduces PCB space by 60% and package height by 85% compared to D2PAK. The new chip packaging technology makes it possible to manufacture DirectFET transistors with a significant reduction in conduction loss, due to the fact that there is no chip desoldering and no plastic ... >>

Quantum dot in gold 26.09.2009

Quantum dots are capable of fluorescence, that is, they glow when exposed to visible light. Gold nanoparticles glow when exposed to infrared light. Both types of these particles are used by biologists for diagnostics, and gold particles are also used for treatment, since when irradiated with microwaves, they heat the cell in which they find themselves. Scientists from the University of Washington, led by Gao Xiaohu, came up with a technique that allows you to combine these particles into one. In accordance with it, a quantum dot is covered with a polymer layer, by changing the structure of which it is possible to set the shell thickness with an accuracy of one nanometer. Gold ions were deposited onto the polymer and a gold shell 2–3 nm thick was obtained. From above everything was covered with polyhistidines. In the resulting particle with a diameter of 15–20 nm, the quantum dot regularly shone, and its light passed through a thin golden shell. Since gold is not poisonous and is approved for use, many proteins can be attached to it, and the new system will be a good addition to existing creatures. ... >>

Why the LED does not shine at full power 25.09.2009

It is believed that LEDs are exactly the source of light that can save a huge amount of electricity that is now spent on heating the tungsten filament in incandescent lamps. However, experts know that there is a catch here. It turns out that each LED has its own luminosity limit, and only up to this limit it consumes little energy. And to make it glow brighter, you need to spend not just more energy, but much more, and then it becomes more expensive than an incandescent lamp. Scientists debate the causes, and Wells science journalist and former physicist Richard Stevenson summarized their thinking in an article in the August issue of IEEE Spectrum. It turns out that there are three points of view. The discoverer of the blue nitride diode, Shuji Nakamura and his colleagues, believe that defects are the reason: if there are few of them, electrons and holes cannot find enough places to meet and give rise to a quantum of light. Other scientists believe that charge carriers leak out of the di ... >>

Dances of electrons 24.09.2009

To make a sensitive chemical sensor will help the shortcomings of the existing technology. There is such a promising technology for the manufacture of polymer electronics. A silicon plate is lowered into the polymer solution, on which its molecules are deposited. They stand upright, forming a liquid crystal, and the layer thickness is exactly one molecule. Each plate removes an insignificant amount of polymer from the solution, so the technology is not only simple, but also very cheap. Electrons jump from one polymer molecule to another, and a current flows through a thin layer (its thickness is about a nanometer). The researchers, however, noticed that the larger the layer area, the worse the current passes, and its value drops exponentially. A group of scientists from the Philips Research Center at the University of Eindhoven (Netherlands), as well as from Austria and Russia, in particular from the Institute of Synthetic Polymer Materials of the Russian Academy of Sciences. N.S. Enikolopova, managed to figure out the reasons. It turns out that the film does not turn out well. ... >>

Winchester Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 22.09.2009

Hitachi GST announced the release of the first to the world; hard drives with a capacity of 2 TB with a spindle speed of 7200 rpm. The new 3,5" drive offers high performance and low power consumption. The device implements proprietary technologies that improve its performance. For example, the HiVERT system regulates power settings in such a way that the maximum reduction in power consumption is achieved. ... >>

Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera 19.09.2009

Kodak started making HD products about a year ago. Then the portable camcorder Zi6 appeared on sale. Now the Zi8 model, improved in comparison with its predecessor, is being introduced to the market. The novelty supports recording Full HD-video with a resolution of 1080p, and also has an electronic image stabilizer and face detection in the frame. To transfer content to a computer, a retractable USB connector is used (it is also used to recharge the battery). Zi8 makes it easy to send content to YouTube and Facebook. ... >>

computer inventor 18.09.2009

Stanford University (USA) has developed a program that allows computers to invent. So, the computer created an antenna for spacecraft, he was only told the characteristics of the waves and signals for which the antenna would be designed. The sight of the antenna, resembling a mutilated paper clip, surprised NASA engineers, but the strange design is already working successfully in space. According to the developers, the program is based on the ideas of Darwin, it subjects the options that arise in the computer to a kind of natural selection. ... >>

Focus on the nose 17.09.2009

As psychologists from the University of California (USA) have shown, when looking at a face, we mainly pay attention to its central part. By showing participants the images of familiar and unfamiliar people on a computer screen, the researchers recorded eye movements. Most people looking at images of faces look first at the area of ​​the face to the left of the nose, then at the tip of the nose, and then at the eyes. In more than half of the cases, the first glance was enough to recognize a familiar face, the second glance increased the accuracy of recognition, and the third (by eye) did not solve anything. However, perhaps this behavior is typical mainly for Americans. Similar experiments conducted by Scottish psychologists showed that the Japanese and Chinese pay special attention to the nose when recognizing faces, while the Europeans also look at the eyes and mouth. ... >>

AGLAYA and Ishtar 15.09.2009

"AGLAE" is a French abbreviation for "Grand Louvre Accelerator for Elemental Analysis". The particle accelerator is located in the basement of the famous museum and serves for non-destructive analysis of works of art. Recently, a figurine of the goddess Ishtar, found during excavations in Mesopotamia in 1863, was placed under a beam of charged particles from an accelerator. Rubies are inserted into the eyes of the goddess and into her navel. X-ray radiation, excited in ruby ​​by impacts of charged particles, made it possible to determine the composition of impurities in jewelry. They turned out to be characteristic of rubies from the deposits of Burma (Myanmar). Thus, it has been proved that about 2000 years ago (this is the age of the statuette) jewelers of Mesopotamia could receive rubies from Southeast Asia. ... >>

Nanotechnology on glass 14.09.2009

A new way to prevent fogging of various glasses was proposed by Chinese physicists. They apply a layer of nanometer-sized polystyrene beads coated with silicon oxide to the glass. On such a coating, when moisture settles from the air, not small droplets form, but a continuous thin film of water that does not change the transparency of the glass. The authors of the idea hope to bring it to commercial use in two years; the windshields of cars and mirrors for bathrooms will be processed in this way, first of all. ... >>

Street lighting on request 13.09.2009

In the town of Derentrup, located in western Germany, the authorities decided to turn off almost all street lighting at 9 pm. If one of the residents (there are about 9000 of them in total) needs to urgently go somewhere in the evening, he dials a specific number assigned to the desired street, square or alley on his cell phone, after which the lights turn on there for 15 minutes. The owner of the phone is charged a small fee each time. This order was introduced in the town more than a year ago, and many European and American municipalities are interested in it. ... >>

new acacia 10.09.2009

Botanists annually discover more than 2300 species of flowering plants, but it is a rare case to suddenly find a previously unknown rather large tree, moreover, spread over an area of ​​​​more than 10 thousand square kilometers. A Swedish expedition found in Ogaden (an area in Ethiopia) thickets of a new type of acacia. It is a tree up to six meters high, blooming in the dry season with sweet-scented pink flowers. Finding a new plant species earlier was hampered by constant hostilities in this region of Ethiopia, contested by Somalia. ... >>

space headache 09.09.2009

Employees of the laboratory for the study of migraine at the University of Leiden (Holland) interviewed 17 astronauts: did they experience a headache in space flights? The respondents were from 28 to 58 years old, they spent from 11 to 202 days on the International Space Station. Twelve of those surveyed (71%) reported 21 such incidents: 9 on launch, the same number on station, one on spacewalk and two on landing. The intensity of discomfort was mild in 29% of cases, moderate in 65%, and severe in 6%. On the ground, none of the astronauts suffered from recurring headaches. The authors of the work could not identify the causes of the astronauts' headaches, but they believe that it is not associated with "space sickness" - disorders of the vestibular apparatus in weightlessness. They believe that space headache should be considered as a new kind of neurological disorder. ... >>

Cure for fingerprinting 08.09.2009

Doctors in Singapore have described a curious case of the disappearance of papillary lines on the fingers of a patient who was taking capecitabine, a common cancer chemotherapy drug. An elderly Chinese man from Singapore was detained at the entrance to the United States, where everyone is fingerprinted at the border. His fingers turned out to be perfectly smooth, did not give any marks, and within four hours the police found out his identity. Doctors believe that criminal elements are unlikely to take capecitabine into service, so as not to leave prints, the drug has unpleasant side effects and can only be used under medical supervision. ... >>

Asteroid pieced together 06.09.2009

On October 2008, 80, American astronomers noticed near the Earth a small asteroid with a diameter of four meters and a mass of about 2008 tons. He received the number 20 TSZ. Astronomers have managed to fix its spectral characteristics. And just 37 hours later, the asteroid burst into the Earth's atmosphere over the Nubian desert and exploded at an altitude of 45 kilometers, breaking into pieces. In early December, employees of the University of Khartoum (Sudan) organized a combing of a section of the desert by 280 students. They managed to find XNUMX asteroid fragments. These finds are especially valuable, since now the chemical and mineralogical composition of the asteroid determined in the laboratory can be compared with its spectral characteristics. ... >>

Location of the cough 05.09.2009

In connection with the swine flu epidemic, the issue of identifying patients at airports has become relevant in order to reduce the possibility of spreading the infection around the world. The Belgian company Biorix proposes to install a network of microphones in airport halls connected to a computer with a special program that can distinguish flu-like cough from the usual harmless cough. The signal from multiple microphones allows you to accurately determine the source of the sound and take medical measures. Tests of the system were carried out on pig farms, and it turned out that sick pigs in a large pen can be identified by coughing as early as three hours after infection, and the detection accuracy is 82%. ... >>

Children choose 04.09.2009

An interesting experiment was carried out in Switzerland. In different schools of the country, children aged 5 to 13 years old (681 children were involved in total) were presented with 57 pairs of photographs. In each pair, they were asked to choose a person who was more trustworthy. The question was, "Which of these people would you sail with as a captain?" The children did not know that they were offered a set of photographs of candidates in the 2002 elections to the French Parliament. In 70% of cases, schoolchildren chose the candidate who won the real election. There is reason to believe that adults in elections pay great attention to the appearance of candidates. ... >>

Genomes are getting cheaper 03.09.2009

The first decoding of the human genome, completed in 2000-2003, cost $100 million. Now a US company is offering to read your genome for $99. According to forecasts, in 500 the cost of this operation will fall to 2010 dollars, and in five years - to 10000. However, the American company "BioNanoMatrix" promises to reach a cost of only 1000 dollars using the analytical chips developed by it in five years. ... >>

Scavenger robot 02.09.2009

Italian professor Paolo Dario has designed a cleaning robot that, using satellite navigation, moves around the city on wheels and collects all kinds of garbage. The ultrasonic locator and video camera allow the robot to avoid obstacles, not to collide with passers-by, cars, trees and other objects. Having filled its tank, the automatic cleaner itself searches for a garbage container and dumps its burden there. A group of such robots will be tested in a town with a population of 5000 people. ... >>

New isolated ISO 1050 CAN transceiver 31.08.2009

Texas Instruments announced the release of the first isolated transceiver with a CAN interface. The IS01050 combines CAN interface and TI isolation technologies to help reduce the number of components required and simplify board design for industrial automation, motor control, and medical equipment. Loop latency has been reduced by 34%, enabling designers to use longer network cables than conventional isolated CAN interface solutions. The IS01050 reduces system level power consumption by 38% compared to optocoupler isolation solutions. The 6,1mm wide package reduces the board footprint by 30%, which is critical for high-voltage applications that require minimal clearance. In addition, the ultra-low electromagnetic emission (EME) allows the device to be used in sensitive analog applications such as industrial sensors. ... >>

Spanish Robot Surgeon 30.08.2009

The industrial production of surgical robots was started by Spanish roboticists. In 2005, the Spanish company Cener became interested in the work of the medical robotics group at the University of Malaga. The robot they created helped the surgeon, who performs laparoscopic operations, that is, inserts a surgical instrument into the patient's body through a small incision. The instrument is attached to the endoscope, and the surgeon must, looking at the screen, accurately bring it to the desired location. This procedure requires a very high concentration of attention. The robot, without any tension, holds the endoscope in the place indicated to it. Industrialists liked the development of scientists, and they patented it, finding out along the way that there is nothing like it in the world yet. After that, the company launched the serial production of surgical robots, the first batch of which entered the university hospital in Malaga. ... >>

Zinc-solar energy 29.08.2009

A way to decompose zinc oxide using sunlight is being investigated by Chilean scientists in Switzerland. Since 2006, students from the University of Valparaiso, led by Dr. Robert Polumbo, have been conducting experiments every summer in Switzerland, at the Paul Scherrer Institute. And they are studying the possibility of using the energy of the Sun in order to obtain another energy carrier for the energy of the future - zinc. It turns out that if you heat zinc oxide to 1700-3000 degrees Fahrenheit, it will melt and decompose into zinc and oxygen under the influence of an electric current. And then the zinc in the fuel cell will again turn into oxide, giving the stored energy, say, to the operation of the car's electric motor. “This summer, we hope to learn more about the processes taking place in the reactor and eventually show that high-temperature solar electrolysis is quite possible and can someday become economically profitable,” said Derek Lettsov, a participant in the work. ... >>

Ion will feel the power 28.08.2009

An ion trap, with which you can measure the smallest changes in electromagnetic fields, was created by scientists from the United States. The single ion trap, designed by the 1989 Nobel laureate Hans Dehmelt, is a set of lasers (to cool the ion) and electrodes (to create an electric field that traps the supercold ion). Now such traps work in atomic clocks, and physicists hope to use them to create a quantum computer. In the Demeldt trap, the ion is surrounded by electrodes on almost all sides. Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA) have woven such a trap out of steel wires that a single magnesium ion caught in it is closed only on one side. It turns out something like a drop of ink, which hangs on the tip of the pen and cannot fall in any way. As a result, scientists have the opportunity to bring this single ion very close to any surface and measure the forces that arise between them. This is similar to how a ... >>

Laser lens for electrons 27.08.2009

A lens that creates attosecond pulses of electrons is quite possible, American scientists say. The processes associated with the movement of molecules last for femtoseconds. Thousands of times faster, in attoseconds, there are processes associated with the movement of electrons. If you create a video camera that shoots at a rate of one frame per attosecond, it would make a film based on the story of the life of molecules. And this can be achieved - all you need is an ultrafast electron microscope with electron pulses that last such a short time. Scientists from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, led by Associate Professor Herman Batelaan, working with the laboratory of Nobel laureate in the field of femtosecond spectroscopy Ahmed Ziwail, calculated the possibility of creating temporary (emphasis on the last syllable) laser lenses. In their opinion, such a lens obeys the laws that apply in ordinary, spatial optics, only it compresses the rays not in space, but in time. From the calculation it follows that with the help of one laser beam it is possible to obtain ... >>

Smartphone HTC Hero 26.08.2009

The specifications of the Hego, the third HTC smartphone based on Google Android, are impressive. The novelty is equipped with a processor with a frequency of 528 MHz, 288 MB of RAM and 512 MB of internal memory, a 3,2-inch multi-touch display, a 5-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, an accelerometer, a digital compass. The phone has a mass of 135 gr. and dimensions 112x56x14,4 mm. The model will go on sale at a price of about $700 before autumn. ... >>

Operating system Google ChromOS 24.08.2009

Google has announced its own operating system - Google Chrome Operating System. The OS is positioned for use on netbooks, is based on open source principles and will be completely free. The main aspects of its design will be the speed of operation, especially the initial boot of the system, ease of use and security. By architecture, Google Chrome OS is a new window system on top of the Linux kernel, focused on the use of web applications. Moreover, it will work both on the x86 platform and on ARM processors. While Android OS is designed for smartphones, Google Chrome OS is also suitable for desktop PCs. The source code of the project will open this fall, and the final version of the OS should appear in the second half of 2010. ... >>

Single charging connector - microUSB 23.08.2009

Finally, what millions of users have been waiting for has happened. Starting next year, most mobile phones shipped in the EU will be equipped with universal chargers and appropriate microUSB connectors. The standard was supported by major mobile phone manufacturers, including Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Apple, LG, NEC, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung and Texas Instruments. ... >>

cow compass failure 22.08.2009

Recently, German zoologists have shown that cows and deer prefer to line up in a pasture along a north-south line for food. By continuing to observe, zoologists have found that the orientation of animals when free-grazing is influenced by power lines. Under the wires and near them, grazing deer and cows are located at random, and as they move away from them, they restore orientation along the magnetic lines of the Earth. Apparently, they are confused by the electromagnetic field of the wires. ... >>

Runway LEDs 21.08.2009

The field of application of LEDs is expanding: at one of the Paris airfields, they replaced halogen incandescent lamps in signal lights leading the aircraft to the runway. New light sources designed specifically for this purpose consume 11 times less energy and last much longer than halogen lamps. At a large airport, where the number of signal lights reaches tens of thousands, the savings in electricity and maintenance will be large sums. ... >>

World's largest radio telescope under construction 19.08.2009

The world's largest radio telescope is now the 1964-meter Arecibo telescope in the crater of an extinct volcano in Puerto Rico. In 20, the crater was laid out with sheets of metal, resulting in a metal bowl-antenna directed into the sky. The disadvantage of such telescopes is that they cannot be rotated. Arecibo can only see a strip of sky 500 degrees wide. In China, the construction of an even larger radio telescope with a diameter of 2014 meters has begun, the basis for which will be a sinkhole in southern China. The metal panels that cover this recess can be slightly rotated by electric motors, changing the shape of the antenna and its focus. This will partially compensate for the fundamental drawback of the system and double the observation area. The giant telescope is due to be commissioned in 2,3. Its sensitivity will be XNUMX times higher than that of the Puerto Rican record holder, but the range of observed waves will be somewhat narrower at first. ... >>

Moidodyr for shopping carts 18.08.2009

After American microbiologists found out that up to a million pathogenic bacteria can be on the handle and grates of a shopping cart, two dozen supermarkets have acquired installations for sterilizing this type of freight transport. In a special chamber, the trolley is sprayed with a disinfectant aerosol with a pleasant lemon scent. 99% of bacteria and fungi are destroyed. ... >>

Indian village of twins 16.08.2009

Indian doctors and physiologists are investigating the reasons for the unusually high twin birth rate in the remote village of Kodinhi in northern Kerala. Officially, 250 pairs of twins are registered here, but their real number is 300-350 pairs. There are an average of about 45 twins per thousand births, while the average for India is more than ten times lower. The phenomenon of the village of Kodinhi, according to the old-timers, arose three generations ago, and over the past 60-70 years, the frequency of twin births has been increasing. Researchers believe that the reason may lie in some natural substances obtained by local residents with water or food. In any case, contamination with chemical waste can be ruled out, since children are born perfectly healthy and there are no industrial enterprises nearby. ... >>

Ill - stay at home 15.08.2009

Anyone who, with minor illnesses, continues to overcome himself, go to work, runs the risk of becoming seriously ill soon. Danish doctors came to this conclusion. They randomly selected about 12 Danes, asked them about illnesses and studied their medical records. It turned out that those who went to work sick at least six times a year were 74% more likely than others to become so seriously ill later that they were forced to not work for two months or longer. ... >>

Gold disc 10 gigabytes 14.08.2009

On a regular DVD disc, 4,7 gigabytes of information is placed, on a two-layer one - 8,5, on the recently appeared Blu-ray discs, where information is written and read with shorter wavelength light, - 25-50 gigabytes. Specialists from the Technological University in Swinburne (Australia) intend to create a disc with a capacity of 1600-10 gigabytes, which will fit up to two thousand movies. Recording on the new disc, the prototype of which is currently being tested, is carried out on gold nanorods embedded in a thin layer of transparent plastic. Since the recording uses a variable wavelength of light and, in addition, recording and reading can be carried out with polarized light with different planes of polarization, much more information is placed on the same area. It is expected that the industrial production of gold discs will come in five years. True, some experts doubt that home video libraries will live another five years. We will probably not store films at home, but if you wish, we will ... >>

Two wheeled electric car 13.08.2009

PUMA is an abbreviation of the English words "personal mobility and accessibility in the city." This is the name of an experimental electric car for two, tested in the United States. A two-wheeled electric car with parallel wheels maintains balance using a system of gyroscopes. The lithium-ion battery allows you to drive about 50 kilometers with a single charge at a speed of 45-55 kilometers per hour. ... >>

Scientists have perfected the web 11.08.2009

Employees of the Institute for Physics of Microstructures in Halle (Germany) managed to strengthen one of the most durable natural materials - the web. This protein thread can withstand a greater load than a steel wire of the same diameter. By introducing zinc, aluminum or titanium ions into the web, physicists have achieved an increase in its strength by another 3-4 times. According to the authors of the study, the metals form strong cross-links between the protein strands in the web. Since chemists are now trying to synthesize man-made fibers with cobweb properties, the new invention could be tested on these fibers. ... >>

fungus on the roof 10.08.2009

A new problem is besetting rural residents in northern Germany: thatched roofs that used to last 30 to 50 years now rot in a few years. And to cover the roof again costs up to 40 thousand euros. Microbiologists from the University of Greifswald studied reed roofs under a microscope and found that 68 different species and strains of fungi live on them, both microscopic and large (tinder fungus like chaga). They feed on lignin, an important constituent of reed stems and leaves. Under optimal conditions created in the laboratory, fungi destroyed the cane by 35% in 23 days. Under the open sky, the process is, of course, much slower. It's supposed to be global warming. Roof reeds are harvested in winter when they dry out. But in recent years, German winters have become warm and wet material has to be used. ... >>

Weather and headache 09.08.2009

Doctors from the Medical Center in Boston (USA) studied the state of the atmosphere during 7054 visits of different patients to doctors about severe headaches in the period May 2000 to December 2007. The frequency of such complaints was compared with data on temperature, humidity and air pressure, as well as on its pollution during the visit to the doctor and three days before. It turned out that the headache is associated with an increase in air temperature. With warming by 5 degrees Celsius, the frequency of complaints of severe headache in a day increases by 7,5 times. The same symptoms occur with a drop in atmospheric pressure, but not after a day, but after two or three days. Air pollution has no effect on headaches. ... >>

Uneducated flies live longer 08.08.2009

As you know, the life expectancy of people who are educated is higher than that of those who are limited to primary education. In fruit flies, Drosophila, the opposite is true. Employees of the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) studied two populations of flies. One lived quietly for her own pleasure, the other developed conditioned reflexes to the taste and smell of food. In the "educated" group, life expectancy fell by an average of 15%. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, perhaps in a small insect, the increased activity of the nervous system takes too much energy. ... >>

Autonomous lamp post 07.08.2009

The design studio of the Dutch firm Philips has designed a street lamp that does not need to be connected to the city's power grid. The light pole (this model is called the "Flower of Light") carries on its top a corolla of "petals" covered with solar panels. During the day, the corolla rotates after the Sun, accumulating energy in batteries. If the day turned out to be cloudy and windy, the whisk turns in such a way that it serves as the rotor of a wind-electric generator, and the batteries are charged again. At night, energy is spent on the glow of the LEDs with which the pole is seated. When no one is near the lamp, their brightness decreases to a minimum, but if a passerby appears, the LEDs flash brighter. According to the authors of the idea, such lamps may appear on the streets of European cities in five years. ... >>

Finally deciphered the woman 03.08.2009

The human genome was first read in 2001, since then this operation has been repeated four more times in different laboratories, but in all cases, DNA samples for decoding were taken from men. The Leiden University Medical Center (Holland) has for the first time obtained a complete transcript of the genome of a woman - one of the employees of the center. As you know, the female genome differs from the male in that it has two X chromosomes. It is believed that the project, which cost 40 euros, will not only restore equality between men and women within the framework of political correctness, but also expand fundamental information about human genetic diversity. ... >>

Fuel cell in your pocket 02.08.2009

One American company has launched a pocket fuel battery for recharging a cell phone, PDA, music player and other portable electronics where it is impossible to connect to the network. In order for the battery to work, it must be activated: remove the fuse, stretch the flexible walls slightly with your hands and shake, then chemical reactions begin. Liquid fuel based on boron hydride is oxidized by atmospheric oxygen, a current of 3,7-5,5 volts and a power of up to 200 milliamps is generated. An inactivated battery can be stored without losing its properties for a year and a half, an activated battery can be stored for three months. The fuel is completely safe, non-toxic, non-flammable and non-explosive. The energy of one charge is enough for 30 hours of talking on a mobile phone. After exhaustion, the battery is sent to the company, where it is refilled with fuel. ... >>

New XLights 29.07.2009

The Russian company XLight has introduced a new series of LED luminaires XLD-FL36, as well as XLD-FL24 and XLD-FL18. The new luminaires are characterized by high efficiency, as well as increased reliability in operation. The use of Cree XLamp's new XP-E series solid-state LEDs and the latest developments in LED power systems provides significant energy savings, stable luminous flux and color characteristics of white light throughout the life of the product. The new XLight luminaires are the ideal solution for applications ranging from architectural and landscape lighting to industrial and maintenance areas. ... >>

Ionic liquids are looking for a way to British businessmen 28.07.2009

Ionic liquids are one of the two main areas of "green" chemistry (the second is supercritical fluid). It is expected that these fusible salts will help replace many of the toxic solvents and electrolytes currently used in industry. Like everything new, these substances find their way into practice with difficulty. To make things easier, on June 3, 2009, scientists at the University of Leicester launched a facility called the Ionic Liquid Demonstrator, a set of semi-industrial devices that can be used to develop and demonstrate related technologies. The basis of Leicester liquids is vitamin B4, choline chloride. This substance is considered harmless, in any case, no restrictions are imposed on its use. By adding salts and other substances to the vitamin melt, it is possible to achieve that its properties correspond to a particular task. Now the demonstrator shows the possibilities of ionic liquids in metalworking - electropolishing, electroplating and applying oxide coatings. Fine ... >>

Collective electron tunneling 27.07.2009

In a superconductor, electrons are bound in pairs, and the length of this bond, the so-called coherence length, is several tens of nanometers. An interesting phenomenon is possible with them: quantum phase slip. Its essence lies in the fact that from the position of quantum mechanics, electrons are to some extent connected in a pair, but to some extent not. Moreover, the ratio of these degrees fluctuates. If suddenly, at some point in time, the electrons turn out to be unbound, a small section of the superconductor will momentarily lose the ability to conduct superconducting current. When the diameter of this superconductor is much smaller than the coherence length, then it will completely lose superconductivity - other pairs will not be able to bypass the suddenly arisen obstacle. Until now, it was believed that this can only happen with individual electron pairs. However, scientists from the University of Illinois, led by professors Alexei Bezryadin and Paul Golbrath, found a similar effect on a macroscopic scale: in a thin ... >>

The robot monitors the incidents in the city 26.07.2009

The so-called drones - automatic aircraft - now serve the military, carrying out various kinds of reconnaissance and guidance on enemy targets. These are large machines that fly very high. And the police, firefighters and rescuers need small vehicles that can fly in the city. Just such a drone is being developed by an international team of engineers led by Christophe Leroy of the French Atomic Energy Commission. The size of the new robot is half a meter, the weight does not exceed one kilogram plus 200 grams of payload, and it flies with the help of four screws, protected just in case by casings. The robot can navigate in space, detect and fly around moving obstacles, and even remember the way home. He flies along a given route or changes it, using the instructions of the operator. As a result, a flying robot is able to penetrate into a dangerous zone much faster than a person or a ground robot and transmit information from there. "Now we are finishing the design ... >>

Dell Latitude 2100 Education Netbook 25.07.2009

Netbook Latitude 2100 with a 10-inch screen, according to manufacturer Dell, is designed primarily for educational institutions. The device is enclosed in a sufficiently durable rubberized housing and is more resistant to shock than its standard counterpart. In addition, the Dell Latitude 2100 features a touchscreen display and a bacteria-resistant keyboard, which is especially important as it will be used by children. ... >>

Mobile phone Apple iPhone 3G S 24.07.2009

At the WWDC developer conference in June, Apple unveiled a range of products (both software and hardware), including a long-awaited update to the iPhone mobile phone. Model 3GS, both externally and functionally, is not too different from its predecessor. But it has become faster and has got an improved battery (5 hours of work when talking on a 3G network and 9 hours with Wi-Fi on). In addition, now the phone has a 3,2-megapixel camera equipped with autofocus. ... >>

Roll call in the operating room 23.07.2009

The so-called pre-flight check has long become a tradition among pilots all over the world: the pilot reads out a list of components, assemblies and instruments, and the mechanic reports on the condition of each. Only after that you can start the engines and take to the air. Hospitals in eight countries (Canada, USA, New Zealand, UK, Philippines, India, Tanzania and Jordan) introduced the same procedure before surgery as an experiment. The World Health Organization compiled a list of 19 items. They check aloud the name of the patient and the name of the scheduled operation, the presence of all medical staff, the presence and condition of instruments, equipment and medicines ... After the operation, the availability of all instruments is checked again. The new procedure was applied to 7600 operations. As a result, the mortality of patients fell by half, and the frequency of complications decreased by 36%. ... >>

Dolphin tail swimmer 22.07.2009

When a person swims, only 3-4% of the energy expended is spent on moving forward. Even the use of fins increases the swimmer's energy efficiency by only 10-15%. While the efficiency of a dolphin reaches 80%, and the speed it develops can exceed 50 km / h. American engineer Ted Siamillo created a one-meter-diameter fin made of carbon fiber, fiberglass and aluminum, modeled after a dolphin's tail. This "tail" weighs 1,1 kg, is attached to the swimmer's legs and allows you to swim at speeds up to 13 km / h, which is almost twice as fast as the world record. After some training, an athlete can even learn to jump out of the water, as dolphins do. The engineer refuses to patent his invention, saying that he copied it entirely from a dolphin. ... >>

Bottles on the sidewalk 20.07.2009

Japanese road builders have begun to use asphalt with glass in Tokyo. Unnecessary bottles are crushed into grains with a diameter of one and a half millimeters and mixed into the asphalt. It takes 20 half-liter bottles per square meter of road surface. Asphalt of a new type does not heat up so much in the summer sun: at a normal coating temperature of 50,8 degrees Celsius, the “glass” one heats up to only 36 degrees. It becomes easier to breathe in the city. ... >>

Where and where do brains flow 18.07.2009

William Kerr, an economist at Harvard Business School (USA), used a computer to analyze a list of eight million inventors who have received US patents from 1975 to the present. He found that the percentage of patents "native" (born in the country) Americans from 1975 to 2004 has been steadily falling. During this time, the proportion of inventions made by immigrants living in the United States from India and China has grown from 4 to 14%. Indians and Chinese hold almost 40% of the patents received by the well-known microelectronic firm Intel in 2005. ... >>

chicken broth for hypertension 17.07.2009

Physiologists from the University of Hiroshima (Japan) found that chicken broth lowers blood pressure. Moreover, for the healing effect of the broth, it is desirable to cook not white meat, but either the whole chicken, or legs and paws. It turned out that these parts, rich in veins and cartilage, contain peptides (proteins with a short chain of amino acids) that can inhibit the action of a hormone that constricts blood vessels and thereby increases blood pressure. However, for those who do not like chicken broth, according to the authors of the work, wheat, soybeans, salmon and sour milk, which contain similar substances, can also help. ... >>

Iron on catalyst 15.07.2009

Employees of the Institute for Research on Catalysis in Lyon (France) received a patent for an iron whose soleplate never needs to be cleaned. It is coated with a layer of catalyst - palladium. Any contamination when the iron is turned on is completely oxidized to carbon dioxide and water vapor. One of the French firms already intends to produce self-cleaning irons. True, how much such a unit will cost is still unknown: palladium is a precious metal of the platinum group. In addition, there is no certainty that at this temperature and atmospheric pressure, a palladium catalyst will be effective. ... >>

Elephants feel bad at the zoo 14.07.2009

An international group of zoologists compared the lifespan of elephants in the wild and in zoos in Europe and North America. It turned out that African elephants in the Amboseli National Park (Kenya) live an average of 56 years, and in zoos - only 17 years. Asian elephants working in logging in Myanmar (Burma) live about 42 years, and in zoos their average life expectancy is 19 years. Experts believe that animals in the zoo experience increased stress and are often obese. ... >>

Passenger power 13.07.2009

At one of the Tokyo stations, ceramic piezoelectric elements were installed in a 25 square meter section of the floor so that passing crowds of passengers would generate energy. If the experiment is successful, the entire station will be equipped with piezoelectric elements, and passengers will be powered by ticket vending machines, turnstiles that allow passengers to enter the platform, and information boards. True, for this it is necessary to create a system of batteries that store energy during peak hours and give it away when there are few passengers. On average, 400 thousand people pass through the station chosen for the experiment per day, and it is believed that the energy generated by the "energy floor" would be enough to burn a 25-watt light bulb for a day. ... >>

faster than the wind 12.07.2009

The English engineer Richard Jenkins realized his old dream: he set a speed record on the iceboat. The wheeled buer "Green Bird" built by him developed a speed of 203 kilometers per hour on the surface of a dried-up salt lake in California, despite the fact that the wind speed was only 48 kilometers per hour. The "Green Bird" is entirely made of carbon composites, only the ball bearings of the wheels and the swivel sail mount are metal. Instead of a conventional sail, a rigid wing is used, set vertically. According to the engineer, the special lightness and aerodynamic design of the buoy make it possible to exceed the wind speed by 3-5 times. Jenkins worked on improving the design for ten years. ... >>

Transformer for China 09.07.2009

By order of the People's Republic of China, the German electrical engineering firm Siemens designed and built an 800 kilovolt transformer. A transformer the size of a two-story cottage is now awaiting delivery to China. A 1400 km long transmission line from Yunnan to Guangdong will require ten such giants and the same number to transfer energy from a new hydroelectric power station in the southwest of the country to Shanghai (the line is more than 2000 km long). ... >>

Shipping pollutes the air 08.07.2009

Almost 5% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions - carbon dioxide comes from the passenger and merchant fleet of the world, this is 1,2 billion tons of gas, which is twice as much as emissions from aviation. Together with carbon dioxide, marine engines emit 37 million tons of nitrogen oxides and 20 million tons of sulfur oxides into the air. Vessels are fueled by heavy oil fractions rich in sulphur. Dutch ecologists have calculated that when one container is delivered by sea from Shanghai to Hamburg, the same amount of sulfur dioxide enters the atmosphere as from 3950 cars in the same time. And 24 large container ships, each carrying 8000 standard containers, pollute the air as much as all the cars in the world combined (there are about 750 million of them). Marine fuel now contains 4,5% sulfur. The International Maritime Organization intends to reduce this share to 2012% by 3,5, and even to 2020% by 0,5. In areas of busy shipping off the coast of Europe, as early as July 2010, the use of ... >>

Physiognomy and credit 07.07.2009

Physiognomy, a science that was fashionable in the 6821th century and claimed that a person’s character is reflected in his face, may have been right in some way. In any case, the experience of the American psychologist Jefferson Duarte shows that one can tell by the face how trustworthy a person is. Duarte collected 25 photographs of people seeking bank loans. Then the photographs were shown to XNUMX volunteers and asked to indicate to whom these participants in the experiment would trust their money for a while. The results matched the applicants' credit history - those who seemed trustworthy to the volunteers did indeed always repay their debts on time. Those whose identity seemed dubious to the participants in the experiment either did not receive a loan from the bank, or received it, but at higher interest rates. ... >>

Plankton in amber 05.07.2009

In amber, insects, arachnids, centipedes, and other small inhabitants of coniferous forests are usually found, where these animals could get into a drop of tree resin and freeze in it forever. Recently, in the west of France, several pieces of amber 98-100 million years old (mid-Cretaceous) were found with inclusions of marine plankton samples. Under a microscope, biologists saw diatoms in amber and some unicellular animals typical of plankton - radiolarians and foraminifers. It is believed that pines or other coniferous trees grew near the seashore and during a storm, waves with plankton could splash up to the trunks, along which the resin flowed. ... >>

Ecology and the Internet 02.07.2009

According to American physicists, when viewing any page on the Internet, 20 milligrams of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere every second - due to the generation of electricity needed by the computer and server. Currently, about 2% of all carbon dioxide emissions are associated with the activity of the Internet. But in general, the ecological balance of the Internet is positive, because before its appearance, in order to obtain any information or reference, one had to go to a library or other institution, and the choice and purchase of any product required long shopping trips. ... >>

New CREE LEDs 30.06.2009

CREE has announced a new series of LEDs with record-breaking efficiency and luminous intensity. The XP-G series LEDs emit a luminous flux of 135 lm at 350 mA and 335 lm at 1000 mA. The housing design of the new devices is similar to the XP-E series, but provides a lower thermal resistance - 5,5 ° C / W. The XP-G series LEDs will have a 125° lens and a low forward voltage across the junction (3,3V at 1000mA). The glow color of the new devices will be cold white in the range of 8300...5000K. ... >>

New DACs from TI - high precision and low consumption 28.06.2009

Texas Instruments announced the release of the DAC8568 (16 bit), DAC8168 (14 bit), and DAC7568 (12 bit) DLCs. The new products are designed for data acquisition and industrial process control systems, as well as for portable instrumentation. The devices are equipped with eight channels of precision DLP, which provides the industry's best combination of high accuracy and low power consumption. Key features. The internal voltage reference provides excellent thermal drift performance from 2 ppm/°C (typical) to 5 ppm/°C over the entire operating range, greatly improving accuracy. Internal voltage reference maintains high initial accuracy of +0,004% (typical); +0,02%, eliminating the need for a full system calibration. The low energy of input voltage spikes during code changes, as low as 0,1 nV-s, limits unwanted transients and results in reduced ... >>

The first polymer solar power plant 27.06.2009

You can talk for a long time about the advantages and disadvantages of alternative energy sources, but until there is a real power plant, all this talk remains in a fog of economic uncertainty. Engineers at the Danish National Laboratory Riese, which deals with sustainable energy issues, decided to move from words to deeds. With the help of Mecoprint, they printed rolls of chips for polymer solar cells, Gaia Solar, a company specializing in the manufacture of silicon solar power plants, ordered the installation of organic batteries on platforms capable of tracking the movement of the Sun, and eventually included the constructed power plant in the grid . And then they calculated how much one watt of installed power costs (that is, the unit costs for manufacturing and operation) of such a station. In June 2008, it cost 4500 euros. By January 2009, thanks to organizational and technical efforts, the price fell to 22 euros, in March - to 15 euros, and by the end of 2009 ... >>

Metal with unusual optical properties 26.06.2009

Chirality - the incompatibility of the molecular structure of a substance with its mirror image - is inherent in many organic substances. Optical isomers of such substances polarize light differently. For metals, no one noticed such an ability. This is understandable: their lattices are quite symmetrical. However, Gadi Rotenberg, a professor at the University of Amsterdam, managed to make chiral palladium. To do this, he used the simplest method of metal recovery from its salt in the presence of short molecules of the optical isomer, in this case cinchona alkaloid. When the organics were removed, a black powder of palladium was obtained, which has the property of chirality. Moreover, even mechanical processing did not destroy this property: using a 10-ton press, scientists forged a disc the size of a coin in two European cents and sent it for testing to Israel, to the Weizmann Institute of Science. There, they checked the photoelectric effect inherent in palladium and found that the number of electrons knocked out of the metal ... >>

Amazon Kindle DX e-book 25.06.2009

Amazon.com has introduced the third generation of electronic "reader". The device is called Kindle DX. The screen diagonal size has increased by 3,7 inches compared to the previous model and now stands at 9,7", thereby its usable area has increased by 2,5 times. Built-in 4 GB of memory (3,3 GB available to the user) will provide storage for approximately 3,5 .XNUMX thousand books ... >>

Smartphones from ViewSonic 23.06.2009

ViewSonic intends to launch smartphones under its own brand. This was announced by the chairman and chief executive officer of the company James Chu (James Chu). This decision is explained by the fact that the market is currently putting forward new requirements for device screens, as users want models with large bright displays with high color saturation and sufficient contrast levels. It is in this industry that ViewSonic has gained a lot of experience gained in the development of LCD monitors and TVs. And it will definitely come in handy in this case. Specifications of devices from ViewSonic and the timing of their expected sale have not yet been announced, but it is known that the first 3G-smartphone will appear on the Chinese market, and then in Europe and the USA. ... >>

New processor Intel's new dual-core Pentium E6300 processor 22.06.2009

A new dual-core Pentium E6300 processor has appeared in Intel's arsenal. It is manufactured according to the 45nm process technology on the Wolfdale core, has an LGA775 design, operates at a frequency of 2,8 GHz, contains 2 MB of L1066 cache and supports a 6300 MHz FSB frequency. Previously, the E2 index belonged to the Core 1,86 Duo (2008 MHz), which has been discontinued since January XNUMX. ... >>

External battery for Sanho HyperMac laptops 19.06.2009

The world's first external battery for Apple MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops - developed by Sanho. Consumers are offered several device options with capacities from 60 to 222 Wh. The older model with a mass of 2,13 kg is capable of providing laptops with power for 24-32 hours. In addition, recharging of any gadgets equipped with a USB port is provided. The least capacious version, which has excellent weight and size characteristics (125x96x21 mm, 360 g), will allow the laptop to work autonomously for 10-13 hours. All HyperMac models come with a one-year manufacturer's warranty and can be recharged up to 1000 times. The cost of devices ranges from $200-500. ... >>

Diesel on coffee grounds 18.06.2009

Indian chemist Manoranjan Misra is a big coffee lover. Once, leaving an unfinished cup for the whole day, he noticed that the black drink was covered with a thin iridescent film resembling oil. Misra became interested in its composition. It turned out to be the liquid oil found in coffee beans. Calling on the help of Japanese and American colleagues, the chemist began experimenting with coffee grounds, which were supplied free of charge by the nearest cafe. After treatment with an organic solvent and alkali, the oil separated from the thick is reacted with methyl alcohol - and fuel for a diesel engine is obtained. A liter of fuel comes out of 5-7 kilograms of coffee grounds. The pilot plant produces 4 liters per day, processing 20-25 kilograms of used ground coffee. "Coffee" fuel is half the price of gasoline. Since the whole world consumes more than seven million tons of coffee per year, the waste could provide 1,3 million cubic meters of liquid fuel. ... >>

Latin at school 17.06.2009

Where ancient languages ​​are still taught to children, their necessity is justified by the benefit to the development of logical thinking. It is believed that the study of Latin is especially effective in this regard. A group of psychologists and educators from Berlin, Vienna and Zurich compared two graduating classes in Austria: in one, Latin was taught for the third year, in the other, the same period was spent on English. Detailed psychological tests did not reveal any differences in the students' ability to think logically. However, the authors of the study do not say that learning a dead language is a waste of time. Knowledge of Latin then makes it easier to assimilate the related Romance languages, as well as the terminology of many sciences. In addition, during the Latin lessons, students get acquainted in detail with the history and civilization of Ancient Rome, which had a great influence on the entire European culture. ... >>

How effective is spam 16.06.2009

How effective is spam - unsolicited advertising sent to email addresses? A group of computer scientists from California (USA) became interested in this issue. They analyzed the results of an advertising campaign in which 75 million messages about a new herbal medicine were sent out from 869 computers in a major spam advertising network in 26 days. The result is only 350 purchases of this tool, that is, the mailing efficiency is less than 28%. Whereas a regular advertising campaign, when information is sent on demand or to people who may obviously be interested in the proposed product, reaches an efficiency of 0,00001%. ... >>

Excavations at Stonehenge 15.06.2009

For the first time in almost half a century, English archaeologists have resumed excavations on the territory and in the vicinity of Stonehenge, the famous megalithic monument in the south of Great Britain. It was possible to obtain an accurate radiocarbon dating of the found burials. The results of the excavations show that over the centuries (the structure was built and completed from about 3000 to 1600 BC), many Stonehenge stones changed their location more than once, moved, sank deeper into the ground or rose. Initially, Stonehenge was a place of cremation and burial of the dead, then it became a religious center. Apparently, people of local tribes came here in search of healing - megaliths were considered healing. There are also traces of the presence of the Romans here. ... >>

Introduced genes break free 12.06.2009

Opponents of the widespread use of genetic engineering in agriculture have repeatedly expressed concern that genes artificially inserted into cultivated plants to increase their yield, resistance to pests and diseases, or to enhance other beneficial properties, can be transferred to other plants. The consequences of such spontaneous gene spreading are difficult to predict. However, supporters of genetically modified products insisted that such a transition was impossible. Indeed, recently, geneticists from the University of the Mexican capital found genes from genetically modified corn in common varieties growing nearby. True, the transition of extraneous genes happens infrequently. They are found in only one percent of nearly 2000 samples of corn grains collected in the fields of Mexico. Geneticists point out that foreign genes are not so easy to identify, this can not be done in every laboratory. Therefore, to monitor an unsafe process, it is necessary to organize a wide monitoring network. ... >>

How to drink tea properly 11.06.2009

Those who drink too hot tea increase their chances of developing esophageal cancer. After brewing, you need to wait at least four minutes for the drink to cool down a bit, Iranian doctors say. Most tea lovers prefer a temperature of 56-60 degrees Celsius. However, in the province of Golestan in northern Iran, 60% of the nearly 50 people surveyed drink more than a liter of black tea a day with a temperature above 60 degrees. This province has a much higher average incidence of esophageal cancer. A comparison of the tea habits of 300 patients and 571 healthy Iranians showed that those who drink tea two minutes after pouring it into cups, when the temperature of the drink is 65-69 degrees, are twice as likely to get esophageal cancer as drinkers of slightly cold tea. If the temperature of the drink exceeds 70 degrees, the risk becomes eightfold. ... >>

The largest and smallest snake 10.06.2009

In the east of the island of Barbados, zoologists have found a tiny snake, which, apparently, can be considered the smallest snake in the world. The average length of an individual of a new species is 10 centimeters. And in a coal quarry in northern Colombia, paleontologists stumbled upon a fragment of the spine of an extinct snake, consisting of a dozen and a half vertebrae, each about 10 centimeters wide. It is not known whether the fragment refers to the widest or narrowest section of a snake that lived approximately 60 million years ago, but when compared with the vertebrae of modern snakes, this reptile, living in our time, could not fit through a normal doorway. Its length was at least 13 meters, weight - more than a ton. The longest of modern snakes - reticulated python - reaches 10 meters in length. ... >>

The driver is hindered not by a mobile phone in his hands, but by talking on it 08.06.2009

It is now illegal in many countries to use a cell phone while driving, but as long as the driver is equipped with a hands-free headset, the law does not object to talking. However, studies conducted at the University of Utah (USA) showed that the matter is not in the hands. Experiments conducted both on a driving simulator and on real roads show that the hands can be free, but the brain is busy talking and distracted from the road. Talking on the phone significantly distracts attention and slows down the processing of visual information. Busy drivers are four times more likely to have an accident than other drivers. This is about the same risk as a lightly drunk driver. Listening to a radio program or an audiobook does not affect the frequency of driving errors (and the participants in the experiments were then tested for knowledge of the contents of the programs and books to make sure they really listened). A conversation with a passenger sitting next to ... >>

Folding electric bike 07.06.2009

Two French companies have launched a folding electric bike. A one and a half meter car folds in two or three seconds, and there are two folding options: in order to roll the bike in front of you while walking, pushing the saddle protruding upwards (yet the bike weighs 18 kilograms, and it’s hard to carry it in your hands), and for storage, when the bike shrinks even more. There is a switch on the steering wheel that allows you to turn off the electric motor and drive by pressing the pedals. In addition, you can ride only on the motor or choose the degree of its participation: for each effort of the rider's legs, the engine is able to add 25, 50, 100 or 200% of its effort. The battery is enough for about 70 kilometers. The sale of the bike has already begun in Europe, the USA and Japan. ... >>

Mountains, skis and sun 06.06.2009

In the Italian ski resort of Bressanone, there is a ski lift that uses solar energy. This is a lift of the so-called tow type, which does not have cabins, the skier simply clings with a special hook to the cable crawling up. The electric motor is powered by 108 solar panels with a total area of ​​140 square meters covering the southern facade of one of the resort's buildings. On a clear sunny day, the batteries develop a power of 14,5 kilowatts. ... >>

Youth is deaf 05.06.2009

Physiologists from the Institute of Occupational Safety in Lodz (Poland) concluded that approximately 10 million Europeans are at risk of hearing loss. The fact is that many, especially children and young people, listen to miniature MP3 players through headphones at high volume. After five years of such entertainment, if you listen to music at a volume above 89 decibels for just five hours a week, you can completely lose your hearing. In total, 100 million players have been sold in Europe in recent years, and selective measurements have shown that approximately 10% of young people use exorbitant volume. Under a recent law in Europe, players cannot be louder than 100 decibels, but it is possible that this limit should be further lowered. ... >>

Inflatable mirrors 04.06.2009

Recently, solar power plants have appeared in which, to increase the efficiency of solar panels, the light on them is concentrated using mirrors. But mirrors are heavy and expensive. American inventor Rob Lamkin proposed to make large concave mirrors for solar batteries in the form of inflatable balls with a diameter of 2,5 meters from a polymer film with aluminization of one half of the ball. The other hemisphere remains transparent. It turns out a huge, but cheap converging mirror, in the focus of which is placed a solar battery in the form of a disk with a diameter of 15-20 centimeters. To prevent the battery at the focus of the mirror from melting, it is cooled with water. Inflatable mirrors will automatically turn to follow the Sun; in addition, you can adjust the focus of the mirror by slightly changing the air pressure in it. The first solar power plant of this type should begin operation in California this summer. ... >>

Water from the air 02.06.2009

Only 2% of the water in the air is collected in clouds. The remaining 98% is in the form of an invisible vapor. Every second, the winds transport about 165 tons of water vapor from tropical seas, where evaporation is the strongest, to temperate latitudes. A cubic kilometer of air contains from 10 to 40 tons of water. Israeli engineer Eitan Bar has developed a device to extract this hidden moisture. The air is driven through a hygroscopic absorber, which captures only water vapor. Then the absorber is heated in a vacuum, while steam is released, it is cooled to condense water. The unit can operate at a relative air humidity of at least 10% (usual air humidity in the Sahara is 12-25%) and an outside temperature of plus 4 to 45 degrees Celsius. It takes about 0,3 kilowatt-hours of electricity to produce one liter of water. The company, founded by the inventor, produces models of various sizes, up to large installations that produce 25 cubic meters of water per day. ... >>

Bacteria and the taste of wine 01.06.2009

Connoisseurs and connoisseurs of wine know the phenomenon of aftertaste, when 20-30 seconds after a sip of wine, a new shade of taste appears, which was not there while the wine remained in the mouth. Swiss microbiologist Christian Starkenmann claims that the anaerobic bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum, which lives in the oral cavity, is responsible for the aftertaste. In half a minute, it converts some of the tasteless and odorless sulfur compounds in wine into volatile, odorous and tasting compounds. ... >>

High power controller with over 90% efficiency 31.05.2009

Texas Instruments announced the release of a high-performance controller for Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices consuming 13 or 26 watts of electrical power. For example, the controller is suitable for IP phones, wireless access points and surveillance cameras. The new integrated controller TPS23754 meets all the requirements of the IEEE 802.3at (pre-release 4.0) standard, supports DC/DC converter topologies that achieve more than 90% power conversion efficiency. These topologies reduce heat dissipation and increase system reliability. The new single-chip PoE solution is manufactured using processes that allow surge voltages up to 100 V, which allows the development of reliable devices with a power of 13 or 26 W. TI provides samples of the TPS23754 controller as well as the TPS23756, which supports input voltages up to 12V. ... >>

Current/Power Monitor Chip 30.05.2009

The Texas Instruments INA219 Zero-Drift Power Rail Current/Power Monitor IC monitors the voltage drop across the shunt resistor and senses the shunt supply voltage while calculating the power. The IC is available in a SOT23 package, providing a compact tool for digital current measurement in servers, laptops, power supplies, charging circuits, as well as automotive and telecommunications equipment. The INA219 provides a maximum accuracy of 1% over a temperature range of -40°C to 85°C, with a maximum offset of 100µV. This accuracy, combined with 12-bit resolution, allows users to operate with minimal shunt drop, thereby minimizing losses, heat dissipation, and PCB space. The IC operates from a bus voltage of 0 to +26 V. Other features of the INA219 include: programmable calibration register for direct current reading ... >>

Magnetic system for blood purification 28.05.2009

Blood poisoning is a dangerous disease, especially when the immune system is weakened. And there is only one treatment - to purify the blood from microorganisms that have entered it. Dr. Jung Win Yang and colleagues from the Boston Children's Hospital came up with an original cleaning system. Its basis is magnetic nanoparticles coated with antibodies to Candida albicans yeast cells. Magnetic particles are added to the blood and pumped through the microvascular system. In it, the flow of blood meets the flow of saline flowing parallel to it. Due to the peculiarities of microhydrodynamics, these flows are in contact, but do not mix. Under the action of a magnet, the particles with the captured yeast enter the solution and flow away with it. In just one pumping cycle, the blood is cleared by 80%. According to the calculation, a system of hundreds of such microchannels can purify a child's blood in a few hours. And no ion exchangers, membranes and other blood-damaging devices. ... >>

Clay XNUMXD Printing 27.05.2009

American materials scientists managed to make 4000D printing cheaper. Three-dimensional printing, that is, the production of three-dimensional objects from a computer model using a special printer, is a very interesting technology. Today it is used not only for designing machine parts or making individual prostheses: sculptors and museum workers have also begun to be interested in the possibility of creating small editions of works of art. As a result, there are more and more students who come to learn how to work with such equipment. This means that the need for consumables is increasing, and they are expensive. “We are now spending up to $20 a quarter to buy branded clay for such a printer. This is too much for our budget. In fifteen years of operation, we have spent so much money on consumables that the initial cost of a printer - $ XNUMX - seems now just ridiculous " says Mark Gunter of the University of Washington. To reduce ... >>

Acoustic sensors on military helmets will detect snipers 25.05.2009

Remembering the aphorism "If you want peace, prepare for war," American engineers are increasingly equipping the armor of their soldiers with all kinds of electronics. Specialists from Vanderbilt University completed the development in 2006, and have now completed testing of a system that will help the infantryman during protracted street battles. These are four sensors on the helmet plus a processor and a transmitter. Sensors perceive shock waves from a shot from a sniper rifle and from a bullet flying at supersonic speed. The processor determines the direction by the parameters of the first wave, and the distance to the shooter by the second wave. The sensitivity of the entire system would be low if the helmets of all the soldiers in the platoon were not equipped with similar sensors and the data did not enter the commander's computer. The display of this computer displays information about the position of the sniper, even if he is perfectly camouflaged. The whole system weighs like the four AA batteries that power it, and costs $1000, and you can assemble it. ... >>

Netbook Samsung N310 24.05.2009

The release of the new netbook Samsung N310 with a very unusual keyboard with split keys is scheduled for May this year. The novelty will receive 1 GB of RAM, a 160 GB HDD, a 1,3-megapixel camera, a 3-in-1 card reader and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 and HSDPA interfaces, as well as an Ethernet network port. In this case, the mass of the model will be 1,23 kg. The manufacturer assures that the battery life of the device will be 5 hours with a standard battery and up to 11 hours with an extended battery. ... >>

SLR camera Nikon D5000 23.05.2009

Nikon's first DSLR to feature a 2,7-inch tilt-and-turn display has been officially announced. In addition, the device is equipped with a 12,3-megapixel DX format CMOS sensor. The AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens is included as standard, although the camera can be purchased without it. The device has good light sensitivity from 200 to 3200 ISO units and is capable of recording HD-video in 720p resolution at 24 frames per second. ... >>

India Explores the Moon 22.05.2009

India has launched an ambitious lunar exploration program. In October 2008, the Chandrayaan-1 lunar probe was launched, weighing 675 kilograms, it went into orbit around the moon, at an altitude of 100 kilometers from its surface. Pictures were taken with a resolution of 10 meters. A descent vehicle with various equipment landed on the Moon near its South Pole. In the future, Indian scientists intend to send a lunar rover to our natural satellite, and in 2015 they plan to land astronauts on the moon. ... >>

Electrification of wines 21.05.2009

Chemists from the South China University of Technology in Guangzhou subjected cheap young wine to an electric field with different strengths, and the quality of the drink improved significantly. Such processing allows you to artificially age the drink. A commission of 12 experienced tasters found that the best results are obtained by three minutes of wine in an electric field of 600 volts per centimeter. The content of long-chain alcohols, which create an unpleasant odor and taste, is reduced by 23%, the concentration of esters, which improve aroma and taste, increases. Five Chinese wineries have installed equipment and started experimenting with the treatment of wine with electricity. In addition, the authors of the idea are considering the possibility of releasing a small household electrical appliance to improve wine at home. ... >>

The flu first appears on the Internet 20.05.2009

An analysis of user queries to the Google search engine made it possible not only to identify the beginning of the autumn flu epidemic in the United States 10 days earlier than doctors reported it, but also to map the gradual spread of the infection. The fact is that many Internet users, feeling unwell, enter their symptoms into a search engine in order to make a diagnosis themselves. The increase in queries with the words “high temperature”, “chills”, “muscle pain”, “headache”, “dry cough” speaks about the massive appearance of the flu. The location of the computers from which such requests come from can usually be traced, which allows you to monitor the progress of the epidemic. The method of tracking influenza via the Internet, which gives time to prepare doctors, pharmacies and hospitals for an epidemic in advance, is also intended to be used in France. ... >>

Vegetarian spider 19.05.2009

Zoologists have discovered a new species of spider in Mexico that feeds almost exclusively on acacia leaves and nectar. It is not so easy for a spider to get food, because on this acacia, in the cavities inside its large spikes, ants also live, claiming the same resources. The Ants set things on a grand scale: each tree has its own colony and detachments are organized to guard the sources of nectar and young leaves rich in protein and fat. Spiders have to bypass ant patrols to eat. Sometimes they attack ants carrying their larvae, take away and eat this burden, but basically they still prefer plant food. ... >>

black tomatoes 15.05.2009

English geneticists from the Center for Biotechnology in Norwich, having introduced the snapdragon gene to tomatoes, bred a variety of almost black color. It is rich in anthocyanins - dark plant pigments, which are abundant, for example, in blueberries, black grapes, blackberries, black currants. These substances, which neutralize the destructive effect of free radicals, have anti-inflammatory properties, improve vision, significantly slow down the growth of certain tumors, and protect against cardiovascular diseases. Experiments on mice of a special line, often suffering from cancer, showed that eating ordinary tomatoes extended the life of sick mice from 142 days to 146, and mice that ate black tomatoes lived an average of 182 days. Normal healthy laboratory mice live up to 211 days, and when consuming black tomatoes, up to 260. ... >>

The scent of dinosaurs 14.05.2009

Canadian paleontologists have studied on the preserved skulls of different types of dinosaurs the depressions in the bone where the olfactory lobes of the brain were placed. It turned out that they were the largest in relation to the total volume of the brain in the tyrannosaurus rex. Apparently, this giant predator, who lived 65 million years ago, could detect victims by smell from a great distance. When they checked the olfactory lobes of the brain of Archeopteryx, the ancestor of birds who lived 150 million years ago, it turned out that he also had a keen sense of smell. Modern birds have almost lost their sense of smell, and it is not known at what stage of evolution and why this happened. ... >>

Nicotine and Hummingbird 13.05.2009

Tobacco flowers regulate their pollination using two chemicals, benzylacetone and nicotine, as researchers at the Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, have found. Benzylacetone, which has a sweet aroma, attracts pollinators to the flowers, which in the homeland of tobacco are hummingbirds and butterflies with a long proboscis that can reach the bottom of the flower, where sweet nectar is secreted. However, the nectar contains an admixture of bitter nicotine, so that after tasting the bittersweet juice of the flower, a somewhat disappointed pollinator flies to another specimen of tobacco, hoping for good luck and feeling the pleasant smell of benzylacetone. It is beneficial for tobacco that a hummingbird or butterfly fly around as many plants as possible, transferring and mixing their pollen (this ensures greater genetic diversity of offspring). The researchers genetically engineered three varieties of tobacco plants: one without nicotine, one without benzylacetone, and one without both. Experiments carried out with these varieties and normal wild taba ... >>

Moonshine instead of gasoline 11.05.2009

The American company "E-Fuel" entered the market with a moonshine, designed to produce ethyl alcohol from sugar, to replace gasoline in a car with alcohol. Buyers are offered a device the size of a large refrigerator, which produces up to 132 liters of alcohol per week, and this fuel will cost two to three times cheaper than gasoline. In addition to sugar, distillation, brewing and fruit processing wastes are suitable as raw materials. The firm hopes to sell up to 200 of these units. Critics of the idea point out that sugar is too expensive, and the car engine will have to be significantly altered for pure alcohol. However, the manufacturer claims that cheap sugar can be imported duty-free from Mexico, where it is overproduced, and the waste of winemakers and brewers is generally free. ... >>

Lefties do more 10.05.2009

French scientists from the Institute of Sciences of Evolution in Montpellier collected statistics on 25 people, both right-handed and left-handed. It turned out that left-handers, on average, receive higher salaries and occupy higher positions at work. Left-handed women are more likely to receive higher education. But in early childhood, the health of left-handers is often weaker than that of right-handers; at birth, their height and weight are reduced. In addition, our world is adapted mainly for right-handers. Perhaps it is the constant struggle for existence that makes lefties more successful. ... >>

Sea of ​​garbage 07.05.2009

In the Pacific Ocean between Japan and California is the so-called North Pacific whirlpool - in this area of ​​\uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbthe ocean, several multidirectional currents collide and the water swirls clockwise. In recent decades, several huge accumulations of debris have arisen here, which are prevented from dissipating by the circular movement of water. Currents carry hard-to-decompose garbage from the banks here: plastic bottles and bags, disposable lighters, packaging from various goods, canisters from lubricating oils and detergents, fishing nets... All this is labeled and inscribed in English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Russian languages. In the surface layers of water, the weight of the garbage collected here exceeds the weight of the remaining marine life by six times. Quite fantastic ocean cleanup projects are being considered: for example, throwing nets from helicopters and pulling out accumulations of garbage with them. Or use specially built ships with powerful pumps like vacuum cleaners, but for water. ... >>

Where and when were horses first tamed 06.05.2009

English researchers from the University of Bristol have found traces of mare's milk on the shards of pots excavated in the north of Kazakhstan. They were determined by the characteristic isotopic composition of carbon and hydrogen in milk fats, absorbed into the pores of the ceramics in which the milk was kept. The shards are 5500 years old, that is, even then people who lived in the modern territory of Kazakhstan milked mares and drank their milk, and possibly made koumiss. Until now, the time of domestication of horses was determined by the finds of horse bones and parts of carts in burials, but these finds are one and a half thousand years less. ... >>

Simulating a volcanic eruption 03.05.2009

In the laboratory of the Faculty of Geology of the University of Toronto (Canada), one of the important phenomena that accompany any eruption was modeled - seismic waves that precede the release of lava, volcanic gases and ash. A few days, weeks, or even years before the eruption, the soil trembles in the region of the volcano. These vibrations are divided into high-frequency ones, which occur when rocks crack, and low-frequency ones, which form during sharp movements of magma and gases through cracks and voids in the stone. Low-frequency vibrations and reproduced in a Canadian laboratory. Samples of basalt from the slopes of Etna - cylinders with a diameter of 5 and a length of 12 centimeters were subjected to a pressure of 60 megapascals, which exists at a depth of about two kilometers, and then the pressure was abruptly released. In this case, typical low-frequency seismic vibrations appeared in the stone, similar in shape and amplitude of acoustic signals to natural ones. These works will help predict eruptions. ... >>

Security robot with net 02.05.2009

An experimental security robot, made by two Japanese firms, travels around the premises left under its protection at a speed of up to 2,7 meters per second and, having noticed or heard something suspicious, reports it to its owner by cell phone. On the screen of the phone, you can see what the robot sees, and by pressing the keys you can control its actions. If necessary, the robot is able to detain an intruder who has entered the house by throwing a network of thin, but very strong threads on him. And then the owners will come in time. ... >>

Photoelectric sensor Omron E3FZ 30.04.2009

Incorporating the same modular concept as Omron's popular E3Z series photoelectric sensor, the new E3FZ combines reliable object detection with a compact body and quick, easy installation. Thanks to the innovative SecureClick mounting system, the new photoelectric sensors install ten times faster than most conventional rectangular sensors and three times faster than standard cylindrical sensors. The sensors are simply inserted into the appropriately drilled holes and snapped into place. Despite this speed and ease of installation, the SecureClick fastening system has been extensively tested to prove its reliability even at very high vibration levels. The new sensors are made in the popular compact M18 cylindrical short body and are equipped with a high-brightness LED emitter that expands the boundaries of the measurement area. They are manufactured to tight tolerances to ensure minimal ... >>

Powerful 40V N-Channel MOSFETs 28.04.2009

ON Semiconductor introduced the NTD5803T and NTD5807N high power MOSFETs. The products use channel technology that achieves excellent current ratings for products in standard DPAK-4 industrial packaging. These transistors can be successfully used in automotive applications, LCD backlights, LED drivers, DC motors, and synchronous power rectification where system performance and space savings are important. The NTD5803N transistor supports 76A; The NTD5807T is rated at 23A. These products follow the existing NTD5802TN rated at 101A. ... >>

High Bright LED Drivers 27.04.2009

Drivers NCP3066 and NCV3066 provide constant current to power ultra-bright LEDs. They keep the feedback loop voltage at a very low nominal value of 235 mV, which is used to regulate the average current of the LED string. In addition, they have a wide input voltage range (up to 40 V), for operation from 12 V DC or AC power supplies or from batteries. These ICs are designed for boost, buck, buck/boost and SEPIC topologies and require a minimum number of external components. They have an on/off function that puts devices into standby mode (<100µA), or can be used to dim the LEDs directly. The NCP3066 is available in PDIP 8 and SOIC-8 packages, as well as in DFN-8 packages. NCV3066, which meets the requirements of automotive applications, has PDIP-8 and SOIC-8 packages, as well as a DFN-8 package. ... >>

Thyristor protection components 26.04.2009

ON Semiconductor has introduced a new series of Thyristor Protective Devices (TSPDs) for telecom circuits. These devices provide excellent protective properties, are small in size and have a low self-capacitance. The NP0080, NP0120, and NP0160 microcircuits are produced in the TSOP-5 package, have a differential capacitance up to 3 pF, and are capable of withstanding current up to 50 A for 8...20 µs. They are used to protect the line between the DSL transformer and the subscriber, as well as in data access devices. Another series of thyristor protection devices NP-MC is manufactured in SMB package, has capacity up to 30 pF and current up to 100 A. These products are offered as an alternative to gas discharge fuses. Due to their low capacitance, they introduce minimal distortion into equipment such as VDSV2+ and T1/E1 circuits. ... >>

Volumetric microscope eye 23.04.2009

A microcamera made by American scientists allows you to see the cell from all sides at once. To create a three-dimensional image of a micro-object, scientists from Vanderbilt University, led by Associate Professor Chris Yanetopoulos, etched a depression in a single crystal of silicon. Since, when such a material is etched, different planes of the crystal lattice dissolve at different rates, this recess took the form of a tetrahedral pyramid. The walls of the pyramid were covered with layers of gold or silver, giving them the properties of a mirror. A micro-object placed in a recess is reflected from the mirror walls, and the researcher sees it from all sides. In fairness, it should be noted that such devices have already been used to study nanoparticles. And the Yanetopoulos group was the first to use a plate with pyramids of different sizes to study living microorganisms. "This device is excellent for studying dynamic processes in living cells, as it allows you to follow them in three dimensions. ... >>

Platinum filament for fuel cell 22.04.2009

A long nanowire makes it possible to qualitatively change the fuel cell, according to materials scientists from the United States. One of the electrodes of modern hydrogen fuel cells consists of carbon coated with platinum catalyst nanoparticles. The inconvenience of this solution is obvious: a two-phase system, substances differ in chemical and physical properties. In general, the solution is not optimal. But there is no other way, except to make an electrode from pure platinum. And it's expensive. Scientists from the University of Rochester, led by Professor James Lee, have found a way out. Using electrospinning, they have learned how to create a platinum centimeter nanowire - a thousand times longer than any metal nanowire created so far. From such wires it is already possible to make an electrode with a surface large enough to work as a catalyst, but at the same time it will be possible to collect electricity from it without the use of an additional substrate. Until now, people have not thought about using ... >>

Intel Atom Z5xx processors 21.04.2009

The Atom Z5xx line of specialized processors is designed primarily for embedded systems, automotive PCs and applications in industrial projects. The tiny core of the new CPUs is protected by a heat-spreading cover. This allows you to confidently operate computers based on them in the most severe conditions. ... >>

Daylight Savings Time is Dangerous 20.04.2009

In different countries of the world, one and a half billion people are forced to switch from "winter" time to "summer" time and vice versa twice a year. According to Swedish doctors, the spring time shift, when people lose one hour of sleep, leads to an increase in the frequency of heart attacks and heart attacks by 5% in the first week of the new regimen. When switching to "winter" time, on the contrary, the frequency of diseases decreases, but not so noticeably. ... >>

People hunt birds or vice versa 19.04.2009

On the Indonesian island of Flores, in the same layer of sediments where the skeletons of unusual dwarfs, nicknamed "hobbits", were found a few years ago, Dutch paleontologists discovered the bones of extinct huge birds. The giant marabou of this previously unknown species was the largest predator on the island of Flores. The bird reached a height of almost two meters, while its contemporaries "hobbits" were only a meter tall. Whether the birds ate people or people hunted these birds is still unknown. ... >>

Dental prosthesis in the service of linguistics 17.04.2009

Christophe Jeannin, an engineer at the Institute for Verbal Communication in Grenoble, France, has built electronic sensors into dentures to record language movements during conversation. The data obtained will improve the formulation of French pronunciation among foreigners. True, such studies can only be carried out on people who need dental prosthetics, and their pronunciation is often not perfect. ... >>

Icebergs fertilize the ocean 16.04.2009

British oceanographers studying icebergs in the oceans around Antarctica have discovered an unexpected natural mechanism that may automatically mitigate the effects of global warming. Studying melt water from an iceberg under an electron microscope, they found tiny particles of iron in it. Meanwhile, the ocean waters around the sixth continent are poor in this element, which prevents the development of phytoplankton, microscopic algae that require iron to grow. It is estimated that 120 tons of iron enter the water every year with icebergs sliding into the ocean from the Antarctic ice sheet. Algae, multiplying, absorb carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming, and settle to the bottom, where, in millions of years, oil deposits will arise from them. Thanks to the addition of iron, the phytoplankton of the Antarctic regions removes 2,6 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year. Thus, the warmer, the more icebergs melt, the more algae multiply and the more gas they absorb. ... >>

mercury telescope 15.04.2009

Back in 1908, the American physicist Robert Wood built a mirror telescope in which the surface of mercury in a rotating basin half a meter in diameter served as a concave mirror. In 2009, a telescope based on this principle, but much larger - 4 meters in diameter - should come into operation in India. It is created by an international consortium of scientific institutions, funded by Belgium and Canada. The disadvantage of telescopes of this kind is the impossibility of tilting, aiming and turning after the object of observation, because then the mercury will pour out of the rotating vessel. However, in some astronomical studies, this shortcoming is of no fundamental importance and is atoned for by the simplicity and low cost of creating large-diameter mirrors. ... >>

How much is science today 12.04.2009

According to British statisticians, the total cost of publishing and mailing scientific journals in the world is 115 billion dollars a year. Of these, 3,7 billion are spent on reviewing articles submitted to the editorial office by independent experts. It costs an average of $8000 to publish one article. Based on the average salary of a researcher and the time spent on getting acquainted with scientific periodicals, scientists of the world spend about 66 billion dollars a year reading articles in their specialty. ... >>

Gold from phones 11.04.2009

According to statisticians, in the world every year more than half a billion cell phones are replaced by new models. Many stores take old phones and send them in for refurbishment or recycling. A large American firm that accepts and recycles old phones is located in the town of Dexter. More than 500 phones are sorted and evaluated here every month. If the device is well preserved (there are about 60% of such devices), it is modernized by changing the battery and worn out parts, sometimes by updating the program in memory, and is again sent for sale at a reduced price. The device can withstand up to three updates. Hopelessly damaged phones are sent for recycling, which is about 15 tons per month. First, the devices are passed through a crusher, plastic fragments are sifted from the resulting mass, the rest is sent to a melting furnace. Metal ingots and slag come out of it. The slag goes to the production of tiles and road surfaces, and the alloy is taken to a refinery to extract precious stones. ... >>

Underground garage in the country 09.04.2009

One of the English firms offers a single underground garage for a cottage or dacha. The electro-hydraulic system, obeying radio signals from the remote control, lowers the car into an underground chamber with stainless steel walls. Since the load capacity of the system is 10 tons, if desired, one more car can be placed on the roof of the chamber, and it will not interfere with the lifting of the first one. ... >>

surf power plant 08.04.2009

Next summer, off the coast of France, in the Gulf of Lion in the Mediterranean Sea, a prototype wave power plant of the SEAREV system (short for the French words "autonomous electric wave energy recovery system") is to be tested. In the float, anchored at a sufficient depth, is an unbalanced flywheel of the type used in self-winding wristwatches. When the float swings on the waves, the flywheel turns either in one direction or the other, pumping fluid in the hydraulic system, and the fluid flow rotates the electric generator. Several valves provide unidirectional flow of the working fluid. Depending on the strength of the wave, the power of such a floating power plant will be 500-700 kilowatts. ... >>

And there are spots on the stars 05.04.2009

An international team of astronomers working on the Amber Interferometer Telescope in Chile reports that a huge dark spot has appeared on the surface of the star Canopus (the second brightest star in the sky after Sirius). It occupies about a third of the diameter of the stellar disk, that is, this spot is 20 times the diameter of our Sun. The theory predicted that there might be spots on the surface of Canopus, but their expected size was 3-4 times smaller. The new information will make it possible to refine the model of the structure of supergiant stars. ... >>

Poisonous insects prefer medicinal plants 04.04.2009

Observations made by entomologists in the rainforests of Panama have shown that brightly colored insects prefer to stay on medicinal plants. Scientists counted the number of variegated insects on 10 species of wild medicinal plants and 10 species that have no medicinal value. It turned out that on average there were two brightly colored insects on medicinal plants. On ordinary plants, there was one brightly colored insect per three plants. This is explained by the fact that the bright color of insects usually warns enemies about the toxicity of these insects, and they often extract poison from plants that a person uses in small doses to treat various diseases. ... >>

water bike 03.04.2009

The idea of ​​a group of inventors from California (USA) won the international competition for new bicycle models. For residents of third world countries, where drinking water often has to be delivered from afar, the inventors offer a tricycle with a built-in tank and water filter. On the way from the river or lake to the house, water from the tank is pumped through the filter by pedaling. Purified water accumulates in a transparent reservoir above the steering wheel. At the moment, only a prototype of the device has been made. ... >>

Return of Odysseus 02.04.2009

In Homer's "Odyssey" various astronomical events are repeatedly mentioned. So, in sailing from Troy to Ithaca, Odysseus focuses on the constellations Pleiades and Bootes (and they are visible in the sky at the same time only in March and September). On the morning of arrival at Ithaca, Venus is visible before sunrise. The phase of the moon is approaching the new moon. Homer also writes that the god Hermes flew to the western island of Ogygia and immediately flew back to the east. This is associated with the movement of Mercury (the Roman name of Hermes) through the sky. The planet changes its apparent direction of motion from west to east every 116 days. And most importantly, in Canto XX, the soothsayer Theoclymenes, predicting the death of Penelope's suitors, speaks of a "terrible shadow" that "rises on the heavenly sun" and "under it the whole earth is covered with darkness" - a clear description of a solar eclipse. Comparing all these indications, employees of the Rockefeller University (USA) Marcello Magnasco and Constantino Baykuzis calculated the day when Odysseus returned from a long vacation. ... >>

Pedometer of the XNUMXst century 01.04.2009

Launched in the US, the miniature activity recorder attaches like a normal pedometer to a belt or pocket and records every movement of the wearer. The glowing display of the device allows you to see how many steps and how far you have walked in a day, how many calories you have spent, whether you have tossed and turned in your sleep a lot and how many hours you slept peacefully. Registration accuracy - 95-97%. The rechargeable battery provides power for at least 10 days of continuous operation. The wireless module allows you to reset the accumulated data to a computer that will plot your daily activity and give recommendations for maintaining health. ... >>

New line of noise protection filters TDK-Lambda 31.03.2009

The new TDKLambda R-Series low-profile single-phase and three-phase EMI filters allow designers to avoid mechanical compatibility and electrical performance issues when designing OEM equipment. Single-phase filter models are available with current ratings ranging from 0,5 to 300 A for 250 V AC or 250 V DC, with a ground leakage current of 1 mA. A low leakage current of 1 µA is available at 250 VAC, 60 Hz. Series B three-phase models are available in current ratings ranging from 6A to 1000A for 500V AC or 500V DC operation. The maximum earth leakage current is 2,5 mA at 250 VAC at 60 Hz or 5 mA at 500 V at 60 Hz. Various mounting options are available: wire leads, spade terminal, captive screw terminal. provision ... >>

Metallic iron rises from the depths of the sea 29.03.2009

Iron is to the ocean what saltpeter is to the soil: a valuable fertilizer that increases its bioproductivity. Some scientists even suggest "feeding" the ocean with iron, but this is prohibited by international conventions. Moreover, microorganisms that are at the beginning of the food chain better absorb metallic iron, and not its oxide. However, where can one get this pure iron if it instantly oxidizes in salt water? The answer suddenly came from deep within. Scientists at several American institutes, led by Katrina Edwards of the University of Southern California, have studied life around underwater hydrothermal vents, in particular, iron-oxidizing bacteria. They discovered that specific organic substances envelop the microparticles of pure iron contained in the waters of these sources and protect them from rusting. In this form, metallic iron floats to the surface. "Finding sparkling iron in the ocean is like taking a dry sponge out of a bathtub. ... >>

HP and Formula 1 28.03.2009

HP has announced the signing of a two-year partnership agreement with the Renault F1 Formula 1ING team. This announcement was made at the presentation of the new R29 car at the Renault dealership in Paris. For efficient calculations in the development of Renault cars, HP equipped a test site in the UK with HP ProLiant BL456c servers, and supplied HP XW6600 systems to the design office. ... >>

4 billion GSMA subscribers 26.03.2009

The GSMA reported that according to its calculations, the number of cellular subscribers worldwide has reached 4 billion people. This rapid growth - doubling over the past two years - is due to the increasing adoption of mobile communications in devices that previously were not even classified as connected. Another reason is the exponential growth of the subscriber base in developing countries. India is cited as an example, where about 10 million people use the services of mobile operators every month. The global mobile broadband user base has reached 100 million. That in total with subscribers of fixed networks (1,1 billion users) is no less than one sixth of the entire population of the planet. According to the GSMA forecast, the number of mobile phone subscribers on a global scale will reach 2013 billion people by 6. ... >>

DEll Wasabi PZ310 Mobile Printer 25.03.2009

Dell, which plans to enter the smartphone market soon, announced the release of the Wasabi PZ310 mobile printer for instant digital photo printing. The novelty has dimensions of 122,5x75x24,2 mm with a weight of 225 g and contains a 450 mAh battery. The device is equipped with USB and Bluetooth 2.0 interfaces and is capable of printing 50x76,2 mm color images in 1 minute. The Dell Wasabi PZ310 printer will go on sale for $149. ... >>

Wastewater treatment with iron 23.03.2009

Chinese experts have developed a method for treating industrial wastewater using iron. In the suburbs of Shanghai, where there are many small pharmaceutical, chemical and textile enterprises, wastewater contains toxic compounds, and therefore biological treatment is unsuitable for them. However, it turned out that passing industrial wastewater through iron filings allows you to remove dangerous chemical compounds. After that, the water can be purified by the usual biological method, keeping it in pools with a special complex of microorganisms. The plant, launched in Taopu, an industrial suburb of Shanghai, uses filters made of 914 tons of iron filings to purify 60 cubic meters of water every day. Sawdust will have to be changed every two years. It is planned to create the same system with a capacity of 100 cubic meters per day and spread the experience to other cities in China. ... >>

Operate better during the day 22.03.2009

When a kidney transplant is performed during the day, it works better than if it is performed at night. These are the results of 660 kidney transplants performed at the clinic of the University of Bonn (Germany). In about 40% of cases, transplants were performed at night, so as not to delay the transfer of the organ from the donor to the recipient, although the kidney can be stored in a special box for up to 36 hours. After a night transplant, complications occurred in 16% of the operated patients, and after a day operation, only in 6%. Apparently, during the day, surgeons are in better shape and more attentive. ... >>

Global warming helps archaeologists 19.03.2009

Alpine glaciers are retreating, exposing more and more remnants of the distant past. In August 2008, Swiss archaeologists carried out excavations at an altitude of 2756 meters above sea level. The finds are 4500-year-old items, a piece of a wooden bowl and the remains of a leather shoe. Since 2003, when summer temperatures in Switzerland set a record, more than 300 items of hunting equipment, tools and fragments of clothing have been found in this region of the Alps. Isotopic dating of the bow, arrows and birch bark quiver showed that these weapons were lost in the Alps about 4000 years ago. Other finds include Roman coins dating back to around 200 AD and some medieval pieces. ... >>

Terrestrial bacteria could have gone to Mars 18.03.2009

From May 25 to November 2, 2008, the American automatic probe "Phoenix" worked on Mars. When he was already on the surface of the Red Planet, microbiologists studied the workshop in which the Phoenix was assembled. It turned out that there were at least 26 microbes per square meter in the room. They belonged to a hundred species of bacteria, some of them very resistant. When they were placed in a chamber with Martian conditions - almost complete vacuum, cold, ultraviolet radiation - most of the microbes died within five minutes. But after Martian-like soil from the Atacama Desert was added to the chamber, some bacteria were able to survive because the mineral particles in the soil shielded them from ultraviolet light. True, scientists hope that the contamination of Mars with terrestrial bacteria still did not happen: there is neither liquid water nor nutrients on the surface of the planet. ... >>

Ball lightning is modeled 17.03.2009

By applying a 5000-volt discharge from a capacitor bank to a glass tank of tap water, German scientists from the Plasma Physics Institute in Berlin produce a glowing ball about 20 centimeters in diameter. It rises from the tank about half a meter. The experimenters believe that they were able to simulate the process of the occurrence of ball lightning. True, the duration of the existence of their "working model" is less than a second, while a real ball lightning usually lasts from 2 to 8 seconds. But the voltage developed by lightning is at least a thousand times greater than that from capacitors. Spectroscopy has shown that the temperature of the plasma ball in the first moments reaches 5000 degrees Celsius, but quickly drops. The plasma contains sodium and calcium ions (from tap water), as well as copper ions (from electrodes). ... >>

electrified cows 15.03.2009

On one of the largest dairy farms in Australia, 24 cows were supplied with an "electronic shepherd". The collar-mounted sat-nav device continuously locates the animal and, when the cow moves out of her allotted area of ​​pasture, plays a sound recording of the dog's barking. If the cow does not take the hint, the collar gives her a weak electric shock. In addition, the farmer can monitor his herd via the Internet. All this equipment is powered by a small solar panel. ... >>

Green polyethylene 14.03.2009

At a conference on bioplastics held in 2008 in Cologne (Germany), Brazilian chemists talked about their new development: they learned how to make polyethylene from sugar cane. First, ethyl alcohol is obtained from sugar cane using a routine process, and then the alcohol is converted into ethylene by a dehydration reaction. Finally, ethylene is polymerized in the usual way. By-products are mainly water with a small amount of ether and unreacted alcohol. "Green" polyethylene is no different from conventional polyethylene, except for small differences in the isotopic composition of carbon (plant carbon is slightly different from oil carbon). So if a company begins to claim that its polyethylene is produced without harming the environment, then this statement can be verified by carbon isotopes. ... >>

Mushrooms in a gas tank 13.03.2009

In the jungles of Patagonia, a microscopic fungus was found that parasitizes trees and produces a mixture of hydrocarbons, low molecular weight alcohols and ethers to protect against competitors. It is practically ready biofuel for internal combustion engines. If the fungus is grown in bioreactors on cellulose (waste from agriculture, woodworking and paper industries), fuel can be obtained on a large scale. It is possible that, using the methods of genetic engineering, biologists will be able to further increase the yield of fuel. ... >>

A good example is also contagious 11.03.2009

Not only bad examples are contagious. A sociological survey of more than 12 people and 53 of their relatives, friends and acquaintances, conducted in the United States, showed that one smoker who decided to "quit" causes a chain reaction of the same refusals from cigarettes among his entourage. So, if a husband or wife quits smoking, the second partner also quits in 67% of cases. In a group of friends, the imitation effect is 36%, the same is in labor collectives, though only in small ones, where people constantly communicate with each other. ... >>

Very sharp eye 10.03.2009

Specialists from the Institute of Vision in Paris are working on an artificial retina, which will consist of the thinnest diamond plate coated with microscopic light-sensitive transistors. Diamond was chosen as the basis because it does not cause rejection reactions in the body, gets along well with nerve cells and has the properties of a semiconductor. Doctors hope to save vision with retinal degeneration with the help of a diamond. ... >>

Pocket Ultrasound 09.03.2009

The first pocket apparatus for ultrasonic transillumination was produced by the German firm Siemens. The device weighs about 700 grams, fits in the pocket of a doctor's coat and can be used outside the clinic, including at the patient's home or in case of accidents and disasters. ... >>

Vitamin C sometimes helps with colds 06.03.2009

The results of 25 studies conducted around the world to test the alleged preventive effect of high doses of vitamin C against colds are summed up. In general, hopes were not justified, but it turned out that in people who were exposed to stress or hypothermia - marathon runners, climbers, skiers and soldiers - the frequency of colds after taking vitamin C was halved. In addition, in those who took ascorbic acid, the symptoms of the disease were slightly easier and passed a little faster. ... >>

Soft nanotube loudspeaker 05.03.2009

Chinese physicists have received a transparent film consisting of carbon nanotubes. When wires from a low-frequency generator were connected to the film, it began to vibrate, reproducing sound. This phenomenon is explained by the so-called thermoacoustic effect: some materials with high thermal conductivity and low heat capacity, when passing alternating current, either heat up and expand, then cool and contract, causing vibrations in the surrounding air. At the same time, the film can be bent, crumpled and even torn - the sounds do not stop. The sound quality is no worse than conventional speakers. The inventors intend to stick flexible transparent loudspeakers on TV screens and computer monitors, on windows and even on clothes. So far, however, no method has been developed for producing such films on an industrial scale. ... >>

Neanderthal is not related to us 03.03.2009

An international team of geneticists was able to read the structure of the mitochondrial DNA of a Neanderthal for the first time. That's 16 base pairs. It is confirmed that the Neanderthal was genetically different from Homo sapiens. The Neanderthal population was smaller than the contemporary Homo sapiens population. Currently, the nuclear DNA of the Neanderthal is being deciphered, the volume of which is 565 thousand times larger than that of the mitochondrial. ... >>

Sun, alcohol and pedals 02.03.2009

The Hungarian company "ANTRO" has demonstrated in Budapest a working prototype of "environmentally friendly car". The roof of a light (270 kg) three-seater car is covered with solar cells, from which lithium-ion batteries are charged. They can also be charged from a wall outlet. Batteries power four electric motors in the wheel hubs. This system allows you to travel 15-20 kilometers on a single charge. There is also a low-power internal combustion engine running on biofuel - ethyl alcohol, obtained from plant biomass. It spins a generator that recharges the batteries. Finally, another way to recharge - the driver and passengers can pedal like bicycles. ... >>

New family of multi-channel DACs 27.02.2009

Maxim Integrated Products has introduced a new family of quad (MAX5134/MAX5135) and dual (MAX5136/MAX5137) 16-bit and 12-bit DACs that are both pin- and software-compatible. These DACs offer a combination of higher accuracy, integration and smaller footprint than competing products. Energy saving is becoming a critical requirement for all systems today, not just for battery powered devices. In sleep mode, the MAX5134M AX5137 DACs consume less than 300nA. Four 12 or 16-bit DACs can operate at an average current of 2,5 μA. With a built-in high-precision voltage reference, these DACs provide designers with unparalleled flexibility to change the number of channels and resolution with little or no device redesign. Each DAC channel can be individually disabled for better power management. High linearity (+8 LSB INL for 16-bit and +1 LSB INL for 12-bit ... >>

FET SuperMESH3 24.02.2009

STMicroelectronics has expanded its line of power field-effect transistors with a new family of highly reliable and efficient devices manufactured using SuperMESH3 technology. These transistors are intended for use in power correctors and half-bridge cascades of electronic ballasts of fluorescent lamps and in switching power supplies. The first transistors of the family are designed to operate at reverse voltages of 620 V - STx6N62K3 and STx3NK62K3, as well as 525 V STx7N52K3 and STx6N52K3. The new technology provides low channel on-resistance, reduced recovery time, gate charge and input capacitance, which ultimately improves switching properties and operating frequency. An added benefit of this technology, which combines stripline technology with an optimized vertical transistor structure, is some of the best dv/dt properties in its class. Achieving a low channel resistance also allows the use for high-voltage ... >>

Earthquake expected in New York 21.02.2009

American seismologists analyzed historical documents indicating tectonic activity and seismograph records from the New York area for 1677-2006. Conclusion: the metropolis is not immune from a major earthquake. The last three most powerful earthquakes of magnitude 5 occurred in 1737, 1783 and 1884, that is, the last of them - shortly before the appearance of the first skyscrapers in the city. The risk of even stronger soil movements cannot be ruled out. According to the calculations of seismologists, an earthquake of magnitude 6 can occur in this area every 670 years, and a magnitude 7 - every 3400 years. The trouble is that there is simply no data for such long periods, and no one can say how long such catastrophes have happened (and, therefore, how soon to expect new ones). ... >>

Submarine high voltage transmission line 19.02.2009

A high-voltage submarine cable was put into operation to transmit electricity from Norway, where there are many hydroelectric power stations, to Holland, which is experiencing a lack of energy. A cable 580 kilometers long (this is the world record for the length of an underwater power transmission) under normal load passes direct current up to 820 amperes, a voltage of 450 kilovolts. At the same time, the copper core of the wire heats up to 50 degrees Celsius, but the outer sheath practically does not heat up. The drag loss along the way is only 3,7%, and another XNUMX% is lost when converting AC to DC on the Norwegian coast and back to AC on the Danish coast. ... >>

controlled bacteria 18.02.2009

Employees of the Polytechnic School of Montreal (Canada) forced the bacteria to carry a payload, and were able to control their movement through the blood vessels. For the experiment, we chose specific bacteria that live in sea silt and contain magnetic particles of iron oxide. The diameter of such a bacterium is two microns, so that it can pass through the thinnest blood capillaries. Each bacterium was attached to a plastic ball with a diameter of 150 nanometers (the balls were pre-dressed with antibodies to this type of bacteria, which is why they stuck). The bacterium moves with the help of its flagellum, working with it like a screw. Using an externally applied magnetic field, the scientists directed the movement of bacteria through the pig's circulatory system. The aim of the research is to get bacteria to carry drug particles to the place where these drugs are needed, for example, to a cancerous tumor. ... >>

There are fewer bees, but crops have not fallen 15.02.2009

An international group of biologists and agronomists notes that, despite the decline in the number of bees and other pollinating insects, crop yields increased by 1961 percent annually between 2007 and 35. The decline in the number of crop pollinators is due to the spread of insecticides and the destruction of natural habitats for wild bees, bumblebees and other beneficial insects. In recent years, honey bees have also suffered from a disease caused by parasitic mites - varroatosis. In world agricultural production, crops dependent on insect pollination are believed to account for XNUMX% of the crop. The fact that, despite the extinction of these insects, crops are growing, according to the authors of the study, is explained by the success of genetics and breeding and the expansion of arable areas. ... >>

Bottle of wine in a proton accelerator 14.02.2009

French physicists from the Center for Nuclear Research in Bordeaux have learned how to determine the time of glass production by firing wine bottles with high-energy protons. X-rays produced by proton impacts carry information about the chemical composition of the glass, and by comparing this composition with data from a collection of 80 bottles, the age and origin of which are precisely known, it is possible to determine when and where the bottle was made. The process does not affect the quality and taste of the contents of the vessel. So far, the age of a bottle is determined with an accuracy of 15 years, but by expanding the collection of "reference" bottles, physicists hope to bring the accuracy up to two years. If the age of the bottle and the year of wine production indicated on the label differ greatly, we are talking about a fake. Another group of researchers from the same Center dates the wine itself by determining the content of the caesium-137 isotope in it. This isotope occurs in nuclear explosions and accumulates in grapes, so the dating limit is limited to the period from 1945 to 1963, ... >>

paper transistors 11.02.2009

Portuguese engineers at the New University of Lisbon have developed a way to print transistors on paper. The paper, coated with a thin layer of zinc oxide with additions of gallium and indium, serves as both a semiconductor and an insulator between the two parts of the transistor printed on opposite sides of the sheet. In terms of characteristics, paper transistors are close to ordinary silicon ones, but they are much cheaper and can be bent without harm. It is assumed that electronic circuits with such transistors can be printed, for example, on banknotes in order to facilitate their recognition in vending machines and make counterfeiting more difficult. ... >>

Hot Batteries 10.02.2009

In the north of Australia, a solar power plant with a capacity of 720 kilowatts is operating, consisting of 30 concave mirrors that follow the Sun. At the focus of each mirror is a silicon solar cell. Due to the concentration of light, its efficiency reaches 40%. Batteries have to be cooled with water, reducing their temperature to 60°C. The project includes a large solar power plant operating on the same principle with a capacity of 154 megawatts. But its 250 batteries will be fixed on fixed supports, and 20 flat movable mirrors will direct light on them. ... >>

The forest goes to the mountains 09.02.2009

French botanists, having analyzed the data on the distribution of 170 species of forest plants in the mountains of France for 1905-2005, came to the conclusion that over a hundred years the vegetation has risen by an average of 65 meters. Apparently, the flora did this to avoid overheating, since the average temperature in France rose by one degree Celsius over the century. Fast-growing species - grasses and shrubs - moved much faster than trees. ... >>

Thimble game with wolves 07.02.2009

It is generally believed that wild animals are smarter than domestic animals, which do not have to strain their intellect to find food and shelter. A few years ago, the American ethologist Brian Hare compared the intelligence of dogs and wolves in an experiment. He put two cups on the floor in the enclosure, under one of which a piece of meat was hidden, let a dog or a wolf into the enclosure and gestured to the cup under which there was a treat. The wolves were from the zoo, but untamed. Dogs tended to understand the instructions, and wolves chose the correct cup only by pure chance. From this, Hare concluded that the long evolution of the dog next to the person taught him to understand our gestures. His conclusions were recently refuted by a similar experiment conducted by Monica Udell of the University of Florida. She used not only domestic dogs, but also dogs from shelters with little contact with people, as well as tame wolves raised in human families. It turned out that the "tame" wolves worked best of all. Since their evolution in ... >>

Pocket tomograph 06.02.2009

A nuclear spin tomograph used in medicine is a complex and bulky device that occupies half a room. It uses huge superconducting magnets cooled by liquid helium and nitrogen. German specialists from the Biomedical Institute in St. Ingbert, together with the New Zealand firm Magritek, have developed a portable laboratory tomograph with very strong permanent magnets. They are arranged so that they form a uniform powerful magnetic field. Cooling is not required. The device can work not only from the network, but also on batteries. Of course, a portable tomograph is not used to scan patients, but to study small samples of various materials, small organisms, archaeological and paleontological finds. Thus, at a German research station in Antarctica, it is already being used to scan columns of ice drilled from the ice sheet of the sixth continent. The device will also be used in flaw detection of small non-metallic parts. ... >>

From air to stone 05.02.2009

Studies conducted by American geologists on large outcrops of peridotite in Oman give hope that excess carbon dioxide released into the air due to human activity will be neutralized by geological processes. The peridotite rock contains large amounts of olivine, a magnesium-based mineral. Reacting with carbon dioxide and water saturated with it, which has turned into a weak solution of carbon dioxide, olivine forms magnesium carbonate - magnesite. There is also dolomite - calcium and magnesium carbonate. Both minerals are 44% more voluminous than olivine, they push the rock apart, and microcracks the width of a human hair appear in it. Through them, air and water intensively penetrate into the stone, and the process is even more accelerated. It is calculated that Omani peridotites annually absorb hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide from the air. A cubic kilometer of peridotite can hold a billion tons of carbon dioxide. For comparison: American coal-fired thermal power plants annually emit one and a half ... >>

windmobile 02.02.2009

A group of students from the aerospace faculty of the University of Stuttgart built a three-wheeled vehicle driven by the force of the wind, including against the wind. A wind turbine with a diameter of two meters develops energy up to six kilowatts, transfers rotation to the wheels, and a cart weighing 130 kg can move against the wind at a speed of 64% of the wind speed. In August 2008, the development of German students took first place in the race of crews driven by wind power. ... >>

Asphalt in the greenhouse 01.02.2009

In the south of Peru, a section of the road with a total length of 5000 km must pass, which will connect two oceans - the Pacific and the Atlantic. Part of the Peruvian site is being built in the mountains, at an altitude of 4000 meters above sea level, where even in summer night temperatures drop below minus 15°C. Meanwhile, asphalt should not be laid at temperatures below plus 10°C. The experience of Russian road builders, calmly laying asphalt on the snow in the dead of winter, is unknown in Peru. Therefore, the future road is first warmed up by dragging a frame with 54 gas burners along it, and then a plastic tent 500 meters long is pushed onto the asphalted area. It remains in place until the asphalt mix hardens. In anticipation of the queue for laying, the arrived dump trucks with asphalt hide in smaller tents, each heated by 16 powerful electric lamps and gas burners. Despite all these tricks, it is possible to work only from June to September, from 10 am to 3 pm. ... >>

IR3720 monitor with power control technology 31.01.2009

International Rectifier has announced the IR3720 digital I2C output power monitor IC for use in low voltage DC/DC converters used in laptops, desktops and servers. As a result of its patented TruePower technology, the IR3720 delivers excellent current setting accuracy (0,2% typical error) over the entire range of input voltages and loads. Information about the output current or voltage is sent to the system controller through the digital I2C interface to achieve maximum power control efficiency. Alternative technical solutions involve separate monitoring of voltage and current, which can lead to a measurement error of more than 30% in dynamic modes. On the contrary, the use of innovative TruePower technology to dynamically measure the power at the output or load of a voltage regulator makes the IR3720 a simple means of maximizing system efficiency. The new IS provides monitoring with ... >>

NB3N3020 - new frequency multiplier 29.01.2009

ON Semiconductor introduced the NB3N3020, a programmable frequency multiplier with high precision, low phase noise, and low edge jitter. The chip provides both LVPECL and LVCMOS clocks from a single device, enabling the NB3N3020 to be used in a wide range of applications, including networking, consumer electronics, and computers. The IC has three frequency select pins with three LVCMOS logic levels, which provide a choice of one of 26 frequencies, allowing designers to meet the requirements and replace multiple clock sources in various systems with one customizable chip. ON Semiconductor's NB3N3020 Programmable Frequency Multiplier has a wide output frequency range from 8 MHz to 210 MHz. The microcircuit uses quartz with parallel resonance at the first harmonic with a frequency of 5,0 ... 27 MHz or an asymmetric LVCMOS clock source with a frequency ... >>

Ground-level ozone reduces tree growth 27.01.2009

At the beginning of the industrial revolution, not only did the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increase: the concentration of ground-level ozone increased fourfold. It is believed that this gas is formed during the photochemical reaction of nitrogen oxides with the products of incomplete combustion of organic fuel. It is natural to expect that, firstly, it somehow affects living beings, and secondly, that its concentration will continue to grow. University of Illinois Center for Atmospheric Research researcher Victoria Wittig analyzed data from more than 250 publications in peer-reviewed journals and came up with the following estimate: the rate of tree biomass formation is now 7% less than in 1800. And if the ozone growth rate continues, then by 2100 biomass will grow another 10% slower. Moreover, broad-leaved trees suffer more than conifers. All of which means that ozone, and a greenhouse gas in itself, contributes further to global warming by preventing trees from utilizing CO2. ... >>

Memory on moving nanotubes 26.01.2009

The founder of nanotechnology, Eric Drexler, believed that nanocomputers would use mechanical rather than electrical elements. A project led by scientists from the University of Nottingen, led by Dr. Elena Bichutskaya, allows us to get closer to this dream. And the goal of this project is to create permanent computer memory on two-layer nanotubes. A thin, shorter nanotube is inserted into a thick nanotube fixed on an electrode. When an electrical signal is applied, a thin nanotube moves out of a thick one, reaches the second electrode, closes the circuit, and remains in this position, held by van der Waals forces. A new signal can return the handset to its original state. It turns out that each such pair is one bit, which is either 0 or 1, and the recording density, taking into account the angstrom diameters of nanotubes, turns out to be colossal. The main problem is to make enough such double tubes and evenly fix them on the el. ... >>

Intel: a breakthrough in photonics 25.01.2009

Intel has published an article in the journal Nature Photonics describing developments in the creation of silicon photodetectors, which can reduce the cost of optical communications by several times, while greatly increasing their performance. In addition to low cost, the advantages of the new method include a higher sensitivity of the sensors, which ensures the transmission of signals over long distances. According to Intel, the elements developed by the company can already transfer data at a speed of 40 Gb / s. ... >>

NVIDIA Tesla GPUs 23.01.2009

Cray announced the release of the Cray CXI line of desktop supercomputers based on NVIDIA Tesla C1060 GPUs. Cray CXI is available in configurations with up to 4 Tesla processors and achieves a peak performance of 4 teraflops. Tesla-based products were also announced by the French high-performance computing (HPC) company Bull. NVIDIA Tesla technologies have already been used in the NovaScale deployed by Bull, with a performance of more than 300 teraflops, it is one of the largest hybrid supercomputers in Europe. ... >>

Samsung SSDs 22.01.2009

Samsung has prepared for the release of a new model of SSD drives, which is characterized by high speed performance. The device with a maximum capacity of 256 GB is made of MLC NAND flash chips, resulting in a read speed of 220 MB / s and a write speed of 200 MB / s. ... >>

Billionth mouse from Logitech 21.01.2009

The leader in the field of input devices, Logitech announced the release of the billionth mouse. She presented the first model of her own production in 1982, and by 1996, 100 million of such manipulators had been sold. Seven years later, their number reached 500 million. Today, the company's mice are sold in more than 100 countries, and Logitech manufactures 376 of these devices daily. "Since the first click on the Logitech P000 in 4, Logitech mice have played a huge role in the evolution of the personal computer," said Gerald P. Kindlen, president and CEO of the company. ... >>

Diamond cutting robot 19.01.2009

A group of engineers from the Institute for Technical and Economic Mathematics in Kaiserslautern (Germany) was able to fully automate the process of cutting precious and semi-precious stones. The machine built by them not only saves up to 30% of the weight of the stone, but also polishes ten times more accurately than the most experienced cutter. First, the machine determines the size, shape and relief of the stone, then calculates what configuration is best for it, and presents several possible options on the monitor screen. The choice is up to the person - the operator of the machine. After 20 minutes, the stone is cut and polished. The unit has been operating since the beginning of 2008, grinding tourmaline, beryls and quartz. Experts rate the results as remarkable. In the future, the developers intend to create a computer program that will allow you to choose between the most economical (when a minimum of material is lost) and the most beautiful cut, which creates the most spectacular play of light in the facets. But will the stones get after mechanical cutting ... >>

Water helps you lose weight 18.01.2009

One of the English firms has launched a new training setup for those who want to lose weight. This is a hybrid of a treadmill with a tub. Walking or running is hampered by the resistance of the water, the level and temperature of which can be adjusted, as well as the speed of the track. The installation is also used for the rehabilitation of patients who have spent a lot of time in immobility. ... >>

Perhaps Leonardo was an Arab 17.01.2009

According to some sources, the mother of Leonardo da Vinci was a slave from Arabia. The Italian anthropologist Luigi Capasso examined several paintings by the great master using infrared light and found his fingerprints on two of them. It is known that da Vinci often painted not only with a brush, but also with his fingers, gaining paint on them. The prints on both paintings are the same, which indicates that they belong to the author of the works. As it turned out, the curls of papillary lines have a shape characteristic of 60% of the inhabitants of the Middle East, and this is evidence in favor of Leonardo's Arabic roots. ... >>

Laptops instead of seismographs 16.01.2009

Any modern laptop has a shock sensor, which, upon impact, instantly takes aside and presses the most vulnerable part of the computer - the magnetic head of the hard drive - to the soft pillow so that it does not get damaged, for example, when the laptop falls. American seismologists have proposed using this ability of laptops to create a worldwide seismographic network. Laptops, scattered across all continents, are almost constantly connected to the Internet, and by installing a special program on a sufficiently large number of them, it is possible to record the shaking they experience around the world. A large number of laptops allow you to compare their readings and "subtract" random fluctuations, such as those that occur when using the keyboard or due to a heavy truck passing under the windows. About 1500 laptop owners around the world are currently participating in the earthquake registration program. Information about the concussions of this network is instantly transmitted to the registration center, which is located ... >>

Light signals of stars 14.01.2009

One method for detecting planets around distant stars is to observe the star to see if its light is periodically weakened. Temporary darkening may indicate the passage between the star and the Earth of a large planet. French astronomer Luc Arnold suggests that other civilizations can signal their presence by creating a huge shield in space, from time to time obscuring the central star of their system from an outside observer. The shield should not be round, but rectangular or triangular, so that the obscuration it creates can be distinguished from the passage of the planet. If the "damper" is made not solid, but trellis, the light of the star will flash, transmitting signals - for example, a natural series of numbers. According to the calculations of the author of the idea, a highly developed civilization could intercept an asteroid made of iron, melt it by heating it with lasers up to 1500 degrees Celsius, and form a thin screen with a diameter of more than 10 thousand kilometers. Earth civilization will reach such a ... >>

Talking on the phone while driving leads to an accident 13.01.2009

Traffic accident statistics show that in 2006 in the United States, talking on a cell phone while driving or dialing a number on it was the cause of 7% of serious accidents. A Canadian computer firm has developed cell phone software that senses when the phone is in a moving car and prevents the driver from making calls. And for those who want to talk to the driver, the phone sends an SMS message: "The subscriber is driving now and cannot answer." If the caller still insists, the phone asks the driver to pull over and take the call. True, the program is intended only for fairly complex and expensive models of phones equipped with motion sensors and running operating systems for pocket computers. ... >>

Car simulator 11.01.2009

Models of new car models are always blown in a wind tunnel, but the blowing results are not completely reliable. Indeed, in real conditions, the wheels of the car rotate, the road runs under them, which makes certain changes to the flow pattern. In North Carolina (USA), a wind tunnel was built with a running track made of a steel tape more than three meters wide, on which a car is placed. The track develops a speed of up to 290 kilometers per hour, which allows you to test racing cars. A headwind with a force of up to five on the Beaufort scale is provided by a seven-meter fan. For an hour of purge, the owners of the device charge $ 4000. ... >>

Air pollution and appendicitis 07.01.2009

Canadian doctors drew attention to a curious pattern. Admission to hospitals in the city of Calgary of patients with appendicitis increases by 15% on days when air pollution with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and smoke particles increases. And especially ozone, which occurs when the products of automobile exhaust gases are irradiated with sunlight. It is assumed that air pollution activates the foci of inflammation already present in the body. ... >>

Shark bite 06.01.2009

An international group of ichthyologists, physiologists and physicists, having studied the structure of the jaws and jaw muscles of the white shark, obtained data on the force developed by its jaws when biting. This largest and most dangerous of modern sharks reaches a length of 12 meters, and specimens 6-8 meters long are quite common. The bite force can exceed a ton. For comparison: the jaws of a lion develop a force of 560 kilograms, and the jaws of a man - 80 kilograms. According to the fossils of the distant ancestor of the white shark - megalodon, who lived 16 million years ago and reached 20 meters in length, scientists calculated that megalodon bit with a force of 11-18 tons. ... >>

Sculptures from the bottom of the Rhone 05.01.2009

For about ten years, French archaeologists, wearing scuba gear, have been descending into the Rhone River near the city of Arles. Despite a very strong current and poor visibility, often not exceeding half a meter, among the many modern debris, including even sunken cars, scientists find items related to antiquity (the Roman port was founded here by Julius Caesar in 46 BC). Among the finds of last year, there are several statues of remarkable craftsmanship: a marble Neptune taller than a human being, a bronze statue of a satyr, a bronze bas-relief of Nike... But the marble sculptural portrait of Julius Caesar is considered the most valuable find. This, as far as is known, is the oldest surviving image of the emperor and the only lifetime. How did these works get to the bottom of the river? It is believed that the sculptures were thrown into the river during the riots associated with the change of power and the advent of Christianity. ... >>

Giant tensoresistive effect 03.01.2009

For more than half a century, the so-called tensoresistive effect has been known to physicists and is widely used: some materials change their resistance when they are deformed. This principle is used, for example, by sensors that trigger airbags in a car: a strong blow shakes the sensor, its electrical resistance changes, and an impulse is applied to the explosion of a special powder, the gases from which instantly inflate the pillow. For substances known so far with such properties, the resistance to deformation changes by 10-100 times. A group of physicists from Switzerland, England and France recently synthesized a material from aluminum and silicon that changes its resistance upon impact by almost 900 times. It is believed that thanks to this discovery, the size of piezoelectric sensors can be reduced to such an extent that they can be embedded in electronic microcircuits and nanotechnology. ... >>

Perishable labels 02.01.2009

The National Taiwan University has developed a printing ink that gradually fades under the influence of atmospheric oxygen. If you print a label for a perishable product with this ink, you can adjust the fading rate so that the label has completely lost its inscriptions by the time the shelf life expires. To do this, the text is covered with a polymer film that is slightly permeable to oxygen, and the fading rate depends on the thickness of the film. ... >>

Clean air car 01.01.2009

The Luxembourg firm MDI has released an installation series of a hybrid car powered by compressed air. A supply of 90 cubic meters of air, compressed in a tank at a pressure of 300 atmospheres, allows you to travel 100 kilometers, passing this air through a four-cylinder pneumatic engine. Outside the city, where the environmental situation is not so tense, you can turn on a small gasoline engine that can also pump air into the tank. In addition, if the pneumatic car becomes widespread enough, air compressors will have to be installed at gas stations. Funds for the development of this design were allocated by the Indian automaker Tata. ... >>

MAX17061 - 8-line white LED drivers 31.12.2008

An onboard key element and a current controlled voltage step controller are used in this IC to drive an array of LEDs that are 8 parallel rows of 10 LEDs each. To control the brightness of an individual LED, a current source is built into each row, which ensures the accuracy of current distribution between the rows within + 1.5%. In addition, the MAX17061 provides a precise LED brightness control (DPWM) signal. The DPWM signal is controlled via PWM communication, via the SMBus interface, or both. Additional application flexibility is guaranteed by setting the PWM conversion frequency with an external resistor. ... >>

New LED drivers from RECOM 29.12.2008

Reliable driving of LEDs requires constant current. Lighting manufacturers, being experts in lighting sources, often have little experience with electronic components. To fill this gap, RECOM offers a complete solution with the RCD 24-xx series. These drivers provide dimmable analog output current up to 300, 350, 500, 600 and 700mA, respectively. Linear brightness control from 0 to 100% is carried out using PWM, operating in the frequency range from 20 to 200 Hz. The transducers have an input signal range of 4,5...36V. For battery powered applications there is also a standby mode. The nominal error of the output current is +2%, and changes depending on the input voltage level up to +1%. The case dimensions are only 22,1x12,6x8,5mm and the case is made of UL94-V0 material. Drivers are available with six outputs or four outputs. ... >>

New meaning of POLYLED 28.12.2008

The Polymedia group of companies announced the release of LED screens under its own brand POLYLED. This brand from 2002 to 2005. was used by Philips to refer to the proprietary technology for the production of polymer OLED displays for cell phones and small TVs, however, with a slightly different spelling - POLYLED. The POLYLED lineup will include a wide range of surface mount LEDs in 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12mm pitch, as well as output LEDs in 10, 12, 16, 20 pitch, 25 and 32 mm. Modules for POLYLED screens are designed by Polymedia technicians together with foreign engineers and produced in China. In the production of POLYLED screens, LEDs from Cree and Nichia are used. ... >>

Affordable Avago RGB sensor in a tiny package 26.12.2008

The ADJD E622-QR999 is a low cost CMOS RGB color sensor in a miniature QFN-16 package. In addition to the photodiode matrix, the sensor has built-in RGB color filters and amplifiers. The microcircuit converts the RGB color stream incoming to it into an analog output voltage value - VROUT, VGOUT and VBOUT, respectively. The ADJD-E622-QR999 is designed for color measurements over a wide dynamic range of light levels. The sensor can be used in conjunction with a white LED to measure the color of its reflected light. Applications: Lighting color detection and measurement, mobile phones, PDAs, MP3 players, consumer electronics, portable medical devices, portable color detectors. ... >>

Solid State Light Sources: Solutions from ON Semicinductor 25.12.2008

LED light sources are used in such critical applications as lighting devices for traffic control, lighting of houses and streets, illuminated advertising. Here, the use of LED lighting ensures a high degree of adaptation to the needs of the end user and a low level of operating costs. ON Semiconductor provides ICs and platforms (interlocked chipsets and reference designs) for 220V/AC, 12V/AC, 12V/24V/DC power applications, and for systems based on battery-powered basis. For mains power solutions, ON Semiconductor offers a wide range of power controller ICs with built-in switches, both with and without ignition circuitry. The largest family of such ICs based on fixed frequency PWM technology includes the NCP1200-1216 series of ICs, as well as the NCP101X/102 ICs. ... >>

Complete absorption of light 24.12.2008

The Americans have created a coating that absorbs 96,21% of the sunlight falling on it from any angle. A conventional silicon solar cell can convert no more than 67,4% of the light falling on it into electricity. Since its efficiency is already low - in the best samples it approaches 40% - each lost quantum reduces efficiency, which means it increases the cost of solar electricity. Moreover, the battery must expend energy on turning - in order to always remain at the optimal angle to the incident rays. Otherwise, many rays will be reflected from the polished silicon surface. Scientists from Rensselaer University, led by Professor Ling Shuanyu, have created a coating that allows a solar cell to absorb light from almost any direction. This coating consists of seven layers with a thickness of 50 to 100 microns. In each of them, at a certain angle to the surface, titanium dioxide nanorods are placed in a matrix of ... >>

The tendency to step on a rake is genetic 23.12.2008

Physiologists from the Brain Institute in Leipzig (Germany) have shown that people who tend to repeat the same mistakes in the brain have a reduced amount of one of the types of dopamine receptors, a substance that regulates the transmission of nerve signals and controls many other processes in neurons. Twenty-six participants in the experiments were shown complex symbols on a computer monitor, and they had to be found on the next frame. Success was rewarded by the appearance of a smiling face on the screen, and after a mistake, a sad face appeared. It turned out that people with a gene that does not provide the full amount of a specific receptor are slower to learn from their mistakes. In addition, psychological tests have shown that such people are potentially more prone to drug addiction and alcoholism than others. ... >>

Peaceful sleep mannequin 20.12.2008

At the University of the Bundeswehr (Hamburg, Germany), experiments are underway to create an "island of silence" in any apartment. Thirty microphones, placed above the bed in which the mannequin lies, pick up ambient noise and feed it to a computer that synthesizes similar sound vibrations, but in antiphase. They are emitted through two speakers at the headboard. As a result, the sounds cancel each other out, and the microphones built into the mannequin's head show that the noise becomes quieter by 10 decibels. The authors of the work say that so far it is not possible to suppress rapidly changing noises, for example, from a car passing under a window. ... >>

Yawning is also contagious for dogs 19.12.2008

Yawning is known to be contagious. This phenomenon has also been noted in some monkeys. But it turns out that dogs can get infected by yawning from humans. Psychologists from the University of London selected 29 dogs of different breeds for experiments - Labradors, Doberman Pinschers, Dachshunds and others. After walking and feeding, the dog, placed in a familiar home environment, was seated in front of the experimenter, and the owner was behind for peace of mind. After that, the experimenter demonstratively yawned. Yawning also occurred in 21 out of 29 dogs (72%). For verification, more experiments were carried out in which the experimenter did not yawn, but simply opened his mouth - then not a single dog yawned. In the ability to respond to yawning, dogs overtook both humans (for us, yawning is contagious in 45-60% of cases) and chimpanzees (33%). According to the researchers, this is the result of a long evolution of a dog next to a person. ... >>

Concert after a stroke 17.12.2008

Doctors at the University Hospital in Helsinki, Finland are experimenting with a new way to rehabilitate stroke patients. They were divided into three groups: one of them listened to the music chosen by the patients themselves for many hours every day, the second - to audio books, the third did not listen to anything. Almost all participants in the experiment suffered from movement, memory and concentration disorders. After three months of such a regime, memorization of words improved by 60% in those who listened to music, in the second group - by 18%, in the third - by 29%. The ability to concentrate attention and solve problems in the mind in those who listened to music improved by 17%, in patients of the other two groups there were no changes. In addition, "musical" patients were less likely to have confusion and depression of consciousness. Finnish doctors recommend starting music therapy as soon as possible after a stroke, but emphasize that this is not a replacement for conventional treatments, but only an addition to them. ... >>

Winter rain on the weekend 16.12.2008

Spanish meteorologists have analyzed rainfall data across Spain from 1961-2004 and concluded that it rains more often on Sundays. From other studies, we know that the same effect is even stronger in the US, China and Japan. The peculiarity of the Spanish weather is that weekends are more often rainy in winter, and in summer it rains more often in the middle of the week. In addition, Spanish scientists found that air pressure over Western Europe fluctuates in a weekly rhythm: it decreases in the middle of the week, and increases on weekends. The reasons for the found patterns are not yet clear, but meteorologists suggest that they are associated with the weekly cycle of activity in many industries. ... >>

Fire detector in the forest 14.12.2008

The University of Toulouse (France) has developed a sensor that is placed in the forest and measures the moisture content of the leaves. An infrared beam is passed through the leaf of the selected tree or bush, its intensity, indicating the moisture content in the leaf, is measured by a photodiode. When leaf moisture drops to such an extent that there is a risk of fire, the sensor sends a signal to firefighters through the cellular phone system. A network of such devices makes it possible to build a constantly updated map of the fire situation in forests. ... >>

Robot - calligraphy teacher 13.12.2008

A group of engineers from Grenoble (France) has created a robot that teaches to write by moving the student's hand and correcting his wrong movements. The student writes on a computer monitor placed horizontally and begins by tracing the simple curves that appear on the screen with the pen. Then the tasks get more difficult. As an experiment, the developers taught students who do not know Japanese or Arabic to write some Japanese characters and Arabic letters. The device is useful, in particular, to restore writing skills in stroke survivors. ... >>

penguin blood 11.12.2008

Emperor penguins dive deep for fish and can stay underwater for up to 23 minutes. American ornithologists implanted miniature sensors into the blood vessels of several penguins to measure the oxygen content in the blood. It turned out that after a long stay of a bird under water, it is four times less than the critical level of oxygen at which a person loses consciousness. Many organs of the body can live quite a long time without oxygen, but the brain cannot withstand prolonged oxygen starvation. How does the penguin carry it? Apparently, the fact is that penguin brain cells contain two special proteins that store oxygen - neuroglobin and cytoglobin. They are also known in mammals, especially diving ones - otters and dolphins. ... >>

The most powerful gantry crane 10.12.2008

The most powerful portal crane in the world has been installed at the shipyard in the Chinese city of Yantai. The crane, 122 meters high and 130 meters wide, set a world record by lifting a barge weighing 20 tons. The construction of the crane took seven years and cost $133 million. The giant is intended for the installation of offshore oil platforms. ... >>

Chorus of sea urchins 09.12.2008

New Zealand oceanologists, studying the sounds of the ocean, drew attention to the fact that some noise is heard from the rocky reefs immediately after sunset and before sunrise, and at this time it is a hundred times louder than day or night. It turned out that the sound is created by sea urchins, scraping off the growth of algae from the stones. During the day they hide from predators in the crevices of rocks, and at nightfall they come out and begin to grind their teeth (each hedgehog has five) their food. Having had their fill, they stop this activity, and before dawn they again go out to the rocks to have dinner before their daytime sleep. ... >>

Where did blue eyes come from 08.12.2008

Danish geneticist Hans Eiberg, after 12 years of research on the prevalence of blue eyes in different peoples in all corners of the planet, came to the conclusion that the first blue-eyed person appeared 6-10 thousand years ago. He lived somewhere northwest of the Black Sea. Before one child had a mutation in the gene responsible for the synthesis of the dark pigment melanin, all of humanity had gray, black or brown eyes. Now blue-eyed people make up from 20 to 40% of the population of different European countries. ... >>

Self-winding earpiece 06.12.2008

Everyone knows miniature wireless headsets for mobile phones that allow you to talk without holding the phone in your hands. A handy device, but its battery runs out pretty quickly. In the USA, a wireless earphone has been patented that does not need to be recharged. It is charged with any movements, turns and tilts of the wearer's head or, if this device is in a pocket or bag, with any shaking. A small but powerful magnet swings inside the coil during movements, inducing an electromotive force in its turns, which charges the battery. The release of the device has not yet begun, although some companies have been producing wrist electronic watches with the same principle of recharging for more than a decade. ... >>

Washing with almost no water 05.12.2008

Many birds are known to enjoy bathing in dust, cleaning their feathers by absorbing dirt into fine mineral particles. A similar effect is used in a washing machine invented at the University of Leeds (UK). The university has created a special company that will start producing such a machine in 2009. Just a glass of water is poured into the machine, in which the washing powder dissolves. Washing is carried out with a mass of thousands of plastic granules with a special surface structure (its details are kept secret) that absorbs dirt from fabrics. A charge of plastic "dust" is enough for a hundred washes, after which it must be changed. The laundry comes out of the machine almost dry, so not only water is saved, but also the electricity needed for drying. ... >>

Debt leads to disease 04.12.2008

As psychologists from the University of Mainz (Germany) have shown, 80% of people who owe too much money and are unable to pay off the creditor suffer from various diseases. Most often, these are mental disorders - attacks of fear, depression, psychosis, as well as diseases of the joints and spine. Women get sick more often than men. Purely material problems are added to psychological problems: in order to be treated, money is needed, but debtors do not have it. ... >>

Instant dimming for the welder 03.12.2008

The welding helmet of the American company "3M" does not have to be raised and lowered during operation. Its glass, when the arc is turned on, automatically darkens in 0,1 milliseconds and brightens as soon as the arc goes out. This is how the polarizing filter on liquid crystals works, which works when it is energized by the microprocessor that controls the mask. Moreover, the system reacts only to pulsating light (and the arc always pulsates during welding), so that it will not be confused by a randomly flashed sunbeam or a beam of a strong lantern. Welding ends - the light filter is clarified, and the welder, without lifting the shield, can again perform preparatory operations. You can adjust the filter for enlightenment with some delay so that the welder is not blinded by the hot weld. ... >>

Golf prolongs life 02.12.2008

As Swedish doctors have discovered, playing golf prolongs life. According to data held by Swedish golf clubs, they have established the life expectancy of 300 players and compared it with the death rate of the entire population of Sweden. It turned out that the death rate of golfers is 40% lower than among the population of the same age, and life expectancy is five years longer than that of the average Swede. The reasons for this are not very clear. Apparently, good fitness and frequent exposure to fresh air have an effect, but the fact that golf is usually practiced by people with above-average incomes, and they eat and are treated better than the less well-off. ... >>

NXP technology helps save up to 80% on electricity 30.11.2008

NXP Semiconductors has taken the next step in its energy saving journey with the announcement of the delivery of its 250 millionth fluorescent lamp chip. Fluorescent lamps are highly efficient, energy-saving lighting solutions that save up to 80% energy compared to conventional incandescent lamps. By developing these fluorescent lamps, NXP has helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 500 million kg per year compared to more traditional lighting solutions. NXP supports the energy saving trends in the lighting industry. For example, daylight maximization technology changes light levels based on natural light levels. NXP supplies lighting control ICs for a range of technologies used every day in shop and office lighting, such as HF TL (High Frequency Tube Lamp), CFL, HID (High Intensity Discharge Lighting) technologies ... >>

The tire pumps energy 28.11.2008

Belgian microelectronics engineers have created a cheap energy collector that can power a small sensor. An energy collector is a device that converts waste mechanical energy into electrical energy. For example, a tire is rolling down the road. At the same time, it inevitably deforms. The deformation of the rubber could, in principle, be turned into electricity and powered by a sensor that would monitor the grip of the tire on the road and report this to the on-board computer. And he is already taking measures to prevent an accident. In practice, to obtain such electricity, a miniature device like a cantilever with a weight is used. When the tire moves, the weight deflects up and down, deformation occurs at the base of the cantilever. If a piezoelectric is located there, it will turn the deformation into electricity. There is nothing surprising in such a device, and today it is only a matter of making the collector cheaper and more efficient. Scientists from the Interuniversity ... >>

Nanotechnology in the circus 25.11.2008

Carbon nanotubes are very thin, but they are highly durable, an order of magnitude stronger than a steel wire of the same thickness. The thickness of a nanotube is less than the wavelength of light, so it can only be seen with an electron microscope. And even a nanotube rope cannot be seen if the gaps between its "strands" are more than one wavelength of light. The light will simply pass between the strands of the rope. Nicola Pugno of the Turin Polytechnic Institute (Italy) calculated that a carbon rope capable of supporting a person in the air should be one centimeter thick. Moreover, the calculations also take into account defects that inevitably arise during the synthesis of nanotubes and reduce their strength. For the rope to be truly invisible, the distance between the nanotubes in it must be 5 micrometers. Ten meters of such a rope would weigh only one tenth of a milligram. Such "ropes" could be used in the circus and for creating special effects in movies. ... >>

comet trail 22.11.2008

At 26 points on the North American continent, from Canada to Mexico, geologists have discovered a black layer in the sediments containing carbon and an increased amount of iridium. This metal is relatively scarce in the earth's crust, but abundant in meteorites. According to experts, about 12 years ago, a massive comet exploded over Canada. The explosion caused numerous forest fires, smoke rose into the air, the light of the Sun faded and a long cold snap of 900 degrees Celsius set in in the Northern Hemisphere. There are no remains of animals and plants in the layers above the black layer, they appear later. That is, the explosion of the comet caused a serious biological catastrophe on the entire continent. ... >>

Aggression is written on the face 21.11.2008

Physiognomy, the science of the correspondence of a person's appearance to his character, popular until the end of the XNUMXth century, seems to be able to be revived. Canadian anthropologists measured the ratio of face width to height in photographs of professional hockey players, and then compared the result with the number of minutes spent by the corresponding player on the penalty box for being too aggressive. It turned out that hockey players with more rounded, broad faces are more likely to abuse power techniques. This pattern was also confirmed in students who were asked to play a computer game that provoked aggressive behavior. But such a connection was not found among the female students who played. The Canadian women's hockey team does not have it either. The reasons for the pattern found are not very clear, but they suggest that it is due to the action of the male sex hormone - testosterone, which is responsible for both the level of aggressiveness and some physical traits of a man. ... >>

The oldest coral 19.11.2008

At a depth of 400 meters near the Hawaiian Islands, a bush of coral with a height of a meter and a little was found. American oceanographers by radiocarbon analysis determined the age of the coral - about 4200 years. On land, one of the pine species is distinguished by such longevity. It turns out that the coral grew at a rate of five microns per year. Ancient corals can serve to reconstruct climatic conditions (mainly ocean temperatures) over thousands of years of their life. ... >>

How to water gardens 18.11.2008

Experts from the International Institute of Water Management (Sri Lanka), having surveyed agricultural land around 50 cities around the world, found that farmers are increasingly watering their fields and gardens with untreated urban sewage. This is due to the lack of clean water, especially in third world countries. Half of the surveyed suburban fields are irrigated with sewage, they grow a tenth of the world's edible products. Thus, the XNUMX-strong city of Accra, the capital of Ghana, feeds on vegetables from the surrounding vegetable gardens, watered with raw sewage, since the treatment facilities in Accra have not been working for a long time, and clean water is barely enough for domestic needs. Vegetables are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, helminth eggs and heavy metals. ... >>

Cement from the sea 17.11.2008

At one of the thermal power plants in California (USA), a plant was installed to produce cement from smoke and sea water. By burning natural gas, a 1000-megawatt thermal power plant releases carbon dioxide into the air, which contributes to global warming. Capturing this gas and passing it through sea water (the power plant is located on the ocean), the plant produces calcium and magnesium carbonates, the salts of which are contained in the water. After drying, the reaction product is a snow-white powder, similar in properties to Portland cement, and in composition to strong sea shells and coral structures. This production neutralizes more than 90% of the carbon dioxide emitted by the CHP. So far, the pilot plant produces up to 10 tons of cement per day. It is planned to expand production and install such systems at other thermal power plants in the United States. ... >>

Cage for carbon dioxide 14.11.2008

at the Institute of Materials Science. Lavoisier (France) synthesized compound MIL-101 based on chromium, fluorine, carbon and oxygen. It will be used, in particular, to absorb carbon dioxide so as not to release it into the air (this gas heats up the atmosphere). The resulting molecule has the shape of a hollow ball 3,5 nanometers in diameter, which captures carbon dioxide molecules, slightly increasing in size. One cubic meter of MIL-101 at a pressure of 40 atmospheres holds 400 cubic meters of gas. ... >>

Lunar telescope from improvised materials 13.11.2008

A group of employees of the Goddard Space Flight Center (USA) is designing a giant reflecting telescope on the Moon from improvised material - lunar dust. By mixing a powder of terrestrial minerals, which mimics moon dust in composition and grain size, with carbon nanotubes and epoxy resin as a binder, the researchers obtained a material like concrete. It remains to form a bowl with a smooth parabolic surface from this material and spray it with a thin reflective layer of aluminum, which in the conditions of a lunar vacuum will not be too difficult. The diameter of the lunar reflector should be 50 meters, and in ideal conditions of the Moon (there is no atmosphere and all the interference associated with it), such a giant will allow direct observation of planets around other stars. ... >>

First oil paintings 12.11.2008

Buddhist artists in Bamiyan (Afghanistan) were painting with oil paints several centuries before this technique was invented in Europe in the 12th century. X-ray analysis of the smallest flakes of paint from the frescoes depicting Buddha and mythical animals located in the caves showed that in 50 out of 650 frescoes the pigments were mixed with vegetable oil - either poppy or walnut oil. In addition, the images are covered with a protective layer of transparent vegetable resin. The frescoes date back to XNUMX AD. ... >>

Mongoose robot walking through a minefield 11.11.2008

Employees of the University of Sri Lanka propose to use a mongoose connected by a leash to a sapper robot to search for anti-personnel mines. The mongoose, with its keen sense of smell, can be trained to detect the smell of explosives, and the robot, made in the form of a disk on wheels, contains a conventional mine detector that reacts to the presence of metal parts in the soil. In addition, the robot carries a miniature video camera aimed at the mongoose. The operator sitting to the side sees the reaction of the animal to the smell on the monitor and hears the signals of the mine detector. Since the total weight of the team is small, the mines under it do not explode. ... >>

Copper for hospital 09.11.2008

A curious experiment has been going on in one of the hospitals in Birmingham (Great Britain) for almost a year. They took two intensive care units and in one replaced with copper, brass or bronze all the steel, aluminum and plastic parts that doctors, nurses and patients touch: door and window handles, water taps, switches, buttons and so on. In another similar department, everything was left as it was and microflora samples are regularly taken from all these details. The results of the experience have not yet been summed up, but preliminary studies conducted at the University of Southampton show that copper and its alloys have bactericidal properties. Copper prevents bacteria from breathing and damages their DNA, although the mechanism of this action is not yet clear. In any case, 10 million Staphylococcus aureus placed on a square centimeter of a copper plate (which is 10 thousand times more than the number of these microbes on the same area of ​​a door handle in a hospital) die in an hour and a half. Although these antibiotics ... >>

The taste of mother's milk 08.11.2008

Physiologists from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) asked the question: does the taste of mother's milk change depending on what a woman ate? They gave 18 breastfeeding mothers to swallow capsules of cumin, mint, banana and licorice extracts, and then, at regular intervals, they took samples of breast milk and chromatographed them for the corresponding compounds. It turned out that the taste of a banana is kept in milk for no longer than an hour, the tastes of cumin and licorice reach a maximum after two hours, and then decline. The most stable taste of menthol: it appears after two hours and persists for another six hours. None of the compounds are kept in milk for more than eight hours. It was previously known that the children of women who drank carrot juice during pregnancy or breastfeeding preferred baby food with carrot supplements. ... >>

Feathers in amber 07.11.2008

The rarest find of French paleontologists: in a piece of amber XNUMX million years old, they saw small feathers. The found feathers are simpler than the feathers of modern birds. In the era when this drop of tree resin froze in the west of modern France, primitive birds already existed, but feathered dinosaurs also lived. It has not yet been possible to establish which of these animals the found feathers belong to. ... >>

Sloth is not so lazy 06.11.2008

According to laboratory data, it was believed that the tropical mammal sloth sleeps almost 16 hours a day. A group of German zoologists, by attaching sensors to three females living in freedom in Panama, proved that in nature these animals sleep a little more than nine and a half hours a day. And during this time, they may dream for almost two hours. In any case, equipment mounted on the heads of sloths and weighing only 11 grams showed that from time to time their eyeballs make quick movements under the eyelids, which is typical for humans in dreams. It is possible that longer sleep in captivity is associated with the absence of predators and the need to look for food. ... >>

Panic button in pocket 05.11.2008

In France, the production of a pocket hazard signaling device has begun. A device weighing less than 300 grams, when you press a button, sends an alarm signal to rescuers via a special satellite, and since it has a GPS module, it reports its coordinates with an accuracy of 120 meters. The service costs 125 euros per month and is in demand among travelers, sailors, tourists, climbers, as well as people with chronic diseases. ... >>

Viruses get sick too 04.11.2008

A group of French virologists found in the largest known viruses - the so-called mimi viruses - parasites living on them, smaller viruses. Mimivirus is comparable in size to the smallest of bacteria, its diameter is 400 nanometers (four times larger than the largest previously known viruses). It has over 900 genes. It turned out that a small virus with 21 genes can get inside such a giant, capture part of its genes and prevent reproduction. Experts say that such parasites are unlikely to be found in viruses that cause human diseases. First, human viruses are too small; secondly, they are already well studied. ... >>

masked camera 03.11.2008

One American company has launched a diving mask with a built-in digital camera. The device with a resolution of up to five megapixels can withstand diving to a depth of 30 meters and is capable of recording short video clips in addition to photos. Instead of a viewfinder, mask glasses are used, on the glasses of which aiming crosses are applied. ... >>

Exercise saves chromosomes 01.11.2008

According to the existing theory, the lifespan of a cell is determined by the tips of chromosomes, the so-called telomeres. With each division, they shorten a little. Finally, there comes a point when the telomeres are so shortened that the cell can no longer divide and dies. The results of a study conducted at King's College London show that physical education slows down the destruction of chromosomes and aging of cells. Physiologists examined 67 pairs of twins, in which one brother is engaged in physical education, and the other is not. It turned out that the chromosomes of active people look 10 years younger than those of sedentary people. ... >>

Power Management ICs for OMAP35xx 31.10.2008

Texas Instruments continues to expand its embedded microprocessor power chipset with three new chips that meet the power requirements of the OMAP35xx platform. The TPS65920, TPS65930 and TPS65950 are highly integrated systems that include a variety of peripheral modules in compact packages. The TPS65950 supports up to 14 power channels. In addition to an integrated 3 MHz DC/DC converter and low noise LDO, it has dual audio codec and driver, control and monitoring system, battery charge controller, LED driver, 3-channel 10-bit ADC, keyboard and vibration driver, high-speed USB transceiver with integrated 5V power supply and PC interface. The whole system is in a 7x7 mm BGA package. The TPS65920 and TPS65930 have some of the features of the TPS65950, support up to 8 power channels, and come in 10x10mm packages. New devices add to the ever-growing range ... >>

CC2591 - high frequency amplifier chip 29.10.2008

Texas Instruments has introduced a highly integrated 2,4 GHz RF amplifier for low power wireless applications. The CC2591 extends the range of wireless systems by combining a power amplifier that boosts output power up to +22dBm and a low noise amplifier that boosts receiver sensitivity up to +6dBm. The CC2591 is a high performance and cost effective amplifier for all 2,4 GHz wireless systems such as ZigBee-ceTH, measurement sensors, industrial, consumer and audio electronics. The device is able to work with all existing and developing TI 2,4 GHz RF transceivers, transmitters and systems-on-a-chip, which will speed up development time and increase productivity. "The CC2591 provides such an increase in range and coverage that Paxton Access has for the first time been able to offer its customers a wireless alternative to wired systems. ... >>

Libra with intelligence 28.10.2008

German engineers have created scales that themselves recognize what kind of fruit they put on them. In order to weigh fruits or vegetables in a self-service store, you need to know their code - only after pressing the correct button, the scales will print out a piece of paper with a price. Somewhere the seller is engaged in this, but somewhere it was reduced and the buyer himself has to look for the code. A balance created at the Fraunhofer Institute for Data and Information Processing can solve the problem. To do this, they are connected to a video camera, and a program for identifying fruits and vegetables is embedded in the electronic brains in accordance with the previously entered database. As a result, if a person buys tomatoes, then the scales will offer him several buttons with tomatoes and none with sweet peppers, no matter how red they are. “At first glance, it may seem that this is an easy task,” says project leader Sasha Vot. “However, fruits and vegetables vary greatly in their shape and color. Even bananas can be green, yellow, and brown in ... >>

Clouds predict an earthquake 27.10.2008

Chinese geophysicists, having studied satellite photographs of the Earth over many years, argue that large, long-lasting breaks in the clouds can be harbingers of an earthquake. In December 2004, a gap in the clouds was observed over the southern part of Iran for several hours, stretching for hundreds of kilometers. He remained in one place, although the clouds around him moved. The opening coincided with the geological fault known here. At the same time, infrared images showed that the ground in this place has a higher temperature than usual. After 69 days, an earthquake of magnitude 6,4 occurred. In December 2005, a break in the clouds was again observed there. 64 days later, an earthquake of magnitude 6 occurred. The authors of the study suggest that some gases are released from the soil before the earthquake, preventing the condensation of water in the atmosphere. According to another version, the piezoelectric effect that occurs in rocks under strong compression is to blame. Clouds are dispersed by electric charge ... >>

misty shower 26.10.2008

Brazilian designer Juan Szymanski proposes to replace the usual perforated shower head with a mist generator. It is known that a shower is much more economical than a bath, it consumes much less water. If the water is sprayed to microdroplets, its consumption is further reduced. In five minutes in an ordinary shower, we spend from 25 to 100 liters, in a foggy shower - only two. The Swedish company Electrolux built a prototype of Shimansky's shower cabin. Jets of warm mist hit the cockpit from all sides. The issue of mass production is still under consideration. ... >>

Vaccination against hypertension 25.10.2008

Blood pressure in humans is regulated by several compounds found in the body, including the small protein angiotensin, which, when broken down by a specific enzyme, causes blood vessels to constrict. This causes the pressure to rise. Swiss immunologists attached a harmless part of the shell of one of the viruses to the angiotensin molecule. As a result, the immune system of a person who has been injected with such molecules begins to perceive angiotensin as a virus, synthesizes antibodies against it and removes part of this protein from the blood (all angiotensin does not need to be neutralized, it is necessary for the normal functioning of blood vessels). In the experiment, it was possible to reduce the pressure in 48 volunteers by 13-25 millimeters of mercury. True, antibodies against angiotensin remain in the body for only 17 weeks, so the injections have to be repeated. ... >>

About the benefits of walking 23.10.2008

How many steps do you need to take daily to keep yourself in good physical shape? At the initiative of Swedish physiologists in five countries (Sweden, Canada, USA, France and Australia), 3127 healthy volunteers aged 19 to 94 received pedometers, and doctors monitored their weight changes. It turned out that at the age of 40-50 years, it is necessary to take 12 thousand steps a day so that excess fat does not accumulate. Men over 50 are recommended 11 thousand steps, women - 10 thousand, after 60 years - 8 thousand steps a day. An earlier study by the same group showed that boys aged 6 to 12 need to take 15 steps a day, and girls 12. ... >>

microscopic diamond ring 22.10.2008

Australian physicists from the University of Melbourne have created the world's smallest diamond ring. Its diameter is 5 micrometers and its thickness is 300 nanometers. It's just an annular strip of pure synthetic diamond. The ring was not made for the sake of a record: such diamond parts in quantum computers of the near future will allow individual photons to be controlled. Quantum computers will work thousands of times faster than modern ones. ... >>

Non-contact lie detector 21.10.2008

A group of Israeli physicists, sending a beam of electromagnetic waves with a frequency of about 100 gigahertz into the palms of athletes who had just run for 20 minutes, found that most of the waves were absorbed. However, wave absorption decreased as the athletes rested and the sweat on their hands dried out. In addition, the reflection of radio waves was proportional to blood pressure and pulse rate. This observation paves the way for the creation of a non-contact lie detector. After all, the work of this device is based precisely on the measurement of skin sweating, fluctuations in blood pressure and pulse rate. ... >>

The Internet will not replace a doctor 20.10.2008

One of the most popular search topics on the Internet is medicine and health issues. But how reliable and useful is the information received? This was decided to find out by Australian doctors from the University of New South Wales. Calling for help from two hundred students, the researchers gave them six medical questions and asked them to answer the questions using the Internet. Each question was given 10 minutes. But the subjects, on average, managed to get an answer in 6 minutes by browsing three sites. True, only half of the students came up with the correct answer. Many, even having found reliable information, could not understand and evaluate it correctly. And more than half of those who received incorrect information were quite satisfied with it. Conclusion: The Internet can serve as an auxiliary means of making inquiries if you have health problems, but in serious cases it is better to consult a doctor. ... >>

Sports records will end in 2027 18.10.2008

Employees of the Paris Institute of Sports Medicine and Epidemiology analyzed 3263 world records set from 1896 to 2007 in 147 competitions in five sports disciplines: athletics, swimming, cycling, skating and weightlifting. Having built curves for the growth of sports achievements, scientists came to the conclusion that the limits of the growth of records are already close and by 2027 they will be reached by 99,95%. Further growth can be ensured only in two cases: if anabolic steroids are legalized, or if promising athletes are selected according to the genetic code in the cradle and raised from infancy as future champions. ... >>

Robot Reader 16.10.2008

The Bavarian State Library (Germany), which celebrated its 450th anniversary this year, decided to digitize all storage units. To do this, two automatic scanners, created in Austria, were installed in the basement of the library. In order not to damage an old book (there are 20 books printed in the 80th century and 60 handwritten medieval manuscripts in the library), the robot opens it only by 700 degrees. A scanning head moves between the pages, immediately capturing the spread of the book. The pages are turned by a stream of air, the volume is held in a half-open position by pneumatic suction cups, so that the book does not suffer. About XNUMX pages are processed per hour. ... >>

electric sail 15.10.2008

Finnish engineer Pekka Janhunen proposes a new propulsion system for spacecraft that uses the so-called solar wind - a stream of charged particles flowing from the solar corona at a speed of 300-1200 kilometers per second. If this stream can blow the tails of comets away from the Sun, can it be used to accelerate spacecraft? The spacecraft opens an "umbrella" of 50-100 thin wires, each 20-30 kilometers long. The wires are positively charged (energy is taken from solar panels) and repel solar wind protons, creating thrust. By turning the wire "umbrella" and changing its charge, it will be possible to maneuver in space, as sailing yachts maneuver under the wind. ... >>

Future mathematicians compose well 14.10.2008

How to recognize signs of future mathematical talent in a small child? Psychologists from the University of Waterloo (Canada), led by Daniella O'Neill, gave children pictures and asked them to write a story based on these pictures. The experimenters evaluated many parameters of oral compositions, such as the length of phrases, the richness of the vocabulary. A few years later, the results of this experience were compared with success in school. It turned out that the best marks in arithmetic were received by those children who composed the most complex stories. Moreover, they did not necessarily show good results in reading, writing and general development. ... >>

Escalator for drops 11.10.2008

Canadian physicists from the University of Toronto have created a flexible microcircuit that allows you to move the smallest droplets of liquid placed on it in the right direction, even against gravity. The thinnest copper strips - electrodes - are deposited on the polymer substrate. Applying voltage to them alternately, it is possible to move droplets of up to 8 microliters along a vertical "wall" and up to 50 microliters along a horizontal plane and up not too steep slopes. The invention is useful in microlaboratories for the analysis of ultra-low doses of any liquids. ... >>

Warm house 10.10.2008

Buildings consume up to 45% of all energy consumed in the world. This is more than all the cars in the world spend combined. In Germany, a program is being undertaken to strengthen the thermal insulation of old houses. An average European house requires 160-300 kilowatt-hours per square meter of area per year, and a building with modern thermal insulation requires only 15-30 kilowatt-hours. Heating or air conditioning is switched on only on the coldest or hottest days. True, in new construction in Germany, such houses now account for only two percent. ... >>

Cat and dog: the secrets of harmony 08.10.2008

Zoopsychologists from Tel Aviv University (Israel) examined 170 families in which they keep both a cat and a dog. In two-thirds of the houses between pets, friendly relations have been established, in a quarter - indifference, and in less than a tenth there are fights. Harmonious relationships between animals are most likely in those cases when the cat appeared in the house first. Her age at the first acquaintance was less than six months, and the dogs - less than a year. As the researchers found, a cat and a dog living together gradually begin to understand each other's "language". For example, if a dog wags its tail, it means that it is friendly, while for a cat, moving its tail from side to side means annoyance. Video surveillance was carried out in 45 apartments out of 170, and it showed that in 80% of cases the animals correctly understand each other. ... >>

telephone microscope 07.10.2008

Mobile phones continue to acquire new features. Specialists in medical devices from the University of California (USA) have designed an optical attachment for a camera phone that turns the device into a microscope with a magnification of two to 50 times. A doctor armed with such a telephone can send a photograph of a patient's blood sample from any remote location to his colleagues in a large medical center and receive advice. Prototypes of the device are already being tested by doctors in the Philippines and Colombia. In addition, the creators of the microscope phone believe that farmers will be able to send enlarged pictures of pests or plant pathogens to specialists and receive recommendations on how to deal with misfortunes. ... >>

Heating by computers 04.10.2008

The Swiss branch of the well-known company IBM proposes to heat information centers and data banks with the heat generated by computers during operation. It is estimated that the world's data centers consume 120 billion kilowatt-hours a year, and about half of this amount is spent on cooling servers. Cooling is now done by fans blowing air over microprocessors and other computer parts, but water removes heat 4000 times better than air. Therefore, IBM engineers propose to supply each microcircuit that is heated with a water radiator made of a silicon block with thin channels drilled in it for water circulation. The heated water is sent to a heat exchanger, where it is cooled, giving off its heat to the central heating radiators, and returned to the servers again. If a medium-sized information center consuming one megawatt of power is supplied with such radiators, it will be able to heat not only its own premises, but also another 50-60 neighboring single-family cottages. ... >>

Two new inductors from Vishay 30.09.2008

Vishay Intertechnologv Corporation has expanded its IHLP inductor family with the new IHLP4040DZ-01 and IHLP-4040DZ-11 flat plate inductors, which operate at high frequencies and currents and provide low inductance. The new inductors can be used in voltage regulators and DC-DC converters in mobile phones, laptops, desktops, servers, graphics cards, games, players, navigation devices and automotive systems. IHLP-4040DZ-11 operates at a maximum frequency of 1 MHz, and IHLP4040DZ-01 at a frequency of 5 MHz. The IHLP-4040DZ-11 is available in ratings from 0,19 to 100 µH and has a saturation current of 2,25 to 46 A. The IHLP-4040DZ-01 provides inductance from 0,19 to 10 µH with a saturation current of 12 to 90 A. The inductors are 0,405x0,453 in. (10x12 mm), RoHS compliant and rated for temperatures from 55 to 125°C. ... >>

paper transistor 27.09.2008

Portuguese scientists have made a paper-based transistor instead of silicon. Typically, microcircuits are deposited on silicon. This is bad, because silicon is, firstly, hard, secondly, non-degradable, and thirdly, its production is rather dirty. It would be nice to make microcircuits on something else, just as incapable of conducting electric current, but less harmful to the environment. Scientists from the Center for Materials Research at the New University of Lisbon, led by Professor Elvira Fortunato, decided to make a field-effect transistor on paper. And they succeeded in this: they applied oxide field effect transistors to both sides of an ordinary paper sheet. Thus, Portuguese scientists forced paper to perform two functions at once - a substrate for a microcircuit and an insulator. Moreover, the electrical properties of the paper transistor were even better than those of a thin-film transistor (TFT) made from amorphous silicon. It is these transistors that form images on most liquid crystals. ... >>

Lunar navigation 26.09.2008

Ohio scientists have begun developing a system for orienting astronauts on the moon. When NASA astronauts visit the moon again, which is scheduled for 2020, how will they navigate it? Indeed, on our natural satellite there are no trees, no buildings, in a word, nothing that would allow us to estimate the distances and sizes of objects. During previous expeditions, this has already led to incidents: the astronauts were heading to the lunar crater and passed almost next to it, not being able to distinguish the details of the lunar relief. On Earth, a global navigation system would help, but there is none on the Moon. Bye. Professor Ron Lee of Ohio University received a $1,2 million grant to correct this deficiency. In American space circles, this university is known, in particular, for the fact that it developed the orientation system for the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, which brilliantly coped with all their tasks. This experience will be used to create lunar navigation. "Image ... >>

Three years under the gaze of TV cameras 24.09.2008

The first phase of an unusual experiment that began in June 2005 has ended. Deb Roy, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), explores the process of language acquisition by a child. To do this, with the consent of his wife, a speech pathologist, before the birth of his son, Deb provided their home in Boston with a system for a complete recording of everything that would happen to a child from birth for three years. Eleven video cameras with ultra wide-angle lenses and 14 microphones are scattered throughout the house and continuously record from the moment the boy wakes up to the time he goes to bed. Each room has a button on the wall that allows you to interrupt the recording and even erase the last few minutes in case any too intimate scenes get into the lens. Everything captured by cameras and microphones was transmitted over the network (the total length of the cables is about a kilometer) to the basement, where there are computers with a memory capacity of 5 terabytes. Installed equipment increased the bill ... >>

Digital actor 23.09.2008

The University of Southern California (USA) has created an installation for "digitizing" living people. A man standing under a dome in the center of a rotating platform is illuminated from all sides by 6666 LEDs, with computers changing the direction of the light thousands of times per second. The picture is recorded by video cameras and then analyzed by a computer, which creates a moving model of a person on the monitor screen. The unit is used for shooting special effects in films when an actor or stuntman cannot be subjected to too severe tests. In addition, the model of the actor saved in the computer can play without his participation in any films. ... >>

Aspens, wolves and nervous deer 21.09.2008

To grow a good aspen grove, you need a pack of wolves. This conclusion was made by biologists from the Yellowstone National Park in the United States. In the twenties of the last century, guided by the best of intentions, all wolves in the park were exterminated as predators that threatened other mammals. And soon sections of the aspen forest began to disappear - they were eaten away by deer, numerous in the park. In 1995, the wolves were returned to the park and the aspens began to recover. Wolves bully one or two deer a week, but it is important not only to reduce the number of deer, but also the fact that they are now afraid to stay in one place for a long time, they are nervous and do not have time to peel the tree to the ground. ... >>

translator for the blind 20.09.2008

The French company Vision SAS has launched a device slightly larger than a computer mouse, which, using a miniature video camera, reads printed text at a speed of 20 characters per second and translates it into Braille characters, and at the same time plays it aloud through an earpiece. Beneath the user's index finger is a matrix of six plastic pegs that protrude upwards or hide to draw the letters of the Braille alphabet. A special indicator warns if the text is turned upside down or the video camera has lost its line. The built-in battery lasts for six hours of reading. However, the cost of the device is 3000 euros. ... >>

Ice and earthquakes 19.09.2008

Geophysicist Andrea Hampel of the Ruhr University in Germany became interested in the fact that about 9000 years ago, a number of large earthquakes occurred in Scandinavia, while today the region is considered seismically calm. It turned out that the outbreak of seismic activity coincided with the melting of a thick ice cap that covered the area during the last glaciation. A computer model has shown that a layer of ice several hundred meters thick can suppress many types of tectonic faults and shifts with its weight. True, stresses in the crust still continue to accumulate, so that after warming, the frequency and strength of earthquakes increase. Andrea Hampel warns that global warming will cause more earthquakes in Alaska, Greenland and Antarctica. ... >>

Monkeys are like people 17.09.2008

Everyone knows that boys love to play with cars, and girls prefer dolls. As biologists from the National Primate Research Center in Atlanta (USA) have shown, male and female monkeys differ in approximately the same addictions. Various toys were offered to a group of 11 male and 23 female macaques. They were mostly juveniles between one and four years old, but juveniles and adult monkeys also participated. Males, as a rule, preferred toy trucks, carts, buses, and females willingly played with carts and plush dolls. Previously, a similar result was given by experiments with green monkeys. Until now, it was believed that adults influence the choice of games by buying different sets of toys for boys and girls. But it seems that between the sexes there are some biological differences, deeply rooted in our animal ancestors, in their addiction to different toys. ... >>

Solar energy from under the asphalt 16.09.2008

Everyone knows how much asphalt heats up in the summer under the rays of the sun. In Holland, they decided to use this heat. Beneath the surface of the road is a network of plastic pipes through which water circulates. After heating up under the asphalt, it is pumped into heat exchangers located in the underground aquifer at a depth of about a hundred meters. This layer is heated to 20 degrees Celsius, and in winter, warm water is passed through a network of pipes under the asphalt, which keeps the road free of ice and snow. In summer, heated asphalt cools and hardens due to pumping water, which reduces its destruction by car wheels. ... >>

On bone skates 15.09.2008

Skates were invented not for entertainment, but as a means of transportation. This conclusion was reached by English and Italian physiologists. Skates, made from deer or elk bones and tied to the legs with leather straps, first appeared in southern Scandinavia about 3000 years ago. There are a lot of lakes in this area, they freeze in winter, which allows you to shorten the path - go straight on the ice instead of going around each lake along the shore. Physiologists asked a group of volunteers to run across a frozen lake on replicas of ancient ice skates. The other group just walked on the ice. At the same time, the pulse rate and oxygen consumption were measured in both of them, which makes it possible to judge energy consumption. It turned out that skaters moved twice as fast as pedestrians, saving 10% of energy. ... >>

Under the gaze of the machine 13.09.2008

A curious experience was conducted by English psychologists under the guidance of Melissa Bateson. Having placed a vending machine with drinks in the laboratory, which worked no matter what coin was put into it, psychologists offered the participants in the experiments to throw a coin into the slot and get a glass of drink. At the same time, there was no one in the room except the subject. The experiments lasted 10 weeks, and every week the experimenters changed the stickers that adorned the front wall of the machine. Sometimes these were photographs of flowers, then photographs of human eyes. In the "flower" weeks, the vending machine's revenue was significantly lower. Especially a lot of money was thrown into the machine in the tenth week, when a picture of eyes with a very direct and "piercing" look was pasted on it. It turns out that when they look at us, we become more generous, even if they look only from a photograph. ... >>

Aircraft powered by lithium polymer batteries 12.09.2008

French engineers have tested a single-seat Elektra aircraft in flight, powered by lithium-polymer batteries, the same as in mobile phones. The weight of the batteries is 47 kilograms. The aircraft with a wingspan of 9 meters stayed in the air for 48 minutes. ... >>

The danger of e-waste 11.09.2008

One of the most common handicrafts in Chinese villages is the disassembly and disposal of used or obsolete electronic devices - computers, monitors, televisions. As a rule, workers do not wear protective respirators. Meanwhile, poisonous compounds are used in all this electronics. The most important of them are flame retardants, which are introduced into the insulation of wires and into the basis of printed circuit boards to protect against fires. These are polybrominated diphenyl ethers that have a bad effect on brain development, memory, behavior, learning ability, the thyroid gland and the reproductive system. Chinese scientists measured the content of flame retardants in the blood of the inhabitants of one village, 80% of which are involved in the disposal of electronic scrap. The poisons turned out to be three times more than in the blood of fishermen from a village located 50 kilometers from the first, and 200 times more than in the Swedish workers involved in the recycling of electronics. ... >>

Europe's oldest silk 10.09.2008

Recently, during the laying of a gas pipeline in northeastern Germany, a Bronze Age burial 3100-3300 years old was found. The skeleton of a young woman with rich bronze ornaments was found in the sarcophagus. Her clothes were almost completely rotted, but over the millennia, the mineral corrosion products of bronze soaked the fabrics so that they were deposited on already decayed threads, exactly repeating their microscopic structure. Electron microscope examination showed that the shroud was apparently wool, but the thin veil on the head turned out to be silk. In China, surviving samples of silk dating back about 5000 years are known, but until now, the oldest European silk was considered to be found earlier also in Germany. It is approximately 2600 years old, so the new find is XNUMX years older. According to the structural features of the threads, archaeologists suggested that silk was produced in Greece. They bred a different kind of silkworm and processed silk differently than in China. ... >>

Heated shoe insoles 09.09.2008

The Italian company of sports shoes Scarpa has launched the production of heated shoe insoles for winter sports enthusiasts. The thermostat maintains the temperature set from the remote control. The remote also allows you to turn the heating on and off. If moisture gets into the shoes, the electric current is automatically turned off to avoid a short circuit, and after drying, the work of the insoles resumes. The charge of the built-in accumulator suffices for 7 hours of heating. ... >>

Butterfly saves not the pattern of eyes on the wings 06.09.2008

Until now, it was believed that the eye pattern on the wings of some butterflies protects them from predators. The bird perceives the circles on the wings as a gaze directed at it and refrains from attacking. Biologists from the University of Cambridge (England) made models of butterflies with different patterns on the wings: with "eyes", squares, rhombuses, stripes. By placing "butterflies" on bushes in the forest, they observed the reaction of insectivorous birds. It turned out that it is not the shape of the pattern that protects against the predator, but its size. Birds attack "butterflies" with a large pattern on their wings 30% less often. Apparently, this is due to the fact that poisonous animals usually have a noticeable pattern in nature. And from such it is better to stay away, whatever form it may be. ... >>

In the air over the Gulf Stream 02.09.2008

Japanese geophysicists, using satellite sensing and computer modeling, found out that a stream of heated air rises above the warm Gulf Stream to a height of 11 kilometers. This "airy Gulf Stream" heats Europe. Scientists hope that next-generation supercomputers, which should appear in 2009, will allow us to better understand the structure of the warm air flow and make weather forecasts more accurate. ... >>

Medicines from the tap 01.09.2008

A study of tap water in 24 US cities showed that it contains traces of painkillers, stimulants, antidepressants, sedatives, antibiotics - 56 drugs in total. They enter the water supply from the sewer, having passed through the body of the sick, or with pills and potions, the need for which has disappeared and they have been flushed down the toilet. The doses are only a few parts per billion or trillion parts of water. However, the impact of taking the smallest doses of unprescribed medications has been completely unexplored for decades. ... >>

New digital IGBT driver 31.08.2008

Semikron has introduced a new generation of IGBT gate drivers. The SKYPER 52 driver, based on a digital signal processor, allows the transmission of isolated control and sensor signals, as well as individual setting of the protection circuit. The use of the SKYPER 52 driver makes it possible to simplify and reduce the cost of developing powerful converter devices and improve the reliability of the entire system. The SKYPER 52 digital driver is designed to drive IGBTs with an operating voltage of 1200 and 1700 V. With a power of 9 W per channel and an output peak current of up to 50 A, it is able to work with parallel connection of modules with a total collector current of 9000 A. In addition, SKYPER 52 is suitable for high frequency applications that require a powerful control circuit capable of operating at frequencies up to 100 kHz. The driver isolation voltage is 4 kV and the gate turn-off voltage is -15 V. Input levels are 3,3 and 5 V (LVDS sta ... >>

Jennie to demonstrate wireless near video over IEEE802.15.4 29.08.2008

Jennie Ltd. continues to use the IEEE802.15.4 open radio standard, demonstrating "near video" wireless transmission. The first public demonstration will take place at the Wireless Exhibition at the Big Sight International Exhibition Center in Tokyo. The demo will show the transmission of video from the camera to the screen at a rate of several frames per second over an IEEE802.15.4 wireless link. The low power consumption of this standard makes this technology particularly suitable for applications that require long battery life in combination with intermittent video transmission. Commercial applications of this technology include wireless peephole cameras, security cameras, home monitoring products, games, and advanced remote control solutions. The technology uses a commercially available image encoding chip along with Jennie's JN5139 single-chip wireless MCU to ... >>

Heat to electricity 27.08.2008

Scientists from the USA have created a good material with which you can turn the heat of an internal combustion engine into electricity. The efficiency of an internal combustion engine does not exceed 35%, which means that 65% of the energy of the burned fuel is converted into heat and warms up the environment. However, it can be recycled by turning it into electricity and storing it in a hybrid car battery. For this, the Seebeck effect is used - the generation of electricity in a semiconductor, the edges of which are maintained at different temperatures. The most common material for such generators is lead telluride with sodium additives. At the temperature to which the external surface of the engine is heated, it converts about 8% of the thermal energy into electricity. Scientists from Ohio University, led by Joseph Heremans, have been working for a long time to improve this efficiency, for which they decided to use nanotechnology: they began to make a telluride generator from nanofibers - thanks to this trick, they hoped to ... >>

dragonfly robot 26.08.2008

Dutch engineers have created a flying robot weighing three grams. The new dragonfly robot named "DelFly Micro", weighing three grams and with a wingspan of ten centimeters, continues the series of flying robots being developed at the Delft Institute of Technology. Its predecessors - "DelFly I" and "DelFly II" - were larger: 23 g and 50 cm, as well as 16 g and 30 cm, respectively. The new robot is capable, obeying the operator's signal, to flutter like a dragonfly and transmit video images using a miniature camera. And the batteries are enough for him for three minutes of flight at a speed of 5 m / s. For the sake of weight reduction, something had to be sacrificed: "DelFly II" could not only fly horizontally, but hover over a certain point and move backwards. The new robot does not yet know how, but it is able to get into the most secluded place and show the researchers what is there. After some time, it will be equipped with a pattern recognition system, and it will be able to fly completely independently. This robot is ... >>

silicon foil 24.08.2008

Belgian scientists have made micron-thick silicon foil. To make foil from aluminum or other ductile metal, a piece of it is rolled many times in a special mill. You cannot do this with silicon, it is fragile. And foil from it would be very useful, because the thinner the substrate of a microcircuit or a solar battery, the less silicon consumption. Scientists from the Interuniversity Center for Microelectronics, headquartered in the Belgian city of Levin, managed to make a foil from a single crystal of silicon. To do this, they applied a thin layer of metal to the surface of a thick silicon wafer, and then annealed it at a high temperature. During subsequent cooling, thermal stresses arise due to the difference in the metal and silicon lattices. A crack forms in the silicon, which propagates parallel to the wafer surface. Eventually, the metal layer and the silicon layer adhering to it are separated. After removing the metal, a silicon foil is obtained with a thickness of 30–50 μm and an area of ​​25 cm2. ... >>

InterCentrino 2 platform 23.08.2008

Intel has long been fueling public interest in a new mobile platform, the long-awaited release of which has finally taken place. This development is designed to increase the autonomy of laptops and improve their speed characteristics. As part of the platform, a number of new CPUs, a set of system logic, an updated WiMAX adapter and Turbo Memory technology are introduced. The processors use the well-established Core architecture and are manufactured using the 45 nm process technology. The frequency range of new products is within 2,263,06 GHz. The system logic of the 45th series is distinguished by a significantly increased performance of Peter's graphics hell (up to 70%) and the ability to switch between the integrated video core and a discrete card, or, in order to save energy, the latter can be turned off completely. The Wi-Fi Link 5000 supports the 802.11 draft-N standard for up to XNUMXx data transfer speeds, while Turbo Memory technology uses built-in flash memory to ... >>

The capacity of optical discs will dramatically increase 20.08.2008

Pioneer's laboratories have developed an optical storage medium with an unprecedented capacity of 400 GB. Pioneer specialists did not make a technical revolution, but only increased the number of layers to 16 and created an effective algorithm for reading data from deep layers. This was achieved thanks to the special structure of the disk and the appropriate adjustment of the optical system of the reading head. The hardware stuffing of the novelty is not much different from that in modern Blu-ray players, respectively. You can count on backwards compatibility. Currently, work is underway to create a rewritable disc of the same size. ... >>

On the benefits of family scandals 19.08.2008

A massive long-term study of 192 married couples, conducted in England, proved what psychologists have been saying for a long time, suppressing anger, hiding your irritation is dangerous for health. Before the start of the study, special psychological tests were conducted to identify those who do not show their negative emotions. Of the 192 couples in 26, both husband and wife were too reserved. After 17 years, data on deaths in all these families were studied. It turned out that the mortality in "restrained" couples was twice as high as where the spouses did not hesitate to sort things out with each other. ... >>

Asphalt in vegetable oil 18.08.2008

The Austrian company "Vialit-Asfalt" has developed a recipe for asphalt on rapeseed oil. This additive ranges from 2 to 20%. Since vegetable oil has a softening effect on bitumen, harder bitumen grades can be used than in conventional asphalt. As a result, the pavement hardens faster after installation and is stronger than traditional pavement, so it has to be changed and repaired less often. Although rapeseed asphalt is 10% more expensive than conventional asphalt, as shown by its use in Austria and Germany, it results in cost savings. ... >>

Biofuel is unprofitable 14.08.2008

According to Professor David Pimentel from Cornell University (USA), it takes about 1,3 liters of oil to produce one liter of alcohol from corn, since corn requires a lot of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals, which are made mainly from oil or using oil energy. In addition, agricultural machinery and means of transport, which are also involved in the process, run on petroleum fuel. Therefore, in most cases, replacing gasoline in cars with biofuel will be unprofitable. ... >>

Airplanes and hypertension 13.08.2008

A study of 140 people living near four major European airports found that the noise from night planes raises their blood pressure, even if people are used to the roar of turbines and do not wake up from it. On average, the noise from an overflying aircraft increases systolic pressure by 6,2 millimeters of mercury, and diastolic by 7,4 millimeters. Every 10 decibels increase in nighttime noise increases the risk of developing hypertension by 14%. Doctors recommend a ban on night flights. In turn, engineers are advised to strengthen the soundproofing of windows near houses and plan turn zones for landing approaches and heading away from residential areas. ... >>

homeland of rats 11.08.2008

A study of black rat DNA samples from 76 regions of 22 countries of the world showed that this species spread across the Earth in four waves. The first wave 20 years ago left the west of India, reached the Middle East, and from there penetrated into Europe. This movement, apparently, was associated with the movements of man, when trade between different tribes arose and expanded in the Neolithic and Bronze Age. This same line later spread with man to Africa and America. The rats that went east arrived first in China, then in Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan, and from there to Micronesia. This study, carried out by Australian zoologists, will help to follow the further movements of rodents and explain why some of the diseases they carry are more common in some countries, but rare in others. It is possible that different strains of rats carried different microorganisms. ... >>

Coyotes will be fed chocolate 10.08.2008

Chocolate is not poisonous to humans. But some substances contained in it, the so-called methylxanthines (these include caffeine, theobromine and theophylline), are poisonous to many animals. For example, for a dog the size of a German shepherd, a lethal dose can be 240 grams of dark chocolate (for an adult - 40 kilograms). Considering that relatives of dogs are also sensitive to methylxanthines, the American chemist John Johnston proposed poisoning coyotes with chocolate. These canine predators slaughter livestock and cause $44 million in damage to the US economy each year. After studying the toxicity of different types of chocolate, Johnston nevertheless decided to limit himself to two representatives of methyl-xanthines - caffeine and theobromine, especially since they can be synthesized chemically, and not obtained from expensive cocoa beans. The mixture is currently undergoing field trials. By the way, spraying the garden with a caffeine solution kills slugs, and cocoa bean extract kills the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, and brakes. ... >>

tea and brain 09.08.2008

At the international symposium "Tea and Human Health", held in Washington (USA), Israeli researchers reported that the antioxidants contained in green tea can reanimate diseased nerve cells. Neurons in mice that were modeled for Parkinson's disease gained in size, their shriveled processes straightened out and made new contacts with surrounding cells. The doses of antioxidants used in these experiments correspond to three to four cups of green tea per day for a person. American psychologists have shown that the rare amino acid theanine, contained in green tea, promotes concentration. The subjects had to watch symbols flashing on a computer screen and press a button when a certain symbol appeared. Before that, they drank a glass of pure water, water with theanine, water with caffeine, or water with both. It turned out that the water itself, the addition of only theanine or only caffeine did not affect the results. H ... >>

back helper 06.08.2008

Nagoya University in Japan has built a robot to help fix tiles or panels to the ceiling. The robot is worn on the back like a backpack, and its only arm is fastened to the worker's left arm. The robot automatically holds the panel in place after the person moves it to the desired position. At this time, the worker tightens the screws with his right hand, strengthening the panel on the ceiling. ... >>

Prehistoric man was not a tramp 05.08.2008

The bones of an ancient man, found in a cave near Beijing, testify that shoes existed forty thousand years ago. Hard-soled shoes change the bones of the foot. The toes become shorter and straighter than those of people who constantly walk barefoot. The foot bones of the ancient Chinese have been compared to the corresponding bones of modern Americans, the barefooted Indians of pre-Columbian South America, and the bones of prehistoric Eskimos, who always wore shoes because of the cold climate. The comparison showed that the man whose skeleton was found in the cave used some kind of shoes - perhaps just planks attached to the foot with straps. ... >>

Automatic taxi 02.08.2008

London Heathrow Airport is starting trials of an automatic taxi system to link different airport terminals. Eighteen electric vehicles with a carrying capacity of 500 kilograms (four passengers with luggage) drive on special reinforced concrete "trays", at the bottom of which landmarks for the autopilot are applied. Driving a taxi is no more difficult than driving an elevator. The passenger, sitting in the trailer, must point his finger at the map of the airport, and the machine will take him to the desired point at a speed of up to 40 kilometers per hour. So far, the network of concrete paths at Heathrow is 3800 meters long with five stations. If the tests are successful, the fleet of automatic taxis will expand to 400 units, the Heathrow track network will be extended, and by 2011 the system will be extended to other British airports. ... >>

Heating by the crowd 01.08.2008

By 2010, a 4000 square meter office building will be built near Stockholm Central Station, heated by the heat of station passengers. Every day, 250 thousand people pass through the station, each of them emits about 100 watts of heat. This heat through the station's ventilation system, equipped with heat pumps, will be supplied to the neighboring building, which will reduce the cost of heating it by 20%. ... >>

Two-channel DC/DC converter for powering screens of portable devices 30.07.2008

ON Semiconductor introduced the NCP5810, a dual-channel 2W DC/DC converter with positive and negative output voltage. Precise output voltage, high operating frequency and small package size make the NCP5810 an ideal driver for AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes) displays in portable devices. Since AMOLED displays are sensitive to changes in supply voltage, the NCP5810 is designed to maintain output voltage with 1% accuracy and provide fast response to changes in output voltage (for example, if the input voltage changes by 500 mV, the output should rise a maximum of 4 mV above the maximum ). NCP5810 has excellent technical characteristics, such as 85% efficiency and 1,75 MHz operating frequency. Operation at such a high frequency is determined by the need to minimize the dimensions of the product and enable the use of a miniature choke and ceramic capacitors. Additional fun ... >>

New Switching Regulators 29.07.2008

ON Semiconductor has developed two new switching regulators to simplify the design of embedded power supplies in high power density applications. A new level of integration allows DC/DC modules to be replaced with plug-in nodes to reduce cost while increasing power density. The NCP3101 and NCP3102 ICs are integrated switching regulators meeting the growing industry demand for efficient, high power density designs. NCP3102 is a 10 A synchronous switching regulator. NCP3101 is a 6 A synchronous switching regulator. ... >>

PWM stabilizer with sequencer and auto-tracking 28.07.2008

ON Semiconductor has introduced the NCP312x family of two-terminal pulse-width buck regulators that provide auto-tracking and sequencing capabilities. Based on integrated MOSFETs providing 2 A (NCP3120, NCP3122) or 3 A (NCP3121, NCP3123) output current with switching frequencies up to 2,2 MHz, these components are suitable for use in a variety of systems. Auto-tracking and sequencing capabilities make precise timing and control of both output channels possible. A digital signal processor or a user-programmable logic array requires versatile power supplies that deliver different levels of current with specific timing for each. This timing prevents non-operating conditions that could cause the system to fail in a working environment. The NCP312x range provides programmable coefficient determination. ... >>

First 32-bit ZigBee controllers 27.07.2008

Jennie has implemented a ZigBee PRO stack for its JN32 single-chip 5139-bit wireless controller. The solution provides for two applications: as a standalone embedded processor and as a coprocessor. It is expected that this will provide designers with additional flexibility in the choice of means. Further reduce design time by using Jennie's off-the-shelf RF modules that are FCC and ETSI certified. Working as a standalone processor, JN5139 provides ZigBee PRO support and user application execution. As a coprocessor, the JN5139 allows you to add ZigBee PRO functionality to existing projects. The JN5139 features, in addition to ZigBee PRO support, a large amount of internal memory and advanced power management tools to minimize power consumption. The microcontroller is configured with 192 kB of ROM for IEEE802.15.4 MAC and 96 kB of RAM for applications. Cr ... >>

IGBT Modules for Three Level UPS Inverters 25.07.2008

SEMIKRON has introduced a new topology of miniature IGBT modules of the SEMITOP series for building three-level inverters for uninterruptible power supplies. The modules are based on IGBTs with low static and dynamic losses, which can reduce the power dissipation level of a three-level circuit by 60% compared to a two-level converter. In addition, the proposed topology provides a significantly lower value of the distributed inductance of switching circuits. The new modules are designed for use in UPS with a power of 5...80 kVA. The current range of the new modules with an operating voltage of 600 V is 20...150 A. In UPS applications, this allows you to create converters with a power of 5...80 kVA. Modules with three-level IGBT topology are available in two types of packages: SEMITOP3 (footprint 55x31 mm2) for current 20...50 A and SEMITOP4 (footprint 60x55 mm2) for current 75...150 A. Miniature isolated IGBT modules of the SEMITOP series have a height of 12 mm, their fasteners ... >>

New controller for flyback converters 24.07.2008

STM has announced a new controller for high quality high power flyback converters that can operate in two modes: fixed frequency or quasi-resonant mode. At low load in both modes, the chip enters a controlled burst-mode state with a low frequency (several hundred Hertz) and a constant maximum current. This is done in order to minimize the overall power requirements, in accordance with the world's energy-saving recommendations. Small controller current consumption (less than 3mA), built-in non-dissipative trigger circuit, are STM developments that improve chip utilization efficiency. The chip is available in two versions L6566A and L6566B. The first is specially designed for converters operating through a power corrector. L6566A is able to interact with the corrector, turning it off at low load or short circuits. The L6566B is designed for applications where a power corrector is not used. ... >>

Avalanche in the battery 23.07.2008

A Dutch researcher confirmed the possibility of an avalanche of electrons in semiconductor nanoparticles when they are illuminated. In 2004, Los Alamos scientists discovered that some semiconductor nanoparticles behave unusually: when illuminated, they generate not one electron for every absorbed photon, but two or three. This phenomenon was called the "avalanche effect". Many scientists have tried to reproduce this phenomenon. After all, the efficiency of the solar battery created with its use without any tricks like light concentrators will increase to a record 44%. Moreover, a new type of solar cells can be made from semiconductor nanoparticles, the production of which would be cheaper than traditional silicon ones. However, no one was able to achieve a stable reproduction of the effect, which gave rise to doubts about the very fact of its existence. "I was able to make careful measurements and show, using the example of lead selenide nanoparticles, that the avalanche effect really exists. ... >>

The computer reads minds 22.07.2008

A computer program developed by American scientists is able, based on the results of a brain scan, to determine what word a person is thinking about. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University led by Tom Mitchell suggested that the way the brain processes nouns depends on how they are related to verbs. "Hammer", for example, activates the areas of the brain associated with movement, "lock" - with spatial information. Using these assumptions, Mitchell and his colleagues created a program that tried to account for semantic relationships. The program was tested on nine volunteers whose brains were scanned as they looked at cards with nouns written on them. There were 60 of these words in total, and 58 of them were entered into a computer along with the corresponding maps of brain activity. Then the program analyzed the text, with a volume of 10 billion characters, and established links between the experimental words and the previously introduced 25 verbs. Then came the testing phase. ... >>

Exciton transistor 21.07.2008

US scientists want to directly convert an electrical signal into light. "In microelectronics, there is one unpleasant contradiction: calculations are carried out using electrons, and signals are transmitted over long distances using photons. A lot of time and energy are spent on the corresponding transformations. We tried to eliminate this contradiction," says Leonid Batov from the University of California at San Francisco. Diego. To do this, they created an exciton transistor. An exciton is a quasiparticle that consists of an electron and a hole bound together. Such quasiparticles can be created, for example, in gallium arsenide cooled to 40K by shining a laser with a certain wavelength on it. An exciton does not live long and, when decaying, gives up the energy stored in it in the form of a quantum of light. Physicists led by Batov have learned not only to create excitons, but also to lock them with the help of an electric field in quantum walls. And you can release excitons by changing the voltage on the electrodes of the microcircuit. T ... >>

Nanoparticles catch light 20.07.2008

Scientists from Sweden have learned how to create periodic nanostructures in a single laser pulse. A layer of nanoparticles, such as gold or silver, is poured onto a thin membrane, and then it is illuminated with a pulsed laser beam. Nanoparticles absorb light, the free electrons contained in them begin to oscillate together with the so-called plasma frequency. If the particle size is chosen correctly, this frequency will be just what is needed to excite similar vibrations in the membrane and turn it into a waveguide. As a result, the energy of the laser pulse is transferred to the membrane, and a standing wave appears on it. In places of its crests, the temperature can be very high, so those nanoparticles that are located above them will melt and flow into the cold troughs of a standing wave, where they will freeze again. So on the membrane you get a periodic relief. The whole process takes a few nanoseconds, and the relief period can be either longer or shorter than the radiation wavelength. "Having selected the parameters of ... >>

Peanut vs copper 19.07.2008

In industry, wastes with a high copper content are often generated - for example, in electrolytic shops and, of course, in non-ferrous metallurgy. This metal is poisonous to wildlife. Specialists from the University of Mersin (Turkey) offer to filter copper from wastewater using finely ground peanut husks. These wastes from Turkey's food industry amount to tens of tons. After a daily settling of water with a high content of copper in a tank with peanut husks at the bottom, 79% of copper ions pass into it, and 95% is absorbed in a week. The optimal pH of the solution in this case is equal to five units. ... >>

Well seasoned transistor 18.07.2008

Transistors made of organic semiconductors lag behind ordinary ones in terms of power, in terms of their ability to operate at high frequencies, they are not so miniature, but microcircuits based on them are not afraid of shocks and can withstand bends, like any polymer film. Recently, employees of the Technological School in Zurich (Switzerland) found that transistors made of the polymer pentacene get better with age, like aged wine. If you leave newly made pentacene transistors in vacuum at room temperature for about a week, molecular defects disappear in them - misaligned polymer chains align. And this improves the characteristics of the transistor. ... >>

knee joint power generator 16.07.2008

In Canada, the production of an electricity generator has begun, which is put on the knee joint, almost does not interfere with walking and generates about five watts of power. In this case, the generator is turned on only in the deceleration phase, when the leg moves by inertia, so that the carrier of the generator almost does not have to exert extra effort. From the "knee pad" you can charge portable electronic devices. One hundred steps at a moderately fast pace provides ten minutes of conversation on a cell phone. The developers intend to increase the power and reduce the weight of the device. ... >>

computer pen 15.07.2008

The French firm "Danelec" has begun production of a fountain pen that remembers everything written by it with the possibility of subsequent transfer of the text to a computer. To the page or notebook on which you write, a memory block the size of an ordinary computer flash drive is attached to the top on a spring clip. The handle is connected to this block by an infrared beam. The position of the pen tip is recorded several times per second with a micron-accurate memory, its volume is one gigabyte, which allows loading up to 3000 handwritten A4 pages. The memory block can be connected to a computer - and the recorded content is converted into the Word editor format. True, after that you need to carefully read the result, since recognition errors range (depending on handwriting) from 5 to 20%. ... >>

Birds or insects 14.07.2008

The Swiss Institute of Ornithology has created a program for processing the reflected radar signal, which makes it possible to distinguish a swarm of insects from a flock of birds. Insects do not pose a danger to aircraft, but bird strikes, most often occurring on approach to the airfield, annually cause global aviation losses of about $ 1,2 billion. An experienced air traffic controller can distinguish birds from insects on the radar screen, but this takes a few seconds. Swiss ornithologists have compiled a collection of thousands of radar reflections from flocks of birds, insects and mixed flocks observed in the Sahara over Mauritania in 2003-2004. Their processing on a computer made it possible to develop a program that distinguishes insects from birds with an accuracy of 93-98%. ... >>

Feel the cancer cell 13.07.2008

The malignancy or innocence of cells taken from a tumor biopsy is usually determined by their shape and size, and for some types of cancer, by reaction with specially prepared antibodies. But until now, there was no way to determine whether tumor cells were ready to metastasize, that is, to spread throughout the body. This method was found by biologists from the University of California (USA). It turned out that cells ready to metastasize are softer to the touch. But you need to feel them with an ultra-thin probe of an atomic force microscope, the tip of which is only 400 nanometers in diameter. Metastasizing lung, breast and pancreatic tumor cells are 70% softer than healthy ones, although they look almost the same. ... >>

Catching microbes with a magnet 11.07.2008

Researchers from the University of Toledo (USA) coated iron oxide nanoparticles with sugar molecules that make up the membrane of mammalian cells. Microbes attach to these sugars when they infect a cell, with different microbes preferring different sugars. Then a powerful magnet was brought to the culture of microbes - and 88% of the microbes were on the magnet. This phenomenon can be used to purify drinking water supplies. In addition, nanoparticles designed to attract various types of microorganisms, including viruses, and detect their presence in samples of water, food or blood of a patient, are easy to manufacture. ... >>

Laser cleaning 10.07.2008

German engineers propose to clean the surface of metal parts with a laser beam that burns out pollution. The beam is conducted over the surface of the part by a rapidly rotating mirror, so that the metal does not have time to heat up, and the dirt burns out. The novelty will be used primarily in the automotive industry. Parts for car assembly are often brought from subcontractors from other countries, even from other continents. And to protect them from corrosion along the way, they are coated with special compounds, which then have to be washed with chemical solvents. The laser method is both cleaner and cheaper. ... >>

Chemical analysis in fingerprinting 09.07.2008

Professor Sergey Kazarian from Imperial College London (Great Britain) has developed a new method for fine chemical analysis of substances that, in millionths of a gram, remain on each fingerprint. An imprint from any surface is transferred to a sticky gelatin tape, and then this tape is placed in an infrared spectrometer. According to the resulting spectrogram, one can judge the gender, diet, and some habits of the person who left the prints. You can see if he has been in contact with explosives, gunpowder, drugs, poisons and dangerous bacteria, and even if he smokes. According to criminologists, the new method will play an important role in the fight against crime. ... >>

Mont Blanc has risen again 07.07.2008

Since 2001, French topographers have measured the height of Mont Blanc every two years using a satellite navigation system. The last measurement of the highest mountain in Europe gave a result of 4810 meters 90 centimeters, that is, an increase in two years amounted to 2 meters 15 centimeters. Actually, not a mountain grew, but a layer of glaciers on its top. In two years, 9455 cubic meters of ice and snow have been added here. This is explained by the fact that humid westerly winds, bringing rain and snow from the Atlantic, have become more frequent. ... >>

Self-hypnosis or allergies 06.07.2008

There are people who claim that they are able to feel radiation from electromagnetic waves, for example, from cell phone base stations, and that this radiation is harmful to their health. There was even a term "electromagnetic allergy". English doctors from the University of Essex decided to test this statement. They put such sensitive people in a booth next to the cell-site antenna. The antenna was randomly turned on, and it emitted waves characteristic of mobile phones, then turned off. And the subject had to guess when dangerous radiations penetrate his body, and when they are not. It turned out that the correct answers were given in about half of the cases, that is, at random. The test subjects said that in the cabin they were sometimes overcome with fear, excitement, they felt stress, and they believe that it was at such moments that they were irradiated. The control group consisted of people who did not claim to be able to feel radio waves. They also guessed the antenna turn-on periods about half the time. ... >>

The smallest microwave 05.07.2008

It was created in the USA, at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and is not suitable for the kitchen. A droplet of liquid no larger than a pinhead is placed in its chamber, cut out in a polystyrene block. The oven is designed for biochemical analyzes, in which microdoses of solutions or individual cells must be quickly heated to a certain temperature. ... >>

English becomes easier 04.07.2008

The good news for English learners is that it is slowly getting easier. True, it happens very slowly. Many generations of people who want to learn English suffer from so-called irregular verbs. They differ from the correct ones, which are the majority, by non-standard endings during conjugation. A graduate student at Harvard University (USA) E. Lieberman followed the fate of irregular verbs in history. He compiled a list of 177 verbs that were irregular in Old English 1200 years ago. Of these, 145 remained incorrect in Middle English (800 years ago), and 98 are incorrect today. At this rate of “normalization,” another 500 years will pass, and only 83 will remain. ... >>

Coffee is for women 02.07.2008

As a group of gerontologists from the French National Institute of Medical Research has shown, regular coffee consumption allows you to maintain a solid memory until old age. But this only applies to women. The scientists followed 7000 older men and women for four years, recording their coffee consumption and occasionally testing their memory. There is a direct relationship between the number of cups of coffee drunk per day and the memory strength of women. Moreover, the older the experimental ladies were, the more caffeine improved their memory. The reasons for this phenomenon are unclear. ... >>

Single electric car 01.07.2008

The production of a single three-wheeled electric car has been launched in Germany. With an electric motor power of 4,5 kilowatts, a machine weighing 290 kilograms can reach speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour, and the capacity of three lead batteries is enough for 70-90 kilometers, which is usually quite enough for everyday trips around the city. The consumed electricity costs 13-15 times cheaper than gasoline would cost for such a crew. An electric car can be found on the roads not only in Germany, but also in Sweden, Denmark and France. It is allowed to drive it from the age of 16, but young drivers are allowed a speed of no more than 45 kilometers per hour. ... >>

Expansion of the family of 32-bit microcontrollers 29.06.2008

STMicroclectronics has significantly increased the range of microcontrollers produced by the advanced family of STM32 microcontrollers. 28 new devices have been added to the lineup. Higher models have a flash memory size of 256 kB, 384 kB or 512 kB. RAM is also increased to 64 kB for the 72 MHz Performance line of controllers and up to 48 kB for the 36 MHz Access line. Extended peripherals are built into controllers with a memory of 256 kB or more, and are a specialized memory controller (FSMC Flexible Static-Memory Controller), which provides work with NOR- and NAND-flash, operational and compact flash memory. The microcontroller also has a PS port that supports both master and slave modes, dual-channel XNUMX-bit DLC, and ETM (Embedded Trace Macrocell) for improved debugging capabilities. Peripherals include up to five UART/USART, three SPI and two PC buses, as well as USB and CAN interfaces in all microcontrollers of the P line ... >>

New high precision low power accelerometers 24.06.2008

In April 2008, STMicroelectronics, known as the leading supplier of MEMS sensors used in gaming, multimedia and industrial applications, expanded its sensor portfolio with two new accelerometers in 4x4x1,5mm LGA packages with +2g/+6g programmable measurement range for applications where small size and high quality required. The 244-axis LIS344ALH and XNUMX-axis LISXNUMXALH accelerometers operate in low power mode with high accuracy and high resolution, which is especially important when using battery power. Analog outputs provide direct measurements of external disturbances and allow designers to optimize external filtering and A/D conversion. The output of the microcircuits has a factory sensitivity calibration, which at the same time allows the final calibration as part of the manufactured device. The devices also include a built-in self-test feature that checks the function of the sensors themselves, as well as built-in ... >>

Massachusetts-style mosquito control 20.06.2008

US engineers have come up with a device that quickly destroys all mosquitoes in an area of ​​40 acres. The problem of the summer struggle with the blood-sucking midge is faced not only by the inhabitants of the northern and temperate latitudes of Eurasia, but also on the other side of the globe, in North America. For example, American engineers from the Katz Inc. The state of Massachusetts decided to approach the seemingly unsolvable problem of the complete destruction of mosquitoes on a single piece of land. To do this, they created a vacuum cleaner trap. "We disguised the vacuum cleaner as a home. To do this, it comes with a flavor containing lactic acid and octanol - the most attractive human odor components for mosquitoes. In addition, the device includes a burner and a propane tank. The gas burns and emits heat, as well as carbon dioxide The combination of heat, aromas, humidity and carbon dioxide is chosen so that the mosquito mistook the vacuum cleaner for real housing and fell into the trap, "says Project Manager Kristin ... >>

Laser communication in space 14.06.2008

German physicists transmit information between spacecraft using a laser. Satellites now use radio signals to communicate. However, with their help, it is no longer possible to transfer the volumes of data that modern researchers need. There is a solution: switch to light waves. They have a much shorter wavelength, respectively, and more information will fit. As German engineers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology found out during recent tests, when using a laser, the information density increases a hundred times and provides the transfer of its volume equivalent to 400 DVDs per hour. They quite successfully transmitted information over a distance of 5000 km from German to an American satellite. "The laser must be small and reliable. We managed to create such a design that its size does not exceed the size of a matchbox, and the weight corresponds to a bar of chocolate. It withstood extremely difficult conditions: temperatures from -35 to 60 ° C, acceleration of 1300 g and gamma irradiation -beams ... >>

Wireless Body Antenna 09.06.2008

In the UK, they created an antenna for building a wireless wireless network. Prevention is the key to health, and regular medical examination is the basis of prevention. In the age of informatics, this inspection can be done almost every second: it is enough to place sensors on the human body and constantly transmit the information they collect about the pulse rate, respiration, and other things to the central unit, which sends it over the network using the same cell phone to the doctor's computer. True, such sensors cannot yet be called miniature and convenient, and one of the reasons is that they have very large antennas. It is not possible to make antennas small, since in this case it would be necessary to increase the signal power and, accordingly, the capacity of electric batteries. Scientists from Queen's University Belfast, led by Dr. William Scanlon, have found a way to solve the problem. The fact is that one part of the radio signal is absorbed by the human body, and the other part propagates along the surface of his skin. british ... >>

copper display 01.06.2008

Materials scientists from Illinois came up with a simple technology for growing copper nanowires. No matter how much they said that carbon nanotubes would become the very material that would make it possible to create a flat and bright display, however, for some reason, things would never come to practice. In the meantime, materials scientists are improving the technology for producing metal whiskers - the thinnest crystals, the forest of which can be grown on a substrate. In particular, scientists from the University of Illinois, led by Professor Kekyen Kim, have learned how to grow forests from copper wires with a diameter of 70 to 250 nm. Moreover, unlike nanotubes, without the use of any catalysts and at a more or less normal temperature - 200-300 K. First, they grew copper whiskers by chemical vapor deposition on the surface of a silicon plate, on which a pattern was previously applied. They turned out to be straight, pentagonal, and ended in sharp pentagonal pyramids, which were perfect for and ... >>

New voltage references 26.05.2008

Texas Instruments has introduced two new voltage reference families, REF50xx and REF33xx, designed for high precision industrial applications as well as low power portable devices. The REF50xx has a maximum instability of 3 ppm/°C, an accuracy of 0,05%, and a noise level of 3 µVpp/V. The combination of these parameters is optimal for working with most industrial high-resolution ADCs. The REF33xx has a low maximum quiescent current of 5µA, an output current of up to 5mA, and is capable of operating from a 1,8V supply, making it ideal for portable applications. ... >>

New MEMS production facilities 17.05.2008

The need for mass production of products that use microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology is increasing as the market for MEMS sensors grows. With over 25 years of experience in these products, Freescale Semiconductor is a major supplier of MEMS sensors, including acceleration and pressure sensors. In order to expand its capabilities for the production of these products, the company has put into operation a new production facility designed for 200 mm wafers. The production line is located at the Freescale factory in Texas. Previously, MEMS manufacturing was concentrated on a 150mm wafer processing line located in Japan. Recall that MEMS technology has literally revolutionized the production of sensors. It is based on the use of a unique combination of electrical and mechanical properties of semiconductor materials. Starting its triumphant march with security systems, motor control and blood pressure measurement, MEMS ... >>

Freescale expands range of automotive microcontrollers 11.05.2008

Freescale Semiconductor has expanded its popular 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) S08SG family. The new models S08SG16 and S08SG32 are flexible general purpose MCUs primarily for the automotive industry: LIN nodes, mirror control modules, power windows, battery management systems, climate control, heated seats, etc. Operating at frequencies up to 40 MHz and with 16 or 32 kB of flash memory, the S08SG16/32 MCUs "push the performance envelope of an 08-bit device," the company says. The presence of integrated timers makes them well suited for motor control circuits. In addition, these microcontrollers make it possible to simplify the development of LIN systems due to the built-in serial communications interface (SCI). The devices also include voltage regulator circuits, input-output multiplexers, analog-to-digital converters. High degree of integration S16SG32/XNUMX pom ... >>

Library from Freescale for implementing a secure radio channel 02.05.2008

Many wireless applications require the organization of a secure communication channel, for example, numerous key fobs in car security systems. Remote control of many home devices is also implemented using wearable key fobs. In many cases, unidirectional data transfer is used - from the key fob to the actuator. To protect the information transmitted using the key fob, Freescale offers a secure protocol with a 128-bit key VKSP (Variable Key Security Protocol), designed for a unidirectional communication channel. Based on time dependencies, this protocol does not require resynchronization if the key fob button is pressed several times, for example, if the consumer is at the maximum communication range from the control object. ... >>

LPC3200 - a new family of 32-bit microcontrollers 30.04.2008

NXP Semiconductors announced the expansion of its ARM7TM and ARM9TM product line with the introduction of the LPC3200 microcontroller family. Based on the popular ARM3200EJTM processor, NXP's LPC926 microcontrollers are designed for use in consumer, industrial, medical and automotive applications. The LPC3200 family includes LPC3220, LPC3230, LPC3240 and LPC3250. The family is designed on a 90nm manufacturing process based on the high-performance ARM926EJ core, contains a Vector Floating Point (VFP), LCD monitor controller, Ethernet MAC, On The-Go USB, an efficient bus matrix, and supports a wide range of standard peripherals. The LPC3000 family of microcontrollers are designed for flexibility in applications that require fast and simultaneous data transfer and combine high performance, low power consumption and support for a large number of peripherals. ... >>

World's smallest high-speed MOSFET 26.04.2008

NXP Semiconductors has introduced a new series of small-signal MOSFETs housed in a unique miniature SOT883 package. Due to its ultra-small size (only 1,0x0,6mm), NXP's SOT883 MOSFET package has power dissipation and performance comparable to SOT23 transistors, while occupying only 14% of their PCB area. The ultra-small SOT883 MOSFET package is designed for a wide range of applications, including DC/DC converter modules, power supplies for LCD TVs, load switches for mobile phones and other portable equipment. With a low profile of 0,5 mm and best in class signal switching speed, as well as very low Rds(on), this series of transistors allows manufacturers to meet customer needs for more compact and high performance solutions. ... >>

MAX9729 - new headphone amplifier 23.04.2008

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the MAX9729 Highly Integrated ICs, which are headphone amplifiers with patented DirectDrive technology. Built-in software-launched audio boost and volume controls make the MAX9729 ideal for size-critical, high-performance portable applications. A self-tuning audio input and a 3:1 stereo multiplexer input also help reduce system size and cost. In addition, the MAX9729 uses the latest crackle and noise reduction circuitry from Maxim Integrated Products, which eliminates audible noise during power supply on and off. The audio frequency response boost circuitry improves playback quality when using inexpensive headphones. The built-in volume control circuit has 32 discrete levels of adjustment and uses a smoothing function to ... >>

New digital signal isolators 19.04.2008

Texas Instruments has introduced the IS072xx series of high-voltage digital signal isolators to the market, fully pin-compatible with the ADuMxxxx isolators. Possible applications for digital isolators are circuits operating in close proximity to powerful motors or other sources of strong electromagnetic radiation. In such an environment, the probability of data loss or errors in the transmission of information is very high. Given this important fact, Texas Instruments has applied a new principle of galvanic isolation in its insulators - a dual capacitive barrier. Isolators have from one to four channels, data transfer rate - up to 150 Mbps, supply voltage 3,3/5 V, isolation voltage 2500 Veff. ... >>

iPhone SDH Released 16.04.2008

What was initially presented as an innovative mobile phone is gradually turning into something more, namely, into a serious competitor to smartphones and communicators, not only in the consumer sector, but also in the corporate one. The first sign of a new stage in the development of the iPhone was the release of the corresponding tools for software developers, which took place on March 6, 2008 at a special press conference by Apple. During this event, the potential that the American manufacturer laid in its offspring was demonstrated, and it is considerable. For corporate users, this is full support for Microsoft Exchange, and communication with the Exchange server is carried out directly, and not through additional firewalls and servers. The consumer, on the other hand, expects a significant expansion of the functionality of the device thanks to high-quality software and serious games (for example, Spore and Super Monkey Ball) from third-party manufacturers. ... >>

On a Windows 7 system by 2010 13.04.2008

Just three years after the debut of Windows Vista, the Redmond giant plans to present its next operating system, i.e. in 2010, the release of Windows 7 will take place (it is under this modest name that the new generation OS is now known). There is no official information regarding the reasons for such an aggressive policy on the development of the next Microsoft product, but there are rumors that this is largely due to the disappointing sales of Windows Vista. What awaits us in the future: banal work on bugs or is it really a new generation OS? ... >>

Nokia Morph 05.04.2008

Nanotechnology is the future, and Nokia's latest concept clearly demonstrates this. Waterproof, self-cleaning, flexible and translucent, Morph's body is able to change its shape in a wide range, not only twisting, stretching or folding, but also forming embossed controls, such as a keyboard. You don’t have to worry about recharging the device, because everything it needs. - it's daylight and quite a bit of time. Now all this seems like science fiction, but in fact, we are only a few years away from such devices. ... >>

The popularity of ultraportable laptops is growing 29.03.2008

The biggest players in the notebook market, Asus and HP, have already introduced their ultraportable models; Acer, MSI and Dell are preparing to announce similar devices. Due to the popularity of compact solutions, analysts expect strong demand for 8,9-inch displays, which are most often used in ultraportable notebooks. The problem is that this demand may not be met. So far, only Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT) and AU Optronics (AUO) are producing matrices with the necessary characteristics using low-cost technology. However, market leaders (Samsung, LG, for example) will launch such production only in 2-3 quarters of this year. Manufacturers have set high standards for sales of Eee laptops. So, Asus, Dell and HP intend to sell about 3 million units this year, and Acer about 5 million. ... >>

Texas Instruments reveals details of its 45nm process technology 27.03.2008

Texas Instruments (TI) is ready to mass-produce its first 45nm chips. The move to 45nm is said to have reduced chip power consumption by 63% and increased performance by 55% compared to 65nm products. TI is currently shipping evaluation samples of the first 45nm processor for 3.5G devices. In the production of the novelty, strained silicon, immersion lithography and dielectrics with an ultra-low dielectric constant (ultra-low K) are used. The specified processor will allow to produce more compact and lightweight devices for 3.5G networks. ... >>

Acer to compete with Asustek in the budget laptop market 26.03.2008

Asustek's near-absolute success in the market for Asustek's inexpensive and portable Eee PC laptop made it clear to the Taiwanese developer's competitors that cheap laptops are and will continue to be bought. Perhaps that is why, a few months after the official announcement of the Eee PC, many manufacturers of portable computers announced their intention to present an alternative to the ASUS subnotebook in the near future. One such company is Acer. According to the developer's press service, two models of portable PCs will soon be released - the 8,9-inch Aspire and the 12,1-inch Slim Gemstone Aspire. Moreover, the IT giant has optimistic plans for the future - in the second half of 2008, Acer plans to ship from 6 million to 6,5 million budget computers. It is interesting to note that in March, Acer ordered 1 million 12,1-inch matrices from LCD panel manufacturer AU Optoelectronics (AUO), which, by the way, are $40-50 cheaper than high-end panels of the same size. ... >>

New CC1100 based RF module hit the market 23.03.2008

The Panasonic PAN3550 RF module is based on the Texas Instruments (Chipcon) CC1100 multichannel transceiver (transceiver) and the Freescale MC9S08GT60 microcontroller. The RF module is designed for use in short-range systems with two-way data transmission in the license-free 868 MHz frequency band. The PAN3550 is ideal for use as an industry standard Coppech RF radio modem. A feature of the module is an integrated antenna, made in the form of printed circuit board conductors. The CC1100 transceiver allows flexible selection of the packet length and independently performs complete data processing - preamble generation, sync word insertion and detection, address verification, automatic CRC checksum calculation. The module can be used as a stand-alone complete node, thanks to the ability to run a user application program in the MC9S08GT60 microcontroller. ... >>

DaVinci for High Definition Video Applications 22.03.2008

Since its inception, DaVinci technology has continuously penetrated various segments of the video device market. This is facilitated by the expansion of the family of media processors, the new representatives of which are specialized for a specific application. The DM6467 processor is a system on a chip designed for devices such as media gateways, digital media adapters, digital video surveillance servers, 1P-set-top boxes. The DM6467 is built around ARM9 and C64x+ cores and a High Definition Video/Image Processing Coprocessor (HDVICP). Peripherals include 10/100/1000 Ethernet, 32-bit PCI, 32/16-bit HPI, USB, 2 McASP, PC, SPI, 3 UARTs, 2 PWM modules, and more. DM6467 Digital Video Evaluation Module (DVEVM) boards. ... >>

Texas Instruments and MIT develop cost-effective chips 20.03.2008

Employees of MIT and Texas Instruments announced the development of a new design of integrated circuits for portable electronics, which are characterized by reduced power consumption compared to current IC manufacturing technologies. New solutions should find application in mobile phones, various medical portable devices, etc. The main idea of ​​the engineers was a significant reduction in operating voltage - while most modern microcircuits operate on 1 V, the new generation of devices will operate on 0,3 V But the reduction of this parameter is not as easy as one might expect - for this it is necessary to carry out a serious modification of the design of microcircuits, among which are noted: the presence of a DC / DC converter that reduces the input voltage to the required level, a change in the design of logic elements, memory cells etc. In addition, modification of the existing technological process for the manufacture of economical integrated microcircuits is also required. ... >>

New IEEE 802.15.4 Transceiver CC2520 for ZigBee Networks 17.03.2008

The CC2520 is a second generation IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver chip released by Texas Instruments for use in ZigBee networks in the license-free 2,4GHz band. This chip can be used in critical applications in conditions of high industrial electromagnetic interference. The CC2520 transceiver has a high energy potential of the radio channel, a low level of current consumption and can operate in the operating temperature range from -40 to 125°C. The CC2520 also provides extensive hardware support for packet control, data buffering, packet transmission, data encryption and authentication, channel noise level estimation, signal level indication, and accurate packet timing. This advantage reduces the computational load on the control controller. ... >>

DisplavPort Switches with HDMI/DVI Level Converters 16.03.2008

Texas Instruments has unveiled three compact devices for the DisplavPort digital video interface standard, freely distributed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). These chips provide communication between personal computers and video displays. With low power consumption, they offer data rates up to 2,7Gbps, helping to match the speeds of the DisplavPort standard and the HDMI multimedia interface commonly used to connect desktops, laptops, and docking stations to DLP projectors, computer monitors, and digital TVs. The SN75DP122, SN75DP128, and SN75DP129 have one dual-mode DisplayPort signal input and variable outputs to connect to a wide range of devices. Dual mode refers to the ability of a graphics processing unit (GPU) to transmit both DisplayPort and HDMI/DVI signals over a DisplayPort signal bus while supporting the required control signals. ... >>

MCP4725 - DAC and EEPROM 14.03.2008

Microchip Technology specialists introduced the MCP4725 chip. They succeeded, according to the official press release, for the first time in the industry, to house a 23-bit DAC and non-volatile electrically erasable memory (EEPROM) in a six-pin SOT-12 package. Due to its compactness and low power consumption, the novelty is very well suited for mobile devices. The presence of non-volatile memory allows the MCP4725 to independently store data values ​​and restore them when the power is turned on. Usually, a microcontroller is required to implement such a function. In this way, system designers are able to reduce cost, power consumption, and product size. According to the company, the current consumed by the high-precision DAC in sleep mode does not exceed 0,06 μA, which allows for increased battery life. Another feature of the microcircuit is the built-in output amplifier that generates an output signal equal in amplitude to the supply voltage. IN ... >>

New LED drivers from Maxim 13.03.2008

Maxim Integrated Products has released two MAX3 and MAX16824 16825-channel LED drivers operating from 6,5V to 28V. 36 mA of current for each ultra-bright LED. The DC current at each output is set using an external current-setting resistor of the output current-sensing resistor. The MAX150 features three PWM inputs that control the duty cycle of the output current, allowing a wide range of brightness. The PWM outputs can also control the on/off for each respective output. The MAX16824 offers a four-wire, 16825 Mbps serial interface, a 2-bit shift register, and a 3-bit controlled register. The serial interface allows the microcontroller to configure output channels using 3 inputs (DIN, CLK, L ... >>

TI announces new DSPs 09.03.2008

Modeling of the system and the initial implementation of the algorithm in most cases is based on floating point arithmetic. After that, the debugged algorithm is loaded onto a microcontroller or a fixed-point digital signal processor. Floating point processors are used only in applications that require high precision and performance, where the cost of the end device is not critical. For such applications, Texas Instruments has released TMS320F28335, TMS320F28334, TMS320F28332 floating point digital signal processors. But, as before, it did not stop there. There are new TMS320F2823x fixed point DSPs that are software and hardware compatible with TMS320F2833x floating point processors. Now users can simulate the system, debug it on a floating point platform (TMS320F2833x), and then simply recompile the resulting program code under the TMS320F2823x, thereby reducing development time (load time for ... >>

New Resistor Programmable TMP300 Switches 07.03.2008

Texas Instruments has launched the TMP300, a low-power, wide-voltage, wide-voltage, low-power RPG temperature switch. The TMP300 is designed for simple temperature monitoring and control systems. The small size of the case makes it attractive for installation in power supplies, DC / DC modules and thermal protection systems. The temperature limit value is set using an external inexpensive resistor (trip point resistor). The free-drain output monitors the power supply to the processor or other protected device. There is also a separate analog output (10 mV/°C) connected either to a temperature sensor or used in a temperature control loop. TMP300 allows temperature monitoring without the use of microcontrollers and in a fairly wide range of supply voltages - from 1,8 to 18 V. The analog output allows you to measure temperature with an accuracy of 3 deg ... >>

Tamed Display 06.03.2008

German engineers have created a display that can be manipulated from afar. So that a person standing in front of a large screen could flip through the pages of a presentation or rotate an image without resorting to the mouse, engineers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications equipped this screen with video cameras. They closely follow the person, and at the moment when he starts moving his fingers, the computer reacts according to the programmed program. "First, the computer determines the position of the user's index finger, and then monitors its movement," - says the head of work Paul Hoeki. As a result, the computer understands that a person points to a particular button or moves an object around the screen. Using gestures, the computer can be commanded to rotate an object, to enlarge it, or to reduce it. And all this without special gloves and without any training at all, since the sign language is intuitively understandable to both man and machine. ... >>

solar cell excitons 03.03.2008

A Dutch graduate student has managed to improve the properties of a polymer solar cell. One type of polymer solar cell is a dye layer that is deposited on a semiconductor layer. Usually in its role is the basis of white paint - titanium dioxide. Both substances are inexpensive, and it is believed that such batteries can get solar power off the ground. And it is marking time, since the production of silicon batteries is very expensive, and silicon itself, the raw material for them, is not that much in abundance. A battery of dye and semiconductor works like this. A photon of sunlight falls on the first layer, is absorbed and excites the so-called exciton - a quasi-particle, which is an excitation of the electronic system. This exciton moves into the semiconductor and causes the formation of free charges in it, that is, it forms an elementary electric current. The trouble is that the path traveled by the exciton is extremely short and most of them are lost before reaching the semiconductor. ... >>

Electric facade 02.03.2008

German physicists have introduced a solar panel into wall cladding. The record efficiency of silicon batteries is 40%. Similar polymer batteries work ten times worse, but they are much cheaper and easier to make. Here, for example, is the technology offered by physicists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. Using a special printer, they print a pattern of plastic containing nanoparticles directly on the glass. This plastic will convert sunlight into electricity. Then it is covered with a second sheet of thin glass, and the glasses are welded together - so that air does not penetrate inside and does not destroy the polymer. The resulting battery converts 4% of solar energy into electricity. Of course, if you cover the roof with such panels, you won’t get much energy even in a sunny country. However, the building has walls that are now customarily covered with similar panels. And their area is much larger than that of the roof. It is the walls of buildings that the Germans propose to decorate with solar panels. ... >>

LG to buy LCD panels from Sharp 29.02.2008

LG Electronics announced plans to purchase 32-inch and 52-inch LCD panels from Sharp to meet the growing demand for flat-panel TVs. The company plans to purchase about 2 million 32-inch panels. The number of 52-inch panels that will be purchased from Sharp is not known. LG obtains TV panels from LG Display, its joint venture with Philips, and Taiwanese manufacturers. Recently, the company needs more panels to increase sales. This year LG has planned to sell 14 million TVs. ... >>

New OMRON Sensor Detects Tilt Direction 26.02.2008

OMRON engineers have expanded their line of tilt angle sensors with a miniature model that is able to detect tilt direction. The novelty in the first place will be interesting and useful for developers of portable equipment. The new D6BN 1 is a PCB-mounted 40mm sensor capable of generating a different output depending on the device's current position and allowing the system to recognize left or right tilt. The sensor responds to movements between 80 and 10 degrees (and with special settings between 50 and 6 degrees) when moving in any direction. The D1BN-10 sensor is based on a highly reliable solid state design (which in turn uses a Hall effect chip) and features low power consumption: 40 mA. Like all OMRON components, the new sensor is fully RoHS compliant. The device has an IP10 protection class and is capable of operating in the temperature range from -60 to XNUMX°C. Since the new sensor uses ... >>

OMRON Downsizes FPC Connectors 25.02.2008

OMRON, following the trend of miniaturization, has recently significantly expanded the range of FPC connectors while reducing their geometric dimensions. The product line includes an ultra-low version of the connector, which is only 0,5 mm thick when fully assembled, as well as solutions based on the smallest possible connector sizes. For example, the XF2U measures just 3,5mm front to back with 0,5mm pin spacing and occupies only two-thirds of the board space compared to the previous XF2M family based on a 24-way connector type comparable to with solutions for a step of 0,3 mm. The XF2U can be used with a standard 0,2mm thick FPC cable and features a specially designed locking mechanism to reduce the number of connection steps. This connector has a height of 0,9 mm and double-sided contacts that allow you to insert the cable in any way. New FPC Connectors ... >>

Buttons with improved optics for bright and uniform backlighting 24.02.2008

The new series of pushbutton switches is designed for use in medical, instrumentation and industrial applications where small size and bright backlighting are critical. The B3W-9 pushbutton switch series has a compact size (10x10x11mm) and two built-in LEDs - red and green. When lit at the same time, they can also emit a third light - orange. In combination with a transparent or milky white button cover, four different lighting modes can be obtained. Based on the standard B3W structure, these switches feature a dust-proof design to ensure high reliability of the contact connection and are characterized by fast actuation with a clear "click" when pressed. B3W-9 have a recommended operating current for red LED - 12mA and for green - 20mA with three-color illumination. Specifications include 50mA switching current at 24V operating voltage and two pressure modes ... >>

Additional features of the touch sensor B6TS 22.02.2008

OMRON engineers have developed a 16-channel version of the touch sensors for the already existing B6TS series. The new B6TS-16LF is capable of controlling 16 different buttons with a single chip, with higher sensitivity and programmability. The B6TS is sensitive to most non-conductive materials such as rubber, wood, glass, various plastics and even marble, allowing these materials to be used as decorative coatings for controls. Devices where B6TS is applicable (vending machines, elevators, various access systems) are subject to increased requirements in terms of appearance and design. Omron engineers have given designers more design freedom with the ability to build their own electrical circuits and independent electrode configuration. ... >>

New bi-directional gas flow sensor 21.02.2008

The B6F-P sensor is based on a MEMS chip. The sensor is able to analyze the flow of gas or air in both one and two directions. Its fields of application are analytical equipment, ventilation and air conditioning devices with variable flow, medicine. It is noteworthy that in ventilation and air conditioning systems, the new sensor is able to replace the pressure sensors used there. The new sensor adopts OMRON's patented DSS (Dust Segregation System) dust separation technology, which can clean up to 99,5% of polluted air, ensuring reliable performance and measurement accuracy. In a bypass configuration, the transmitter is capable of measuring a flow greater than its native standard capabilities (while still being able to monitor pressure). B6F-P is PCB mounted, its dimensions are 7x35x17,2mm. ... >>

smart fuse 20.02.2008

American gunsmiths have created a reliable miniature. "When they talk about smart weapons, they must be smart in everything. In particular, the fuses must understand where the ammunition is and whether it is time to detonate it," says Michael Beggans from the Center for Land Support for Naval Operations (USA), where, together with colleagues from the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new technology for the manufacture of fuses. Now they can be made in the same way as microcircuits. The new fuse is made from a porous copper plate. To make it, a resin-bonded copper oxide paste is applied to a fabric template with microspheres. Then the product is heated, the template evaporates, and copper oxide turns into a metal plate, the shape of which repeats the shape of the template. An explosive is placed in the resulting micron-sized pores. Then a microcircuit is applied to the plate by microelectronics, cut into millimeter-sized pieces, and the microfuse is ready. Now from these fuses you need to ... >>

Magnetic tumbler for cage 19.02.2008

US scientists are learning how to use magnets to control the behavior of cells. To make a cell do a job - to beat an enemy microbe or produce insulin - it is necessary to act on its corresponding receptor. As a rule, doctors do this with the help of artificially administered hormones. "We propose to go down a completely different path - to use nanomagnets," says Dr. Don Ingber of Boston Children's Hospital. In their first experiments, the scientists created magnetic particles 30 nm in size with an inner core only 5 nm in diameter. Particles of this size turned out to be in a superparamagnetic state, that is, by applying a magnetic field, they could be transferred many times both to a magnetic and a non-magnetic state. Each particle was combined with one antigen molecule corresponding to the receptor of immune system cells. "One antigen per particle is very important," says co-worker Dr. Robert Mannicke. "We wanted to attach each particle to only one receptor so that ... >>

Elephants are not afraid of mice, but bees 18.02.2008

African farmers have been tormented by elephants trampling their fields in herds. They tried everything: they built barriers, fired cannons, burned old car tires ... And the sound recording of the buzz emitted by a swarm of bees helped. It turned out that this sound, coming from a hollow tree model, scares away the giants so much that they prefer to stay at a distance of an average of 64 meters from the source of such sounds. Some herds moved away 100 meters or more, and one herd of elephants even crossed the river in experiments conducted in Kenya, only to avoid hearing the angry bees. The disadvantage of the new method is that the sound equipment is too expensive for many Africans. Therefore, the possibility is being considered to arrange apiaries near the fields, which at the same time will be able to supply local residents with honey. ... >>

Archaeologists in the tunnel 17.02.2008

Although there are two bridges across the Bosphorus in Istanbul, linking Europe and Asia, their capacity has long ceased to meet the needs of a large city. Therefore, a few years ago, the construction of a railway tunnel under the Bosphorus began, which was a dream of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. The tunnel is scheduled to be completed by 2012, but there has already been a serious delay. Builders are hindered by history itself. The city, at different times called differently, arose on this site 2700 years ago. Already during the preliminary archaeological survey of the tunnel construction site, the remains of a seaport of the XNUMXth century AD were discovered and a warship was found - the only Byzantine ship known to us. After the start of construction, other finds fell down: fishing boats, merchant ships, shipbuilders' tools, amphoras, bones of people and animals. Archaeologists stand in the way of tunneling shields, and every day construction is delayed costs a million dollars. Processing of all ... >>

Maternal laughter and child health 16.02.2008

In one of the hospitals in Osaka (Japan), an experiment was conducted: a group of nursing mothers were shown films by Charlie Chaplin, another group watched television weather forecasts. After that, they fed their children, who had moderate diathesis. It turned out that in children who received "funny" milk, the disease softened. Ordinary mother's milk had no effect on diathesis. The analysis revealed that after healthy laughter, the amount of melatonin in milk, a hormone associated with counteracting stress, increases. ... >>

Molecular scissors will remove the AIDS virus 15.02.2008

Employees of the Institute of Experimental Virology and Immunology in Hamburg (Germany) have created an enzyme using genetic engineering methods that can search for the AIDS virus gene in human DNA and cut it out. The AIDS virus, like other viruses, inserts its genome into the nucleus of the cells it infects and causes them to make copies of themselves. There are enzymes, the so-called recombinases, that can recognize and cut out certain sections of DNA. Taking one such recombinase, naturally tuned to a DNA sequence remotely similar to the DNA of a virus, biologists gradually changed the enzyme so that it began to act specifically on the AIDS gene. The excised gene is decomposed by the cell, and its remnants are removed. Experiments conducted on a culture of human cells infected with the AIDS virus proved the effectiveness of the new enzyme. But it is not yet clear how soon it will be able to be used to treat people: a way to deliver recombinase to virus-infected cells remains to be found. ... >>

To prevent headphone wires from getting tangled 14.02.2008

We all have to be annoyed when ropes, threads, wires or shoelaces are tied by themselves in knots that cannot be untangled. Biophysicist Dorian Raymer from the University of San Diego (USA) decided to study this mysterious process experimentally. He loaded pieces of twine of various lengths into a cubic box with a side of 30 centimeters and began to rotate it on a centrifuge. Every 10 seconds of rotation, the box was opened and the knots formed were counted. A total of 120 node types were found. The shortest piece of twine tied in a knot was 46 centimeters long. One and a half meter long strings formed knots in about half of the cases. The longer the segment, the more complex nodes appeared on it after rotation. The longer the box was rotated, the more knots appeared. So, so that the wire from the headphones of the player or from the headset of the mobile phone does not get tangled in knots in the bag, choose headphones with a shorter wire and do not swing the bag on the go. ... >>

Energy windows 13.02.2008

New translucent solar panels, developed by the Japanese firm Sharp, have been inserted into the windows of the firm's recently opened plant for the production of flat screens on liquid crystals. In addition to generating electricity, thin-film silicon batteries shade rooms from the visible and infrared rays of the sun, reducing the need for air conditioning inside the building. The efficiency of transparent batteries is 11%. ... >>

Nanotweezers 11.02.2008

A group of Danish, British and German nanotechnologists have created tweezers for manipulating carbon nanotubes. It is made by silicon microlithography. When a current is passed through the two outer nanorods of the tweezers, they heat up, elongate a little and force the thin sponges of the tweezers to converge, capturing the nanotube. If a current is passed through the internal nanorods, they lengthen and the tips of the tweezers diverge. While the problem remains how to get the tweezers to release the captured: nano-objects, due to the forces of interatomic interaction, tend to stick to silicon. So the tube must be brought to something more "sticky" than silicon, and then let go. ... >>

Emotions of the West and East 10.02.2008

American and Japanese psychologists, studying differences in the expression of emotions in the two peoples, handed out photographs of faces to Japanese and Americans and asked them to rate whether the photographed person had a cheerful or sad expression. And the photographs were "synthetic": sad eyes were mounted with a wide smile, or, conversely, the eyes were smiling, and the tips of the lips were lowered. The results of a survey of 120 people showed that when evaluating facial expressions, Americans look primarily at the mouth, while Japanese look almost exclusively at the eyes. Scientists have concluded that the Japanese traditionally restrain their feelings, their facial expressions are inactive, so you have to look at the eyes, the expression of which is more difficult to control than the expression of the mouth. By the way, Japanese emoticons, computer icons synthesized from the characters of a conventional keyboard, are very different from Western ones. Where we put :-) to communicate his cheerful mood, the Japanese draws (^ ^). The sad mood icon used by our computer users looks like this: ... >>

This gum was chewed 5000 years ago 09.02.2008

In northeastern Finland, archaeologists have found chewing gum that was chewed by Neolithic people. The imprints of teeth on a lump of resin melted from birch bark leave no doubt about its purpose. Judging by the size of the prints, chewing gum lovers, as now, were young people. The chewed resin could then be used to mend cracked pots or to fix stone arrowheads. ... >>

Tires in the microwave 08.02.2008

The American company "Global Resource Corporation" has developed a plant for recycling used car tires. They are exposed to microwaves of various frequencies; as a result, long chains of polymers that make up rubber break down into monomers - hydrocarbons. From 10 kilograms of tires, about 5 liters of diesel fuel, one and a half cubic meters of combustible gas, a kilogram of steel (from cord) and 3,5 kilograms of soot are obtained. Part of the gas is used to power the plant itself. ... >>

Now I understand why we need an appendix 07.02.2008

The appendix, a worm-like appendage of the caecum, has long been considered a useless vestige left over from our ancestors - monkeys who ate indigestible plant foods like leaves and twigs. At one time, it was even suggested that this process be removed from newborns in order to guarantee against appendicitis. As experts from the Medical School at Duke University (USA) suggest, the appendix serves as a kind of reserve for beneficial microbes of the intestinal flora. In some diseases, such as cholera or amoebic dysentery, the beneficial microflora practically dies out. But its representatives remain in the narrow blind canal of the appendix and, after the recovery of the person, again populate his intestines. ... >>

When the phone is life-threatening 06.02.2008

Specialists from the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, Holland exposed various modern medical devices, mainly used in intensive care units and intensive care units, to radiation from cell phones. A total of 61 devices were tested - artificial lungs, monitors of the patient's condition, heart pacemakers and others. It turned out that a third of the tested devices do not respond well to electromagnetic waves from the phone. They can turn off, malfunction or interfere with the normal rhythm of work, which can be extremely dangerous for patients. Especially dangerous were the signals of phones operating in the GPRS standard (these are phones with an Internet connection). They can affect medical devices from a distance of up to three meters. The signals used in 3G networks are only valid from a distance of a few centimeters. Although many hospitals prohibit cell phone calls, especially in rooms with electronic equipment, these prohibitions do not work well. ... >>

Hearing genes in plants 05.02.2008

South Korean biologists repeated experiments that have been going on in different countries for at least half a century: they played 14 classical pieces of music to rice plants, including Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. But, unlike their predecessors, they did not follow the growth rate or yield, but the work of various genes. It turned out that genes react, in fact, not to melodies and rhythms, but to sounds, therefore, from the works of great composers, experimenters later switched to simple sounds of various frequencies. And then it turned out that two rice genes are most active at frequencies of 125 and 250 hertz, and the least - at 50. Since it is known that these same genes respond to light, the experiments were repeated in complete darkness. And in this case, the activity of genes at their favorite sounds increased. Then, from one of the "hearing" genes, the experimenters also separated the so-called promoter - a segment of DNA that regulates the activity of neighboring genes, and attached it to a gene that produces a certain enzyme. And this ge ... >>

Bridge made of water in an electric field 04.02.2008

Researchers from the Graz University of Technology (Austria) have discovered an unusual property of water: in a strong electric field, a water bridge forms between two glasses of water. The Austrian scientists' experiment was simple. They filled two laboratory beakers with a volume of 100 ml with distilled water so that the distance from the surface of the water to the edges was 3 mm. The glasses were placed at a distance of 1 mm from each other and electrodes were placed in them, one of which was grounded, and a constant voltage of 15 kV was applied to the other. To the surprise of the experimenters, a cylindrical water bridge formed between the glasses. At a voltage of 25 kV, the maximum length of the bridge reached 25 mm. With a quick power outage, the bridge broke up into many drops. If a charged glass rod was brought to the bridge, it was attracted to it and formed a water arch. When any ions were added to the water, the water bridge was destroyed. Scientists noted that regardless of the length of the bridge n ... >>

Trucks on x-ray 02.02.2008

When imported into the countries of the European Union, goods are subjected to serious inspection. And for good reason: in 2006 they "caught" 60 tons of drugs, six million counterfeit goods with brands of well-known companies and 235 blocks of cigarettes. Examining the contents of a heavy-duty car trailer can take a full day at customs. To speed up the process of inspecting trucks and eliminate queues at the borders, European customs officers have begun using a mobile X-ray scanner manufactured in England. The equipment, mounted in a small van, can "pierce" a steel wall up to 538 centimeters thick with x-rays. But when transilluminating ordinary, unarmored trucks, radiation doses are used that are less than those that the patient receives during fluorography. The picture is immediately processed by a computer, showing different materials inside the truck in different colors. Up to 28 trailers are scanned per hour, and it is not necessary to do this at the border, the scanner can drive around the roads and conduct selective ... >>

Honey anti aging 01.02.2008

Doctors from the University of the New Zealand city of Hamilton added 10% honey or 8% sugar to two groups of rats for a year, and the third group was not given any sweets. It turned out that the rodents that received honey were the most courageous and curious - they were not afraid to go to the middle of the cage. In addition, they were better at remembering the correct path through a maze and were more likely to enter an unfamiliar maze. Doctors believe that honey consumption can improve memory and general mood in older adults. ... >>

LG will also sell music 31.01.2008

In the summer of 2008, LG plans to launch a free music service for LG mobile phone buyers and then open its own online audio content store. Under an agreement with London-based music service Omnifone, as reported by CyberSecurity, all purchasers of LG phones will receive a free one-year subscription to Omnifone's digital content library files. Going forward, LG intends to do online trading on its own by opening its own MusicStation Max store. The company hopes to reach agreements with all the major record labels. Probably, such a "musical" online expansion of the South Korean electronics manufacturer was caused by the active actions of the Finnish company Nokia, which opened the Ovi.com online store and bought a number of new web services, as well as the successful operation of the iTunes online store owned by Apple. ... >>

Liquid lenses: mass production 30.01.2008

Japanese Seiko Instruments Inc. (SII) and French Varioptic Co. announced the formation of a business alliance aimed at mass production of liquid lenses (liquid lenses). Fluid lenses are believed by industry analysts to revolutionize the production of small and ultra-small cameras and video cameras because they are compact, easy to maintain, and, most importantly, focus much faster than their mechanical counterparts. Recall that the technology is based on the ability of a liquid drop to change its shape (becomes flat) when electricity is applied to it. Varioptic proposed to use this phenomenon to create a new type of lens, for this the refractive medium, consisting of a mixture of water and oil, is enclosed in a plastic container to which electrodes are connected. The change in the "focal length" of the lens is done by means of a voltage causing the lens to change its shape, with water being responsible for compressing the lens and oil ... >>

Intel Achievements in Silicon Photonics 28.01.2008

Distributor During 2007, Intel's R&D teams made significant progress in the development of silicon photonics components. A number of key achievements allow the company to predict that this technology will appear in commercial products as early as 2010. Perhaps the most effective example of using an optical interface in a computer today is the already created test platform, where a similar interface is used to exchange data with the FB memory module -DIMM. At the same time, Microsoft Windows is successfully loaded and started on this system. The use of light signals for data transmission is currently considered one of the few possible promising technologies that will allow in the future to overcome the limitations inherent in the transmission of electrical signals through metallic conductors. The ever-increasing performance of processors leads to the fact that its interfaces with the rest of the processor become a bottleneck. ... >>

Toshiba buys Sony plant for $835 million 26.01.2008

Sony and Toshiba are close to completing a major deal to purchase Sony's latest Fab 2 integrated circuit manufacturing plant for a hefty $835 million. joint venture. At the same time Toshiba will own 1%, and the remaining 60% will belong to Sony. The plant is intended for the production of integrated circuits manufactured using the 40-nm process technology, the main products of the factory will be Cell processors and RSX graphic microchips. Subsequently, it is planned to transfer the manufacture of microcircuits to 65-nm "rails". Note that both of these products are used as the main components of the Sony PlayStation 45 game console. In general, Toshiba is actively developing its "semiconductor" business, aiming to increase the output of flash memory chips, microprocessors, etc. ... >>

Samsung steps up its work in the digital camera market 25.01.2008

Representatives of Samsung Electronics announced the company's intention to sell a total of 2008 million digital cameras in 15 and subsequently become the world's third largest supplier of such devices. Thanks to its broad product portfolio and well-established channel network, Samsung was able to achieve a satisfactory 2007 digital camera sales figure of 12 million units, the company said. At the same time, both in Europe and in North America, the vendor takes third place. Also, the South Korean company seeks to be more aggressive in the market for digital SLR cameras (DSLR). Meanwhile, Samsung's digital camera rival Canon is targeting 4,4 million digital DSLRs and 25 million digital cameras this year, up 38% and 17% year-on-year, respectively. ... >>

Hotpoint and Ariston team up to create an international brand 25.01.2008

Hotpoint-Ariston Indesit Company presents a new brand strategy that aims to strengthen the position of the company's brands in the market and create synergies between them. The Hotpoint and Ariston trademarks will form a single Hotpoint-Ariston trademark, which will combine the strong international potential of the British trademark and the Italian tradition. This should help to improve the market positioning of the new brand products in the medium and high value segments. The Indesit brand will continue to evolve as part of its market positioning, focusing on innovation and design like the latest Indesit Moon product, a washing machine with avant-garde design and new functionality. ... >>

From now on, all Hollywood studios support Blu-ray 24.01.2008

Paramount Pictures has said it will support the Blu-ray format, according to Reuters. On Wednesday, February 20, company officials told The Hollywood Reporter, "We are excited to see the industry move towards a single high definition format that we believe is in the best interest of consumers. We are looking forward to launching our films on Blu-Gow discs, we will study the demand and plan our plans accordingly." The other day the transition to the Blu-ray format was announced by the film studio Universal. The turning point in the high-definition format war, which lasted several years, was the decision of Warner, which announced its intention in May 2008 to completely stop releasing movies on HD DVD and switch to Blu-ray. After that, only two of the seven largest film studios remained HD DVD supporters: Universal and Paramount. Thus, now the Blu-ray format is supported by all major studios: Walt Disney, 20th C ... >>

Wavecom improves the parameters of the Q24 series 23.01.2008

As part of its product enhancement program, Wavecom is making minor changes to the Q24 series module circuitry. Modification of the hardware will change the following parameters: 1. Reduction of the minimum battery charge current limit. 2. Optimization of the module's internal reset procedure. 3. Improving the operation of the radio frequency part, especially at extreme temperatures. ... >>

Power miniblock for high current POL converters 22.01.2008

International Rectifier has announced the iP1206, a new technical solution for the implementation of step-down synchronous converters used to power telecommunications and network equipment. The IC is the latest addition to the iPOWIR family of power miniblocks containing all the passive components and semiconductors for realizing the power part of synchronous converters. Based on iPl206, it is possible to implement a single-phase converter with an output current of up to 30 A and a two-phase converter with two independent outputs for currents of 15 A each. Both options are based on anti-phase operation of the channels in order to reduce input voltage and current ripple. To achieve high bulk density, iPl206 uses a full-fledged PWM controller and an optimized power stage based on modern semiconductor devices. Since the new chip contains all semiconductor and passive components that are important in terms of conversion quality, to create a high-quality conversion ... >>

All HSPA multimedia features on a single chip 21.01.2008

NXP Semiconductors has announced the PNX6712 dual-band Nexperia Cellular Multimedia Baseband for HSPA and EDGE bands in a new ultra-miniature package. The device is manufactured using 65 nm technology, supports advanced multimedia technologies, including H.264 on QVGA at 30 fps, provides up to 750 hours of standby time, 45 hours of MP3 playback and 8 hours of video playback. The devices are available in 12x12mm packages with 0,4mm pin pitch, built on a single-core architecture, support the latest audio and video codecs, have four microphone inputs, two class D amplifiers, a W/QVGA display interface and TV outputs. All these functions are implemented through 10 external interfaces, including USB Hi-Speed ​​OTG, SDIO, SPI, most memory card interfaces, as well as system level extensions for A-GPS, NFC, BT and FM content. Samples of the PNX6712 multimedia baseband chip are available. ... >>

Inexpensive emulator for the C2000 DSP family 20.01.2008

One of the most popular families of digital signal processors from Texas Instruments in Russia is the C2000. The family is primarily intended for drive control applications. One of the difficulties in using this family until now has been the high cost of debugging tools, namely in-circuit emulators (we take into account only recommended TIs). Developers had to overpay for unused functionality: initially, emulators supported all TI DSP families. Blackhawk offers a new emulator, the USB2000 Controller (part#: BH-USB-2000), designed to work only with the F280x, F280xx, F281x, F283x, and LF240x families. The USB2000 Controller is a third generation emulator based on the proven and proven USB510 and USB2.0 technologies first announced by Blackhawk in 2002. The USB2000 Controller is a fast and reliable emulator in a small package. It is specially designed to meet the needs ... >>

New miniature PWM controller 19.01.2008

STMicroclectronics, the world's leading supplier of semiconductors for power management systems, has expanded its lineup with a new series of flexible and high performance PWM controllers. New elements - L6726A, L6727, L6728, L6728A (in standard SO-8 or miniature 3x3mm DFN package) include voltage reference, control logic, GATE drivers, test and protection circuits. All four devices are designed for use on motherboards and for organizing a distributed power supply scheme (POL Point of Load). Two models of these chips provide additional features for high performance applications. Firstly, this is the PowerGOOD output, which provides information about the status of the IS. Secondly, a special sensitive output for voltage overload protection and detection of voltage insufficient for operation. The L6726A and L6727 are low cost, single-phase PWM controllers with built-in high current drivers. They make it quite easy ... >>

XNUMX volt mono amplifiers 18.01.2008

National Semiconductor offers two new 200V ICs, the LME49811 and LME49830 mono amplifiers, which can be used in the output stages of audio power amplifiers. Devices have an extremely low level of distortion (THD + N) - no more than 0,00035% for LME49811 and 0,0006% for LME49830, save space on the board, because they allow you to abandon 25 external components, are available in 15-pin TO-247 packages , develop a power of 8 watts at an 500-ohm load. The LME49811 provides 40 V/µs slew rate, 115 dB PSRR, 9 mA output, 100 µV output noise, is powered by a +20 to +100 V bipolar supply. The LME49830 has a slew rate of 40 V/μs, PSRR 115 dB, noise level 42 μV, output current 60 mA, supply voltage from +20 to +100 V. ... >>

ultrasound medicine 18.01.2008

Physicists around the world believe that ultrasound will help cure many diseases. In New Orleans (USA) November 26, 2007 a conference was held, which was dedicated to ultrasound medicine. From the reports presented there, it follows that the use of ultrasound in medicine has long been not limited to diagnostics. For example, an ultrasonic beam can be turned into a surgical instrument. To do this, you need to focus the sound wave, and all its energy will be concentrated in an area the size of a grain of rice. As a result, ultrasound begins to behave like a laser beam, that is, it heats the tissue. At the same time, ultrasound works not only as a scalpel. For example, Vesna Zhderich of the University of George Washington claims that it can be used to stop internal bleeding: under the influence of heat, the blood coagulates, the tissue around the wound is destroyed and a blood clot occurs that closes the wound. So it is possible to stop bleeding in the liver, kidneys, deeply located blood vessels. Scientists from ... >>

Voltmeter for a living cell 17.01.2008

American biophysicists have discovered that gigantic electric fields exist inside a living cell. The smallest of the voltmeters is not an electronic, but a photonic device. This is a dye nanoparticle with a diameter of 30 nm. If it is illuminated with blue light, the particle will give a double impulse - green and red, and the ratio of the intensities of these colors will depend on the electric field strength in the place where the particle is located. Thousands of such voltmeters can be placed in one living cell. This is exactly what the creators of the method did - scientists from the University of Michigan, led by Raul Kopelman. The result they got surprised them. It turned out that in the cytosol, which fills the interior of the cell, the electric field is extremely high, its intensity is up to 15 million V/m. This is one and a half thousand times more than under a high-voltage power line! Until now, it was believed that the potential exists only on the cell membrane, and inside it the field is absent. ... >>

Water repellent glass 16.01.2008

US scientists have created a superhydrophobic glass coating. “Water is completely incapable of moistening the new material we have created. It is unlikely to be useful for making a raincoat. But as a coating for the bottom of a ship or bridge supports, it may well save a lot of energy and money,” says John Simpson from the Oak Ridge Laboratory (USA). The secret of the material is on its surface. The nanostructure created there does not allow water to come into contact with a solid, keeping a constant layer of air between them. To achieve such strong hydrophobicity, Simpson first smelted borosilicate glass. Then he withstood it at a high temperature, and the ingot broke up into two phases: areas occupied by borate glass appeared in it. The ingot was ground into a fine powder, and then the borate glass was etched. The resulting powders acquired the appearance of microscopic corals with nanometer branches. They were treated with reagents, and the surface became hydrophilic from hydrophobic. nanoveto size ... >>

bipedal monkeys 16.01.2008

Scientists have long argued about when the monkey got up from all fours to become a man. Now it turns out that she did not have to get up. In any case, Susanna Thorpe, a biologist from the University of Birmingham (UK), believes so. Thorpe and her colleagues, who for a long time observed the behavior of higher apes - orangutans in Sumatra, found that orangutans most often maintain an upright posture in trees, especially when they walk along a relatively thin branch (thinner than four centimeters). At the same time, the orangutan balances or grabs branches with its upper limbs. When in the Miocene (5-24 million years ago) tropical forests thinned out due to climate change and the crowns stopped closing, human ancestors had to run across the ground from tree to tree. At the same time, they maintained their usual posture on two legs. ... >>

Cell phone dangerous for pedestrians 15.01.2008

After observing 127 pedestrians who were crossing the street, talking on a mobile phone, scientists from Ohio University (USA) noticed that 48% of them behaved too carelessly at the crossing - they crossed the road right in front of the cars. At the same time, only 16% of those who listened to music from a portable player on the move noted such risky behavior. Apparently, the fact is that passive listening to music does not distract the pedestrian's attention as much as active participation in the dialogue. Perhaps, the researchers say, it is worth banning the use of a mobile phone not only while driving, but also when crossing the street. ... >>

New generation catamaran 14.01.2008

A new concept of a catamaran is being tested in the USA: two float hulls are connected by spring-loaded jointed “legs”, and a cabin for the crew, passengers and cargo hangs on hinges on top of them. The design used aluminum, titanium and composite materials. Two engines are located at the rear ends of the floats, and they are also mounted on hinges in such a way that the propeller always remains underwater, despite the excitement. There is no steering wheel, turns are made by turning off one of the engines. Unlike all other ships, the catamaran, called "Proteus" (in Greek mythology, Proteus is a sea god who could change his appearance), does not cut the waves, but adapts to them, balancing in such a way that the cabin always remains in a horizontal position. ... >>

How dinosaurs ran 13.01.2008

The fastest two-legged ostrich is considered - its speed is up to 55,5 kilometers per hour. But, according to the calculations of paleontologists from the University of Manchester (UK), even faster - 64 kilometers per hour - ran a small dinosaur the size of a chicken, compsognathus. But the tyrannosaurus developed only 29 kilometers per hour. These results were obtained on a computer, into which all available information about the skeleton and muscles of various dinosaurs was entered. ... >>

Hiking is dangerous for nature 12.01.2008

According to the calculations of English environmentalists, walking to the store does more harm to the environment than driving a car. For three miles (about five kilometers), the average English car emits 0,9 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the air. A person, in order to walk such a distance, will spend 1800 kilocalories and, in order to compensate for them, then eat one hundred grams of beef. But producing that much meat releases 3,6 kilograms of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. ... >>

Mother's milk and career 11.01.2008

British sociologists from the University of Bristol, following the fate of 1400 children born in Bristol between 1937 and 1939, came to the conclusion that breastfeeding later reflects well on a child's career. Of those who were breastfed in infancy, most have climbed the social ladder compared to their parents, and of the "artists" only half have achieved this. Moreover, the chances of success in life are higher, the longer the child was not weaned. Such differences are also noted within the same family: if one child was breast-fed, and the other with substitutes, then greater success in life, as a rule, awaits the first. The reasons for this phenomenon are unclear, although it has been observed that naturally fed children have a slightly higher IQ. ... >>

antibiotics in plants 11.01.2008

The meat of livestock and poultry bred on modern farms often contains residues of antibiotics that animals are given to increase weight gain. However, as recently shown by American ecologists from the University of Minnesota, with the manure of livestock, which is used for fertilizer, antibiotics also get into plants grown in the fields. Until now, it was believed that such large molecules do not pass through the pores of root hairs. Especially a lot of antibiotics found in potatoes, radishes and carrots. And employees of the university in Paderborn (Germany) found antibiotics even in winter wheat grains, which were fertilized with pig manure. The presence of low doses of these drugs not only contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance in microbes, but can also cause allergies, especially in children. ... >>

The strongest robot 10.01.2008

Robot "Titan", created by the German company "KUKA", fully corresponds to its name. Its iron arm, which has six degrees of freedom, manipulates loads weighing more than a ton, that is, "Titan" is capable, for example, of lifting and turning an almost finished car, substituting its different points for another robot - a welder. Movement "hands" provide nine electric motors. The strongest robot in the world has already entered the Guinness Book of Records. ... >>

Rope battery winch 09.01.2008

Three students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) shared the award for the best student development - a battery winch for climbing a rope. Lifting speed - up to three meters per second, load - up to 120 kilograms. In a minute, a firefighter or rescuer gets to the very top of the skyscraper. For adjustable descent, a hand brake is provided. You can also get on a helicopter if the rope is lowered from it. Serial production of the device has already begun. ... >>

Solar system without Jupiter 08.01.2008

It is generally believed that Jupiter protects our planet from asteroid impacts. Astronomers have created a computer model of the solar system without Jupiter to see how the 10 asteroids and comets between Jupiter and Neptune would have behaved over 100000 million years if not for the influence of Jupiter. It turned out that without a giant planet, the number of hits on the Earth would be even slightly less. But more asteroids would remain within the solar system (now Jupiter's gravity is throwing some of them into interstellar space), so the chances of them colliding with Earth would remain about the same. When astronomers replaced Jupiter with a planet the size of Saturn, the number of hypothetical hits on the Earth increased by 3-4 times. So it could be worse. ... >>

The street is lit by the sun and the wind 07.01.2008

One of the French firms began producing street lamps powered by the sun and wind. A small vertical-axis windmill mounted on top of a lamppost produces up to 400 watts of power (depending on wind speed). In addition, the lamp is equipped with a solar battery. Energy from these two sources is stored in batteries that are located inside the pole. With the onset of darkness, a flashlight is automatically turned on, consisting of 42 white LEDs, consuming a total of 60 watts. Their service life is one hundred thousand hours. ... >>

Giant icebergs of the past 07.01.2008

Danish oceanologists, measuring the bottom off the coast of West Greenland with an echo sounder, found traces of giant icebergs that floated in these waters more than 12 thousand years ago, during the last ice age. In the bottom sediments, the echo sounder found "scratches" 750 meters wide and 40 meters deep. The depth of the ocean in this place then reached 950 meters (now 120 meters more). This means that only the underwater part of such a giant had a height of about a kilometer. This is twice the size of the largest Antarctic icebergs of our time. ... >>

Bacteria also smoke 06.01.2008

Until recently, it was believed that the protein, to which nicotine molecules attach when they enter the body, exists only on the surface of the nerve cells of humans and other higher animals. Now French neuroscientist Pierre-Jean Corringer has found a similar protein, the nicotine receptor, on the cell surface of primitive cyanobacteria. These microscopic organisms lived on Earth long before the advent of not only animals, but also tobacco plants. Their nicotinic receptor is simpler than the human one, but in principle it is arranged in the same way. Why he bacteria - is unclear. Scientists hope that studying the bacterial receptor for nicotine will help improve the means for weaning smokers from tobacco. ... >>

Origin of the domestic cat 05.01.2008

There are now about 600 million domestic cats in the world. A detailed analysis of the DNA of various breeds and outbred cats showed that they all come from a group of wild cats numbering about five individuals that lived 130 thousand years ago in the Middle East, in the territory now occupied by Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Most likely, domestication took place about 12 thousand years ago, when nomadic tribes of hunters and gatherers settled down, began to engage in crop farming and accumulate grain reserves. Field mice fled to the stocks, and wild cats came for the mice, and a few were tamed. Migrating to new areas, farmers took cats with them, gave them to their neighbors, and so they gradually took them around the world. ... >>

Wash without powder 04.01.2008

Chinese home appliance firm Hyer has developed a washing machine that doesn't need laundry detergent, using only clean water. Water undergoes electrolysis during washing, and, according to the manufacturer, the resulting alkaline negative OH ions, acting like ordinary washing liquor, wash off any contamination, and positive H + ions kill germs. The new model has been present on the Chinese market for two years now, and has recently begun to be sold in England and France. ... >>

Self-winding heart 02.01.2008

The University of Southampton (England) invented a device for powering a heart pacemaker. Typically, this device is powered by a battery that has to be replaced every few years by a minor surgical operation. Instead, British engineers proposed implanting once and for all a device the size of a sugar cube into a patient, converting any movement of a person who wears it in his chest into electricity. If no movements are made, it is enough that the heart beats. As a result of any concussions, a miniature coil moves between the poles of the magnet, and a current appears in it, which is enough to power the pacemaker. ... >>

Shepherd robots 02.01.2008

The Dutch company "Lely" has started production of a robotic system for grazing cattle. Two solar-powered robots surround the herd with electric wire and, following the farmer's pre-programmed instructions, move the pen to a new location as the grass is eaten away. ... >>

Intravascular surgery 01.01.2008

Canadian physicists may become the founders of a new branch of surgery - intravascular operations using magnetic resonance imaging. A pig was injected with a syringe with a piece of steel wire one and a half millimeters long, and with the help of tomography magnets, this wire was passed through the blood vessels of the animal. The speed at times reached 11 centimeters per second. Every 20 milliseconds, the tomograph switched from wire guidance mode to observation mode and back, so that the operator could simultaneously see and control its position. It is assumed that this method will further destroy blood clots in the vessels. ... >>

Tracking terminal based on Q2686 and C-GPS chip 31.12.2007

Wavecom announced that it has implemented a KENJI KJ 8800 ship tracking terminal based on its wireless technology and C-GPS chips. Sunlink's KENJI KJ8800 Tracking Terminal contains Wavecom's "Q2686 Wireless CPU", complete with CGPS ​​software protocol stack and GPS chips, making it a complete GSM/GPRS/GPS solution. The C-GPS chipset receives the location data, pre-processes the data, and passes it to the "Wireless CPU" for transmission over cellular networks. "Wavecom's Q2686 with C-GPS option is a true advancement in tracking technology. It is easy to use and highly effective, making it ideal for our revolutionary solution to secure our customers' high-value vehicles," said Sunlink Chief Engineer Ben Liu. . Designed specifically for sailing vessels, the KENJI KJ-8800 terminal is robust, compact and easy to mask. ... >>

New DaVinci Media Processor for HD Video Transcoding 29.12.2007

Texas Instruments has released a new media processor based on DaVinci technology for video transcoding in media gateways, multipoint video conferencing devices, digital media adapters, digital video recorders and IP receivers. The new TMS320DM6467 processor is a DSP-based single-chip system specially adapted for real-time multi-format high-definition (HD) video transcoding. This solution combines an ARM926EJ-S core and a 600MHz C64x+ DSP core with an HD video processing co-processor, conversion tool, and configurable video port interfaces. It also delivers 264x faster performance than previous generation processors in synchronous HD multi-format decoding and transcoding, up to H.4 HP@L1080 encoding (30p@1080fps, 60i@720fps, XNUMXp@ ... >>

Wavecom includes Lua interpreter support 27.12.2007

Wavecom has released a freely available OPEN LT application that allows you to download and run a program in the Lua programming language. Lua is an interpreter implemented on the basis of a register based virtual machine. The Lua language is very efficient in both performance and memory footprint. For those developers who have previously used the M2MPower platform, the Lua language offers the same benefits, but additionally allows the use of C libraries. ... >>

TLK1101E - 11,3Gbps EQ 25.12.2007

Texas Instruments offers the TLK1101E universal equalizer for use in high-speed digital transmission systems at speeds up to 11,3 Gbps. The TLK1101E is configurable for specific applications and provides adjustable de emphasis from 0 to 7 dB using the DE0 and DE1 pins. The differential output voltage drop can be set to 300, 600, or 900 mVp-p via the SWG pin. Pins LN0 and LN1 can be used to optimize device performance on cables of varying lengths, such as 0 to 20 meters for 24-AWG twisted pair. The LOS (loss of signal) level of signal loss can be set by applying voltage to the LOSL pin. The LOS level can be set from two LOS values ​​via the LOSR output. The TLK1101E is available in a 20-pin QFN package. ... >>

TI UCC28070 controller 24.12.2007

Texas Instruments Inc. announced the release of a new UCC28070 two-phase controller with average current control for communication, server and industrial systems with multi-kilowatt power consumption. It simplifies the power supply design process, improves system reliability, and achieves a power factor greater than 0,9, which improves energy efficiency. The UCC28070 controller helps reduce total harmonic distortion in mains-powered systems 75 W...1 kW and above. It also allows today's systems to make the most of available power from the mains and to accommodate extreme disturbances in AC networks with varying voltage levels. The UCC28070 helps improve system reliability with a 180° phase sequence method that reduces input and output current fluctuations by 50% to 100% and redistributes the magnetic ... >>

Computer view of art 22.12.2007

A program developed by Israeli scientists allows a computer to distinguish a genuine work of art from a fake. Human vision has passed a long evolutionary path, computer vision is only in its infancy, it is no more than 30 years old. It is difficult for a machine to do something that is not difficult for us, for example, to see a person’s face in a photograph, to understand whether it is one or several images. But the computer easily builds three-dimensional images of the blood vessels of the brain or the road network. Employees of the University of Haifa, under the leadership of Daniel Keren, created a program with which a computer can become a specialist in the field of painting. The program turns any picture - landscape, portrait, still life, genre scene - into a set of mathematical symbols, values ​​of sines and cosines of angles. Having recognized one or several works of the artist, the machine creates for itself the individual style of this author and in the future can identify him from other paintings that have not yet been seen. ... >>

How a laser cuts flesh 21.12.2007

Scientists from the USA have found out that the laser cuts living tissue in different ways. A laser scalpel in the hands of a surgeon is no longer exotic. However, physicists still do not fully understand how it works. Scientists from Vanderbilt University (USA), headed by Associate Professor Shane Hutson, tried to bring clarity. Having accepted that since the human body mostly consists of water, they conducted experiments on this substance, and then proceeded to look for differences in the interaction of a laser beam with biological tissues. As it turned out, the infrared laser actually burns the substance, destroying its constituent molecules. At the same time, it fuses tissues, clogging blood vessels, so this laser is used during operations associated with large bleeding. Pulsed lasers in the visible and ultraviolet ranges work quite differently: they excite not molecules, but individual electrons. Those generate real charge avalanches, forming plasma microclouds. Exploding, these clouds push apart tissue molecules ... >>

Surgeon Display 19.12.2007

German cybernetics have created a display that can be controlled without touching any material object. The neurosurgeon, without leaving the operating table, looks at the three-dimensional image of the patient's skull built by the tomograph and finds that the area he needs is closed from view. He presses his finger on a virtual button, and the image slowly rotates in the desired direction. Now the closed area can be examined more closely and the operation can be planned more carefully. This was made possible thanks to the work of German scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications. "There are three cameras in the system. They control the display, which generates a three-dimensional image. Two cameras see the surgeon's finger from different positions and can determine which point he points to. The third camera monitors the position of the eyes and the tilt of the head. As a result, the picture constantly adjusts to position of the observer: he will always see a high-quality image even when moving relative to ... >>

Volcano Catalyst 18.12.2007

German scientists have developed a new method for producing carbon nanotubes and nanofibers using solidified lava from Mount Etna as a catalyst. The lava was ground into a fine powder, heated to 700 degrees Celsius, and a mixture of hydrogen and ethylene was passed over the powder. Tiny tubes and fibers of ordered carbon atoms were deposited on the lava particles. This method of obtaining nanotechnological materials is cheaper and simpler than others. ... >>

Micro origami 17.12.2007

A group of French scientists from the Higher School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry conducted interesting experiments. A drop of water with a volume of 40 to 80 microliters is placed on flat geometric shapes cut from a thin (1-80 micrometers) film of polydimethylsiloxane. The surface tension force rolls the film around the droplet, forming a three-dimensional figure, the appearance of which depends on the shape of the film piece. You can get a pyramid, a cube, a tetrahedron, a sphere... When the water dries up, the figure remains folded. This trick can be used in the manufacture of nanomechanisms. ... >>

Aircraft exhaust gases 16.12.2007

As found by Australian researchers from the University of New South Wales, the exhaust gases of aircraft engines can penetrate into the cabin of an airliner. The fact is that in many aircraft, normal air pressure in the cabin is maintained by a blowing impeller, which rotates from the engine turbine shaft and compresses the rarefied air at high altitudes so that pilots and passengers can breathe. If the seals between the turbine and the pump are not tight, some of the gases generated during the operation of the turbojet engine may enter the cabin. This is especially dangerous for pilots who spend more time on flights than the most frequent flyer. A survey of 250 pilots showed that 85% of them noticed an unpleasant smell in the cockpit, 57% felt bad because of it, and 8% were even forced to leave the service due to chronic poisoning. ... >>

Cypress trees under the sand 14.12.2007

Near the Hungarian town of Bukkabran in the north-east of the country, where brown coal is mined in an open way, excavators uncovered the trunks of cypress trees that grew here about eight million years ago. The strongest sandstorm suddenly covered the forest with a layer of sand six meters thick. But over the past millions of years, 16 trees have not turned into coal or stone, the trunks have retained the structure of wood. True, only stumps two or three meters thick and about six meters high remained. During life, the height of cypresses was 30-40 meters, and their age at the time of death is estimated at about 300-400 years. Once in the air, the wood became brittle, so access to the find site is closed to everyone except scientists. They hope to find a way to strengthen the tissues of trees and learn from the annual rings what the climate was like in this part of Europe eight million years ago. ... >>

Wooden dollars 12.12.2007

Recently, at the request of the mayor of New York, a census of trees was held in this city. It turned out that there were almost 600 thousand of them in the city. The total value of the services they provide to the city is estimated at $122 million. Trees earn 11 million by filtering out air pollution, 28 million by shading houses in the summer and reducing the need for air conditioning. Another 36 million trees save the city by absorbing some of the rainwater and thereby reducing the load on the sewer, and 47 million is estimated at the "aesthetic" value of green spaces that adorn the city. The total value of U.S. urban tree plantations by the same method is estimated at $14,3 billion. Some of the green spaces adorning US cities are purely temporary. So, for the summer in Chicago, bananas are planted on lawns in the city center, and in the fall they are removed to the greenhouse. ... >>

Corals push Japan's borders 11.12.2007

The rocky islets of Okinotori, lying 1700 kilometers south of Tokyo, allow Japan to retain a 200-mile economic zone in the area. Within XNUMX nautical miles from the extreme point of its land, any coastal country has the right to conduct economic activities. But rising ocean levels due to global warming may soon hide these patches of land under the waves, and then the entire area will become the possession of China. To avoid such an unpleasant prospect, the Japanese recently "sowed" the shores of the Okinotori islands with coral larvae. When the corals grow, they form a reef that will remain in place of the islands, even if these rocks themselves sink. ... >>

spider robot 10.12.2007

French and Spanish engineers have created a prototype of an industrial robotic arm, which differs from the usual high speed and accuracy of movement. The fact is that the new robot has four arms and each is moved by a separate electric motor. All hands are controlled in a coordinated manner by a single computer, performing 10 calculations per second. He receives information about the position of the hands and the object carried by them from the video camera. The robot is capable of moving up to 240 parts weighing up to two kilograms per minute with great accuracy. The release of robots of the new system is planned in the United States. ... >>

How England became an island 09.12.2007

Half a million years ago, England was connected to the mainland of Europe by a wide limestone "bridge" at the place where the Pas de Calais is now. As geologists from the Imperial College in London prove, 200-450 thousand years ago this "bridge" was destroyed by a colossal flow of water. Such a conclusion was allowed to make a new map of the bottom of the English Channel, compiled using a high-resolution echo sounder. For several months, a stream with a capacity of one million cubic meters per second flowed through this area in antiquity. It was water from the melting of glaciers that had accumulated in a huge lake, which was located on the site of the present southern part of the North Sea. The lake was replenished with the waters of the rivers flowing into it, the largest of which are the Rhine and the Thames. But when the melting of the glaciers that supported the lake from the north began, the limestone ridge could not stand it. The breaking stream demolished the barrier and dug trenches up to 10 kilometers wide and up to 50 meters deep in the seabed. Since then, England has become an island. ... >>

Tunnel under the Yangtze 07.12.2007

For the next World Expo due to open in Shanghai in 2010, a double road tunnel 9 kilometers long and over 15 meters in diameter is being built under the mouth of the Yangtze. There are two German tunneling shields with a diameter of 15,43 meters - the largest in the world. In a relatively soft soil from river sediments (silt, sand and clay), the shields pass 400 meters per month. The rapid development of the road network in China required the construction of many tunnels. In 2006, the country purchased from different manufacturers, mostly German, more than fifty tunneling shields. ... >>

dove compass 05.12.2007

A magnetic needle that helps the dove return to its home is in its beak. It was discovered by researchers from the University of Frankfurt am Main (Germany). Particles of magnetic iron oxides were found in the branched processes of neurons located along the edge of the upper half of the pigeon's beak. Nerve fibers are woven into a complex three-dimensional network, which allows the bird to analyze separately the characteristics of the Earth's magnetic field along three spatial axes. ... >>

Chickens talk about geographical discoveries 04.12.2007

The Polynesians discovered America long before Columbus. This is the result of a study of half-decomposed chicken bones found in the remains of a human settlement on the southern coast of Chile. Carbon dating has shown the bones to be from 1321 to 1407, at least 85 years before Columbus's discovery. DNA analysis from the bones showed that the chickens were not European breeds, but Polynesian. Birds from the Easter Islands, Tonga and Samoa are closest to the Chilean chickens, until now it was believed that chickens were first brought to America by Spanish settlers around 1500. ... >>

LEDs for street lighting 01.12.2007

LEDs became known to the general consumer in the 70s of the last century, when the first pocket calculators and electronic wristwatches appeared on sale. Then they shone only with red light and could only be used for indication. Now the development of these miniature light-emitting devices has reached the point that they are beginning to be used in street lamps. LEDs are economical, durable, unlike the street lamps currently used, do not contain mercury, are not afraid of shocks and do not explode. The University of Manchester (England) and a company founded by one of his students are developing extra-bright LEDs for street lighting. They will serve for at least 10 years, after which the brightness will decrease by only 30%, which will allow you not to change the lamp for another two or three years (the human eye only detects a decrease in brightness by half). Experimental LED lights are already on one of the streets of the German city of Regensburg. ... >>

First NXP RF Transistor 30.11.2007

NXP Semiconductors has introduced the first of a series of discrete silicon solutions, the BFU725F high-frequency NPN transistor. The BFU725F transistor has impressive performance: high switching frequency (70 GHz), high gain (27 dB at 1,8 GHz/10 dB at 18 GHz) and very low noise (0,43 dB at 1,8 GHz/0,7, 5,8 dB at 10 GHz). This makes it ideal for a variety of RF applications. The ultra-low noise improves reception of sensitive RF receivers such as GPS, DECT phones, satellite radios, WLAN/CDMA devices, while the high cut-off frequency is ideal for applications operating in the 30 to XNUMX GHz range, such as blocks of satellite systems. ... >>

NXP will improve the security of ePassports 29.11.2007

NXP has announced that it will supply its latest smart chips to Germany, which is the first in the world to introduce second generation ePassports with enhanced security. The new SmartMX chip will provide secure storage of biometric data in an ePassport, which will increase the reliability of the identification of the document holder. To date, NXP has already supplied approximately 4,5 million ePassport solutions (chip, operating system and insert) to Bundesdruckerei GmbH, which issues passports for Germany. NXP, which is involved in more than 80% of ePassport projects worldwide, has delivered 100 million ICs to date. E-passports are being implemented in 51 countries, 43 of which, including the US, France and Singapore, are using NXP smart chip technology. ... >>

New family of NXP microcontrollers with ARM7T and ARM9T core 28.11.2007

The LPC2900 series is an addition to the family of microcontrollers with ARM7T and ARM9T cores. The LPC2900 is a cost-optimized, versatile, low-power microcontroller based on the popular, high-performance ARM968E-ST processor for industrial, medical, and motor control applications. Three new ARM9 microcontrollers, LPC2919, LPC2917 and LPC2915, complete the industry-leading portfolio of over 50 ARM-based microcontrollers. The LPC2900 microcontroller series was presented at the Embedded Systems Conference in Boston. ... >>

NXP Solar Mobile Phone Solution 27.11.2007

Hi-Tech Wealth (HTW) has selected the Nexperia Cellular System Solution 5110 from NXP Semiconductors for use in the world's first solar-powered mobile phone, the S116. Designed by Laucent Technology, NXP's system solution delivers exceptionally low power consumption to optimize the solar charging process. As a result, the S116, which went into mass production in July this year, has achieved industry-leading standby and talk times. The new solar-powered phone allows users to recharge the battery using any light source, even candlelight. This guarantees a longer standby time than any other phone on the market. The combination of the functionality built into the Laucent design solution and the NXP Nexperia Cellular System Solution 5110 provides ... >>

High performance PIC32 family with large memory 26.11.2007

The PIC32 family has expanded the range in terms of high-performance solutions with a large amount of memory. The new microcontrollers retained compatibility with their 16-bit predecessors in terms of pin layout, peripherals, and software. The transition to a new element base is maximally simplified due to the full support of the PIC32 family by the integrated development environment (IDE) MPLAB, which the company distributes free of charge. At the moment, MPLAB IDE supports all and 32-bit Microchip microcontrollers. The family was the first to include seven general-purpose models. They are designed for clock speeds up to 72 MHz, have up to 512 KB of flash memory and up to 32 KB of RAM. A characteristic feature of the PIC32 family is a rich set of general-purpose peripheral modules, which can significantly reduce the complexity and cost of projects. PIC32 microcontrollers are based on the MIPS32 architecture, which has been adopted by the industry as the de facto standard. ... >>

High Precision Programmable Amplifiers 25.11.2007

National Semiconductor has unveiled two new high-precision programmable gain amplifier (PGA) amplifiers. The LMP8100A provides software gain accuracy of 0,03% in steps of 1 to 16 V/V over the industrial temperature range of -40 to 125°C, the LMP8100 provides 0,075% accuracy in the range of -40 to 85°C. The devices have a 33 MHz CMOS input, RRIO- (from bus to bus) output with a current of up to 20 mA, a gain of 110 dB, a voltage slew rate of 12 V / μs (LMP8100A), a supply voltage of 2,7 to 5,5 V, consume a current of 5,3 mA, are available in 14-pin SOIC packages. ... >>

First 200V DirectFET Transistor 24.11.2007

The IRF6641TRPbF transistor is designed for use in isolated DC/DC converters powered by a universal bus (36...75 V). With ultra-low channel resistance (51mΩ) and low gate charge, it is ideal for synchronous rectifiers of high-efficiency high-current DC/DC converters operating at high frequency, the latest generation of bus converters, DC drive, and even 48V wind turbine converters. In addition, it can be used in high-current AC/DC converters of computers and telecommunications servers powered by a 48-volt bus. The new DirectFET MZ type transistor in SO-8 package dimensions and 0,7 mm package height provides 25 A current with minimal conduction and switching losses. It replaces up to 3 transistors in an SO-8 package and saves up to 50% PCB area. The transistor provides up to 95% efficiency of synchronous rectifiers - this is the same level of efficiency as with twice the number of transistors in the package. ... >>

New Ethernet driver with de-emphasis 23.11.2007

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the MAX3984, a single-channel Ethernet driver with output pre-emphasis and input compensation capable of operating at speeds of 1 to 10,3 Gbps. The device compensates for attenuation in copper communication lines (8,5 Gbps fiber optic channels, 10 Gbps Ethernet), allowing you to achieve line lengths up to 10 m using 24 AWG wire. The driver provides a choice of four levels of pre-distortion correction and the possibility of correction at the input. This allows you to compensate for signal loss during its transmission over conductors up to 10 inches long on FR-4 PCB. The MAX3984 also supports SFP-compatible Loss of Signal (LOS) detection and has a TXDISABLE transmit disable input. The ability to select the output signal range allows you to optimize electromagnetic emissions and power consumption. The MAX3984 is available in a 16-lead TQFN (3x3mm) lead-free package and is rated for operation within the temperature range ... >>

New time setting chip 21.11.2007

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the DS1124 time setting IC with 0,25 ns time interval programming resolution. The new DS1124 is a programmable digital delay device. The signal delay duration is programmable via a 3-wire SPI-compatible interface in the range from 20 to 84 ns with a resolution of 0,25 ns (resolution is 8 bits), while the integral non-linearity of the selected delay duration is within +3 ns. The IC is compatible with both CMOS and TTL signals and can be used in LCD TVs, telecommunications equipment, digital control equipment, digital video projectors, signal generators and analyzers. The microcircuit is powered by a single 5 V source and is designed to operate within the industrial temperature range of -40...85°C. ... >>

Computer reads emotions 20.11.2007

Scientists from the United States have created a device that can determine if a person sitting at a computer is tired of work or is bored by its absence. The main component of the device, which was created by scientists from Tufts University (Massachusetts, USA), led by Professor Robert Jacob to guess the emotions of a person sitting in front of a computer, is an infrared laser. The impulse emitted by it penetrates through the forehead and passes into the brain. Human tissue for radiation of a selected length, in general, is transparent. However, having met with hemoglobin, the pulse dissipates and enters the detector. In this way, it is possible to identify those areas of the brain that receive more blood, that is, actively working. When checking the performance of the device, the participants in the experiment were shown a spinning cube on the computer screen. It consisted of eight small cubes, the sides of which were painted in two, three and four colors. In a series of 30 tasks, it was necessary to count the number of colors on each side of the pain. ... >>

Elpida XDR DRAM memory chips 19.11.2007

Through the efforts of Elpida, a real revolution is brewing in the sector of dynamic memory for PCs and home appliances. Thus, its novelty - XDR DRAM memory chips with a capacity of 512 Mb - turned out to be 6 times faster than the traditional DDR2-800 variant, which is most often found in modern PCs. The memory uses the Rambus XDR architecture and operates at a frequency of 4,8 GHz, providing a data transfer rate of up to 9,6 Gb / s. Mass production of Elpida XDR DRAM is scheduled for April next year. ... >>

Camera Sony Alpha A700 18.11.2007

Sony's latest development will delight photo enthusiasts. Judge for yourself: a 12,2-megapixel Exmorc CMOS sensor with integrated noise reduction, a BIONZ image processor, a high-speed reliable shutter (1/8000 s, 100 operations) - and all this is enclosed in a lightweight magnesium alloy body. Other features of the A000 are also on top, as well as the price of the S700. ... >>

Stay away from the engine 17.11.2007

Mini-power plants, popular among summer residents who do not rely on mains electricity, can be hazardous to health. American doctors came to this conclusion after collecting data on people admitted to Florida hospitals with carbon monoxide poisoning between August and October 2004. During that fall, four powerful hurricanes swept through the state, causing power outages. During this time, 51 cases of poisoning were noted, in total 167 people were injured. However, there were no severe poisonings. Of the 51 cases, 46 involved mobile power generators. Moreover, often the generator was not in the house and not in the garage next to the house, but in the fresh air, on average, at a distance of 210 centimeters from the living quarters. The authors of the study emphasize that manufacturers should determine how far from home their generators are safe, and indicate this distance in the instructions for the unit. Better yet, reduce the amount of carbon monoxide in the exhaust. ... >>

Egyptian bowling 16.11.2007

Italian archaeologists, led by Edda Breschiani from the University of Pisa, unearthed a villa of the 90nd-13rd centuries with a large room in the area of ​​the Fayum oasis, XNUMX kilometers south of Cairo. A deepened path about four meters long was laid in a flat floor of limestone slabs. In the middle of the path there is a square hole with a diameter of about XNUMX centimeters, and under it is a wide ceramic vessel with sand. In addition, stone balls were found in the room - one large, larger than a square hole, the other smaller, able to fit into the hole. As archaeologists suggest, this is a hall for the original game, similar to a modern bowling alley. The players stood at different ends of the track and at the same time let the balls. The task of the player with the small ball was to get into the hole (then the ball fell into the vessel with sand), and the player with the big ball tried to plug the hole with it or knock the small ball off the track. Apparently, the players alternately exchanged balls. ... >>

Homemade submarine 14.11.2007

A shipbuilding engineer from Kiel (Germany) Michael Schmelter built a two-seater submarine. The case, made of 32 mm thick fiberglass-reinforced plastic, can theoretically withstand diving up to 450 meters, but for safety reasons, the diver does not go deeper than a hundred meters. The air supply lasts for 12 hours. The boat weighs two tons, of which almost a ton is the weight of the lead ballast. Ballast tanks take 250 liters of water, for ascent it is pushed out by compressed air. Propulsion is provided by four electric motors. The batteries have enough energy for five hours of constant swimming. The engineer has already made more than a hundred dives in the Kiel Bay on his boat. The construction took 2000 working hours and cost 40 euros. ... >>

Potatoes for firefighters 13.11.2007

The French company "Bio-Creation" starts production of a new fire-fighting agent based on potato starch. This powdery substance swells to a gel on contact with a fire, slowing down the spread of fire and the evaporation of water used to extinguish the fire. As a result, firefighters can save up to 30% of water. ... >>

Alcohol is not cleaner than gasoline 12.11.2007

Even Henry Ford in 1925 said that the automobile fuel of the future is ethyl alcohol. Ethanol, unlike gasoline, is a renewable resource, as it can be obtained from plant biomass. And for the first models of Ford cars, both gasoline and alcohol, or any mixture of them, were suitable. Now many cars in Brazil run on pure alcohol or its mixture with gasoline. But is this replacement good from an environmental point of view? Mark Jacobson, a meteorologist at Stanford University (USA), considered this issue based on the assumption that by 2020 US roads will be dominated by cars running on a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. A computer model showed that the number of cases of asthma will increase by 4-9% in the country. The fact is that there is more formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in the combustion products of alcohol than in the combustion products of gasoline. In addition, these aldehydes have carcinogenic properties. But the gasoline engine emits more than other cans. ... >>

Earwig robot 11.11.2007

Professor Peter Brett from Aston University (Great Britain) has created a surgical robotic microdrill for penetrating into the inner ear when implanting an implant - a highly advanced internal hearing aid. In severe cases of deafness, electrodes from the 58 amplifier are brought to the cochlea of ​​the inner ear to send signals directly to the auditory nerve. A computer-controlled drill makes a channel thinner than a millimeter in the right place and stops above the cochlear membrane without piercing it. The surgeon only needs to insert the electrodes. ... >>

Cold from the lake 09.11.2007

A large city spends huge amounts of energy on air conditioning in buildings. The original solution to the problem was found in the Canadian city of Toronto. The city stands on the shores of Lake Ontario, where in the deep layers the water temperature remains at +4°C all year round. Three polyethylene pipes with a diameter of 1600 millimeters and a length of 5 kilometers to a depth of 83 meters were led into the lake. The cold water is first filtered and then passed to a heat exchanger, from where the cold is transferred to the air conditioning systems of 36 downtown Toronto office buildings. Another 16 skyscrapers signed contracts to connect to the system. Together, they will save the city 61 megawatts of electricity per year. The heated water enters the city water supply system and satisfies 15% of the need for drinking water. A similar air conditioning system works in Stockholm, but it operates on water from the sea. ... >>

Termite geologists 08.11.2007

About 30 years ago, in the sands of the African Kalahari desert, geologists found a cluster of grains of sand from the mineral ilmenite. This mineral is characteristic of kimberlite rocks, and kimberlite is known to contain diamonds. Now this place is one of the richest diamond mines in the world. But how could ilmenite get to the surface from under a thickness of sand several tens of meters? The termites took it out. When building their dwellings, these insects are forced to penetrate deep into the ground, where there is wet clay, from which they create termite mounds. "A termite mound is an exploration well turned outward," says Canadian geologist John Nore, who studies the mineralogical composition of African termite mounds. Similar research is being carried out in Australia, in the Tanami Desert, in the north of the continent. Only one percent of the desert is not covered with sand, and a large gold deposit was found on this "patch". Drilling at random around the surrounding sands, under which there may also be valuable deposits, is too expensive. Australian geologists are drilling ... >>

Electric windmill in the sky 07.11.2007

At higher altitudes, the wind is always stronger and blows more steadily than at ground level. It would be tempting to use the energy of these air currents. Meanwhile, the highest existing wind power generator is installed on a tower with a height of just over 200 meters. A few years ago, Australian scientist Brian Roberts proposed to install a wind turbine impeller on a kite launched at a sufficiently high altitude. The first experiments turned out to be successful, and now one of the California firms intends to implement Roberts' idea on a large scale. The device, designed by the Americans, is similar to a kite-helicopter hybrid. It should be launched to a height of more than five kilometers, and if there is not a strong enough wind near the ground at the time of launch, electricity can be supplied to the cable connecting the "serpents" to the ground, and its rotors, rotating, will raise the device to the level where it blows strong wind. And there they will begin to rotate under the wind, giving energy. Projected Gene ... >>

Walking as a cure for depression 06.11.2007

Every year, British doctors write more than 30 million prescriptions for drugs for depression. Psychologists from the University of Essex asked 20 people diagnosed with depression to take a half-hour walk in a park outside the city and the same number - a walk in a large shopping center. It turned out that after a walk in the fresh air, mood improved in 71% of patients and self-esteem increased in 90%. Of those who walked among the stalls, 45% improved their mood, 22% worsened, and 44% percent of those surveyed said that their self-esteem has decreased (maybe it's the price tags they saw?). In another experiment, 108 depressed people took part in cycling and hiking, as well as in outdoor activities (collecting garbage, planting trees). Mood improved in 94% of people. ... >>

Monkey tools 05.11.2007

Canadian and German archaeologists have unearthed in Côte d'Ivoire a "workshop" of ancient chimpanzees who cracked nuts 4300 years ago using a stone hammer and a wooden anvil. The fact that these tools belonged to a chimpanzee, and not to a person, is proved by the size of the stones, which are too large for a human hand, and the shells of nuts found right there, inedible for humans. In addition, the most ancient traces of human presence in this region date back only to the beginning of our era. ... >>

Mushroom years of England 04.11.2007

Ecologist Alan Ginge of the University of London analyzed records of mushroom hunts that have been conducted in different parts of Britain by "silent hunting" enthusiasts for almost half a century. A total of 52 observations were collected on 315 species of mushrooms, mainly in autumn. It turned out that, compared with the middle of the last century, the mushroom picking season in England has more than doubled - from 35 to 75 days. More than a hundred species of mushrooms began to finish fruiting five weeks later, and 85 species began to appear earlier than usual by almost a month and a half. According to the author of the study, these shifts reflect a trend towards climate change. ... >>

Similarities between tyrannosaurus rex and chicken 03.11.2007

The remnants of collagen found in the bones of a tyrannosaurus rex found last year were analyzed at the University of North Carolina (USA). Collagen is a very strong and stable connective tissue protein that holds together the mineral elements of any bone. When comparing the amino acid composition of collagen aged 68 million years with the same protein of modern animals, it turned out that according to this indicator, the greatest coincidences exist with chicken collagen - almost 60%. The find confirms the theory of the evolutionary relationship of dinosaurs and birds. ... >>

With a screen on the chest 02.11.2007

The Dutch firm Philips has created a thin and flexible television screen based on organic light emitting diodes. So far, all the problems associated with accurate color reproduction and durability of light-emitting elements have not been resolved, but in three years, as the Dutch promise, on the basis of this invention it will be possible to produce not only TVs and computer monitors glued to the wall, but also T-shirts with a demonstration of moving images and phrases . True, it is not yet known whether it will be possible to wash such a T-shirt. ... >>

In the rhythm of the light 01.11.2007

It has long been known that the turbulent processes going on in the bowels of the Sun cause its vibrations. Recently, Canadian astrophysicists have shown that in the rhythm of the surface vibrations of the luminaries, gusts of the solar wind, a stream of charged particles rushing into space, also vibrate. This flow vibrates the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere in the same rhythm, and, as it turned out, the quality of cellular communication depends on it. Analyzing data on mobile communications, scientists found that in time with the waves of the solar wind, the quality of communication grows and falls. ... >>

TI solution for building a simple wireless network up to 100 nodes 31.10.2007

SimpliciTI is a simple and cost effective protocol for small (<100 nodes) RF networks. These networks typically include battery-powered devices. The SimpliciTI protocol imposes minimal requirements on the microcontroller, so that a low system cost can be achieved. The SimpliciTI protocol was designed to be used as part of TI's RF application platform, which includes the MSP430 family of cost-effective microcontrollers and the CC1XXX/CC25XX transceivers and systems-on-a-chip (SoC). ... >>

LM26LV - low voltage temperature sensor / temperature switch 31.10.2007

National Semiconductor has released the LM26LV, a low-voltage micro-power temperature sensor and switch with two outputs. The switching temperature level can be preset to any temperature between 0 and 150°C. A built-in temperature hysteresis keeps the reading stable in the event of temperature fluctuations. The LM26LV generates a signal when the substrate reaches the Ttrip temperature component. The microcircuit returns to its original state in the event of a temperature drop below Ttrip-Thyst. The analog output Vtemp is set to a voltage inversely proportional to the measured temperature. When a positive voltage (logic one) is applied to the TRIP TEST input, the following states are set at the outputs: 1) digital outputs go into the test state; 2) the output Vtemp is set to the voltage corresponding to Vtrip. The minimum supply voltage of 1,6 V allows the microcircuit to be used for systems with a low supply voltage level. ... >>

Energy from paper 30.10.2007

Scientists from the USA offer to print batteries on sheets of paper. Scientists from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA) have created a battery that looks like a piece of black paper. In essence, this is a sheet of paper, since its base is made of cellulose fibers. On this basis, approximately by the same method as during the operation of the printer, electrodes were deposited - layers of carbon nanotubes. And the paper itself was moistened with an electrolyte, the so-called ionic liquid - molten salt. The ionic liquid does not contain a drop of water, it does not evaporate or freeze, so the battery can be used at temperatures from +150 to -70°C. "This battery can be bent, folded, crushed, cut into pieces, and it will not lose its properties. Or you can put the sheets in a pile and get a very powerful battery. By the way, we made not only a battery, but also a capacitor capable of creating a high current density , - says one of the participants of the work, Professor Robert Lienhardt. - Battery components ... >>

Sensor for artificial lens 29.10.2007

German engineers have made a sensor that maintains constant pressure in the artificial lens. When the lens clouded by cataract is removed from the patient's eye, there is a danger of atrophy of the optic nerve and blindness. To avoid this, you need to maintain a certain level of pressure in the eye. A person has to constantly use drugs and regularly be examined by a doctor. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Microcircuits and Microelectronic Systems have figured out how to help such patients. "We built the sensor directly into the artificial lens," says Thomas van den Boom, head of the biohybrid systems group. The sensor consists of two electrodes and a microtransmitter. The top electrode is flexible, the bottom one is rigid. When the pressure changes, the upper sensor moves away from the lower one, which changes the electrical capacitance of the entire system. This change can be measured and the pressure calculated. The sensor transmits information to the antenna of the receiver located in the temple of the glasses. ... >>

Prosthetic arm rocket engine 28.10.2007

US engineers have adapted a rocket engine for a prosthetic arm. "We have created an artificial hand that resembles a human hand much more in its work and strength than all existing prostheses. In addition, it weighs about the same as a human hand," says Professor Michael Goldfarb from Vanderbilt University, leader of the work. (USA). Until now, prosthetic arms have run on batteries - their energy was enough to provide a limited set of functions. However, for a complex hand that could, for example, move its fingers, the battery turned out to be weak. Therefore, scientists from Goldfarb's group decided to adapt a rocket engine for the prosthesis. This was done by specialists from Johns Hopkins University - the engine became the size of a pencil. And it works on hydrogen peroxide, which decomposes with a catalyst. The result is pressure that opens and closes a series of valves, and the hand and fingers move. a little ... >>

Birds avoid radioactivity 27.10.2007

Employees of the Pierre and Marie Curie University (France) several years ago installed bird houses in the forest near Chernobyl. A recent survey of their population has shown that pied flycatchers and great tits use only houses located at points of low radioactivity. In heavily infested areas, proposed housing was left empty. How birds recognize the level of radioactivity without Geiger counters remains a mystery. ... >>

Wrinkle cream kills skin 26.10.2007

As found by Canadian biologists, the compound dimethylaminoethanol, widely used in cosmetics, kills some skin cells. Dimethylaminoethanol is part of the creams "from skin aging", "anti-wrinkle" and "for non-surgical facial skin tightening at home." It has been shown in skin cell cultures that this substance is taken up by some skin cells and causes them to swell, resulting in a tighter and smoother skin. But in a day, a quarter of the cells that have absorbed dimethylaminoethanol dies. The researchers point out that this under-researched compound is also found in many lipsticks, shampoos and even baby lotions. True, Canadian biologists say, dimethylaminoethanol is probably less dangerous than surgical skin tightening or botulinum toxin used to eliminate wrinkles. ... >>

Mobile power plant on garbage 25.10.2007

A US university has created a mobile waste incineration plant for converting various types of waste into electricity. It generates 90% more energy than it uses for its own work. Waste (various garbage, packaging, food waste) goes into business without sorting and turns into liquid fuel that runs on a diesel engine. The remaining ash has a volume 30 times smaller than the original garbage heap. ... >>

Pectin is to blame for allergies 24.10.2007

Until now, it was not very clear how certain fruits and berries cause allergies in people who are sensitive to them. After all, the allergens contained, for example, in strawberries, are broken down by gastric juice and cannot enter the bloodstream unchanged. This has been proven by experiments in which allergens isolated from fruits were exposed to hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes, simulating gastric juice. A group of physiologists from the University of Belgrade (Serbia) repeated these experiments, but in a different version, close to reality. They digested with artificial gastric juice not purified allergens, but whole extracts from strawberries, kiwis, bananas and apples - almost fruit juice with pulp. It turned out that in this case the allergens are not digested. By excluding one substance after another from the extracts in turn, physiologists have shown that allergens are protected from digestion by pectin. This carbohydrate forms a jelly in the stomach, allowing allergens to pass unchanged into the intestines, and there ... >>

Charging mobile electronics from the Sun 23.10.2007

One British company has launched the production of a pocket solar battery to power any portable electronics - from a computer or player to a camera and telephone. Solar panels slide out of a small box. A full charge of the battery inside in good weather takes three hours, after which the mobile phone can work from this box for 44 hours, and the player - 18 hours. It is also possible to directly power the devices from the Sun, without charging the battery. ... >>

Talk to your safe 21.10.2007

In England, the production of a safe with a voice lock has begun. Speak any password into the built-in microphone (it can be changed later), and the lock will open only for this word or phrase, moreover, spoken by the owner's voice. True, it is not entirely clear what to do if you urgently need money or documents hidden in a safe, and your voice has sat down or hoarse because of a cold. ... >>

Stonehenge builder's village 19.10.2007

English archaeologists from the University of Sheffield have unearthed a village near the famous astronomical complex Stonehenge, whose inhabitants are believed to have built this complex and used it for their rituals. The remains of eight huts with adobe floors were found in the village. The charcoal left in the places of the hearths made it possible to determine the age of the dwellings; they were built between 2600 and 2500 BC, that is, in the same years as Stonehenge. Archaeologists do not exclude that there were about a hundred houses in total. From the village, a wide road paved with stone, 170 meters long, leads to the Avon River, and three kilometers upstream, another similar section is laid to Stonehenge. It is believed that the road was first used to transport builders and building materials to the site of the legendary structure, and later - to travel to the annual religious holidays there. ... >>

More than enough water on Mars 17.10.2007

The radar installed on the European spacecraft "Mars Express" shines through the planet to a depth of more than three and a half kilometers. He was able to detect not deep below the surface, as well as in the recesses of the relief, accumulations of ice with a diameter of 50 to 200 kilometers and a giant ice dome with a diameter of about a thousand kilometers. If all these ice reserves melted, Mars would be covered by an ocean 11 meters deep. Whether they will melt is another question. In recent decades, the average temperature of Mars, especially in the Southern Hemisphere, has been rising by an average of 0,65 degrees Celsius per year. If this continues, then liquid water will be able to sustainably exist on the planet in 500 years. ... >>

hairy chips 16.10.2007

Inventor Chi Won-Hwang of the American company "Intel" proposes to stick carbon nanotubes on computer chips along copper conducting paths. Firstly, this "bristle" will serve as a heat sink, and secondly, it will become a shock absorber and prevent damage to the microcircuit when it falls or hits. ... >>

Fulgurites tell of an ancient climate 14.10.2007

The word "fulgurite" comes from the Latin fulgur - lightning. This is a trace of lightning that struck the ground and fused the minerals of the soil into a glassy mass, usually cylindrical in shape. Mexican geochemist Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez, studying a collection of ancient fulgurites from the sands in southwestern Egypt, obtained data on the climate of this region of Africa 15 years ago. The age is determined by the depth of occurrence of fulgurites in the sand. The geochemist analyzed gas bubbles trapped in molten glass when fulgurite formed. An increased content of carbon dioxide was noted, and the ratio of carbon isotopes in it indicates that this gas arose as a result of photosynthesis. That is, grass and trees grew on the site of the present desert. ... >>

Battery house 11.10.2007

Computer users are well aware of the so-called uninterruptible power supplies. This is a relatively small box containing a rectifier, battery, DC-to-AC converter. The automation of the device, in the event of a power failure of the computer, uses the energy stored in the battery in milliseconds. Usually it lasts for several minutes, and during this time either the power supply from the network will be restored, or the computer owner will urgently complete all business and turn off the system. Firm "Gridpoint" (USA) offers a similar installation, capable of temporarily supplying energy to the entire house in the event of a power failure. The device, which is about the size of a small refrigerator, sits in the basement and charges its batteries at night when energy demand is lower. If there is a power outage during the day, in 30 milliseconds the entire power supply of the mansion or apartment will switch to batteries. The charge is enough for a whole day of normal power consumption. In addition, since 10% of US households are covered ... >>

Cocoa - protection against hypertension 09.10.2007

The Kuna Indians live on islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama. Unlike the inhabitants of developed countries, the representatives of the tribe rarely have hypertension, their blood pressure does not increase with age, and the frequency of diseases associated with high blood pressure, such as heart attack, diabetes, and stroke, is lowered. But those Indians who have moved to the mainland are losing the islanders' protection against hypertension. What's the matter? As ethnographers have discovered, the Kuna Indians drink several cups of cocoa daily, and they make their own from the seeds of the cocoa tree. At the same time, flavonoids remain in the ground seeds - compounds that make the drink bitter. Flavonoids are usually removed from regular cocoa and chocolate. Meanwhile, they protect the heart and blood vessels. Having moved to the mainland, in more civilized conditions, the Indians stop preparing their cocoa and acquire diseases characteristic of civilization. Some global chocolate producers are already starting to produce chocolate bars and powder. ... >>

Fed up with just one scent 07.10.2007

As you know, the greedy baker tried to charge Khoja Nasreddin for using the aroma of barbecue, and then Khoja paid off with the sound of coins. It turns out that the claims of the steward were not so groundless. The smell of food has almost the same effect on fruit flies as the food itself. It has been known since the thirties of the last century that the reduction of calorie intake and starvation prolong the life of many animals. This effect is also known in Drosophila. However, as experiments recently carried out in the USA have shown, flies kept from hand to mouth, but with a constant smell of food (yeast), live no longer than those fed to the dump. When geneticists bred a line of flies devoid of smell, it turned out that the smell of food does not affect their lifespan and poor nutrition prolongs their lifespan even with the constant smell of food. Scientists suggest that the smell, which promises abundant nutrition, turns off the energy-saving program that operates in a starving body, and this also reduces the duration ... >>

Down's syndrome cured in mice 05.10.2007

Children with Down syndrome have an extra 21st chromosome (instead of two - three), which affects their appearance, and also reduces memory, learning ability, rational activity to varying degrees, and makes it difficult to master the language. A few years ago it became clear that these neurological disorders are associated with excessive synthesis in the brain of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which inhibits the activity of neurons. An employee of Stanford University (USA) Craig Garner and his colleagues, using genetic engineering, brought out a line of mice with an extra 21st chromosome. They also had impaired memory and learning ability. Various GABA antagonists have been tested in these mice, with pentylenetetrazole being the most effective. This medication was used in the United States in the 50s against depression and psychosis, but it soon became clear that it causes epileptic seizures. Experiments have shown that mice with Down's syndrome, given a small dose of pentylenetetrazole, become smarter and quickly learn to find their way through a maze. ... >>

Eco-friendly car 03.10.2007

Employees and students of the University of Warwick (UK) have created a racing car that uses environmentally friendly materials to the maximum. The body is made of plastic reinforced with hemp fiber, the tires use a polymer synthesized from potato starch, the brake pads are pressed from cashew nut husks. Fuel - ethyl alcohol obtained from plant materials, lubricating oil - also vegetable. The chassis is made of steel, but steel is a non-waste material that can be melted down and reused. According to the designers, the car can reach a speed of 240 kilometers per hour. In any case, when starting from a standstill, it develops a speed of 4 kilometers per hour in 100 seconds. In the next model, project leader Benjamin Wood intends to bring the proportion of biodegradable or recyclable materials up to 95%. ... >>

New series of miniature limit switches 30.09.2007

Honeywell's new 91MCE series of limit switches are small, affordable, and meet the highest demands in the industry. Constructed in a compact 20mm. enclosure, 91MCE switches are designed for OEM applications with limited mounting space. The series offers various options for actuators of heads and levers, complies with standards: IP65, NEMA 1, 4, 12, 13. Service life of switches - 5 million operations. Honeywell 91MCE series circuit breakers are designed for a wide range of industrial applications: machine equipment, elevators, escalators, doors, and more. ... >>

Low noise precision amplifier 29.09.2007

Texas Instruments has introduced a single-voltage op amp with e-Trim precision and very low noise. The OPA376 combines very low bias voltage (less than 25 µA) and wide bandwidth (5,5 MHz) in microminiature packages. In addition, the op-amp is characterized by a low noise density of 7,5 nV / Hz and a current consumption of no more than 950 μA. The combination of these characteristics meets the requirements for static and dynamic characteristics of filtering, data acquisition and single-voltage systems. The op-amp can be used in sensors and signal processing stages, wireless communication devices, medical devices, portable test equipment, and consumer audio equipment. ... >>

New LDO stabilizer 28.09.2007

Microchip Technology Inc. announced a new micropower compensation (LDO) stabilizer МСР1703. Main characteristics: input voltage range: 2,7 ... 16 V, own consumption current: 2,0 μA, output current: up to 250 mA at output voltage > 2,5 V, output current: up to 200 mA at output voltage < 2,5 V, input-output voltage drop: 650 mV, 250 mA, V=2,8 V, output voltage setting accuracy: 0,4%, output voltage range 1,2, 1,5, 1,8, 2,5 .2,8, 3,0, 3,3, 4,0, 5,0, 1,0V; protection against short circuit and overheating; stable operation with capacitors from 22 uF to 40 uF., extended temperature range: -125...3°C, 23-pin miniature packages: SOT-89A, SOT-223, SOTXNUMX. ... >>

car without a person 27.09.2007

Engineers from the United States are creating a car that can travel 60 miles without human assistance in six hours, traveling along the roads of California. “Two years ago, we tested a prototype of such a robot car in the Mojave Desert. Then our team showed 8th and 9th results, thanks to which we received financial support from the Department of Defense, Ford and Caterpillar companies. Of course, to travel It’s much more difficult for a robot to drive on the roads of California than in the desert, but we are well prepared,” says one of the participants in the work, graduate student of the University of Virginia Patrick Courier. The robot, converted from a donated Ford Escape car, was named "One". It was equipped with a powerful on-board computer, a GPS receiver, laser scanners and video cameras. Sophisticated software allows you to simulate human behavior and recognize the maneuvers of vehicles in front. As a result, the robot is able to drive along a marked freeway, change lanes, and bypass a stopped car. ... >>

Apple iMac computers 26.09.2007

The long-awaited update to the Apple iMac series of computers has come true. Users are offered four new models with displays with a diagonal of 20 and 24 inches. Both the design and the filling of the device have changed. So, the front panel of monoblock "PC + display" is now made of glass and anodized aluminum, the latter is also used in the finishing of a stylish thin (8 mm) keyboard. Inside the new iMacs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2/2,4 GHz)/ Core 2 Extreme processor, up to 2 GB memory, 250500 GB HDD, DVD burner, ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT (128 MB)/HD 2600 Pro video (256 MB), Wi-Fi (802.11n) and Bluetooth 2.0 modules. The cost of updated iMac - from $1200 to $2400. ... >>

Biometric Scanner Finger Vein Authentication Device 25.09.2007

The new biometric scanner from Hitachi helps protect your PC from unauthorized access, and absolutely reliably. You just need to connect the device to a computer via the USB port (from which it is powered) and configure the appropriate software. The guarantee of security is ensured by the fact that the Finger Vein Authentication Device does not scan a fingerprint, but a pattern of veins inside it, which is almost impossible to fake. ... >>

Fujitsu RE25U300J external drive 24.09.2007

Fujitsu's new 300 GB external drive, based on a 2,5-inch HDD, is virtually unhackable. The information stored on it is protected using Blowfish and AES cryptographic algorithms. The device has 8 MB cache and will set you back $229. ... >>

First anion in space 23.09.2007

Radio astronomy has now made it possible to identify 144 different substances in interstellar space. Recently, American astrophysicists, using a hundred-meter radio telescope, discovered the first anion in space - a negatively charged ion, a fragment of a molecule. Its chemical formula is C6H and it is found in two star-forming regions, the constellation Leo and the constellation Bull. ... >>

sun in focus 22.09.2007

The Israeli Center for Solar Energy has built a pilot plant in the Negev desert to generate electricity from the sun. Traditional solar energy is divided into two directions: either sunlight is concentrated by mirrors on a steam boiler, and the resulting steam rotates a turbine, or light is captured without noise and steam by solar panels that directly generate electricity. Israeli scientists propose to combine both options. A segmented mirror, resembling a giant umbrella laid on its side, concentrates light on a gallium arsenide solar cell. Ordinary solar cells cannot withstand such temperatures, but a device created at the Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Germany only works more efficiently at high temperatures. Its efficiency reaches 41%, which is twice as much as the best modern designs. According to the calculations of the designers, the power plant on such installations with a total capacity of one gigawatt will occupy 12 square kilometers. ... >>

The robot goes to land 21.09.2007

Engineers at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Lausanne are experimenting with a snake-like robot they have built that can swim, crawl and walk. The "snake" 85 centimeters long has two pairs of legs that can rotate and thus serve as something like the wheels of an old steamer. Using the remote control, by increasing the frequency of the signal in the "nervous system" of the robot, copied from the nervous system of the lamprey, you can switch it to different modes of movement. Relatively rare rhythmic impulses make the robot walk, faster ones lead to active rotation of pairs of legs, and the "snake" swims, and a further increase in frequency stops the legs, and the robot begins to crawl. Biologists suggest that something similar happened in evolution, when the fish came to land and the fins turned into dads. ... >>

Chimpanzee as the pinnacle of evolution 20.09.2007

It's time to stop thinking that man is the pinnacle of evolution. In fact, chimpanzees are a more "advanced" species. A group of geneticists from the University of Michigan (USA) studied the DNA sequences in 13 human, chimpanzee and rhesus macaque genes. It turned out that 888 chimpanzee genes have been changed by natural selection since humans and chimpanzees split from a common ancestor about 233 million years ago. And of the human genes, only 6 have changed since then. So the evolution of chimpanzees has gone further than ours. Doesn't this mean that monkeys will become smarter than humans after a while? ... >>

Dinosaurs, ancestors of moles 19.09.2007

American paleontologists have found an S-shaped hole in southwestern Montana, dug 95 million years ago by a dinosaur for himself and his cubs. Skeletons of an adult pangolin more than two meters long and two of its smaller descendants were found in a hole resembling an enlarged rodent mink or a hyena's lair. The muzzle and forepaws of this previously unknown species of herbivorous dinosaur are adapted for digging the earth. Long hind legs allowed the animal to run fast. The find reinforces the hypothesis that some species of dinosaurs took care of their offspring. ... >>

Omnivorous car engine 18.09.2007

The Brazilian branch of the Italian company "Magneti Marelli" began production of an automobile engine capable of running on gasoline, ethyl alcohol, a mixture of these fuels in any ratio, and natural gas. Moreover, the engine (more precisely, its computer) itself recognizes what fuel is offered to it, and after a few milliseconds it readjusts accordingly. In Brazilian conditions, the owner of a car with such an engine saves from 25 to 40% of fuel costs. ... >>

Greenhouse effect - in greenhouses 17.09.2007

A large greenhouse farm in England has entered into an agreement with a neighboring chemical plant, and will receive from it the discarded production waste - carbon dioxide. On an area of ​​more than 9 hectares, 300 thousand tomato bushes are grown here. They will be able to assimilate 12,5 tons of carbon dioxide per year, which the plant has released into the atmosphere so far, thereby enhancing the greenhouse effect. Waste steam from the plant is also intended to be used in greenhouses - for heating. But considering that the enterprises of the world emit about 7 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, there are clearly not enough greenhouses and greenhouses for everyone. ... >>

solar bike 15.09.2007

Canadian inventor Peter Sandper built a solar-powered bicycle. On top of the spokes in the wheels, he inserted solar panels, placed a battery on the trunk, the current from which feeds the electric motor built into the front wheel hub. In clear weather, the charge is enough for three hours of driving at speeds up to 30 kilometers per hour (battery capacity - 17 ampere-hours). If the sun is not showing, you can charge the bike from the outlet. Serial production has already begun. ... >>

medicinal tooth 13.09.2007

In cases where it is necessary to frequently administer small doses of a medication to a patient, specialists from the German Institute for Biomedical Engineering suggest using a false tooth. It contains a reservoir of liquid medicine and a radio-controlled dispenser. A pocket device, such as a TV remote control, allows the patient to turn on the dispenser when the patient feels unwell. When the supply of medicine runs out, the tooth can be removed and a spare one put in, and in the meantime, the first one can be filled with a doctor. There is only one drawback to this scheme: what to do if you have all your teeth, natural? ... >>

Car caught in the net 11.09.2007

British police have adopted a network to stop cars. It is made from dyneema, a synthetic fiber that is eight times stronger than steel. A net 2,5 - 3 meters wide with two rows of steel spikes on the front edge is laid out across the road. The spikes puncture the tires, and then the net wraps around the wheels, making further movement impossible. The device weighs from 12 to 25 kilograms (the heavier version is suitable for stopping trucks) and fits in a backpack or suitcase. ... >>

Mutual understanding between human friends 10.09.2007

A biologist from the University of Budapest, Peter Bongacs, played 90 volunteers recordings of dog barks and asked them to guess what emotional state the dog expressed with his barking: aggressiveness, fear, joy, despair, desire to play. Regardless of whether or not the subjects had previously interacted closely with dogs, in most cases they understood canine language correctly. Bongach concluded that man and dog had evolved together for so long that a deep emotional bond had developed between them. ... >>

Nano-cleaning of frescoes 07.09.2007

About forty years ago, art restorers began to cover ancient frescoes with transparent acrylic varnishes to protect them from air pollution, exposure to light and oxygen. The solution seemed perfect. However, after some time problems emerged. The polymers closed the microscopic pores through which the wall "breathed" under the fresco. As a result, moisture began to accumulate under the layer of paint, and salts were deposited, destroying the painting. Two decades later, the lacquer itself began to collapse - turn yellow, wrinkle. The restorers had to wash off the varnish from the frescoes. But conventional organic solvents are dangerous when working with them and, in addition, they do not penetrate well into the micropores of the plaster. Italian chemists from the University of Florence have created and successfully tested an aqueous emulsion with droplets of organic solvents up to 10 nanometers across for cleaning frescoes. The content of these solvents in the emulsion is less than one percent, but due to the nano-size of the droplets, they perfectly penetrate into the pores of the stucco. ... >>

Seed Bank in the Arctic 04.09.2007

An international seed bank for agricultural crops is being created in Svalbard, with a capacity of three million seed samples. The diversity of crop varieties is declining all the time. For example, in the United States in 1903, more than 8000 varieties and varieties of cultivated plants were grown, and in 1983 - only 600. Such a reduction in the range means that the unexpected appearance of a pathogen or pest that has adapted to the most common varieties can completely deprive humanity of one or more a different culture. There are currently about 1400 seed vaults in the world, but many of them are unreliable - under the threat of natural disasters, domestic riots, wars or mismanagement. Despite global warming, the authors of the project expect that in the Arctic cold (the temperature in the storage chambers will be maintained at -18 degrees Celsius), the seeds will not lose their germination capacity for at least two centuries. Svalbard collection will become inviolable ... >>

Robot tightrope walker 01.09.2007

A robot in the form of a box on wheels travels around electrical cables, checking their condition. The temperature sensor allows you to identify places where the cable is heated, acoustic - finds by sound the points where the contacts spark; there is also a moisture sensor that finds those places where water has penetrated the cracks in the insulation and can cause a short circuit. The TV camera transmits everything that enters the field of view of the robot to the control panel. In addition, the robot is equipped with a gyroscope to help maintain balance, and levers with which it restores its position if it does fall off the cable. The robot was created at the University of Washington by a group of engineers and students led by Professor Alexander Mamishev. The robot was recently tested in New Orleans, where it checked the condition of underground cables after flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. ... >>

Toshiba delays OLED TV launch 31.08.2007

The main reason for this decision is the extremely high cost of producing large-format OLED matrices - for example, even relatively small 11-inch "organic" Sony TVs are produced in extremely limited quantities, about 2 thousand units per month. As for Toshiba, it has postponed the release of its 30-inch TV panels from this year to March 2010. Even less optimistic are the forecasts for the future of SED panels. Toshiba previously postponed the release of high-contrast, large-format panels indefinitely, and this situation has not changed. And the main reason is not only problems with the license agreement with Nano-Proprietary, the owner of the patent on the SED panel. The production of new generation displays, as well as OLED solutions, is still too expensive to be able to compete with modern LCD and plasma TVs. ... >>

Full HD TVs fail the test 30.08.2007

No Full HD TV can offer full HD resolution when displaying moving objects, according to the latest research from Home Theater magazine. Of the nineteen Full HD TVs tested, ranging from 40 to 67 inches, only twelve models were able to display 1080p on a still image. The resolution of other models ranged from 850 to 1050 vertical pixels. When displaying moving objects, the situation turned out to be more deplorable. The actual resolution ranged from 500 to 880 vertical pixels. Vizio GV47FHDTV LCD TV was recognized as an obvious outsider of the tests. In the static test, it brought out 400 horizontal lines and 360 - while driving, with 1080 declared. The worst results when displaying dynamic scenes, following the Vizio GV47FHDTV, were shown by the Sony KDL40W3000 LCD TV, which brought out only 500 horizontal lines. The real resolution of Sony KDL46W3000 LCD TVs, ... >>

New fructose fuel 29.08.2007

A chemist from Wisconsin proposes to make plants not ethyl alcohol, but more efficient fuel. On the one hand, more and more people are aware of the need to switch to renewable energy sources to curb global warming. In another, rising prices for non-renewable oil make new ways to extract alternative fuels profitable. As a result, interesting ideas emerge. For example, quite recently it was believed that only methane, ethanol, and, perhaps, biodiesel could be extracted from plants. And Professor James Dumesic from the University of Wisconsin found another useful substance. It is dimethylfuran (DMF), which is derived from fructose. "The energy stored in a DMF molecule is 40% more than that of an ethanol molecule," says Prof. Dumešić. atmosphere". Usually, fructose is first converted to hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to make DMF. ... >>

Step towards bioelectronics 28.08.2007

German biochemists have managed to attach a cell receptor to a microchip. The cell is perfectly able to determine the presence of a particular substance in the environment: it is enough for it to connect to the corresponding receptor on the membrane. After that, the ion channel opens, ions move through it, and the cell receives information. If you force it to share this information with a person, you will get a sensor for searching for substances in the smallest concentrations or for testing drugs. Until now, the opening of the ion channel is fixed with miniature electrodes, but, unfortunately, the cell dies after that. German scientists from the Institute of Biochemistry. Max Planck, led by Dr. Peter Fromhertz, made an installation in which the cell can work for a long time. First, they created a microcircuit from many transistors on a silicon wafer. Recall that in these devices there are three electrodes - the anode, cathode and base. It depends on what electric potential is applied to the base, the current will flow ... >>

Belkin Washable Mouse 27.08.2007

With its new optical Washable Mouse, Belkin is declaring war on the dirt and bacteria that always cling to computer peripherals. This manipulator is completely waterproof and easy to clean with soap and water. Of the unusual, one can note the touchpad that replaces the scroll wheel. Otherwise, this is a completely standard manipulator with a 1200 dpi sensor and a USB connection. Price - $30. ... >>

Nokia Speakerphone HF-300 26.08.2007

The HF-300 wireless hands-free system expands the familiar product range of the Finnish manufacturer. The device is designed for use in the car and is compatible with all Nokia phones that support at least the Bluetooth 1.1 standard. Built-in battery provides 20 hours of battery life HF-300 talk time. ... >>

External optical drive IO Data DVR-UW8DP2 25.08.2007

The new external optical drive DVR-UW8DP2 from IO Data is interesting in that it can handle recording two CDs or DVDs simultaneously and a computer is not required for its operation. In fact, these are two thin drives united by one body. The device is connected to a PC via the USB port. The speed characteristics of the device are average, and the cost is quite high - $450. ... >>

The rain will have to be filtered 24.08.2007

Since 2008, the US Environmental Protection Agency will prohibit all settlements with a population of more than 10 people from discharging rainwater from streets and roads into natural reservoirs without treatment: this water is polluted with oil products from numerous cars. In the meantime, a small firm, AbTech Industries, has begun producing rainwater filters that are built into street grates. The filter consists of a polymer sponge that traps dirt. In addition, the sponge is impregnated with an antimicrobial agent that kills about 75% of pathogenic microbes that are present in street drains, get to river, lake and sea beaches and infect bathers. Depending on the location, the filter will have to be replaced once every one to three years. Another solution comes from Australian inventor Simon Beecham. The streets, in his opinion, should be paved with slabs of porous concrete, to which iron hydroxide and activated carbon are added. The first component captures from rainwater ... >>

Backpack with elastic bands 23.08.2007

The American inventor Lawrence Rome noticed that a significant part of the strength of a person carrying a load goes into raising and lowering this load with each step. The inventor created a backpack that makes it easier to walk and especially run with a load on your shoulders. In Rome's easel backpack, the cargo container is suspended on rubber bands that absorb vibrations. As a result, carrying a load of 27 kilograms takes as much effort as carrying a load of 22 kilograms. ... >>

Secret of little dogs 22.08.2007

A group of American geneticists, having studied the genomes of dogs of different breeds, large and small, found on the 15th chromosome a gene that determines the size of the animal. A special variant of this gene is present in all small breeds, but is rare in large breeds. However, in such large dogs as mastiffs and rottweilers, the "decrease gene" occurs quite often, which, apparently, indicates that the dog's height also depends on some other genes. Since large and small breeds of dogs, judging by archaeological finds, have lived next to humans for more than 10 thousand years, the age of the "decrease gene" is no less. However, it does not occur in wolves. Either man brought small breeds of dogs from some dwarf wolves, which in the meantime died out, or it was a rare mutation that people liked and fixed by artificial selection. ... >>

Coffee and baldness 21.08.2007

German dermatologists have shown that if you keep pieces of skin that has lost hair in a caffeine solution, hair follicles are restored and after eight days hair growth increases by 30 - 40%, and the life expectancy of the hair grows by 37%. Unfortunately, simply drinking coffee will not get rid of baldness. In order for the hair follicles to get as much caffeine as needed for their regeneration, it would be necessary to drink at least 60 cups of coffee a day. But a German cosmetics firm has already launched a caffeine-based hair growth lotion. ... >>

Cotton against cancer 20.08.2007

Chinese doctors, after analyzing a data bank on the health of tens of thousands of workers in Shanghai cotton gins and weaving factories, came to the conclusion that cotton dust in the air protects against lung cancer. Women who are exposed to high concentrations of cotton dust in the workplace are 40% less likely to develop cancer than those who do not breathe such dust. On average, out of 100 thousand workers in the textile industry, lung cancer is found in 7-8 people, and among the entire population of Shanghai - in 19. The reasons for this phenomenon are unclear. However, Canadian specialist George Astrakianakis, who got acquainted with the results of the study, believes that certain substances contained in bacteria that develop on cotton fiber can play a protective role. ... >>

On the trail of chocolate 19.08.2007

Curious studies of the sense of smell in humans were conducted by Jess Porter, a graduate student at the University of Berkeley (USA). She asked 32 undergraduate students to follow a 10-meter zigzag path with a chocolate-scented liquid on the grass of a lawn using their sense of smell. To ensure that the experimental subjects were not distracted by anything, they were blindfolded and their ears were plugged, leaving only the sense of smell. It turned out that two-thirds of the students, moving their noses from side to side, are able to complete the route in 14 minutes. After choosing four test subjects, they began to train them on the same exercise three times a day. It turned out that the results are significantly improved with training. The possibility of "stereoscopic" sense of smell in humans (it is known in rats) was studied on 26 volunteers. With one nostril plugged, only a third made it to the end of the trail, and they did it XNUMX% slower than with two nostrils. General conclusion: of course, the human scent lags behind the canine, but it is much better than usual ... >>

Ancient fresco 18.08.2007

French archaeologists working in Syria have found the oldest painted wall. In a dilapidated building made of clay bricks, a colored pattern of about four square meters of geometric figures was found on the wall. It is assumed that the clay structure with the fresco was used as a ritual one. This is the oldest example of wall art, it is about 13 thousand years old. Although the oldest rock paintings that have survived to our time are 36 thousand years old. ... >>

White-white beetle 17.08.2007

English entomologists have found the whitest beetle in Southeast Asia. The fingernail-sized bug is covered in randomly arranged scales five micrometers in size. They ideally scatter light rays of all colors, resulting in a white reflected light. The shell of a beetle is whiter than milk, the enamel of clean teeth, or the finest grades of writing paper. It is believed that it will be possible to create perfectly white synthetic materials with the same structure. ... >>

Accountants - low ceilings 16.08.2007

Psychologist Joan Meyers-Levi, professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota (USA), analyzed the thinking of people working in rooms with a ceiling height of 244 and 305 centimeters. It turned out that low-ceilinged offices encourage employees to concentrate more on the tasks they perform, work more accurately, and prevent and catch errors. High ceilings in the room help to generate fresh ideas, make long-term plans, and think high. Thus, the management of the organization should sit in offices with high ceilings, and accountants - with low ones. ... >>

Always white apple 15.08.2007

Canadian breeders have developed an apple variety that does not turn brown on the cut. In an ordinary apple, when the integrity of its tissues is violated, phenolic compounds and the polyphenol oxidase enzyme contained in different "compartments" of the whole cell begin to contact each other. When the walls between the "compartments" are broken, a chemical reaction produces oxidized brown compounds that are not palatable to insects and have an antibacterial effect. That is, for the plant, this reaction has a protective character. But apple lovers do not like this color change. The new variety, called Edem, is low in phenolics, so the pieces stay white in fruit salad. But the taste of the new variety is no worse than the well-known ones. And for gardeners, he has another important advantage: the fruits, even when ripe, do not fall from the branches, but wait until they are removed. This means that the percentage of losses is lower. It remains to be seen by experience whether the absence of protective compounds will affect the health of apples. ... >>

Chips in the mountains 14.08.2007

On the Alpine plateau of Bur (southeast of France, 2500 meters above sea level), a laboratory has been created to study the effect of cosmic rays on microcircuits. The functioning of microelectronics is based on the movement of charges with a value of about a femtocoulomb. Meanwhile, every second, cosmic rays, consisting of protons, neutrons and heavy ions and coming mainly from the Sun, bring dozens of such charges to the microcircuit. On the Bur plateau, the number of energetic cosmic ray particles is 10 times greater than at sea level. Since the summer of 2006, memory chips for computers have been tested in a mountain laboratory. It turned out that in the most common microcircuits with a diameter of the smallest parts of 130 nanometers, cosmic rays at this height cause an average of five memory errors per month. These studies will increase the stability and reliability of microelectronics, especially aviation. In addition, microcircuits with finer details have recently appeared, which should be sensible. ... >>

Morality, charity and religion 12.08.2007

Does faith in God contribute to the moral health of a nation? The data obtained so far by sociologists are contradictory. Thus, a study of the relationship between religiosity and morality in 18 developed democracies, published in 2005 in the American Journal of Religion and Society, argues that the relationship is negative. The degree of religiosity of the population was assessed by the percentage of believers among the respondents, by the proportion of those who declared their unconditional acceptance of biblical information about the origin of the universe and man, by the frequency of church attendance and the frequency of prayers outside the church. The researchers considered the number of murders, infant mortality, the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, the frequency of pregnancies and abortions among underage girls as indicators of the health of society. It turned out that where the population is more pious, all these indicators are higher than in countries with a less religious population. For example, out of 18 countries, the United States turned out to be the most religious, and there are also significantly more murders and veins. ... >>

colored light bulbs 10.08.2007

The Dutch firm "Philips" began to produce an electric light bulb, which contains four LEDs inside - two red, blue and green. By manipulating a remote control like a television, you can vary the brightness of each LED, and thus the color of the lamp, within a choice of 16 million colors. Light brightness and color saturation are also adjustable with the remote control. ... >>

telephoto lens for phone 09.08.2007

The Hong Kong firm "Brando" has begun production of telephoto attachments for telephone cameras. The attachment magnifies the image six times. So far, this optics is intended only for the latest Nokia and Sony-Eriksson models, but in the future devices from other major manufacturers will also be covered. ... >>

amoeba in amber 07.08.2007

Paleontologists from the Humboldt University in Berlin and the University of Padua (Italy) found in the Dolomites, near the city of Cortina d'Ampezzo, a deposit of small droplets of amber, which is 220 million years old. These drops of resin crawled along the bark of coniferous trees when the first dinosaurs appeared. Microorganisms - bacteria, fungi, amoeba, ciliates - have been preserved in tiny droplets. The state of preservation of microbes is unusually good, even the internal structures of the cell are visible. This amber is about 85 million years older than all the samples known so far. Many of the microorganisms enclosed in amber do not differ at all from modern ones. ... >>

Transformer on vegetable oil 05.08.2007

The English branch of the French energy company EDF has designed an industrial transformer that uses vegetable oil as the insulating and cooling liquid. Now either mineral oils or special synthetic fluids are used. Both of them cause environmental damage in the event of an accident and release into the environment. The authors of the idea say that vegetable oil extends the life of the transformer and reduces the possibility of fire. Already this year, a 132 kilovolt transformer filled with 30 liters of vegetable oil is to be put into operation near London. ... >>

Plastic planes getting ready to take off 03.08.2007

At the aircraft factory in Seattle (USA), by order of one of the Italian airlines, a Boeing 787 is being built, two sections of the fuselage of which are made of plastic reinforced with carbon fibers. Plastics will make up half of the total weight of the 250-passenger liner. This is the largest proportion of plastic. ever used in civil aircraft. The "plastic" plane is due to take off in 2008. ... >>

Toshiba promises 10-year battery life 30.07.2007

Toshiba promises to release a battery with a lifespan of 10 years, or 5000 recharge cycles. The capacity can only decrease after 3000 cycles and only by 10%. In addition, the developers report the unique ability of the battery to charge up to 90% in just 5 minutes. Toshiba will begin production of the Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) next year, with plans to sell 2016 billion batteries by March 100. The company calls its invention "a breakthrough among rechargeable batteries." The capacity of each cell is 4,2 Ah. It is capable of delivering a voltage of 2,4 V with a weight of 150 grams. It is planned to combine 10 cells. Thus, the dimensions of the battery will be 100x300x45 mm, and the voltage is 24 V. In addition, the battery demonstrates a high degree of safety. The cathode is resistant to overheating and has a high ignition temperature. The design of the battery is made in such a way as to protect it from internal shorting and thermal emission. Ignition and ignition of the battery are practically excluded. Plani's invention ... >>

LOG114 - new logarithmic amplifier 29.07.2007

Texas Instruments has introduced a new precision high-speed (1µs transient) logarithmic amplifier that produces an output voltage or current as the natural or decimal logarithm of the input voltage or current. LOG114 has a dynamic range of 8 decades and implements the logarithm function without the use of external components. The LOG114 is specifically designed to amplify the photodiode output of fiber optic cables in communication systems. The LOG114 can also be used for optical density measurements in medical and industrial applications. The QFN-16 package allows the amplifier to be used in compact plug-in modules and multi-channel systems. High speed and wide dynamic range (27 bit equivalent; 100 pA to 10 mA input) with high accuracy make the LOG 114 suitable for laser control applications. The amplifier has a built-in 2,5 V reference voltage source and two independent ... >>

Controllers for digital control of power supplies 29.07.2007

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), continuing to expand its range of digital signal processors (DSP), announced the start of mass production of digital signal processors TMS320F28044 and F2809. These 32-bit controllers have a performance of 100 MIPS and are ideal for digital power management, motor drive control and information acquisition applications. The F28044 controller allows power system designers to move towards software-based digital control of power supplies. This controller is designed to organize multi-channel power supply for point-of-load devices, for example, in telecommunications and network equipment, servers, laptops and industrial equipment. Based on the F2809 controllers, due to the presence of a large set of I / O devices and peripheral communication devices, it is possible to create industrial control systems with a high degree of integration. ... >>

High voltage DC/DC converter with integrated frequency switch 28.07.2007

Maxim Integrated Products introduces the MAX15020, a high voltage DC/DC converter capable of delivering up to 2A of output current at a switching frequency of up to 500kHz. The high switching frequency, along with the built-in power switch (0,1 ohm), reduces the number and size of external components required for the end device, thereby reducing installation space and overall cost. Operating at a wide range of 7,5 to 40 V input voltage levels, the MAX15020 is ideal for automotive, industrial, and printing applications. The MAX15020 uses a voltage feed-forward circuit that provides good noise immunity in high-voltage applications and allows external compensation to be used to increase device flexibility. This converter has an internal switching frequency of 300 kHz and 500 kHz, or can be synchronized to an external clock from 100 kHz to 500 kHz. MAX15020 allows developers to ... >>

NXP Opens Design Center in Singapore to Develop W-USB Technology 27.07.2007

On July 24, NXP Semiconductors announced the opening of a design center in Singapore. The main task of the center will be the development of wireless USB technology (W-USB). NXP plans to spend more than 5 million euros on the project over the next 90 years as part of an annual development investment to bring wireless USB technology to the forefront and maximize its application in consumer products. With W-USB speeds outperforming the Bluetooth and WiFi of today's devices, the user is able to transfer data faster (480 MB/s) over short distances (10 meters). ... >>

RFID to disable pirated discs 27.07.2007

NXP Semiconductors has adopted RFID to disable pirated discs. The essence of the technology lies in the fact that by introducing a special coating and an RFID chip, the disks are deactivated during production, and then reactivated at legal points of sale. Thus, content theft is eliminated at least at the stage of production and distribution of media, which should reduce the overall level of piracy and reduce the number of times a movie or game is released before the official release. When a DVD is produced, a tiny RF ID chip is embedded in it, and an electro-optical coating 0,01 human hair thick is applied to prevent playback. Then, at the place of legal sale, a special RFA (Radio Frequency Activation) scanner reads information from the chip, authenticates the disk, and if everything is in order, gives a signal to "turn off" the electro-optical protection. The creators of the new technology believe that it can be adapted to protect against piracy and other consumer products, for example, ... >>

LMP8100 Programmable Gain Amplifier 26.07.2007

The LMP8IOA op amp provides a guaranteed gain accuracy of 0,03% from 1 V/V to 16 V/V (in 1 V/V steps) over the entire industrial temperature range of -40 to 125°C. National Semiconductor introduced the LMP8100, a semi-precision PGA amplifier with a software gain accuracy of 0,075% over a temperature range of -40 to 85°C. The gain is set using an array of 16 precision thin film resistors. At the heart of the PGA amplifiers is a 33 MHz op amp with CMOS outputs, rail-to-rail, with a typical gain of 110 dB. Features of the LMP8100 The LMP8100 provides four levels of internal frequency compensation that widens the signal's bandwidth at high gain settings. Their built-in zero output calibration option allows the user to measure the output voltage offset to calibrate temperature and voltage error reduction. Amplifier mode prog ... >>

MAX9730 Class G Audio Power Amplifier 25.07.2007

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the new MAX34 class G mono audio power amplifier (UM9730) with a single supply voltage and an output power of 2,4 watts. MAX9730 is made according to class G architecture and integrates a capacitive supply voltage converter, which allows it to develop 2 times higher power when powered by a Li-Ion battery compared to UMZCH class AB or D. Capacitive converter when powered by a voltage of 2,7... 5,5 V gives a current of up to 500 mA and, when powered by a voltage of 3,3 V, it is guaranteed to develop a power of 2,4 W at an 8-ohm load. Using the MAX9730 can significantly reduce the size and cost of the overall solution by eliminating the boost converter and bulky inductance typically required to achieve the same performance. This makes the MAX9730 especially suitable for cell phones, laptops and other portable devices with limited board sizes. MAX9730 is designed for ... >>

New power supplies for LED applications 24.07.2007

Mean Well has introduced a new series of 60W enclosed AC/DC power supplies ELN-60. Designed for LED applications, ELN-60, unlike the PLN-60 series, does not have a power factor corrector, which has reduced the price of the product. The fixtures meet the requirements of UL 1310 class 2, which means that in any situation the output will be less than 100 VA or 5 A. This will greatly reduce the hazard to those who install or maintain LED systems. The IP64 waterproof and dustproof plastic housing protects the electronic parts of these power supplies from dust and moisture, which makes them suitable for use in various adverse conditions: for outdoor installation or in rooms with a high content of dust or moisture in the air. The efficiency of power supplies of the ELN-60 series reaches 88%, the devices can operate in a wide temperature range of -20...60°C, they do not require external airflow. Standard ... >>

New mains power supplies 24.07.2007

Mean Well has expanded the NES series of compact network power supplies with a new model with the most demanded power on the market - 150W. AC/DC converters NES150 of universal application are produced in a perforated metal case, the small dimensions (199x98x38 mm) of the block make it 32% more compact than its predecessor, the S-150 series. NES power supplies have a universal input: they can operate at an input voltage of 220 or 110 V AC, as well as at DC at an ambient temperature of -20 to 60 ° C. Output voltage options: 3,3, 5, 7,5, 9, 12, 15, 24 or 48 V. Converters have a set of protections: against short circuit, overload, overvoltage and overheating, comply with electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility standards. The efficiency is 86%. AC / DC converters NES-150 designed for use in industrial automation, mechanical engineering, the production of illuminated advertising and instrumental applications. ... >>

DC/DC converters NSD-10 and NSD-15 for board mounting 23.07.2007

Mean Well announced the start of production of new modular PCB-mounted DC/DC converters NSD-10 and NSD-15 with 10W and 15W respectively. The new products are a lower power expansion of the popular DC/DC converter line and are designed for the growing market for distributed power applications. The products of the new series are identical in size and pinout to their predecessors ASD-10H and ASD-15H, but they are characterized by increased performance, economy, and a number of additional functions. The input voltages of the new converters are 12V and 48V, the range of output voltages selectable by the user includes 3,3V; 5 V; 9V (except NSD-15); 12V; 15 V; +5V; +12 V; +15 V. Isolation between input and output is 1500 V DC. Other features of the new products include remote on/off, short circuit, over voltage and overload protection. Models with a power of 15 W also ... >>

INA209 - power control circuit 23.07.2007

Texas Instruments Introduces the INA209 PC-Interface Integrated Circuit for Bi-Directional Current/Power Control via the Positive Power Line range -209...40°С and offset not more than 85 μV. The IC allows you to control and manage current, voltage and power in a variety of devices, incl. servers, telecommunications equipment, battery chargers, automotive and measuring equipment. INA100 monitors the voltage drop across the current sense resistor, as well as the voltage at the point of connection of this resistor to the load (monitored range 209...+0 V). The built-in multiplier and calibration register perform the formation of the result of the measurement of current in amperes and power in watts. Microsh ... >>

Texas Instruments to release ULP Bluetooth chips 22.07.2007

Texas Instruments has announced its intention to develop chips for ultra low-voltage (ultra lowpower, ULP) powered miniature devices that comply with the new ULP Bluetooth specification. The development of this extension of the main standard was initiated by Nokia at one time, and the technology was previously known under the brand name Wibree. It is assumed that from a very small, "coin" battery, the ULP Bluetooth chip will be able to work for about a year, the range will be 10 meters, and the transmission rate will be up to 1 Mbps. The frequency range is the same - 2,4 GHz. TI intends to produce both types of possible implementations of ULP Bluetooth - both chips that support only one mode and are able to communicate only with their counterparts, and chips with two modes of communication, allowing you to exchange data not only with "their own kind", but also with devices equipped with a "traditional" Bluetooth interface. ... >>

New microcontroller from Maxim 21.07.2007

The MAXQ3100 microcontroller from Maxim Integrated Products is a low-power, 16-bit RISC microcontroller. It contains a 160-segment LCD controller, two analog comparators with a 1,25 V precision reference, a separate battery-powered real-time clock module, three 16-bit timers, a digital temperature sensor, and two universal synchronous/asynchronous transceivers, one of which can be used for infrared communication. This feature set makes the MAXQ3100 microcontroller ideal for use in single-phase electricity meters and other utility meters (water, heat, gas). The microcontroller can also be used in smart sensors, industrial automation devices, household appliances, security systems, thermostats, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and other applications. The microcontroller operates at a fixed frequency of 4,194 MHz, which is synthesized from the original clock quad frequency. ... >>

New miniature quartz resonators in SMD package 21.07.2007

Gcycr Electronic announced the release of a new series of KXO-V95 crystal oscillators designed for use in portable high-tech products. The dimensions of the housings of the new generators are 2,5x2 mm with a height of only 0,82 mm, the frequency range is from 1 MHz to 70 MHz, the supply voltage is from 2,5 to 3,3 V, and the error in the temperature range is from -20 ° C up to 70°C is +50 ppm. The resonators have a tristable state and low jitter, and are also available in an extended temperature range from -40°C to 85°C. ... >>

New family of programmable smart keys 20.07.2007

International Rectifier Corporation announced the start of mass production of a family of top-level power smart switches with programmable current cutoff and built-in protections. The new IR331x keys are designed to work in 14V networks. They increase the reliability of the control devices for lighting devices, diesel engine glow plugs, air conditioner heaters, fans of the engine and passenger compartment cooling system. Keys of the IR331x family provide an error in measuring information of the OS on current no more than 5% of the maximum current over the entire temperature range and high measurement accuracy at low currents. The current bandwidth of the OS is 100 kHz. This allows the microcontroller to effectively regulate the load current. For applications with low switching frequency, the new keys provide a soft start mode. ... >>

Load Controller for Power over Ethernet 19.07.2007

National Semiconductor introduced the LM5073, a load controller (PD) for Power over Ethernet systems with adjustable output current limiting and the ability to work with a DC/DC converter of any topology. The new PoE (Powerover-Ethernet) controller LM5073 contains a programmable interface port, incl. a hot-swap controller that exceeds the IEEE 802.3af standard and allows designers to handle power levels of 30W or more. The IC is targeted at IP telephony, remote surveillance cameras, card readers, wireless access points, industrial automation systems and PoE-enabled retail terminals. The LM5073 supports the ability to connect an alternative unregulated power source such as an AC adapter or solar panels in a variety of configurations. ... >>

motion sensor for a wide range of applications 19.07.2007

STMicroelectronics has expanded its line of motion sensors with a new two-axis linear accelerometer with a digital output. The L1S202DL is a micro power miniature sensor with intelligent functions, designed for wide use in both household appliances and industrial applications. The accelerometer possesses intellectual and capabilities thanks to the integrated circuit built into the sensor and the high-frequency filter, which allows you to react and distinguish between the impact - single or double touch, determine movement (movement, lifting). LIS202DL allows, for example, to turn off the phone ringing in your pocket without taking it out - with one touch of your hand. Adjustable high-pass filters can be configured to monitor vibration or activate desired device functions through movement. The possibility of implementing the specified functions by external influence does not depend on the position of the object under study at the time of measurements. ... >>

New DC/DC converter from Texas Instruments 18.07.2007

Texas Instruments introduced the TPS40K, a universal synchronous buck converter that greatly simplifies the power supply of LCD TVs and authorized broadcast set-top boxes that use digital signal processors (DSPs) and programmable FPGA logic. The TPS40195 supports a number of features that can improve the power performance of systems that require a 4,5...20V supply voltage. For example, an integrated circuit uses a converted input voltage for its own power supply, which eliminates the need for additional voltages to power the IC. The TPS40195 controller, which is housed in a 16-pin TSSOP package, has a bi-directional clock pin that allows anti-phase operation with another buck controller. This configuration reduces the capacitance of large capacitors and saves board size and cost when operating with 5- and 12-volt power supplies. ... >>

Microcontroller MSP430F47X4 for electricity meters 18.07.2007

As manufacturers of electronic energy metering systems try to optimize product costs while increasing functionality and reducing power consumption, Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) has developed a new series of low power MSP430F47X4 microcontrollers for single and multi-phase energy meters. The chip can contain up to four 16-bit sigma-delta ADCs, 32 32-bit hardware multipliers, a 160-segment LC display driver with contrast control, up to 60 kB of flash memory, and a real-time timer. Also, the line of TI measuring systems contains devices specially designed for measuring the flow of liquids and gases, interfaces for organizing the transmission of information over power networks (PLC), radio frequencies in automatic meter reading systems. With a consumption of up to 1,5 μA, measuring devices built on new microcircuits can significantly reduce energy consumption. ... >>

TI pocket projector 17.07.2007

The pocket projector industry is looming more and more for the foreseeable future. Prototypes of such projectors are regularly shown at exhibitions, and an increasing number of companies are involved in this still undeveloped area. Texas Instruments has unveiled its prototype of a pocket projector for mobile devices based on the use of a DLP chip (digital light processing). The demonstrated projector consists of 3 lasers, a DLP chip, a power supply and has a length of less than 4 cm. Thus, in terms of its dimensions, such a projector can fit on a human finger and, at the same time, is capable of projecting an A4 image in the presence of lighting. Moreover, the demonstrated DLP-chip is capable of outputting an image with a resolution of HVGA (640x240), which is twice the resolution of the screen of traditional mobile phones. Regarding the future development of this prototype, representatives of Texas Instruments are optimistic and predict that it will soon ... >>

Texas Instruments Single-Chip Solutions for Mobile Phones 16.07.2007

Texas Instruments has unveiled its roadmap for new single-chip 65nm mobile phone solutions that it plans to secure a competitive edge over rivals Infineon and others. For some time now, TI has been producing a single-chip LoCosto device at 90nm, aimed at the explosively growing market for low-cost GSM phones. A 65nm version of LoCosto is currently in development and shipments will start "very soon" according to the manufacturer. TI is preparing to release another line of 65 nm single-chip solutions for eCosto mobile phones. The first representative of this platform will be the OMAPV1035 chip supporting GSM, GPRS and EDGE standards. ... >>

Two-stage current sensors 16.07.2007

Texas Instruments introduced two current sensors with a common-mode input voltage range of -16V to 80V. The INA270 and INA271 have a two-stage architecture and are designed for applications where input signal filtering is required. To solve the problems encountered when measuring low shunt voltage drops in the presence of high common mode voltage, filter circuits can be inserted between the INA270 and INA271 stages to maintain a buffered output voltage. As a result, when driving ADCs or low-impedance loads, no additional amplifiers are required. The common-mode voltage range at the INA270 and INA271 input is from -16 V (reverse voltage of a car battery) to +80 V during short-term overloads. accuracy (maximum error no more than 2,7% over the entire temperature range), w ... >>

It's time to fly on hydrogen 15.07.2007

Scientists from the EU received a grant of 2,9 million euros to develop a hydrogen aircraft. Fuel cells are already well developed, and it's time to find new applications for them. To make a fuel cell aircraft, you need to completely redo its entire propulsion part: instead of a conventional engine, put an electric one, which will rotate the motors of a fully electric aircraft. The main advantages of this type of transport are the absence of harmful exhaust and low noise levels. The latter is especially important for local European airlines: a low-noise aircraft will be able to take off and land near any settlements both day and night. This is no longer possible because EU countries have strict noise regulations, especially at night. True, flying on an airplane with a tank of hydrogen on board is not a pleasure for the faint of heart, because this gas seeps even through metal and explodes, reaching the concentration of an explosive mixture. Therefore, as they say ... >>

The radar will warm 14.07.2007

US scientists have come up with a device that collects dissipated heat. There is a lot of dissipated heat around us. And in some places there are a lot of them. For example, where there are huge military radars or powerful power plants. By collecting this heat and converting it into electricity, a lot of fuel could be saved. How to do this was invented by Professor Orest Simko from the University of Utah (USA). The design is based on thermoacoustic conversion: the heat entering the resonator cylinder is converted into a sound wave. At a certain moment, its parameters become such that the resonator absorbs almost 80% of the incident energy. The wave then acts on the piezocrystal, which generates electricity. One of the serious advantages of the device is the absence of moving parts. Professor Simko began his work in 2005, intending to develop a miniature cooler for electronics. Now he has been given $2 million for this project, and ... >>

OptiML WLC Technology 14.07.2007

The development of Tessera Technologies, codenamed OptiML WLO, will significantly reduce the dimensions of cameras built into mobile phones, as well as significantly reduce their cost. OptiML WLC technology imprints thousands of microlenses into plates, which are then aligned and stacked on top of each other using another patented design, the WaferStack, and then cut into individual lenses that are placed in front of the camera's sensor. Such an optical module is 50% more compact than its counterpart used in modern camera phones. ... >>

WD Passport Pocket external hard drive 13.07.2007

A new addition to Western Digital's Passport Pocket line of hard drives. The capacity of the WDXMS2500 model is 250 GB. The connection to the computer is made via the USB 2.0 interface. The device is very compact and lightweight - its dimensions are 15x129,78x79,78 mm, and its weight is just over 100 g. The miniature external HDD comes with proprietary WD Sync software that facilitates data synchronization. ... >>

Mobile phone Ericsson K850i 12.07.2007

Sony Ericsson has officially introduced a new mobile phone K850i, which allows you to take pictures with a resolution of 5 megapixels, including using the built-in flash and burst mode (BestPic). Like previous Sony Ericsson camera phones, the new product uses the same Cybershot trademark as Sony's digital cameras. An intuitive interface ensures simplicity and ease of operation, both when shooting and when viewing the resulting image. ... >>

houseplant for diabetes 12.07.2007

Gardenia jasmine - a common indoor plant of the madder family (that is, a relative of coffee and cinchona) - comes from China. Gardenia fruits have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat the most common form of diabetes (although ancient Chinese physicians did not know that the cause of this disease was insufficient insulin production). Now employees of the University of Nanjing have proved in experiments that the extract from the gardenia fruit stimulates pancreatic cells that synthesize insulin. They were able to isolate from the fruits of the plant a low-molecular aromatic compound genipin, which inhibits the action of a special protein that inhibits the production of insulin in diabetic patients. Experiments have so far been carried out on a culture of pancreatic cells; the matter has not yet reached clinical trials. Gardenia fruit extract is used in traditional Chinese medicine also as an anti-inflammatory agent, and more recently it has been found to have an antitumor effect. ... >>

Molecule magnetism 11.07.2007

French physicists have created a subminiature sensor for measuring the magnetic field. The device, a few micrometers across, consists of strips of palladium-coated aluminum and operates at temperatures as low as minus 272 degrees Celsius. It is capable of measuring the magnetization of a single molecule. ... >>

Juice in a multilayer bottle 10.07.2007

Researchers from the French Higher School of Agricultural Sciences propose pouring orange juice into multi-layer polymeric bottles made from the same polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that regular ones are made from. Three layers of plastic provide better protection against atmospheric oxidation of vitamins than one layer. During nine months of storage in a single-layer bottle, orange juice loses more than 80% of vitamin C, in a multi-layer bottle - only 37%. And yet, glass is even better: only 25% of the vitamin is lost in glass containers during this period. ... >>

alarm clock gene 10.07.2007

Physiologists from the University of Surrey (England), studying the human biological clock, discovered a gene that determines when a person prefers to go to bed and get up. The PER3 gene occurs in two forms, one slightly longer than the other, and both produce slightly different proteins. It turned out that if you received two shorter versions from both parents, you are most likely a "night owl", and if two long ones - a "lark". ... >>

Illuminated patch 09.07.2007

For many years, photodynamic therapy has been used to treat skin cancer: a relatively harmless substance is administered to the patient, which is absorbed mainly by cancer cells. Then the tumor is irradiated with light of a certain wavelength, which is why the substance accumulated in it is activated, killing malignant cells. But the equipment for irradiation is cumbersome and requires maintenance by specialists, so treatment can only take place in a hospital. A group of British doctors and physicists have developed a patch based on an organic polymer that glows when exposed to an electric current. Such light sources are now used in the displays of cell phones, digital cameras, laptop screens. A polymer has been selected that emits light of the wavelength required for treatment. The patch is stuck on the sore spot, the battery is put in your pocket - and the treatment goes anywhere. ... >>

paper battery 08.07.2007

The Finnish company Enfusell has started producing flexible paper-based batteries. A "sandwich" 0,3-0,7 mm thick consists of a paper layer smeared with zinc paste on one side and manganese dioxide on the other. Ions, flowing between the reagents through the pores of the paper, create a potential difference. The battery develops a voltage of 1,5-3 volts. It is completely harmless from an environmental point of view, as it does not contain mercury, cadmium and other heavy metals. ... >>

Ocean under Beijing 08.07.2007

Seismic studies have made it possible to discover under East Asia, at depths of 600 and 1200 kilometers (this is the lower layer of the mantle), huge reserves of water. The pores of the mantle rocks here contain as much water as in the entire Arctic Ocean. The center of this deep reservoir is located in the Beijing area. It is believed that the water was "pushed" so deeply by the movement of tectonic plates under the Pacific Ocean about a hundred million years ago. This water betrayed itself by dampening the seismic waves that propagate through the Earth during earthquakes. ... >>

Asthma treated with radio waves 07.07.2007

A new method of asthma treatment is used at the University of Hamilton (Canada). Under light anesthesia and X-ray control, a thin antenna is launched into the lungs of the patient, emitting radio waves of the same range as in microwave ovens. It warms up the muscle tissue of the bronchi to 10 degrees Celsius for 65 seconds. The experiments were carried out on a group of 112 asthmatics, half of whom received only conventional medications, and the other half also received microwave treatment. As a result, patients in the experimental group had half as many attacks of the disease per year as compared to those treated with drugs alone. ... >>

Boat on autopilot 06.07.2007

Employees of the Institute for the Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg (Germany) have created an automatic navigation system for river vessels. This river autopilot operates on the basis of information received from satellite navigation devices, radar and electronic maps of the fairway embedded in the computer. The system regularly receives by radio fresh data on changes in the water level in the river. The autopilot has so far been installed on two experimental boats, and in the future, after testing and improvement, it will be able to be used on large vessels up to 250 meters long. He will not be trusted to navigate a vessel without human supervision, but will be of great help when driving in fog and in other difficult situations. ... >>

Pharmacist robot 06.07.2007

A robot has been serving in one of the pharmacies in the French town of Fash-Tyumenil since last year. When a customer arrives with a prescription, the pharmacist enters the prescription into the computer, the robot selects the right medicines by reading their barcodes on boxes and jars, and puts the medicines on a conveyor belt, which takes the purchase to the dispensing window. ... >>

Non-ferrous metals turned black 05.07.2007

In one of the laboratories of the University of Rochester (USA), they found a way to blacken the surface of metals using a laser, so much so that the treated surface absorbs almost 100 percent of the light, practically turning into a completely black body. A series of laser light pulses with a duration of several billionths of a second melts microscopic pits in the metal, in which the light rays are confused, repeatedly reflected from the walls and absorbed by them. So scientists were able to blacken the surface of gold, copper, platinum, aluminum, zinc and tungsten. Presumably, the method is suitable for any metals. Since, due to the many microscopic potholes, the area of ​​the treated surface is greatly increased, the reaction method also increases. ... >>

New copper mine in Germany 04.07.2007

It is hard to believe, but in the center of Europe, which has long been studied geologically, on the border between Brandenburg and Saxony, a new deposit of copper ore has been discovered. On a plot measuring 14 by 3 kilometers, at a depth of one and a half kilometers, there are approximately one and a half million tons of copper ore. True, analyzes showed a copper content of only two percent. This means that only 30 thousand tons of pure copper can be smelted, while the German industry annually consumes more than a million tons of copper. Apparently, the deposit will be mothballed until the time when the price of copper rises significantly. ... >>

Part of the brain responsible for nicotine addiction 04.07.2007

American Nathan N was a passionate smoker: for 24 years he smoked two packs of strong cigarettes without a filter every day. But after a stroke, he quit smoking literally the next day - he just got sick of it. At the University of Iowa Clinic (USA), using a tomograph, it was found that a certain small area of ​​the so-called prefrontal cortex of the brain was damaged in the patient. Interested in this case, the scientists found 19 more smokers with this localization of brain damage. It turned out that 12 of them, that is, 63%, also immediately got rid of a long-term habit after a stroke. The prefrontal cortex deals with the emerging needs of the body and their translation into conscious actions. It is believed that it is in one of its sections that the desire to smoke “sits”. ... >>

The monkeys are arming 03.07.2007

Biologists studying chimpanzees in southeastern Senegal have discovered that these monkeys have begun to hunt with spears. Chimpanzees living in the Senegal savanna often hunt green monkeys, but adult males eat their prey almost completely, leaving almost nothing for females and juveniles. Therefore, the oppressed classes found their own way to get meat. They make short spears from tree branches, sharpening one end with their teeth, and with this weapon they hunt galago lemurs. Galagos are nocturnal animals, and during the day they usually hide in hollow trees. The chimpanzee strikes the hollow with force with a spear, repeating the blow several times, and if there was a lemur, after that it remains only to extract the prey. Moreover, Senegalese chimpanzees during the dry season, during the intense heat, hide in caves, where it is much colder. Perhaps this is the beginning of the transition to life in caves, as was the case with prehistoric man. And one of the biologists says that he would not be surprised if the walls of these caves soon ... >>

petrified bread 02.07.2007

During excavations in the center of the city of Reims (France), the remains of a Roman villa burned down more than 2000 years ago were found. The fire spared the wooden tray, on which lay buns and three amphoras, one of them contained grains of wheat. Bread, burnt in a fire, has become completely petrified over the past centuries. ... >>

Mouse Anatomy News 02.07.2007

It would seem that the laboratory white mouse has been studied up and down, but the immunologist Hans-Reimer Rodewald from the University of Ulm (Germany) was able to find a new, previously unknown organ in her. This is a substitute for the thymus gland, where immune cells are produced - T-lymphocytes and some important hormones. The new gland is much smaller than the thymus and lies not in the chest, but in the neck of the mouse. Biologists believe that it makes sense to look for a second thymus gland in humans. ... >>

edible cotton 01.07.2007

The plant itself needs the white cotton fiber so valued by man only in order to spread seeds through the wind. Therefore, even in cultivars bred to make the fiber as long as possible, there are 1,65 kilograms of seeds per kilogram of "cotton wool". They are rich in high-quality protein, but cannot be eaten by humans, as they contain the poisonous substance gossypol (ruminants still digest gossypol with their complex stomach, so cotton seeds can be used for fodder). Indian geneticist Kirti Ratore managed to develop a cotton variety by genetic engineering, the content of gossypol in the seeds of which is about 30 times lower than the level dangerous to humans. Moreover, in other parts of the plant, this poison, necessary for protection against insects, remained. In the 30s of the last century, a variety was already obtained that was completely devoid of gossypol, but it could not resist the pests. If you replace all the cotton in the fields of the world with a new variety, it will be able to provide protein food every year. ... >>

New RS-485 transceivers 28.06.2007

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the MAX485E/MAX13487E half-duplex RS13488 transceivers. A feature of these microcircuits is the presence of the AutoDirection Control function, which automatically enables the driver to work during data transfer. This feature eliminates the need for a transmitter enable control input, resulting in space and component savings in isolated instrumentation, automotive and industrial applications. The MAX13487E provides +15 kV ESD protection according to the IEC 61000-4-2 AirGap Method. At the same time, both microcircuits provide protection against static electricity discharges of +15 kV when tested according to the Human Body Model method. The transmitters of the MAX13487E chip have a slew rate limit and provide a reduced level of EMI. ... >>

Digital tachograph adapter 26.06.2007

Erco&Gener announced the launch of the digital tachograph adapter Genl0400. The device allows you to connect the Diagnosis or INFO output of a digital tachograph, which most modern cars are equipped with, directly to the input of the GenLock31E GSM modem via the RS-232 interface. Thus, the tachograph data is transmitted to the GSM modem, which allows using the built-in Open AT application to remotely monitor the speed and movement of the vehicle. ... >>

New isolated 125W AC/DC converter with two outputs 24.06.2007

Mean Well has added two new models to its G3 series of AC/DC buck converters: RID-125-1205 and R1D-125-2405. The new 125W models without forced cooling are the same as the previous models of the G3 series in terms of main characteristics. However, all electrolytic capacitors used in them can withstand temperatures up to 105°C. In addition, the new modules withstand a short-term (5 sec) input voltage surge up to 300 V and vibration up to 5g, which allows them to be used in harsh environments. The voltage at the main output of the converter is switchable, 12 V or 24 V, and at the additional output - 5 V / 3 A to power the logic circuits. The new converters are designed for use in industrial automation, test equipment, cash and bank terminals, printers and plotters. Isolation between outputs and protection against short circuits and overloads complete the features of the new converters. ... >>

MAX16831 LED Driver 22.06.2007

Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the MAX16831, a high-power, high-voltage DC LED driver with analog or PWM controlled dimming. It integrates a floating current sensing amplifier and a dimmable MOSFET driver to reduce the number of elements and ensure high reliability when driving ultra-bright LEDs in general lighting and automotive applications. The MAX16831 chip is designed to work in harsh conditions of external influencing factors. The MAX 16831 has an input voltage operating range of 5,4 to 76 volts for compatibility with cold-on and load surge conditions (up to 80V). This IC is designed for high and low dispersion headlight units, adaptive front lighting systems, low beam headlamps and fog lamps, as it develops ... >>

New Microchip Instruments for Smart Sensors 20.06.2007

Microchip Technology Inc. announced the release of a family of digital signal controllers (Digital Signal Controller, DSC), designated dsPIC33FJ12GP. The novelties are particularly well suited for smart sensor applications because they are, firstly, the smallest DSCs in the world, secondly, have low power consumption, and, thirdly, are inexpensive. Embedded designers are often forced to separate sensors and processors because the size of the components does not allow everything to be located in one place without increasing the size of the sensors or repackaging the product. This, in turn, can adversely affect the performance and immunity of the system. With the dsPIC33FJ12GP, developers can place the signal processor close to the sensor, eliminating the source of interference and offloading the CPU. ... >>

Universal power controller for mobile applications 19.06.2007

National Semiconductor's LP3910 is a flexible Power Management Unit (PMU) solution that includes an integrated buck-boost converter and several different voltage regulators. In addition, the LP3910 has two separate inputs for powering the device and charging batteries from the USB bus or AC adapter. The integrated charge controller supports automatic switching of energy sources. The presence of a PC interface allows designers to change the electrical characteristics and modes of the power system, such as output voltage values ​​​​and options for switching power supplies for a specific application. In portable devices using 3,3V power, a boost-buck converter will extend battery life. Li-Ion battery, as the most popular choice for powering mobile applications, typically has an operating voltage range of 2,9V to 4,2V. When the battery ... >>

High-voltage ultra-bright LED drivers from IR 18.06.2007

Possible applications for these drivers are architectural and decorative lighting, color music, outdoor and indoor signaling. The 200V and 600V rated IRS254x series includes a hysteresis step-down regulator with a delay to control the average current to within 5% accuracy based on an accurate estimate of the difference between the current voltage and the maximum allowable voltage. An external high-level bootstrap circuit controls the operation of the key flyback stage at frequencies up to 500 kHz. The low level driver is used when the synchronous rectifier is running. The IRS254x series ICs compensate for variations in LED parameters to implement control devices with improved accuracy and high internal stability. The new ICs provide a micro-power start mode with less than 500 uA consumption and a 140 nsec switching pause. Other features of the new drivers are restart mode, latchless shutdown, PWM dimming capabilities. ... >>

New Solid State Relays International Rectifier 16.06.2007

Compared to its peers and predecessors, the PVN012A family has half the AC on-state resistance (Rdd(on)) and 37,5% higher AC load capacity at 100% duty cycle. The new relay series is also rated for the maximum impulse (overload) current. With low channel resistance and high current carrying capacity combined with a compact housing, the PVN012A relays outperform traditional electromechanical relays. They occupy a smaller area, are rated for high isolation voltage between input and output, have a stable open resistance throughout the entire service life, high sensitivity and high reliability, and are free from contact bounce. The new relays are rated for 20 V, with an on-state resistance of 50 mΩ AC and 15 mΩ DC. Current carrying capacity is 4 A AC and 6 A DC ... >>

New Chipset for Class D Audio Amplifiers 15.06.2007

The new IR solution reduces PCB area in Class D audio amplifiers up to 50W by 500% and cuts the required number of power switches in half. The chipset is designed for use in medium and high power audio amplifiers for home theaters, musical instruments, professional amplifiers and car radios. Using the IRS20955(S)(TR)PBF high and low level switch driver eliminates up to 27 external components from the circuit. A high level of protection is provided by an integrated programmable bi-directional current feedback with automatic reset capability, which allows the high voltage IC to determine the exact current position on the switching cycle diagram and optimize the performance of the current protection loop. IC-integrated protection features save up to 11 circuit components. ... >>

First 200V DirectFET Transistor from IR 13.06.2007

The new transistor is designed for use in isolated DC/DC converters powered by a universal bus (36...75 V). With ultra-low channel resistance (51mΩ) and low gate charge, the IRF6641TRPbF is ideal for synchronous rectifiers of high-efficiency, high-current, high-frequency DC/DC converters, the latest generation of bus converters, DC drive, and even 48V wind turbine converters. In addition, it can be used in high-current AC/DC converters of computers and telecommunications servers powered by a 48-volt bus. The new DirectFET MZ type transistor in SO-8 package dimensions and 0,7 mm package height provides 25 A current with minimal conduction and switching losses. It replaces up to 3 transistors in an SO-8 package and saves up to 50% PCB area. The transistor provides the efficiency of synchronous rectifiers up to 95% or the same level of efficiency that with twice the number of transistors in the circuit ... >>

Nanorobot Generator 12.06.2007

US scientists have made a device that can power a nanorobot. About a year ago, professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology (USA) Tsong Ling Wang proposed creating electricity generators for nanorobots using zinc oxide nanowires. This year, scientists under his leadership managed to realize the idea and make a prototype of a generator capable of delivering direct electric current. According to calculations, one cubic centimeter of such a generator can produce a huge voltage for a nanorobot - up to 4 V. The generator is arranged like this. Thousands of zinc oxide nanowires half a micron long have been grown on a gallium arsenide substrate. Between the wires and the substrate is a layer of zinc oxide - it collects electricity. And the second electrode consists of silicon oxide, on which thousands of bumps are grown, forming zigzag lines. These tubercles are covered with platinum and are capable of conducting current. Under the action of vibration, nanowires, firstly, generate electricity for ... >>

XNUMXD ultrasound 11.06.2007

German programmers offer a cheap way to obtain three-dimensional images using a conventional ultrasound device. A lot of interesting things can be seen inside the human body with the help of ultrasound - from kidney stones to tumors. However, a conventional device builds a two-dimensional picture. And for the surgeon to plan the operation, it would be useful to look at the three-dimensional image of the same tumor. Such devices appeared in the 90s, they are very expensive, more than 50 thousand euros, and only a rich clinic in a rich country can afford this equipment. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Technology figured out how to do the same for just 400 euros. “We have equipped a conventional ultrasonic instrument with inertial sensors that can accurately indicate the position and orientation of the emitter,” says project leader Dr. Urs Schneider. ... >>

Advertising poster look counter 10.06.2007

Canadian scientists have figured out how to count the people who look at this or that advertising poster. "For fifteen years we have been working on a device that will allow you to control a computer with your eyes as freely as a mouse. But it turned out that this technology can be used in advertising," says Roel Vertegaal, professor at Queen's University (Canada). The device invented by him and his colleagues is a miniature camera. From a distance of 20 meters, she will see if a person is looking at her. How much attention an advertisement attracts is estimated on the Internet by the number of clicks on a banner. In the case of other types of advertising, direct measurements are difficult. However, if you put a camera near a shield or a plasma screen that can "notice" that someone's gaze is directed at it, and even measure how long this gaze lingers on the object, then a control method will appear. Until recently, such devices were expensive and only worked at a distance of half a meter. ... >>

Plastic solar panels 08.06.2007

Scientists from the USA have brought the efficiency of plastic solar cells to 6%. Silicon solar cells are good because they convert 12% of the energy of the sunlight falling on them into electricity. However, their production is quite expensive, it cannot be said about the raw materials that it is inexhaustible, and the batteries themselves turn out to be heavy: complex supports must be built for them. Another thing is the polymer. It is thin, light, it can be synthesized even from oil, even from vegetable raw materials. And he is able to conduct current, and turn light into electricity, if, of course, the polymer is given the correct structure. But here's the problem - the efficiency of polymer solar cells does not exceed 3%. If it were to reach at least 8%, such material could already be used not for pilot plants, but on an industrial scale. Scientists from Wake Forest University (USA) have made another step towards plastic solar panels, having managed to double the efficiency of a polymer battery - up to 6%. The secret of success in the light-absorbing layer: in it ... >>

Pure Digital FlipVideo Camcorder 07.06.2007

Budget camcorders also have a right to exist. Here is one example. Cheap ($150) and compact device FlipVideo from Pure Digital has an original design and ease of use. To record a video, you just need to press one key located on the device case. 1 GB of internal memory allows you to record up to 60 minutes of video at 640x480 resolution and 30 fps. The camera has a 1,5-inch display and TV-out. AA battery powered. ... >>

IBM Blue Gene supercomputer 05.06.2007

Ten years ago, IBM Deep Blue beat world chess champion Garry Kasparov. Now the leading places in the ranking of the most high-performance supercomputers are occupied by its direct descendants from the Blue Gene series. The fastest of these is installed at the Livermore National Laboratory of the US Department of Energy: it uses 131 Cell Broadband Engine processors to process approximately 280 trillion. operations per second. ... >>

cool mice 04.06.2007

Bruno Conti of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla (California, USA) genetically modified the perception of body temperature by the brain of mice, as if by shifting the "thermostat" in the brain. The body temperature of mice became lower by 0,3-0,5 degrees Celsius, and as a result they lived 10% longer than normal mice. In absolute terms, the increase was about three months. If such an operation were performed on a person, his life would be extended by 7-8 years. ... >>

Etruscans and their cows 02.06.2007

The origin of the Etruscans is obscure and incomprehensible. This people, who settled on the Apennine Peninsula before the Romans, subsequently conquered and assimilated by them, developed a high culture, left inscriptions in an extremely peculiar language, not fully deciphered until now, created large buildings and amazing works of art. But where the Etruscans came from is unknown. Italian geneticists from the Catholic University of Piacenza studied the mitochondrial DNA of cattle in the part of Italy where the Etruscans lived, and came to the conclusion that, in terms of their genetics, local breeds of cows are closest to those found in the Middle East, in Anatolia and the Levant. Isn't that where their owners came from? By the way, Herodotus wrote that the Etruscans came from Asia Minor. Unfortunately, such a genetic analysis of the people who now inhabit Tuscany will not allow us to confirm or refute this assumption, since people are much more mobile in their movements than cows, and the Etruscan genes have long been dissolved ... >>

Sunny Seville 01.06.2007

In the Spanish province of Seville, a solar power plant with a capacity of 11 megawatts has been launched. More than a hundred mirrors follow the Sun and concentrate its light on a steam boiler, which is mounted on top of an 80-meter tower. Steam rotates a turbine with an electric generator, as in a conventional thermal power plant. There is a thermal accumulator, which allows not to stop the operation of the station for an hour if a cloud has come up. Seville usually has 320 sunny days a year. The solar power plant will be further expanded and by 2010 will turn into a complex with a total capacity of 302 megawatts. ... >>

Platform-in-a-box technology for the ZigBee standard 30.05.2007

Freescale Semiconductor has unveiled an implementation of a single-chip system development platform based on the ZigBee standard. This solution provides the lowest power consumption and highest performance in the industry. The MC1322x platform is designed to provide a battery life of up to 20 years and outperforms existing ZigBee solutions by a factor of two. Freescale's MC1322x platform integrates individual components of a ZigBee system into a single package and reduces the number of external components and system cost using Platform in Package (PiP) technology. The MC1322x contains a 32-bit microcontroller (MC), a fully IEEE 802.15.4 compliant transceiver, balun, and RF matching elements. All this is housed in a small-sized LGA package and eliminates the need for external RF components. This platform features a TurboLink mode designed to increase ... >>

New family of micropower comparators 27.05.2007

National Semiconductor, a leading provider of high-end analog signal processing products, has launched a family of micro-power, high-speed comparators. The LMH7322 is a dual comparator that has low power consumption (21 mA nominal) and a propagation delay of less than 1 ns (700 ps nominal). The LMH7220 features LVDS (Differential Data Transfer Method) and RSPECL (Row Peak Positive Emitter Coupled Logic) outputs. National Semiconductor will begin testing a quad comparator with a specification similar to the LMH7322 in late 2007. The LMH7220 is a high-speed, low-power single comparator with a supply voltage range of 2,7V to 12V. 325 ohm transmission line, providing a balanced output with low sensitivity to noise and EMI (electromagnetic interference) for interfacing with ... >>

MiniSKiiP with thermal paste application 25.05.2007

SEMIKRON offers its customers a new service: the supply of MiniSKiiP miniature IGBT modules with a pre-applied layer of thermally conductive paste. This option allows you to simplify the installation process by eliminating an important and critical technological step, improve the thermal performance of the structure and ensure a high repeatability of the production process. To ensure high stability of thermal parameters, SEMIKRON uses heat-conducting pastes from leading European manufacturers: Wacker P12 (silicone-based) and Electrolube HTC. The new option provides the following advantages: quick and easy installation of modules on the heat sink, the ability to automate production; optimal thickness of the paste layer, reducing the risk of damage to the MiniSKiiP ceramic base; optimal paste distribution in the gap, uniform heat dissipation, minimum thermal resistance; good temporal stability of thermal characteristics. ... >>

High Efficiency Buck Switching Regulators 23.05.2007

The ROHM BD9778F and BD9778HFP step-down switching regulators contain an internal oscillator and a field effect transistor (DMOSFET) for 36V (max) and 2A current. On-state resistance 0,53 ohm (typ). The operating frequency (50...500 kHz) is set by an external resistor. Ultra-low standby current (0 µA typ.) minimizes power consumption in designs. The high reliability of regulators operating in an extended temperature range (-40...125°C) is ensured by built-in overcurrent protection, thermal protection, a high level of ESD protection (4 kV) and an integrated soft start function. High reference voltage accuracy (+2%), 90% conversion efficiency and wide input voltage range (5V...35V) make these devices ideal for use in a wide variety of applications. The regulators are available in SOP8 (BD9778H) and HRP7 (BD9778HFP) packages. ... >>

New delta-sigma ADC 20.05.2007

Microchip has released the MCP3421, a new high-precision 18-bit delta-sigma ADC with a differential input, a built-in 2,048 V reference, a programmable input amplifier (HI, 2, 4, 8), a 2-wire PC interface with selectable conversion frequency ( 3,75...240 samples/s). МСР3421 operates in two modes: a) periodic conversion, b) single conversion (1 sample/s) - the ADC automatically enters standby mode after conversion, which significantly reduces its own consumption. High conversion accuracy, low power consumption, and a tiny SOT-23 package make Microchip's new delta-sigma ADC ideal for a wide range of battery-powered applications. Main features: 18-bit delta-sigma ADC, differential input, supply voltage range 2,7...5,5 V, auto-calibration of offset and gain before each conversion cycle, built-in voltage reference 2,048 V + 0,05% s stability ... >>

Intelligent Time Synchronization Antenna for GPS 18.05.2007

Trimble Navigation announced the launch of the new Acutime Gold smart antenna for GPS. The antenna is an integration of the latest GPS technology in a compact package ready to be used in any system. The device combines a GPS receiver and an antenna itself. When the power is connected, the antenna automatically captures satellite signals and determines its position with an accuracy of up to a meter. Then the device switches to the time synchronization mode and generates a pulse signal with a frequency of 1 Hz, synchronized along the edge with the UTC time signal with an accuracy of +15 ns, while a time stamp is formed at the output for each pulse. The antenna is equipped with an RS-422 interface, which allows you to transmit a signal without interference over long wire lines. The case of the device is resistant to moisture and corrosion. The device complies with the RoHS directive. Operating temperature range - -40...85 C. ... >>

New car steering angle sensor 15.05.2007

In the automotive industry today, the development of electrical and electronic systems such as hybrid electric vehicles and electric power steering meet the challenges of fuel economy and driving comfort. In this case, the electric power steering should be equipped with angle sensors to determine the angle of rotation and torque. In the past, magnetic sensors have been used for this purpose, such as sensors based on a hall element or a coordinate converter. However, most of these devices are installed inside and near electric motors or generators that require protection from magnetic noise. Sumida's rotor angle sensor is designed by its German VOGT Electronic Components division using a non-ferromagnetic structure and has a high operating frequency. This unique development makes it possible to achieve immunity to magnetic interference noise of electric motors. The product does not require fixing on the rotary axis, and is suitable for various ... >>

New two-stage current sensors 14.05.2007

Texas Instruments introduced two current sensors with a common-mode input voltage range of -16V to 80V. The INA270 and INA271 have a two-stage architecture and are designed for applications where input signal filtering is required. To solve the problems encountered when measuring low shunt voltage drops in the presence of high common mode voltage, filter circuits can be inserted between the INA270 and INA271 stages to maintain a buffered output voltage. As a result, when driving ADCs or low-impedance loads, no additional amplifiers are required. The range of common-mode voltages at the input of INA270 and INA271 is from -16 V (reverse voltage of a car battery) to voltages during short-term overloads of +80 V. At the same time, the voltage range for supplying devices from a single source is from +2,7 V to +18 V. The devices differ high accuracy (maximum error no more than 3% over the entire temperature range ... >>

New logarithmic amplifier from TI 12.05.2007

Texas Instruments has introduced a new precision high-speed (1µs transient) logarithmic amplifier that produces an output voltage or current as the natural or decimal logarithm of the input voltage or current. LOG114 has a dynamic range of 8 decades and implements the logarithm function without the use of external components. The LOG114 is specifically designed to amplify the photodiode output of fiber optic cables in communication systems. The LOG114 can also be used to measure absorbance in medical and industrial applications, and to match its input dynamic range to that of an ADC. The QFN-16 package allows the amplifier to be used in compact plug-in modules and multi-channel systems. High speed and wide dynamic range (27 bit equivalent; 100 pA to 10 mA input) with high accuracy make the LOG114 suitable for ... >>

Memory chip based on magnetoresistive structures 08.05.2007

Frcescalc Semiconductor has released the world's first magnetoresistive memory (MRAM) chip, the stand-alone MR2A16A module with 4 MB of memory. The new type of memory has a unique set of characteristics - non-volatility with an unlimited number of cycles and high write speed. This memory technology, which uses magnetic moments to store the state of bits instead of electrical charges, has become fully commercially viable. MRAM technology has all the necessary properties to become "universal memory", successfully combining the main advantages of various types of non-volatile and random access memory. In addition, there are a number of unique features that open up broad market opportunities for this device. To date, the first complete product of the MRAM chip is available - MR2A16A with a memory capacity of 4 Mbps. So far, this microcircuit is produced only in the temperature range 0. ... >>

A sensor in bed monitors an elderly person 06.05.2007

British scientists have created a sensor system that allows you to monitor an elderly person. As the share of old people in the population of developed countries grows, which is caused both by improved medical care, and an increase in the standard of living, and a decrease in the birth rate, the task arises: to provide the elderly with a comfortable independent life and enable young relatives to monitor the health of their separately living loved ones. . One version of such a system was created by scientists from the University of Southampton, led by professors Bashir al-Hashimi and David de Roor. Its basis is a wireless network of sensors embedded in a variety of home furnishings. These sensors will constantly monitor the surrounding space and record changes in the state of health. For example, a weight sensor built into the bed mattress detects the movements of the person lying on it. Sensors in the bathroom and toilet will allow you to monitor the use of the bathroom and notice problems in time. ... >>

Fill your cell phone with syrup 04.05.2007

US scientists have created a polymer battery that runs on a sugar solution. A portable fuel cell is something that should replace a regular cell phone or laptop battery. However, so far, methanol claims to be the fuel for it - a poisonous and inaccessible substance. At the same time, there is always another source of energy at hand - sugar. Therefore, the idea of ​​making an element that runs on a solution of sugar seems very attractive. Bacteria usually produce electricity from sugar. Scientists from St. Louis University, led by Dr. Shelley Minteer, decided to go further. Why feed an entire bacterium, when it is enough to take the only enzyme that breaks down a sugar molecule and is able to transfer the electron obtained in the process to the electrical network? They sewed this enzyme, NAD-dependent glucose dehydrogenase, together with the mediators accompanying its work, to a membrane of chitosan, which, in turn, is obtained from the chitinous shells of crustaceans and on ... >>

Buildings of the future 03.05.2007

British scientists have come up with two types of materials for the houses of the future. “The butyblocks we developed, from the word bitumen, serve as an excellent replacement for concrete. And most importantly, they are 100% waste,” says Dr. John Fort from the University of Leeds. According to his idea, first you need to mix broken glass, smelter slag, sewage sludge, incinerator ash, and pulverized ash from thermal power plants. Then add melted bitumen obtained from the processing of old tires, and pour into molds. Next, the blanks are placed in an oven, heated, the bitumen oxidizes and becomes six times stronger than concrete. True, the author of the work does not mention whether any harmful substances are emitted in a building built from such blocks, which are found in excess in both slag and ash. But among the future plans is the creation of vegeblocks, where vegetable oil waste will be used. Other material for the house does not cause any complaints with ... >>

Hydrogen biofuel 01.05.2007

American scientists have figured out how to increase the yield of fuel generated during the processing of straw and other agricultural waste. The production of fuel from agricultural waste in the US and Western Europe is considered one of the ways to save both from global warming and from oil dependence. One of the processing methods is high-temperature pyrolysis: straw or other garbage is heated without oxygen access and converted into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Then hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide are obtained from this mixture, into which up to 60% of the carbon atoms present in the straw pass. "This is because biomass is viewed as a source of energy. And we decided to look at it as a source of hydrocarbons and utilize all the carbon fixed by the plant during photosynthesis," says Professor Rakesh Agrawal from Purdue University. To solve this problem, scientists added hydrogen to the reactor: combining with carbon, it began to produce hydrocarbons. "Now I ... >>

Wavecom CM52 - new automotive range wireless processor 30.04.2007

Wavecom has announced the commercial availability of a new "wireless processor" (Wireless CPU), designated Wavecom CM52. Designed specifically for automotive applications, the device is designed to operate in an extended temperature range and has a reinforced housing that is resistant to severe vibration. In addition, the CM52 has multiple RF connectors, making it easy to connect to on-board systems. The processor supports CDMA and is the second CDMA product of its kind in the Wavecom range. Unlike the CM52, the Q2438 model is made in a form factor typical of the rest of the Wavecom Q24 series - due to this, as the manufacturer believes, it provides an easy way to switch between CDMA and other technologies without requiring changes to the mechanical part of the design. Both products provide voice, packet data (1xRTT), SMS and circuit switched data. ... >>

New power supplies for LEDs 27.04.2007

Mean Well has announced the launch of a new series of LED power supplies - PLN-30. These are case-type AC/DC converters with active power correction function. They fully comply with the requirements of UL1310 class 2 - under no circumstances will the output power of this series of power supplies exceed 100 VA, and the output current - 5 A. This significantly reduces the risk of electric shock for personnel who install advertising panels and "marquee" systems. on LEDs. The protection class of the housings of the new converters against dust and moisture allows them to be used both indoors and outdoors. The conversion efficiency is 86%, and the operating ambient temperature is from -30 to +50°C. ... >>

NXP is preparing an ultra-compact Wi-Fi chip 25.04.2007

NXP Semiconductors has almost completed the development and is ready to start shipping test samples of the ultra-small BGM220 chip designed to implement the Wi-Fi 802.11b/g wireless interface in compact portable self-powered devices: mobile phones, communicators, smartphones and portable game consoles. The design of the novelty is based on the ideas of its predecessor BGW211 and includes a transceiver designed to work with a single antenna and a Wi-Fi 802.11g controller. The chip measures 5x5mm and will be available in an 81-pin TFBGA package that supports the SDIO/SPI interface. NXP BGM220 already has a set of drivers for all operating systems used in portable devices: Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Symbian and Linux. ... >>

EEPROM in a new miniature package 22.04.2007

In March 2007, ST Microelectronics announced the release of EEPROM chips familiar to everyone (capacity from 2 to 64 kbit; with SPI or 12C interface) in a miniature 2x3 mm MLP8 (ML - Micro Leadframe) design. In terms of its performance, the new development is comparable to its predecessor, a 4x5 mm chip (in the S08N package). However, the novelty can significantly save space on the printed circuit board, as well as reduce the cost of the final device. STMicroelectronics is the first company to bring to market a complete line of EEPROM series in such a small package. A super-thin case (only 0,6 mm) with flat leads located on both sides, the number of memory cycles up to 1 million (!), the ability to store the necessary data for more than 40 years - all this makes the microcircuit a worthy representative of its family. The new development is intended for applications in wide areas of modern microelectronics: digital photo and video cameras, miniature MP3 players, various ... >>

Robot emotions 20.04.2007

According to British scientists from the University of Hertfordshire, a domestic robot should be able to learn to live with people. “If robots are to be integrated into people’s daily lives in the future, they should not be machines that can be taken off the shelf in the store and immediately started using. The robot must learn how it should behave in a given situation. And for this you need teach him to recognize and show emotions.For example, if a person is crying, the robot needs to understand: whether to go to help him or better to hide somewhere, so as not to interfere, "says Lola Cañamero, coordinator of the FEELIX GROWING project, carried out under the Sixth Framework Program of the European Commission . The goal of this project is to develop an autonomous robot capable of interacting with people in everyday situations. Last year, Lola Cañamero already tried to take the robot she created out of the laboratory and agreed with the residents of a neighboring house to live with them. Resulting ... >>

There is a stolen masterpiece of art 19.04.2007

The development of German scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Technological Design will help catch stolen works of art. Today there are impressive databases of stolen masterpieces. However, it is difficult for the inspector who prepares the auction to search for an item among many thousands of its kind. Now the job will be easier. It will be enough to take a picture or sculpture with a cell phone camera and send its image to the data storage. "Our program recognizes similar shapes in two images by outlines and color. At the same time, poor quality of the photo, such as traces of flash or increased brightness, will not knock it off the trail," says Dr. Bertram Nicolai, head of the work. ... >>

Virtual shoe fitting 18.04.2007

German programmers have made a virtual mirror that allows you to quickly try on all the shoes in the store. The abundance on store shelves leads to the problem of choice: you want to try everything on, but it takes time. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications and the Heinrich Hertz Institute (Germany) decided to help fashionistas: they created a virtual mirror and agreed with a store on the Champs Elysees in Paris to install it there. Unlike the usual one, the virtual mirror captures the position of the client's legs and feet with the help of a camera and projects the image onto the screen. From the database, the program selects the required pair of shoes and puts them on the foot in the image. "Thanks to new algorithms for processing three-dimensional images, the program is so fast that it has time to reproduce the movements of the client in real time," says Jurgen Rurainski, one of the creators of the virtual mirror. ... >>

Music lessons develop intelligence 17.04.2007

Anyone who in childhood was forced to study music by their parents should be grateful to them. Even if the classes were under duress, you did not become a professional musician and do not sometimes play for your own pleasure, these lessons helped develop your brain. Canadian psychologist E. Schellenberg from the University of Toronto showed that six-year-old children who were taught piano or singing lessons for a year score 5 to 6 points higher in IQ tests than their peers who did not take such lessons. But Schellenberg wanted to find out whether further musical education caused an additional increase in intelligence, so he examined not only children aged 6 to 12, but also college students. It turned out that a six-year study of music or singing increases the IQ in children by an average of 7,5 points, and this has a positive effect on school grades in subjects far from music - in mathematics, reading and spelling. College students have ... >>

transparent clay 16.04.2007

Japanese scientists have created a new composite material from a hydrophobic polymer of polyethoxymethyl acrylate and hydrophilic clay of volcanic origin. Unexpectedly, the new material was elastic and transparent, and the transparency is maintained when the proportion of clay is increased to 30 weight percent. Unlike clay, the composite does not swell upon contact with water, and unlike a polymer, it does not dissolve with organic solvents. The possibility of practical application of the new material is considered. ... >>

The aliens didn't find us 15.04.2007

According to calculations by astronomer Rasmus Björk of the Nips Bohr Institute in Copenhagen (Denmark), eight interstellar robotic probes flying at a speed of one tenth of the speed of light will take one hundred thousand years to search for intelligent life in 40 star systems. If we study in this respect all 260 thousand stars located in that zone of the Galaxy where life is possible, then the survey will take almost 10 billion years. True, with the help of ground-based and near-Earth telescopes, it is possible to select in advance only those star systems in which the presence of planets suitable for life is possible. But with such a time frame, it is likely that a civilization that sent probes to search for brothers in mind will simply lose interest in research begun by distant ancestors at least a hundred thousand years ago. Therefore, it is not surprising that other civilizations have not yet contacted us - just like we have with them, by the way. ... >>

Platelets in an oil pipeline 14.04.2007

In case of any injury, the blood brings to the place of rupture of the blood vessel special blood cells - platelets, which form a blood clot and plug the hole with their bodies. The Scottish firm Brinker Technology proposes to launch artificial platelets into pipelines, which will be carried by the current to the leak site and block the hole that has appeared. The first experiments carried out on oil pipelines were successful: "platelets" of a cubic shape made of soft plastic plugged the hole. According to the developers, the method can also be used to protect against leaks of other liquids, it is only necessary to choose a material that does not dissolve in this liquid, does not sink and does not float. Soon, Brinker Technology hopes to get the approval of the authorities to conduct a similar experiment on the city's water supply. ... >>

Dove visual memory 12.04.2007

Employees of the Mediterranean Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience in Marseille (France) studied the visual memory of pigeons. By showing birds hundreds of images and teaching them to peck at a certain button if the picture is already familiar, psychologists have found that a pigeon's visual memory can store up to 1200 images. Given the very small size of the brain of a pigeon, this is very good. For example, baboons are able to memorize up to 6000 images. What explains such a good visual memory of pigeons is not yet clear, but it is assumed that it helps birds in navigation. ... >>

Solar panels on aircraft wings 10.04.2007

The world's first solar unmanned aerial vehicle was created by British engineers. A light aircraft with a wingspan of 16 meters, named "Zephyr", weighs less than 30 kilograms. The wings are covered with high-efficiency solar panels that power two electric propeller motors and charge 40 lithium batteries. During the day, in full sun, the Zephyr rises to a height of 18 meters, at night, powered by batteries, it drops to 300 meters and waits for sunrise. After some improvement, Zephyr will be able to fly without landing for three months, but so far the highest achievement is 15 hours of flight, of which seven are at night. This aircraft, equipped with video cameras, will find application in science, economic activity, and fire protection. The possibility of using it for military purposes is also provided. So far, three prototypes have been made. ... >>

Africa feeds Brazil 09.04.2007

It has long been known that the rainforests in the Amazon Basin receive a lot of mineral nutrients from dust from the Sahara blown across the Atlantic. Recently, Israeli, British and American scientists managed to find out details about this process. Measurements of the amount of dust in the air over the territory of Africa, over the ocean and the Amazon, as well as satellite images showed that about 50 million tons of dust are brought to South America from the Sahara annually. And most of it is picked up by the wind in the Bodele Valley in northern Chad, which is considered the most dusty corner of the world. The wind speed in this funnel-shaped depression between two mountain ranges reaches 50 kilometers per hour, fine dust and fine sand rise into the air. ... >>

This dangerous wind power 07.04.2007

At the Altamont Pass, east of San Francisco Bay (USA), a large wind farm has been operating for about thirty years. More than 70 wind turbines were installed here in the 5000s of the last century, and without any preliminary environmental impact assessment. Now it turned out that windmills are dangerous for birds. The Altamont Pass is known for its strong and almost constant winds, but at the same time it is an important migration route for many bird species. According to ecologists, from 900 to 1300 birds perish annually under the blades of wind turbines, including those listed in the Red Book. While the owners of the power plant will have to turn off half of the windmills for two months, the other half in the next two months. It is hoped that these measures will reduce the death of birds. In the future, there are plans to replace the wind turbines with more modern ones, installed on higher towers, so that birds crash into them less often. Another drawback seen with wind turbines is that they can interfere ... >>

The silence of the crickets 05.04.2007

Field crickets living on the Hawaiian island of Kauai have largely stopped making sounds. The fact is that the song of a cricket is intended to attract a female, but small parasitic flies flock to the sound, laying their testicles on the cricket, from which larvae emerge, devouring the singer. Therefore, in 90% of crickets, the shape of the edges of the wings has changed in recent years. The crickets continue to rub their wings against their legs, but there is no sound. Apparently, this is the result of natural selection: males with normal wings make sounds and therefore often die from parasites. The survey showed that 30% of singing crickets and only 0% of silent crickets were infected with parasites. How then do silent crickets reproduce? They find a singing brother and intercept females from him, entomologists believe, two scenarios are possible: either the singing insects will completely disappear and the entire population will die out after them, or some balance will be established. Silent crickets survive better, but singing crickets reproduce more actively. Meanwhile ... >>

Camel Dairy Farm 04.04.2007

A fully automated dairy farm with camels began operating in the fall of 2006 in the Arab principality of Dubai. About 2000 liters of milk are obtained here from 230 camels per day, and milking takes place without human intervention. In the future, the number of the farm is going to increase to a thousand. Although milk yields from camels are low, their milk contains five times more vitamin C and half as much fat as cow's milk. The long-chain fatty acids present in it reduce blood cholesterol levels. Camel milk is well digested even by people who are not able to digest cow's milk, and most of them in Asia. The only drawback of camel milk is that it is impossible to get cheese from it. But the problem can be solved by adding some enzymes to the milk. By the way, in India they began to make ice cream from camel milk. ... >>

What do poisonous mushrooms smell like? 02.04.2007

Poisonous plants and animals, as a rule, are distinguished by a bright color that warns that they should not be touched. Although the poison itself is a good defense, but until the aggressor dies from poisoning, he will have time to cause significant harm. Why do poisonous mushrooms most often not have bright colors and look similar to edible ones? Canadian biologist Thomas Sherratt thought about this question. Together with collaborators, he conducted a detailed analysis of the characteristics of poisonous mushrooms in North America and Europe. It turned out that poisonous mushrooms, as a rule, differ from edible ones not by their bright color, but by a special smell. Perhaps they have a specific taste, but biologists did not begin to check this on themselves. What explains the fact that poisonous mushrooms communicate their toxicity not by color, but by smell? Most likely, the fact that the main lovers of mushrooms in nature, for example, slugs and hedgehogs, feed mainly at night and at dusk, when color vision does not work. ... >>

32-bit microcontrollers with record low power consumption 31.03.2007

Atmel Corporation has announced a 32-bit microcontroller, which, according to the company in its press release, has the lowest power consumption in the industry. Based on the Atmel AVR32 UC core, the UC3A series microcontrollers have 512KB flash memory, an integrated 10/100Mbps Ethernet MAC controller, a full speed (12Mbps) USB 2.0 interface with OTO support (on the go) and a connection of external SRAM/SDRAM memory. The new microcontrollers are designed for network and PC-based applications, and especially for portable devices. The first products in the series, the AT32UC3A0512 and AT32UC3A1512, provide 80 DM IPS (Drystone MIPS) performance at 66 MHz, consuming 40 mA when powered by 3,3 V. Power consumption is 1,65 mW/ DMIPS, which, according to the company, is four times lower than that of analogues built on a different architecture. AVR32 UC core uses Harvard architecture with three-stage pipeline ... >>

New silent Omron relays 30.03.2007

Omron has introduced a novelty - a "silent" power relay G5RL-LN, which is a continuation of the development of the G2R / G2RL series and has a similar installation place on the board. The relay is offered with a single pole coil and normally open (SPST-NO) contacts, while being only 15,7mm high it is capable of switching up to 12A at 220VAC. Versions are also available with a switching current of up to 16 A. The relay has a standard range of operating coil voltages of 5 V, 12 V and 24 V, while its power consumption is 530 mW. The sound pressure level of the G5RL-LN relay is no more than 45 dB at a distance of 15 cm, which makes the switching process almost silent. In addition, the company introduced the G5RL-HR relay to the market, which withstands inrush currents up to 100 A. It was specially designed for use in applications such as controlling fluorescent lamps and incandescent lamps. New relay versions have been added to the popular low series ... >>

New LDO controller BD3574HFP 29.03.2007

New regulator with 5V/500mA output voltage and current, featuring high voltage tolerance (50V), high output voltage accuracy (+2%), lower on-resistance, high ESD immunity and short-circuit current protection circuit to reduce heat, ideal for use with microcontrollers and memory chips in automotive electronics. The new chip also features low power consumption (30 µA in operating mode and 10 µA in standby mode). ... >>

New line of current sensors 28.03.2007

Honeywell has announced a new line of CSCA-A direct amplification current sensors based on the Hall effect. The sensors are primarily intended for low cost applications where the lowest cost is the most important factor. The sensors are ideal for low cost motor controllers, switching power supplies and welding machines. Despite the very low cost, they retain the high performance and functionality inherent in ordinary representatives of this product class. These are mainly the ability to measure direct, alternating and pulsed currents, high insulation voltage, low power consumption, compact size and measurement current range from 50 A to 600 A. ... >>

Code Composer Studio - Platinum Edition 27.03.2007

CCStudio Platinum is a single integrated development, debugging and testing environment for all processors manufactured by Texas Instruments. The Platinum version of CCStudio includes support for TI's newest dual-core DaVinci processors and TMS320C64x+ DSPs, as well as a Component Manager that allows developers to easily install and try out a new compiler or DSP/BIOS core before migrating an entire project to it. The real-time DSP/BIOS core is used as the basis for software developed for TI processor-based DSP systems. Among the new kernel features is a power management API library that gives developers the ability to programmatically influence the voltage and frequency of the processor, turn off external devices, and perform other actions to reduce power consumption. Power management support is currently being rolled out to the TMS320C55x processors and will be rolled out to other platforms in the future. Also included in the core ... >>

Power supply PID-250 with two outputs 26.03.2007

Mean Well has released a new PID-250 power supply with two independent outputs for industrial automation and telecommunications systems and devices. The power of the product is 250 watts. Various output voltage options are available: 12 and 5V, 24 and 5V, 36 and 5V or 48 and 5V depending on the model. Versions of the new power supply are available in two designs: open board or housing. Power supplies have a universal input, a built-in power factor corrector, a set of protections, and operate in a wide temperature range from -20 to 70°C. A useful feature is the ability to remotely turn on/off the first output. ... >>

New programmable multi-channel 16-/14-bit ADCs 25.03.2007

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the MAX 16-MAX 14 and MAX 6-MAX 1300 family of 1303-/1032-1035-bit ADCs. These new devices feature a +12V input range for the first time in the industry. Integrated software allows the user to remotely configure each chip input to a specific voltage range. Each input channel can be programmed to use seven different input ranges for single-ended inputs and three different input ranges for differential inputs. The following programmable analog input voltage ranges are available: +24V, +12V, +6V, +3V, 0 to +12V, -12V to 0, 0 to +6V, and -6V to 0. This ADC family offers up to eight single-ended or four differential inputs, each of which can handle up to +16,5V input voltage. Compared to traditional products, this feature gives the customer more flexibility in choosing an ADC for design and allows ... >>

New digital camera reference design announced 24.03.2007

Texas Instruments Corporation, a leading manufacturer of semiconductor products, announced the development of a new reference design based on the DaVinci image processor that increases the performance of digital compact cameras "to the level of SLRs." The main advantage of the new idea is to increase the speed of serial shooting of digital compacts up to 5 frames per second. Recall that even entry-level and mid-level digital SLR cameras cannot boast of such speed, for example, the rate of fire of such models as the Canon EOS 400D, Nikon D80 and Sony DSLR-A100 is "only" 3 frames per second. The reference design includes Micron Technology's new 8-megapixel CMOS sensor and a proprietary high-definition (HD) video hardware codec capable of "bringing HD video to sub-$99 models." Moreover, according to the official press release, a new image stabilization system coupled with high performance ... >>

New Debug Platform for DaVinci Processors 23.03.2007

At the end of last year, Texas Instruments announced new DaVinci series processors, which are a version of the DM6446 chip without an ARM core. A distinctive feature of the TMS320DM643x is a very low price, which is not unimportant for the Russian video device market. The main obstacle to the use of these DSPs, even after the introduction of mass-produced chips, was the lack of development tools for them. But the manufacturer solved this problem by developing the TMS320DM6437 Digital Video Development Platform (DVDP). The price of the debugging platform continues the tradition of the family, being incredibly low. DM643x DSP-only DSPs are good at D264-resolution H.1 encoding for applications such as IP surveillance cameras. ... >>

Texas Instruments releases library for MSP430 and CC1100/CC2500 22.03.2007

One of the areas of application of the low-power MSP430 microcontroller is short-range wireless applications operating in the 433, 868, 2400 MHz ISM bands. The radio part in such applications is often based on the well-known Chipcon CC1100 and CC2500 chips for frequencies up to 1 and 2,4 GHz, respectively. The combination of MSP430 and CC1100/CC2500 allows you to create high-performance wireless connections with speeds up to 500 kbps. To facilitate interoperability between these products, Texas Instruments is releasing an open library of functions that avoids developing low-level interfaces when adding Chipcon wireless chips to a project. Interaction with Chipcon microcircuits is traditionally carried out through the SPI interface. Texas Instruments provides this library for all SPI implementations on MSP430 peripherals: USART0; USART1; USCIA0; USCIA1; USCIB0; USCIB1; USI; Bit-banging (emulation) with GPIO. Library provided with demo ... >>

Wireless mouse building kit from TI and Cypress 21.03.2007

Texas Instruments and Cypress Semiconductor have unveiled an initial design for a wireless mouse with a dual-channel 27 MHz receiver and reduced power consumption. Using easy-to-use, highly integrated, low-power ICs, this kit will allow designers to quickly develop and bring to market a wireless mouse and receiver combination. This reduces the number of elements, system power consumption and cost. TI's new TRF7900 dual-channel receiver integrates more than 20 discrete elements in a small footprint, reducing cost and simplifying receiver design, while giving designers the ability to select different frequencies than previous single-channel receivers could. The receiving system, designed to receive information transmitted by the mouse, decode it, transmit mouse movements and button presses to a personal computer via the USB bus, includes a two-channel ... >>

LG Closes Plasma Display Factory 20.03.2007

Traditionally, the flat panel TV market has been divided between LCD and plasma technologies in such a way that TVs with a diagonal. 20 "... 37" were produced using LCD technology, and from 40 "the realm of plasma came. However, gradually plasma panels began to lose ground, giving way to LCDs. So, Sony, for example, left the plasma panel market altogether, focusing on LCDs, and worldwide sales of plasma panels began to fall. Against this background, it seems quite logical that LG decided to close its oldest plasma panel factory. This measure will save the company from $ 22 to $ 32 million, and the monthly production will fall from 430 thousand. However, analysts believe that the best option for LG would be to follow the example of Sony and shut down the plasma industry completely. ... >>

Bioreactor for soldiers 19.03.2007

American engineers killed two birds with one stone: they learned to hide the traces of an army unit and provided it with a source of electricity. The supply of fuel, and even more so electricity, without which, for example, an American soldier equipped with electronics cannot take a step, has long been a stumbling block for the modern army. But the source of fuel is located very close to the consumer - these are leftovers, disposable tableware, rags and other garbage, which is formed in considerable quantities at the place where the military contingent is located. Moreover, garbage still needs to be destroyed in order to deprive enemy intelligence of valuable data. The garbage disposal plant was created by engineers from Purdue University (USA), headed by Professor Michael Ladish, and in case of successful tests, it will become part of the armaments of the American army. Garbage is first divided into edible and inedible parts. The first is sent to the bioreactor, and the yeast makes alcohol out of it. The second gasification ... >>

Hybrid nanotube and gold 18.03.2007

US scientists have combined a gold nanowire and a carbon nanotube. Nanotube electronics is a very beautiful idea. “Imagine: using a probe microscope, you take pieces of a carbon nanotube and lay them on a substrate, forming an electronic circuit on a nanometer scale,” Academician A.L. Buchachenko says about it. In this case, nanotubes can serve not only as conductors connecting circuit elements, but also as elements themselves - the calculation shows that by modifying a tube, it is possible to impart semiconductor properties to it. However, the problem is that so far it has not been possible to create a reliable electrical contact between the nanotube and other elements of the future circuit. Another elegant way is proposed by scientists from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA), headed by Professor Pulikel Ajayan. They firmly spliced ​​the nanotube with the gold nanowire. Such nanowires are good in themselves due to their unusual optical and electronic properties, and together with carbon ... >>

Robot Nurse 17.03.2007

Engineers from Germany and seven other EU countries have begun to create robots for the hospital. The dimensions of the robot for the hospital should not exceed half a meter. It must be equipped with a motor, wheels, a computer, a monitor, a loudspeaker, radio communication, optical sensors and manipulators for cleaning the room. All this equipment is already there. "Our goal is to assemble it on one platform and equip the system with a sufficiently high intelligence. And such a robot will come in handy not only for cleaning the premises. It will be possible to call a doctor or take a visitor to the patient with it. The main difference of our system is that the robot can act not only autonomously, but also form a single intellectual center with other robots,” says Thomas Schlegel from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (Germany), who coordinates the European IWARD project (from “intelligent robot swarm for attendance, recognition, cleaning and delivery”). How this system will work can be judged by ... >>

Power supply Ecosol Powerstick 16.03.2007

Many consumer electronics and IT companies are expressing their concerns about green environmental issues. Ecosol is one of them. At an exhibition in Las Vegas, she demonstrated a very original Powerstick power supply. The power source is a rechargeable battery that is charged via the computer's USB port (it takes an hour and a half to fully charge). Weight - only 40 grams. You take the Powerstick filled with electricity with you on the road, and there, as needed, you feed your mobile phone, MP3 player, PDA or other “hungry” devices. ... >>

Robot Honda Asimo 15.03.2007

The new model of the Honda Asimo robot, modified and improved compared to previous versions, was very popular with visitors to the CES 2007 exhibition in Las Vegas. In terms of such a parameter as growth, an electronic humanoid can be compared with a ten-year-old child. But the most interesting thing is this: the designers managed to teach their offspring ... to run. Moreover, many spectators who were present at the demonstration note that he does this very quietly. And some kind of creak of hinges and other mechanical parts was not heard. ... >>

Heliomobiles will go on sale 14.03.2007

In the fall of 2006, the automobile company Venturi, operating in Monaco, demonstrated at the World Automobile Salon in Paris a completely environmentally friendly vehicle - the Eclectic solar mobile. Its roof carries a solar battery with an area of ​​2 square meters, the batteries that rotate the wheels are charged from the battery. You can also recharge from the network; in addition, a small folding wind-electric generator is hidden in the trunk of the solar car. In the parking lot, it extends and also charges the batteries. The travel range on a single charge is 5 kilometers, so the car is designed for city trips. The first 50 vehicles will go on sale in June 200, and this crew does not require a driver's license and the driver's age limit is 2007 years and older. ... >>

too good memory 13.03.2007

Psychologists from the University of California (USA) are studying a woman with an unusually good memory. Six years ago, she herself turned to scientists to complain about the fact that she remembers every day of her life, starting at the age of 14 (she is now in her early forties). The patient, known only by the initials A.J., says that the memories come into her head on their own, she is unable to control them, and they disturb her terribly. Psychologists performed various tests on A. J.. For example, one day they asked her to remember all the Easters in the last 24 years. In 10 minutes, she named all the dates, making a mistake only in one case, and told what she did on the corresponding days. People with abnormal memory capacity have been known before, but usually they remember data of little interest and irrelevant to their life, for example, an entire telephone book of a large city or thousands of digits of pi. In addition, as a rule, their intelligence is lowered. A.J. is of average intelligence, college graduate, married, working. ... >>

Health forecast for 2030 12.03.2007

The World Health Organization has published a detailed forecast of the state of human health in 2030. By this time, the risk for an infant to die before reaching the age of five will be halved compared to the current situation. But in 2030, 6,5 million people will die from AIDS (2002 million in 2,8). Smoking and related diseases will kill 8,3 million people (up from 2005 million in 5,4). Depression is the second most common long-term illness after AIDS. The main causes of death, as now, will remain heart attacks and strokes. They will be followed by pneumonia, AIDS, emphysema and tuberculosis. How accurate were previous WHO predictions? The first such forecast was made in 1996. There are already more AIDS patients on the planet, and the prevalence of tuberculosis is less than predicted then. It is possible that there are errors in the new forecast, although now much more extensive statistics were used for work. ... >>

Autofocus glasses 11.03.2007

Autofocus has long been commonplace for cameras, and now the University of Arizona (USA) has created glasses that independently change their settings depending on how far away the object considered by their wearer is. Unlike a camera, glasses do not have lenses that move when focusing. Flat double-glazed glasses are filled with a liquid-crystal mixture, which changes its refractive index when an electrical voltage is applied. Due to this phenomenon, focusing occurs. The prototype is still too big, because the frame had to fit a rangefinder, a focus adjustment system and a battery. But there will be no need to carry reading glasses with you and for a distance, and you will not have to use not very convenient bifocal lenses. ... >>

Magnetic glue 10.03.2007

German chemists have created a glue whose properties are subject to a magnetic field. In a colloidal solution of silicon dioxide (liquid glass, ordinary office glue), they mixed dusty iron oxide. The parts to be glued are exposed to a high-frequency alternating magnetic field, the iron oxide particles are heated, and the glue immediately sets. If the connection needs to be glued, it is subjected to the same, but more powerful, alternating magnetic field, the glue is very hot, and the connection breaks up. The only drawback of the new adhesive is that it is not suitable for electrically conductive materials. ... >>

Moon, rain and earthquakes 09.03.2007

It is possible that the massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean that triggered the catastrophic tsunami on December 26, 2004 was related to the full moon. As shown by Robert Crockett from the University of Northampton (UK), who traced the dates of seismic shocks in the area from October 2004 to August 2005, large earthquakes are 86% more likely than on ordinary days to occur during the new moon and full moon, when the tides of the ocean especially strong. According to Crockett, the fact is that at these moments, very large masses of water move across the border between the tectonic plates, which runs in the Indonesian region. Their movement may be the last push that causes a tectonic shift. A group of geophysicists from the University of Potsdam (Germany) believes that underground tremors can be caused by heavy rains. In 2002, they monitored seismic events, rainfall and groundwater levels in southeastern Germany. It turned out that after heavy rains ... >>

Elephants in the mirror 08.03.2007

Elephants have joined humans, apes and dolphins: they too recognize themselves in the mirror. Experiments conducted with a specially made huge mirror at the Bronx Zoo in New York showed that elephants are able to recognize themselves in the mirror. When the mirror was placed in the elephant house, the animals first tried to look behind it - are their brothers hiding there? Then they began to check whether the reflection exactly copies their actions. And then they even began to examine the contents of their mouths in the mirror. When they painted a white cross over their right eye, one of the three elephants began to look at this badge in the mirror, but the rest were not interested. ... >>

Noise vs Noise 07.03.2007

About half a century ago, the engineers of the American company "RCA" proposed an original way to deal with noise: to generate exactly the same sound, but in antiphase, and the sound waves cancel each other out (the so-called active damping). Only in our time has it been possible to implement this idea, since in the 50s of the last century there was no electronics that could cope with a difficult task. One of the villas, built in Milan (Italy), just 500 meters from the local airport, is protected from aircraft noise by a "grid" of microphones and speakers. The roar of the engines caught by the microphones is translated into antiphase by the computer and emitted by the speakers. As a result, a relatively quiet zone is created with dimensions of 5 by 5 by 10 meters, where the noise is reduced by 5-10 decibels. ... >>

Radio dishes in canteens 06.03.2007

One of the German manufacturers of porcelain tableware has launched the production of plates and cups with an integrated microcircuit, which in self-service canteens, when a customer approaches the cash register, radios the names and prices of the selected dishes and drinks to the cash register. Microcircuits are programmed when laying out dishes on plates. A plate or cup, outwardly no different from the usual, can withstand at least one hundred thousand cycles of use with washing in the dishwasher. The temperature of drinks or dishes can reach up to 85 degrees Celsius, but you can not put such dishes in a microwave oven - the microcircuits will burn out. Daimler-Chrysler installed the new system in its canteen, and the lines at the distribution disappeared. ... >>

Carousel with kites 05.03.2007

Italian inventors propose a new wind turbine system, which is a hybrid of a toy with an attraction - a kite with a carousel. The carousel, with computer-controlled kites attached to it, rotates under the influence of the wind and generates electricity. According to the authors' calculations, a plant with a diameter of 100 meters will have a capacity of half a gigawatt, and the resulting electricity will be 30 times cheaper than European tariffs. The construction of the first carousel power plant is scheduled to be completed in two years. ... >>

Search for a TV show 04.03.2007

Since television and the use of radar became widespread, our planet shines brightly in the ranges of meter and decimeter radio waves. It can be assumed that other civilizations of the Universe also use this technique. A large multi-antenna radio telescope is being built in Holland, tuned to the wavelengths in which television and radar operate. He will be able to look for similar signals from other civilizations within a radius of about a thousand light years. Unless, of course, we manage to rebuild ourselves from earthly sources. ... >>

Is the end of satellite navigation nearing? 03.03.2007

Italian physicist Alessandro Cerruti fears that the global satellite navigation system will fail in a few years. In 2011, another peak of solar activity is expected. Meanwhile, the GPS system was created during the period of the quiet Sun, and it uses radio waves with a frequency of 1,2 and 1,6 gigahertz. Solar flares emit interference at these frequencies. The only way out would be to change the frequencies on which the transmitters and receivers of the system operate, but this will require huge expenses. However, the losses from a sudden shutdown of the system due to solar flares can be even greater. ... >>

Self-service bike taxi 02.03.2007

In Lyon (France), 200 bicycles are scattered around the city in 2000 parking lots, which can be used by anyone who buys a special card at a kiosk or vending machine. To unhook the car from the pole in the parking lot, to which it is attached with a cable, you need to insert a subscription card into the slot on the pole. The first half hour of the ride is free, then the card is debited at euros per hour. The main thing is to return the bike to the nearest parking lot after the trip, because 24 hours after taking it from the parking lot, it starts to emit a shrill beep and reports the delay to the central control room. Electronic automation monitors the condition of the bike and does not allow it to be unhooked from the post if the brakes or headlight are faulty or the tires are flat. This year the example of Lyon is going to be followed by Nantes and Toulouse. ... >>

The ocean has gone cold 01.03.2007

Although climatologists are confident about ongoing global warming, data from a global network of 3000 automatic buoys show that from 2003 to 2005, the surface layer of water 750 meters thick cooled by 0,02 degrees Celsius. It seems to be not much, but due to the high heat capacity of water, the heat that disappeared somewhere would be more than enough to melt all the pack ice and all the icebergs of the World Ocean. It is assumed that the lost heat was re-emitted into space. ... >>

XBee modules certified by the ZigBee Alliance 27.02.2007

ZigBee technology is used to solve a wide range of problems. Automation of technological processes, "Smart Home" systems, wireless collection of information in energy accounting systems - all these tasks can be optimally solved on the basis of ZigBee networks. MaxStream has certified its popular low-cost XBee modules to be compatible with the ZigBee specification. Only four products to date have this status. ... >>

New microcontrollers with ARM7 core 26.02.2007

NXP announced the new LPC2478 microcontroller, which is the only ARM7 microcontroller in production with built-in flash memory and integrated LCD support. The non-flash version is designated LPC2470. A feature of the new microcontrollers is the presence of two high-speed ARM core buses (AHB), which ensure the parallel operation of a large set of peripheral devices with high bandwidth. These include an LCD interface, a 10/100 Ethernet bus, an OTG device/USB host bus, and two CAN interfaces. Significantly reducing cost, floor space and power consumption, NXP's new microcontrollers are ideal for industrial, consumer, commercial and medical applications that use LCD panels and require a LAN or Internet connection. ... >>

New series of quartz resonators 25.02.2007

Geyer Electronic has announced the launch of a new series of quartz resonators in KX-8 CMD packages. The dimensions of the products are 4,0x2,5 mm, and the height is 0,8 mm. Frequency range from 12 to 60 MHz with a tolerance of +10 ppm to +50 ppm at temperatures from -20 to 70C°. Permissible load capacitance from 10 to 16 pF. The resonators are also available for an extended temperature range and are specified for solder fusion. Resonators will find application in the field of telecommunications and wireless communications. ... >>

New Freescale Digital Controllers 24.02.2007

With the release of the 56F8011 and 56F8013M digital signal controllers, Freescale Semiconductor continues to expand its 16F56/E 8000-bit digital signal controller (DSC) series. These two controllers complement the successful 56F801x family of chips and increase the possible flash memory configurations and temperature range. In response to the market demand for complex control algorithms and high-speed processor cores, the 56F8011 CSK provides a reduction in the memory size of the 56F801x family, which was launched in 2005. As Freescale's lowest cost DSC, the 56F8011 controller is ideal for low cost embedded applications with minimal program memory requirements. The 56F8013M CSK, which has all the basic functions and memory capacity of the 56F8013, has been tested at 125°C for high temperature applications. Both instruments are designed to reduce the number of elements and eliminate the need for a separate digital signal process. ... >>

Samsung's new line of R8 TVs 23.02.2007

Samsung Electronics announced the release of a new line of R8 LCD TVs, represented by models with a diagonal of 23, 26, 32, 37 and 40 inches. The new TVs are distinguished by a glossy black pearl finish on the front, sides and back, as well as touch control buttons. New items support high-definition television standards and provide a viewing angle of up to 178. Contrast ratio (obviously dynamic) brought to 8000:1. The Wide Color Control function expands the dynamic range in the blue and green areas, producing sharp images and vivid colors, especially some shades that tend to fade in bright sunlight. With three HDMI ports, the new TVs will allow you to enjoy high-definition audio and video from a variety of external digital sources. The USB 2.0 port allows you to view digital photos stored on your PC. Strategies for planning, developing and marketing products ... >>

Silicon formats proteins 22.02.2007

Swedish scientists have found that silicon particles are able to shape protein molecules. It is generally believed that particles of inorganic substances such as silicon oxide contribute to the fact that biological molecules lose their shape. "We decided to change this prejudice and prove that such particles, on the contrary, contribute to the structuring of organic substances," says Professor Bengt Harald Jonsson from the Linköping University (Sweden). To do this, scientists under his leadership synthesized short peptide chains with a specific distribution of positive charges. In the free state, these chains did not take any definite form. Then they were mixed with a solution of negatively charged spherical particles of silicon oxide with a diameter of 9 nm. Having come into contact with the particle, the peptide coiled into a spiral, and the complex of the particle and the peptide had enzymatic activity. According to the authors of the work, the phenomenon they discovered has two aspects: applied and fundamental. First ... >>

OQO model 02 21.02.2007

During the keynote speech on the eve of the opening of CES 2007, among other things, Bill Gates demonstrated this device, calling it the smallest computer running MS Vista. The OQO model 02 is a next-generation ultra-mobile PC that weighs less than 450g and easily fits in your pocket. It's up to four times faster than its predecessor, the Model 01+, with a brighter display and a redesigned ergonomic backlit keyboard. ... >>

Apple iPhone 20.02.2007

It is still not completely clear how the device announced by Steve Jobs at MacWorld 2007 will actually be called, but for now we will call it iPhone. "Today, we're introducing three revolutionary products: a widescreen touch-screen iPod, a mobile phone, and an Internet device, all in one device," the Apple boss said. The novelty uses an interface with patented Multi-Touch technology, which allows you to control without a stylus, with a simple touch of your finger. iPhone has a screen with a diagonal of 3,5 "and a resolution of 160 ppi. It is equipped with 8 GB of memory and a built-in camera of 2 megapixels, while it has a thickness of only 11,6 mm. ... >>

Nokia N800 19.02.2007

At CES 2007 in Las Vegas, Nokia unveiled its first Tablet PC device. According to eyewitnesses, the N800 works quickly and has good ergonomics. The touch screen and QWERTY keyboard add comfort. The device supports the Skype service, is able to connect to Wi-Fi access points, as well as take photos and videos on the built-in Web-camera. The operating frequency of the processor is 320 MHz. The display diagonal is 4,1", and the resolution is 800x480 pixels. 128 MB RAM and a 256 MB flash drive are used to store information. Of the wireless interfaces, in addition to Wi-Fi, the device also supports Bluetooth. Approximate price - S530. ... >>

Light damages microcircuits 18.02.2007

Japanese physicists have discovered that the light of fluorescent lamps causes the formation of defects on the surface of silicon microcircuits. When a silicon wafer is immersed in chemically pure water or microchip etching chemicals, light creates microscopic pits on the smooth surface that can disrupt the operation of today's densely packed circuit components. It may be necessary for electronics factories to replace fluorescent lamps with conventional incandescent lamps. ... >>

Tires between rails 17.02.2007

Since July 2006, it has been illegal in the European Union to bury or burn old tires. Meanwhile, only in the UK they accumulate up to 50 million per year. English inventors suggested making rubber panels out of used tires and laying these panels on abandoned railway tracks, thus turning them into highways. After the loss of the leading place in the economy of railway transport in the economy, there are a lot of unnecessary rail lines in England. At the same time, since the rails are not removed and covered by this road surface, trams can run on the road. It will take about 220 thousand tires per kilometer of the road. So far, an experimental section 300 meters long has been built. It took five workers a week to install the rubber panels. ... >>

Virus against girls 15.02.2007

American doctors drew attention to a curious pattern: in countries where hepatitis B is common, fewer girls are born than in countries where this disease is relatively rare. A 10% increase in the proportion of those infected with hepatitis B virus increases the proportion of boys among newborns by 1%. In some areas of Alaska, the number of infected among the indigenous population reached 20%. After the vaccination campaign in Alaska in the 80s, the proportion of boys dropped sharply. Similar data are available for Taiwan. Because of the hepatitis virus, epidemiologists have calculated, 30 million women are missing in the modern world. How exactly the virus affects the sex of babies is not yet clear. ... >>

The computer is not the enemy of the book 14.02.2007

Parents often fear that the younger generation, being fond of computers, will not read books and generally grow up uneducated. However, experience in the United States has shown that a computer with Internet access, on the contrary, improves reading skills and even improves school grades. One hundred and forty children aged 12-14, mostly from low-income single-parent Negro families, were provided with home computers and unlimited access to the Internet for a year and a half. Participants in the experience surfed the Internet for an average of half an hour a day, which is small compared to children from families with an average and high standard of living. Those surf the Internet every day for two hours or more. Only 25% of participants in the experience used programs for instant messaging, and only 16% used email. This is apparently due to the fact that their friends and relatives mostly do not have computers. During the experience, reading skills have improved significantly. After six months of communication with a computer, school grades went up ... >>

The battery is being charged by the computer 14.02.2007

In England, the production of miniature standard AA nickel-metal hydride batteries, charged from the USB socket, which is now found in every computer, has begun. The positive pole of the battery folds out, and under it is the contact for the USB socket. The battery has a built-in microcircuit that stops charging when the battery is full (this is determined by the temperature of the device). ... >>

The Alps are growing up 13.02.2007

As a group of Italian scientists from the University of Milan discovered, due to global warming, the Alps annually lose more than one and a half billion tons of ice. As a result, tectonic forces, previously balanced by masses of ice, push the mountains up. The Alpine region as a whole rises by 0,15 millimeters per year. Where glaciers are melting the most, in the Austrian Alps, the rise is 0,4 millimeters per year or more. Mont Blanc grows by almost a millimeter a year. ... >>

What are you chewing 12.02.2007

Two laboratories in Europe - at the Federal Higher Technical School in Zurich (Switzerland) and at the Austrian University of Medical Sciences - are developing a system that allows you to understand by sound what kind of food a person is chewing. So far, 650 fragments of sound recordings have been analyzed. Scientists' conclusions: it is best to record the sounds of chewing with a microphone inserted into the ear; the computer allows you to clearly distinguish chewing sounds from speech, even if a person is talking while eating; with 80% accuracy, it is possible to distinguish between products such as potato chips, apple, pasta, salad and rice. The practical application of the new science, called by its founders "gnathosonics" (from the Greek words meaning "jaw" and "sound"), is not entirely clear. Unless some people who want to lose weight will agree to wear a microphone in their ear, so that the doctor can control how accurately the requirements of the diet are observed. ... >>

Ant pedometer 11.02.2007

The runner ant, which lives in the Sahara, confidently flies through the monotonous sandy landscape and returns to its nest. Like many insects, it is guided by the sun, but how does the slider measure the distance traveled? German entomologists have shown that the ant has a pedometer. Ants were attracted to a feeder 10 meters from the nest, and then their return was monitored. Moreover, the legs of some insects were cut, removing the last segments, while others, on the contrary, were lengthened by gluing pork bristles to the ends of the legs. It turned out that those with shorter legs looked for a nest closer than it actually was, and ants on "stilts" ran away in search of a nest too far. Conclusion: during its movements, the ant counts the steps, and in order to return, it takes exactly the same number of steps in the opposite direction as it went forward. ... >>

Wind turbine without blades 10.02.2007

The new system of wind power generators, proposed by the English inventor Victor Jovanovich, actually has blades, but they are hidden in a streamlined casing. The wind rotates a wheel with blades inside the casing, resembling the main part of a turboprop aircraft engine. According to the inventor, such a system has doubled efficiency and operates at wind speeds from 11 to 200 kilometers per hour. ... >>

Sun in Antarctica 09.02.2007

In the Antarctic summer of 2007/08, the Belgian research station "Princess Elisabeth" is due to start operating in Antarctica. The design of the station is designed to poison the fragile nature of Antarctica with emissions, exhausts and waste as little as possible. "Princess Elizabeth" is deprived of diesel generators, the station will receive energy in summer from solar panels covering its walls, and in winter - from ten wind turbines with a capacity of 6 kilowatts. The most powerful thermal insulation is provided, so that the station can be heated by the heat emitted by its machines and devices, as well as its personnel. For the time being, however, the station will remain without employees in the winter, as it is still necessary to check how reliable the power supply from the wind will be. ... >>

the yangtze dies 08.02.2007

The third longest of the world's great rivers (after the Amazon and the Nile), China's main waterway, the Yangtze, is dying. Every year, 25 billion tons of waste fall into it, that is, 40% of all waste in the country. A third of this is agricultural waste, mainly residues of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, the rest comes from industry and cities. The number of animal species living in the river has fallen from 20 to 126 in the past 50 years, and the water supply of Shanghai, a city of 17 million people, is at risk. ... >>

robot gecko 07.02.2007

French engineers have created a device that can run on sheer walls and even glass in the manner of a gecko. From thin tubes on the paws of the robot, either glue or glue solvent is alternately released, and the mechanical gecko deftly moves along the windows of the skyscraper. The specially designed adhesive is so strong that it also allows the robot to carry a load of up to 20 kilograms. ... >>

Dinosaur at the appointment with an optometrist 06.02.2007

Vision specialist Kent Stephens from the University of Oregon (USA), based on data on the eyes of living reptiles and birds, decided to find out how well a tyrannosaurus could see. According to his calculations, the visual acuity of a giant predator was 13 times higher than that of a person (for an eagle, famous for its vigilance, it is only 3,6 times higher than a human). If a person is able to see as separate two objects located at a distance of up to 1600 meters, then a dinosaur is six kilometers away. The area of ​​binocular vision of a tyrannosaurus was, judging by the location of its eyes, 55 degrees (this is more than that of a hawk, but less than that of a person). ... >>

We have right-handedness from fish 05.02.2007

The Italian neurologist Giorgio Vaplortigara came up with a paradoxical idea. Studying the manifestations of asymmetrical behavior in the animal kingdom, he came to the conclusion that our preference for the right hand goes back to fish. Many schooling species of small fish, when attacked by a predator, behave like a single organism, maneuvering "all of a sudden". At the same time, some species prefer to dodge to the left, others to the right. The scientist believes that such asymmetry of behavior, having appeared for the first time in fish, reached primates (75% of chimpanzees prefer to pick at the termite mound with their left hand), and then to humans. ... >>

acid underground 04.02.2007

It has long been proposed to pump at least some of the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels underground to combat global warming. By staying there, this gas will not contribute to the greenhouse effect. Since the spring of 2006, a thermal power plant has already been opened in Belgium, sending its combustion products to underground layers. Norway has started pumping carbon dioxide under the bottom of the North Sea, into depleted oil wells, a similar project is being prepared in Algeria. But it is not clear how reliable this method of storing harmful gas is, whether the gas will begin to seep into the atmosphere. A group of American geophysicists decided to study the processes taking place underground. They pumped 1600 tons of liquid carbon dioxide into sandstone formations at a depth of one and a half kilometers near Houston, Texas. For the year that has passed since the beginning of the experiment, no leakage has been established. But, dissolving in groundwater, carbon dioxide makes them slightly acidic, which allows water to quickly dissolve carbonate minerals, holding them together. ... >>

Avian flu in liquid nitrogen 03.02.2007

One of the largest collections of influenza viruses of different strains is located in the US city of Memphis. They are stored in special cassettes in liquid nitrogen. Of the more than 11 viruses stored here, 7000 are related to bird flu. After studying the structure of 169 of them, American virologists determined which gene allows the virus to produce a protein that blocks the action of interferon and facilitates infection. This information will help fight the flu. ... >>

sky locomotive 02.02.2007

Employees of the Technical University in Berlin launched a new type of aircraft into the sky - a steam balloon. A propane burner heats the water vapor inside the balloon to 150 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the vapor, which is lighter than air, gives lift only 25% lower than the same volume of helium. But water and propane are much cheaper than noble gas. Until now, the use of steam in balloons has not been possible due to the lack of a shell material capable of withstanding the temperature of superheated steam and its pressure. German aeronauts used a polyimide film with an extremely light heat-insulating layer applied to it, developed for use in space technology. Outside, the film is also metallized to reduce heat loss. ... >>

radioactive forest fires 01.02.2007

Canadian scientists monitoring atmospheric radioactivity to detect banned nuclear tests report that the radioactive isotope caesium-137 is rising in the air over Canada in the summer. It arose during the fission of plutonium-239 and uranium-235 in atomic explosions of the 50s and 60s of the last century and was deposited in the soil and plants. The reason for the appearance of this radionuclide in the air, according to Canadian geophysicists, is forest fires in Alaska, northern Canada and Siberia. In any case, the periods of its detection in the air coincide with the seasons of fires. Cesium is a chemical relative of potassium, which is essential for every plant, and is easily absorbed by the roots. It either enters the atmosphere from burnt wood, foliage and needles, or, since the boiling point of cesium is only 670 degrees Celsius, it evaporates from the topsoil during a fire. For health, such amounts of the isotope do not pose a danger. But it is known that in the Chernobyl region, where radioactive fallout was very large, the forest ... >>

What will follow FULL HD 31.01.2007

This year's FPD International 2006 and Ceatec Japan 2006 have shed light on the television plans of Japanese consumer electronics manufacturers. At present, leading HDTV manufacturers from China and South Korea are busy promoting the concept of Full HD and are passionate about making 1080p (1920x1080) the standard. The Japanese television industry, for which Full HD has long become a reality of today, is thinking about a large-scale introduction of 4096x2160 resolution. Without a doubt, this will entail increased requirements for the entire range of equipment - from video cameras, signal recording and playback devices to broadcast systems. ... >>

New TrimPix Technology 30.01.2007

Trimble announced the introduction of TrimPix technology into the production of a line of portable GIS-products (Mapping & Geographic Information System). TrimPix technology makes it easy to transfer high-resolution digital photos to GIS equipment using Nikon cameras. Based on FotoNation's Connected Photography technology, TrimPix technology allows Trimble GeoExplorer 2005 Series personal instruments and Trimble Recoil and Ranger laptop computers running Microsoft Windows Mobile version 5.0 software to seamlessly connect to a digital camera. When used with wireless handheld devices, TrimPix technology allows Trimble users to connect to and receive images from selected COOLPIX level Nikon digital wireless cameras - COOLPIX PI, P2, P6, S7 and SXNUMXC. As each photo is taken, a Nikon camera quickly and automatically transmits a digital image to a Trimble handheld GPS receiver or wireless ... >>

Infineon unveils world's smallest GPS receiver 29.01.2007

Infineon and Global Locate announced the creation of the world's smallest Hammerhead II GPS receiver chip for use in mobile phones, smartphones and personal navigation devices. Hammerhead II, based on the Hammerhead chip, is optimized for cellular communications and mobile devices, has high performance, low power consumption, dimensions of 3,74x3,59x0,6 mm, and a footprint of less than 14 square meters. mm. The Hammerhead 11 GPS receiver includes LNA, RF downconverter and DSP system on a single RFCMOS chip. A 49-pin BGA pin array is provided for mounting. The Hammerhead II chip has a sensitivity down to -160 dBm and a positioning time of about 1 second, which exceeds the requirements of the 3GPP specification. Optimized for personal navigation, the software includes sophisticated algorithms to correct multipath errors. Commercial production of the Hammerhead II will begin in February 2007, with sales ... >>

Ultra compact LED 28.01.2007

ROHM recently completed the development of an ultra-compact LED that currently has the smallest volume and area in the world. The SML-P12 (PicoLED) series LEDs are ideal for applications that require thin, compact components such as cell phone keypads, dot matrices, and compact seven-segment meters. Mass production of products is planned for April 2007. Currently, the smallest available chip is considered to be a compact 1608 LED chip (1,6x0,8 mm). However, the use of ultra-precise technology has enabled ROHM to develop an ultra-compact, ultra-thin, 0,2mm thick LED with a full spectrum of colors, previously considered impossible due to the significant loss in brightness of conventional LEDs. The main features of SML-P12 (PicoLED): ultra-compact; 53% less area and 74% less volume than the standard 1608. Samples are available in the following color range: red, orange ... >>

WiMAX Infrastructure Development Platform 27.01.2007

Freescale Semiconductor offers the industry's most versatile broadband WiMAX development platform using Power Architecture technology. Combining the high performance of the Power QUICCTM family of communications processors, StarCore digital signal processors, and programmable logic arrays (FPGAs), the WiMAX broadband platform utilizes physical and data link (MAC) protocols. This provides the performance and software processing capability required for WiMAX base station equipment. Designed to support both fixed and mobile stations, the WiMAX platform provides the core functionality required for the first generation of IEEE 802.16-2005 mobile broadband WiMAX systems at the hardware level in a single AMC (Advanced Mezzanine Card) module design. The circuit is made on the MPC8555E communication processor of the PowerQICC III family, which has a gigahertz performance ... >>

Schumacher battery collection 25.01.2007

As you know, F1 racing star Michael Schumacher has retired, but his name is still exploited for advertising and marketing purposes. Admire the collection of all kinds of batteries, accumulators and chargers produced by ANSMANN Energy. The fact is that the multiple winner of the "Formula" has become the "advertising face" of the new series, in which the high-speed charger Super Speed ​​Charger attracts special attention. Probably, the producers well remembered the words of Schumi himself, who often mentioned in his interviews that "it would be nice to recharge the batteries." ... >>

Gadget 007 Edition Spy Gear 23.01.2007

The set of gadgets, the release of which was timed by Sony to coincide with the premiere of the movie "Casino Royale" and called 007 Edition Spy Gear, includes everything you need for a modern James Bond: a Sony VAIO TX-007 laptop, a Cybershot T50 camera, an aluminum diplomat with the 007 logo. Intel Core Solo U1400 (1,2 GHz) processor, 2 GB DDR2-533,80 GB hard drive and 11,1-inch WXGA screen. External interfaces are represented by a FireWire port, two USB 2.0 ports, a VGA output, a port for connecting a replicator, a card reader (supported formats: SD + Memory Stick). The seven-megapixel Sony DSC-T50B with Carl Zeis optics and sensitivity up to 1000 ISO is offered as a "spy" camera. ... >>

LG Concept Notebook 21.01.2007

LG Electronics has received yet another prestigious Red Dot Award for design. This time it was awarded to the company for the development of a new laptop concept. Designed by LG designers, the portable PC has an OLED screen that is substantially thinner than standard LCDs. It does not require a wide frame around the edges and consumes less electricity. The keyboard is also a one-piece tactile OLED panel (similar to the one already implemented in LG Chocolate phones). ... >>

ASUS gaming laptops 20.01.2007

ASUSTeK Computer has unveiled two laptops designed specifically for gamers. Based on the Intel Centrino Duo for mobile PCs, the G1 and G2 widescreen models feature 15,4" and 17" screens, respectively. The Direct Flash backlight feature is enabled when DirectX9 is enabled in games that require high graphics performance. A dedicated OLED display displays system status, instant messages and reminders. ASUS Power4 Gear+ energy-saving technology extends battery life by 20-25%. ... >>

carbon dioxide glass 18.01.2007

A group of chemists from the University of Florence (Italy) obtained a transparent glassy material from carbon dioxide by compressing "dry ice" between two diamond plungers under a pressure of 640 atmospheres at a temperature of 700 Kelvin. Under such extreme conditions, CO2 molecules, which are characterized by double bonds of a carbon atom with each of the oxygen atoms, rearranged into molecules with single bonds, arranged randomly, as in ordinary glass. The resulting substance is about ten times harder than quartz, but softer than diamond. It is the hardest amorphous material known to science. As soon as the pressure is removed, the extraordinary substance turns back into ordinary "dry ice" and then into gaseous carbon dioxide. But chemists suggest that if this "gas glass" is mixed with silicon dioxide at even higher temperatures, it will be possible to obtain an extremely hard glass-like substance that is stable under ordinary conditions. It will find application in technology, and in this form it will be convenient x ... >>

The smallest flashlight 17.01.2007

In 2000, 15-year-old American Barclay Henry patented the smallest flashlight, and recently opened his own business with his father and brother and began to produce his invention. This is a plastic cap with two white LEDs, put on a 9-volt Krona-type battery. The cap has a switch for three positions: on, off, reduced brightness (only one LED is on). One ordinary battery is enough for 50 hours of burning at maximum brightness, an alkaline battery for 75 hours, a lithium battery for 200 hours. As for the service life of LEDs, it is one hundred thousand hours, or 11 years of continuous burning. Despite the rather high price ($ 25), the flashlights diverge well, whole batches are purchased for the American army. ... >>

Microbes in a squirrel wheel 16.01.2007

Nanotechnologists are looking for suitable sources of driving force for nanomechanisms in the near future. Yuichi Hirasuka from the University of Tokyo has created a motor that runs bacteria. The bacterial engine consists of two parts: an annular groove etched into silicon and a 20-micrometer-diameter star-shaped silicon dioxide wheel resting on it. Under each ray of the sprocket there is a barrier lowered into the groove. In a straight groove (visible at the bottom left), harmless Mycoplasma mobile bacteria are launched into this wheel, which are distinguished by their high crawling speed - almost two centimeters per hour (this is really very fast, since the length of the bacterium itself is one micron). Moving along the annular groove, the bacteria push the shutters and turn the wheel at a speed of up to 2,5 revolutions per minute. You just need to feed them glucose. True, the power of a bacterial motor is 10 thousand times less than an electric motor of this size would have. But scientists hope to increase it. On the other hand, since bacteria ... >>

Poplar genome read 15.01.2007

For the first time, the genome of a tree, one of the poplar species, Populus tnchocarpa, was deciphered. 35 scientific institutes all over the world participated in the work. This is the third plant whose hereditary text has been fully read by scientists (the first two were herbaceous plants - rice and Arabidopsis, a small grass widely used in genetic experiments). But a tree should differ from herbs in genes that provide, for example, the synthesis of cellulose, lignin, and similar compounds that make up wood. Knowledge of the mechanism of synthesis of these compounds can be useful in the biotechnology industry. This species was chosen for the study, since its genome is relatively small - about 45 thousand genes. ... >>

Bathers in the middle of the desert 13.01.2007

For most of its history, the Sahara has been a desert. Approximately every one hundred thousand years, due to the peculiarities of the Earth's orbit and the change in its axial tilt, this part of Africa experiences a wet period lasting about 5000 years. German geologists and archaeologists working in the east of the Sahara discovered that only 5500 years ago there was a savannah with rich vegetation and lakes on the site of the desert. Then the rains became rare, and the population had to migrate east to the Nile Valley, where, thanks to this change in climate, the great civilization of Egypt was born. Archaeologists have found cave paintings depicting people swimming in the lake. Two of them have something like flippers on their legs. ... >>

Aircraft capable of driving on roads 11.01.2007

Another attempt to create a practical flying car (the first design of this kind dates back to 1917) was made by three graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA). They demonstrated at the annual Wisconsin Air Festival their model "Terrafugia Transition" - a two-seat aircraft with folding wings with a span of 8 meters and with a pusher propeller. On one refueling of conventional motor gasoline, the car is capable of flying 800 km at a speed of 190 km / h at altitudes up to 4200 m. The designers say that they approached the matter differently than their predecessors: they tried to create not a flying car, but an airplane capable of driving. It will land at the airfield, fold its wings and exit onto the highway. ... >>

head grows 09.01.2007

English anthropologists from the University of Birmingham measured 30 skulls of men and women - victims of the London Plague of 1348 - 1349 and 50 skulls of victims of the shipwreck of the English warship "Mary Rose", which sank in 1545 off Plymouth. The old skulls were compared with modern x-rays of 31 adults of both sexes. It turned out that the height of the cranial vault of a modern person exceeds both old groups by about 15 percent. The facial part has become less dominant over the frontal, and the part of the skull that protects the frontal lobes, the main part of the brain associated with the mind, has increased. ... >>

Sneakers with electronics 07.01.2007

Regular running shoes are not suitable for all sports and not for all surfaces. The purpose of sports shoes is to absorb the impact of the foot, and the force of these impacts is different, for example, when jogging, marathon or sprinting, while jumping. The load on the foot is different when running on asphalt and when playing tennis on grass. Therefore, up to now, sneakers of different types have been produced for various sports. The well-known company "Adidas" released in 2005 sneakers with automatic adjustment of the degree of rigidity of the sole. The "Adidas 1" adapts itself to the demands of the moment by changing the properties of the outsole. Sensors hidden in the sole measure loads and deformations a thousand times per second. Based on this data, the microprocessor calculates the ideal level of cushioning and sends an order to the electromagnets that change the stiffness of the heel. The battery that powers the electronics lasts for a hundred hours. Recently released a new model "Adidas 1.1 Basketball", specially designed for basketball players ... >>

insulin on gold 05.01.2007

Indian physicist Murali Sastri from the National Chemistry Laboratory in Pune suggests administering insulin to diabetics not through injections, but through the nose. To do this, he adsorbed insulin molecules on ultramicroscopic gold particles about five nanometers in diameter, pre-coated with a layer of aspartic acid. It creates an electrostatic charge on the surface of gold particles that holds insulin molecules. The resulting fine powder can be inhaled through the nose, and the nanoparticles with the hormone are quickly absorbed through the mucous membranes of the nasal respiratory tract. When tested on rats, this method reduced blood sugar levels by 55% in two hours, which is comparable to the effect of a conventional insulin injection. Preliminary observations have shown that gold is rapidly excreted through the kidneys, but since insulin-dependent diabetes is a chronic disease and patients have to take insulin all their lives, it is necessary to make sure that this heavy metal does not accumulate before testing in humans. ... >>

Tutorials from space 04.01.2007

An important reason for the backwardness of educational systems in African countries, especially in the teaching of natural and exact sciences, is the difficulty of updating textbooks in school libraries. In a rural school in Kenya, 60 students received PDAs that were downloaded via satellite with the latest editions of school textbooks approved by the Kenyan Ministry of Education. This is much cheaper than buying textbooks every year and delivering them to remote areas of the country. Next year, the experiment will be extended to Rwanda, where 405 schools with 20000 students will take part in it. ... >>

Self disintegrating phone 02.01.2007

The problem of recycling used mobile phones is acute all over the world. Disassembling them into parts with the possibility of reusing suitable components, remelting polymer parts and burying toxic waste is a laborious and expensive business. A group of students from the University of Helsinki, in collaboration with the Finnish company Nokia, has created a prototype phone that disassembles itself when heated. Springs made of a metal alloy with shape memory are built into the case. At a certain temperature, they straighten and fall apart the body. The printed circuit boards with the electronics are reinforced with screws made of a polymer that loses its strength at the same temperature, so that when heated, the phone breaks into pieces. However, it is better not to leave such a device, for example, in the sun behind the glass of a car. However, this is not useful for ordinary phones either. ... >>

Thanks to NXP, smart chips have halved their weight 31.12.2006

NXP Semiconductors announced the start of mass deliveries of ultra-thin ICs (integrated circuits) for smart cards. They are thinner than the diameter of a human hair. NXP's new SmartMX family of chips, specifically designed for smart cards, are less than 75 microns thick, which is 2 times thinner than standard chips currently being produced. Due to their miniaturization, the new chips allow more flexible design decisions and provide greater protection from environmental factors. The new 75 µm wafers will be incorporated into MOV6 contactless IC chip packages used in ePassports, eVisas and other electronic documents. With a thickness of only 260 microns, MOV6 is 20% thinner than other brands on the market. ... >>

New V9 series micro switch 30.12.2006

The V9 series DC microswitch can be a beneficial solution for position sensing in circuits driving an electrical load greater than 15A or in a primary circuit with a contact gap greater than 3mm. Therefore, this DC micro switch is ideal for DC applications. Possible applications may include power tools, household appliances, vending and gaming machines, and computer equipment. ... >>

New 18W and 25W Network Adapters 29.12.2006

Mean Well announced the release of two new lines of network adapters GS18 and GS25, 18W and 25W, respectively. The input voltage range of the new products is from 90 to 264 V AC, the output voltage is from 5 to 48 V. The devices have all the world's energy safety, environmental protection certificates, meet the requirements of the Energy Star program and comply with the IV class of electrical safety according to CEC. They use protection circuits against short circuits, overloads and surges in the input voltage. A wide range of input and output connectors offered will allow you to use adapters to power industrial and consumer electronics in any part of the world. ... >>

TPS65023 - new power controller for DaVinci 28.12.2006

Texas Instruments Incorporated has introduced the first dedicated power controller optimized for DaVinci portable media processors. The TPS65023 is up to 95 percent efficient, provides flexible voltage scaling, and overall simplifies the design of Li-ion battery-powered portable multimedia applications. Three buck converters are built into the instrument to maintain voltages for the core, peripherals, I/O interface, and memory. The TPS65023 adopts a PC communication interface that operates a dynamic voltage control system that can adjust the processor core voltage within the range of 0,8V to 1,6V, which greatly reduces the processor's power consumption. The interface is compatible with fast/standard as well as high speed modes of the PC specification with data rates up to 400 kHz. In TPS65023 so ... >>

GUI Controlled Digital Power Controllers for Point-of-Load Systems 27.12.2006

Texas Instruments has unveiled new Fusion Digital Power products that include digital power management systems for telecommunications and data processing equipment. The UCD9111 single-phase and UCD9112 two-phase controllers provide 175 ps digital pulse-width modulation and are fully graphical user interface (GUI) driven. You can control the conversion without a special line or software. The GUI configuration allows developers to intelligently control power supply voltage, drive current, feedback, soft start, and many other functions. The UCD9111 and UCD9112 have built-in peripheral control algorithms. The algorithms and peripherals form a fully digital control loop that supports devices up to 2 MHz. The controller architecture is optimized to achieve high performance ... >>

New temperature sensor for computer memory modules 26.12.2006

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the MAX6604, a small, low-cost temperature sensor designed to monitor the thermal behavior of DDR memory modules. This device measures temperature with an accuracy of +1°C, converts the measured value into digital format and transmits it via a PC-compatible interface. The MAX6604 monitors the temperature continuously and updates the data eight times per second. This method improves performance by providing a highly accurate measurement of module temperature. Analogues that use readings from sensors installed on motherboards to estimate the temperature of memory modules are much less accurate. The MAX6604 is available in miniature TDFN and TSSOP packages. The device contains a three-address bus, which provides a choice of eight possible addresses. The combination of these features makes the MAX6604 an ideal choice for high performance notebook memory modules. MAX6604 operates in the temperature range -20...125°C and supply voltage 3 ... >>

New IGBT SEMiX modules 25.12.2006

SEMICRON announced the release in 2007 of a new generation of 1200V and 1700V SPT+ IGBT SEMiX modules. A unique property of SPT+ crystals is the ability to self-limit peak transient overvoltages. ... >>

First FlexRay transceiver 24.12.2006

NXP, formerly Philips Semiconductors, announced the start of mass production of the world's first FlexRay transceiver, the TJA1080. This chip, together with the NXP fail-safe system, is now used in the BMW X5, a mass-produced vehicle equipped with the FlexRay system. The TJA1080 is compatible with a wide range of microcontrollers, including the NXP SJA25xx family, providing an integrated solution for FlexRay applications. Currently, NXP is the only semiconductor supplier that can offer a complete system solution for FlcxRay applications, consisting of microcontrollers and transceivers. The TJA1080 can be configured as a node transceiver or as an active star transceiver. The result is a simple and fast development of a complete FlexRay network with robust, EMI-free communications, error diagnostics, and protection mechanisms. Development of the TJA1080 transceiver ... >>

A new company in the LCD backlight market 22.12.2006

In August 2006, Omron Corporation announced that it had acquired a 100% stake in Pioneer Precision Machinery Corporation (Pioneer PMC), a subsidiary of Pioneer Corporation. The acquired company changed its name to Omron Precision Technology Co. Ltd. As a result of this acquisition, Omron will have more than 20% (the largest share) of the global market for miniature LCD backlight LED modules in terms of sales (according to Omron). Forecasts indicate that the LED LCD backlight business will grow rapidly. Omron aims to become the world's leading manufacturer of backlight modules in all sizes. These hopes are based on a combination of Pioneer PMC's newly acquired business and Omron Corporation's own production of such modules in small and large sizes. ... >>

Advanced technology for recycling waste office equipment 21.12.2006

Sooner or later, one way or another, a computer, TV or mobile phone will one day cease to be a luxury item and go to a landfill. For example, in Germany alone, two million tons of electronic scrap are found there every year. And one fifth of this weight, that is, 400 thousand tons, falls on plastics. However, only 1% of them can be recycled. The problem is that such plastics contain heavy metals, bromine-based fire-fighting additives, and all kinds of pigments. All of them are harmful to the environment and, in accordance with EU directives, must not enter the product obtained during processing. And another directive requires that 75% of plastic waste be recycled. Puzzled by these instructions, European engineers are trying to find a way out. One of the methods was proposed by scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Engineering Processes and Packaging, together with the Crea-Cycle company from the city of Grebenbroich. They managed to bring the degree of recycling waste ... >>

The mobile phone helps to navigate the city 20.12.2006

Usually, in order not to get lost in an unfamiliar city, you need to buy a map. Hotels, restaurants, and all kinds of attractions are marked on it. But there is no way to look "inside" the map, to find out details about this or that object depicted on it - the map is paper. If it were electronic, it would be possible to put a link on each of them and attach as much information as your heart (or advertising budget) wants. It seems that scientists from the University of Southampton, led by Dr. Jonathan Hare and Professor Paul Lewis, managed to find a way out. They have developed an algorithm that makes it easy to switch from a paper map to an electronic one using a mobile phone, which, of course, every traveler has. The algorithm works as follows. With the camera of his mobile phone, the tourist photographs the fragment of the map he needs and sends the photo to the server. There, the image is processed, compared with an electronic map of the same area and found, ... >>

Creative Live! Cam Optia 19.12.2006

A new product has appeared in Creative's arsenal - USB Web-camera Live! Cam Optia. It is equipped with a VGA sensor that delivers 640x480 resolution video at 30 frames per second. The device supports popular communication tools such as Skype, Windows Messenger. Wireless headset included. ... >>

iRobot Sentinel 18.12.2006

iRobot Corporation, which produces robots for performing various operations in adverse conditions, has published the first photographs of its new development, known under the code name Sentinel. This innovative networking technology is funded by the US military budget. It makes it possible to simultaneously control the actions of many semi-automatic robots from one computer equipped with a touch screen. ... >>

Xbox 360 HD DVD 17.12.2006

The long-awaited addition to the Xbox 360 game console, an external HD DVD drive, has gone on sale in the US. In its work, the device uses the processor power and the audio system of the console, connects via a USB connector and provides resolution up to 1080p. By this Christmas season, leading film companies intend to release more than 150 blockbusters on discs of this format. By the way, one of the films (Peter Jackson's King Kong) is included with the HD DVD player for Xbox 360. In addition, the device is equipped with a remote control. The suggested retail price in US stores is $199,99. ... >>

Nokia 330 with navigator 16.12.2006

Nokia made its debut in the auto navigation market with the introduction of the Nokia 330 Auto Navigation device with pre-installed mapping software from the Dutch manufacturer Route 66. The digital maps of Europe are supplied by the American company NAVTEQ. Maps can be viewed in 330D and 360D. There are night and day modes of operation. Nokia 456 does not support telephone communication, however, in addition to the basic navigation functions, it allows you to play music, show photos and videos. The product will go on sale before the end of this year at a retail price of ?XNUMX ($XNUMX). ... >>

Mobile device Samsung SPH-P9000 15.12.2006

Samsung has introduced a new mobile device SPH-P9000 Deluxe. It not only has an unusual design, but also supports the latest Mobile WiMAX and CDMA EV-DO technologies. In fact, the device has a PDA format, runs under Microsoft Windows XP and is equipped with a folding QWERTY keyboard of almost full size. The SPH-P9000 is equipped with a 30-inch WVGA screen, 1,3 GB hard drive, 43 megapixel camera and Mini-USB port. The dimensions of the device are 92x29x7 mm, and the weight is 560 g. ... >>

The camera leaves traces 14.12.2006

As you know, you can find the barrel from which the bullet flew out by the characteristic scratches left by each firearm on soft lead. It is possible to find a typewriter on which any text is printed by the smallest individual features of the letters. And American programmer Jessica Friedrich from the State University of New York has found a way to identify digital cameras in the same way. Each camera introduces so-called noise into the picture - interference associated with the incorrect functioning of individual elements of the photosensitive matrix. For example, in a single-color section of an image, individual pixels (dots that make up the picture) may have a different color. The pattern of such electronic noise is unique to each camera. A program developed by Jessica Friedrich detects these fingerprints. During testing, the program, without a single error, determined that 3000 shots belonged to ten cameras. According to FBI specialists, the new method can be useful, for example, when searching for ... >>

Sheep sowers 13.12.2006

How effective can be the transfer of plant seeds by animals, shows an experiment conducted by ecologists from the University of Madrid. They used the seasonal movement of sheep from winter to summer pastures practiced in some areas of Spain. About 400 Merino sheep are regularly driven from the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain to Extremadura in the southwest. The seeds of wild carrots, clover Trifolium angustifolium, plantain Plantago lagopus and mouse barley Hordeum murinum were introduced into the fleece of several rams, labeled with harmless paint. The journey of 28 kilometers took 47 days, and by the end of it, 12% of clover seeds, 9,5% of carrots, 5% of barley and 38,1% of plantain remained. Even when the sheep were shorn in May, 6,93%, 5,06%, 2,15% and XNUMX% of the seeds of these plants remained in the wool, respectively. For all four plant species, these are record distances for transferring seeds to animals. The experiment proved that the migration of herds of wild ungulates could be of great importance for the dispersal of plants. ... >>

Contacts between shipbuilders of ancient Rome and Vietnam 12.12.2006

During excavations in northern Vietnam, a well-preserved hull of a large boat, about 2000 years old, was found in clay deposits on the banks of the Mekong. The age of the find is evidenced by the coins found in it, minted in 118 BC - 220 AD. Archaeologists were amazed that the cladding boards were attached to the hull frame in exactly the same way. as they did in ancient Rome under the emperor Caligula in the first century AD, with a spike connection. Until now, it was believed that this technique was known only in the Mediterranean. It is difficult to say whether this boat represents the result of a scientific and technical exchange between Rome and Vietnam, or whether the same shipbuilding methods originated in two very remote countries independently. ... >>

clay bullets 11.12.2006

During the excavations of the large ancient Syrian city of Hamukar, from which only a mound fifteen meters high has survived to our time, an expedition of Syrian and American archaeologists discovered more than 1200 clay shells with which the attackers fired at the defenders of the city with slings. The battle was so hot that the slingers did not have enough prepared ammunition, and they dug clay right on the battlefield, making shells out of it. They were not fired, so many clay "bullets" flattened upon impact were found. The battle raged 5500 years ago. Judging by the change in the style of ceramic vessels found in shallower layers of the soil, the city was captured and inhabited by newcomers from the southern Mesopotamian city of Uruk. ... >>

world map of happiness 10.12.2006

The first world "map of happiness" was compiled. It was drawn by the English psychologist Adrian White on the basis of sociological surveys on the degree of satisfaction with life, conducted in more than a hundred countries of the world. He also used statistical information about the standard of living, the state of health care and education in different countries of the world. It turned out that the most happy residents of Denmark, Switzerland and Austria, the least - African countries and countries - members of the CIS. Such studies are of limited value, since ideas about a happy life vary significantly among different peoples. However, White hopes his map will catch the attention of governments that care little about their people. ... >>

Racing electric car 09.12.2006

The new California company Tesla Motors has demonstrated to the public a two-seater Tesla Roadster electric sports car. Up to a hundred kilometers per hour, it accelerates from a standstill in four seconds (this is faster than a Ferrari). Thanks to lithium-ion batteries and a lightweight carbon fiber body, the car travels up to 400 kilometers on a single charge. You can charge from a regular home electrical outlet; one night is enough to fill the batteries "to the eyeballs". In the future, the company intends to release a four-seat model, as well as a solar panel for installation on the roof of the garage. Such a solar power plant will make it possible to store energy for 80 kilometers on a sunny day, that is, for at least two days of trips of medium duration. One drawback of the electric sports car has already come to light: it is too quiet, which is unusual for drivers. The designers intend to give the car an electronic noise generator programmed to change the volume of the "engine roar" depending on the ... >>

Folding A-bike 08.12.2006

In England, they began to produce a folding bicycle model, called the A-bike for its unfolded shape. A car weighing 5 kilograms folds in 6 seconds, when folded (dimensions 10 by 67 by 30 cm) is packed into a backpack attached to it and does not interfere with bus, metro, train or plane passengers. Materials - aluminum, fiberglass and composites. The diameter of the wheels is 16 centimeters, so the car is only suitable for city trips on asphalt. The weight of the rider must not exceed 15 kilograms. On a flat surface, the speed reaches 85 kilometers per hour. ... >>

All the gold in the world 07.12.2006

Australian geologist Bernard Wood of Macquarie University believes that more than 99% of all gold on Earth billions of years ago, due to its gravity, sank into the center of the planet and became part of the Earth's core. In his opinion, there is enough gold in the core to cover the entire area of ​​​​our planet with a layer of precious metal about half a meter thick. It is now believed that the Earth arose from many small asteroid-like bodies, the so-called planetesimals. They bumped into each other and stuck together. In their composition, planetesimals were similar to modern meteorites. Based on the composition of meteorites and comparing it with the composition of the earth's crust, Wood noticed that there was too little gold, platinum and nickel in the earth's crust. He suggested that these metals, due to their high density and affinity for iron, sank to the center of the Earth and became part of its iron core. The earth then was a solid ball of molten magma. If meteorites had not continued to bring gold to Earth even after ... >>

From the accelerator to the kitchen 06.12.2006

French theoretical physicists do not shy away from worldly prose. At the Laboratory of Particle Physics and Cosmology in Grenoble, they created a small enterprise to produce their invention. This is a nozzle on any faucet for neutralizing tap water by ultraviolet irradiation. Moreover, instead of an ultraviolet lamp, the service life of which is only a few thousand hours, an almost eternal torch with an unstable plasma, previously developed for elementary particle accelerators, is used. Powerful ultraviolet radiation not only kills microbes, but also decomposes all kinds of organic pollution. ... >>

The snake generates energy 05.12.2006

Off the northern coast of Portugal, three modules are being tested to generate electricity from sea waves. The device, about four railway cars long and 3 meters in diameter, invented in Scotland, consists of three articulated sectors. They are anchored at a depth of 50-60 meters a few kilometers from the coast and connected to the land by a power cable. When this chain bends on the water as the crest of the wave passes, oil is pumped inside, its flow rotates hydraulic motors connected to an electric generator. The power of one "snake" is 750 kilowatts. If the tests are successful, a whole power plant with a capacity of 24 megawatts will be deployed here, which will be able to power the town for 12 apartments or single-family houses. ... >>

cloud in the universe 04.12.2006

Launched by the European Space Agency, the Newton X-ray Space Telescope has discovered a giant cloud of interstellar gas three million light-years across in the Abell 3266 galaxy cluster (visible in the southern hemisphere of the celestial sphere). If this gas emitted visible light, in the southern sky the huge cloud would look only half the size of the Moon, although it is immeasurably further away, several million light-years from Earth. Every hour, due to a gas leak, the cloud loses a mass equal to the mass of the Sun. If this continues, it will dissipate in a hundred million years. ... >>

Automatic tailor 03.12.2006

Employees of the University of Genoa (Italy) are taking part in a pan-European program to create a fully automated system for tailoring. The task of measuring the customer's figure has already been solved, this is done using a network of laser beams. Italian engineers are developing ways to manipulate fabric cuts. What arms to supply the robot-tailor? Three options are being considered. The fabric can be taken with vacuum suction cups. It is possible to install Peltier elements on the fingers of the robot - semiconductor devices that are strongly cooled when an electric current is passed. The fabric, slightly damp, will freeze to the fingers, and to release it, you need to reverse the direction of the current, and the fingers will heat up. The third option is electrostatic grippers that hold tissue with a high voltage charge. The "assembly" of the ordered clothes will be carried out on a mannequin that changes its shape depending on the figure of the customer. Since the system is still being patented, details about the changeable device ... >>

hot imprint 02.12.2006

A new method for detecting fingerprints, which allows finding these traces on metal heated to 600 degrees Celsius, was proposed by employees of the University of Wales in Swansea (UK). The slightest amount of sweat contained on the fingers causes micro-corrosion of metal, such as grenades, cartridge or shell casings, or explosive device shells. An electrochemical reaction with sweat as an electrolyte causes persistent changes in the electric potential of metal atoms that last up to several years. The probe of a special scanning electron microscope, which measures the slightest changes in the electrical potential of the metal surface, builds a three-dimensional image of fingerprints. A new method to identify those who loaded a weapon or prepared an explosive device "works" on surfaces made of steel, iron, zinc, brass and aluminum, including curved surfaces. ... >>

Telephone conversation excites the cerebral cortex 01.12.2006

Around two billion people in the world now regularly use cellular telephony, and by the end of 2006 an estimated 730 million units will be sold. But it is still unclear whether prolonged exposure to radio waves from an apparatus applied directly to the head does not harm the brain. The new Italian study also does not allow us to answer this question, but provides interesting information for reflection. Fifteen young volunteers talked for 45 minutes on cell phones of one of the most common standards now - GSM-900. At the same time, their brain activity was monitored. It turned out that in 12 of the experimental young men, the cells of the motor cortex of the brain in the place where the apparatus was applied became excited during the conversation and returned to normal only an hour after the end of the experiment. The motor cortex controls human muscle movements. Experimenters do not say that the phenomenon they have discovered is dangerous, but, in any case, experience proves that radio waves cause some kind of real ... >>

New switching regulator 29.11.2006

International Rectifier, a world leader in power management, has introduced a high voltage, high frequency switching regulator for offline, non-isolated AC/DC applications requiring multiple LEDs or DC/DC color mixing. Applications include indoor and outdoor signage as well as architectural, entertainment, design and decorative lighting. Rated at 200 or 600 V, the IRS254x series includes a time-delayed hysteresis switching regulator for average load current control with a 5% tolerance using a built-in precision voltage reference. An external bootstrap circuit on the high voltage side drives the pulse switch up to 500 kHz. The low voltage side driver is also used for synchronous rectification. Distinctive features of the new microcircuit are low start-up current (less than 500 μA) to reduce turn-on losses and latency ... >>

Interface for office equipment 28.11.2006

Three-channel, 16-bit analog interface chip (analog front end, AFE) from National Semiconductor, according to the manufacturer, can significantly improve the performance of multifunctional devices (MFPs) focused on office use. For example, color copy speeds are estimated by National Semiconductor to be in excess of 40 pages per minute. Operating at frequencies up to 45 MHz, the LM98714 is the first AFE to integrate a programmable time clock for charge-coupled devices (CCD) and contact image sensors (CIS), as well as a low-voltage serial interface with using difference signals (LVDS). Today's high-speed copiers capable of making color copies are quite bulky and expensive. The LM98714 is expected to enable cost-effective and fast desktop-sized devices. Function set ... >>

New LDO controllers with shutdown function and watchdog timer 27.11.2006

Maxim Integrated Products has announced a new line of LDO controllers. The MAX6765 - MAX6774 line is a family of high voltage (4 to 72V) LDO controllers with a load current of up to 100mA. The current consumption of the devices is only 31 μA, which will allow them to be successfully used in automotive applications with a long period of operation. Regulators are available with standard output voltages of 5 V; 3,3V; 2,5V; 1,8V; as well as with the ability to adjust the output voltage in the range of 1,8 ... 11 V using two external resistors. Other important new features include shutdown when the output voltage drops below the threshold level and an input signal level watchdog timer to work with the microprocessor. The ICs are available in TDFN packages for the automotive temperature range from -40 to 125°C. ... >>

LMX9838 - Bluetooth module with serial port profile 26.11.2006

National Semiconductor presented a novelty at Electronica2006 in Munich: a Bluetooth module with a serial port profile. It is a fully integrated Bluetooth 2.0 module, including a 2,4GHz carrier transceiver, crystal, antenna, LDO, and discrete elements that make up a complete miniature (10x17x1,85mm) Bluetooth node. It includes all the hardware and software to create a complete solution, from antenna to application, including GAP, SDAP and SPP profiles. The module software also includes all underlying levels of the Bluetooth stack. The module contains a configurable database of services provided, which allows you to respond to requests for servicing additional profiles using the host processor. What's more, the LMX9838 is pre-certified as a Bluetooth subsystem. Successful compliance testing with the Bluetooth Qualification Program will quickly ... >>

Projector in a fist 25.11.2006

German engineers have almost assembled a projector the size of a sugar cube. Current projectors, which allow the presenter to show files with graphics and pictures on a large screen, have two drawbacks: large size and considerable price. The reason is that the heart of the projector is an array of millions of micromirrors that form the image using a powerful lamp. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Mechanics (Germany) proved that both disadvantages can be overcome by designing a projector that is slightly larger than a one euro coin. This mini-projector does not have a million mirrors, but a single one, but capable of rotating in two planes. The light source is semiconductor microlasers, like those used in pointers. These are the lasers that do not allow you to make the projector very small. The fact is that if the blue and red lasers have already "reduced" to the required size, then such a transformation cannot yet be done with the green one, despite many ... >>

Ultrasound on the spine 24.11.2006

Swedish scientists have figured out how to treat a spinal injury with ultrasound. A displaced spinal disc is a long-term back pain. Its cause is a pinched nerve, which may or may not go away on its own. In the latter case, you have to do the operation. Johan Persson, a PhD student at Lundt University (Sweden), proposed an extremely simple technique for such an operation. Unlike conventional, it requires only local anesthesia and lasts about six minutes. And instead of a scalpel, the doctor will have an ultrasound emitter. As first calculations showed, and then direct measurements using a tomograph, the disk between the vertebrae absorbs ultrasound well: from 30% to 70% of its power goes into heat. When the cartilage of the disk heats up to 65 degrees, the collagen fibers will shrink, it will stop sticking out so much and put pressure on the nerves. True, this technique works only with small disc displacements - covered non-perforated hernias. Now the technique developed by the Swedes is being tested ... >>

Bluetooth watch 22.11.2006

Sony Ericsson and Fossil have joined forces to develop Bluetooth watches. The MBW-100 model is designed to work in conjunction with a mobile phone and receives the necessary information using a wireless interface. The watch has a regular analog dial, which gives it a classic look. but below it is a small OLED screen that displays information about Bluetooth operation, incoming calls and messages. By pressing the buttons, you can control the reception of calls and the music player. The case is made of stainless steel, there will be a black version (which has a limited edition). ... >>

Blood group is determined by weighing 20.11.2006

Franz Dickert from the University of Vienna (Austria) has developed a simple and applicable even in the field method for determining the blood type. The properties of blood depend on the molecules of various sugars that cover the shell of erythrocytes. Taking red blood cells of different blood types, Dickert places them on a plastic film and dries. It turns out a set of four films corresponding to four blood groups. After that, the analyzed blood drop is applied to each film, and the erythrocytes from it adhere to the existing ones, if the sugar coating of the membrane is the same. It remains only to wash off the drops of blood and weigh all four films on a sensitive scale - the one to which the most erythrocytes have stuck will show the person's blood type. ... >>

Bee beacon 19.11.2006

To track the flight of insects, they have long tried to use radar. But at low altitude, typical for insect flight, radio waves are reflected from plants, buildings, and uneven terrain. The signal reflected from a small target is lost in interference. British experts suggested using the so-called transponder for tracking insects - a wire-antenna with a semiconductor diode included in it. When this device is exposed to radio waves, it emits a wave twice the frequency. By the way, the work of stickers is based on this principle, which does not allow you to take out an unpaid purchase from the store. The transponder weighs a few milligrams and does not interfere with the flight at all. ... >>

If you want twins, drink milk 18.11.2006

American doctors have collected statistics on the frequency of twin births in women with different eating styles. Strict vegetarians do not consume any animal products, moderate ones still drink milk. For comparison, we took a group with a normal diet. It turned out that women who consume milk are five times more likely to give birth to twins than non-milk drinkers. Researchers believe that the matter is in one of the milk proteins, the so-called insulin-like growth factor. It stimulates the release of not one, but several eggs from the ovaries at once. Women who do not drink milk have 13% less of this compound in their blood than those who consume dairy products. ... >>

It's too hot on the London Underground 17.11.2006

The record temperatures of the past summer have been hard on the London Underground, especially during rush hours. Unlike the newer underground systems of the world, the London Underground, which appeared in 1863, does not have air conditioning. The creators of the system expected that trains would ventilate it, rushing through the tunnels. But global warming and the growing number of passengers have made summer temperatures unbearable in the stations and in the carriages. So, in mid-July 2006, the temperature in the cars was 47 degrees Celsius! The point is also that the clay soil of London does not remove heat well from the tunnels. In 2003, the mayor of the British capital even offered a prize of one hundred thousand pounds for solving the problem, but the money remained unclaimed. Engineers at a London university have proposed using groundwater for cooling. Every day, 30 million liters of seeping water are pumped out of the tunnels. At one of the stations, a system of heat exchangers installed between the platforms is being tested. ... >>

Fault determined by sight 16.11.2006

A thermoscope is a device that reflects on its screen differences in the temperature of objects on which it is pointed. The English company FLIR, which produces such devices, suggests using them for quick diagnostics of electrical equipment. If fuses, contacts and relays heat up, this is immediately noticeable on the thermoscope screen. The elevated temperature is shown in red. ... >>

It's time to end the riot with gasoline 15.11.2006

At gas stations in the United States, a total of almost one and a half hundred varieties of automotive fuel are offered. The government intends to standardize this product and reduce its diversity to seven types. It is winter and summer gasoline for the northern states, the same for the southern states, ultra-clean burning gasoline for California, which has the most stringent laws against air pollution. In addition, two grades of diesel fuel for the whole country. In the future, two varieties of so-called biofuels can be added to the list: pure ethyl alcohol from corn and other plant biomass and a gasoline-alcohol mixture. ... >>

round salt 15.11.2006

Often we are annoyed by salt sticking together in a salt shaker and not wanting to pour in any way. Indian crystallographers from the Central Institute for Research on Salt and Marine Chemicals in the city of Bhavnagar believe that the matter is in the cubic form of salt crystals. They are in close contact with their flat edges and stick together under the influence of air moisture. Scientists have suggested adding small amounts of the amino acid glycine to the brine from which table salt is boiled. Then the salt crystals are rounded, acquiring the shape of dodecahedrons. Such salt sticks together less and flows better. ... >>

inflatable windmill 14.11.2006

The Canadian firm Magenn Power has developed a prototype of a tethered helium balloon that serves as the rotor of a wind power generator. A balloon with blades rotates on a longitudinal axis associated with a generator located inside. Electricity is delivered to the ground through a cable. The generator can operate at wind speeds from 1 to 30 meters per second with an efficiency of 40-50%. Working height - up to 300 meters; by varying the altitude, one can find the level at which the wind speed is sufficiently high. Since helium leaks slightly through the balloon shell, it will have to be pumped up every 4-6 months. Delivery of units with a capacity of 4 kilowatts should begin next year, and in the future plans of the company - flying windmills with a capacity of up to 1,6 megawatts. ... >>

Love grows nerves 12.11.2006

Italian scientists from the University of Padua found that during romantic love in the blood plasma of those affected by this "ailment" the level of a special protein substance - the nerve growth factor - rises. When relationships become habitual, especially if they turn into marriage, the content of nerve growth factor drops to normal. This small protein (about a hundred amino acids) is necessary for the growth, development and maintenance of some peripheral parts of the human nervous system. It is synthesized in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus (the part of the brain involved in emotional reactions) and in the olfactory bulbs. It is suspected that this compound is also involved in the processes of inflammation and allergy. ... >>

longevity gene 11.11.2006

After analyzing the gene sets of 213 centenarians over a hundred years old and their relatives, geneticists at the Einstein College of Medicine in New York found that 20-25% of them had two copies of a single gene, known as APC3. As a result, in people with this feature, protein synthesis, which is part of cholesterol plaques, is reduced by 30%. Therefore, they develop hypertension, sclerosis and other vascular diseases more slowly. True, judging by the fact that most centenarians do not have such an anomaly, some other mechanisms are at work here. ... >>

In addition to bananas, corn may also disappear 10.11.2006

As already reported, the most common variety of bananas may soon die out due to diseases, and breeding a new variety is a long story. It turns out that now corn is also in danger. This most valuable crop is cultivated in 160 countries of the world. To maintain old and breed new varieties in many countries, public and private seed banks are organized, in total, more than 250 thousand varieties and varieties of corn are stored in deep freezing. However, as experts recently found out, at least half of the stored seeds have lost their germination capacity. This could happen because the seeds are not always properly prepared for storage, and also due to more or less prolonged defrosting during a power outage. Meanwhile, wild bananas, possibly carrying genes against banana diseases, are dying in India's heavily deforested forests. Thus, a variety that has genes that protect bananas from the black sigatoka fungal disease has survived only in ... >>

Light in rolls 07.11.2006

A new light source, a flexible luminous film, has been invented at the Munich Institute for Problems of Reliability and Microintegration (Germany). In fact, it is a flat LED made of organic polymers that glows when an electrical voltage is applied. As is typical for LEDs, the luminous film consumes little energy and almost does not heat up. The brightness of the glow is smoothly adjustable. Longer life than incandescent or fluorescent lamps. The original lighting device allows you to make the walls or ceiling of the room luminous. The novelty will find application in outdoor advertising, as well as in computer and cell phone screens. ... >>

Rain and phones 05.11.2006

Water falling from the sky absorbs the energy of the ultra-short waves that power the cellular network, so the base stations in its cells automatically increase the transmission energy when it rains. As a group of meteorologists from the University of Tel Aviv (Israel) discovered, recording these fluctuations in the power of base stations can measure the amount of precipitation almost as accurately as a rain gauge. Moreover, the network of cellular stations is much denser than any network of weather stations that have rain gauges. This discovery will make weather forecasts more accurate. ... >>

mechanical fly 03.11.2006

Experts from the Laboratory of Biorobotics in Marseille (France) have created a miniature aircraft "Oscar", which simulates the behavior of a fly in flight. In the head of a common housefly, a brain is hidden, consisting of about a million neurons that receive signals from 48 cells in the retina of the eyes. Based on information from the eyes, 18 pairs of flight muscles receive orders from the brain to change the direction and speed of flight. Studies have shown that in flight, the fly's retina actively vibrates, so that the image alternately hits different light-sensitive elements. This makes it possible to keep the flight target in the center of the field of view 40 times more accurately than with a fixed retina. Oscar has replaced this system with one electronic eye and a 0,2 gram chip. The photosensitive matrix vibrates at the same frequency as a fly. The device can follow a given target and fly towards it, despite the movement of the target and the wind or lateral shocks that knock it off course. A similar system for ... >>

long-necked fossil 01.11.2006

In Mongolia, in the east of the Gobi Desert, bones of dinosaurs of a new genus were found in the Lower Cretaceous deposits. The lizard is named Erketuellisoni in honor of the main deity of the original Mongolian religion and the famous American paleontologist Ellison. The reptile is distinguished by the longest neck in the living and extinct animal world. The neck, 8 meters long, is almost half the length of the entire body with a tail. There are many air cavities in the cervical vertebrae, which, apparently, lightened the weight of the neck. The new dinosaur is related to tyrannosaurs and brontosaurus. ... >>

New VoIP chip for Wi-Fi telephony systems 29.10.2006

Atmel Corporation has announced a next-generation VoIP chip specifically designed for innovative wireless telephony systems based on the 802.11a/g standard. The AT76C902 is based on the VoIP Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) protocol stack, the uCLinux operating system, and embedded software that provides voice compression and decompression capabilities. The AT76C902 chip includes an ARM946 processor that takes care of VoIP connection control, authentication, and signaling, as well as two ARM7 subsystems and an 802.11a/g Media Access Controller (MAC). In addition, the chip has security hardware used to encrypt, decrypt, and authenticate the signal. Manufacturers of their own solutions are offered the AT76C902 DK developer toolkit. ... >>

New generation of 8-bit microcontrollers 28.10.2006

Toshiba Corporation (more precisely, its division TAEC) announces the creation of a new 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) core TLCS-870/C1. The new core, which, apparently, is reflected in the name (C1), allows you to execute one instruction per cycle, the amount of address space is 128 KB. For comparison, the previous generation of Toshiba microcontrollers based on the TLCS-870/C core executed one instruction in four cycles and could only address 64 KB of memory. The company is positioning the sufficiently flexible microcontroller core in a fairly wide range of consumer electronics products, from portable devices to air conditioners and washing machines. devices. ... >>

World's smallest IrDA (FIR) module 27.10.2006

ROHM has introduced an infrared communication module for cellular phones with a remote control function. It complies with the high-speed IrDA (Infrared Data Association) standard with a transfer rate of 4 Mbps. Shipment of RPM972-H14 engineering samples has already begun, and mass production will begin at ROHM ELECTRONICS DALIAN in November 2006. Built-in infrared remote control has recently become a standard feature on cell phones. The use of infrared rays forms the basis of progress in this field. The RPM972-H14 module developed by ROIIM is based on the RPM971-H14, to which the remote control function has been added. The RPM971-H14 is the world's smallest surface mount IrDA communication module for mass production. In addition, the RPM972-H14 does not need an external resistor, which is required for conventional modules in remote control mode. This promotes design flexibility and saves board space. ... >>

Intel introduced a chip for mobile devices with support for WiMax 26.10.2006

Intel Corporation introduced a single-chip (system-on-a-chip) solution for mobile devices with support for the WiMax standard - the WiMax Connection 2250 chip. will be implemented through software updates. WiMax Connection 802.16 is a revised version of Pro/Wireless 2004 introduced in 2250 for the fixed version of the standard. Commercial deliveries of WiMax Connection 5116 should begin before the end of this year. The first devices based on the chip will go on sale next year. Motorola, Alvarion, Airspan Networks, Alcatel, Aperto Networks, Redline Communications and Siemens have already made statements about using the Intel solution in their products. Recall that WiMax (World wide Interoperability for Microwave Access) networks are positioned as a means of connecting wireless locales to the Internet. ... >>

New ultra-fast DAC 25.10.2006

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the MAX 12 19692-bit D/A converter with a speed of 2,3 Gsample per second and the ability to directly synthesize a high-frequency wideband signal several times the Nyquist criterion, setting new industry standards for high-speed D/A converters. The MAX19692 provides direct signal synthesis up to 1 GHz for input frequency ranges from DC to over 2 GHz. The converter delivers excellent dynamic performance, including 68dB spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) at an output frequency of 1200MHz (when operating in the third Nyquist zone). The SFDR value is 14 dB higher than competing devices operating at the same high frequency. "Reinforcing its leadership in data processing technology, Maxim has developed a new high-speed DAC architecture that delivers advances in performance, dynamic range, ... >>

Solar panel on glass 24.10.2006

German scientists are going to make cheap solar cells by growing silicon on glass. Scientists from the Institute for Crystal Growth (Germany), led by Dr. Thorsten Boeck, together with the company "BP Solar" have begun a three-year project to grow thin films of polycrystalline silicon with large grains on glass. The essence of the idea is this. Now substrates for solar cells are made by cutting single crystals of silicon into wafers 0,45 mm thick. A photon penetrates the solar battery to a depth of only 0,02 mm. It turns out that a huge amount of ultra-pure silicon is wasted: a thin single-crystal film would do the job of converting light into electricity no worse than a thick plate. Accordingly, the price would be much lower. Alas, thin silicon films do not grow as single crystals. On the contrary, they consist of small grains, which significantly reduces the efficiency of the battery. To increase the size of silicon grains grown on glass (about ... >>

Technology at the tip of a golden hair 23.10.2006

Scientists from the USA figured out how to add a single molecule of a substance to the reactor, and at a strictly defined moment. "Chemists have known for a long time that it is technically possible to control the release of individual molecules of drugs or reagents, but no one has tried to implement this idea. We have brought it to the end," says Professor Peter Searson from Johns Hopkins University. He and his colleagues specialize in growing nanowires from various metals using photolithography methods. In this case, two pure gold electrode wires were needed. A long hydrocarbon molecule was attached to one of them using a gold-sulfur bond. A biomolecule was attached to the other end of the molecule, which needed to be introduced into the reactor at the right time. When this moment came, a short current pulse was passed through the electrodes, the bond between gold and sulfur was broken and the molecule set off to float freely. After that, a new molecule can be attached to the electrode and the whole process repeated. ... >>

The Polymer Diode Revolution Is Coming 22.10.2006

American chemists have obtained a sheet of flexible polymer diodes. The hard silicon substrate on which microcircuits are applied has long thwarted electronic engineers who dream of creating unprecedented devices like a self-luminous T-shirt or an umbrella that can turn sunlight into electricity to power a camping TV. And the way out is in the creation of microcircuits from flexible polymers. Scientists from Cornell University (USA) have created another prototype for such a chip. The main difference from other similar works is the use of ions with different charges. The device consists of two polymer films bonded to each other, one of which contains positive and the other negative ions. At the point of contact, they leave their native film and move to the neighboring one until equilibrium is reached. The resulting electric field causes the movement of electrons. And on the outside, two more films of electrically conductive polymers are attached, one of which is also transparent. These are the cathode and the anode. When by ... >>

Dual Layer Blu-rays Now Available 21.10.2006

Sony Electronics has officially announced the start of sales in the US of two-layer Blu-ray discs, which can store 50 GB of data. The company also confirmed that it will release a rewritable dual-layer BD by the end of the year. Media Sony Blu-ray 50 GB in the US market will be offered at a price of $48 apiece. ... >>

Updating iPods 20.10.2006

Apple has announced an update to the lineup of the most popular iPod players. Among them - two versions of iPod Video (30 and 80 GB). Their screen brightness is 60% brighter than their predecessors, they have new song search functions and several games. The next generation iPod Nano is even thinner. They will be released in three versions (2 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB). Finally, the iPod Shuffle has been redesigned. ... >>

Phone guide 19.10.2006

A curious service for tourists introduced in Singapore. Walking, you saw an interesting architectural monument and want to know the details - what kind of building it is, when and by whom it was built, and so on. You take a picture of a building with your cell phone camera and send it to the central computer of the local cell phone provider. The computer determines your location by the number of the base station with which the phone has contacted, and searches its collection of photographs (more than 2800 buildings, statues, natural and other attractions) for the object you are standing near. After that, the phone receives all the information about the object you are interested in. In the future, the collection of images will be expanded, and the phone will even be able to tell a tourist who gets lost in a large store, office center or museum how to get out of a huge building. It will be enough to photograph some noticeable detail of the interior where you are. ... >>

The Nile got longer 18.10.2006

An expedition of New Zealand and British geographers discovered what they claim is the real source of the Nile in the rainforest of Rwanda. Until now, it was believed that the source of the great African river is the Kagera River, which flows into Lake Victoria. However, the researchers, moving up the Nile in four inflatable boats and on foot, found in the forest, at an altitude of 2400 meters above sea level, a stream flowing from a hole in clay soil. This place is located much south of the source of the Kagera, so that the longest river in the world has "grown" by 107 kilometers. True, more detailed studies of other streams in the area are required to confirm the discovery. ... >>

Music therapy for snoring 17.10.2006

Alex Suarez, a Swiss musician who teaches a traditional Australian wind instrument made from a tree trunk eaten away by termites, found that those of his students who snored heavily in their sleep improved this shortcoming after a few lessons. Moreover, the general tone of the body increases and daytime sleepiness disappears. A group of Swiss doctors became interested in this observation and conducted experiments with the participation of 14 volunteers who snored. They practiced for 25 minutes daily on a copy of the native Plexiglas pipe. Indeed, snoring disappeared, and with it the tendency to sleepiness disappeared, since for many of us it is explained by lack of sleep - a snoring person often wakes himself up at night. Eleven snorers from the control group who did not play the trumpet did not change anything. The reason, doctors believe, is that playing the big trumpet trains the muscles of the upper respiratory tract. Snoring is caused precisely by the fact that the walls of the respiratory ... >>

The robot went for mushrooms 15.10.2006

Engineers from the University of Warwick (UK) have built a robot that harvests mushroom plantations. The robot is programmed to pick mushrooms at least a certain size. Acting under the control of a video camera that replaces his eyes, he takes the mushroom with a hand with a pneumatic suction cup at the end. True, the collection speed is half that of a person, but the robot can operate around the clock. And the inventors hope to increase the collection rate. ... >>

Our sun's twins discovered 13.10.2006

Australian astronomers, working at an observatory near Canberra, discovered two stars with characteristics very close to our central star. Like the Sun, both stars are about 26 light-years from the center of the Galaxy. They are about 1% hotter and rotate slightly faster than the Sun, which means they are about half a billion years younger. But even in such a time, planets with life, possibly intelligent, could have arisen around these stars. ... >>

Transgenic product causes allergies 11.10.2006

Biotechnologist Thomas Higgins from Canberra (Australia) transplanted bean genes into peas in order to ward off beetle larvae from peas, which feed only on them and do not digest beans. However, after Higgins fed bug-resistant peas to mice to test the edibility of the new product, many of the rodents developed pneumonia. It turned out that the bean genes changed the structure of the pea protein molecules, replacing the sugar molecules at the ends of the protein chains. As a result, the altered molecules began to cause allergies in the lungs. This is the first case of direct evidence of the danger of transgenic products, and with genes taken not from microbes, fish or insects, but from a related representative of the plant world. ... >>

The most interesting sports game 09.10.2006

What sports game is the most interesting for a fan? Probably the one in which the result is the least predictable. From this point of view, three employees of the famous laboratory in Los Alamos (USA) analyzed the results of more than three hundred thousand sports meetings that took place in the last century in the United States. Hockey, baseball and basketball games, as well as American football matches were taken into account. For comparison, we took European football, which is unpopular in the United States, by considering the results of meetings in the English major leagues. It turned out that most often an unexpected result, when the wrong team wins, on which everyone bet, brings exactly European football. In second place is baseball, then, in descending order of interest, hockey, basketball, and in last place is American football. ... >>

The Amazon is drying up 07.10.2006

In the autumn of 2005, hydrologists noted a record low water level in the Amazon in northeastern Peru, near the city of Iquitos. Compared to the usual average level, the water has dropped by about 3 meters. According to Fernando Rodriguez of the Amazon Research Institute in Peru, this is a consequence of the destruction of forests along the banks of the great river and its tributaries. More than 10 million hectares have already been cut down, as a result, the amount of rainfall has decreased, not only in this region, but also in North America, all the way to Texas. The rate of deforestation is only increasing. ... >>

Glue - do not tear off 06.10.2006

Microbiologists from the University of Bloomington (USA) have found a bacterium that lives in fast streams and must attach to stones so that it is not carried away by the current. At the end of the bacterial cell there is a stalk, which, thanks to the heavy-duty glue released at its end, firmly adheres to the stone. By measuring the force required to tear bacteria off glass with a micromanipulator, the scientists found that a one square millimeter adhesive would support a weight of 7 kilograms. The best adhesives currently in use withstand a gap of 1-8 kilograms. And it is very important that the bacterial adhesive works on wet surfaces. The composition of the glue has not yet been fully deciphered, but it is based on polysaccharides. It is assumed that it will be possible to establish the production of miracle glue by genetic engineering and use it, for example, in surgery, since polysaccharides in the body are gradually absorbed. ... >>

Velcro threatens the nature of Antarctica 05.10.2006

Australian botanists studied in detail the clothes and equipment of scientists going to the Antarctic island of Macquarie. With the help of tweezers and a powerful vacuum cleaner, they collected all the seeds, spores and fragments of plants from clothing and equipment. Of the 64 members of the expedition, only 20 did not carry any representatives of the flora. From the rest, 981 exhibits were collected, belonging to 90 plant species, many of which are prone to rapid reproduction and are dangerous for the fragile Antarctic ecosystem. Some seeds were hidden in pockets, behind cuffs, in the seams of clothes, in woolen socks and in the ribbed soles of boots, but most clung to Velcro fasteners. The irony is that Velcro was invented on the model of burdock seedlings, equipped with many sharp curved hooks and designed specifically for spreading the seeds of this plant on the fur of animals running by. ... >>

Flight over the volcano 03.10.2006

The Cotopaxi volcano (the highest active volcano on the planet, 5897 meters) is located just 55 kilometers from the capital of Ecuador, the two-millionth city of Quito. A dangerous neighbor needs constant monitoring. Until recently, it was conducted from helicopters and light aircraft, but this method is too expensive. The Institute of Aerospace Engineering in Braunschweig (Germany) has created an unmanned aerial vehicle "Carollo R-330" with a wingspan of 330 centimeters, capable of flying to altitudes of up to 7000 meters. An airplane weighing 5 kilograms carries cameras and various sensors. It is controlled by an autopilot the size of a pack of cigarettes, it includes a gyroscope, a satellite navigation receiver and a microcomputer. By design, "Carollo" is a motor glider with an electric drive: the energy of a battery weighing 1100 grams allows you to rise up and soar there using ascending air currents. Carollo is already being used by Ecuadorian volcanologists to photograph fresh lava flows from the Cotopaxi crater and other volcanoes. A ... >>

Dual core controllers for the automotive industry 30.09.2006

Renesas Technology, one of whose fields of activity is the production of microcontrollers (MCUs) used in automobiles, predicts the emergence of dual-core products in this area during the period from 2008 to 2010. Recently, the complexity and number of solutions used in cars has been growing at an accelerated pace. An example is given by BMW, whose vehicles used MCUs grew from 19 in 1999 to 20 in 2004. Only the airbag system currently requires the installation of a dozen microcontrollers, a couple more are required for the information board and steering. Equipping cars with global positioning systems and entertainment functions also stimulates the growth in the number of microcontrollers. ... >>

New technology increases LED brightness by seven times 29.09.2006

Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the creation of a new type of LED - resonant cavity LED (RCLED), which is seven times brighter than traditional LEDs, reports Nanotechweb. This was achieved by additionally etching 130-nm circular Bragg gratings onto the surface of the device. According to the researchers, the new technology can be applied in optocoherence tomography and other medical imaging tools. Now scientists are planning to transfer the experience of amplifying light radiation in nanostructures to various nanophotonic devices - primarily to optophotonic transistors. ... >>

Self-healing chips 28.09.2006

A group of American scientists began a three-year project to research the technology of creating microchips that can independently recover from failures, reports Extreme Tech. The start of work on the project was announced last week at a conference on design automation, held in San Francisco, representatives of the corporation Semiconductor Research, US National Science Foundation and Michigan State University. It is supposed to build a chip design technology that will more efficiently search for faulty parts of the chip, transfer computing functions from non-working parts to working ones, and then correct the problems that have arisen and return the repaired section to operation. In this case, the microchip will be able to recover through the use of online software and its own components. At the moment, to search for and diagnose problems in semiconductors, their redundancy is used, which requires significant additional costs, deterioration of the manufacturer ... >>

Scientists have increased the speed of bipolar transistors 27.09.2006

British researchers from the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton in the UK have proposed a new technology that could theoretically double the speed of bipolar transistors compared to existing solutions. The technique, developed under the guidance of Professor Peter Ashburn, is to modify the standard manufacturing process for bipolar transistors by adding a fluorine impurity. Fluorine impurity is used to limit the diffusion of boron in the base of the transistor. This, in turn, leads to a decrease in the thickness of the base, which makes it possible to increase the speed of the electrons. According to the researchers, during the experiments they managed to achieve a frequency of 110 GHz, which is twice the previous record for bipolar transistors. The scientists emphasize that with some technology improvements, boron diffusion in the base can be reduced by another 50 percent. Bipolar transistors are widely used in electronic ... >>