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.

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New series CKR relay Crydom 20.07.2003

Contd Over Paver, Crydom announced the development of a new series of CKR solid state relays with a switching voltage of 240 and 480 V rms and a current load of 10 20 and 30 A rms. Relays can have both AC control (CKRA subfamily) and DC control (CKRD subfamily). Models are available with zero-crossing switching as well as with arbitrary switching. The CKR series relays are supplied with a built-in heatsink with a snap-on design for direct DIN rail mounting. Despite the fact that the width of the relay housing is only 22 5 mm, the heatsink ensures efficient heat dissipation. The relay contacts are made for panel mounting with a wire hole (d = 3 mm). The working state of the relay is displayed by a green LED on its body. The input voltage of the relay with DC control is 4, 5, 32 V for the relay with AC control - 90 280 V. The maximum allowable voltage is 4000 V rms. ... >>

New 14A voltage conversion modules in EXCALIBUR package 19.07.2003

Texas Instruments new series of voltage converters in EXCALIBUR 12-pin package is only 8 mm high. The input voltage is 5 V, the output current is up to 14 A and is designed to organize a power supply for powerful micro- and signal processors right at their installation site. Half the size of the previous series of 6460A voltage converters, the PT14 power modules operate from a 5V system power supply and provide a reduced regulated voltage down to 1V. Other product features include 94% efficiency, pre-bias voltage for reliable start-up, adjustable output voltage, line length compensation, on/off delay, overcurrent protection and a convenient surface mount package design. The PT6460 modules are available in a low-profile 12-pin EXCALIBUR copper package, do not need an additional heatsink and are easy to solder. With dimensions 43x17x8 mm, box ... >>

glass medicine 18.07.2003

British dentists have developed a new way to prevent caries. On one of the molars at the back, so as not to interfere, the doctor glues a two-millimeter grain of glass of a special composition that can dissolve very slowly in saliva. Fluorine ions are introduced into the glass. Gradually released, they protect tooth enamel from caries. A side effect of this remedy was also revealed: it eliminates the sensitivity of the teeth to too cold or too hot food, which is characteristic of many. The glass "bead" should be replaced every two years. Soluble glass will find application in animal husbandry. A glass tablet with trace elements necessary for the animal, such as copper or cobalt, is allowed to be swallowed by a cow. The tablet enters one of the sections of the complex stomach and, gradually dissolving, releases the necessary trace elements. ... >>

Hive for wild bees 16.07.2003

The English company "Oxford Bee" has launched the production of ready-made houses for wild bees. In recent years, honey bees in England, and in many other countries, have suffered greatly from parasitic mites. As a result, yields of crops that need pollination by bees have decreased. In this regard, honey bees can be replaced by solitary wild bees - osmia. They do not give in to a tick and, moreover, are more effective in pollination. Osmias collect pollen on the pubescent underside of the abdomen, rather than tamping it into special baskets on their legs, like a honey bee, therefore increasing the likelihood of pollen getting onto the pistil. Importantly, osmias are distinguished by a complaisant disposition and almost never use their sting. In spring, they begin to fly earlier than ordinary bees, at a lower temperature. In nature, osmia live in hollow reed stems, empty snail shells, in the passages of woodworms and other tubular cavities. Oxford Bee proposes to attract osmium to the gardens by hanging houses for them. ... >>

Hybrid trash can with slot machine 15.07.2003

How to get the main consumers of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks in cans - young people to throw empty cans only in the trash? Two graduate students from the University of Lyon (France) came up with a fruitful idea and managed to implement it. Six cabinets resembling drinks vending machines appeared on campus. There is no slot for coins in them, but there is a round hole where you can push an empty jar. As soon as this is done, in the front wall of the cabinet, behind the glass, three reels with drawings begin to spin, like in a slot machine. If all three reels land on the same symbols, you get a win for an empty jar. It can be a lollipop, a keychain, a pack of chewing gum, a ballpoint pen, and if you are especially lucky, a leather case for a mobile phone. On average, every fourth jar brings a win. The innovation aroused the enthusiasm of the inhabitants of the campus, and each machine began to be handed over to metal assemblers. ... >>

Elephants on a treadmill 14.07.2003

Can elephants run, or do they simply walk at a fast pace if necessary? A group of Thai biologists studied the issue by running 42 Asian elephants on a treadmill. A total of 188 races were held under the lens of television cameras. To make it possible to analyze the movements of the legs of thick-skinned giants on video frames, the joints were marked on the elephant skin with spots of white paint. The speed was recorded with a photo finish. It turned out that elephants use something between fast walking and running. The order and mode of movement of the legs does not change, and there are no moments when all four legs leave the ground, as in typical running of other animals. On the other hand, when the elephant moves to a fast pace, the body's center of gravity begins to jump up and down, which is typical for running (when walking, the elephant's center of gravity shifts back and forth). Many of the experimental animals reached speeds of 25 kilometers per hour, and three particularly nimble individuals exceeded it. This is the first time such velocities have been recorded. ... >>

Look into the eyes of the phone 11.07.2003

It is about the appearance of machines that will understand human facial expressions and be controlled by it. When the phone rings at the Human Communications Lab at Kingston University, Canada, the plush animal on the table next to the machine blinks and rolls its eyes. If the person sitting at the table breaks away from work and looks the little animal in the eyes, it will turn on the telephone, if not, the answering machine will work. There are already cameras that focus on exactly the subject that the photographer is looking at. Canadian engineers propose to build similar systems into computers, mobile phones, voice recorders and other devices with which a person interacts. The laboratory has created a table lamp that performs the verbal commands "Light up!" and "Extinguish!" only when the owner looks at her. That is, these words can be fearlessly used in a conversation, if it is not about a lamp. ... >>

Squid from the Ross Sea 10.07.2003

New Zealand fishermen caught a female giant squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni on the surface of the Ross Sea off the coast of Antarctica. The length of the still not quite adult mollusk is 5 meters, weight - 150 kilograms. This is only the second whole specimen of this species that scientists came across (there were also finds of individual fragments in the stomachs of whales that feed on squid). The species lives at depths of up to two kilometers; it is an aggressive predator that can be dangerous for humans as well. The tentacles of the squid are studded with hooks as sharp as knives, the mouth is equipped with a powerful beak that tears the victim to shreds. Until now, it was not known that a giant squid can hunt near the surface of the water, where it is able to meet a person (although it is unlikely that many of us would think of swimming off the coast of Antarctica). The mollusk was caught in the net when chasing a two-meter fish. ... >>

Warm up with your breath 09.07.2003

Warm jackets with a thick layer of thermal insulation are often called "puffy", but in fact they do not have air chambers. For inconstant weather, the American company Gore-Tex offered a truly inflatable vest with an adjustable degree of thermal insulation. In its thickness are interconnected air chambers, which the wearer of the vest can inflate through a nipple hidden in the collar. For full inflation, 4-5 liters of air are required, which is why the vest thickens by one and a half centimeters. It became hot - the air can be partially or completely deflated. ... >>

Wood can cause allergies 07.07.2003

Experts from the Institute for Wood Research in Braunschweig (Germany) found that walls, parquet and furniture made from natural softwood can cause allergies in residents. Softwood releases resin components into the air - terpenes, pinenes, limonene and other aromatic compounds. And when the natural resins in the felled tree begin to decompose, aldehydes and organic acids also enter the air. Scientists analyzed the composition of the air in houses and apartments with the widespread use of coniferous wood and came to the conclusion that in recent years, in the pursuit of environmental friendliness of housing, builders and finishers have gone too far. The fact that spruces and pines emit organic molecules into the air can be seen on a walk through a coniferous forest. The smell is pleasant, but it is difficult for many to constantly live under its influence: cough, sore throat, irritation of the nasopharynx and other allergy symptoms begin. Scientists recommend coating furniture, parquet and wood wall panels with a colorless ... >>

grass paper 06.07.2003

The Polish company "Biotek" has patented a method for obtaining pulp for making paper from a herbaceous plant, a relative of mallow, cotton and hibiscus. The American sida grows literally like grass, growing biomass ten times faster than conifers commonly used in paper making. The content of cellulose in the stems of sida is 40 percent, about the same as in pine or birch wood. There is no resin in the plant, there is much less lignin in it than in coniferous wood, it is not necessary to remove the bark from its stems - all this reduces the cost of production. The paper is no less durable than regular paper. ... >>

Diamond is harder than diamond 05.07.2003

Japanese scientists have synthesized artificial diamonds that are harder than real ones. Physicists heated up to 2500 degrees Celsius especially pure graphite under a pressure of 100 thousand atmospheres. These are higher parameters than in conventional diamond synthesis. The result was crystals with a diameter of several tenths of a millimeter. They, in turn, consist of tightly soldered even smaller crystals, while natural diamonds, as a rule, are single solid crystals. Their hardness is different under pressure on the diamond from different directions, and in new artificial diamonds it is the same, no matter how hard you press. And higher than that of natural diamonds. ... >>

Soil water 03.07.2003

The German company "Zeltek" proposed a device, ingenious in its simplicity, for evaporating pure water from the soil. This is a large cone made of transparent polymer, without a bottom, but with an annular groove along the perimeter of the base (the edge of the base is bent inward). The cone is placed on the ground, and the rays of the sun drive water out of the ground. Water, evaporating under the cone, as in a greenhouse, settles on the walls and flows into the receiving groove. In a day, even in the desert, you can get up to one and a half liters of the purest water - although the sand of the desert is drier than ordinary soil, but the sun is hotter there. You can put the cone in a dirty puddle, or even in calm weather let it swim near the shore in shallow sea water - and get clean distilled water. The invention was awarded the prize of the World Forum on Drinking Water Problems, held in the spring in Tokyo. ... >>

Phone in hours 02.07.2003

The Japanese firm "Dokomo" has begun production of a cell phone worn on the wrist like a watch. To make a call, you need to remove the device from your hand and attach one end of the bracelet to your ear, and speak in the other. The phone weighs 113 grams, its owner is able to use e-mail in addition to making conversations, as well as browsing Internet sites specially simplified for the phone. The battery charge allows you to talk without interruption for two hours, and in the call standby mode, the energy is enough for 200 hours. Of course, the device also acts as a conventional electronic clock. The new phone will be sold only in Japan, as it is designed for the Japanese cellular standard, which is not used in other countries. A similar novelty is being prepared by Samsung. ... >>

Bluetooth digital pen 30.06.2003

Nokia has developed a digital pen that allows you to write or draw something, and then send it to a cell phone using Bluetooth technology and send it as a multimedia message. The Nokia Digital Pen SU-1B is used to write on a special notepad made of plain paper, on which control characters are applied. The images are saved in the usual GIF format and can be inserted into multimedia messages supported by phones such as the Nokia 7650 and 3650. The pen is connected to a PC via a USB cradle so that a note can also be saved to a computer. The memory of the pen itself can hold up to 100 A5 pages. To convert an image to text, you need to purchase a special text recognition program. ... >>

Mobile phone recognizes the owner 29.06.2003

The Japanese company Earth Beat, which specializes in image recognition technologies, has released GeneLock-Light, an embedded special software for authenticating users of mobile phones equipped with digital cameras. The company's employees claim that their technology provides a high level of security and can be an attractive alternative, especially for the younger generation, to the methods of identifying a person by a four-digit PIN code, retina or fingerprint. They believe that an important advantage of the Earth Beat solution is that it can be used in those phones with an integrated camera that are already being mass-produced at the present time. ... >>

Boots with spring studs 27.06.2003

Generics Group engineers have created a fundamentally new boots - with spring spikes. In them, plastic spikes are attached to a compressed steel springy plate. Any force acting on the cleat causes the spring plate to collapse, absorbing the energy and reducing the pressure on the foot at that point. At the same time, the ends of this plate are bent down, bringing the secondary spikes into contact with the ground. This gives extra grip and distributes the load. The whole mechanism is enclosed in a durable plastic that prevents the accumulation of dirt inside. Since spring boots significantly reduce the risk of injury to athletes compared to conventional sports shoes, the creators of the novelty are confident that their offspring will be in great demand. ... >>

Antibacterial clothing 26.06.2003

R. Engel and colleagues from New York University have made significant progress in research on the creation of antibacterial clothing that can independently destroy microbes and fungal spores that fall on it. In order to give clothing such unique properties, it is impregnated with a special compound containing the so-called "dagger molecules". These molecules consist of two parts: "a point, which is a long chain of carbon atoms surrounded by hydrogen atoms, and a" handle formed by two connected molecular rings consisting of carbon and nitrogen atoms.The latter penetrate into the hydrocarbons of the fabric, so that this composition is not washed off clothes.When a bacterium or spore enters the fabric, its negatively charged outer shell is attracted to positively charged nitrogen rings and literally stumbles upon sharp carbon chains that cut the uninvited aliens.Who knows, perhaps the hour is not far away when the real ... >>

U-shaped computer keyboard 25.06.2003

The American company SafeType has released an original ergonomic keyboard, which is designed to save computer users from the inconvenience of traditional text input devices. The new keyboard has a U-shape. On the two side panels are alphanumeric and function keys. In this case, the keys that on a conventional keyboard fall under the left hand are on the left panel, and under the right hand - on the right. On the horizontal part of the keyboard there are control keys, multimedia keys, cursor control and an additional numeric keypad. Such an unusual keyboard configuration is due to the fact that with the vertical arrangement of the keys, the forearms are in the so-called neutral position (thumbs pointing up), in which the wrists practically do not strain. This is especially noticeable when working for a long time. However, such a keyboard also has serious drawbacks. To work with it, you must master the method of touch printing, since looking at ... >>

New SAMSUNG digital camera with built-in hard drive 24.06.2003

Samsung Electronics announced the start of deliveries to the market of a new digital camera ITCAM-7, announced back in January 2003 and equipped with a built-in 1,5 GB hard drive and a color LCD display. The camera allows you to record and play video and audio materials, as well as take pictures. It is built on a CCD-matrix with a resolution of 350 thousand pixels and is equipped with a 2-inch LCD display capable of displaying up to 210 thousand dots. In addition, Samsung ITCAM-7 supports MP3 music playback, and can be used as a portable storage device. In this case, any files can be written to the camera's hard drive - from simple documents to games. The built-in hard drive holds up to 66 minutes of MP4 video or 25 hours of 3Kbps MP128 music. ... >>

MATSUSHITA Starts DVD-RAM Promotion 22.06.2003

The Matsushita Electric Industrial Corporation is about to launch one of the biggest advertising campaigns ever in the world. The campaign will aim to promote Panasonic's new DIGA consumer DVD recorders and related DVD-RAM media format globally. One result should be the establishment of DVD-RAM as the world standard. To implement this difficult task, they even attracted the famous film director Oliver Stone. It will deal with some aspects of the campaign, and at the same time serve as an advertisement in itself, drawing attention to the same DIGA brand. We will be jammed with ads everywhere, with the exception of Japan and some other countries, throughout the entire time from June of this year to next May. Against this background, somewhere in late summer or early autumn, the first truly massive deliveries of these devices to literally all countries of the world will begin. ... >>

SANYO Moves to OLED Displays 21.06.2003

Following Sony, which recently announced the transfer of the production of LCD displays for mobile devices to OLED technology, another Japanese company, Sanyo, announced a similar intention. True, Sanyo is going to start producing much larger matrices that will be used to create computer monitors. At present, Sanyo's LCD panel plant has two lines, one of which produces 380 13,3-inch panels per month, and the other produces 160 15-inch panels in the same period. It is planned to convert the 13,3-inch line for the production of OLED panels soon. Thus, about 70% of Sanyo's liquid crystal display products will be made using OLED technology. The reason for such attention to the new technology on the part of the company is the desire to gain a foothold in this market sector as soon as possible and not allow Taiwanese and Korean companies to dominate it, as happened in ... >>

VHS continues to lose ground 19.06.2003

For a long time, the DVD format could not seriously shake the position occupied by VHS standard media in the consumer video sector. It wasn't until the prices of DVD drives, and then consumer players, dropped sharply that the market position of the VHS standard began to deteriorate steadily. Digital media with better picture and sound quality now costs not much more than a regular video cassette, so more and more people are choosing to buy DVD-ready equipment. A recently California-based organization called the Video Software Dealers Association celebrated the first ever increase in DVD rentals over VHS rentals. During the week in the United States, video rental customers checked out 28,2 million DVDs and only 27,3 million VHS tapes. If earlier it was noted that the number of DVD players sold exceeded the number of VCRs sold, now it is already obvious ... >>

Intel sold 1.000.000.000 processors in 25 years 17.06.2003

Intel Corporation celebrates the 25th anniversary of the production of semiconductor products based on its own architecture Back in 1978, the first processor from Intel in the x86 family was born - a 16-bit 8086 with a frequency of 4 MHz, which had only 77 thousand transistors. Later, in 29, its 1982-bit version - 8 went to the IBM PC XT trial line, which was destined to become the ancestor of all modern PCs. Microprocessor technology and semiconductor technology have come a long way since then, and today's Pentium 8088 processor contains 4 million transistors and has a clock speed of 55 GHz. Another event happened in April of this year - 3 years have passed since the release of the first x06 processor, and according to Mercury Research, during this time, Intel managed to sell 86 (one billion) of such processors. To be sure - an outstanding achievement that in the foreseeable future, no one but Intel itself will surely be able to repeat - the company assumes that ... >>

light bulb for computer 16.06.2003

The Technological Institute of Lausanne (Switzerland) has developed a method for creating subminiature LEDs. With its help, engineers made an LED with a luminous surface measuring 100 nanometers, which is about 50 times smaller than a human erythrocyte. The baby emits infrared light with a wavelength of 1,3 microns. The device will find application in optical computers of the near future. Scientists believe that the proposed technique will make it possible to create even more tiny LEDs that emit individual photons. ... >>

Gamma rays preserve wood 15.06.2003

French physicists have used radioactive irradiation to preserve fishing boats that are about six thousand years old. Under water or in moist soil, wood can be stored for thousands of years, but when it comes into contact with air, it quickly collapses. Boats, the so-called odnoderevki, hollowed out of oak trunks 5-6 meters long, were found last year near the banks of the Seine near Paris. First, the finds were soaked in special baths with synthetic resin - this took several months. Then they were placed for a day in a chamber with one and a half meter concrete walls, where a beam of gamma rays from a nuclear reactor was directed. Radiation, firstly, caused the polymerization of the resin, gluing the wood ready to crumble; secondly, it killed microbes and fungi that could cause decay. Previously, the wooden parts of the Titanic, raised from the bottom of the Atlantic, underwent the same treatment. Now boats proving that Paris is 4000 years older than historians have thought so far are on display at the Museum of the History of Par ... >>

An injection without a puncture 13.06.2003

Since the twenties of the last century, when the first micromanipulators were developed - lever devices like a pantograph, which greatly reduce the range of motion, biologists have been able to perform operations on individual cells under a microscope. Now genetic engineers often use micromanipulators to introduce new genes into the cell nucleus with a microsyringe. Pharmacologists inject medicinal compounds into the cell, observing its reaction. However, in this case, the cell membrane, its outer shell, is rather roughly injured. The English company Cell Engineering, which manufactures equipment for biological laboratories, took advantage of the fact that the cell membrane consists of a double layer of lipid molecules - fatty substances. The tips of the new micropipettes and needles produced by the company are coated with the same lipids. Now you do not need to pierce the membrane with force, it is enough to easily touch it with the end of the needle - and the lipids of the membrane adhere to the lipids of the needle, opening a channel in the cell wall. When the experimenter retracts the needle, the channel is tightened ... >>

The biggest virus 12.06.2003

The largest known virus has been found in the cooling tower water in Bradford, England. It lives inside amoebas that live in the water. The French microbiologists who made this discovery first mistook the virus for a small bacterium. Its diameter is 400 nanometers (0,4 microns), which is larger than the size of some bacteria. Typical for viruses sizes - from 10 to 100 nanometers. Scientists dubbed the find "mimivirus" because it mimics a bacterium. whether the mimivirus is capable of harming humans is still unknown, but it is said to be related to the smallpox virus. ... >>

wool house 10.06.2003

English farmers have quite a lot of low-quality wool from beef sheep. It is so cheap that it often does not pay off the fuel spent to bring it to market, especially from remote farms. One of the English companies began to produce a heat-insulating building material such as felt from such wool. It is more expensive than mineral wool, but its production requires seven times less energy, and the material itself does not cause allergies, is light, hygroscopic and is able to keep heat in the house in winter and keep heat out of the house in summer. As you know, Mongolian yurts, made of felt from time immemorial, possess these qualities. ... >>

Phone with repeat 09.06.2003

Engineers from the Japanese company Mitsubishi propose to build in a mobile phone a microchip for continuous sound recording with a capacity of 10 seconds and a sensor that senses when the handset is taken away from the ear, for example, to press a button. As soon as the phone is back at the ear, the recording of the last 10 seconds is played at a slightly accelerated pace and with almost no gaps between words. Having "caught up" with the interlocutor, playback stops, so that the subscriber does not miss a single word spoken during these seconds. You can also call a repeat of the last 10 seconds if you wish, for example, if a car hummed loudly nearby and you didn’t hear something. ... >>

My own battery 07.06.2003

Fuel cells, created so far, run on hydrogen, methane, alcohol, gas and other traditional fuels. In such an element, the fuel is oxidized at the electrode under the influence of a catalyst, and an electron flow occurs. Physicist Nicholas Maino of the University of Texas (USA) has developed a subminiature fuel cell that runs on the same fuel that people work on - on glucose. Any food we eat is first of all converted in the body into glucose, which is carried by the blood throughout the body to nourish the cells. Therefore, the new fuel cell is able to work if it is simply implanted under the skin. A biofuel cell consists of two electrodes - the thinnest carbon fibers, dressed with two types of enzymes involved in the absorption of glucose in the body. These electrodes, when implanted into the body, use the glucose present in the blood, in living cells, and in the extracellular fluid, thereby generating a current. In the experiments of scientists, two electrodes d ... >>

You can try an apple with your hand 05.06.2003

The Center for Agricultural Mechanization in Montpellier (France) has created a glove that checks the ripeness of an apple without removing it from the tree. The infrared sensor of the glove detects the concentration of sugar in the pulp under the skin with a simple touch. It is enough to spread your fingers, and then, closing them, click on the apple, after which the glove determines the hardness of the fruit by sound. The light indicator shows whether it is time to harvest. You can also determine the quality of the fruit on the merchant's tray. In the future, such gloves will be created for pears, cherries, watermelons and even grapes. ... >>

Brain from blood 04.06.2003

One of the employees of the Argonne National Laboratory (USA), whose duty is to look after cell cultures, fell ill and did not renew the nutrient fluid in the vessels with the culture of human blood cells for several days. When the researcher looked at the starving cells, he noticed that some of the white blood cells responsible for immunity in the body, due to starvation, were transformed into something else and looked unusual. By influencing the changed cells with a protein substance called nerve growth factor, the experimenters obtained neurons from them. Other biologically active compounds caused the transformation of blood cells into liver cells and blood vessel cells. The authors of the discovery suggest that such blood cells, capable of transforming into cells of other types, are carried throughout the body by blood flow, accumulate at the sites of damage and replace damaged cells of any tissue. Perhaps the time is not far off when, after taking a few milliliters of blood from a patient, ... >>

dog for diabetic 03.06.2003

Canadian scientists have decided to use the dog's phenomenal sense of smell to diagnose diabetes. They taught the English Cocker Paco to detect hypoglycemia by the smell of his breath - a dangerous drop in blood sugar in the owner of an intelligent dog. In such cases, Paco raises the alarm, and if the hostess is asleep or has already lost consciousness, the Cocker presses the ambulance call button. Two more dogs are currently undergoing similar training. ... >>

And cotton grass will bloom on Mars 01.06.2003

As for apple trees, it is not yet clear, but, according to the American botanist James Graham, a modest terrestrial plant, cotton grass, will be able to grow on Mars. Many are familiar with these thin twigs with a piece of something like cotton at the end, growing in humid places. Looking for plants that could survive in the harsh conditions of Mars, Graham found an extremely resistant species of cotton grass from Svalbard. But before sowing cotton grass, it will be necessary to prepare the Martian soil, populate it with microbes, which will provide the plants with the elements necessary for nutrition. ... >>

LED traffic light 29.05.2003

But on US roads, a traffic light with a single lens with a diameter of 30 cm is being tested. The light source is an LED matrix that can display signals of different colors and shapes. The green signal is a regular circle, yellow is a downward facing triangle, and red is an octagon with a thin white border. Various shapes allow you to quickly understand the signal even for color blind people. The traffic light can also display a green arrow on its screen indicating the direction of movement. Ready to go and portable on a tripod for installation in road worksites. ... >>

Electronic system for simultaneous interpretation into the sign language of the deaf and dumb 27.05.2003

The Institute of Computer Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as a result of the development of intelligent command recognition technologies, created a computer system for simultaneous translation into sign language. It is intended for deaf children. According to the project manager, Professor Gao Wen, this system has no analogues in the world and is capable of recognizing over 5 gestures. The words spoken by the operator are translated into sign language by the computer and displayed on the monitor. Now deaf and dumb viewers of TV programs will be able to "listen" to the news. The system can also be used for teaching sign language, as an electronic dictionary or as a tour guide. ... >>

65 thousand plastic flowers 23.05.2003

The technology for creating organic LED panels still has a number of significant drawbacks. The most important of which is the low resource of such devices. Despite this, many developers have focused on this particular direction. A camera has already gone on sale, the viewfinder of which is based on the use of OLED (organic light-emitting diode). In the near future, phones will appear whose secondary display will also use the effect of visible light emission by polymer materials. Moreover, if the resource cannot be increased yet, then the color rendition has been improved to a very decent level. South Korean joint venture NEC Mobile Display (SNMD) announced the creation of a passive OLED matrix capable of displaying 65 thousand colors. There is very little time left before the start of production of such matrices in large industrial volumes - this significant event is scheduled for the second half of this year. It is traditionally planned to use the novelty in mobile phones. ... >>

MATSUSHITA completely switched to lead-free boards 21.05.2003

From now on, all consumer electronics under the Panasonic trademark will be produced using lead-free technology. This applies not only to the components used and the solders used for mounting, but also to printed circuit boards. which excludes the use of lead. The company said that since 2003, more than 12 million lead-free devices have been produced. ... >>

Mini TV from phone 17.05.2003

If the device has a screen, then this device must be a TV. In this or approximately this way, the leaders of the KDDI company reasoned, having decided to start developing a mobile phone, on the screen of which it would be possible to watch TV programs. A similar phone manufactured by Sharp will soon be on sale, though only in Japan so far. But the user of this device can download a book he likes from the Internet and read it directly from the display. But the release of the phone-TV from KDDI is expected only by the end of the year, when Japan will begin to introduce digital broadcasting through terrestrial repeaters. At the Svyaz-Expocomm 2003 exhibition, the metropolitan mobile communications network MegaFon for the first time in Russia demonstrated a live broadcast of a TV program on a mobile phone screen via the GSM network. For this, VideoStreammg technology was used, which allows you to transfer video to GSM phones (not all, of course) and without a XNUMXG mobile network. In addition to the direct body ... >>

JUKEBOX by TDK 14.05.2003

Somehow it has already developed that MP9000 players with a built-in hard drive are usually called "Jukebox". Previously, this was the name of jukeboxes, but now the term seems to have stuck to technically advanced devices. Although the functional relationship of both devices is obvious. The ranks of modern Jukebox decided to replenish the company TDK. For this purpose, it launched the DA-20 CDRW on the market. A feature of this device is not even the presence of a hard disk with a capacity of 400 GB, but its combination with a CDRW burner. This gives rise to a lot of additional features, such as recording tracks from a hard drive to a disc on the fly, archiving ordinary audio CDs to a hard drive in MPXNUMX format, and, of course, the ability to connect all this economy to a computer using a USB interface. The package includes a remote control and batteries. The price for such a device is low - $XNUMX. ... >>

The Japanese are preparing new types of digital video recorders 11.05.2003

Video recorders will soon appear in electronics stores - video recording devices built on a combination of a DVD optical drive with the capabilities of a large-capacity built-in hard drive. Two similar recorders of the DIGA line were offered by Panasonic. The first is named DMR-E60. In addition to the features provided by the combination of a hard drive and a DVD burner, it is equipped with SD Memory Card and PCMCIA slots, making it suitable for viewing and storing information from digital cameras. This device is already on sale for $600. The second recorder is called DMR-E80, it is equipped with an 80-gigabyte hard drive and can store up to 104 hours of video. The DMR-E80 will hit the shelves in July and will cost $700. Electronic giants Toshiba and Hitachi also intend to hit the market with their new models of video recorders. Toshiba's device will be based on a DVD burner. Its release is scheduled for October this year. The recorder will be available for sale starting from ... >>

Samsung introduced TVs with DNIe technology 07.05.2003

Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) - a new digital technology from Samsung Electronics - is now available in Russia. The DNIe system has been developed in Samsung laboratories for seven years and is now implemented in the latest TV models that will appear on the Russian market in early summer 2003. More than 80 original Samsung patents are used in the development of DNIe circuits and algorithms. DNIe technology consists of several functional blocks - optimizers of details, contrasts, images and color reproduction. Thanks to its intelligent analysis system, DNIe technology allows you to improve the image regardless of the type of screen and signal source. ... >>

288-Mbit RDRAM 1066 MHz 05.05.2003

The Japanese company Elpida Memory announced the start of deliveries of 288-megabit RDRAM (Rambus) 1066 MHz RAM chips intended for use in workstations, as well as high-performance desktop computers and network devices. The chips are produced using proprietary 0,13 micron technology in FBGA packages. The new 288 megabit chips will be used in RIMM and SO-RIMM modules from 128 to 512 MB. Chips and RIMM modules developed by Elpida specialists have already been certified by Rambus. In the near future, Elpida plans to start production of Rambus memory chips designed for operating frequencies of 1200 and 1333 MHz. According to the manufacturer, the new 288 megabit RDRAM chips use Rambus Signaling Level (RSL) technology, which allows not only to increase the operating frequency to 1066 MHz, but also to achieve increased memory reliability. The chips provide data transfer at a rate of two bytes per 0 94 ns (or 16 bytes per 75 ns). ... >>

Impregnation against fire 01.05.2003

For those who "work" with fire, special non-combustible clothing is very necessary. Impregnations for fabrics are already being used to protect them from fire. Scientists from the Institute of Chemistry of Solutions (Ivanovo) came up with new polymeric flame retardants based on nitrogen-containing derivatives of alkyl phosphoric acid. The main difference between these substances and those already known is that they slow down the flame, actively participating in the combustion process itself. The result of ongoing chemical reactions is a carbon residue that prevents air from reaching the material - and the fire recedes. In addition, the new moderators and their combustion products are non-toxic, all reactions proceed without the release of harmful substances. Fabrics and other materials impregnated with solutions of such retarders become resistant to burning, destruction of fibers, smoldering - and this is a very important quality for overalls. Any flammable materials can be treated with similar compounds: wood, wallpaper, linoleum, furniture upholstery, construction, department ... >>

Ink changes color 29.04.2003

New inks have been developed that can change color. In the future, thanks to them, it will be possible to create newspapers containing moving images, or, for example, indicators of chemicals that change their color in different chemical environments. A substance called "light ink" was developed by D. Ozin and J. Manners from the University of Toronto (Canada). The ability to emit light of all shades of the spectrum is determined by diffraction. The ink contains spherical particles of silicon dioxide with a diameter of about 0,3 microns, constituting ordered structures. Due to interference processes in the light reflected from them, the radiation of certain wavelengths is attenuated, as a result of which the reflected light acquires a certain color. To adjust the color ink to a certain color, a polymer gel was introduced into the ink composition. Under the action of the solvent, it swells, and when it dries, it shrinks. Changing the state of the gel (this process takes only 0,5 s) allows you to change the color of the ink. Gel, moreover, ... >>

microphone in ear 28.04.2003

South Korean firm Samsung has developed an in-ear microphone. The company claims it is the first in-ear microphone phone. It receives sound directly from the user's head, while filtering out about 90% of external noise. The in-ear microphone will go on sale later this year in wired and wireless (Bluetooth) versions. The latter should especially appeal to drivers using mobile phones: while driving, they will be able to talk without even putting on a headset. Today, such a headset usually consists of headphones and a microphone at the mouth and is connected by a wire to a cell phone. ... >>

transparent transistor 28.04.2003

Engineers from the University of Oregon (USA) have created the world's first transparent transistor. The scope of the novelty promises to be quite wide. In particular, such transistors can be used to improve the performance of liquid crystal displays. In addition, devices using transparent transistors can be mounted, for example, on car windshields to transmit visual information. ... >>

A non-sinking mobile phone 27.04.2003

The Swedish company Ericcson received a patent for the design of a non-sinking mobile phone. Ericsson's invention is a floating module that is installed on the back of the phone, on top of the battery, as a result of which the device becomes buoyant. The developers believe that such a scheme is better than a float combined with a battery. If necessary, it can be removed, which makes the device less cumbersome. ... >>

Mobile phone with a folding QWERTY keyboard 26.04.2003

The design group ATELAB Research from Poland proposes to use a full-fledged keyboard hidden inside the case in mobile phones. The design of the keyboard, called EDIT (Enhanced eDivision InTerface), resembles a folding knife: a thin plate with keys is hinged at the bottom of the phone and is folded inside it. When working with it, the user holds the phone in his left hand and with his right hand on the extended keyboard types the desired text. With a few simple changes, EDIT can be redesigned for left-handed users. On a small area of ​​the plate, the developers managed to place an alphabetic field with a standard QWERTY layout, a second row of characters, a number row and cursors. ATELAB believes that their keyboard will be in great demand with the growth in the number of sent SMS and EMS messages, the development of mobile services, mobile Internet and e-mail. ... >>

Computer mouse controlled by mouth 26.04.2003

In Japan, a computer mouse was invented that does not need to be touched when controlling the cursor. To do this, just blow on it and click your tongue at the right time. Created with the participation of specialists from the University of Hokkaido, the mouse resembles a microphone on a long stem, installed in front of the monitor just at the level of the user's mouth. The device is equipped with four sensory membranes. You need to blow in the direction where you want to move the cursor, the membranes automatically pick up the direction of breathing, and when you need to execute a command, the user must click his tongue. ... >>

SONY ELECTRONICS pays for past mistakes 24.04.2003

Sony Electronics has announced its readiness to fix free of charge the shortcomings found by the owners of the Cyber-shot DSC-P1 digital camera, which ceased sales in September 2001. It turned out that the dust settling on the charger connectors and their oxidation lead to the fact that the camera batteries do not charge properly and their life is far from what buyers expected when purchasing Sony products. The defect appears only after prolonged use of the charger, which is also an external power source for the camera in stationary conditions. Sony Electronics announced its readiness to replace the ill-fated blocks, and at the same time the batteries damaged by them, without taking a cent from the frustrated owners of the digital miracle. How much the promise will cost the company itself is not said out loud, but it is known that in total about 500 Cyber-shot DSC-P1 digital cameras were sold. True, as the representatives of the ... >>

Prototype mobile digital TV from MICROSOFT and LINX ELECTRONICS 24.04.2003

Microsoft and LINX Electronics announced their intention to demonstrate the first mobile digital TV receiver. Broadcasting to mobile TV receivers will be carried out in a special LINX Mobile standard, which is largely similar to the American digital television standard ATSC 8VSB, which is already being used in practice. The disadvantage of ATSC 8VSB is the inability to receive TV broadcasts from mobile devices. LINX Mobile eliminates this problem but introduces another one. Digital TVs designed for the ATSC standard cannot receive transmissions in the new format, which means they need to be replaced. As with ATSC, LINX Mobile's bandwidth is 9 Mbps. However, LINX Mobile uses Windows Media 9 Series technology for audio and video compression, which ATSC does not work with. The advantage of Windows Media 9 is that in a data stream of 5 Mbps, you can transmit a high-definition television image with sound in the format ... >>

SONY Unveils DVD Burner with Internet Access 23.04.2003

Sony has introduced a new digital recorder equipped with a DVD drive and 80 GB hard drive called the NDR-XR1. This device differs from its counterparts in that it can connect to the Internet via a broadband channel. In addition, the NDR-XR1 is equipped with a built-in browser that allows the user to browse the web using a TV connected to this unit. It's not so easy to find a suitable name for the NDR-XR1, the set of functions that this device has is extremely large. It allows you to record TV programs on the built-in hard drive, a signal from a camcorder via the DV input, as well as images from Memory Stick media. Of course, all this can then be rewritten to DVD discs. In addition to being able to read DVD-R/RW, DVD Video and many CD formats, the NDR-XR1 can burn DVD-R/RW discs. Through the Internet, the NDR-XR1 can connect to special servers containing TV programs, which ... >>

Wireless LCD TV by SHARP 23.04.2003

Sharp has announced a new line of wireless LCD TVs. The release of such devices is gradually becoming a good tradition - the market is growing, and the absence of wires is becoming, as they say, "a sign of good taste", therefore, an increasing number of manufacturers are paying attention to this aspect. The first model of the new line is called AQUOS LC-15L1 and is a 15-inch LCD TV. It is a stand-alone device powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery. The AV signal is transmitted from a base station equipped with a built-in receiver; transmission is carried out in the frequency range of 2,4 GHz. Sharp plans to start selling new items from May this year at a price of about $1400. ... >>

Twenty inches organic 22.04.2003

The creation of the first color rendering matrices was, perhaps, the most significant technological breakthrough in the field of visualization tools over the past few years. Now this technology, with all its capabilities, is beginning to push traditional liquid crystals. A good example of this was the announcement by Chi Mei Optoelectronics about the creation of a prototype of a twenty-inch full-color transistor array OLED (organic light emitting diodes) based on amorphous silicon. Matrices with such a large diagonal, a full range of transmitted colors and a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels have not yet been available. Its main advantages, compared with traditional TFT LCD liquid crystal matrices, are the absence of color filters and a backlight module, as well as lower power consumption. True, the shadow mask required for OLED screens is still too expensive, so it’s too early to talk about the commercial use of the novelty. As an approximate start date for commercial production ... >>

ZL60301 - transmitter for fiber optic systems 22.04.2003

ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR's ZL60301 Fiber Optic Transmitter has four separate transmit and receive channels and operates at 2,7 Gb/s per channel, allowing up to 10,8 Gb/s to be transmitted in both directions. ... >>

Tiny single-gate logic chips 21.04.2003

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC COMPONENT Corporation announced the start of serial production of the world's smallest single-gate logic chips. The new LMOS products are ideal for use in PDAs, mobile phones and other devices where weight and power consumption are among the most important parameters. The TC7SHxx series is available in a 1x1x0,48mm package. The microcircuits work with supply voltages from 2 to 5,5 V and have a delay time of 3,7 ns. ... >>

IR receiver modules TSOP48xxxxAM 20.04.2003

VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY launched the production of TSOP48xxxxAM infrared receiver modules, which have an operating temperature range of -40 to +90°C and are therefore ideal for automotive applications. A photodetector and an amplifier with AGC are arranged in a 6x7 mm package. The supply voltage from 4,5 to 5,5 V allows devices to operate on TTL and CMOS logic. The modules are designed for remote control systems and security systems. ... >>

TPA6211A1 - audio amplifier chip 20.04.2003

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS Corporation introduced the TRA6211A1 audio amplifier chip, which has the world's largest power rating per 1 mm2 - 340 mW. The microcircuit is produced in a QFN package with dimensions of 3x3 mm and can develop a power of 3 W into a load of 3 ohms. Designed for use in mobile phones, smartphones, digital notebooks, etc. ... >>

TEKTRONIX TDS7704 digital oscilloscope 19.04.2003

TEKTRONIX's new TDS7704 digital oscilloscope with 7 GHz analysis bandwidth solves many problems in telecommunications, computers and other high-speed applications. The oscilloscope has a unique 26 cm color display that can display 1024x768 pixels (XGA), so you can present data in 4 different screen segments and compare them with each other. Control can be done by touching the screen. ... >>

Digital Video Camera with Built-in Hard Disk Drive 19.04.2003

Representatives of SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS announced that a digital video camera with a built-in hard disk drive will go on sale in December. The camera uses a hard disk to record video and is able to shoot at high-definition television quality standards. The drive is a one-inch device with a capacity of 1,5 GB. The camera is capable of taking still pictures and recording MPEG4 video at 25 frames per second. Camera weight 195 grams, dimensions 62x36x105 mm. ... >>

New series of PMEG Schottky diodes 18.04.2003

PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTOR produces a series of PMEG Schottky diodes. Forward voltage drop - from 460 to 550 mV at currents from 0,5 to 2 A. Reverse voltage is from 10 to 20 V, operating temperature range from -65 to +125°C. The devices are available in SOD-323, SOD-523 and SOT-666 surface mount packages. ... >>

NLAS2066 - analog switch for separating USB lines and standard logic 17.04.2003

ON SEMICONDUCTOR introduced the world's first NLAS2066 analog switch designed to separate USB interface lines from standard logic. In accordance with the requirements of USB, the microcircuit can withstand increased voltage up to 5,5 V during the day. ... >>

Most Integrated Serial-to-Parallel Converters 17.04.2003

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR introduces the world's most integrated Serial-to-Parallel Converter (SerDes) that converts eight 10-bit signals to eight serial signals (SCAN928028 chip) or six serial signals to six 10-bit signals (SCAN926260 chip). These devices save 30% energy and 50% volume compared to the previous ones. Application: 3G stations, display interfaces, wireless local systems. ... >>

MG4100 Subminiature GPS System 16.04.2003

MOTOROLA Corporation manufactures the MG4100 subminiature 12x16mm GPS system, which includes all the necessary functional blocks for positioning with an accuracy of up to 10 meters (95% probability). The chip operates at a supply voltage of 3 V and consumes 185 mW. ... >>

Microcontrollers PIC18F1220, PIC18F1320 15.04.2003

The new microcontrollers PIC18F1220, PIC18F1320 from MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY have all the advantages of the PIC18 family of microcontrollers, namely: high computing performance with minimal cost, increased number of guaranteed erase/write cycles with a larger amount of flash program memory; rich set of peripheral modules. The PIC18F1220, PIC18F1320 microcontrollers are the logical choice for applications with high power requirements. ... >>

Subminiature unwound inductors 15.04.2003

MATSUSHITA CORPORATION manufactures subminiature unwound inductors measuring 1x1,5x1,5mm. Inductance ratings from 1 to 68 nH, tolerance + 5%, quality factor up to 90. ... >>

LT5522 - signal frequency transfer mixer 14.04.2003

The LT5522 mixer from LINEAR TECHNOLOGY is designed for signal frequency transfer in various applications (both cable and RF telecommunications). The 1,2 to 2,3 GHz signal is carried down to 600 MHz or up to 2,7 GHz. The microcircuit has a high transmission linearity, consumption is 280 mV at a supply voltage of 4,5 to 5,25 V. It is produced in a QFN-16 package with dimensions of 4x4 mm. ... >>

Solar cells IXOLAR 14.04.2003

IXYS Corporation has proposed a new high efficiency solar cell technology called IXOLAR. The first family of elements using this technology, the XOD-17 comes in 5-inch plates. The efficiency in these silicon wafers reaches 20% or more. ... >>

Processor Intel Celeron 2,7 GHz 13.04.2003

Intel Corporation announced the release of the Intel Celeron processor with a clock speed of 2,7 GHz for laptops and portable personal computers. Based on 0,13 micron technology, the processor comes in a 478-pin package and uses a 400 MHz system bus. ... >>

80-channel optical link switch 13.04.2003

FUJITSU COMPONENTS announced the creation of an 80-channel optical communication switch that uses microelectromechanical mirrors. The switching speed is 1 ms. The new switch is expected to be applied to the next generation of optical cross-connect systems. The company released a device called the "Universal Energy Standard" 6100A. The device is designed for verification and calibration of devices for measurements in electrical networks and provides the generation of such signals: a pure sinusoidal signal, a signal with harmonic distortion, a signal with various types of noise. Signals are formed on 4 phases, which allows you to test any equipment. ... >>

Optically Isolated Amplifiers FOD2742 12.04.2003

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR has released FOD2742 optically isolated amplifiers with a tolerance of up to 0,5%. With a supply voltage of 2,5 V, they have an insulation voltage of up to 2,5 kV. Available in SOIC-8 packages. ... >>

Projector EPSON EMP-8300 11.04.2003

The new EPSON EMP-8300 projector has exceptionally high specifications: XGA (1024x768) resolution, but also VGA, SVGA, SXGA, UXGA formats, brightness up to 5200 ANSI, contrast ratio 1200:1, image size diagonally up to 7,5 m ( distance to the screen up to 15 m), work with video standards NTSC, PAL, SECAM, HDTV. Sound power up to 7 W, weight 11,2 kg. ... >>

Capacitors for vehicles with hybrid start 11.04.2003

EPCOS announced the release of new powerful capacitors for cars with hybrid start (two independent ignition systems). The new capacitors will be light in weight and will be able to store energy efficiently. Technological features are not reported. ... >>

DC-DC Converters MAX1553/4 10.04.2003

The new DC-DC converters MAX1553/4 from DALLAS SEMICONDUCTOR-MAXIM are designed to power from 2 to 10 white LEDs connected in series, therefore they have an external MOSFET switch with power supply up to 40 V. At the same time, MAX1553 has a consumption of 480 mA, and MAX1554 - up to 970 mA at a supply voltage of 3,6 V, while providing a nominal current of 20 mA on the LEDs. Available in 8-pin TFDN-8 packages, 3x3 mm. ... >>

High Definition TV Test Signal Generator 10.04.2003

B&K PRECISION's Model 1253 HDTV Test Signal Generator is compact, lightweight and battery operated. It can be used to test plasma, LCD, CRT displays and displays on organic light-emitting devices. Device dimensions 8x14x3 cm. ... >>

ADSX34 - 34x34 point synchronous switch chip 09.04.2003

ANALOG DEVICES has released a 34x34 point synchronous switch IC type ADSX34 of the Xstream family, operating at speeds up to 3,2 Gbps. Level alignment is provided for each input. The microcircuit is produced in a 304-pin EBGA-304 package with dimensions of 31x31 mm and consumes only 5 W of power. It takes only 30 ns to reconfigure the switch without losing data. The chip is compatible with Ethernet, ATM, TDM protocols. ... >>

Gallium Arsenide Amplifiers MGA-61563 and MGA-62563 09.04.2003

AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES introduces the MGA-61563 and MGA-62563, low-cost, easy-to-use GaAs Amplifiers, operating in the 0,1 to 6 GHz (MGA-61563) and 0,1 to 3 GHz (MGA-62563) frequency ranges . The ICs provide up to 22 dB gain, 1,2 dB noise factor and are rated for 50 ohm loads. Available in compact SOT-363 packages. ... >>

AT76C113 - a new family of digital video camera processors 08.04.2003

ATMEL Corporation announced the release of a new family of digital video camera processors AT76C113. All functions necessary for the operation of a digital camera are combined in one chip (image capture, processing, compression, storage, display, operation control). The AT76C113 processor supports all flash card interfaces. It has all the necessary peripherals, including TV output, USB, UART, SPI, digital audio interfaces, LCD indicator interface. The processor supports cameras up to 3 megapixels. ... >>

TOSHIBA 2 and 4 Gigabit Flash Memory Chips 08.04.2003

The Japanese company Toshiba introduced two-gigabit NAND (NAND) flash memory chips. as well as 58-gigabit NAND flash memory chips. consisting of two two gigabit chips. According to the manufacturer, the new microcircuits will make it possible to create universal high-capacity flash cards. Chips TC14DVG1B00FT58 (two-megabit) and TH24DVG1B00FT48 (four-megabit) are made in 12-pin TSOP type I packages (dimensions - 20x1.2x32) Block size - 512 kB. page size - 16 + 6 1, write time - 2 ms per page, erasure time - 50 ms per page, access time - 50 µs at first access. 1999 not - on subsequent calls. The new chips were developed by Toshiba and SanDisk as part of a 0,13 agreement to work together on NAND flash memory. Chips will be produced using XNUMX-micron technology. ... >>

The smallest microbe 07.04.2003

German microbiologists, studying the ocean floor north of Iceland, found the smallest microbe that parasitizes other, larger microbes. The diameter of the new microorganism is less than a micron, and its gene set consists of only two to three hundred genes (for comparison: a person has about 30 thousand of them). ... >>

Mine detector in a boot 07.04.2003

The French engineer Christophe Keroleinen proposed a mine detector that not only signals the presence of a mine in the ground, but stops a person walking through a minefield. Sensitive sensors are mounted in boots, the signal from them goes to the microprocessor mounted on the belt. Electrodes are glued to certain points of the leg muscles. When the microprocessor applies voltage to them, the muscles are paralyzed, and it is simply impossible to take the next step directly onto the mine. All this happens in just 20 microseconds - much faster than a person could be aware of the beep of a mine detector. The prototype device is being tested by the French army. ... >>

A woman's heart is quarrelsome 06.04.2003

After analyzing data on 167 kidney, heart and liver transplants performed in 49 countries, German doctor Martin Zeier concluded that the gender of the donor from whom the organ was taken is important for the success of the transplant. If a woman's heart was transplanted to a man, then the chances of a rejection reaction in the first year after the operation are 13 percent higher than if it was a man's heart. With kidney transplants, this figure reaches 22 percent. I must say that such an effect was not found in women - they calmly accept organ transplants from men. Dr. Zeier believes that the reason for this is insufficiently studied differences in the immune system of women and men. But he doesn't recommend that men turn down offered organ transplants if the donor is of the wrong gender: donors are chronically scarce, and rejection can usually be quelled with medication. ... >>

Long range toothfish 06.04.2003

Off the western coast of Greenland, fishermen caught a large fish unfamiliar to them: weight 70 kilograms, length 180 centimeters. She was frozen, and later delivered to Danish scientists (Greenland is under the jurisdiction of Denmark). Ichthyologists from the University of Copenhagen were surprised to recognize in an unexpected find an Antarctic species from the Nototheniaceae family - the Patagonian toothfish. This largest fish in Antarctica was discovered relatively recently, in 1901. Until now, she was caught no north of the coast of Uruguay, and suddenly she was caught in nets at the other end of the world, in the Arctic. The Patagonian toothfish cannot tolerate water temperatures above 11 degrees Celsius and the only way it could cross the equator was to go to depths of 500 to 1500 meters where the water is cold even in the tropics. Apparently, such a record swim is extremely rare or even unique: off the coast of Greenland, commercial fishing has been going on for more than twenty years, and the fishermen have never come across Antarctic species. ... >>

It snowed in the universe 05.04.2003

According to the calculations of two Swiss physicists - Daniel Pfenninger (University of Geneva) and Denis Puy (University of Zurich), about 500 million years after the Big Bang, the Universe was filled with snow from light flakes of frozen hydrogen. When the first stars lit up, their rays melted the hydrogen snow. Since then, solid hydrogen can only exist in the interiors of gas giant planets. ... >>

Neolithic dairy farms 04.04.2003

Chemist Richard Evershed of the University of Bristol has used a new, highly sensitive mass spectrometer to examine the fragments of nearly a thousand pots unearthed from early man's settlements across Britain. These fragments, ranging in age from 1500 to 6000 years, belong to the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. On some of them, including the most ancient ones, remains of milk fat were found. Thus, the earliest inhabitants of the British Isles ran dairy farms as early as 6000 years ago. It is not clear in what form people then consumed milk. Many anthropologists believe that early man was intolerant of lactose, milk sugar. And in most modern peoples of Asia and Africa, milk causes intestinal upset. So, perhaps the ancient Britons curdled milk, making something like cheese or cottage cheese. Or maybe they waited until yogurt turns out. Now chemists, in collaboration with archaeologists, intend to examine the ceramics found in the southeast of Europe, in Turkey and the Middle East. ... >>

How to recognize fake lycra 04.04.2003

Especially elastic Lycra fiber of the American company "DuPont" is very popular, and cases of fakes are not uncommon. For example, in 1999, 25 million textile products labeled "lycra" but not containing this fiber were confiscated in Europe, and in 2001 - more than 100 million (data for 2002 are not yet available). Protecting itself and customers from fakes, the company began to introduce certain chemical additives into the fiber at all its 11 factories producing lycra, which can be detected using a special device. The composition of these chemical markers is kept secret. Large wholesale buyers of textiles have already purchased a desktop device that checks for the presence of Lycra in knitwear, and in mid-2003 a handheld scanner with the same capabilities will go on sale. ... >>

Instant Blood 03.04.2003

French researchers have created artificial blood, the hemoglobin of which is fixed on the surface of balls made of a harmless polymer that gradually decomposes in the body. These balls are 20 times smaller than natural erythrocytes, so they penetrate well into the thinnest capillaries. Artificial blood is suitable for transfusion to everyone, regardless of blood type. In addition, it can be dried for storage and transportation, and diluted with saline before use. ... >>

talking fingers 03.04.2003

At the competition of young inventors, held by the electronic company "Intel" (USA), the first prize - one hundred thousand dollars to pay for higher education was received by a schoolboy Ryan Patterson. His invention is a glove that converts sign language used by the deaf into letters and words that appear on a computer screen. The patent application filed by the schoolboy slightly outpaced a similar idea proposed by the Japanese electronics giant Hitachi. ... >>

Science requires sacrifice 02.04.2003

Scientists are exposed to more stress at work than employees of commercial companies. This conclusion was reached by the authors of a psychological study conducted on more than 900 teachers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA). More than 60 percent of those surveyed say they feel emotionally and physically drained at the end of the working day, and 78 percent complain that no matter how hard they try, they don't get everything done in a day. For comparison: only half of the surveyed employees of various firms noted the same fatigue from work. Two-thirds of MIT employees are dissatisfied with the hectic pace of their work and the intense stress they are exposed to. Two-thirds work 60-hour weeks or more, while in 1989 less than half had such busy work schedules. More than 50 percent of respondents say that this stress has a bad effect on family life and relationships in the workforce. Especially b ... >>

center of shame 02.04.2003

Studying patients after the removal of a brain tumor that destroyed a certain part of it, neurophysiologists from the University of Berkeley (USA) discovered where a person has a sense of shame. When such patients, deprived of some part of the brain, were asked about unpleasant situations that happened in their lives, they without any feeling of inconvenience recounted the details of their behavior that did not do them honor. They did not hesitate to reveal compromising details about other participants in the incident, even about their friends and relatives. The rest of the patients behaved normally. Physiologists suggest that the spontaneous nocturnal activity of the "center of shame", which lies just behind the frontal bone above the eye sockets, causes occasional dreams like "Counselor Popov's sleep", in which we are not fully dressed in a public place. ... >>

Two-storey garage in the country 01.04.2003

For those who have two cars, and the summer cottage is so small that there is simply nowhere to put them, Irish designers offer a kind of whatnot. By pressing a button on the remote control, one car plunges into a concrete pit, and the other is placed on a flat roof that closes this pit. ... >>

solar inflatable oven 31.03.2003

The American company Soltac has released a solar inflatable furnace, which is a balloon made of aluminized polyester film, which, when inflated, takes the form of a solar parabolic collector. A pot with a volume of 1,5 liters, placed in focus, boils in about 1,5 hours on a sunny day. A black pot with a Teflon coating inside is attached to the stove, in which the whole structure is packed when carried. ... >>

Flexible solar panels 31.03.2003

The Canadian company "Spheral Solar" has developed flexible solar panels - a denim-like material capable of generating electricity under the influence of sunlight. This material can be placed on a surface of any shape, not necessarily flat. The efficiency of batteries made from this material is 11%, which is comparable to the efficiency of conventional flat solar cells, and much better than their flexible, conductive polymer counterparts.A relatively cheap new material is made from tiny silicon beads sandwiched between two layers of aluminum foil and sealed in plastic.Each bead acts as a separate photovoltaic cell, with the foil acting as electrical contacts. . ... >>

Output from mobile phone to printer 30.03.2003

Representatives of Nokia and Hewlett-Packard announced that by the end of 2003, mobile phones will have another useful feature: direct text and image output to a printer, bypassing a computer. Owners of modern printers and digital cameras have long been able to directly dock their devices, and the turn of mobile phone owners has come. Nokia plans to equip the 60-series models - 7650 and 3650 - with direct printing technology first of all. Bluetooth has been chosen as a wireless radio interface between the printer and the phone, effective at distances up to 10 meters. ... >>

The end of PANASONIC VCRs 29.03.2003

The world-famous brand, known not least for its video recorders, will gradually abandon the production of the latter in connection with the transition to the production of household models of DVD recorders. Now Matsushita produces 80000 of these devices monthly. The first step in mastering the market will be to increase this figure to 150000. An additional stimulating fact, apparently, will be the traditionally low cost of Matsushita products compared to competitors' counterparts. However, new product lines will no longer be so cheap, but they will still compare favorably with analogues in the number of functions. In any case, we are promised so. All new VCRs are planned to be produced, as before, under the DIGA brand. Matsushita also has real concepts in stock, for example, such as the AV server. This device is defined by the developers themselves as a broadband receiver. It connects to your home network and can, for example, set a video recording timer ... >>

Mobile phones will last 10 times longer 28.03.2003

A small Korean firm, Kokam Engineering, claims to have created super-capacity mobile phone batteries. According to her, the new batteries have a capacity of 6600 milliamp-hours (mAh), while conventional ones have an average capacity of 600 mAh. The company intends to produce batteries for most brands of cell phones. Together with the cable and charger, the kit will cost $100. Technological details were not disclosed. ... >>

Single-chip batch processor for signal conversion 27.03.2003

ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR announced the release of a single-chip packet processor for converting TDM signals to Metro Ethernet signals. This processor will allow large amounts of data to be transmitted over Ethernet networks. It can operate 32 T1/E1 lines simultaneously or 1024 TDM circuits. The processor is very flexible, it allows each T1/E1 channel to work with its own timing. ... >>

New TOSHIBA DVD Recorders 26.03.2003

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC COMPONENT Corporation announced the release of the second generation of DVD recorders, D-R1. The unit allows simultaneous recording and playback, allowing the user to burn their favorite programs directly to DVD. The device also has a lot of other service applications (introduction of splash screens and marks on recordings, etc.). ... >>

High Speed ​​Digital Signal Processors TMS320C6414/15/16 25.03.2003

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS Corporation has released the world's fastest digital signal processors TMS320C6414/15/16 clocked at 720 MHz. The processor supply voltage is 1,2 V, but they can withstand up to 3,3 V at the inputs and outputs. They are produced in BGA-532 packages. ... >>

Differential probe TEKTRONIX P735 24.03.2003

For its TDS6000, TDS7000 and CSA7000 series oscilloscopes, TEKTRONIX has released a 7350 GHz differential probe type P5. The signal rise time in the probe does not exceed 100 ps, ​​and the input capacitance is less than 0,3 pF. The probe allows you to monitor signals in high-speed communication lines. ... >>

Chips for LCD control with XGA and SXGA formats 23.03.2003

ST MICROELECTRONICS introduces the first fully integrated ICs for driving XGA and SXGA LCDs of the ADE3700X/3700XT/3700SX types. They include a 9-bit ADC, a display controller, a programmable time controller, and other devices. Microcircuits are produced in the PQFP-128 package. ... >>

90 nm and even 65 nm from SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS 22.03.2003

At the international technology symposium held in Kyoto (Japan) on June 10-14, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS Corporation presented new technological solutions that allow moving to a topological step of 90 nm and even 65 nm. These solutions will be used to build memory chips with a large amount of memory. ... >>

Transient voltage suppressors from ON SEMICONDUCTOR 21.03.2003

ON SEMICONDUCTOR has introduced five new protection devices - transient voltage suppressors. Their feature is ultra-small dimensions of 1,6x1,6x0,6 mm. These devices are ideal for use in small-sized equipment: mobile phones, digital cameras, digital secretaries, etc. ... >>

LMX243x - frequency synthesizers based on PLL circuits 20.03.2003

A new family of ICs - frequency synthesizers based on LMX243x PLL circuits from NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR. These microcircuits provide minimum consumption at frequencies above 3 GHz. The LMX2434 chip has an operating frequency of 5,0 GHz and an intermediate 2,5 GHz and consumes only 7 mA. LMX2433 has an operating frequency of 3,6 GHz, intermediate 1,7 GHz and consumes 5,2 mA. The LMX2430 has an operating frequency of 3,0 GHz, an intermediate frequency of 800 MHz, and consumes 4,2 mA. The supply voltage for the entire family is from 2,25 to 2,75 V. They are available in TSSOP-20 packages or in miniature packages with dimensions of 3,5x3,5x0,6 mm. ... >>

DSP56371 - audio signal processor 19.03.2003

MOTOROLA Corporation announced the release of a new 24-bit digital signal processor DSP56371 for audio signal processing. The processor supports all the latest audio processing technologies, including Dolby, THX, DTS, AAC, and has twice the performance of its predecessor. Available in TQFP-80 package. ... >>

The world's first optical fuse from MOLEX 18.03.2003

MOLEX is the world's first optical fuse. This is a passive component that is placed on the input port of the receiving optical device or on the output port of the emitting optical device (laser) to protect devices from radiation pulses. When the intensity of optical radiation is below the threshold level, the fuse remains transparent. When the level is exceeded, it becomes opaque and does not transmit radiation. Typical fuse losses are 0,5...1 dB. ... >>

LTC4054 - IC for charging lithium-ion batteries 17.03.2003

The LTC4054 chip from LINEAR TECHNOLOGY is designed to charge lithium-ion batteries with a current of up to 800 mA. The supply voltage of the microcircuit is from 4,25 to 6,5 V. The microcircuit automatically sets the charge and discharge time and has feedback on the battery temperature. Available in a miniature 5-pin SOT-23 package. ... >>

ISL43640 - 4:1 multiplexer-demultiplexer 17.03.2003

INTERSIL Corporation announced the launch of the ISL4 1:43640 Multiplexer/Demultiplexer in a miniature 3x3mm package. The instrument operates over a voltage range of 2 to 12 V (maximum 15 V) with a switching time of 25 ns. Key forward resistance less than 50 ohms, direct resistance matching less than 0,5 ohms. The chip is fully compatible with TTL and CMOS chips. ... >>

Single-phase bridge rectifiers 4GBUxxLS 16.03.2003

INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER's 4GBUxxLS single-phase bridge rectifiers are designed as glass-coated chips for operation in high-temperature environments. The rectified current is 4 A, the forward voltage drop is 0,975 V per 25°C, the reverse voltages in different versions are 200, 400 and 600 V. They are produced in the SIP-4 package. The new MOSFET IRF8010 has a forward resistance of 12 milliohms - 10% less than previous devices. The drain voltage is 100 V, the maximum operating current is 80 A, the thermal resistance is 0,57 ° C / W. Available in TO-220, TO-262, D2PAK cases. ... >>

New Bluetooth devices from PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTOR 15.03.2003

PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTOR announced two new products in its Bluetooth family, the BGB102 radio system and the PCF87852 data ROM, which together form a complete solution for Bluetooth systems. The BGB102 radio system includes all the necessary RF circuitry: transmitter, receiver, antenna switch, etc. All of this is housed in an ultra-small 6x6mm package. The data ROM (flash option is also available) has everything you need for mobile operations and comes in an ultra-small 80x7mm LFBGA-7 package. ... >>

Microprocessor INTEL PXA800F 14.03.2003

Intel Corporation released the PXA800F microprocessor, which combines the functions of a mobile phone and a handheld computer in one device. The microprocessor is produced on the basis of technology with a step of 0,13 microns; operates at a frequency of 312 MHz, has a flash memory of 4 MB and 512 KB of static RAM. ... >>

Ultra-compact 16-bit microcontroller MB90F455/456/457 14.03.2003

FUJITSU COMPONENTS' ultra-compact 16-bit MB90F455/456/457 microcontroller measures just 7x7mm. Instruments powered by 3,5 to 5,5 V have a 24 to 64 KB mask ROM and 2 KB RAM. Peripherals include 8-10-bit ADC, UART with full duplex double buffer, 8-16-bit timer, PLL-based frequency synthesizer. Clock frequency 4 MHz. Available in an LQFP-48 package, with 34 pins being ports. ... >>

Powerful switch for DC-DC converters 13.03.2003

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR introduced the FS6X1220RT power switch IC for DC-DC converters, Internet phones, industrial power supplies, telecommunications stations. The device includes a pulse-width modulator and a powerful SenceFET field-effect transistor. The device includes a built-in 300 kHz frequency generator, protection against short circuits, overvoltage and overheating. The powerful output transistor has a maximum allowable output voltage of 200 V. It is available in 5-pin packages T0-220F-5 and D2-PAK-5. ... >>

Pocket infrared thermometers 12.03.2003

EXTECH INSTRUMENTS announced the release of pocket infrared thermometers model IR201. The thermometer weighs only 80 grams and measures the temperature of a 1 inch object at a distance of up to 6 inches (15 cm) in a temperature range from -30 to +260°C. ... >>

Miniature Antenna Switches for Mobile Phones 11.03.2003

EPCOS has released the world's smallest antenna switches for mobile phones. The B7630 is only 3,8x3,8mm in size, 1,3mm high and saves up to 40% of the space taken up by other brand switches. Mobile phone manufacturers can improve the performance of their phones through this. ... >>

AD8370 Digital Gain Control Amplifier 10.03.2003

ANALOG DEVICES launched the AD8370 Digital Gain Control Amplifier. The amplifier provides a bandwidth of 700 MHz, the gain can be changed by 28 dB (from 6 to 34 dB). Available in TSSOP-16 package. Gain data is entered via a 3-wire serial interface. The new 24-bit sigma-delta ADC has the lowest consumption of any device in its class (only 65 µA). It is powered by a single source with a voltage of 3 or 5 V. The data output rate is set by software and can reach 120 Hz. ... >>

Photo sensor HDSL-9000 for backlighting LCD displays and keypads 10.03.2003

AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES introduced the HDSL-9000 photo sensor, which estimates the amount of light at any time and sends a signal to adjust the backlight in LCDs and keypads. This reduces the power consumption of batteries and accumulators in devices such as mobile phones, notebooks and mini-computers. The device has a maximum sensitivity at a wavelength of 550 nm (the same wavelength is most sensitive to the human eye). It has a digital sensitivity setting. Produced in a case with dimensions of 1,1x4x3,2 mm. ... >>

TOSHIBA SATELLITE laptops can now burn DVD-R/RW 09.03.2003

Toshiba has introduced new laptop models from the Satellite series, positioned as a replacement for desktop PCs. Relatively inexpensive machines are equipped with DVD burners. New items are marked 2455S305 and 1955-S805 and cost respectively 2299 and 2099 US dollars. For this money, the user gets a system on a Pentium 4 processor with 512 MB of memory and a 60-gigabyte hard drive. Other components the same for both machines; NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go video system with 32 MB video memory, V.92 modem, 10/100 Mbps network adapter from Intel, three USB 2.0 ports and one i Link (IEEE 1394). Notebooks are equipped with DVDR/RW drives. The package also includes Windows XP Home. The differences between the models lie in the larger diagonal of the screen: the Satellite 1955-S805 has 16 inches with a resolution of SXGA (1365x1024) versus 15 inches for the Satellite 2455-S305 with a resolution of 1024x768. In addition, the processor frequency of the first is 2,53 GHz, the second - 2,4 .XNUMX GHz Both models belong to ... >>

Football with electronics 08.03.2003

The German company Cairos Technologies has proposed an electronic system that will free football players, football referees and fans from contentious situations. Each player will receive a radio transmitter the size of a credit card, a transmitter the size of a nut will be hidden in a ball, and up to ten antennas will be placed around the field. The central computer, receiving signals from transmitters, will record the position of the ball and each participant in the game hundreds of times per second. All information is transmitted to a receiver attached to the referee's wrist. The computer will give sound signals about violations, it will be able to control television cameras so that they constantly monitor the ball, and after the game, coaches and referees will be able to schematically restore all its ups and downs on the monitor screen. Trials of the system are scheduled at a stadium in Nuremberg, and the firm hopes it will play the 2006 World Cup games. ... >>

Dark Sky Conference 07.03.2003

Last fall, a conference of the International Association for the Protection of Dark Sky took place in the United States. Its members are fighting against excessive lighting of cities. It especially hinders astronomers: even hundreds of kilometers from a big city it is impossible to observe faint stars, and in the city itself the stars are not visible at all. But astronomers make up less than half of the association's ten thousand members. It includes, for example, lighting engineers who are developing more efficient street lights so as not to light up the sky in vain. Zoologists also protest against bright lighting - it knocks migratory birds off the route and disrupts the biological cycles of wintering ones. Physicians who spoke at the conference hypothesized that electric lighting is at least partly to blame for the rise in cancer rates. This growth has been observed just since the moment when incandescent light bulbs became widespread. The unnatural extension of daylight hours, according to some doctors, disrupts the hormonal balance, and hence not ... >>

Garbage chute for fire rescue 07.03.2003

German engineer Günter Voigt proposes to build his invention into new high-rise buildings to save people in case of fire. These are wide pipes of the type used in garbage chutes. In the event of a fire, the residents put on something like a parachute - a disk with a diameter of a pipe sticking out over their heads - and jump into the "garbage chute". Due to friction against the walls of the pipe, the disk slows down the speed of the fall of the escapee to two or three meters per second. In addition, a blower can be placed below to additionally restrain the fall with air pressure, and even change the direction of movement, raising firefighters and rescuers, as well as their equipment, to the upper floors. Such pipes can be attached to existing houses from the outside. The unit has been successfully tested on models. ... >>

Washing wine corks 06.03.2003

Every year 20 billion bottles of wine are bottled in the world, and this number is constantly growing. An important problem for large wine producers is the quality of the cork. If the wine acquires the taste and smell of capping, its price immediately drops sharply. This characteristic smell is given to cork by the so-called chloranisols, strong-smelling compounds that are released by bacteria and fungi that sometimes settle on natural cork. A few thousandths of a milligram of chloranisols per gram of cork is enough to ruin a vintage wine. French scientists from the Scientific Center for Atomic Energy have developed a method for washing stoppers from chporanisols with carbon dioxide under high pressure and at a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius. The gas washes out odorous compounds from the smallest pores of the cork. The best French tasters, whose tongues are 10 times more sensitive than the most modern chromatographs, found no unpleasant taste or smell in washed-corked wines. ... >>

Illuminated glasses 05.03.2003

Australian physiologist Leon Luck built green and blue LEDs into his glasses. He claims that glowing goggles make it easier to adjust to a new time zone after a long distance flight. LEDs create 3000 lux illumination directly at the eyes, which corresponds to the illumination on a cloudy winter day. Such light inhibits the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. If two or three days before a long-distance flight, wearing illuminated glasses in the evenings, prolonging the daylight hours, the time on the biological clock shifts, and it will be easier for a person to adjust to the local time. ... >>

Electric scooter for bathers 04.03.2003

Delfjet is the name of an electric bathing scooter, launched in Germany. In a streamlined body of bright colors, an electric motor with a capacity of 5 or 7 horsepower (two versions of the scooter are produced) with an impeller on the axle is hidden. By creating a jet stream of water, it allows you to swim on the surface or under water (no deeper than 2,5 meters) at speeds up to 15-20 kilometers per hour. The engine is powered by lithium batteries with a total capacity of 2 kilowatt-hours, their charge is enough for about 40 minutes of sailing. If the swimmer releases the handles they are holding on to, the engine will immediately shut off. ... >>

Radar on the bumper 03.03.2003

When reversing a car, especially a long truck or bus, nothing is easier than bumping into something. The American firm Rostra Precision Controls has proposed a low-power radar to complement the rear-view mirror. Two antennas are mounted under the rear bumper if it is made of plastic, or on it if the bumper is metal. The locator detects proximity to other vehicles, walls, gates, poles, trees, and people (including small children) from about 3,5 meters, depending on the size and density of the object. As you approach the obstacle, first yellow and then red lights on the rear window begin to flash and a sound signal beeps rhythmically in the driver's cab. When there is very little to the obstacle, the squeak becomes continuous, and the red lights become constant. The system is activated automatically when the driver engages reverse gear. ... >>

Grandpa's diet affects grandchildren 03.03.2003

Overeating grandparents may be ruining the health of their grandchildren. In any case, this is the conclusion of a study conducted by Swedish scientists. Gunnar Kaati and his collaborators collected the medical histories of 300 Swedes born between 1890 and 1920 and compared these data with information about the harvest collected in the country during their childhood (from this information one can judge how they ate in childhood). And then they studied the health of their grandchildren. It turned out that the grandchildren of well-nourished grandparents were four times more likely to develop diabetes than the grandchildren of those whose childhood was relatively hungry. In addition, they are more likely to develop heart disease. The reason for this relationship is unclear. According to all the laws of genetics, the peculiarities of the life path of grandparents cannot affect future grandchildren. Hunger or satiety in the genes are not deposited. ... >>

Jump weights 02.03.2003

In the memoirs of Baron Munchausen, a certain runner appears, usually running with a cannonball tied to his legs and slightly slowing down his too fast run. He unhooked this cargo only in case of extremely urgent parcels. A similar sport - standing long jump with two weights - existed in Ancient Greece. The athlete held lead or stone weights in each hand and waved them while jumping. This is known from surviving texts and drawings - weights were used at the first Olympic Games. But historians remained at a loss: if the competition was for the length of the jump, why were weights needed, which, it seems, could only reduce the flight range? Specialists from the University of Manchester (England), simulating such jumps on a computer and in real life - on students, showed that the weights actually increase the distance of the jump. Throwing forward while jumping hands with two "dumbbells" weighing three kilograms each, the athlete can, due to increased inertia, increase his initial speed by ... >>

Hybrid iron with vacuum cleaner 01.03.2003

In England, an iron has been patented, which can be used to iron clothes hanging vertically in the wardrobe. The built-in fan sucks fabric to an iron soleplate. Vacuum pressure improves the quality of ironing when using a new iron and in the usual way, on an ironing board. Release is expected to begin this year. ... >>

night vision of butterflies 01.03.2003

"In the dark, all cats are gray," says the proverb. This is true for humans, but not for some butterflies. As zoologists at Lund University (Sweden) have shown, certain moths can distinguish colors under illumination, which for a person is equal to complete darkness. The wine hawk distinguishes at night against the background of green foliage white and yellow flowers, the nectar of which it feeds. Experiments carried out in almost complete darkness showed that hawk moths are able to distinguish at night even shades of yellow, which are hardly distinguishable by a person in daylight. Since these butterflies are active at dusk and at night, they need such vision. ... >>

Car audio monitors the health of the driver 27.02.2003

The Japanese company Pioneer is finishing the development of a new car music system that will automatically monitor the driver's condition using special high-frequency sensors. If a person is on the verge of falling asleep, the electronic system will notice this by changing the electrocardiogram. In this case, the interior of the car will be filled with loud music. If the driver is too annoyed, the computer will turn on slow relaxing music. In mass production, such a system will go in two years. ... >>

Inkjet printers print finished electronic devices 26.02.2003

At the University of California at Berkeley (USA), a group of researchers led by D. Canny is developing a new technology for printing finished electronic devices using inkjet printers. Even now, they can print individual radio-electronic components layer by layer from polymeric materials: transistors, capacitors, inductors, etc. The next step could be making more complex devices, such as TV remote controls. Polymers with piezoelectric properties would be used to print remote control buttons. There are also no fundamental obstacles in order to make an infrared LED and other elements of the electronic circuit of the remote control from polymers, except for batteries. The advantage of the promising technology is the low cost of manufactured products, since installation work is almost completely eliminated in this case. However, there are also disadvantages. For example, polymer electronic components ... >>

The world's first maglev train 26.02.2003

China launched the world's first maglev train between Pudong Airport and downtown Shanghai. The entire journey, about 30 km long, the train overcomes in just 7 minutes. Train cars, thanks to the presence of powerful magnets under their bottom, hover at a height of 1 cm above the guide rail. Lateral stability, as well as longitudinal acceleration and braking are provided by another system of electromagnets, which are powered by powerful batteries. The entire road was built by specialists from the German company Transrapid in just 18 months. and cost the Chinese 1,5 billion dollars. ... >>

New ship mooring system with powerful electromagnets 25.02.2003

In the port of Rotterdam (Netherlands), preparations are being completed for testing a new ship mooring system using powerful electromagnets. M. Verwey and E. Victory from the Delft University of Technology have developed electromagnets, the field of which penetrates the ship's hull to a shallow depth. This eliminates the negative impact of a powerful magnetic field on people and goods sensitive to it, for example, modern electronics products. It was this circumstance that held back the development of electromagnetic mooring systems. Mooring magnets are structures made up of a large number of thin rod-shaped magnets placed in such a way that the magnetic field, due to the close location of opposite poles, is concentrated only in the immediate vicinity of the ends. The inventors are sure that their development will allow not to be afraid for the safety of cargo and onboard equipment of ships. According to the estimates of the inventors, 52 such magnets will be able even in ... >>

Elevator across the highway 24.02.2003

In Germany, on the federal highway ?132, there is an elevator across the street. It consists of two towers and a bridge between them, along which a passenger cabin runs, accommodating up to 8 people. The trajectory of the movement of the elevator car consists of two vertical and one horizontal sections. As in a conventional elevator, when moving vertically, the cabin is balanced by counterweights. Moving at a speed of 1 m/s vertically and 1,5 m/s horizontally, the elevator overcomes a four-lane road in about 30 s. In the event of a power outage, the elevator automatically switches to battery power. The indisputable advantage of the new way for pedestrians to overcome highways and other similar obstacles (railways, canals, etc.) is its increased safety, however, achieved at the cost of additional investments. Therefore, the mass introduction of new items is expected mainly in countries where human life is considered the highest value, and in the near future. ... >>

Boat jet engine on outboard water 23.02.2003

Engineers from the English company Pursuit Dynamics have developed a jet engine for small motor boats and boats that uses sea water as a working fluid. The underwater part of the system is a jet funnel with a socket at the inlet end and a narrowed nozzle at the outlet. The driving force is created by water driven through it, saturated with air in the middle part of the structure, and condensed steam, which creates pressure. The steam generator is a small boiler boiler that runs on gasoline or diesel fuel. The advantages of the new engine include the absence of moving parts, which significantly increases the reliability and durability of the motor, as well as safety and ease of manufacture. ... >>

ZL50233/4/5 - echo suppressor chip 22.02.2003

The new ZL50233/4/5 echo canceller IC from ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR provides up to 64ms echo cancellation on 4, 8 and 16 channels, respectively. The chips can also be configured for echo cancellation up to 128 ms. Chips allow for excellent quality of the voice signal, free from echoes, clicks and other types of interference. ... >>

HS Series LCDs 21.02.2003

SONY Corporation has released a new series of LCD displays HS. They have an exceptionally high working resolution of 1024x768 (0,7 megapixels) - HS53 and 1280x1024 (1,3 megapixels) - HS73, HS93. HS53 has a screen size of 15 inches, HS73 is 17 inches, HS93 is 19 inches. Thanks to excellent brightness (260 cd/m2) and contrast ratio (600:1), the picture on the screen is always clear and clear. The displays have a proprietary auto-adjustment feature that instantly recognizes the input signal and displays a flawless image on the screen. ... >>

Portable DVD Player SAMSUNG DVD-L100 20.02.2003

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS launches the DVD-L100 portable DVD player, which is only 23,5 mm thick but has a 10-inch (25 cm) LCD screen with a 16:9 screen aspect ratio. The player allows you to listen to music and watch movies anywhere, because. powered by a lithium-ion battery, which is enough for 2,5 hours of continuous operation. ... >>

Programmable Frequency Synthesizer NBC12430 19.02.2003

The NBC12430 programmable frequency synthesizer was named among the new chips from ON SEMICONDUCTOR. Output frequency range from 50 to 800 MHz. The output frequency can be programmed via serial or parallel interface in steps of 250 kHz, 500 kHz, 1 MHz, 2 MHz using a 16 MHz crystal. The microcircuit does not require external attachments. Supply voltage range from 3,1 to 5,2 V. Available in PLCC-28 and LQFP-32 cases. ... >>

Chips of high-voltage DC-DC voltage converters 18.02.2003

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR has released microcircuits for high-voltage DC-DC voltage converters: LM5000 with an output voltage of 3,1 to 40 V and LM5030 with an output voltage of 15 to 100 V. The maximum current in both converters can reach 2 A. The converters are available in miniature cases LLP-10, 4x4mm, designed for communication power supplies, industrial and automotive applications. ... >>

New 14-pin Flash microcontrollers 17.02.2003

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY announced the start of production of new 14-pin Flash microcontrollers, which include an ADC, a comparator, a precision internal oscillator and a quick start function. The memory of the PIC16F630 and PIC16F676 microcontrollers is based on the PMOS Electrically Erasable Cell (PEEC) technology, which currently provides the highest number of guaranteed erase-write cycles and high access speed. ... >>

Ultra-small mobile phone antenna 17.02.2003

MATSUSHITA Corporation announced the launch of an ultra-small EWPAD mobile phone antenna for GSM frequency bands such as 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, etc. The antenna is 50% smaller than existing models and weighs only 1,7 grams. ... >>

UV LED L2523UVC 16.02.2003

KINGBRIGHT has launched the L2523UVC UV LED. It uses an InGaN material with a SiC substrate. LEDs should replace UV lamps due to their long life and resistance to vibration and shock. The LED operates at a wavelength of 400 nm, is available in a housing with a diameter of 5 mm. ... >>

DC-DC Converter EL7566 15.02.2003

The new DC-DC converter EL7566 from INTERSIL has an operating current of up to 6 A and an efficiency of up to 96%. It works with input voltages from 3V to 6V, and its output voltage can be adjusted from 0,8V almost to the input voltage. The high clock frequency (1 MHz) allows the use of small components, so the converter, made in a 28-pin HTSSOP package, occupies only 5 cm2. The microcircuit has protection against overheating, soft start. ... >>

New Intel Pentium 4 processor 14.02.2003

Intel Corporation announced a significant improvement in the overall performance of the personal computing platform with the introduction of the new Intel Pentium 4 processor with a faster system bus and a new chipset. The new platform provides a more balanced system performance, which makes it possible to complete all operations faster and reduce data processing time. The new Intel Hyper-Threading Technology chipset for use in high-performance, feature-rich workstations and desktops introduces two technical innovations. They increase the speed of data transfer between the processor and the memory subsystem, and also double the speed at which the computer is able to transfer data over the network. ... >>

Ultra-fast thermal printer unit with USB interface 13.02.2003

FUJITSU COMPONENTS has introduced a new ultra-fast USB thermal printer unit type FTP-639USL001/002. The block is powered by 24 V, its dimensions are 136x162x107 mm, weight is 1,5 kg. Print speed 200 mm / s with a resolution of 8 dots per mm. ... >>

Miniature SMD Infrared Switch 12.02.2003

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR has introduced a new miniature infrared switch for surface mounting QVE00033. The switch has a small footprint of 7,5x4,05x5,4mm and is ideal for applications such as drive drivers, card detectors, motor controllers, etc. A GaAs emitting LED illuminates a silicon phototransistor through a 2mm wide slit. The instrument operates at a wavelength of 940 nm. Operating temperature range from -55 to + 100°С. ... >>

B&K PRECISION Model 2650 Handheld Spectrum Analyzer 11.02.2003

B&K PRECISION has released a handheld spectrum analyzer model 2650. The measurement range reaches 3,3 GHz, which allows you to test mobile phone systems of CDMA, GSM, wireless LAN, Bluetooth standards. The device allows you to measure the spectra of electric and magnetic fields, power spectra and other parameters, has a wide range of accessories. ... >>

32-bit RISC microcontrollers 11.02.2003

ATMEL CORPORATION announced the planned start of mass production at the end of June of 32-bit RISC microcontrollers AT91RM9200-QI and AT91RM9200-CI based on the ARM920T core with a performance of 200 MIPS at 180 MHz. AT91RM9200 has built-in RAM, interface with external memory, as well as a large set of peripherals for control, communication and data storage: USB Host, Ethernet 10/100BaseT MAC, interfaces for various Flash cards, including Atmel DataFlash and others. Engineering samples of the AT91RM9200-CI in a BGA package are currently available, and engineering samples of the AT91RM9200-QI in a PQFP package are scheduled for release in late April. ... >>

ADXL311 - accelerometer chip 10.02.2003

ANALOG DEVICES has announced the release of a new ADXL311 accelerometer chip. The accelerometer measures acceleration along two axes (X and Y) in the +2g range and produces an output voltage proportional to the acceleration. Supply voltage - from 2,7 to 5,5 V, low consumption - 400 μA. The microcircuit is produced in a miniature 8-pin LCC package with dimensions of 5x5x2 mm. ... >>

Device for measuring the characteristics of dielectric and magnetic materials 09.02.2003

AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES Corporation announced the launch of the E4991A Dielectric and Magnetic Material Measurement Instrument. The device has the following features: wide measurement frequency band (from 1 MHz to 3 GHz); impedance measurement accuracy +0,8%; Windows-style interface; a large set of probes and mounts; wide temperature range - from -55 to +150°С. ... >>

man on earth 08.02.2003

As studies by an international group of scientists have shown, now 83 percent of the land surface is under the direct influence of man. Such areas were considered to be all areas where the population density is higher than one person per square kilometer, all lands occupied by cities or given over to agriculture, strips 15 kilometers wide along roads and large rivers, 2 kilometers wide. Along railroads and circles of the same radius around small settlements, as well as all places so lit that at night their light is visible from the satellite. ... >>

Hydrogen electric bus 07.02.2003

The first installation series of fuel cell buses was produced by the German company Daimler-Chrysler. Thirty buses were sold to different European cities for testing on urban routes. Such a bus carries hydrogen cylinders under a pressure of about 280 atmospheres as a fuel supply. Cylinders are placed on the roof, hydrogen is enough for 200 kilometers. The gas enters the fuel cells, where it is oxidized on the catalyst, giving electricity and clean water. The 150 horsepower electric motor allows the bus with 62 passengers to reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour. In operation, a hydrogen electric bus is no different from diesel models except for noiselessness and the absence of exhaust emissions. ... >>

Sad eyes of a cow 07.02.2003

Researchers at the Agricultural University of Norway took 24 Red Norwegian cows and starved them for 7 hours. Then half of the cows were given food, and the rest were shown food. After such bullying, the mood of malnourished cows naturally worsened, and scientists were able to begin to fix signs of "grief" of ruminants. It turned out that the resentment of a hungry cow is expressed in frequent licking of the lips, shaking the head, and also in the fact that the eyes open wider than usual, which makes the whites of the eyes protrude more strongly. Apparently, wide-open eyes are a signal of the cow's psychological stress. ... >>

Bronze Age metallurgy 06.02.2003

In southern Jordan, archaeologists have unearthed a copper-smelting factory that was engulfed in an earthquake by a landslide around 2700 BC. The factory is perfectly preserved, almost like the houses of Pompeii. 70 premises - workshops are visible. In them, as far as one can understand, the work went according to the principle of the assembly line for many centuries before Ford. The production process began with the processing of copper ore and ended with the production of copper ingots, bronze axes, chisels and other products, up to bronze pins. It is believed that they were mainly exported. ... >>

Prisoners need vitamins 05.02.2003

Physiologists from Oxford University (England) conducted an experiment in prison. A group of 82 inmates were given daily multivitamins with micronutrients and supplements, while the other 90 inmates received the same-looking tablets, consisting only of chalk and sugar. It turned out that those who received the beneficial pills committed 35 percent fewer offenses and violations of the prison regime than the control group. The fortified prisoners were less likely to show aggressiveness towards their cellmates and prison staff, and behaved more calmly. ... >>

Traffic light with one lamp 04.02.2003

On US roads, a traffic light with a single lens with a diameter of 30 centimeters is being tested. The light source is an LED matrix that can represent signals of different colors and shapes. The green signal is a regular circle, yellow is a downward facing triangle, and red is an octagon with a thin white border. Various shapes allow you to quickly understand the signal even for color blind people. The traffic light can also display a green arrow on its screen indicating the direction of movement. Ready to go and portable on a tripod for installation in road worksites. ... >>

Genetic census of Estonians 03.02.2003

In the autumn of 2002, a project was launched in Estonia to study the genome of an entire nation. It is desirable that as many people in the country as possible (the population of Estonia is about 1,4 million) donate a few milliliters of blood and fill out a questionnaire with detailed questions about health, relatives and social origin. This will make it possible to form a picture of the hereditary baggage of an entire nation. Researchers hope to reveal in this way the role of genes in cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's and other diseases. It will also be possible to predict for each participant in the survey what diseases he may fall ill with and what measures he should take in advance. Participation in the project, which is paid by the state, is absolutely voluntary. Previously, a campaign was carried out in the press. Polls showed that 61 percent of the population is well aware of the goals and objectives of the study, half of the informed agree to participate in the project, and only six percent strongly refuse. Participants have the right to ... >>

Bow without tears 03.02.2003

Japanese biochemists have uncovered the mechanism for the formation of a volatile substance that occurs when cutting onions and makes you cry. Until now, it was believed that this caustic compound is an integral part of the specific taste for which we value onions. It turned out, however, that a separate enzyme called "lacrimogenic factor synthase" by the Japanese is responsible for the production of onion "tear gas". Now, the researchers say, it will not be difficult to find the gene responsible for the formation of this enzyme, and by genetic engineering to remove or disable it. Moreover, the taste of the new onion variety will not change at all. English biologists approached the solution of the same problem in a different way. Since the corrosive gas given off by cutting onions is an organic sulfur compound, they proposed growing onions hydroponically in a nutrient solution free of sulfur. Onions are exceptionally sweet. ... >>

fragrant nests 02.02.2003

According to French ornithologists, tits living in Corsica weave aromatic plants into their nests. The most popular are lavender, mint, yarrow and lemon balm. From time to time, birds throw out dried herbs and lay fresh ones, and if sprigs of fragrant plants are deliberately removed, tits immediately bring replenishment. Scientists suggest that the phytoncides secreted by herbs kill or drive away microbes, ticks, fleas, lice and other parasites. ... >>

Peppers and bees against elephants 01.02.2003

Wild elephants in Africa raid the fields and gardens of peasants. In Botswana alone, pachyderm losses amount to one million euros annually. Barbed wire fences, electrified wire fences are used against elephants, they are scared away with torches and fires, and even snipers are hired. But these methods are too expensive, time-consuming, inefficient, dangerous for the people themselves, or too cruel to the elephants, which, in the end, are not to blame for the fact that a person deprived them of food, taking most of the savanna under their fields. Zambian biologists Loki Osborne and Guy Parker discovered that elephants can be scared away by the smoke of burning hot pepper pods. Later it turned out that the planting of cayenne pepper also works. Since the fruits of these "hedges" sell well under the brand name "elephant pepper", green protection also brings profit to the farmers. In Kenya, hives with extremely angry and poisonous African bees are being set up around plantings of corn and cassava. Frequent cases, ... >>

Wind turbines underwater 01.02.2003

The British company MCT intends to build a tidal power plant off the coast of Devon, based on engineering solutions adopted in wind energy. About a kilometer from the coast on tubular steel supports, similar to those on which offshore drilling platforms are supported. Under water, turbines with two-blade propellers with a diameter of 8 meters, similar to those used on wind turbines, should be installed. The turbine can be lifted to the surface from time to time, moving along the support, for inspection and maintenance. The power of one turbine will be 300 kilowatts, the energy will be supplied through an underwater cable. The system will have two important advantages over wind farms: firstly, due to the high density of water, its currents carry much more energy than air currents; secondly, unlike the wind, tides are quite predictable and invariably occur twice a day. ... >>

Skin graft without scars and scars 29.01.2003

R. Redmond and colleagues from the Harvard Medical School in Boston (USA) have developed a new method of skin grafting, which virtually eliminates the formation of scars and scars. The glue developed by scientists after its irradiation with a green laser beam forms a strong connection of implantable tissues. Laser radiation has a low power, so it only slightly heats the operation site and does not cause burns and other side effects. The only drawback of the new technology, which scientists are currently working on, is the relatively long time required for the operation - more than 15 minutes. ... >>

Electronic self-tuning piano 27.01.2003

Inventor from Kansas City (USA) D. Gilmore created an electronic self-tuning piano, which has no moving parts. It is based on the following physical principle: when a string is heated by an electric current, it expands, which leads to a decrease in its tension. The built-in microcomputer analyzes the string tensions and compares them with the reference ones. In the presence of errors, it supplies the appropriate control voltages to the power transistors, which regulate the strength of the current flowing through the strings, and, accordingly, the degree of their tension. ... >>

Charger for any portable devices 26.01.2003

E. Goren, CEO of Mobile Wise, showed off a new charger that can charge virtually any battery-powered portable device. The charging base has an array of closely spaced gold-plated contacts. No matter how you put the charging device on the base, its two contacts are always connected to any two contacts of the base. The microcontroller built into the base itself determines the position of the contacts and the required voltage that must be applied to recharge the batteries. Mobile Wise plans to sell the new technology not only to electronics manufacturers, but also to office furniture manufacturers. After all, with the help of the base station built into the table, you can supply power to both the lamp and the computer. ... >>

Electronics monitors the pulse and respiratory rate of patients 26.01.2003

Employees of the American company "Lucent Technologies Bell Labs" have developed a device that allows you to monitor the pulse and breathing rate of patients with heart disease in real time. The principle of operation of this device is as follows. Device sensor located a few centimeters from the patient's chest. It is connected to a mobile phone, which transmits the collected data over existing cellular networks to the nearest medical facility equipped with this measuring system. This device will be the first signs that marked the beginning of the era of mobile medicine. ... >>

Self-guided goggles 25.01.2003

Oxford professor D. Silver invented self-guided glasses that are suitable for all people without exception, suffering from poor eyesight. In order to "adjust" the glasses to a specific person, you need to press two small buttons on the temples, after which the degree of curvature of the lenses will change. According to the professor, his invention will help billions of people who cannot go to an ophthalmologist, primarily in third world countries. For example, in the African state of Ghana, there are only 20 oculists per 50 million inhabitants. The company founded by the professor has already arranged deliveries of self-focusing glasses to Africa at a price of $9. ... >>

New Optical Discs for New Generation Cell Phones 24.01.2003

Philips is developing new optical discs for next-generation cell phones with a capacity of more than 4 GB. The dimensions of the drives for such discs are comparable to the size of conventional credit cards. Since a short-wavelength blue laser beam is used for writing and reading, the thickness of the recording layer does not exceed 0,1 mm. Thanks to this, unlike conventional DVD players, read / write errors during shaking and shocks are completely excluded. The price of the novelty is still quite high (about $ 100), but with mass production it can be significantly reduced. ... >>

Subminiature Digital Camera CardCam 24.01.2003

The Singapore company "Creative Technology" has announced a subminiature digital camera "CardCam" 6 mm thick and weighing 34 g. 1,3-megapixel CMOS matrix allows "CardCam" to take pictures with a resolution of 1280x1960 or 640x480 dpi. The first in the built-in 8-megabyte memory fits 26 pieces, the second -101. Autobrite technology is used for automatic exposure adjustment. The lithium-ion battery, charged via USB, lasts for approximately 500 shots. The "CardCam" comes with a lanyard for wearing around the neck, a case and a XNUMX-meter USB cable. Creative Technology also produces a similar "Cardcam Value" camera with a lower sensor resolution and less memory. ... >>

Chips for voice echo suppression in communication channels 23.01.2003

ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR has released ZL50212, ZL50211, ZL50232 chips for voice echo suppression in communication channels. ZL50212 serves 288 and ZL50211 - 256 channels. Devices are priced under $1 per channel (50% less than competing devices). Chips are available in LQFP-100 or LBGA-208 packages. ... >>

New 64-bit RISC microprocessor TMPR4955BFG-300 23.01.2003

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC COMPONENT announced the release of a new TMPR64BFG-4955 300-bit RISC microprocessor based on 0,13 micron technology. Main features of the new microprocessor: clock frequency 300 MHz; supply voltage 3,3 V, power consumption 0,6 W; associative cache memory (32 KB - instructions, 32 KB - data); there is a special node for working with floating point, fixed point and floating point operations are performed independently. The microprocessor is produced in a QFP-160 plastic case. ... >>

TG700 test modules for video test generation 22.01.2003

TEKTRONIX Corporation has released a family of test modules TG700 to generate video tests. It includes analog (AVG7) and wideband analog (AWVG7). AVG7 is a multi-format generator of test signals, drawings, texts. AWVG7 has a higher resolution. ... >>

Silicon LEDs glow 100 times brighter 20.01.2003

ST MICROELECTRONICS Corporation has developed a new technology that increases the light output of silicon LEDs by 100 times, making them competitive with traditional gallium arsenide LEDs. This will allow both optical and electronic circuits to be combined on a single chip, which has not been possible until now. To achieve this, the researchers implanted rare earth metals such as cerium, erbium and terbium into the silicon oxide layer. As a result, silicon oxide nanocrystals 1...2 nm in size were formed. The color of the emission depends on the selected rare earth metal. With the addition of cerium, the wavelength is 460 nm (blue color of the glow), with the addition of terbium - 545 mm (green color of the glow), with the addition of erbium - 1540 nm (infrared). ... >>

Plasma TVs SONY KE-42MR1 and KE-50MR1 20.01.2003

SONY has introduced two models of plasma TVs KE-42MR1 and KE-50MR1, which not only set new design standards, but also use the unique MR (Media Reality) technology. This technology delivers superior picture quality from any video source by minimizing digital to analog conversions. All-digital processing includes interlacing to progressive conversion. As a result, the picture turns out to be continuous and without notches on the contours of objects. The new microchip for controlling gas discharges significantly improved the transmission of black gradations and increased the contrast of the image. ... >>

The world's largest LCD TV 19.01.2003

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS has released the world's largest LCD TV LW-40A13W. It has a 40-inch screen (16:9 ratio) and is as bright as most plasma displays. The number of pixels on the screen is about 3 million, which allows you to display a high-definition television picture and almost all computer formats. The screen has a high contrast ratio (600:1) and a wide viewing angle (170°). The TV includes two tuners, which allows you to get on the screen different options for "picture in picture" or just break it in half. The TV is equipped with removable flat speakers and an amplifier with an output power of 2x10 watts. In addition to 16:9, the TV also supports other aspect ratios (4:3/Wide/Zoom/Panorama). The weight of the TV with the stand is only 23,5 kg. ... >>

Sound Level Meter NOR-118 19.01.2003

SCANTEK Corporation has released the NOR-118 sound level meter, which is considered the smallest sound level meter for this purpose. Device parameters: dynamic range 120 dB; measurements in octave and one-third octave ranges in real time; there are A-, C- and Z-weighting circuits; it is possible to output data to recording devices with a resolution of at least 100 ms. ... >>

Chip SAA7133 - stereo video decoder 18.01.2003

PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTOR announced the release of stereo video decoder chips designed to enable personal computer users to receive television programs. The SAA7133 chip performs the functions of multi-standard video decoding and low-noise stereo decoding in accordance with American and Japanese standards. For use in Europe, the SAA7134 chip is intended. There are also other microcircuits of this family with the functions of a mono decoder, a Dolby decoder, etc. ... >>

NLSF595 Tricolor LED Drivers 18.01.2003

ON SEMICONDUCTOR has developed a new type of integrated circuit - NLSF595 tricolor LED drivers. The microcircuit is a shift register with outputs in the form of open-collector transistors, to which LEDs are connected through resistors. The microcircuit is designed to interact with the microprocessor. Microchips can be scaled up. Each of the microcircuits has 8 outputs, therefore, two microcircuits can control 5 three-color LEDs. ... >>

LP3883 CMOS Voltage Regulator 17.01.2003

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR has released the world's first LP3883 CMOS voltage regulator with a very low voltage drop across it (450 mV). The regulator allows you to convert the input voltage in the range of 1,8 ... 2,5 V into an output voltage of 1,2, 1,5 or 1,8 V at a current of 3 A and with an output accuracy of + 3% in the temperature and load range. There is an external shutdown mode with a current consumption of only 3 mA. There is protection against short circuit and overheating. Regulators are available in 5-pin packages TO-220 or TO-263. ... >>

Microwire EEPROMs 17.01.2003

One of the latest developments of MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY is reprogrammable ROM (EEPROM) of the Microwire series. Their peculiarity lies in their placement in a miniature 6-pin SOT-23 package (2,7x1,5x1 mm). Chips 93xx46, 93xx56 and 93xx66 with suffix A are designed for 8-bit words, with suffix B - for 16-bit words. Memory capacity from 1K to 4K. Input and output of data is performed via a 2-wire serial data bus. ... >>

BM-ET500 Iris Identification System 16.01.2003

PANASONIC launched the BM-ET500 Iris Access Control System. At the same time, one glance into the camera lens is enough for the user. Advantages of the system: there is no need for identification cards and passwords; the system is easily adaptable to any number of users whose iris samples are stored in memory, which is very convenient for large enterprises; it is impossible to fake the drawing of the iris, in this regard, the probability of an error in the system is less than one millionth; there is no physical contact during identification. ... >>

LTC5508 Subminiature Broadband Power Detector 16.01.2003

LINEAR TECHNOLOGY has released the LTC5508 subminiature wideband power detector for operation in the frequency range from 300 MHz to 7 GHz. The temperature-compensated Schottky diode peak detector and buffer amplifier are housed in a 6-pin 70x1,2mm SC2 package. The microcircuit has a large dynamic range of input signals - from -32 dBm to +12 dBm. It works at supply voltages from 2,7 to 6 V, consumes a small current - 550 μA. There is a shutdown mode by an external signal, in which the current consumption is reduced to 2 μA. ... >>

KA-4040 SMD LEDs 15.01.2003

KINGBRIGHT launched the KA-4040 series of white 4x4mm surface mount LEDs with built-in reflector. Typical LED brightness is 120 mcd at 20 mA. The main purpose of LEDs is to illuminate liquid crystal displays. For this purpose, the design of the LEDs provides radiation at an angle of 90° with respect to the mounting plane. In addition to white LEDs, LEDs with a different glow color are also available in the wavelength range from 430 to 700 nm. ... >>

Drivers for switching white LEDs EL7513 15.01.2003

INTERSIL announced the release of the original driver for switching white LEDs EL7513. The driver is powered by a voltage of 2,6 to 5,5 V, but provides a voltage of up to 18 V at the load and can operate up to 12 LEDs. The brightness of the LEDs is controlled by an external PWM signal. One of the LED switching circuits is shown in the figure. The microcircuit is produced in a miniature 8-pin SOT-23 package. ... >>

Ultra-fast rectifier modules UFB60FA40 14.01.2003

INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER has announced the release of the new UFB60FA40 ultra-fast rectifier modules, which include two completely independent diodes. The SOT-223 package provides isolation between diodes of 2500 V. Diodes allow reverse voltage up to 400 V. Continuous current up to 30 A (pulse up to 250 A), maximum power dissipation up to 64 W. The recovery time of rectifiers for the current limit is 67 ns (for a current of 1 A 32 ns), at a temperature of + 125 ° C at a current limit of 120 ns. ... >>

Servers based on new processors and chipsets at 533 MHz 14.01.2003

INTEL Corporation has announced the release of a series of new servers based on new processors and chipsets to work with 533 MHz buses. The series includes server boards SE7501HG2, SE7501WV2, SE7501BR2, and SE7501CW2 for the 7501 chipset. In addition, the server board SE7501VB2 is designed for the 7505 chipset. They are all branded under the Xeon brand. ... >>

New family of electromechanical relays FTR-MY 13.01.2003

FUJITSU COMPONENTS has launched a new family of FTR-MY electromechanical relays. The relays are rated for DC voltages from 4,5 to 24 V, but can switch currents up to 5 A at AC voltages up to 250 V. The relays are available in 5x12x20 mm cases and weigh only 2,5 g. They are rated for 20 million. positives. ... >>

Series of blue LEDs 12.01.2003

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR has launched a new series of blue color SMD LEDs QTLP610C, QTLP611C (rectangular) and QTLP601C (low profile). LEDs have a forward voltage drop in the range of 2,75 to 3,15 V and are designed for backlighting in LCD displays. Current consumption 5 mA, glow angle from 100 to 130 degrees. LED dimensions 1,6x0,8x0,6 mm. ... >>

PK2 Pocket Digital Strobe Light 12.01.2003

ELECTROMATIC EQUIPMENT's PK2 Pocket Digital Strobe Light operates at a flash intensity of up to 800 lux and a flash rate of up to 12500 flashes/min. The internal nickel-metal hydride battery provides an hour of continuous operation of the device at any flash frequency. The accuracy of the device is one sign of the least significant digit. ... >>

Acid battery capacity analyzer 11.01.2003

To analyze the capacity of acid car batteries, B&K PRECISION has released a pocket device Model 600. The device shows the capacity of the battery at the moment as a percentage of the maximum. Measurement duration 6 s. The instrument is powered by the battery being measured. Device dimensions 7,5x15x4 cm. ... >>

Microcontroller ATmega169 11.01.2003

ATMEL CORPORATION has announced the availability of technical information for the new ATmega169 microcontroller for wearable applications with an integrated LCD controller. The ATmega169 has a built-in interface for in-circuit application debugging. In addition, ATmega169 has 16K flash memory, 1K ROM, 512 bytes PROM, 8-channel 10-bit ADC. 4x25 segment LCD driver is supported. ... >>

Voltage regulator ADM8839 10.01.2003

ANALOG DEVICES has announced the release of the ADM5 voltage regulator with +15 V, +15 V and -8839 V outputs, designed specifically for powering color LCD displays. The power supply is one +3 V. The stabilizer voltages are used as follows: +5 V - to power the display controller, +15 V - for the panel transistors. Output currents: 5 mA - for +5 V output and 100 μA each - for + 15 V and -15 V outputs. Efficiency of the microcircuit is 83%, conversion frequency is 100 kHz. The chip is available in a 20-pin LFCSP package. ... >>

CMOS image sensors 09.01.2003

AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES releases new CMOS image sensors containing a high sensitivity, low current photodiode array with built-in A/D conversion. They are in VGA (640x480 pixels) format - ADCS-2021 or CIF (352x288 pixels) - ADCS1021. Combined with image processors, they provide a complete imaging system for digital cameras, computer cameras, cell phones, toys, and more. ... >>

Chip (three-phase electricity meter) ADE7752 09.01.2003

The ADE7752, which until recently was only available as test samples, is now in production by Analog Devices and available for order. It is a low-cost, high-precision power measurement system implemented on a single chip. This chip allows you to create on its basis high-quality inexpensive industrial and household three-phase electricity meters. Being a three-phase version of the famous and popular ADE7755 chip, it allows you to create devices with a minimum number of additional external components. In addition, it has specialized outputs for connection to low-cost electromagnetically driven mechanical readouts. The combination of these capabilities allows us to recommend its use for the development of a new generation of electricity metering devices, as well as distributed energy consumption metering systems. ... >>

New dedicated capacitance meter 09.01.2003

QuadTech specialists, formerly GenRad (USA), have developed a new capacitance meter Capacitance Meter 1930, which supplemented the 1900 series of professional immittance meters. This device is optimized for automatic measurement of a wide range of parameters of capacitors of various types, including tantalum. The main advantage of the new device is its ability to measure small values ​​(of the order of microohms) of the equivalent loss resistance in a series equivalent circuit (Equivalent Series Resistance - ESR). The basic error of the instrument is 0,1%. It allows you to measure a total of 20 parameters of capacitance (0,01 pF...10 F), resistance (0,1 μOhm...100 MΩ), inductance (0,001 nH...100 H), dielectric loss tangent, quality factor of the phase angle, etc. At the same time, the values ​​of any two measured values ​​can be simultaneously displayed on its display, including the test voltage and current. ... >>

DVD or FMD ROM 08.01.2003

Will FMD ROM outperform DVD in terms of parameters? The first parameter is the size/capacity ratio. Here "fluorescent multilayer disk" is beyond competition. The developers claim that even now the first prototypes can accommodate up to 12 GB with a disk size of 5 cm in diameter, that is, on a standard 140-inch drive. This is ten layers. And in the nearest plans of the C3D company there is a desire to at least tenfold the number of layers. At the same time, the possibility of creating removable storage media with a capacity of tens of terabytes becomes quite real. The capacity that today can only be obtained using huge disk arrays, sometimes occupying entire cabinets and even rooms, will be provided by a compact disk that easily fits in your pocket! As for the access speed, there is still very little data. The developers promise that this parameter will be much higher than that of DVD. Otherwise, with existing speeds, when working with terabyte arrays of information, even simple operations, for example ... >>

Accumulators of the third millennium 08.01.2003

Relatively recently, C3D announced the creation of a new type of storage media under the general name FMD ROM (fluorescent multilayer disk), that is, a fluorescent multilayer disk. This promising development, as expected by its creators, should, after its release, replace all currently existing storage devices, not only outdated CD-ROMs, but also relatively new DVD-ROMs. Magnetic disks have existed for more than thirty years, CD-ROMs for a little less than twenty, the CD has most recently been replaced by the DVD standard, and in less than three years, the successor to DVD has appeared. Yes, DVD, which is by far the most capacious removable media of digital information. And in the near future, it will yield in all respects to the new FMD ROM media standard. ... >>

frog paradise 07.01.2003

In the tropical forest on the island of Sri Lanka, zoologists have found 120 new species of frogs at once. They crowded into an area of ​​750 square kilometers, as over the past decades, 95 percent of the jungle on the island has been cut down. New species differ from the known ones in appearance, hereditary information and behavior, as well as in voice - each species croaks in its own way. Most of the new species do not lay their eggs in water, but in moist places on land, such as in a layer of fallen leaves. Accordingly, not tadpoles emerge from the eggs, but small frogs immediately. The reasons for such a diversity of frog fauna on a small island remain a mystery. ... >>

Restored the spirits of the pharaohs 07.01.2003

French perfumers, working in collaboration with archaeologists and historians, managed to restore the Kifi perfume used by the Egyptian pharaohs. To do this, the specialists of the company "Loreal" had to use bottles with dried up remains of incense stored in museums, decoding of ancient Egyptian documents, as well as the works of Plutarch and other scientists of antiquity. The recipes were different: some used only 10 ingredients, others up to 50. Among the ingredients are pistachios, mint, frankincense, cinnamon, myrrh, juniper and hemp. The latter circumstance makes it impossible to produce and distribute "Kifi" - ancient Egyptian perfumes in our time would be equated with drugs. By the way, Plutarch mentions that from the smell of "Kifi" a person falls asleep and sees pleasant dreams. However, the authors of the reconstruction say that such perfumes would hardly be successful now: the modern public would consider their smell too piercing and intrusive. ... >>

solar phone 06.01.2003

The Swiss company "Rotronik" offers to carry in your pocket along with a mobile phone a folding solar battery weighing 150 grams. When folded, it looks like a leather wallet. When open, on a clear day, the battery delivers about five volts, enough to recharge the phone's battery. Charging continues, depending on the phone model, from two to four hours. The operating temperature range is from frost at minus 10 degrees to African plus 60. ... >>

Nanotube yarn 06.01.2003

A few years ago, physicists learned how to make hollow tubes of submicron diameter from carbon atoms. They are distinguished by high strength, but it was impossible to apply this property of carbon tubes anywhere, since their length was only fractions of a millimeter. Now, Chinese scientists at Jinhua University have accidentally found a way to make long filaments from nanotubes. Having synthesized a pack of such tubes, they tried to pick up this pack with a thin needle under the objective of the Alektron microscope. But behind the needle stretched a thread of tubules linked by electrostatic van der Waals forces acting between individual atoms. The thickness of each tube is 3 nanometers, that is, only 10 times the diameter of a hydrogen atom. This method, similar to the unwinding of silkworm cocoons, can produce heavy-duty threads one-tenth of a millimeter thick and up to 100 centimeters long. Heat treatment of the threads makes it possible to further increase their tensile strength by more than an hour. ... >>

soil radar 05.01.2003

A group of Mexican scientists led by Claudia Oleshko uses a radar to measure soil porosity. The radar beam penetrates the ground to a depth of 10 meters, and by its reflection, soil scientists determine the structure of the soil, the size of soil particles and the pores between them. Knowing this is necessary for the correct selection of crops for each type of soil. The study of soil structure in a field the size of one tenth of a hectare took half an hour. It takes only a few months to get the same data using the old methods. ... >>

Sauerkraut as a cure for cancer 05.01.2003

Until now, doctors could recommend sauerkraut only as a generally available source of vitamins for the winter period. Now Finnish specialists from the Research Center of the Ministry of Agriculture have discovered that so-called isothiocyanates appear when sauerkraut is sauerkraut. They inhibit the division of malignant cells, especially in tumors of the breast, lungs, liver and intestines. So far, this has been proven only in animal experiments, but there is reason to think that isothiocyanates act in the same way on humans. Thus, according to American statistics, women of Polish nationality living in the United States are more likely to get breast cancer than their compatriots at home. It is believed that this is due to sauerkraut, which is not very popular in America, but is one of the favorite components of Polish national cuisine (have you ever tried real Polish bigos?). Finnish scientists hope to change the fermentation process in such a way that the concentration of isothiocyanates in the final product is even higher ... >>

Pocket cinema 04.01.2003

This year, the US should begin production of a pocket device that stores up to a hundred hours of movies copied into the device's memory from the Internet or from video discs. They can be viewed on a screen with a diagonal of 10 centimeters. The prototype of the pocket cinema was developed by Intel. The manufacturer has not yet been named, but it is already known that the cost of the device will be about $400. ... >>

Trusting on the Internet is easier 03.01.2003

The prevalence of the Internet in a particular country is usually associated with the number of personal computers, the level of education and the level of income of the population. But the American sociologist Jonathan Leland found a correlation with an unexpected factor: the degree of trust in people. He compared data on the number of households connected to the Internet in 17 countries with the number of positive answers to the question "Do you think people are generally trustworthy?" The question was included in the questionnaire of an international psychological survey conducted several years ago and aimed at identifying the basic life values ​​among different peoples. It turned out that almost two-thirds of the differences in the prevalence of the Internet are explained by this factor - the degree of trust in people. Among the most "gullible" countries, the authors of the study name Norway, as an example of "distrustful" - Brazil. Even if the methods of statistical processing eliminate the influence of other factors, such as the number of computers in ... >>

crab toothpaste 03.01.2003

Specialists from the University of Portsmouth (UK) have developed a new toothpaste that sticks to the teeth. Microscopic capsules filled with a disinfectant antimicrobial agent - triclosan are mixed into the main substance of the paste. Gradually breaking down, they release triclosan on the tooth enamel, killing the microorganisms that cause caries. In order to keep the effect of brushing your teeth as long as possible, it was important to choose a material for the microcapsules so that they firmly adhere to the teeth. Of the proposed options, chitosan turned out to be the best. This is a derivative of chitin, which is used in the shells of crabs, crayfish, lobsters, shrimp and other crustaceans. Thousands of tons of chitin annually go to waste after processing these seafood. The production of paste with chitosan will start in 2003. ... >>

Children and noise 02.01.2003

Recently in Munich (Germany) the old airport was closed and at the same time a new one was opened in another part of the city. This case was used by psychologists in order to identify the impact of noise from jet liners on the mental activity of children. We studied 326 children with an average age of 10 living near the old and new airports. Six months before the airport moved to a new location and six months after the move, the children's ability to read, remember what they read, comprehend speech and concentrate was tested. It turned out that prolonged exposure to noise significantly worsens these indicators. One consolation: six months after the roar of jet engines stopped, the children freed from it caught up with their peers in their abilities. ... >>

Tail for a swimmer 02.01.2003

Swimmers have been using fins for a long time, and now people have borrowed a wide tail that is comfortable for swimming from pinnipeds. The fashion to swim with a wide spade-shaped fin worn on the legs originated in the United States and is spreading around the world. The fin is made of sheet plastic, and the latest models use thin and light, but very strong carbon fiber. With such a tail, a swimmer reaches speeds of up to 13 kilometers per hour. A snorkel diver, having once inhaled air on the surface, swims with such equipment under water up to 150 meters. ... >>

inflatable oven 01.01.2003

The American company Soltac has released an inflatable solar oven. It is a "bubble" of aluminized polyester film which, when inflated, takes the form of a parabolic solar collector. A cauldron with a volume of one and a half liters, placed in focus, boils in an hour and a half in the middle latitudes - of course, only on a sunny day. A special black pot with a Teflon coating inside is attached to the stove, in which the whole structure is packed when carried. ... >>

Car in ceramic armor 01.01.2003

Researchers at the Institute for New Materials in Saarbrücken (Germany) have developed the first scratch-resistant varnish for cars. For this, nanotechnology methods were used. A layer of ceramic particles is applied to a metal sheet, each of which is 4000 times thinner than a human hair. The thickness of the layer is only one hundredth of a millimeter, but under its protection, the lacquer coating of the car becomes almost as hard as the mineral glass used in modern wristwatches. In any case, a steel wire washcloth does not take it. ... >>

Singing cork protects against forgery 31.12.2002

The Russian electronic enterprise "Angstrem" from the city of Zelenograd near Moscow has created a unique technology of protection against counterfeiting of alcoholic beverages. "Singing plug" contains a microelectronic chip with a memory unit, a battery and a miniature musical synthesizer. All this is mounted in a standard bottle cap. The operation for its installation is technologically advanced and does not require additional production costs. Counterfeit products are excluded, since when the cork is opened, the module is completely destroyed. The new technology can also be used to protect other products from forgery: candy sets, gift editions, valuables. ... >>

Air oven cooks food 30.12.2002

The Scottish inventor S. Morrison, using the technology used for drying clothes, invented a new, air oven for cooking. The crude product is loaded into a ceramic drum which rotates inside another drum. The larger drum heats up while the smaller one cooks food. Salt, spices and oil are added to taste. Morrison's invention is recommended for industrial production. ... >>

Biobattery is implanted under the skin 28.12.2002

A. Heller from the University of Texas has developed a "biobattery" - a miniature device that is implanted under the skin or in the spinal canal and receives electricity due to the oxidation of glucose directly in the body. The energy generated by this battery is enough to power sensors such as blood sugar levels. The battery consists of two electrodes - fibers 2 cm long and 7 microns thick. One of the fibers, coated with a special polymeric material, carries on the surface molecules of glucose oxidase, an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of glucose. The polymer coating provides contact between the enzyme molecules and the fiber, as well as the “draining” of electrons onto it. The other fiber contains molecules of another enzyme attached, which donates electrons to oxygen atoms. Thus, an electron density gradient is formed between the two fibers, which makes it possible to obtain an electric current. The power of such a battery is about 2 μW, which is approximately ... >>

Data is transmitted at the time of the handshake 27.12.2002

The Japanese company "NTT DoCoMo" has developed a system that allows you to transfer data at speeds up to 10 Mbps between two portable computers at the moment when their owners shake hands. The operation of this system, which, unlike wireless data transmission technologies, is much better protected from unauthorized retrieval of information, is possible due to the fact that human skin has relatively good conductivity. Another possible application of the novelty could be its use for automatic identification of a person, for example, when touching a doorknob or a computer keyboard. ... >>

longest suspension bridge 26.12.2002

The Italian government has approved the project of the world's longest suspension bridge, which should connect the island of Sicily with the mainland. The width of the Strait of Messina, over which the bridge will pass, exceeds 3 km. In addition, it will be located in a seismically active area, which creates additional difficulties for designers and builders. The uniqueness of the bridge canvas lies in its profile, which resembles the profile of a bird's wing. This is done in order to meet the requirements of lightness, strength and good aerodynamics of the main span 3,3 km long. It will be supported by strong steel cables attached to huge pylons located on the banks of the strait. Construction will take about 10 years and will cost Italian taxpayers more than $4 billion. ... >>

It will be easier to understand the lecturer 24.12.2002

The Japanese corporation "JVC" introduced a radio receiver that automatically corrects the diction of the presenters and makes their speech more measured. The development is focused primarily on older people who do not have time to perceive too fast speech. The speaker's voice is recorded on a semiconductor integrated circuit, where it undergoes fast processing: pauses are removed, due to which the words are slightly stretched. At the same time, as far as possible, "eaten" endings, hesitation and other inaccuracies are corrected. ... >>

Light switch without wires 23.12.2002

The German company "EnIcean" is developing fundamentally new light switches that can be mounted in any convenient place. At the same time, you do not need to pull wires to them or supply them with batteries. When such a switch is pressed in a circuit connected to a piezoelectric crystal, a current pulse appears, which powers a miniature radio transmitter. Each light source is equipped with a built-in microswitch that is triggered by receiving the appropriate coded radio signals to turn it on or off. The range of the system reaches 300 meters, and the number of independent codes exceeds 1000. The company plans to develop battery-free key fobs of security alarm systems and air pressure sensors in car tires. ... >>

Mailbox kills germs 22.12.2002

After last year's anthrax story, many Americans approach their mailboxes with trepidation. Inventor Fritz Braun from Florida intends to save them from fear. He created a small firm that builds three ultraviolet lamps of the type used to sterilize surgical sutures and dressings into the standard mailboxes that stand on the side of the road at every American home. Ultraviolet not only kills all microorganisms on the surface of the envelopes, but also generates ozone, which, penetrating through the paper, disinfects anthrax spores in 6 hours (the experiments were carried out in one of the laboratories in Brazil - apparently, there were no people willing to take risks in the USA). If the Postal Service approves the design, the anti-terrorism mailboxes will go on sale for $300 to $400 each. ... >>

Grapes with milk 20.12.2002

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease of grapes that affects vines throughout the world. To combat it, vineyards are sprayed with fungicides that are not indifferent to human health and affect the taste of wine. Peter Crisp of the University of Adelaide (Australia), studying folk remedies for powdery mildew, found that some growers use a spray of diluted milk. Experiments have shown that the fungus is really afraid of milk. Why is unclear, but Crisp suggests that the proteins and fats of milk, having fallen on the leaves and berries, give food to some kind of microbes, which, multiplying, at the same time eat the fungus. ... >>

Oat gold 19.12.2002

Some modern microcircuits require ultramicroscopic "plaques" of gold with a diameter of millionths of a millimeter. They are made laborious and expensive by physical and chemical methods. As Mexican, Argentinean and American researchers have shown, such gold particles accumulate in the cells of some plants if they are grown on soil enriched with this metal, for example, on rock heaps processed by gold miners. The first experiments were carried out on alfalfa, wheat and oats, and it was oats that gave the best results. Special solvents are used to isolate gold particles from plants. Scientists hope to obtain microparticles of silver, palladium, europium and iron in the same way - also for use in microelectronics. ... >>

Doctor's visit 18.12.2002

According to a statistical survey published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, female doctors stay at the bedside 10 percent longer than men (23 minutes instead of 21). In addition, the manner of their conversation with the patient is more emotional and takes into account the psychology of the patient more. During a conversation, women smile more than men, nod, listen more readily to statements that are not related to the diagnosis, and ask such questions themselves only to distract the patient from thoughts about the disease and somehow cheer up. True, the long-term results of treatment for both male and female doctors are the same: apparently, American doctors know their business regardless of gender. ... >>

Eyes heal with light 17.12.2002

As you know, having treated yourself to methyl alcohol, you can go blind: unlike ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol is converted in the body into formic acid, which destroys retinal cells. The Wisconsin Medical College (USA) has found a way to prevent blindness from methyl alcohol. Rats given large doses of this substance go blind in one to two days. But if twice - after 5 and 50 hours after the introduction of alcohol - to illuminate the eyes of the affected rat with infrared light with a wavelength of 670 nanometers, vision is restored by 95 percent. Retinal cells regenerate. It is believed that some other eye injuries, such as blinding by a laser beam, can be treated in this way. ... >>

bulletproof teeth 16.12.2002

Siram Ramakrishna, professor of materials science at the University of Singapore, suggests making dental fillings, false teeth and complete dentures from a composite material used in modern tank armor and bulletproof vests. Composed of carbon fibers, fiberglass and a special polymer, this material is both strong and flexible. ... >>

record probe 14.12.2002

The largest probe balloon with a volume of 1,7 million cubic meters was launched by Canadian scientists on August 25 this year. It carried 690 kilograms of instruments for studying the Sun and the solar wind. During the flight, which lasted about 23 hours, the balloon reached a height of 49 kilometers. Instruments with accumulated data descended to the ground by parachute. Until now, the largest balls were 1,4 million cubic meters. ... >>

Seal in touch 13.12.2002

Unlike the hero of the "Telephone" Chukovsky, the staff of the University of St. Andrew (Scotland) are happy when another seal calls them. They glue miniature radio beacons provided by the German company Siemens to the fur of newborn seals. The device, which works through the cellular telephony network, from time to time sends messages about the activity of the seal to the university computer. If there are no messages for several days, the animal is considered dead. Of the approximately 38 gray seals born every November in colonies of these mammals on the coast of Britain, only half survive to their first birthday, but there is no exact data yet. In the future, scientists intend to add a depth gauge and a positioning device to a simple motion sensor in radio beacons in order to accurately record migration routes and the depth at which animals hunt. The device stays on the skin of a seal for no more than a year and disappears during the next molt. ... >>

Wheel instead of gateway 12.12.2002

Two navigable channels passing through Scotland are separated by a difference in water level of 33 meters. In order to allow ships to move from one channel to another, it was decided instead of locks, which take up a lot of space and require a long locking process, to build a kind of rotating elevator. For four years, two huge wheels with a diameter of 35 meters were erected between the canals, on each of which two "baths" for ships were fixed. Each "bath" holds 300 cubic meters of water and a ship with a carrying capacity of up to 600 tons. Turning the wheel takes less than 5 minutes - and the two channels exchanged ships. Loading and unloading "cradles" lasts approximately 15 minutes. Previously, a system of 11 locks operated here. Now the journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh has been shortened by a few hours. ... >>

Viruses in mineral water 11.12.2002

Swiss ecologist Christian Bere, after analyzing samples of mineral water from 29 sources in Western Europe, found in 11 of them a highly infectious virus that causes nausea and intestinal upset. Where viruses get into the water is unclear: either sewage seeps into aquifers underground, or the bottling is not hygienic enough. Repeated analysis in an independent laboratory gave the same result. Mineral water producers criticize this study and accuse Bere of contaminated samples in his laboratory due to careless analysis. ... >>

Do athletes need warm-ups? 09.12.2002

All sports doctors and coaches unanimously say that before starting physical education, you should warm up well so as not to overwork, stretch or tear your muscles. But Australian scientists from the University of Sydney do not believe that there is any serious scientific evidence for the usefulness of the warm-up. They found, for example, that warm-up forward bends did not prevent muscle soreness after competition or reduce the risk of injury, although why this happens is not yet clear. Asking 77 volunteers to perform simple calisthenics exercises with or without pre-warm-up, the researchers found that the warm-up does not bring tangible benefits and does not contribute to the prevention of muscle pain. Perhaps the picture will look different if you examine professional athletes who are used to warming up before each workout. As is known, the mechanical properties of human and animal muscle tissues are very complex. ... >>

Parachute for the whole plane 07.12.2002

Aircraft parachutes, however, only for small light aircraft, are produced by the American company BRS. There are many circumstances under which an aircraft may need a parachute. For example, a mid-air collision between two light aircraft, loss of control, a heart attack in the pilot, engine failure over terrain completely unsuitable for a normal landing, or at night when it is impossible to choose a suitable place ... In case of danger, the pilot or passenger presses the handle, and the rocket pulls the parachute out of the package fixed at the top of the fuselage. The plane slowly descends to the ground. The largest of the produced models has an umbrella with a diameter of 17 meters, weighs 27 kilograms and is able to save an aircraft with a total weight of 1,5 tons (but the slings can withstand breaking even 6 tons). Rescue can be carried out at speeds up to 250 kilometers per hour. According to the manufacturer, the landing shock is three times weaker than what a person can withstand, according to medical data. To the present ... >>

Synthesized lubrication for joints 05.12.2002

Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) have learned how to grow cartilage in order to replace the cartilage layer in the joints with a new "lubricant", which is worn out in some diseases. There are practically no blood vessels or nerves in the cartilage, so it does not regenerate. Cartilage cells are placed on a temporary frame made of the thinnest threads of a special biopolymer and begin to multiply. A piece of the grown tissue is transplanted through a small hole into the diseased joint, soon the biopolymer dissolves, and the cartilage spreads to the rubbing surfaces. It is believed that in the same way it will be possible to grow shark cartilage in the laboratory, for which (although its use as a medicine is very doubtful) poachers kill up to 300 thousand sharks every month. ... >>

allergy to money 04.12.2002

Studies conducted by dermatologists from the University of Zurich Hospital (Switzerland) in collaboration with metallurgists have shown that coins of one and two euros, when they are held in a sweaty hand, emit a lot of nickel. The reason is that the coins are made from two different alloys: the middle is silver and the rim is yellow. In a sweaty palm, such a coin acts like an electric battery, where sweat acts as an electrolyte. The resulting weak electric current drives the nickel ions out. There are more of them than if a person held an ingot of pure nickel in his hand. Meanwhile, 10 percent of the population is allergic to nickel. The concentration of metal ions on the skin after prolonged contact with coins can be 250 - 300 times higher than the allowable one. True, dermatologists point out that coins rarely stay in the hand long enough. More dangerous in this regard would be a metal object that is in contact with the skin for a long time, such as a watch. ... >>

Snails will eat England 02.12.2002

Biologist Claire Andrews from the University of Sussex (UK) discovered that Patella vulgata snails living on the chalk cliffs of Dover are gradually eating up the coast of England. Clinging to the rock, they scrape off microscopic algae from it, which they feed on. However, along with the algae, the mollusks also scrape off some soft limestone. Three-year observations of snails have shown that up to 30 percent of coastal erosion can be attributed to these seemingly harmless creatures. Note that the county of Sussex annually spends millions of pounds to combat coastal erosion. ... >>

Red wine keeps colds at bay 01.12.2002

It is known that regular consumption of red wine contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Spanish researchers have found that wine also protects against colds. Scientists from five universities in Spain conducted long-term studies on four thousand volunteers. Result: people who drink two glasses of dry red wine a day are 1,8 times less likely to get colds than those who do not drink wine. A noticeable effect comes from one glass of wine a day, scientists report. They believe it's the antioxidants in red wine. By the way, beer and vodka do not protect against colds. ... >>

Beam drills concrete 30.11.2002

Professor Eli Jerby and his colleagues at Tel Aviv University in Israel have created a ray gun that uses microwaves to make holes in concrete, rock or glass. The gun focuses microwave radiation at some depth within the material to be drilled. The material softens, so the tip of the drill can easily pass into it, forming a hole. Unlike mechanical drills, microwave drills do not have any rapidly rotating parts and at the same time do not create mechanical friction, and therefore no dust. On the other hand, the novelty has one drawback - dangerous radiation, which requires security measures. ... >>

Chips help assemble furniture 29.11.2002

Firm "Ikea" produces prefabricated cabinets with "checking" microcircuits. Six motion and pressure sensors are built into each wall of such a cabinet, connected to a microcircuit, which is also built into one of the walls. If the person assembling the cabinet mounts something incorrectly, the sensors detect it, and the microcircuit sends a warning signal to the screen of a special monitor. The device runs on batteries and is activated by light, that is, only when all parts are removed from the boxes. This eliminates the unnecessary consumption of battery power during the pre-sale storage of furniture. ... >>

Sharing scents with mobile phones 27.11.2002

The Scottish company "Electronic Aromas" is developing a new technology that will help mobile phone subscribers to share scents. Phones will be equipped with special cassettes with a standard set of flavors, the combination of which imitates the required smells. The codes of this or that aroma will be transmitted over the radio channel and initiate the corresponding smells on the receiving side. ... >>

Charge your phone on the street 26.11.2002

Nearplay Systems has begun installing "Charge Me" automatic booths on the streets of London to recharge mobile phones. For £1, you can charge your phone for 45 minutes of talk time, which will take about 10 minutes. The booths are equipped with sockets for connecting Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, Siemens, Sony, Samsung phones, as well as Palm handhelds. One booth "Charge Me" can simultaneously recharge up to twelve devices. ... >>

dog cell phone 25.11.2002

Specialists of the companies "Benefon", "Arbonaut" and "Pointer Solutions" have created an original device - a dog mobile phone ("Pointer dog-GPS"). It consists of two parts. The main part is a modified "Benefon" dual-band GSM phone with a built-in 12-channel GPS receiver, which allows you to download maps, record driving routes, send a distress signal with accurate coordinates, and communicate with 30 similar devices. The second part is attached to a dog collar equipped with reflective elements. If the hunt takes place in the coverage area of ​​the GSM operator, the hunter can connect to the microphone carried by the dog. ... >>

Stereo image without glasses 23.11.2002

The Japanese company "Sanyo Electric" has developed a system for creating a stereoscopic image that does not require the use of special glasses and other aids. The stereo effect is achieved by placing two panels in front of a plasma or liquid crystal display, which display a different image for the left and right eyes. To see a stereoscopic image, viewers must be between 1,5 and 5 meters away from the screen. Sanyo plans to use the new technology in the manufacture of 50-inch plasma stereo screens. ... >>

Glasses clean themselves 22.11.2002

Pilkington engineers have created so-called self-cleaning glasses that do not require any human care at all. The new glasses are based on a special titanium dioxide coating with a thickness of only 0,04 microns, which has two very important properties. Firstly, thanks to it, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, organic substances that fall on the glass are split. Secondly, the coating does not allow rainwater to collect in drops: the water flows off it in a continuous stream, washing away the accumulated dust and dirt. ... >>

Individual beacon to rescue the victim 21.11.2002

In the United States, the Sea Marshall device has gone on sale, designed for individual rescue in emergency situations, for example, in case of an accident at sea. A beacon weighing about 150 grams and the size of a pack of cigarettes is hung around the neck, for which there is a flexible transparent tube, which is a bright electroluminescent lamp. To report a distress signal on the international frequency of 121,5 MHz, the user of the device just needs to press a button. The beacon also turns on from contact with water for 20 s. An ordinary lithium battery with a voltage of 9 V is enough for 20...30 hours of continuous operation of the beacon. The device costs about 170 USD. ... >>

How to protect your mobile phone from theft 20.11.2002

All over the world, the problem of protecting mobile phones from theft remains very relevant, for which several methods have been proposed. So, the British company "Allied Commercial Developments" has created a device called "Kobra", which is mounted under the rear panel of the handset and fits 80% of models of modern devices. A pin is inserted into a special connector, similar to a grenade pin. The pin is tied to the strap, and that - to the wrist, case or belt of the owner. When you try to steal the device, the pin is released, and after a few seconds, a sound signal is heard with a strength of 120 ... 140 dB, which exceeds the pain threshold of human hearing. It will not be easy for a thief to escape with such a squealing mobile phone. Another group of researchers from the University of California (USA) has found a way to blow up silicon chips by a special electrical signal sent if the phone falls into the wrong hands. A layer of gadolinium nitrate is deposited on a part of the crystal of a mobile phone microcircuit, which performs the function ... >>

The antenna reduces phone radiation 19.11.2002

The British company "Sarantel" has developed an antenna "PowerHelix" for mobile phones, which can almost halve their harmful radiation. The "PowerHelix" is based on two helical grooves applied to the cylindrical part of the antenna made of ceramic. Initially, such antennas were intended for use in GPS receivers and automotive telemetry systems. When using a new antenna, it is possible to reduce the power absorbed by the user of a mobile phone by 85%, as well as increase the data transfer rate in the cellular network, without resorting to the construction of new base stations and without increasing the power of telephone transmitters. ... >>

bubble shower 18.11.2002

A typical shower consumes about 18 liters of water per minute. Inventor Hartmut Wolf from Bavaria (Germany) has developed a new shower head that reduces water consumption by two-thirds. Not drops of water come out of his soul, but water bubbles with air inside. A special vortex chamber is placed in front of the head, in which the swirling flow of water sucks air into itself. It turns out foam, and a stream of water bubbles escapes from the holes of the shower head. At the same time, the water pressure is high enough that even long hair can be rinsed well from the shampoo. In addition, the openings of the head do not become clogged with lime deposits, as they are constantly blown through with air during regular use of the shower. ... >>

slow action coffee 17.11.2002

The French army is testing caffeine tablets that contain a filler that slows down the absorption of the drug and its entry into the bloodstream. Caffeine from tablets is absorbed slowly, and its maximum concentration in the blood does not exceed that which is achieved after two cups of coffee. But, unlike the effect of ordinary coffee, this concentration lasts for a long time - for 12 hours. In addition to pilots, scouts and paratroopers, the new caffeine is useful for ordinary citizens who experience drowsiness and general malaise after a long-haul flight across several time zones. ... >>

Computer with split personality 16.11.2002

The American company "Xentex" has released a laptop with a split screen, the right half of which can be rotated 180 degrees. If you are working on this computer alone, you can display two different documents on the screen halves, or one document and a web page. And you can work (or play) together, turning half of the screen to the side and connecting an additional regular keyboard from a large computer. When carried, the laptop closes and folds in half along the midline, turning into a small but rather thick suitcase. ... >>

Passenger on x-ray 14.11.2002

At the airport in the American city of Orlando, passengers have recently had to go through a Reypiscan X-ray machine. A special installation with ultra-weak radiation is able to see through only through clothing, its radiation almost does not penetrate the body, and the dose received by the passenger during such an inspection is extremely small. Such a dose can be obtained at home by watching three hockey games on TV. But despite such a weak exposure, if some kind of weapon or contraband is hidden under the clothes, these objects clearly appear on the screen. ... >>

European chess got older 11.11.2002

While excavating a Byzantine-era palace at Butrint, in southern Albania, English archaeologists found a four-centimeter-tall chess piece. It's not a king, it's not a queen. According to archaeologists, the figurine carved on the machine dates back to about 465 AD. Until now, the oldest chess pieces in Europe were pieces found in Scotland and dating back to the beginning of the XNUMXth century. Since it is believed that chess was invented in India around the XNUMXth century AD, it appears that it reached Europe almost immediately after its invention. ... >>

Greenhouse in which it is cool 10.11.2002

On the hot island of Abu Dhabi, a large greenhouse was built according to the project of the English engineer Charlie Paton, independently supplying itself with water for irrigating the tomatoes, cucumbers and flowers grown here. The design also cools itself so that the plants do not overheat in the sun. The front wall of the greenhouse has been converted into a solar distiller. Warm water is supplied here from the surface of the sea. Under the rays of the Sun, it evaporates, and the resulting steam is cooled by sea water taken from a depth of several hundred meters - low temperatures always reign there. When steam condenses, fresh water is obtained. The roof of the greenhouse is made of a polymer film that does not let in the thermal radiation of the Sun, so that the plants feel comfortable. ... >>

Sweet malaria vaccine 08.11.2002

All attempts to create a vaccine against malaria end in failure, as the causative agent of the disease hides inside human red blood cells and liver cells, where the immune system cannot reach it. Therefore, Australian doctors decided to create a vaccine not against malarial plasmodium, but against the toxin that it produces. It turned out that this poison is a complex sugar. Australian researchers were able to synthesize a similar molecule in the laboratory, but without the toxic properties. After its introduction to mice, the immune system of animals begins to produce antibodies to the malarial toxin, neutralizing it. After that, the body copes with the pathogen, devoid of the main weapon. But it will be another ten years before such a vaccine appears in humans. ... >>

Container for carrying computers 05.11.2002

For especially restless computer geeks, the American company "CaseAce Products" produces a whole series of bags, suitcases and bags that allow you to carry even large desktop computers. If your monitor is flat, on liquid crystals, there are no problems at all: on one shoulder you hang a bag with a monitor lined with foam, on the other - a kind of harness in which the system unit is placed, tied with a belt, and in the side mesh pocket - a keyboard, mouse and all required cables. If you have an old-fashioned monitor, on a cathode ray tube, you will have to take in hand a knot in which a bulky monitor is held by straps. ... >>

When the ears wither 04.11.2002

In experiments on rats, American biologists have shown that auditory hairs - thin extensions of hair cells in the inner ear that perceive sound vibrations - die off and are renewed every 48 hours. During the day, the hair lengthens by 2,5 microns. It is assumed that the same process takes place in humans. After attending a rock concert or a blacksmith shop, hearing is usually impaired by loud noises for about 48 hours. Apparently, during this time, the dead auditory hairs grow back. ... >>

The taste of wine depends on the shape of the glass. 02.11.2002

This conclusion was made by chemist Kari Russell from the University of Tennessee (USA). After pouring red dry merlot into a tall narrow glass, into a pot-bellied cognac-type glass, and into a wide shallow glass, he then measured the content of phenolic compounds in the bottled wine. These aromatic compounds are important for the bouquet of wine and have health benefits. It turned out that after bottling in all three glasses, the content of gallic acid increased compared to the wine in the bottle. The chemist believes that during bottling, part of the tannins of the wine, as a result of contact with air, turns into gallic acid. After 10-20 minutes, the content of gallic acid in a tall glass and in cognac remained the same, but in a wide one it fell. Since in a wide glass there is more contact surface of wine with atmospheric oxygen, the gallic acid in it is oxidized, turning into esters, giving the wine a more pronounced dry taste. True, only a specialist taster or a well-trained amateur can notice these changes. ... >>

Street cooling in Tokyo 01.11.2002

Recently, pipes were laid in the sidewalk in front of the Moscow mayor's office, through which hot water will be driven in winter so that the asphalt of at least a hundred square meters of Moscow is not covered with ice. Another problem in Tokyo is that the city, almost devoid of greenery, gets very hot in summer. Since 1900, the average temperature in Tokyo has risen by 5,2 degrees Celsius (in Moscow - by only one and a half degrees), and the average night temperature - by 7 degrees. If earlier the leaves on the trees turned yellow in November, now the leaf fall begins only in mid-December. Local plants are forced out in the city by newcomers from the subtropics. It never snowed last winter. To combat warming in a single city, it is planned to lay pipes under the streets and pump cold water through them taken from the great depths of Tokyo Bay in the summer. The project will cost approximately $330 million. In the meantime, the city authorities encourage property owners to arrange lawns and entire gardens on the roofs of buildings - this reduces temperatures ... >>

Dwarf will find sunken ships 30.10.2002

The unique underwater remote-controlled apparatus "Gnome" was created by specialists from the Russian Institute of Oceanology named after A.I. Shirshov. A miniature submarine the size of a pack of sugar is designed to inspect sunken underwater objects, including their internal parts, as well as to observe fish and the underwater world. "Gnome" is equipped with four electric motors, providing the ability to move under water in any direction at a speed of up to two knots. It is equipped with a color video camera that allows transmission from a depth of up to 150 m. LEDs mounted on the Gnome hull allow the video camera to work in almost complete darkness, for example, inside the hull of a sunken ship. Information from the depth is transmitted in real time via a durable coaxial cable 200 m long. The microdevice is also equipped with a depth sensor and an underwater compass. The total weight of the equipment set is only 18 kg, and its power supply can be from a 220 V network or from a ... >>

remote controlled rat 27.10.2002

Indian physiologist Sanjiv Talwar, who works at New York University (USA), implanted electrodes into the brain of a rat, which made it possible to control the movements of the animal by radio from a distance of up to 500 meters. When the rat obeys the instructions, one of the electrodes sends a pulse to the pleasure center of its brain, so that the rodent feels satisfaction in obeying the signals. Talwar believes that such "robotic" rats, equipped with miniature television cameras and microphones, could help in the search for people littered under the ruins of buildings after the earthquake. By implanting additional electrodes, it will also be possible to give commands "faster", "slower", "up", "down" and so on. ... >>

Food for everyone 25.10.2002

Margareta Bergman of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences says that when moose nibble on trees, it stimulates the growth of new branches. This conclusion was led by an experiment in which one group of young willows was trimmed with secateurs, and in another group, after the same haircut, cuts of branches were smeared with elk saliva. The third group was not trimmed in any way. It is known that pruning plants enhances their growth. After 15 weeks, it turned out that simple pruning increased the number of new shoots compared to control plants by 20 percent, and pruning and saliva smearing increased the number of new branches by as much as 110 percent. Which component of saliva acts this way is not yet known. But if it can be isolated and synthesized, then, perhaps, gardens will be sprayed with this drug. M. Bergman notes that some species of plants, in response to their eating by animals, have developed toxic or unpleasant substances in themselves, while others, apparently, have learned to quickly compensate for the damage. ... >>

Refueling at home 23.10.2002

About 200 natural gas vehicles run on the roads of North America. Gas is cheaper than gasoline and produces much less harmful emissions. However, there are not enough gas stations, and a car travels only about 300 kilometers from one gas station. Canadian firm Fuelmaker has developed a unit the size of a small refrigerator that plugs into a home's gas mains and a regular electrical outlet. The installation increases the gas pressure from domestic, about two atmospheres, to a pressure suitable for filling a cylinder of 200-250 atmospheres. To drive two eight-kilometer trips (which is the typical distance that the average American travels to work), you need to pump gas for half an hour, and overnight you can fill up for a longer trip. Gas is currently used primarily by taxis and minibuses in America, and the creation of a home gas station, the firm hopes, will encourage private car owners to switch to this fuel. Enough gas: even if it is translated ... >>

Wheelbarrow with legs 21.10.2002

As you know, the great French mathematician Blaise Pascal invented the usual wheelbarrow with one wheel. But the American engineer, a specialist in robots, Homayun Kazeruni offers a wheelbarrow with two legs. The legs are driven by a gasoline engine from a lawn mower, a person can only support the handles and direct the movement. The wheelbarrow can move briskly over rough terrain and stairs, carrying a load of up to 45 kilograms. The prototype cost $10, but Kazeruni promises that a mass-production sample, which should be ready in about a year, will cost less. It is assumed that such a wheelbarrow will be useful, for example, to rescuers working on the ruins of houses after an earthquake. ... >>

Aircraft and climate 18.10.2002

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the skies over the United States were closed to civil aviation for three days so that airports could increase security measures. These three days have given climatologists a unique opportunity to study the effects of high-altitude flight on the weather. One aviation-related factor that can affect the weather is contrails. Such a trace in the form of a white track occurs due to the crystallization of atmospheric moisture in the form of ice on the smallest particles of unburned fuel flying out of the aircraft's turbines. During the three days that flights were banned, the number of such white lanes in the sky over the United States dropped sharply. On the one hand, any clouds, including traces of aircraft, make it difficult for sunlight to reach the Earth's surface, that is, they must cool the planet. On the other hand, they should also reduce the dissipation of heat into space, delaying the infrared radiation of the Earth. Judging by data from 4000 US weather stations, in the three days of the absence of flights over the entire territory of the country, about ... >>

Art originated in Africa 16.10.2002

Both anthropology and archeology originated in Europe. Perhaps that is why scientists have been looking for the origins of mankind for a long time on the European continent. The search for human ancestors in Africa began only in the 20s of the last century and turned out to be very successful. It is now generally accepted that Homo sapiens appeared precisely in Africa, from where he settled on other continents. But for a long time there was consolation for Europeans: the most ancient examples of art were found in Europe - rock art in the caves of France and Spain, about 35 thousand years old. Now, however, South African archaeologist Chris Henshilwood has shown that art actually originated over 70 years ago in Africa. In Blombos Cave on the ocean near Cape Town, Henshilwood and his collaborators found pieces of ocher, a red mineral used by primitive man for painting. But the main find is two stones with rather complex geometric patterns. Of course, the realistic rock art of Europe is impressive. ... >>

Pocket Photo Printer 15.10.2002

The American company SiPix has released a pocket photo printer. By connecting a digital camera to the printer, you can immediately print the pictures accumulated in its memory about the size of a pocket calendar or smaller, for example, a document. The dimensions of the printer itself are slightly larger than a pack of cigarettes, weight without batteries is 300 grams. Printing one picture takes about 95 seconds. True, those who have tested the new device say that the battery consumption is high, but if you print several pictures, you can use the AC adapter. ... >>

Maya Pepper Cocoa 14.10.2002

In the north of Belize (Central America), archaeologists, excavating a Mayan settlement about 2600 years old, found ceramic vessels shaped like coffee pots. Analysis of the scrapings from the walls of the "coffee pots" showed that cocoa was brewed in them. Traces of hot pepper, honey and cornmeal were also found in the plaque on the walls, so the taste of the drink was completely different from that of modern cocoa or chocolate. From the notes of the Spanish conquistadors, it is known that the Maya drank cocoa almost every time they ate, and especially liked to whip the drink into foam. Until now, the oldest material evidence of the preparation of cocoa for food were finds in Guatemala, but they are almost a thousand years younger. ... >>

No words - no memory 12.10.2002

Psychologists have long been interested in the question of what determines at what age a person's first memories are deposited. As the New Zealand psychologists have now shown, it is a matter of acquiring the gift of speech. People can describe the events they remember using only the words they knew at the time the events happened. Gabrielle Simcock and Harleen Hayne of the University of Otago created an interesting and memorable event for young children at the age when a child is just starting to speak. They went to the house of 2-3-year-old kids, bringing with them a "magic box" - a large box with levers and buttons that made funny sounds. The children were shown that they could put a toy in the box, close the lid and press a couple of buttons, after which the toy would disappear and a smaller one would appear instead. At the same time, psychologists recorded what vocabulary the child already possesses. A year later, the experimenters appeared again. The children fondly remembered them ... >>

Laser broom sweeps clean 08.10.2002

Falling leaves create a big problem for English railways every autumn. Leaves accumulated on the tracks are crushed by the train wheels into a slippery mass. Drying, it turns into a hard shiny film. The braking distance is greatly increased, and sometimes it is simply impossible to move the train. Announcements appear at the stations: trains are late due to leaf fall. Special brigades armed with brooms, brushes and scrapers are fighting the consequences of leaf fall. But the results are not encouraging. The head of the company "Laser Thor" Malcolm Higgins, in collaboration with the Rutherford Laboratory and German physicists, developed a laser method for cleaning rails. A locomotive-mounted laser burns the rails with powerful pulses of infrared light that burn away the slippery film without harming the steel itself. However, the equipment is too bulky to be mounted on ordinary trains, so it is planned to install a laser broom on service railcars that regularly check the pumps. ... >>

Paper airplane with laser engine 06.10.2002

In the laboratory of Japanese physicist Takashi Yabe, an airplane cut out of aluminum foil was tested, flying on laser energy. A capsule with water or a special polymer is placed on the tail of the airplane and a beam is directed at it. Evaporating, the substance creates jet thrust. A speed of 1,4 meters per second has been reached. So far it's a toy, but Professor Yabe believes that in the future, larger devices will be able to fly on the same principle, for example, to take air samples at high altitudes. ... >>

Laboratory ring for patients 05.10.2002

The Japanese concern "Mitsubishi" has begun production of a ring stuffed with electronics for the sick and the elderly, which every 20 seconds measures the main functions of the body. Heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure and blood sugar are recorded. The ring weighs only 18 grams. ... >>

Sliding car 03.10.2002

The Swiss company "Rinspeed" showed at this year's motor show in Geneva the sliding car "Presto". At the touch of a button, this open convertible extends 75 centimeters, giving room for two more passengers or a bulky load. Two more features of the Presto are an unusual engine and the absence of rear signal lights. The engine, converted from a Mercedes diesel engine, runs on a mixture of diesel fuel and natural gas, which reduces the harmfulness of exhaust emissions. And the red lights at the back have been replaced with LED displays. On it, before the turn, the word "turn" appears with an indication of the direction, when braking, the inscription "stop" is lit, and when the driver does not take any action, the name "Presto" is lit on the scoreboard. Serial production is not planned yet. ... >>

Ozone against caries 01.10.2002

Dentists from the University of Belfast (Northern Ireland) have proposed a new way to treat diseased teeth. Drilling with a drill is usually used to clean the walls of the hollow from microorganisms. Instead of this painful process in Belfast, a rubber cap is put on the tooth, under which ozone is released for ten seconds. Microbes die, and after that you can put a seal. This method of treatment, already used in practice, costs the patient less than usual. ... >>

Lipstick both paints lips and massages them 30.09.2002

A South Korean inventor has developed a fundamentally new lipstick that not only gives the lips the desired color, but also massages them. The metal cartridge where the lipstick is inserted contains a small battery, wires and a tiny motor. When you press the cartridge, it begins to vibrate, and the owner of the lipstick receives a warm, relaxing lip massage. According to experts, this helps the lips adapt faster to any lipstick and keeps the paint longer. ... >>

Fabric eliminates odors 29.09.2002

In Germany, a fabric was invented that destroys bacteria and odors and, moreover, protects against electromagnetic radiation. The new material consists of cotton yarn containing 5% fine silver threads. And silver, as you know, perfectly disinfects. Miracle material will be useful to athletes. It is also ideal for hospital linen, stockings and shoe linings. In the near future, silver T-shirts are expected to appear on the market at a price of about 30 euros. ... >>

Hard disk data protection 27.09.2002

American scientist B. Noble from the University of Michigan (USA) invented a new way to protect information stored on portable computers. The authentication system he developed automatically encrypts the data on the hard drive as soon as the owner of the computer moves away from it. The fact is that the system maintains radio communication with a special wearable device, which should always be with the owner of the laptop and independently establish a wireless connection with the computer. When the owner of the car moves away from it at a sufficiently large distance, a wearable device built into the wristwatch signals this to the computer, and the data is encrypted. ... >>

Texts are typed only by eye movement 26.09.2002

Thanks to the development of British scientists D. Ward and D. McKay from the University of Cambridge, it became possible to type texts of any complexity without any keyboard with just one movement of the eyes. The system works as follows. A special camera installed on a computer monitor captures the position of the pupil of the user's eye, which glides over the list of letters and symbols on the screen. At the moment you stop looking at one of them, the program determines it by the position of the pupil. The program can logically evaluate the input text, determine which character or word will be entered next, and correct errors. According to the developers of the system, it can be used to print up to 35 words per minute. ... >>

DIY robot 24.09.2002

The American company "Asgopate" offered robotics enthusiasts a small "do-it-yourself" kit, which allows you to assemble a small robot controlled by a Palm handheld mini-computer in one or two evenings. This allows you to use very complex programs written, for example, in C ++ languages or HotPaw Basic. In addition, special applications created by programmers from Asgopathe and the Robot Institute at Carnegie Mallon University allow you to make the robot follow a route drawn simply on the touch screen of a handheld. The robot is a hexagonal body on three wheels with a computer mounted on top The unique chassis and the shape of the wheels give the machine excellent mobility: the robot can move in any direction, and the infrared sensors installed on it, which measure the distance to obstacles by triangulation, protect it from collisions with walls, furniture and other obstacles.The price of the kit is 250... 300 USD. ... >>

Elevator to space 22.09.2002

Seattle-based High Lift Systems has received $0,5 million from NASA to investigate the feasibility of building a lift to space. It is supposed to be a very long cable, with one end attached to an ocean platform and the other to a satellite on This elevator will mechanically lift both people and cargo into space.The first elevator into space at NASA is expected in about 50 years. ... >>

Economical hybrid motorcycle 21.09.2002

The Japanese company Yamaha announced the creation of a prototype of the world's first and most economical hybrid motorcycle, which is enough for 1 liter of gasoline to travel 250 km. The new motorcycle resembles a bicycle and is equipped with electric and gasoline engines. The electric motor is located near the pedals and is used for starting off. When the motorcycle picks up speed of 5 km / h, a small gasoline engine hidden under the saddle comes into action, which recharges the battery during the movement. ... >>

Sound stream localization creates the perfect signal 20.09.2002

E. Norris, a professional inventor who heads American Technologies, has created a device that is able to change the established ideas about the ideal sound source. The principle of operation of the novelty is as follows: the sound signal supplied from almost any source is translated into the ultrasonic range by modulation and is fed into a given area of ​​the room with two narrow beams. Dead silence reigns in the room, and only people in the interference zone of the rays can listen to the message or music intended for them. The problems of intrusive advertising in public places and standing waves that inevitably arise when using traditional acoustic systems are completely removed. The development of Norris, which provides the highest degree of localization of the sound stream, is completely devoid of this drawback. ... >>

Call across the stratosphere 19.09.2002

The American firm Space Data Corporation offered the National Weather Service a mutually beneficial cooperation. Every day, meteorologists launch 30 balloons with meteorological instruments into the stratosphere, to a height of up to 140 kilometers. If scientists allow cellular communication equipment to be attached to their probes, the company will provide them with an accurate minute-by-minute determination of the coordinates of each ball using a satellite navigation system, which will significantly increase the reliability of forecasts. And residents of sparsely populated and hard-to-reach areas, especially mountainous areas where radio waves are blocked by mountains and gorges, will receive reliable mobile communications. One balloon will serve an area of ​​100 square miles (one tower with a base station - 000-100 square miles). The company undertakes to supply about 150 balloons with its equipment (the kit will cost about $300) annually, since most often the load of the cylinder is irretrievably lost after the probe bursts in the upper atmosphere. Moreover, the entire payload, including weather instruments ... >>

mosquito tomato 16.09.2002

The American chemist Michael Rowe, while testing new compounds that repel insects, suddenly noticed that one of them, in terms of the structure of the molecule, is very similar to some kind of oily organic substance that is part of tomatoes. He synthesized this substance, soaked a piece of gauze with it and threw it into a jar of cockroaches. The insects immediately fled. It turned out that the "tomato" compound also repels mosquitoes. Compared to the well-known DEET repellent, it is no less active, but lasts longer on the skin and does not cause allergies. The chemist does not disclose the true name of the new repellent (a patent has not yet been issued), but reports that this substance has long been known, is used in cosmetics, and its harmlessness has been fully proven. Therefore, there is hope that the new repellent will be on sale by the next mosquito season. ... >>

Binoculars with a camera 15.09.2002

The Japanese company "Pentax" has released binoculars with a built-in digital camera. The camera matrix has 800 elements; The light sensitivity changes automatically depending on the lighting and reaches up to 1600 units. By the way, such a high sensitivity allows, for example, to shoot scenes from a play in a theater without disturbing anyone with flashes. The binoculars zoom up to 5,5 times (the power of magnification can be changed). Stores up to 100 pictures in memory, which can then be displayed on a computer or TV screen. There is a high-speed shooting mode: up to 5 frames per second for 10 seconds. ... >>

mosquito prick 14.09.2002

A mosquito bite begins to be felt only after the bloodsucker injects poisonous saliva into the injection site, but the injection itself is painless. Taking the structure of a mosquito proboscis as a model, employees of Kansai University in Osaka (Japan) created a needle for a syringe, the injection of which is not felt. The new needle is made of crystalline silicon oxide and is only one millimeter long and one-tenth of a millimeter in diameter. ... >>

Pocket speaker 12.09.2002

A handheld device manufactured in Hong Kong that is smaller than a computer mouse. It plugs into the headphone jack of any portable sound source (cassette or disc player, pocket receiver, portable electronic game, etc.) and turns any smooth surface into a loud sound source. When you turn the lever, the device sticks to the surface (it can be a window pane, a glazed picture on the wall, a smooth table), its wire is connected to the headphone output on the player, and you hear the music. By purchasing two of these devices, you can listen to stereo. True, they say that the sound is not of the highest quality. ... >>

desert crocodiles 09.09.2002

Biologists were struck by an unexpected discovery: in the south of the Sahara, in Mauritania, several groups of crocodiles were found. Irish zoologist Tara Shine examined the temporary reservoirs of the Mauritanian part of the Sahara, filled with rare rains, and then dry up. In 19 percent of them, Shine was surprised to find crocodile populations. By all indications, these are Nile crocodiles, differing only in small size: the length of an ordinary Nile crocodile is up to five meters, and a desert one is one and a half meters. Another feature: Saharan crocodiles do not attack people. Perhaps their small size makes them non-aggressive. Local tribes revere crocodiles as gods of water, so rare in these places. In some places, between the sand dunes and the rocks heated by the sun, you can find temporary swamps overgrown with grass. They store water from six months to four months a year. There are crocodiles. In one swamp there can be from one to three dozen individuals. What do reptiles do during the dry season? Fall into a kind of hibernation, scoring ... >>

Electromagnetic earthquake prediction 07.09.2002

Using a theory developed by Greek geophysicists, Japanese seismologists were able to detect the electrical and magnetic precursors of a major earthquake. Greek scientists, working under the direction of Panagiotis Varotsos, have been claiming for about 20 years that the method they have developed makes it possible to capture changes in the Earth's electric and magnetic fields that appear several months before some earthquakes. The Greeks justify their theory by the fact that many rocks have a piezoelectric effect and, as mechanical stresses accumulate in them, they generate an electric field and related effects that can be registered. Until now, other research teams could not confirm this hypothesis. And just recently, Japanese specialists from the Center for Research on Earthquake Prediction reported the registration of changes in the electric and magnetic fields on the Itsu Islands since March 2000. Unusual changes intensified, and in the end ... >>

It's dangerous to leave the hospital on Fridays 04.09.2002

A patient discharged from the hospital on Friday has many chances to return to the ward again within a month or even die. Canadian doctors came to this conclusion after studying the statistics of discharges from local hospitals. Researchers at the University of Toronto have collected data over the past 10 years on 2,4 million Canadians admitted to the hospital for urgent reasons. It turned out that within a month after leaving the hospital, 5,4 percent of patients were forced to return to the ward after a new attack of the disease, and 1,7 percent died. Moreover, these are mainly those who checked out on Friday. Part of the reason, the researchers say, is that more people are released from hospitals on Fridays than on any other day of the week. Apparently, patients do not want to spend extra weekends in the hospital. But it is possible that doctors are also in a hurry to free up more “beds” for the new working week and discharge those who would do well to spend a few more days under medical supervision. In addition, on weekends the polyclinic works ... >>

Power plant on a kite 03.09.2002

Australian engineer Brian Roberts intends to get electricity from high-altitude air currents that blow constantly and at high speed. To do this, he is going to fly kites with a rotor, and the energy will be transmitted to the ground through three wires holding such kites on a leash. The engineer has already received permission from the local aviation authorities to launch his design to a height of up to 1600 meters, but for now he is testing a reduced model at an altitude of about 120 meters. ... >>

Check your euros 01.09.2002

Save International (France) has developed a counterfeit euro detector, which is based on a metal thread embedded in the thickness of each European banknote. On this thread is imprinted a magnetic code, different for each monetary denomination. The detector, outwardly resembling a computer mouse, must be held over the banknote. If at the same time the "mouse" emits a loud click, accompanied by flashes of signal LEDs, then the ticket is real. If there are no these effects, and a continuous beep sounds, you have a fake in front of you. ... >>

Safety belt for car 31.08.2002

The German company Bosch develops radar and video sensors designed to reduce the number of traffic accidents. The system of such sensors, when installed on a car, creates a virtual "safety belt" around it. Many video cameras mounted in the car will record not only road signs located at a distance, but also other road users. An icon on the display will inform the driver of the speed limit ahead or if there are any obstacles in the way. According to P. Knoll, head of the department that deals with these developments at Bosch, the implementation of video equipment is planned to begin in 2006. ... >>

The screw remembers the shape 30.08.2002

The Japanese heavy engineering company "Mitsubishi Jukogyo" has presented a unique development - a propeller with a shape memory effect. The screw is made of a durable variety of polymer plastic, which, when heated to 120 ° C, "remembers" its original shape and smoothes the thread on the rod. As a result, it can be easily pulled out without the use of a screwdriver. According to the authors of the novelty, this significantly speeds up the dismantling of various household appliances, mobile phones, computers with a lot of tiny screws, which take a lot of time to unscrew. With the "memory effect" it happens ten times faster. The bolts themselves can then be reused. ... >>

Electronic tablet instead of textbooks and notebooks 29.08.2002

The Taiwan Computer Association (TCA) has created a group to promote the spread of electronic school bags in the country - computers that should combine school textbooks, notebooks, diaries and everything else a student needs to study. Many experts, not only in Taiwan, predict that these devices will gradually replace traditional printed books. Their advantages are not so much in their low weight (a 10-inch tablet PC weighs only a little more than 1 kg), but also in the fact that switching to them will create a new, with incomparably greater opportunities, learning environment. In addition to the fact that several dozen textbooks with pictures can be "stored" in such a computer, teachers can centrally check the work done on them and distribute materials and homework or, using electronic boards, transmit their lectures. "Electronic backpacks" are created on the basis of tablet computers equipped with wireless communication. One of the solutions ... >>

Inflatable braking device in a backpack 28.08.2002

In Russia, an inflatable braking device (NTU) has been developed, which is fixed like a backpack on the back. When falling at the right moment, it opens up in the form of a "flocock", providing an oriented fall, and further forms the conditions for a soft landing. NTU was tested in 2000-2001, when the most valuable cargo had to be dropped to the Earth from the Mir space station before its flooding. Such a device can be used as a safety device on high-rise buildings. In emergency situations, people using the NTU will be able to urgently leave the building by air. ... >>

Airships put out fires 27.08.2002

California-based Wetzone Engineering is designing huge airships to fight wildfires that other aircraft still can't handle. The developers believe that their airships with a length of more than 300 m will be able to carry up to 1 million liters of water, dropping it in various ways on a flaming forest. There are two ways to put out fires for the airship Wetzone Engineering: artificial rain from a variety of valves in the lower part and point "watering" of the fire from hoses. Depending on the size of the airship, 50100 liters of water per hour will be continuously poured onto the fire area. For comparison: the largest firefighting aircraft (modernized Hercules military transports) currently in use can carry up to 13 thousand liters. The airship will be able to refuel with water using special hoses and pumps from any body of water. ... >>

The laser controls the aircraft 26.08.2002

Scientists at the Tokyo Institute of Technology are making tiny unmanned aerial vehicles powered by a laser beam sent from the ground. Aircraft with a wingspan of 5 cm have small aluminum plates located in the upper part of the fuselage, on which water droplets are placed. The laser beam heats the aluminum, the water evaporates and acts like rocket engine exhaust. It is almost impossible to measure the rate of evaporation, but water particles move at a speed of at least 5000 km/h. Using a laser beam as a power source makes the aircraft very light. With the help of a laser beam, it was already possible to raise a small aircraft the size of a baseball to a height of 70 m, and its flight lasted 13 seconds. ... >>

Narrow audio broadcast 25.08.2002

The Audio Spotlight and MIT Media Lab have developed a device that uses the non-linear properties of air to create a narrow beam of sound. The device will allow you to broadcast sound waves to a certain area at a distance of more than 100 m, and the sound will not be heard outside the "sound" zone. The audio transducer has a diameter of 30 cm, and the width of the sound beam it produces is 3°. ... >>

Pay your fare using your mobile 24.08.2002

South Korean mobile operator KT Freetel has launched a system that will allow subscribers to use their mobile phone as a credit card and to pay for public transport. The devices specially designed for the K-Megse service are equipped with an infrared transmitter for working with ATMs as a credit card and a radio frequency chip for use in transport (in South Korea, the corresponding systems are in buses and subways). So far, the payment part of K-Megse is available only to customers of one bank, but KTF plans to expand cooperation and cover this service with users of all types of credit cards. ... >>

Cart in the phone 23.08.2002

The mobile phone manufacturer, the Finnish company Nokia, plans to build into the software of its devices a function similar to the "recycle bin" in Windows. Now the owners of cell phones will be able to retrieve from the "trash can" erroneously deleted ring tone, screensaver or phone number. Of course, there is also the possibility of erasing information completely. Nokia believes that the mobile "basket" will be well received by users, because it will insure them against losing important information on the phone due to accidental misoperations. ... >>

The mobile phone controls the computer 22.08.2002

The Japanese branch of IBM has released software that can be used to control a personal computer from a mobile phone. The PC desktop image is transferred to the phone. The phone's display shows a part of the phone that you can scroll through. The phone's keys simulate mouse clicks and other actions. The phone running this software must be connected to the i-Appli service (based on i-mode). ... >>

Mobile Spies Deactivated 21.08.2002

The Israeli company Netline has created a device that allows you to quickly identify working spy mobile phones. Each mobile phone periodically sends a signal to the network, confirming that it is on and connected. This is what the Cellular Activity Analyzer (CAA) registers, allowing it to detect turned-on devices within a radius of up to 30 m. It works with all mobile communication standards at all frequencies they use: 800, 900, 1800, 1900 and 1500 MHz. Applications of the device are aircraft, where mobile phones can damage navigation equipment, hospitals, where they can affect the accuracy of electromagnetic measuring instruments, as well as information security systems. The fact is that the included cell phone is a universal, simple and cheap means of listening. Organizations that check premises but "bugs" usually do not scan cell phone frequencies, as they are often used. ... >>

Cell like remote control 20.08.2002

The Israeli company ControllD has developed a way to use a cell phone as a remote control. In order to, for example, open the gate to the garage, the subscriber only needs to dial a specific telephone number. The call goes to the control device equipped with caller ID. Thus, only signals from authorized users are processed. Although the system was originally developed as a highly specialized one, it is obvious that the actuator can be connected not only to the gate, but also to perform other functions. By dialing different numbers, one phone can control a large number of such devices. ... >>

Mobile phone embedded in teeth 19.08.2002

British engineers D. Auger and D. Loizo proposed the idea of ​​creating mobile phones built into the teeth of their owners. The miniature size of microcircuits that process radio signals makes it possible to implement this idea in the near future. The "dental telephone" will be implanted directly into the teeth during a routine visit to the dentist. The messages received by such a phone, after being converted into acoustic signals through the bones of the head, will enter the inner ear. Information transmitted in this way is heard only by one person - the one to whom it is addressed. Therefore, it will be possible to use the "dental telephone" at any time and in any place, even in cinemas and museums. ... >>

Records are a matter of chance 18.08.2002

It turns out that new athletic records are most often not set due to new training methods, improved technique, improved sports equipment, or outstanding physical qualities of the athlete. And not even thanks to cunning doping, but just by pure chance. Daniel Hembris and his colleagues at the research center in Jülich, Germany, collected data from 22 different types of track and field competitions that took place at the German Championships from 1980 to 1989. Information such as the weather and other factors at the venue were also recorded. After that, scientists relied, based on the data array, to predict what records could be set at the same championships in 1990-1999. Moreover, in their forecasts, they proceeded only from random factors, namely from the state of the weather (temperature on the day of the competition, strength and direction of the wind), as well as the height of the competition place above sea level. When they compared their calculations with the real results of the competition, it turned out that at 18 ... >>

tailor lasers 17.08.2002

The German company "Vitus" has developed a system for quick tailoring. Three lasers and 24 miniature video cameras measure the customer in ten seconds. The received data is sent via the Internet to the garment factory, and by the evening you can receive the finished dress. ... >>

The benefits of sleeping during work hours 16.08.2002

A study on sleep during working hours was carried out by physiologists from Harvard University. A group of 30 volunteers were asked four times a day - at 9 am, at noon, at 4 and 7 pm - to find an inconspicuous detail in a drawing on a computer screen, the position of which changed each time. Ten test subjects did not sleep all day, and by the evening the detection of the desired part had slowed down by 52 percent. The other ten were allowed to sleep for half an hour at two in the afternoon. Their reaction time did not increase in the evening. Ten more slept in the middle of the day for an hour - their results improved by the evening. A dozen more volunteers were invited, they were not allowed to sleep, but simply to rest. It did nothing to increase their vigilance. Scientists have found a theoretical explanation for such results. Our ancestors, primates, inhabitants of hot tropical countries, are mainly crepuscular animals, they are especially active at dusk, in the evening and in the early morning. And in the middle of the day, at the hottest time, they sleep under the canopy of dense crowns. So claim ... >>

New Science - Forensic Seismology 15.08.2002

More than forty years ago, the nuclear powers began to create networks of seismic stations to monitor enemy nuclear tests. Now these networks, which have evolved significantly and increased their sensitivity, are largely out of work. At the annual conference of the American Geophysical Union, held in April of this year, representatives of a new science - forensic seismology spoke. Recordings of supersensitive seismographs, it turns out, can contribute to the investigation of various incidents and crimes. So, Terry Wallace, a seismologist from the University of Arizona, collected seismograms of such incidents as explosions of oil and gas pipelines, plane and train crashes - about 400 records in total. Having analyzed them, Wallace can now, for example, determine from the seismogram of a plane crash whether it hit the ground still intact or exploded in the air. Another geophysicist finds secretly dug underground tunnels by reflecting seismic waves. So it was possible to reveal the tunnels made by the smuggler ... >>

Cars wink at the oncoming 14.08.2002

Drivers often flash their headlights at oncoming vehicles, warning, for example, of an ambush with a radar speed meter. According to the German inventor Heinz Müller, modern xenon lamps in the headlights will allow much more meaningful information to be transmitted. The new lamps are gas-discharge and therefore have no inertia. Flashing at a frequency imperceptible to the eye, up to a billion times per second, they can transmit messages, for example, about traffic jams, about accidents, about areas with ice, and if necessary, about the technical condition of the car. The perceived information will be played on a screen in front of the driver or read aloud by a speech synthesizer. ... >>

green mouse 13.08.2002

This is the name of a pocket generator for recharging cell phone batteries, proposed by the French inventor Stefan Hugenin. Outwardly, this device weighing 110 grams really resembles a computer mouse, but with the essential difference that it can and should be pulled by the tail. The handle protruding from the rear end of the "mouse" must be pulled several times, as when starting a boat motor. The generator located inside is untwisted, from which the phone is recharged. At the front end of the device there is a white LED that lights up when a button is pressed, so that the "green mouse" also serves as a flashlight, the light of which is visible from a distance of up to a kilometer. ... >>

180 kilovolt phone 12.08.2002

A mobile phone is an indispensable thing in the event of an attack by hooligans. No, not only in the sense that you can call for help. The American company "FDP Spywatch" has released an electric discharger disguised as a cell phone. A nine-volt battery allows you to distribute electric shocks with a voltage of 180 kilovolts left and right. In addition, the siren, hidden in the same housing, emits an unpleasant sound with a volume of up to 130 decibels (above the pain threshold for the human ear). The arrester is equipped with a fuse, it is worn on the belt in a leather case, like a regular telephone. ... >>

Home economics is not a substitute for sports 11.08.2002

Usually to the question "Do you do physical education?" housewives answer: "Here you will break so much in a day, what other physical education!" However, housework is a laborious and tedious task, but it does not allow the hostess to keep herself in good physical shape. British doctors came to this conclusion after studying the life and health of 2341 English women aged 60 to 79 years. Of these, 53 percent spend at least 2,5 hours a week on rather hard domestic work - washing floors, windows, dishes, dusting in places where it is impossible to use a vacuum cleaner, caring for a garden at home, and so on. Only 21 percent of older housewives engage in special exercises to keep fit - jogging, brisk walking, swimming, aerobics or tennis. And only these sports grandmothers retained good heart rates and normal body weight. ... >>

These children are in our livers 10.08.2002

As a group of Italian researchers from the University of Milan showed, it is possible to detect the DNA of her son in the blood of a mother, even if he was born decades ago. Previously, it was known that the cells of the child can be stored in the mother's body for several decades. They remain in the lymph nodes, liver, spleen and muscle tissue. Of the 160 women who have at least one son and examined by Italian scientists, 30 had DNA fragments from the Y chromosome, which is found only in men, in their blood. Scientists suggest that the son's cells, left somewhere in the mother's body, gradually decay, throwing their hereditary material into the blood. ... >>

Atlantis in Guatemala 09.08.2002

Wherever they searched for the legendary Atlantis - in the Mediterranean Sea, near the Azores, in the Baltic and even in Antarctica. Now a German historian, a specialist in the Mayan people, Joachim Ritstig, declares that the lost city was not in the sea, but on Lake Izabal in Guatemala. According to the historian, he found indications of this place on stone steles placed by the Maya in the city of Copan. Inscriptions report that a city named Atlan was located on Lake Izabal and died in 667 BC. e. At the bottom of the lake, at a depth of 20 meters, ring-shaped structures were found with the help of an echo sounder. As you know, the city described by Plato was built in the form of concentric rings. Perhaps only these two features - the concentric layout and the name of the city - coincide with Plato's story, recorded from the words of an Egyptian priest. Nevertheless, Ritstieg believes that this is enough for bold conclusions. The city was located on an island in the center of the lake, which was a water-filled crater of an extinct volcano. During a strong earthquake ... >>

Oven with wings 08.08.2002

Developed in Germany, a portable solar oven weighing 12 kilograms is being tested in several countries in Africa. The name of the design, butterfly oven, was given by folding "wings" made of polished aluminum with a total area of ​​​​two square meters. With a cloudless sky, a liter of water boils in six minutes. Now the designers are working on a solar bakery, which will be equipped with 14 mirrors. In a day, she can bake up to one and a half thousand loaves. ... >>

Hospital weather forecast 07.08.2002

The medical consultant of the British Meteorological Service, Dr. William Byrd, having processed a large amount of information about the admission of patients to emergency rooms and comparing it with weather changes, came to interesting and important conclusions for practice. So, three days after a cold snap, deaths from a heart attack become more frequent, after five days - strokes, after 12 - pulmonary diseases. By telling one of Reading's major hospitals which patients to prepare for in advance, Dr Bird saved her several thousand pounds. Work in this direction is just beginning. In the future, the author of the research says, it will be possible to make personal weather forecasts for health for everyone. ... >>

If left untreated, the disease will disappear 05.08.2002

A study conducted by Italian geneticists and doctors in Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) led to curious results. Among the Mossi people living here, malaria is not very common, although there are enough malarial mosquitoes around. It turns out that many representatives of this tribe are carriers of a special gene that makes hemoglobin inedible for malarial plasmodium. Those people who have this gene in two copies (received from both father and mother) are almost 100 percent protected from malaria. Those who have a protective gene inherited from only one side, sometimes still get sick. And finally, those few Mossi who do not have a special gene at all are quite susceptible to malaria. Researchers believe that the existing cases of malaria in Burkina Faso are largely due to the fact that it is being treated with effective modern drugs. If there was no treatment, after some time those who did not have a protective gene would simply die out. ... >>

Traffic police orders to spit 03.08.2002

Simple and complex devices have long become familiar, analyzing the breath of the driver for the presence of alcohol vapors. As drug-driven driving is an acute problem in the US, a company has developed a device that detects cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, amphetamines, and half a dozen other drugs in saliva. It is enough to spit into the tube - and after five minutes the result appears on the screen. At the same time, alcohol is also found. ... >>

Eleven more moons of Jupiter 02.08.2002

Astronomers working on a large French-Canadian telescope in the Hawaiian Islands have reported the discovery of 11 more moons of Jupiter. All these satellites are only a few kilometers across and move in groups, so scientists assume that they are fragments of larger celestial bodies that for some reason broke into pieces. The maximum distance of the newly discovered moons from Jupiter is 20 million kilometers. All of them revolve around Jupiter in the opposite direction to its rotation. Until now, Saturn was considered the richest in satellites - 30 moons, but Jupiter has now surpassed it by 9 satellites. Astronomers plan to study their orbits and size more precisely in the future. ... >>

Drug dealers caught in nets 01.08.2002

Smugglers bring drugs into the United States on high-speed boats that the Coast Guard often cannot keep up with. Therefore, the specialists of the navy have developed a trapping net to capture these boats. A rocket is fired in the direction of the intruder, from which, along its trajectory, an adhesive network of metal threads, equipped with sharp spikes, unfolds. It entangles the smugglers' boat, depriving it of maneuverability. She responds to attempts to cut the network with electric shocks. ... >>

New windows regulate temperature and light 31.07.2002

In a few years, traditional glass and plastic windows will be replaced by liquid crystal structures that can independently regulate the temperature and degree of lighting in the premises. A research team at Research Frontiers has created "chameleon" windows that are controlled by electrical signals. The new windows use a unique technology of light-absorbing microscopic particles - "light barriers". Millions of these particles are placed between transparent planes and have the ability to move freely. The coating, which is like a film placed on top of them, is a conductor. When an electrical voltage is applied to the structure, the microparticles organize themselves in such a way that light can pass through the device unobstructed. In the absence of voltage, the particles "disorganize" and the window becomes impenetrable. This technology can be used not only for windows, but also for ski goggles, car mirrors, etc. According to the developers, the only ... >>

Personal air conditioner 30.07.2002

The idea of ​​personal air conditioning, already embodied in a number of original designs, has become very popular recently. A personal air conditioner (in English, PEZ - Personal Environment Zones) not only cools the face and breath, but also ionizes the air just before it enters the nasopharynx. In addition, the owner of the "our" air conditioner can protect himself from any odors. Several variants of PEZ have been developed, and all of them are able to clean the air from smoke and dust. The advantages of the novelty include its portability: the device is comparable in size to a CD player. The kit includes a replacement filter and batteries. The design is worn around the neck and looks like a collar weighted with a filter, a wire goes down the back to the battery hanging on the belt and feeding all this miracle. There are models that specialize in air humidification. This kit comes with a small water container. Depending on the model, the cost of personal air conditioners ranges from $50 to ... >>

The thermal imager will expose the scammer 29.07.2002

A thermal image can detect a lying scammer and thus help the security service, for example, an airport. A criminal volunteer, recruited by D. Levin from the May clinic in Rochester (USA), hit a mannequin and snatched 20 dollars. from his hands. Using a thermal imaging camera, Levin captured an image of his face during interrogation. The guilty person, when he lied, had a bright flash in his eyes and around his eyes, while there were no changes in the control innocent interrogators. As a result, it was possible to separate the guilty and the innocent with an accuracy of 83%. This result was comparable to the existing lie detector - a polygraph that captures the pulse rate, respiration or the appearance of perspiration. When working with a thermal imaging camera (unlike a polygraph), you do not need to know the psychology of a person or the initial parameters of his pulse, respiration, and you do not need time to process and analyze the measured data. The thermal imaging camera can also reveal different ways of disguising the offender - heavy makeup or ... >>

Artificial eyes 27.07.2002

Canadian doctors managed to partially restore sight to a 39-year-old farmer who was blinded 20 years ago as a result of an accident. This is not the first patient whom Dr. W. Doubel, the inventor of "artificial eyes", helped to get rid of seemingly hopeless blindness. Patients wear what looks like sunglasses with a miniature camera embedded in them. The microcomputer and stimulator are located in a special bag or on a belt. All this equipment is attached to a tiny device resembling a fire hydrant and implanted in the skull. This device connects two electrodes to the surface area of ​​the brain responsible for vision. Unfortunately, "artificial eyes" will not help, for example, those who are blind from birth or who lost their sight in childhood, since in such patients the cerebral cortex is underdeveloped. Those who have lost the ability to see already at a fairly mature age, and who remember what and how it should look, with the help of "artificial eyes" will be able to distinguish between the surroundings. ... >>

Ultrasound will dry the laundry 26.07.2002

Australian student D. Knight, who studies industrial design, has developed a project for a washing machine that can dry and iron clothes. In her invention, she used ultrasound technology, which washes the laundry from contamination in a sealed special chamber, after which it is dried with hot air so that wrinkles do not form. According to Knight, a similar technology is now being studied in Japan, however, her invention is unique because it combines three processes at once. ... >>

Salt ban 24.07.2002

In France, it was decided to fight with table salt - it is believed that it can contribute to the development of hypertension. In addition to the salt from the salt shaker, which many grab at without even trying the dish, every Frenchman eats an average of 8 grams of sodium chloride per day, which comes with various finished products. It is advisable to reduce this intake by 1-3 grams. One of the main sources of salt in the diet is bread. A law has been proposed to the National Assembly that would first standardize the salt content of bread at no more than 24 grams per kilogram of flour, and then reduce the allowable level by 5 percent annually. In five years, the permitted salt content will drop to 18 grams per kilogram. Considering that 1,58-1,72 kilograms of dough is obtained from a kilogram of flour, monitoring the implementation of the standard will not be an easy task. However, French bakers do not object to this burden. ... >>

sky seismograph 22.07.2002

The Japan Geographic Institute has installed more than a thousand sensors for the movement of the earth's crust around the country. Such a sensor is a 4,5 meter high stainless steel column with a satellite positioning system receiver on top. Every half minute, the receiver determines the coordinates of the location of the sensor with an accuracy of about two millimeters, which makes it possible to notice tectonic shifts. The average distance between the sensors is 25 kilometers, but in seismically hazardous areas they are more densely spaced. Last year, this system detected unexpected shifts in the Nagoya city area. Typically, the earth's crust here moves westward at a rate of about 2,5 centimeters per year. But recently it has reversed direction. Looks like a big earthquake is on the way. ... >>

test tube steaks 20.07.2002

Dermatologist Vite Westerhof from Amsterdam (Holland) has developed a way to grow muscle tissue - in other words, meat - in a nutrient medium. Doctors have long been growing layers of skin from small shreds taken from a patient to treat burns. Westerhof learned to grow in 5000-liter reactors filled with a nutrient medium of amino acids, vitamins and enzymes, pieces of animal meat 50 grams each. The taste of the product is like that of ordinary lean meat. As a seed, a microscopic piece of muscle tissue is taken from a cow or chicken, and the animal is not slaughtered. True, while the process is too slow: the number of cells doubles in three days. ... >>

The roof of the world starts to leak 18.07.2002

Whether human activity is to blame for the fact that global warming is going on is still not exactly clear, but it is clearly coming. Employees of the UN Environment Program report that glaciers have begun to melt in the Himalayas. Global warming is expressed primarily in the fact that the temperature is rising in cold areas. The Himalayas are now on average one degree warmer than they were 30 years ago. According to images from space, it was calculated that the glaciers of Bhutan annually retreat by 30-40 meters, Nepalese - by a hundred meters. Therefore, in Nepal and Bhutan, 44 mountain lakes threaten to overflow (the total number of lakes in this region is about four thousand). Then the water with silt will fall into the valleys, sweeping away everything in its path. Tens of thousands of people could die. UN experts are proposing to gradually release water from the lakes, using it for irrigation or to generate electricity, but such projects will be very expensive. ... >>

Fire motorcycle 17.07.2002

The fire service of the German city of Duisburg has adopted BMW motorcycles specially equipped to extinguish fires. A fire extinguisher with a capacity of about ten liters is mounted on the trunk of a motorcycle. A special atomizer creates a fog with droplets with a diameter of one tenth of a millimeter from the fire extinguishing solution. A cloud of fog is thrown up to a distance of ten meters. Fast and agile motorcycles are usually the first to get to the fire. ... >>

Fasten your seat belts, backseat passengers 15.07.2002

After studying one hundred thousand car accidents, the Japanese scientist Macao Ichikawa came to the conclusion that passengers in the rear seats should definitely wear seat belts. In a head-on collision, the front passenger and driver are six times less likely to die if the rear passengers are buckled up. If not, inertia throws them forward. At a speed of 50 kilometers per hour and with an average Japanese weight of 70 kilograms, the push can be fatal for those sitting in front. Now seat belts are mandatory in only 14 countries around the world. ... >>

Bushman computer 14.07.2002

For the census of the fauna of the Karoo National Park in the Kalahari, the Bushmen were given pocket computers. Hunters, going to the savannah, take with them, in addition to the bow and arrows, a small device on which they record every encounter with animals. Using the keys with the silhouettes of 60 animal species drawn on them, hunters record in electronic memory the type of animal, the number of individuals, their sex and age, and the direction of the herd. If traces of animals are found, they are also recorded. The satellite navigation signal receiver built into the computer notes the exact coordinates of the place where the meeting took place. From time to time, biologists rewrite the accumulated information into a common database. This method of counting fauna is more accurate and cheaper than aerial observations. ... >>

The smallest predator 13.07.2002

French biologists have discovered the smallest predator. This flagellar protozoan, living in the sea and named Picofagus flagellatus ("tiny flagellum eater"), is less than three thousandths of a millimeter across and has two flagella - short and long. The picophage uses a short flagellum like a propeller, floating in the water, and a long flagellum covered with sticky hairs catches its victims - bacteria that are only three times smaller than a predator. ... >>

Working Earth Model 11.07.2002

I remember that Woland had a globe on which one could see in real time what was happening in different countries. A similar device was installed in the new Technology Museum in Tokyo. The globe with a diameter of 650 centimeters and weighing 18 tons is covered with small square screens - there are 3715 of them in total, and each has 256 LEDs that allow you to display information that comes from satellites and weather stations. Every three hours, a picture of cloud cover over the Earth is shown. At the request of visitors, you can see the changes in the cloud pattern over the past month. It is especially interesting to observe the passage of typhoons and cyclones. From time to time, the globe switches to display the concentration of carbon monoxide at an altitude of 6000 meters above the Earth. Low concentrations are depicted in shades of blue, dangerous ones in orange and red. Twice a day, the globe shows the change of day and night: one hemisphere plunges into darkness, and the lights of large cities shine on it. The exposition is a great success with the visitor ... >>

cocaine vaccine 10.07.2002

The English biotechnology company Zinova announces the development of a vaccine that eliminates the adherence of a drug addict to cocaine. The vaccine works by preventing the drug from reaching the brain. Cocaine molecules are small enough to pass through the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain from toxic substances. The vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies to cocaine, which adhere to the drug molecules, making them larger, after which they get stuck in the barrier. Cocaine ceases to enter the brain, the addict loses his usual pleasure and quits the drug that has become useless. Clinical trials of the vaccine have begun. Meanwhile, the company is preparing a similar vaccine against nicotine. ... >>

poisoned planet 08.07.2002

Before you send a man to Mars, you need to find out if Martian dust is poisonous. So says the US National Science Council. The fact is that the Pathfinder research robot that roamed Mars five years ago found a rather high content of chromium in the dust, and some measurement results suggest that this may be its poisonous hexavalent form. On Earth, it is practically absent in nature, but it is obtained by some chemical processes in industry and poisons water bodies and soil if waste saturated with chromates (hexavalent chromium salts) gets there. Chromium makes up about 0,2 percent of Martian dust. Before sending a ship with a crew to the Red Planet (although NASA does not yet have specific plans in this regard), it is necessary to find out whether the content of chromates in the dust is high. The acceptable threshold is not higher than 0,015 percent. It is also important how small the dust particles are. During the stay of American landers on the moon, the smallest lunar ... >>

Camera in watch 05.07.2002

The Japanese company Casio for the first time managed to squeeze a color digital camera into a wristwatch. The memory of the WQV-10 watch can hold up to a hundred pictures, which are shown on the same display where the current time is recorded. The watch also remembers the date and time each picture was taken. There is a digital "telephoto lens" that approximates the objects being shot twice. Photos can be transferred to a computer or to other similar watches. Of course, the quality of miniature photographs is not high: each of them consists of only 25 thousand elements (in "real" digital cameras there are from half a million to six million). But the ability to carry around a camera that does not burden you with size and weight is captivating. ... >>

Big eyes wake up earlier 04.07.2002

Everyone knows that numerous birds greet the dawn with their singing. Less well known is that the bird choir does not enter at the same time. The gap between the first and last singers is up to a hundred minutes. In our area, robins are usually the first to wake up (not without reason their middle name is robins), the last to join are finches and blue tits. Recently, British ornithologists from the University of Bristol made observations in seven forests of Europe. The beginning of the singing of 57 bird species and the brightness of daylight at each moment were recorded. Then the obtained data was compared with information about the size of the eyes of each "choirboy". It turned out that those species of birds in which the eyes are larger in relation to the size of the body begin to sing earlier. Scientists explain this fact by the fact that the vision of big-eyed birds is sharper. Both at dawn and during the rest of the day, birds sing to attract a mate and claim their territory. But in the semi-darkness, singing can be dangerous: it will alert nocturnal predators, and enthusiastic ... >>

Climbers harm nature 03.07.2002

Canadian environmentalists came to this conclusion. After examining the cliffs near Niagara Falls, they found that on the surfaces where the most frequent climbing routes pass, the number of some plants is reduced by 80 percent, the number of moss species by 70, and lichens by 60. In addition, on the soles of climbing boots , on clothes and equipment, athletes bring seeds of foreign species onto the rocks. ... >>

Lamppost of the XNUMXst century 01.07.2002

At the "Lighting + Architecture" exhibition held in April this year in Germany, the inventor J. Doda from Nigeria presented a street lamp of the near future. During the day, the flashlight accumulates solar energy in batteries, and this can also happen on a cloudy day. At night, a highly economical xenon lamp is powered by the battery. The self-diagnostic system detects when a lamp is close to burnout and calls electricians via email or cell phone. In the event of an attempt by hooligans to break a pole or a car colliding with it, the lamp transmits video footage of the incident to the police. Such a lantern will cost quite a lot - about 9800 euros, so it is planned to place advertising on each pole, which will gradually pay off the costs. ... >>

Floating City Freedom Ship 30.06.2002

Norman Nixon, owner of Engineering Solutions, has designed a completely unique ship, a real floating city, called the Freedom Ship. Freedom Ship will have 55 decks, its length is over 1 km, its width is about 300 m, displacement is 2,7 million tons (for comparison: the displacement of the world's largest supertanker Jahre Viking is 565 thousand tons). The weight of the floating city is 3 billion tons. About 70 thousand people will be constantly on board, of which 50 thousand islanders own real estate on the ship, and 20-25 thousand personnel, including the security service and a small army. In addition, tourists will live in hotels on board. The cost of the project is 9 billion dollars, and 22 million dollars have already been allocated for equipping the construction site alone. To date, 20 thousand residential apartments have already been sold, each costing from 80 thousand to 6 million pounds. There are at least 50 architectural and design styles for living spaces. There will be: library, university, computer ... >>

The moon will prevent the global energy crisis 29.06.2002

A research team led by D. Criswell from Houston (USA) proposed the LSP (Lunar Solar Power) system, which will allow collecting energy from solar panels located on the surface of the Moon, and then transmitting it to Earth in the form of a directed energy beam. According to Criswell's calculations, in 2050 the Earth will be inhabited by 10 billion people. To provide them with energy, it will require at least 20 TW. The Moon receives 13000 TW from the Sun. The transfer of only 1% of this energy to Earth will allow us to completely abandon the power plants that pollute the environment on our planet. It is assumed that the LSP system will consist of 20-40 lunar power stations located on the eastern and western limbs of the Moon. Each will include arrays of solar arrays that collect energy and transmit it via cables to microwave generators that will radiate the energy back to Earth. It will be received by special ground antenna complexes. Each such complex ... >>

Display for the blind 28.06.2002

The world's first monitor for the blind, developed by Japanese scientists from the KJS corporation together with the Japanese National Space Administration, has appeared in the Osaka Central Library. The monitor screen is a standard 14-inch liquid crystal surface equipped with more than 3000 1,6 mm diameter plastic raised dots. A tactile display will allow visually impaired people to understand any previously inaccessible visual information. ... >>

Three-dimensional image on the monitor screen 26.06.2002

The New Zealand company Deep Video Imaging (DVI) has registered a patent for the design of monitors capable of reproducing a three-dimensional image, which is obtained by superimposing images reproduced by two superimposed liquid crystal panels. This 15D monitor can work with a standard high performance video adapter. All you need is the right software for this. The company is already offering prototypes of LG/Philips LCD 3-inch 70D monitors. According to D. Hancock, head of DVI, the production cost of a XNUMXD monitor is about XNUMX% higher than that of a conventional flat panel display. ... >>

Tea won't overflow 25.06.2002

D. Kumar from London has designed a teapot in which, thanks to the special shape of the spout, spilling of tea is completely excluded. At a distance of about 1 cm from the end of the spout, there is a groove that narrows the jet and accelerates the flow of tea. When the teapot returns to the upright position, the teapot deflection jerk impulse action acts as a barrier to the tea and it does not spill. Such a design of the spout can be widely used not only in kettles, but also in pistols for pouring gasoline into a gas tank, making the process of refueling cars more fireproof. ... >>

Airplane powered by steam jet 24.06.2002

A model aircraft with a steam jet engine has been manufactured and successfully tested at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. A small paper airplane is propelled by jets of water vapor produced by an infrared solid-state laser. The project manager, Professor T. Lbe, believes that in 30 years, stratospheric supersonic liners will be built on this principle. ... >>

Mobile phone RF protection 23.06.2002

The Hong Kong company Group Sense developed the Greenphone e688 mobile phone, which tried to radically solve the problem of protecting the user from radio emission by dividing the device into two modules, the connection between which is carried out using Bluetooth technology. One of the modules - eFone - combines a display, a handset and a keyboard, and the other - eBox serves to accommodate a SIM card and contains a transceiver. This module can be located by users in such places that the radiation exposure from it is minimal. ... >>

Recoloring diamonds 21.06.2002

Experts from the well-known South African diamond company De Beers have found a way to turn brown diamonds of little value, suitable only for technical needs, into transparent or purple ones. A technical crystal is covered with any halide salt-chloride, bromide or sodium or potassium iodide, depending on what color you want to get. Then the mixture is placed in a graphite cylinder and subjected to a pressure of 85 bar, while passing an electric current through the graphite, which heats the mixture to 2000 degrees Celsius. The contents of the cylinder then slowly cool down. The salt layer is then dissolved and washed with hot water. A flawless gemstone is born. The process has not yet left the walls of the laboratory. But the developers believe that when selling such diamonds, it will be necessary to honestly inform the buyer that the stone has undergone chemical treatment. Apparently, its price will be less than natural diamond. ... >>

How long will a rose last 20.06.2002

It happens that an expensive rose brought home soon "hangs its head" and fades. What's the matter? German scientists claim that air bubbles that have fallen into the conductive vessels of the stem are to blame. Air interferes with the circulation of water and causes the destruction of vascular cells. The device, developed at the Agricultural University of Hohenheim, uses ultrasound to detect these bubbles and predict how long roses will last in a vase. Now it remains to develop a portable version of the device so that the buyer can check the flowers right at the kiosk. ... >>

Tunnel project under the Alps 18.06.2002

Ten years from now, trains from Zurich to Milan are due to go through a tunnel under the Alps, construction of which will begin this year. The tunnel, which will actually run between two Swiss towns - Erstfeld and Bodio, will be the longest (57 kilometers) and deepest (in places it will run two kilometers from the surface) in the world. The temperature at such a depth rises to almost 50 degrees, but there is no special cooling system: engineers believe that trains traveling at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour will pump cold air from the surface. The project, adopted by a national referendum back in 1987, will shorten the journey from Zurich to Milan by an hour and a half. I wonder how long the construction will actually take. After all, the project of the tunnel under the English Channel appeared in the time of Napoleon. ... >>

wheat ice cream 17.06.2002

Studying the reasons for the cold hardiness of winter wheat, biochemists from the University of Guelph in Canada found a special protein in the plant. When the temperature drops below zero, it covers the surface of the formed small ice crystals and prevents their further growth to large acute-angled crystals that would break the cells, thereby killing the plant. But the same problem arises in the manufacture of ice cream. The smaller the ice crystals, the tastier it is. Therefore, scientists have proposed the use of wheat protein as an additive in ice cream. One-tenth of a milliliter per liter of ice cream mixture is enough, and it turns out to be especially soft in taste. ... >>

electronic fly 16.06.2002

A group of engineers from the University of California (USA) is working on a flying microrobot. It weighs about a quarter of a gram, with a wingspan of 2,5 centimeters. The wings are driven by piezocrystals, which are supplied with a high frequency current. Energy is provided by three solar panels, which at the same time serve as a support during landing and takeoff. So far, the “robo-fly” has not been able to take off: there is not enough lift, but the developers are confident that this problem will be dealt with by the end of next year. ... >>

Lightning strikes the sky 14.06.2002

During a tropical thunderstorm on the coast of Puerto Rico managed to photograph the "inverted" lightning. She hit from the cloud not into the ground, but into the sky, to a height of up to 70 kilometers. At its core, it was a powerful electrical breakdown between the clouds and the ionosphere. The researchers suggest that such discharges occur quite often, they just cannot always be registered. "Inverted" lightning can play an important role in the overall energy balance of the planet. ... >>

Virtual keyboard 12.06.2002

Pocket computers are easy to carry, but inconvenient to use: either there is no keyboard, or it is so small that it is difficult to work with it. The German firm "Siemens" demonstrated at the annual computer exhibition developed in Israel "virtual keyboard". It is projected onto a table or any other horizontal surface by miniature laser beams. By moving your fingers, pressing the "keys" displayed on the table, you cross the laser beams, and these intersections are converted into letters on the PDA display. Another option was proposed by the Swiss firm "Sensbord Technologies". "Bracelets" are put on the hands, which convert the movements of the fingers into letters. But working with this keyboard requires practice and some imagination - to imagine a keyboard that does not exist in front of you. ... >>

Cats are hunting 10.06.2002

In a rural area near Canberra, Australia, a study was made of the hunting habits of local domestic cats. Marking animals with radio beacons showed that half of the cats in their walks and hunting expeditions do not go beyond their own yard. The rest of the cats roam more widely, covering an average of 7 hectares. These hikes are undertaken mainly at night. Zoologists asked the owners of 214 cats to register the trophies they bring home during the year. It turned out that most cats catch only about a dozen victims a year. But some have been much more active, bringing in an average of one trophy per week. About 65 percent of prey is mice, rats and other small rodents. The rest is frogs, various reptiles, fish and representatives of 47 bird species. ... >>

Breath betrays the criminal 09.06.2002

English criminalists have developed a method for detecting DNA molecules that any of us release with microscopic skin particles, hairs and even droplets of saliva that fly apart when coughing and just breathing. A criminal can wear rubber gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints, but he is unlikely to be able to breathe, drop skin flakes, or commit crimes in an airtight spacesuit. The method has already been tested by the London police when investigating computer thefts. As a result, the detection of such crimes increased by 20 percent. ... >>

Follow the eyes of the drunk 08.06.2002

Drinking alcohol is known to disrupt coordination between the hands and eyes. English engineers and physiologists from the University of Bristol propose to use this phenomenon to test the driver's sobriety. When the road turns, the driver's eyes tend to look around the bend. Following the gaze, the hands begin to turn the steering wheel. A device has been created that monitors the eyes of the driver and the steering wheel. In a normal case, the turn of the eyes is ahead of the turn of the hands by 0,75 seconds. After taking a dose of alcohol permitted by the English traffic rules, the lead is reduced to half a second, and after four glasses of vodka - to a quarter of a second. The device can warn the driver that it is better for him to stop and give way to someone behind the wheel. Another version is even able to turn off the engine on its own and contact the police. Now the university is busy patenting the device and looking for those who want to produce it. ... >>

Video in breast pocket 05.06.2002

The Japanese company "Sony" has started production of a subminiature digital video camera DCR-IP5. Dimensions are clear from the photo, weight - 310 grams. The lens is equipped with a tenfold optical zoom, there is also a 12x digital zoom. A cassette smaller than a matchbox holds an hour of high-quality video (over 500 vertical lines). True, due to the small size of the device, the charge of the standard battery is only enough for 35 minutes of shooting. This means that the entire cassette cannot be removed from one charge. When recording, the MPEG-2 video information compression method developed for computers is used. Only every 12th frame and information about where and how its individual elements move is recorded on film. When played back, the full picture is restored from this information. ... >>

Delivery of medicines to destination 03.06.2002

Specialists from the English company Gendel have developed a new way to deliver drugs to the diseased organ. Usually drugs are administered "without a sight": the patient swallows a pill or receives an injection, and the drug enters the bloodstream, and with the blood it spreads throughout the body. It would be much more effective not to "smear" the dose throughout the body, but to deliver the medication exactly where it is needed. This would get rid of many side effects and reduce the required dose of the drug. English doctors take a certain amount of blood from a patient (about 20 milliliters of the five liters of blood available to the average person) and treat it with an electric field, which causes pores to open in the shell of red blood cells. Through them, the medicine is injected, and the red blood cells stuffed with it return back to the bloodstream. Then the diseased organ is irradiated with ultrasound, which destroys red blood cells. The medicine goes exactly where it is needed. The method has only been tested on animals so far, and clinical trials should begin. ... >>

Water against flood 02.06.2002

To protect against flooding, the banks of a raging river are usually fenced with sandbags. Swiss inventor Traugot Eisenegger proposes to replace bags with plastic pipes up to one and a half meters in diameter with water pumped inside. The ends of the pipes are made in the form of a "dovetail" and tightly fit together, without letting water through. If necessary, the fence can be made two-story. ... >>

musical carps 01.06.2002

Biologists from Cambridge (USA), having immersed a sealed speaker in an aquarium with fish, taught three carps to understand musical styles. The Karpas played John Hooker's American Blues and Bach's Oboe Concerto, feeding on one type of music. As a result, the fish became so adept at distinguishing musical styles that they were able to distinguish other authors, for example, the blues of Muddy Waters from the sonatas of Beethoven. The authors of the study believe that fine hearing is necessary for fish to survive in an underwater world full of dangers. ... >>

Walking stick with echo sounder 31.05.2002

Trials are nearing completion on a brand new cane for the blind, jointly developed by three British companies. Its work is based on the principle of echolocation, similar to the way bats navigate in space. Therefore, the product was called Batcane, from the English. Bat is a bat and Cane is a cane. Batcane in appearance is practically no different from a traditional cane, only 35 cm from its end a small ultrasonic transceiver is fixed. When the operating mode is turned on, the device begins to send signals in the form of vibrations to the cane handle at a certain frequency. When approaching an obstacle, the vibration frequency increases. This serves as a signal to the blind to reduce the distance to the object. There are four vibrating sensors in the Batcane handle, which allows you to detect obstacles not only in front, but also on any side of the person. ... >>

Digital camera the size of a credit card 29.05.2002

Logitech has introduced a new ultra-compact digital camera Logitech Pocket Digital the size of a credit card. The novelty has a unique aluminum body with closing shutters that hide the lens and fits easily into a shirt pocket. For all its compactness, the camera has a matrix of 1,3 million pixels, and the built-in memory is enough for 52 frames in the highest resolution. A lithium battery is used as a power source, which is recharged when connected to the computer's USB port. ... >>

Camera with binoculars 27.05.2002

The device, presented at the Japanese exhibition Photoexpo 2002, was named DigiBino DB100 and is actually a hybrid of a digital camera and binoculars. The novelty has a 1,6-inch LCD display, which can be used both for setting parameters and as a viewfinder. Built-in flash memory with a capacity of 16 MB allows you to save from 100 to 300 images in JPEG format with a resolution of 1024x768 or 640x480 pixels. The device provides a sevenfold increase and is equipped with a digital filter system. When connected to a portable computer, its capabilities are greatly expanded: you can shoot small videos or hundreds of static images and transmit them wirelessly to headquarters. Dimensions of the new binoculars 69x127x44 mm, weight 255 g. ... >>

An empty glass will call the waiter 26.05.2002

American engineers, in an attempt to make life easier for drinkers, came up with an original glass with a microcircuit built into its bottom, which, when the drink level drops below a critical level, sends a message to the waiter on a pager. Errors excluded. After all, each microcircuit has its own number, and on the dishes - a barcode. ... >>

Stove+oven+refrigerator 24.05.2002

Whirlpool has developed a new processor with sophisticated microprocessor control that combines a stove, oven and refrigerator. It is enough to place a frozen chicken in the chamber in the morning, select the name of the dish from the list and set the time for lunch on the timer. The intelligent oven-refrigerator will keep the bird in the frozen state for the optimal time, then turn on the defrost mode, then cook. ... >>

GM Precept concept car 22.05.2002

At the Detroit Auto Show in January 2002, the GM Precept concept car was unveiled. According to the US government's program to create a new generation of cars, such cars can appear on the streets in 5 years. The GM Precept is equipped with an efficient internal combustion engine with lean-burn direct injection, which is mounted at the rear and is driven to the rear axle. Under the hood of the Precept is a second, electric three-phase motor with a power of 35 kW. The most important element of the whole system is a special node, located at the rear of the chassis, whose main tasks are to regenerate energy during braking, when it works like a generator, and add power during acceleration. The on-board computer with a speed of 266 MHz is in a constant exchange of information with almost all machine systems and chooses the option of their interaction that optimizes energy consumption and reduces emissions of harmful substances. Teardrop shape, rejection of p ... >>

The fog is killing the trees 20.05.2002

As geographers from the University of Bern (Switzerland) have established, not only acid rains, but also fog are dangerous for trees. Experiments conducted in pine forests in the east of Bavaria (Germany) showed that the smallest droplets of fog absorb any pollution from the air 25 times more efficiently than relatively large raindrops can do. The researchers had guessed this before, but could not measure how much water with pollutants dissolved in it brings fog. The amount of water that has fallen with the rain is easy to measure with a rain gauge, which is just a bucket of standard sizes. To measure the amount of water carried by a fog cloud, scientists used sophisticated equipment that recorded the size of the fog droplets, the number of droplets of each size class, and the speed of the air currents carrying the fog. As a result, it turned out that the fog brought as many pollutants to the forest during the five-month measurement period as rain. These contaminants are mainly acidic ... >>

Gas and oil from old tires 19.05.2002

It is estimated that more than a billion discarded car tires have accumulated in illegal landfills in the United States, and the number is increasing by 280 million annually. When one of these dumps, which contained from five to seven million tires, caught fire in 1983, they could not put out the fire for nine months. Attempts to somehow dispose of the used tires were generally unsuccessful. Oklahoma-based ITG has now developed a vacuum pyrolysis plant for old tires that have been cut into small pieces. As a result, heat, combustible gas, liquid fuel such as diesel, soot and scrap metal are obtained - the remains of a steel cord. Combustible pyrolysis products can be used in a power plant, and liquid fuels are also suitable for cars. ... >>

Avalanche Prevention 17.05.2002

To trigger an avalanche at a safe moment, a cannon is usually fired down a slope with accumulated snow. In France, another method has been proposed. In avalanche-prone places, a radio-controlled machine with a supply of hydrogen and inflatable rubber balls is installed. When the thickness of the snow on the slope reaches a dangerous value, by radio signal one of the balls is filled with hydrogen mixed with air, and this explosive mixture is set on fire. A loud bang triggers an avalanche. In stock, the machine can have up to 26 inflatable balls with a diameter of two meters. The French intend to install this system in all major ski resorts in Europe. ... >>

Hitachi water cooled laptop 16.05.2002

Since autumn of this year, the Japanese company Hitachi intends to start production of water-cooled portable computers. The greater the power of the microprocessor, the more it heats up during operation. Usually the microprocessor is blown by a separate fan, but still the laptop case gets quite hot during operation. A water cooling system should be more efficient and less noisy than a fan. According to the company, a thin steel tube 4-1 meters long is designed to remove heat from the Pentium-1,5, wrapping around the processor and filled with a water-based cooling solution. A solution heated to 60 degrees Celsius will be pumped to the back of the computer screen, where the heat will dissipate into the air. Efficient cooling will increase the reliability and life of your computer. The company does not say whether it will be necessary to change the water in the computer to antifreeze in winter. ... >>

Electrostatic fly trap 15.05.2002

Walking on carpet, especially synthetic carpet, builds up an electrostatic charge on the body, so that touching grounded objects causes a spark. This effect can be used to control flies and other insects. The idea belongs to two researchers from England and the USA. If you force a fly to run a few steps across a dielectric coating, an electrostatic charge will accumulate on its paws. After passing through the powder from the spores of a fungus that is deadly to insects, the fly will attract these spores and soon die. You can also use insecticide powder - it will act faster than the fungus, but from an environmental point of view, this is undesirable. The result of the experiments was a scientific article called "Triboelectrification of house flies." Experiments have shown that the best static charge is formed when flies walk on polyvinyl chloride. To lure insects to this path, a pheromone can be introduced into the plastic - an odorous substance that is attractive to one or another type of insect. charge reach ... >>

Robots play in the sand 14.05.2002

Robots created at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena (USA) are designed to fly to Mars. They can take soil samples and even carry out some excavation work, such as digging ditches according to a given plan. Robots are able to act as a group, like ants. If necessary, they will be able, having leaned together, straighten the spacecraft that fell during landing or move a stone that impedes the passage of the rover. In the meantime, they are being tested on Earth. ... >>

Internet machine 11.05.2002

The largest manufacturer of public telephones, the Spanish-German company Siemens-Elasa, is facing a serious problem: since the number of mobile phones in the world has already exceeded the number of conventional wired telephones, the demand for payphones is decreasing, their dismantling has begun in some countries, and new almost never bought. Therefore, the Siemens-Elasa plant in Zaragoza began production of Internet payphones. Such a phone has a color screen (according to the company, he is not afraid of hooligans and can withstand a hammer blow) and a standard computer keyboard. Payphone allows you to access the Internet, receive and send e-mail. He also knows how to look for the necessary information, book a hotel room via the Internet and book tickets for planes and trains. ... >>

Allergy to people 10.05.2002

As you know, people are quite common allergy to dogs and cats. But Scottish veterinarians have recently discovered that pets can also suffer from human allergies. According to their data, about one in twenty cats or dogs are allergic to their owners. Dandruff or microscopic flakes of flaky human skin can cause rashes or skin irritation in animals. A sure sign of allergies - these symptoms disappear when the owner is away. In addition, it is possible to suspect an allergy to the host in cases where the animal constantly itches, but there are no fleas on it. ... >>

Centuries-old lotus sprouts 09.05.2002

Botanists found 20 lotus seeds in muddy deposits at the bottom of a lake in the Chinese province of Liaoning. Judging by the growth rate of the sedimentary stratum and according to radiocarbon dating, these seeds are from 200 to 500 years old. Four seeds gave rise to seedlings, and then to adult plants. True, the centuries spent in the depths of the soil affected the appearance of lotuses: due to mutations, the shape of some leaves is distorted, the stem is weakened, and the color of the flowers is changed. ... >>

Three-wheeled electric car 08.05.2002

Single three-wheeled electric car "Sparrow" ("Sparrow") is produced in the United States. The creators of the car proceeded from statistics: 87% of Americans live at a distance of 29 kilometers or closer from their work, and 93% of those who drive to work in their car drive alone in four-seater or even more spacious cars. This means that a single-seat electric car will be popular. True, it costs 17 thousand dollars, like a quite decent gasoline subcompact car, but you can save on operating costs. Electricity is cheaper than gasoline, especially for such a light crew (weight without a driver is 612 kilograms). Insurance and parking fees are taken as for a motorcycle. Thirteen lead-acid batteries after charging for 6 hours provide an hour of driving at a speed of 95 kilometers per hour (maximum speed 110 kilometers per hour). ... >>

Let's charge the battery with our feet and hands 06.05.2002

Portable electronics are now so ubiquitous that it's hard to keep track of the battery levels of multiple devices. The American company Aladdin Power has developed a foot-operated generator suitable for charging any portable electronics that have built-in batteries. These are portable computers, cell phones, photo and video cameras, and pocket radios. The device is the size of a notebook and weighs about 300 grams, it gives a direct current of 18 volts, its power is up to 6 watts. A good shaking of the leg for five minutes, you can get the "dead" laptop to work for about 20 minutes. The term is not too long, but the machine will help you out if you get stuck somewhere without a power source. If you do not want to work with your feet, you can use the manual generator of the English company Free Play. By twisting its handle for just one minute, you can talk on a cell phone for ten minutes. The generator is equipped with a built-in battery that can be charged as ... >>

New car needs to be ventilated 05.05.2002

This conclusion was made by Australian environmentalist Steve Brown, having studied air samples from the interiors of new cars. Pleasant for many motorists, the smell of fresh paint, varnishes, plastics and leather substitutes consists of at least 22 organic compounds hazardous to health. Here and xylene, and acetone, and benzene ... They can cause headaches, burning eyes, nasal congestion, coughing and nausea. The ecologist recommends, having bought a new car, for the first six months, if possible, do not close the windows in it. And the automotive industry should consider replacing hazardous solvents with harmless ones. ... >>

The inscription on the diamond 04.05.2002

To supply each diamond with an individual number or the owner's name allows a new technology developed by the Zhersan jewelry company in Liechtenstein. The diamond is covered with the thinnest layer of gold, sputtering it in a vacuum chamber. Then, also in a vacuum, this layer is used as an electrode, applying a negative electric potential to it, and the diamond is bombarded with a beam of heavy ions. The beam can be controlled like an electron beam in a TV kinescope by writing any signs on the diamond. You can read the inscription, consisting of grooves 30 nanometers deep, under a microscope, but it is not visible to the naked eye and does not spoil the look of the jewelry. The gold is then removed with a special solvent. ... >>

Not only will it get warmer, but the day will also increase 01.05.2002

According to calculations by astronomer Olivier de Viron of the Belgian Royal Observatory, global warming will be accompanied by a lengthening of the day. A one percent increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will lead to increased winds in the belt from 10 to 60 degrees of latitude in both hemispheres. Moreover, these winds will blow mainly against the direction of the Earth's rotation, slightly slowing it down. Just a little bit - the day will lengthen by only one millionth of a second a year. It will take ten years for the most sensitive clocks to notice this elongation. ... >>

The world's first cyborg 30.04.2002

British scientists "connected" the nervous system of cybernetics professor Kevin Warwick with a computer, making him the world's first cyborg - part human, part robot. The median nerve on the professor's left wrist was implanted with a 3-mm silicon chip equipped with 100 electrodes, each no more than a hair's thickness. The wires were stretched under the skin of the arm and connected to a transmitter that transmits radio signals to the computer that carry information about Professor Warwick's nervous processes. For the first time in the world, the motor and emotional systems of the vital activity of the human body will be subjected to computer analysis. Scientists hope that this research will lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of diseases such as paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury. ... >>

The polymer restores its structure 29.04.2002

A group of scientists from the University of California, led by Fred Wadlem, has created an artificial polymer that, when physically damaged, is able to almost completely restore the original structure. To do this, it is enough to heat the material to a temperature of 120 ° C, and then cool it. As the temperature decreases, the crack "overgrows" with the formation of a small seam on the surface. The essence of the process is as follows: the new plastic consists of two types of molecules, the main components of which are carbon and hydrogen. When heated, bonds are released between the molecules on opposite sides of the crack, which, upon subsequent cooling, form cross-links, due to which the original structure of the product is restored. True, the strength of such a seam is somewhat lower than the strength of the entire material as a whole, but scientists hope to solve this problem in the future. ... >>

Fabric with built-in heating 28.04.2002

The American company Maiden Mills presented a fabric equipped with a built-in heating system. Polartec jackets and sheepskin coats made with it are quickly becoming popular with athletes and the military. Instead of traditional wires, stainless steel microfibers are woven into the fabric. These microfibers are thinner than a human hair. In terms of softness, they do not differ from ordinary threads and are not damaged during washing and wearing. Miracle jackets work in two modes: moderate, in which the fibers are able to heat up to a temperature of 42 ° C for 5 hours, and intensive, when clothes are heated to 2,5 ° C in 46 hours. Maiden Mills plans to include heated gloves, air-conditioned clothing, as well as heart rate and body temperature indicators. The only problem at the moment is the fragility and bulkiness of lithium batteries used as batteries. ... >>

flexible ceramics 26.04.2002

A group of chemists from Cornell University has developed a new composite material - "flexible ceramics", which consists of microscopic pieces of silicon and polymers and has unique properties. The new material is transparent like glass, resilient, elastic, strong enough and, unlike ceramics, does not crack. After intense heat treatment, flexible ceramics acquire a porous structure with holes whose diameter does not exceed 10–20 nm. Therefore, the new material can be successfully used for the manufacture of industrial filters and membranes. ... >>

New media format DataPlay 25.04.2002

In June 2002, a new media format called DataPlay will enter the market. Experts believe that very small, but extremely capacious drives should make a real revolution. Thanks to new compression technology, the tiny 500MB DataPlay fits 5 hours of LD-quality music, 11 hours of MP3s, 1 hour of very high-quality videos, 1000 high-resolution photos, 100 e-books, or one video game. The DataPlay player is connected to a computer via a USB port. ... >>

Talking washing machine 24.04.2002

In India, the world's first talking washing machine will soon appear in stores. It was created for the Indian middle class, who are not yet too confident with complex household appliances, but cannot yet afford servants. Built into the machine is a dictionary of 90 sentences in English and Hindi that describe the entire washing process. The creators of the novelty believe that it should especially appeal to Indian bachelors, who will be happy to press the buttons to the melodious female voice giving clear instructions like "Pour in the powder, close the lid" or "Washing is completed." ... >>

Robot Vacuum Cleaner 23.04.2002

Matsushita, a manufacturer of Panasonic brand products, has unveiled a prototype robot vacuum cleaner with an autonomous control system. The robot is equipped with 50 sensors that allow it to move around the apartment, avoiding collisions with walls and furniture, as well as detecting places of pollution. Externally, the robot looks like a regular vacuum cleaner without a hose and can work for 1 hour without recharging. ... >>

Virtual keyboard on beams of light 22.04.2002

CeBIT presents a full-sized virtual keyboard for mobile devices, developed by the Israeli company Developer VKB. The image of the keys is projected directly on the surface of the table. Rays of light register hand movements. Information is transmitted to the device to which the "keyboard" is connected. The same projector can replace a mouse. The creators suggest that the new device will find demand among users of compact devices that do not have a keyboard. It can be connected to pocket and tablet computers, mobile phones, and possibly even laptops. ... >>

In the mirror of the moon 20.04.2002

Looking closely at the narrow crescent of the Moon during the new moon, you can see that the part of our natural satellite not illuminated by the Sun is still slightly visible (especially if you look at least through weak binoculars). It is illuminated by the same sunlight, but reflected from the Earth. French astronomers, having studied the spectrum of this weak light, found, firstly, that blue tones predominate in it (it’s not for nothing that the Earth is called the “blue planet”!), And secondly, this spectrum lacks light with a wavelength of less than 725 nanometers. It turns out that the fact is that these wavelengths are absorbed by the Earth's vegetation during photosynthesis. Thus, our forests and meadows are visible from cosmic distances. The authors of the discovery believe that the discovered phenomenon can be used to search for plant life on other planets. ... >>

Skyscraper with wind turbines 19.04.2002

A group of European designers proposes a skyscraper project with six wind turbines built into the building. The aerodynamic shape of the three towers directs the wind to the turbines. The designers expect that the building will be able to supply itself with electricity and something else will be left for the neighbors. But what will it be like to live with constant noise and vibration? ... >>

On the Benefits of Prayer 18.04.2002

A study conducted by doctors in the United Arab Emirates found that Muslims have healthier knee joints than infidels. And if the knee of a Muslim still gets sick, it is easier to cure it. This is explained by daily training: adherents of Islam are required to pray five times a day, kneeling for a long time (according to legend, Allah required even fifty prayers a day, but Mohammed managed to bargain for a tenfold reduction). Arab doctors do not insist on a total conversion to Islam, but recommend appropriate gymnastics. ... >>

Health from a young age 17.04.2002

According to a survey conducted in the United States, Internet pages devoted to health and a healthy lifestyle are very popular among American youth. In general, young people are more interested in health issues on the Internet than adults. Obtaining medical, physiological and hygiene information from the Internet is no less popular among the 1209 young people aged 15 to 24 surveyed than downloading music or online games, and more popular than shopping in online stores. Half of those surveyed have at one time or another consulted the Internet about specific diseases or medical problems, and 40% do so at least once a month. They are especially interested in acute issues for young people - contraceptives, prevention of AIDS and other venereal diseases. About 25% of those interested in medical sites are looking for information on the fight against obesity, psychiatric problems, drugs, alcohol and violence. Many teenagers are embarrassed to access medical ... >>

namesake letter 16.04.2002

Canadian researchers have found that people are more likely to respond to an email from their namesake than from someone with a completely different last name. Kenneth Oates and Margo Wilson of McMaster University in Ontario sent out an email to 2960 people with questions about their local sports clubs. Some of the letters were signed by the full namesake of the addressee, some - by a person with the same surname and some - with the same name as the addressee. It turned out that a letter from a namesake is answered 10,3% more often, a letter from a person with the same last name is answered 9% more often than from a "stranger". If only the names of the sender and recipient match, this has little effect on the willingness to respond. The authors of the study concluded that for many of us, the alleged relationship with the namesake has a certain psychological significance. ... >>

Scarecrow can run and swim 15.04.2002

Two Irish students have built a robot that runs along high-voltage wires and scares away birds sitting on the wires with a siren and a flash lamp. The robot takes energy for its actions from the wires themselves through an induction coil. They say that bird droppings harm the wires and the birds must be chased away. And in the United States, a crocodile robot is being tested to scare away pelicans, which in the south of the country attack fish ponds and eat them clean. The green floating scarecrow carries a solar panel on its back, providing energy for swimming. The artificial crocodile can even shoot water at birds. ... >>

Jellyfish of the ancient seas 14.04.2002

In a quarry in Wisconsin (USA), where sandstone is mined, thousands of jellyfish prints were found. Some of them are more than half a meter in diameter. Such soft-bodied and ephemeral animals as jellyfish almost never leave a trace in the fossil record (this is only the second largest find of jellyfish prints in the world). More than 500 million years ago there was a shallow tropical sea. The storm threw thousands of jellyfish onto the sandy beach. Around many of the prints, traces of jellyfish attempts to crawl into the water are visible. Then on Earth there were no birds capable of pecking at this unexpected treat. Therefore, the jellyfish lay for some time on the sand, and the next storms covered them with new layers of sand. The dead animals gradually rotted away, leaving voids in the sand that repeat their shape. In the future, over millions of years, the sand caked, turning into a stone with the imprints of dead jellyfish inside. ... >>

On the lift across the street 12.04.2002

The Swiss company "Horlacher" proposes to arrange mechanized elevated crossings at the crossroads. At the edge of the road, you step into a two-seat elevator-like cabin, and it goes over a curved steel bridge to the other side of the street. The project is supported by the Swiss Ministry of Transport. ... >>

Bicycle for microbe 11.04.2002

The smallest bicycle-type chain drive was made in the American Sandia laboratory. The length of each chain link is 50 micrometers. The chain and the gears connected by it are made of silicon using microelectronic methods. This transmission is designed for the micromachines of the future. ... >>

It's better for a siren to hiss than to howl 09.04.2002

The British company Sound Alert Technology, having studied in detail the features of the perception of sounds by the human ear, proposed a replacement for howling sirens for special services vehicles. The firm's sound emitter, called "Localizer", emits a broadband sound that resembles a hiss. The developers claim that the direction to the source of such a sound is determined much faster and more accurately than to the siren. Experiments carried out in the laboratory and on the roads showed that drivers correctly determine whether the signaling car is behind or in front, in 44% of cases when using a siren and in 82% with the "Localizer". From where the signal is heard - from the left or right, the driver correctly determines in 79% and 93% of cases, respectively. 20-27% of drivers give way to a car with a siren, and 73-81% give way to a car with a "Localizer". True, the latter circumstance is more likely connected with the effect of novelty: if they get used to it, they will stop yielding. The same signaling can be used in other situations where it is important to draw attention to the ... >>

Akrikhin against rabies in cows 08.04.2002

Mad cow disease, which has affected many countries, as it turned out, is also transmitted to people, causing them a severe neurological disease - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. So far, there have been no funds from her. But last fall, in a hospital in San Francisco (USA), the first patient with this disease was cured. Moreover, akrikhin, a medicine used for malaria for more than 60 years, turned out to be a life-saving remedy. The discovery was made in the same laboratory where Stanley Prusiner, who received the 1997 Nobel Prize for the discovery of prions, works. These proteins, present in any organism, sometimes take on an abnormal configuration, which leads to various diseases, including rabies in cows. Moreover, abnormal prion molecules are able to change the structure of normal ones according to their pattern, which is why the disease occurs. The first experiments were carried out on mice infected with the "wrong" prions. After a few days of human treatment with quinacrine, these pathogenic prions disappeared and were no longer detected in the patient. ... >>

titanium paper 07.04.2002

Titanium dioxide, in addition to its whiteness, which makes it possible to make excellent white on its basis, has another important property: when irradiated with daylight, it reacts with air moisture, forming free radicals. These active compounds, strong oxidizing agents, are able to destroy microorganisms and decompose harmful substances. In Japan, the production of paper has begun, in which titanium dioxide has been introduced. For example, wallpaper, paper screens and wall calendars are made from it. From an unventilated room with such wallpaper, formalin vapors completely disappeared in three days, which were launched into the air every day for the experiment. In a room without wallpaper, the concentration of formalin increased. Titanium wallpaper decomposes formalin to CO2 and water. On the surface of titanium paper, E. coli dies within a day. The possibility of issuing titanium paper in Germany is now being considered. ... >>

One less moon 05.04.2002

Uranus lost one of its moons. The International Astronomical Union has decided that the celestial body, which seems to be found in several images taken by the robotic Voyager 2 probe, is not a satellite of Uranus. The photographs, taken back in 1986, became the object of careful study only 13 years later, in 1999. Then, in seven photographs, an object with a diameter of about 40 km was found, orbiting the planet at a distance of 75 km. There has been no other confirmation of the existence of a new moon since then, and the images are considered controversial. In the near future, the Hubble Space Telescope will look at Uranus, but until it confirms the existence of another satellite of the planet, it was decided to consider this satellite non-existent. Thus, Uranus now has 000 officially recognized moons, well behind Saturn (20) and Jupiter (30 moons). ... >>

magnet and appetite 04.04.2002

It turns out that the magnetic compass tells the birds not only the direction of flight, but also the place where they are and how much they need to eat. Swedish nightingales winter in southern Africa. Since on the way they have to overcome 1500 kilometers over the Sahara, before this difficult segment of the route, they stop in northern Egypt and work up fat. The Natural History Museum in Stockholm has built a laboratory setup that simulates the strength and direction of magnetic fields all the way from Sweden to South Africa. In this installation, ornithologists placed young nightingales weighing 20 grams, going to Africa for the first time. The same nightingales were kept outside the magnetic installation. Both groups were provided with any required amount of food. It turned out that under the influence of the magnetic environment characteristic of the north of Egypt, the experimental birds gained an average of three grams of weight, while the control birds remaining in the Swedish magnetic field gained only one gram. ... >>

Pod peas for quantum computers 02.04.2002

A group of American and Korean physicists propose a new electronic component for the quantum computers of the future. They called their creation "peas in a pod". This is an ultramicroscopic structure made of carbon: a tube with a diameter of several picometers (billionths of a millimeter) was stuffed with carbon balls - fullerenes. By moving the balls along the tube with the help of an electrostatic charge, one can smoothly change the electrical properties of this complex from an insulator to a semiconductor and then a conductor. In addition, by moving the balls, you can change the resonant properties of the tube (as the movements of the wings change the pitch of the trombone sound) for the flow of electrons through it, that is, control the frequency of the current. Previously, the same group of scientists showed that from a single "pea" placed in a nanotube, you can make a trigger, the basis of any computer, which will work in 10 trillionths of a second - several orders of magnitude faster than modern computer chips. All of these properties can ... >>

Songs in hours 31.03.2002

Casio specialists have created a device that combines a wristwatch and an MP3 player. The authors of the invention called the technological hybrid WMP-1V MP3 Audio Wrist Watch. Watch-player with dimensions of 49x54x19 mm can accommodate 33 minutes of audio recordings in MP3 format of decent quality. A multimedia card with a capacity of 32 MB is used as a storage medium. One battery provides continuous playback for 4 hours. Looking at the watch, which has an alarm clock, calendar and stopwatch, you can find out the number, timing and title of the track, as well as see the dancing man (Motion Graphic feature), which dances in 10 styles and automatically keeps pace. ... >>

pocket camcorder 29.03.2002

The Japanese corporation Matsushita Electric introduced a multifunctional pocket video camera Panasonic SV-AV10. The device combines a video camera, a camera, a digital voice recorder, an audio player and a miniature printer. It is the printer, according to company representatives, that will help the SV-AV10 "stand out" in the digital video camera market. The printer is really tiny - it measures 85x30x68 mm and weighs 185 g. It uses the principle of thermal printing. It takes 69 seconds to print one 38x70mm picture, and the battery capacity is enough to print 45 pictures. ... >>

Video glasses for gamers and moviegoers 28.03.2002

A new model of Olympus' Eye-Trek Face-Mounted Display series of video glasses is designed for both PlayStation 2 players and DVD players. The FMD-220 features two 180000-pixel active-matrix LCD screens that give you the feeling of viewing a 52-inch screen from a distance of 2m. Unfortunately, the video glasses only work with three models of DVD players: Matsushita DVDPV220, Pioneer PDV-40 and Toshiba MED20AS. An additional accessory is a special protective cover, which almost completely excludes the penetration of light from the outside. ... >>

Thermoid converts heat into electricity 27.03.2002

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) has developed a thermal diode that directly converts thermal energy into electrical energy. Thanks to these properties, the thermal diode will help solve the problems of cooling and power supply of small computers in the future. The new device uses the effect of "electron gas evaporation", which is observed, for example, in the filaments of electrovacuum devices. However, the same phenomenon can also be observed in conductors heated not only by electric current, but also by any other method. However, even with strong heating (more than 1000 ° C), the current is weak, so this effect is used only in electronic thermometers that measure high temperature. Physicists Peter Hagelyitein and Jan Kucherov were able to create a semiconductor version of such a device. In a thermal diode, thin layers of semiconductor materials are used both as electrodes and as an interlayer. While the thermal diode operates at 200 ° C, however, scientists hope that they will be able to extract ... >>

Broadband laser 26.03.2002

Telecommunications giant Lucent Technologies' Bell Research Laboratories announced the creation of the world's first broadband laser operating in a wide spectrum of infrared waves. Former semiconductor lasers were narrow-spectrum devices that emitted light of only one color. The creators say that the new laser will find applications in healthcare, environmental protection and fiber optic communications. ... >>

The train goes on the water 24.03.2002

Scientists from the Technical University of Leiden (Netherlands) have proposed a hydroplan project - a train that does not move along rails, but in gutters filled with water. From below, special skis are attached to the train, which glide through the water, moving the train almost silently and at high speed. The advantage of aquaplane is that it is an absolutely environmentally friendly mode of transport. ... >>

Flying car 23.03.2002

Preparations for testing the "flying car" developed by the American inventor Paul Moller are nearing completion. The new car, called the Skycar M400, has 8 rotary piston engines with a total power of 1000 hp. They drive 4 propellers rotating at 100 rpm. Like some planes, the Skycar has two fin-linked fins, but no wings at all. With the help of special rotary blades, you can change the direction of movement of the propellers, transferring the Skycar from vertical flight to horizontal. The mass of the new vehicle does not exceed 1 ton, and the dimensions are comparable to those of a middle-class car. For take-off and landing, a flying car will need a platform that is only 30 meters long. Skycar is very economical, consuming 15 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. According to the inventor, thanks to the use of a satellite navigation system, it will be very safe to travel by Skycar. ... >>

Sensors will help stop the car 22.03.2002

At the Japanese Technology Exhibition in London, a new Toyota vehicle is presented, equipped with systems that ensure its high safety. The brakes will reliably stop the car if special sensors detect an obstacle dangerously close to it, and cameras built into the front bumper allow the driver to see what is happening around the corner. ... >>

Car cam 21.03.2002

DriveCam Video Systems from San Diego (USA) has developed a miniature camera that is mounted on the rear-view mirror of a car. The device records the situation on the road and the actions of the driver. After a collision, the camera automatically continues shooting for 30 seconds. If necessary, it can be turned on again manually. Interchangeable memory cards are used as storage media, which simplifies the processing and viewing of footage. Automotive "black boxes" will avoid numerous disputes and lawsuits arising from the conflicting testimony of participants in road accidents. ... >>

Health and superstition 20.03.2002

There is a common belief among the Chinese and Japanese that the fourth day of every month is a bad day. According to the British Medical Journal, doctors decided to check whether this opinion affects people's health. After analyzing the death certificates for the years 1973-1998 of more than 200 Japanese and Chinese living in California, the researchers found that on the fourth day of each month, the death rate increased. In particular, mortality from heart disease rose by 13 percent. Now it remains to check how representatives of other nationalities endure the thirteenth number. ... >>

Adjustable adhesive 19.03.2002

The German company BASF has developed a polymer adhesive called acresin, the adhesive strength of which can be adjusted. This is done by irradiating the adhesive with ultraviolet rays. The higher the radiation dose, the less sticky acresin becomes. A strong version of it can be used in cases where the connection must be durable, and a weak one can be used, for example, on price labels, which are usually peeled off after buying a product. Acresin is environmentally friendly as it does not contain solvents. ... >>

Silicon shortage for solar energy 18.03.2002

Small-scale solar energy is successfully developing in Germany. According to the government program "One Hundred Thousand Solar Roofs", by the end of 2004, one hundred thousand solar panels with a total capacity of 300 megawatts should be installed in the country to supply energy to residential buildings. The pace of its implementation is such that the goal could be achieved a year ahead of schedule. However, a problem arises: the lack of silicon, this second most common element on Earth (ordinary sand is made of silicon oxide). It takes 11-15 kilograms of silicon to produce one kilowatt of solar energy. There are now more than two dozen solar cell factories in the country, they use ultra-pure silicon waste from the manufacture of microcircuits. Silicon of not so high purity and half as expensive could be used for solar batteries, but there is no production of it in Germany, and there is already not enough waste from the electronic industry. The German solar program needs more than 3000 tons of silicon, and the world's need for ... >>

Space Cognac 17.03.2002

At the last aerospace show in Le Bourget near Paris, the French cognac company Remy Martin presented to the public a new brandy brandy, developed specifically for space flights. Cosmic cognac differs from earthly cognac both in its taste and packaging. Since you have to drink in weightlessness through a straw, the liquid does not fall on the tip of the tongue, which is most sensitive to taste sensations, but on its back, where there are few taste buds. Accordingly, it was necessary to enhance the characteristic cognac taste by combining in one drink several dozen cognac spirits aged for at least three years. The container of the new drink is also adapted for space conditions. This is a 100 ml polymer capsule with a valve that prevents spontaneous release of liquid even in a vacuum. According to the firm, the capsule material protects the cognac from cosmic radiation. A straw is glued to the side for drinking in zero gravity, and a slip-on cap is suitable as a stack to taste it. ... >>

Cinema for smokers 16.03.2002

A US study shows that there is a link between how often children see people smoking in movies and how often they themselves smoke. 4919 schoolchildren aged 9 to 15 were surveyed. Two questions were asked: which films from the attached list have you seen and do you smoke. The list included 50 randomly selected popular American films released between 1988 and 1999, and for each, the researchers preliminarily counted the number of smoking episodes. Statistical processing unequivocally showed that those of the schoolchildren who saw the most "smoky" films turned out to be smokers almost three times more often than those who watched films with non-smoking characters. ... >>

How is chess played 15.03.2002

German scientists have found that when playing chess, especially when analyzing the situation on the board, experienced masters and ordinary amateurs use different parts of the brain. 20 people were seated at the boards. All of them had ten years of playing experience, but some had the title of master, the rest did not have any sports titles. Computers played against people. During the game, the chess player's brain was scanned every five seconds with a tomograph, which determined the volume of blood flow in different parts of the brain. It is this indicator that indicates the activity of the nervous tissue in this place. It turned out that the frontal and parietal lobes of the cerebral cortex work in the masters during the game - it is believed that the centers of long-term memory are located there. And for amateurs, it is mainly the central region of the temporal lobes of the brain that is involved, where short-term memory is concentrated. The conclusion of the researchers: when playing, the master draws on his extensive knowledge, the experience of tens of thousands of games, and the amateur generally has time to react to ... >>

City lights 12.03.2002

Chicago astronomers are protesting a plan to light up an 18-kilowatt aircraft beacon every evening on one of the city's skyscrapers. The high-efficiency lamp produces light with a power of 7 billion candles, in the middle of the beam its brightness corresponds to 52 million ordinary hundred-watt light bulbs. The cost of this lighting fixture is $88 million. The building, 172 meters high (37 floors), was completed in 1929. From 1930 to 1981, an aviation beacon was already shining on it, the beam of which described a full circle over the city. There is no need for such a landmark for aircraft in our time, and they want to revive the lighthouse only for purely decorative purposes, in order to return to the city one of its former symbols. However, according to astronomers, the light of the lighthouse will interfere with the new educational institution - an observatory open to all comers, which is currently being built near Chicago. In addition, opponents of the project indicate that a powerful beam will lead migratory birds astray and interfere with pi ... >>

Washing machine for dogs 11.03.2002

Spanish engineers Eduardo Segura and Andree Diaz created a dog washing machine in three years of intensive work. The machine, called "Lavacan" (from the Spanish words for "wash the dog"), lathers, washes and dries the animal enclosed inside in less than half an hour. Like any washing machine, it has several programs for animals of different breeds and sizes, as well as for washing with insecticidal shampoo (this procedure takes longer than a simple wash). Along with washing, hydromassage is carried out. According to the inventors, dogs tolerate washing in the car well, many even like the procedure, and one dog fell asleep peacefully during drying. The inventors believe that their machine is also suitable for washing cats, but cats do not think so. The industrial production of "Lavakan" has already been established, the car costs about 20 thousand dollars and is purchased mainly by professional breeders and dog beauty salons. ... >>

Invisible wires 10.03.2002

The American firm "Decorp" proposes to replace the traditional "round" electrical wiring in the house, invented more than a hundred years ago, with flat conductors of the type that are widely used in modern electronics. The company launched the production of flat cables for power wiring (a cable for 15-20 amperes and 110-220 volts has the thickness of a business card), as well as telephone and antenna cables (thick as newsprint). Flat wires can be laid anywhere on the wall, and then covered with paint or wallpaper. Special sockets and switches have been developed for flat wiring. ... >>

Year of the computer virus 08.03.2002

Perhaps, according to the eastern calendar, 2001 was the year of the Snake, but according to the western calendar, it can definitely be called the year of the Virus. So claims the British company MessageLabs, which filters e-mail for 700 customers in search of computer viruses. Now the firm views more than three million messages a day. By mid-December 2001, 1 viruses had been caught, that's one virus for every 628 emails checked. During the same period in 750, only 370 infected emails were found, i.e. one out of every 2000 checked, and in 184 the epidemic situation was even twice as light - one virus per 257 letters. If we talk about the frequency of detection of viruses, then in 700 one virus was caught every 1999 seconds, in 1400 - every three minutes, and in 2001 - only once an hour. November and December were the hardest months for computer scientists last year. ... >>

This sweet word is meteorite 07.03.2002

After studying the Murchison and Murray meteorites that fell several decades ago in Australia, American chemists found simple sugars and glycerin in them. Their quantities are very small, however, judging by the isotopic composition, these are not pollution that got into the meteorite material already on Earth, but substances brought from space. It is possible that the supply of organic compounds with meteorites (amino acids were found in the same two meteorites even earlier) played a role in the origin of life on Earth. ... >>

Anti-oxygen tent 05.03.2002

The English company Hypoxico produces tents, sleep in which increases the endurance of the athlete. A special filter reduces the oxygen content in the air supplied to the tent, simulating high altitude conditions - up to 2700 meters above sea level. As a result, in the blood of a person who regularly sleeps in such conditions, the concentration of hemoglobin increases, the absorption of oxygen from the air improves, which means that working capacity and endurance increase. According to a spokesman for the firm, athletic performance improved by three percent - that's a lot. Now there are disputes about whether such a tent can be considered a doping device. Defenders of the new method of training point out that it does not introduce anything extraneous into the body, but only filters out part of the air. If the anti-oxygen tent is considered doping, then widespread filters for drinking water will fall into the same category. ... >>

Ancient mines and modern ecology 04.03.2002

Ecologists say that the inhabitants of the Earth are still being adversely affected by toxic substances that were produced in ancient mines and smelters two thousand years ago. Even now, wind-blown microparticles of heavy metals retain high concentrations and are absorbed by plants, animals and people inhabiting the areas of ancient mine workings, says Brian Pyatt from the University of Nottingham, England. Having studied the processes of environmental pollution in the Wadi Fainan area in southern Jordan, measuring the current concentrations of copper and lead in this arid region, where the Babylonians, Assyrians, Romans and Byzantines were mining thousands of years ago, the scientist found that these concentrations are exceptionally high today, despite the long-term effect of water and wind erosion, and pose a great threat to the health of the Bedouins, causing nausea, diarrhea, convulsions, and even causing death. Due to the ancient mining industry with ... >>

Computer mouse can type 02.03.2002

The Japanese company Casio has released a computer mouse with a built-in label printer. Having selected some phrase in the document called up on the monitor screen, it can be immediately printed on 13 mm paper tape with an adhesive layer, the roll of which is inside the mouse. The new mouse prints in any font of any language installed on the computer. You can print, for example, labels for diskettes and cassettes, labels for folders with papers. In addition, the mouse program has a stock of ready-made common words and phrases such as "Do not turn off!", "Incoming", "Outgoing", "Confidential" and so on. It is convenient to use such a printer to print frequently required addresses and phone numbers, which can be directly pasted on a computer or monitor so that they are always in front of your eyes. Otherwise - the mouse is like a mouse: a tail, two buttons, a wheel and all the usual functions. ... >>

Robot with a human face 01.03.2002

Engineers at Carnegie Mellon University (USA) have created a robot named Wikia with a female face. This face is displayed on a flat screen mounted on the robot's torso, resembling a bedside table on wheels. When the robot speaks, its lips move according to the spoken sounds, and the facial expression also changes. The screen with the image of the face turns to the interlocutor. It is assumed that such robots could serve as guides in museums. The laser radar will allow Wikia to notice when visitors approach her and start her story. Meanwhile, a robot with the ability to mimic was also created at the University of the German city of Paderborn, but its face is not drawn on the screen, but mounted from plastic and metal parts that change position with the help of small servomotors. A robot named Mexi is able to portray friendliness, displeasure, anger, sadness. ... >>

Steam diesel engine 28.02.2002

The Czech company Skoda spent 6 years and $60 million developing a new engine, which is a steam engine that runs on diesel fuel. The working volume of the engine is 1 l. Diesel fuel is used to heat water vapor up to 900°C, and already the steam sets the pistons in motion. A small rotary version of this motor has been developed so far, and a full-size one will be ready, as Skoda engineers promise, in 8 years. ... >>

Superfast cargo delivery 27.02.2002

A group of scientists from Bochum (Germany) has created a capsule that is designed to transport goods underground. It is a sealed structure 1,6 m high, which at a speed of 3540 km / h will transport a variety of goods along metro lines and highways. The track along which the capsule will move, controlled not by a driver, but by a computer, will connect, for example, an airport with a factory, a factory with a warehouse, a warehouse with a port. The project is called Cargo Sar and is pretty far advanced. To date, there is already a model of the capsule, which is now being modernized: the design is being finalized, the optimal speed is being calculated, the degree of metal wear, the permissible track angle, etc. . ... >>

Cars go on rails 26.02.2002

The Danish company RUF International presented to the government a project designed to solve the problem of congestion in the transport networks of large cities. The essence of the project is to direct all urban transport, including cars, on rails. The proposed transport system is a network of monorail roads along which public and private electric vehicles move. Small sections of the way transport overcomes on ordinary roads. Then he enters the rails and combines into a kind of train moving at speeds up to 120 km / h. It is also planned to automate sections of roads without rails: sensors installed underground form a kind of fairway, so that drivers may not drive their cars at all. Cars for the RUF transport system can be anything, but for driving on rails they must have a V-shaped channel running along the bottom of the body. The monorail system is intended for large cities, but the authors of the project did not forget about the residents ... >>

Flying car 25.02.2002

Dutch inventor John Becker of Delft University of Technology has developed a gyrocopter or "flying car" - a miniature aircraft powered by a diesel engine. To take off, the car only needs a fifty-meter run. Rising into the air, the "flying car" moves at speeds up to 250 km / h, and lands vertically. The advantage of a mini-helicopter is its ease of control: for its "driving" practically no special training is required. Tests of the first gyrocopters were successful. The Dutch government is considering supplying almost every law enforcement and rescue worker with gyrocopters. ... >>

Clock with a dosimeter 24.02.2002

The Belarusian company "Polimaster" has developed a watch with a built-in miniature dosimeter that constantly measures the intensity of the radiation background and displays the radiation level on the LCD screen. If the level exceeds the allowable level, the device beeps alarms. The function of counting time is entrusted to the quartz movement of the Swiss company Ronda. The backlight of the dial allows you to control the readings of the watch in the dark. The modern steel case provides water resistance to a depth of 100 m. The cost of this useful device is $200. ... >>

Voice controls home appliances 23.02.2002

Toshiba has developed a headset that allows you to control home and audio equipment with voice commands. The novelty allows you to establish a wireless connection with devices equipped with a Bluetooth port. By wearing a headset, you can listen to music from the Internet and record your voice from the microphone to the hard disk within 10 m from the computer. The head phone is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which ensures the operation of the device for 5 hours. The cost of a new device will not exceed $80. ... >>

head computer 22.02.2002

In March 2002, for the first time, a head-worn computer will enter the market. Its authors from Xybernaut called their development Rota. You can check email, listen to MP3 music and play PC games on the go with the head computer. Xybernaut President Edward Newman says Rota will be able to replace his owner with a mobile phone, pager, music player and electronic address book. It is equipped with two expansion ports to which you can connect a wireless modem, external hard drive or folding keyboard. Roth's developers tried to place its display as close to the user's eye as possible. As a result, the XNUMXcm monitor can see as much detail as a standard desktop display. The Roth display is transparent, which allows you to simply look at what is happening on the monitor or the events of the real world. ... >>

Robot phone 20.02.2002

The American company Polyconcept has developed a robot phone that can talk, move and perform many other functions. The built-in speech recognition and generation system allows the phone to recognize the owner's commands and respond to him. Using infrared sensors, the phone detects moving objects and begins to "chat" with the owner if he enters the room. Having determined the number of the incoming call, it reports the name of the caller. The phone can also store significant dates and remind you of them at the right time. Mass sales of the new phone in the United States should begin in June 2002. Japan's KDDI Corporation, together with Sanyo Electric, has developed a video-recording cell phone equipped with a built-in miniature digital camera with the largest 2,2-inch EL display. The MPEG-4 codec compresses 15 fps video footage into files small enough to send by email. Sale of new cellular terminals ... >>

Scanner-keychain of Internet sites addresses 19.02.2002

Every self-respecting company now announces in advertising or even directly on its products the address of its own page on the Internet. You have probably seen these addresses, which usually begin with the Latin letters www. But not every Internet connoisseur who has read the advertisement looks at the proposed address - it is too troublesome to type a combination of letters in the computer window. The American company "Air-Click" offers a miniature device for reading and storing Internet addresses, made in the form of a key fob. True, the address can only be read if it is printed as a bar code. The pocket scanner can remember up to one hundred addresses. It is connected to a computer - and go directly to the desired page. ... >>

All dumps of Seville 18.02.2002

The Spanish city of Seville (700 thousand inhabitants) produces 900 tons of garbage per day. Recently, each garbage container has been equipped with a system developed by Siemens that determines the degree of filling of the container, and each garbage truck has a satellite navigation system that fixes the location of the vehicle. Both these data are sent by radio to the dispatch center, where empty and full containers are marked with icons on the electronic map of the city, and the dispatcher directs the nearest car to them. ... >>

The threat to the ancient city of the Incas 17.02.2002

After the recent earthquake of 7,9 in Peru, it became clear that the country is threatened by a new terrible danger. According to scientists, the ancient city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, masterfully erected by the Indians on a huge mountain cornice, can fall into the abyss at any moment. Leading Peruvian archaeologist, Dr. Frederico Kaufmann, accuses the authorities of the country of completely disregarding the results of research by Japanese scientists, which prove that urgent measures are needed to save the ancient Inca city. It has been found that the mountainside on which the city rests can be subjected to a landslide and collapse down in a few years. Movements of the earth's crust were noticed under the city. The pace of the incipient landslide is accelerating very quickly, and scientists estimate the possible duration of the city's existence at the most at 15 years. The Incas were great builders, they adjusted huge blocks of stone one to another so that it was impossible to squeeze a razor blade between them. But now there are cracks in the walls, and you ... >>

The blackest body in the solar system 15.02.2002

After processing the results of the September flyby of the Deep Space-1 automatic probe past the comet Borreali, astronomers came to the conclusion that its eight-kilometer core is the blackest body in the solar system. In general, as the study of other comets showed, the nuclei of these celestial bodies are distinguished by a dark color, but Borrelli's comet surpassed all. The substance of its core reflects only about three percent of the light falling on it, which is comparable to the black toner powder used in copiers and laser printers. For example, freshly laid asphalt reflects 7% of light. But there are even blacker patches on the comet's nucleus, reflecting just 0,7% of sunlight. It is assumed that these are some kind of high-molecular carbon compounds that are unable to evaporate under the heating of sunlight. The question may arise: why are comets clearly visible in the sky if they are so black? It is the easily evaporating substances of a comet that form its tail and glow in the rays of the Sun. ... >>

Robot neurosurgeon 14.02.2002

The British company "Armstrong Healthcare" reported that she managed to develop the world's first robot for surgical operations. Now you can not be afraid that the surgeon's hand will suddenly tremble during an operation on the human brain. The robot is able to bring surgical instruments to the operated area of ​​the brain with the highest degree of accuracy, without causing any damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. The neurosurgeon robot can be used to remove brain tumors, treat Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and even transplant brain cells using the latest techniques. It is the first robot capable of reading a map of a human skull. Its task is to provide the neurosurgeon with absolute precision in the application of the instrument. It is completely safe and easy to operate; to launch it, it is enough to set a target for the robot and indicate the approach paths on the scanned x-ray image of the patient's brain. The robot has a video camera that accurately aligns the scanned image with the desired area on the patient's head. ... >>

The largest asteroid 13.02.2002

The first asteroid, discovered 200 years ago and named Ceres, is still considered the largest - its diameter is about 1000 kilometers. However, recently a group of German, Finnish and Swedish astronomers, after analyzing numerous images of the starry sky, found an even larger asteroid. Its size is estimated at 1200-1400 kilometers. The asteroid, which received the temporary number 2001KX76 (in the future, it will be given, as it should be, a name from mythology), is located a little further than Pluto. ... >>

Condors are about to fly 12.02.2002

Argentinean and Chilean scientists are preparing to release eight Andean condor chicks raised in special nurseries. In this way, they hope to save the legendary bird from extinction. The condor is the heaviest bird in the world that can fly, with a wingspan of almost four meters. The condor feeds on carrion and is extremely useful as a nature orderly. Zoologists hope that sooner or later their pets will be reunited with their brethren. The condor is considered the national symbol of Chile. It is capable of reaching a height of five kilometers in flight and overcoming more than 300 kilometers per day. The only natural enemy of the condor is man, and this has led to the almost complete extermination of the bird. Farmers mistakenly believe that the condor feeds on their living creatures, and ruthlessly exterminate it. In Venezuela, the condor is completely exterminated, in Colombia and Ecuador there are no more than a hundred individuals left, in Peru and Bolivia there are only a few more of them, and even in Argentina and Chile, where this bird is taken care of until ... >>

Football player in control 09.02.2002

Several European universities, led by scientists from the National Technical University of Greece in Athens, are developing a system that will allow you to monitor the actions of a football player on the field during the game. A special jacket stuffed with electronics broadcasts data on the speed and acceleration, pulse, temperature and respiratory rate of its wearer. In the future, a system will also be introduced into the jacket to determine the exact position of the player on the field. Then the reasons for many football conflicts and disputes will disappear, and the coach will be able to arrange a detailed "debriefing" after the game. Three years and 200 thousand pounds sterling were allotted for the development of such a system. Before washing, the electronics will have to be removed from this piece of sportswear, but the wires will remain in place - they endure washing. ... >>

The conductor will notice falsehood 07.02.2002

How does the conductor of a large symphony orchestra of a good hundred musicians manage to hear, among the roar of drums and timpani, which of the ten violins is slightly out of tune? It turns out that the conductor's brain is specially adapted for this difficult task. A professional conductor is able to spatially localize sound in his surroundings better than any pianist or non-musician. German researchers from Magdeburg and Hannover offered seven classical music conductors, seven pianists and seven ordinary citizens a special acoustic test. They placed three speakers in front of the subjects and three around them. Randomly, the speakers played a series of standard tones, but sometimes the scientists added frequency-shifting noise to the sounds. Listeners were asked to press a button if a false note came from one of the speakers. Measurements of brain activity and the number of errors showed that all three groups were equally good at distinguishing falseness from the center speaker, but only the conductors could ... >>

Surgeon's black box 06.02.2002

Specialists at Imperial College London are developing a system for recording everything that happens in the surgical operating room. Just as information from the aviation "black box" helps to investigate the causes of accidents, in surgery it will allow us to study in detail each operation, including the reasons for its failure. Electromagnetic or ultrasonic sensors mounted on the hands of the surgeon will record all his movements. There should also be a record of conversations in the operating room, all vital signs of the patient, and even a record of who and when entered the room during the operation and left it. The development leader, Ara Darzi, professor of surgery at the Imperial College, says the system will be cheaper than many modern hospital equipment. A spokesman for the British Medical Association expressed concern that the consciousness of constant surveillance would unnerve people engaged in vital work. But the same fears were expressed before the introduction of "black ... >>

Camcorder for short people 05.02.2002

Filming some event on a video camera that attracted a large crowd, it is impossible for a short person to aim the lens and select a frame: the heads of those standing in front interfere. To fix this, the American company RCA released the CC9390 digital video camera with a detachable viewfinder screen. You can raise the camera higher and keep the screen in front of you. ... >>

Video recorder filters ads 03.02.2002

The American company "Go-Video" has begun production of video recorders that eliminate advertising from recordings made from the air. The DDV2110 VCR has two cassette slots. At the hour set on the timer, he records the program you are interested in on the first cassette. After the end of the recording, he rewinds the tape to the beginning and begins to scan it in search of commercials. Their signs are the dimming of the screen for a fraction of a second when switching to advertising and back, as well as the disappearance of the channel symbol in the corner of the frame. In addition, the smart device focuses on the characteristic duration of advertising blocks - 15, 30 and 60 seconds. The first minute and the last two minutes of the program are not checked for advertisements: it is not customary to insert advertisements in them on American television. Scanning an hourly recording takes about 15 minutes. After that, the VCR rewrites the transmission from the first cassette to the second, skipping all the commercials. As a rule, the device’s guesses about what exactly needs to be cut out are ok. ... >>

Power plant in a button 01.02.2002

Engineers at Columbia University (USA) have created a prototype gas turbine power generator that can replace batteries in portable electronics. The miniature, button-sized power plant is made in a block of crystalline silicon using the same methods used to make microchips. The fuel is hydrogen. Hot steam, the product of its combustion, rotates a turbine with a diameter of four millimeters, developing two million revolutions per minute, and an electric generator is connected to the turbine. The power of the unit is 20 watts, it is quite enough to power a laptop computer, a cell phone or just a flashlight. True, not every owner will like the fact that his device throws out a trickle of hot steam. Therefore, most likely, a miniature power plant will be mounted in a separate case the size of a deck of cards, and the current from there will be used to charge conventional batteries of a computer, telephone, or flashlight. According to the creators, the commercial version will be ready by the end of now. ... >>

The car adapts to the driving style of its owner 31.01.2002

At the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2001, a new concept car was presented to the general public that can adapt to the driving style of its owner and help him drive. The novelty, created by specialists from Toyota Motor and Sony, has biometric sensors mounted in the steering column that measure the heart rate and conductivity of the driver's skin. If the driver is too excited or feels unwell, which immediately affects his functional state, fixed by sensors, the on-board computer gives an alarm to the driver and turns on emergency lights, warning other drivers and pedestrians of the danger. Similarly, the car behaves in case of speeding and dangerously close to obstacles. ... >>

Silent Submarine 29.01.2002

Until now, all submarines were propelled by propellers. But perhaps things will change soon. American scientists from the University of Texas are developing a submarine that will swim like a fish thanks to the flapping movements of its hull. A working prototype of this type of submarine, 1 m long, has already been created. The new drive allows the submarine to move almost silently, since it leaves behind very weak eddies, rather than a powerful turbulent jet. The back of the boat's hull consists of six movable elements made of an alloy of nickel and titanium. This alloy has a so-called memory effect, due to which the body elements change their shape depending on the temperature. ... >>

Network for ultra-fast internet 28.01.2002

In Cardiff (Great Britain), tests of a new telecommunications network are being completed, which its creators, specialists from Radiant Networks, have given the name Mesh Radio. The new network will provide its users with ultra-fast Internet access at speeds up to 4 Mbps, make it possible to watch video on demand, conduct video conferences and receive other services. At the same time, unlike other similar systems, almost 100% coverage of the territory is provided. The construction of the new network is based on the principle of placing mini-base stations on all buildings of the settlement, which almost completely eliminates the possibility of the formation of zones not covered by the new service. Each base station communicates directly via a radio channel operating in the 28 or 40 GHz bands with several of its neighbors. The operation of the entire city network is controlled by the Control Center, which has access to video and Internet resources. ... >>

Smart home appliances with Internet access 27.01.2002

Toshiba Corporation begins the development of a series of "smart" home appliances connected to the Internet. The first such device will be a refrigerator that allows the owner to check its contents outside their own home over the network. The principle of operation of the Internet refrigerator is based on the mandatory registration of everything that is placed in it. The refrigerator is equipped with a small camera that will allow the owner to see firsthand the contents of the freezers when remotely connected to it via the Internet. Going forward, Toshiba plans to bring this technology to other home appliances, including microwave ovens and air conditioners. A "networked" microwave will be able to download cooking recipes from the Internet, and Toshiba's new air conditioner can be turned on and off from any room in the house via wireless communication, and controlled over the Internet from anywhere else. ... >>

Silent boots over shoes 26.01.2002

In the USA, special boots were invented that are worn over ordinary shoes. Walking in them remains almost silent. The novelty is based on the use of oiled leather (spandex), covered with elastic fabric. In addition, to achieve the effect of maximum noiselessness, the creators provided their development with special shock-absorbing cords and foam inserts designed to "absorb" sounds. It is assumed that the main customers of the new boots will be the US Armed Forces, as well as the FBI special forces, the success of whose operations largely depends on the equipment, equipment and uniforms used. It is also possible that the development will be used by the American infantry in Afghanistan in the near future. ... >>

The microcircuit is cooled by a fan 25.01.2002

American scientists from the University of Indiana have developed a new type of device for cooling chips, working on the principle of a fan. Dozens of small plates are connected to piezoelectric elements, which, when an alternating voltage is applied to them, cause the plates to vibrate. Such devices, although they lose performance to conventional fans, consume ten times less energy. They can be placed in places inaccessible for the installation of fans. In addition, unlike traditional fans, whose size reduction makes them inefficient due to friction losses, the new devices have a significant reserve for further miniaturization. In the future, scientists hope to reduce their size to 0,1 mm, which will make it possible to install such "fans" inside microcircuits. ... >>

TV recognizes voice 24.01.2002

The Japanese company Panasonic announced the release of a high-definition TV with voice recognition functions - TH-36DH200. The new 36-inch TV has a built-in microphone, allowing the user to change channels, record and play video clips with the built-in DVR, find program information and more by commanding the TV with their voice. The DVR has a built-in 80 GB hard drive that allows you to record up to 7 hours of high-definition video clips or up to 70 hours of conventional analog video. ... >>

Touchpad Airboard 20.01.2002

Sony has introduced a new Airboard touchpad model. The novelty, codenamed IDT-LF2, consists of two modules interconnected by a wireless data network. The first module is a 12,1-inch liquid crystal display with a maximum resolution of 800x600 pixels. The display is equipped with a slot for memory cards and a PS / 2 socket for connecting a stationary keyboard, and a lithium-ion battery provides autonomous operation of the device for 2 hours. 802.11 kbps modem with digital modem connector (ADSL), USB port, video inputs and video outputs. The Airboard owner can not only watch TV while moving around the house (the display works within a radius of 56 m from the base station), but also surf the Internet thanks to the touch panel. ... >>

Miniature internal combustion engine 18.01.2002

A group of engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), together with specialists from other universities and companies, is developing a miniature internal combustion engine that can replace batteries and accumulators in the future. The dime-sized engine operates on the principle of a gas turbine driven by a stream of hot gases. It is capable of generating 20 W of power at a rotor speed of 2,4 million rpm. All the tiny components are made in the same way as computer components, and their production will not require large expenses. When developing the engine, the creators had to overcome numerous technical difficulties associated with the need to ensure acceptable (micron) surface accuracy, as well as the problem of removing a large amount of heat generated by the engine. The developers are confident that a workable miniature engine will be assembled in two years, but commercial models will not appear until 2010. ... >>

Obesity is contagious 15.01.2002

Indian researcher Nikhil Dhurandhar, working in the United States, discovered in humans an adenovirus called AD-36, which, according to the scientist, causes obesity. In any case, the injection of this virus through a syringe into chickens, monkeys or rats causes the accumulation of excess fat in animals. Moreover, blood tests of 300 obese patients revealed antibodies to this virus in a third of them, which indicates that their immune system is familiar with it. And it turned out that chickens infected with the AD-36 virus by injection in less than a day infect their fellows kept in the same chicken coop with it. ... >>

What is healthy for a cat is death for a mosquito 14.01.2002

The common plant catnip (catnip), which attracts cats even more strongly than valerian, turns out to have the opposite effect on mosquitoes. A few years ago, American entomologists Joel Kote and Chris Peterson showed that cockroaches do not like the smell of catnip. Now they decided to investigate the attitude of mosquitoes to this plant. A group of 20 mosquitoes was placed in a long glass tube, half of which was treated with a 10% solution of nepetapactone, the main ingredient in catnip essential oil. After 20 minutes, it turned out that only four mosquitoes remained in the smeared half of the tube with the solution, the rest flew into the clean half. When the solution was diluted ten times, five mosquitoes could endure its smell, that is, its activity decreased slightly. For comparison, we conducted the same experiment with the best modern synthetic repellent - DEET (dietiptoluamtz). Eight or nine of the XNUMX experimental bloodsuckers remained in the half of the pipe he smeared. If ... >>

Digital stereoscopic camera 12.01.2002

The world's first stereoscopic video camera was released by the Japanese company Canon. Two lenses work simultaneously, the electronic shutter transmits the image to the photosensitive matrix alternately from one or the other lens, switching 60 times per second. In order to see a three-dimensional image on the TV screen, special glasses are used, which, at the same frequency and synchronously with the shutter of the camera that was filming, cover either the left or the right eye of the viewer with a liquid crystal shutter. The price of a new video camera is $4500. ... >>

soy car 11.01.2002

American scientists propose to replace some of the metal parts of an automobile engine with parts made from soy. In the United States, an excess of soybean oil of about six million tons is formed annually, and this excess must be put somewhere. The new material consists of 80% soybean oil, the rest is epoxy, silicon, carbon fiber, glass fiber and hardener. Parts made from soy have the same strength as aluminum, but are half the weight and 30% cheaper. The new material is especially suitable for the manufacture of small parts of complex shape that are not subjected to strong heat. True, the manufacturing process is still very long: it takes 3-4 hours to create a small bolt. ... >>

Home doctor in the closet 09.01.2002

Many sci-fi novels feature a "cyberdoctor" - a robot with artificial intelligence, able to examine the patient and prescribe the necessary medicines. The first step towards the creation of such a device was made by the American firm Accenture from Illinois. The first-aid kit cabinet, developed by the company, contains a built-in computer with a video camera that allows it to recognize the face of the person approaching the first-aid kit. The screen on the locker reminds the approacher which medicines and when he should take. Among other things, there is a tonometer in the first-aid kit, so that after measuring the pressure, the computer can advise you to take the appropriate medicine. The next model will be able to give more detailed advice. ... >>

During the holidays, students get stupid 07.01.2002

This conclusion was reached by the German psychologist Siegfried Lerl from the University of Erlangen, who is also the chairman of the German Society for the Development of Mental Abilities. After conducting multiple psychological tests, Lerl found that three weeks of vacation lead to a decrease in intelligence quotient by 20 units. A prolonged decrease in mental activity causes "drying" of nerve cells in the frontal lobes of the brain, explains the psychologist. You can counteract this process by setting aside half an hour on each vacation day for puzzles or chess. The psychologist simply did not dare to recommend solving one or two problems from a school textbook a day. ... >>

Laboratory in a vest pocket 06.01.2002

The English branch of the German company Siemens has developed a miniature environmental laboratory for determining the quality of water in a water supply system or in natural reservoirs. Sensors placed on the chip determine the acidity index, oxygen concentration in water, its conductivity, redox potential, free chlorine content and water temperature. The analyzes do not require any reagents, the service life of the sensors is about six months. ... >>

Stone-eater ordinary 05.01.2002

American oceanologists have found in samples of volcanic rocks raised from the bottom of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, microbes that eat obsidian - volcanic glass, hardened lava. In columns of obsidian mined by drilling, both the microbes themselves are visible - filamentous formations on the surface of obsidian, and worm-like passages about 25 micrometers thick left by them in the thickness of volcanic glass. Microbes are also found at depths of up to 400 meters under the seabed. ... >>

Swimming pools can be dangerous 03.01.2002

A group of doctors from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) claims that visiting the swimming pool leads to allergies and asthma in children. 226 children aged 8 to 12 were examined. Some of them have never been in swimming pools, others have been in the pool three times a week since the age of three or four. Analyzes have shown that in children who have been swimming in the pool for a long time, proteins appear in the blood that are characteristic of adult smokers and indicate damage to lung tissue. Other researchers have found an increased prevalence of asthma in swimming pool attendants. Both phenomena are apparently explained by the presence of chlorine in the water. Doctors believe that the chlorine added to the water for disinfection should be replaced by ozone or bromine. ... >>

Which language is the easiest 02.01.2002

Despite its prevalence in the world as a language of international communication and the idea that it is the easiest to learn, English is the most difficult of the European languages. In any case, it is the most difficult to learn to read on it. Children of other nations learn the basics of literacy in an average year, and little Englishmen need two and a half years for this. This conclusion was reached after an extensive study by the English philologist Philip Seymour, who compared teaching children to read in 15 European countries. It turned out that children from countries with Romance languages ​​(France, Italy) achieve rapid progress, while it is more difficult to learn to read in the languages ​​of the Germanic group (German, English). English literacy is especially difficult to master. And in English-speaking countries, there are more children suffering from dyslexia - difficulty in understanding written text. The complexity of English lies in the fact that the same letters are pronounced differently in different cases, in different words. The most easy ... >>

electric dragonfly 01.01.2002

Graduate students from the University of California (USA) have created a miniature ornithopter. The wings are made of polyethylene film, the skeleton of the "dragonfly" is made of titanium and carbon fiber. Similar structures with flapping wings have been known for almost a hundred years, but the power source in them has still been a rubber clockwork engine. The American ornithopter is powered by a battery, which so far lasts for 21 seconds of flight. The students intend to improve their apparatus by installing a more powerful battery and lightening the design. ... >>

Anti-mosquito composition for clothing 30.12.2001

President of the Australian company Healthguard Corporation K. Harvey has developed an anti-mosquito composition for impregnating clothes that is safe for health, but reliably protects against mosquitoes. Anti-mosquito impregnation can withstand fifty washings and at the same time retains all its qualities. When testing this product, it turned out that the midge dies even when approaching a person, without even touching his clothes. ... >>

Parking will be easier 29.12.2001

In the UK, equipment is being developed that will help drivers park on a crowded street. The electronic system uses a compact radar and several miniature video cameras connected to an on-board computer. Devices measure the length of the free area near the sidewalk, and the computer "tells" the driver how best to park the car. If there is a danger of hitting another vehicle or a pedestrian, the electronics immediately stop the vehicle. ... >>

Billiard cue with laser sight 25.12.2001

At a high-tech exhibition in Milan, a billiard cue equipped with a laser sight, similar to those mounted on small arms, was presented. According to Italian engineers, this innovation will significantly improve the accuracy of impact. ... >>

Touch keyboard with Bluetooth 23.12.2001

Senseboard has developed a device that combines sensor technology with an artificial neural network that can accurately track the movements of the fingers of a typing person. Representatives of the Swedish company believe that the keyboard simulator they have created will solve the problems of mobile computer users who no longer have to poke on tiny buttons. The device captures finger movements when pressed, and precise measurements allow you to determine which keys a person wanted to press when typing. Sensors made of rubber and plastic are connected to the user's palms so as not to interfere with the movements of the fingers. Using Bluetooth technology, information about the "printed" is transmitted wirelessly to a computer, where a text editor analyzes the signals and turns them into text. In addition to the error correction system, the device has a "pause" function, which allows a person to eat, drink and perform any other work with his hands without removing the sensors. Representatives of Senseboard ... >>

Wrist camcorder 22.12.2001

At Comdex Foil 2001, Sony presented a sample of a camcorder in the form of a wristwatch. The new watch has a color screen, built-in camera, microphone and Bluetooth-module, and can transfer the image to a PC and other watches in real time. At the moment, the company is testing new watches to decide on their mass production. ... >>

mobile camera 20.12.2001

A third-generation mobile phone that allows you to take electronic photographs with a three-fold zoom is offered by Minolta, a leading optical manufacturer in Japan. The company has developed a miniature lens with a diameter of 14 mm and a thickness of 9 mm, which practically does not increase the size of the tube. The lens is also unique in that it extends using a tiny ceramic rod that expands under the influence of an electrical voltage. All this takes no more than 0,5 s. ... >>

Electronic jersey for a football player 19.12.2001

Researchers from the University of Birmingham in the UK presented their development - a jersey for football players, in which a wearable computer is sewn in, which can record a number of medical indicators (pressure, pulse, temperature, etc.). However, the creators of the miracle T-shirt consider the system for determining the location of players developed by them to be the most important achievement. By analyzing the data obtained in this way, coaches will be able to draw conclusions not only about the health of the player, but also about his performance on the field. Now work is underway to reduce the size and weight of the T-shirt. However, most of all, scientists are puzzling over how to protect the computer during washing, because it is assumed that the T-shirt will be used more than once. ... >>

Battery scooter 15.12.2001

American inventor Dean Kamen demonstrated to the public his invention, known as Ginger. The device is a two-wheeled scooter powered by a battery. According to the descriptions of people who have ventured to try a new vehicle, it is unusually stable, maneuverable and even provides the ability to go up and down stairs. With minimal electricity consumption, a person of average build can drive it all day at a speed not exceeding 30 km / h, which is quite enough for modern cities clogged with transport. In order to make the scooter move in a certain direction, the rider only has to lean slightly in that direction. ... >>

Security on the Internet 12.12.2001

A small electronic company "Scholey" in Wales (Great Britain) has developed a system of television surveillance via the Internet. It is five times cheaper than conventional surveillance systems, in which cameras placed on the streets or inside guarded buildings are connected by cable to monitors in the security room. Cheapness is explained by the fact that there is no need to lay cables (you can view the image via the Internet by phone) and pay for three shifts of on-duty observers (the camera has a memory). Actually, there are few places in the world that it is desirable to watch inseparably every minute 24 hours a day. You can simply view the frames stored in the camera from time to time. The Sholi TV camera is connected to the Internet and is equipped with a hard disk for recording images. In the more expensive model, the recording is on DVD, with one disc containing footage from a network of eight cameras in a month of operation. The picture received in real time or recorded can be viewed via the Internet. Role distance ... >>

Discovery made in a pharmacy 11.12.2001

An expedition of German zoologists discovered a new genus of snakes in Vietnam. Moreover, the discovery was made in a village pharmacy. The snake was preserved in a jar of alcohol among the collection of potions of a local medicine man in a village in Quang Binh province at the edge of an impenetrable forest. With a tincture of the snake, he used some of the ailments of his fellow countrymen. The reptile has horns above its eyes and a completely unusual scale structure: there are three spikes on each scale. In Germany, the find was examined by an international group of experts. They came to the conclusion: this is the only specimen of a previously unknown genus and species of snakes. It received the scientific name Triceratolepidophis sieversorum. The generic name means "snake with three thorns on scales", and the species name is given in honor of the family of the businessman Sievers, who financed the expedition. Soon another expedition is sent to that area of ​​Vietnam with the task of learning more about the new genus of snakes and trying to catch a live specimen. ... >>

Chandelier on a printed circuit 10.12.2001

The original modern lamp was created by the designers of the Italian lighting company "Flos". There are no wires in it: a current of up to 3 amperes is supplied to each of the eight lamps along a path printed on a thick (1,5 cm) protective glass of the lamp. On top of each printed conductor is covered with a durable layer of insulation. ... >>

Salt heating 08.12.2001

Located in the suburbs of Frankfurt am Main (Germany), a large plant of the chemical company "Hoechst" produces medicines, chamfers, plastics, food additives. It also generates a lot of waste heat. Until recently, heated air was simply thrown into the atmosphere, hot water was cooled (which used a lot of energy) and dumped into the Main. Now, excess heat is transported to the city in thermoses and used to heat an administrative building with an area of ​​17 square meters, which employs about 600 people. Thermally insulated containers contain sodium acetate - a salt that melts at 58 degrees Celsius and accumulates a large amount of heat in the process. Cooling down, the salt melt heats the water in the heating system of the building. Depending on the weather, five or six containers are delivered per day, one is enough for the night. Cooled thermoses are taken back to the plant and again "charged" with heat. 400 thousand liters of liquid fuel are saved per year. And at the University of Nottingham (England) ... >>

Electric bus on hydrogen 06.12.2001

The use of hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles is not new. But the bus, designed by the international company Daimler-Chrysler, is different in that the combustible gas does not explode in the cylinders of its engine, but quietly oxidizes in the fuel battery, giving electricity, and it already rotates the electric motors hidden in the wheel hubs. The supply of hydrogen (cylinders are installed on the roof) is enough for 300 kilometers at a speed of up to 80 kilometers per hour. The novelty is now being tested in Hamburg, Stuttgart, London, Amsterdam, Reykjavik, Stockholm and several other European cities. ... >>

Underground art gallery 05.12.2001

In the province of Dordogne, in southwestern France, an amateur speleologist Marc Delluc discovered a cave about a kilometer long, the walls of which are studded with images of people and animals. The cave has not yet been fully explored, but 150 - 200 figures have already been found, scratched on soft limestone. Archaeologists determine their age at 20 - 30 thousand years. This is one of the largest complexes of rock art in Europe. Excursions will not be allowed here: the content of carbon dioxide is increased in the air of the cave, and the limestone is too fragile and can collapse. And the exact location of the cave is not reported in order to avoid the influx of "wild" tourists. ... >>

Genetics - for the new year 03.12.2001

The largest producers of Christmas trees for American families are the states of Oregon and North Carolina. Actually, in the USA, they didn’t eat, but fir trees are more popular for this holiday: they have longer and more beautiful needles, a well-pronounced aroma, and they last longer without losing their needles. At the University of North Carolina, arborists and geneticists are working on breeding fir that is resistant to a fungal disease brought to the US from Southeast Asia in the 7th century, root rot. Now about XNUMX percent of the state's fir plantations are affected by root rot. By the way, it is caused by the phytophthora fungus, well known to our gardeners. If the spores of the fungus got into the soil, it is already impossible to get rid of them. American fir seedlings are transplanted onto the roots of two other species that are resistant to root rot. Meanwhile, Danish breeders have bred larch with reduced moisture evaporation. Such a tree will continue to stand in the room without crumbling and without losing its festive look. ... >>

Echoes of an ancient earthquake 28.11.2001

As a group of French and Swiss seismologists has shown, in the area of ​​​​Basel (Switzerland) one can still catch the echoes of an earthquake with a power of 6-6,5 points that happened here on October 18, 1356. It is known from medieval chronicles that the city suffered huge damage at that time, and around it three dozen knightly castles were destroyed. Thin seismographs and now note small tremors. To the south of Basel, geologists have found an active fault zone, which in the future can cause earthquakes every one and a half to two and a half thousand years. Over the past 8500 years, this area has risen by 180 centimeters due to tectonic processes. The next earthquake here will occur no earlier than in a thousand years, but experts are already recommending the development of new safety standards for local nuclear power plants and chemical plants. ... >>

Life on Mars 21.11.2001

Hungarian scientists believe that, having studied 60 photographs of the surface of Mars taken by the Global Surveyor spacecraft, they have found signs of the existence of life on the Red Planet. In photographs of the south polar region of Mars, they noticed groups of rounded dark spots against the background of ice fields. The diameter of the spots is from ten to several hundred meters. Hungarian biologists suggest that organisms live under the surface of the ice, using the energy of the Sun and melting the ice during the Martian summer, which is why dark spots appear - oases of life. ... >>

Mice eat birds 20.11.2001

Zoologists of the Spanish National Park Doñana, having studied the droppings of a bat living here - a giant evening bat (wingspan - up to half a meter), found that it does not disdain small birds. Feathers in the litter are found seasonally, in spring and autumn, when migratory representatives of the passerine family fly in masses from Africa to Europe and back through the Iberian Peninsula. They fly mainly at night when it is not so hot, which makes them ideal prey for predatory bats. In the rest of the seasons, the giant evening eats insects, as it should be for bats. Zoologists emphasize that bats are more maneuverable in the air than many birds, and in addition they are armed with an ultrasonic locator. ... >>

You hear - virus 19.11.2001

Biochemists at the University of Cambridge (England) offer a new way to detect viruses - by sound. A quartz piezocrystal is immersed in a liquid, for example, in a blood sample, where one or another virus is searched for, the surface of which is dressed with antibodies to this virus. Virus particles stick to antibodies. After that, the crystal is brought into oscillation, gradually increasing their frequency. At a certain frequency, the viruses adhering to the antibodies begin to detach from the surface of the quartz, and this detachment process is accompanied by clicks that the ear cannot distinguish, but the electronics notice. If there were no viruses in the liquid, there will be no clicks. Successful experiments have been carried out on herpes viruses. After the summer epidemic of FMD in the UK, the issue of rapid diagnosis of viral diseases is acute. It took up to five days to analyze the blood of sick animals. The new detector allows you to do this instantly. True, it will not come to its practical application immediately - debugging of the method is needed. ... >>

Passive smoking and heart disease 18.11.2001

Inhaling smoke from other people's cigarettes for just two hours is fraught with changes in cardiac activity and significantly increases the likelihood of a heart attack. This conclusion was made by Dr. Arden Pope from Provo University (USA). The heart rate varies depending on external conditions and the state of the body. In people who have breathed someone else's tobacco smoke, the ability to change this frequency is limited, and the heart cannot quickly respond to changes in the situation, and even the smallest concentrations of smoke are sufficient to disrupt cardiac activity. 30 minutes after smoke inhalation, non-smokers' blood flow slows down. According to another study, after smoking one cigarette, there are dramatic changes in the function of the main "pumping chamber" - the heart. ... >>

Memory shirt 15.11.2001

Florence-based Italian haute couture firm Corpo Novo has created a men's shirt that rolls up its sleeves when the wearer gets hot. In addition, it must be ironed not with an iron, but with a hairdryer. The fact is that for every five fibers of nylon in the material of the shirt, there is one thin wire made of nitinol - an alloy with shape memory. Products from this alloy, if they are given a certain shape at a certain temperature, and then this shape is changed, upon returning to the critical temperature, they “remember” the given configuration. So, if you roll up the sleeves of this shirt and heat it up to, say, 35 degrees, and then cool the fabric and lower the sleeves, then when they reach 35 degrees again, they will roll up themselves. In the same way, it is enough to iron this shirt once, for example, with an iron with a temperature of 50 degrees. Then you can crumple it however you like. After heating to this temperature, it will smooth itself out, each fold will straighten out. The miracle shirt has only two drawbacks: making an op ... >>

Hydrogen moped 14.11.2001

The Italian bicycle company Aprilia, in collaboration with the German company Novars and American scientists, has developed a hydrogen-powered moped. Gas from a two-liter cylinder enters the fuel cell, mounted under the steering wheel, where it is oxidized on the catalyst with atmospheric oxygen and produces electricity that rotates the electric motor. On a supply of hydrogen, you can drive 100 kilometers at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. The fuel cell weighs 780 grams and produces 670 watts of power - about a horsepower. The hydrogen moped is silent and does not poison the air: its exhaust gases consist of water vapor. ... >>

Permafrost under threat 13.11.2001

It would seem that the problem of thawing permafrost due to global warming can only affect Russia, Canada and Alaska, and to some extent the Scandinavian countries. However, there is also permafrost in Switzerland, here it occupies 5% of the territory, and another 1900% are glaciers. Of course, these areas are in the Alps, but the Swiss Alps are largely inhabited, they have a lot of buildings. Swiss climatologists report that avalanches and rockfalls have become more frequent near the lower boundary of permafrost in the mountains. The supports of ski lifts, cable cars and funiculars are under threat. The total length of these roads is XNUMX kilometers, in addition, some power transmission lines stand on the permafrost. About three hundred Swiss cableways run through the permafrost. Now all this economy needs enhanced control. The French name of this peak means "white mountain", but now Mont Blanc has practically lost its snow cap. ... >>

The rain can dry 10.11.2001

Until now, in order to prevent rain, the clouds were seeded with silver iodide or dry ice. This made it possible to cause the condensation of the smallest drops in them into larger ones, unable to stay in the air and falling out on the way to the object that needs to be protected from precipitation. Now there is another way: the clouds can be dried. The American firm Dyn-O-Mat has developed a polymer powder, each grain of which absorbs 2000 times more water than it weighs. Having scattered 4 tons of this powder from an airplane over a thundercloud measuring 4000 by 1600 meters, the company's specialists made it disappear right before our eyes. Soaked with water, polymer particles fall to the ground and gradually decompose without causing harm to people and the environment. ... >>

Hand washing helps with colds 09.11.2001

An interesting experiment is reported by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The Marine unit was ordered to wash their hands at least five times a day. To make things easier, liquid soap dispensers have been installed at all water taps in the barracks, canteen and club. As a result, the number of colds in the unit was reduced by 45%. Although cold viruses are mainly transmitted by airborne droplets, contact is also important. Coughing into his palm, the person grabbed the door handle with this hand, and the next one who touched this handle would then scratch his nose - that's where the infection occurred. Doctors emphasize that washing hands more often is not harmful even to civilians, even to those who have a clean job. ... >>

Pedestrian crossing lights up 07.11.2001

Belgian inventor Tony Cavaleri proposes to make zebra stripes luminous to improve the safety of pedestrian crossings. Lamps covered with durable glass are embedded in the asphalt. They light up automatically as soon as a person approaches the transition. During the day, the brightness of the light is increased, at night it automatically decreases. In particularly dangerous places, such as schools, the light may flash periodically while people are walking along the luminous stripes. The new system received an award at one of the exhibitions of inventions. Luminous transitions are now being tested in Belgium, France and Holland, the Americans expressed their interest. ... >>

Smoke with a yoke 05.11.2001

After analyzing air samples from a Buddhist temple in Taiwan, researchers at a local university concluded that the constant burning of incense sticks made the air at the shrine more dangerous to health than the air at a busy downtown intersection. The content of benzopyrene - a substance that causes lung cancer - in the air of the temple was 45 times higher than in a smoky room, and 118 times higher than in a room without smokers. The amount of smoke in a temple depends on the number of believers in it. On major holidays, hundreds of incense sticks burn at once in the temple. Sometimes the smoke makes it impossible to see the opposite wall. The number of micron-sized particles suspended in the air is three times greater than at a busy intersection. ... >>

The first Americans were Japanese 04.11.2001

The first people who came to America from Asia may have been the descendants of one of the ancient peoples of Japan. A comparison of two thousand ancient and modern human skulls collected around the world showed that the closest relatives of the first Americans were the ancient Japanese, whose civilization belonged to the so-called Jomon culture (VIII - I millennium BC), and the Ainu - also ancient , albeit a younger people who inhabited the northern part of the Japanese islands. It was the representatives of these two peoples who crossed the Bering Strait 15 thousand years ago (at that time there was an isthmus in its place) and first settled in Alaska, and a thousand years later they reached Cape Horn - the end of South America. Modern Japanese still retain some of the features of the people of the Jomon era. The same traits are seen in the American Indians of the Sioux, Blackfoot, and Cherokee tribes. evidence that the ancient Japanese were skilled shipbuilders and probably sailed south along the west coast of America, founding settlements ... >>

Computers for the blind 02.11.2001

The Israeli company "Virtach" has begun production of a computer mouse that allows the blind to use a computer. On the "back" of the mouse, there are three panels with protruding movable rods that translate text from the monitor screen into raised Braille. In addition, the mouse can tell in a synthesized voice where the cursor is located on the screen, what object it is pointing at. The system allows the blind not only to read from the screen, but also to engage in computer graphics and even play computer games. And the Japan Space Agency has developed a monitor with 3072 retractable pins that allows you to perceive images by touch. True, the clarity of images is reduced compared to a conventional monitor by a hundred times. ... >>

Plus 14 years to smoker age 29.10.2001

Every 20 years of smoking ages your skin by an additional 14 years. This conclusion was made by researchers from the English Institute of Dermatology of St. John in London. They found that tobacco triggers the action of a special enzyme that breaks down collagen, the main elastic component of the skin that prevents wrinkles. Normally, this enzyme works during the growth of the body, destroying some skin structures so that they can be renewed. The action of the enzyme is usually inhibited by a special inhibitor, but one of the thousands of compounds contained in tobacco smoke - it is not yet known which one - removes the inhibitory effect. Collagen is destroyed irreversibly, and no creams or ointments can restore it. So, someone who started smoking at 15 looks like he is 35 by the age of 49. ... >>

Airplane comfort and dryness 28.10.2001

An adult human is 60% water. With exhaled air and evaporation through the skin, each of us releases about 100 ml of water per hour - half a glass. Therefore, in a Boeing that takes 350 passengers on board and delivers them from London to Sydney in 17 hours, approximately 600 liters of water accumulates in the gap between the outer durable shell and the inner skin, condensing on cold metal. This does not benefit aircraft structures and cables laid between the walls. It is believed that due to water condensation in the hull, a DC-11 liner of the Swiss company Swissair could have died a few years ago off the coast of America. Sometimes the moisture accumulated in the tail unit freezes and the rudders stop turning. It is also important that the humidity in the cabin drops to 20%, while 40% is considered comfortable humidity. The Swedish company CTT Systems has developed an installation that removes this problem. The air from the cab is passed through a moisture absorber - silica gel and enters the ... >>

Buffaloes in Germany 22.10.2001

Epidemics of "mad cow disease" and foot-and-mouth disease in Western Europe are forcing farmers to look for other sources of milk and meat. There are now 700 buffaloes grazing in the grasslands of Germany, and soon there will be many more - so promises the newly formed union of buffalo farmers. Mostly animals are imported from Italy, Bulgaria and Romania. Buffalo meat costs twice as much as beef, but it has 70% less cholesterol, and buffalo milk is significantly superior to cow's milk in fat content and protein content (although milk yields are ten times less than in modern highly productive livestock breeds). ... >>

eye manometer 21.10.2001

A miniature sensor embedded in an artificial lens allows you to constantly measure the pressure of the intraocular fluid. This is important for people suffering from glaucoma. Knowing how the pressure in the eye changes, you can take medication on time. The pressure data is transmitted by radio waves to a receiver built into the eyeglass frame, where it is recorded and can be read by a computer. The sensor does not have its own battery, it is powered by a recording device in glasses through an induction connection. The system was developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (Germany). Now it is being tested in the clinic and can be widely used by the end of this year. ... >>

Outboard motor for wheelchair 19.10.2001

A wheel with a wheel like a bicycle and an electric motor is hung on almost any wheelchair in 10 minutes, turning it into a self-propelled one. The whole set-top box, together with the battery, weighs 18 kilograms. The motorized chair is able to move off-road at a speed of about 18 kilometers per hour, on flat asphalt the speed is one and a half times higher. With a single charge, the chair travels 25 - 30 kilometers, and recharging the battery takes 4 hours. By the way, the English invalid Vincent Ross invented this unit, at first only for himself, and now serial production has been established. ... >>

The bird flies out and helps catch the robber 18.10.2001

Experienced photographers know that when you're shooting a dog or a small child, snapping your fingers or whistling to get your subject to look directly at the camera is a must. A purely instinctive reaction to search for the source of an unexpected sound is triggered (academician Pavlov called it the "what is it?" reflex). Professor Deborah Widington from the University of the English city of Leeds suggests using a similar method to catch criminals. TV cameras placed in shops and banks do not always catch the image of a robber in full face. For more successful video shooting, you need to combine a camera with a speaker that emits a specially synthesized sharp sound with a wide frequency spectrum at the time of shooting. As experiments have shown, it is simply impossible not to turn to him, and a recognizable portrait of a robber is almost guaranteed. ... >>

see the wind 17.10.2001

Ford chemists have created a paint that changes color with air pressure. No, Fords are not going to be painted with new paint so that the owner can predict the weather by changing the color of his car when the pressure changes. The paint is intended for testing new models in a wind tunnel. The distribution of air flow around the car is clearly reflected in its color. True, the color changes are very small, and in order to make them noticeable, the image from the TV camera is additionally processed on a computer. ... >>

Internet in the elevator 14.10.2001

It is estimated that the average elevator ride in American cities is between 1,5 and 2,5 minutes, and an office building employee makes an average of six such rides a day. In order not to be bored on the way, the American company Captivate Networks has been installing liquid crystal monitors in elevators since 1998. They broadcast from the Internet the latest political and sports news, weather forecasts, traffic jams in the city, stock prices, information about changes in train and plane schedules, and so on. These information headings change each other every 10 seconds, and the news package is updated every 20 minutes. But it is impossible to call any information on the screen yourself - see what they give. Up to 30% of the screen is occupied by ads. Elevators in 650 skyscrapers in the US and Canada are now equipped with the Internet. ... >>

Problem: Too little ice and snow on the roads 12.10.2001

Due to global warming, there is too little ice and snow on the roads of Iceland in winter. If the ice disappeared completely, then the Icelanders would give up their habit of driving on studded tires, but the difficulty is precisely that it is too early to give up studs. Driving through ice-free areas, cars not only spoil the road surface, but also raise clouds of fine dust into the air - concrete ground with spikes. Doctors say that a person who regularly inhales such dust can develop silicosis at best, and lung cancer at worst. The same problem arose in some Scandinavian countries. To study the damage caused by studs, experts from the University of Newcastle (England) are driving a 14-ton truck on studded tires along a concrete ring. The task of the experiments is to choose a brand of concrete that will better withstand abrasion and dust, from which it will not be so dangerous for the lungs. ... >>

Oil car 11.10.2001

Twenty-year-old student from Germany, Alexander Ios, a future mechanical engineer, converted his car from diesel fuel to vegetable oil. To do this, a second tank had to be added to the fuel supply scheme: the engine starts on conventional diesel fuel, and then switches to rapeseed oil. In addition, since the viscosity of the oil, especially in winter, is too high, Ios built a heat exchanger in its path, in which the oil is heated to 120 degrees Celsius before being injected into the cylinders from the heat of an already running engine. Alexander has already driven 12000 kilometers on vegetable oil, his car is successfully passing technical inspections. Instead of poisonous exhausts, it spreads a pleasant smell of fried potatoes. ... >>

If a child found a gun 07.10.2001

The current study was conducted by American specialists in child psychology. The experiment involved 64 boys aged 8 to 12 years. The child was brought to the polyclinic ostensibly for a medical examination and left alone in an empty office for several minutes. There was an unloaded .38 pistol in the desk drawer. After sitting idle for a while, almost all the boys looked at the table. The purpose of the experiments was to determine what the average child would do with the weapons found. It turned out that 75% take out a gun and examine it, 50% understand that the gun is not a toy, and almost half pull the trigger. ... >>

Bath of the Mayan Indians 03.10.2001

English archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a bathhouse in the Central American state of Belize, in which the ancient Mayans soared 900 years before our era. In this adobe structure with internal reed reinforcement, there was a hearth and a shallow ditch where coals and stones heated in the hearth were put. Apparently, the people sitting around the ditch, from time to time poured water over its red-hot contents. ... >>

Autumn children live longer 01.10.2001

According to statistics from the Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock (Germany), people born between October and December live an average of six months longer than those who were born in April - June. The array of processed information covers more than a million data on the dates of birth and death of citizens of Austria and Denmark. When data on the inhabitants of Australia were brought in for comparison, it turned out that those born in the second quarter, when it is autumn there, have an advantage in the Southern Hemisphere. It is believed that the point here is the saturation of the mother's food with vitamins during pregnancy. ... >>

Electric clipper for hair in the nose and ears 25.09.2001

The device contains two curved, high-speed blades made of stainless steel. Hair trimming is silent and vibration-free. The working surface of the machine is rounded. Its body is made of durable plastic. Works from one battery. Dimensions: height - 12 cm, diameter - 3 cm. Weight 115 g. ... >>

Ultra slim CD player 15.09.2001

The CD player is only 1,5 cm thick and no more than 15 cm in diameter. High-quality sound is provided by headphones. The kit also includes a wired remote control, placed in one of the pockets of clothing. The digital display shows the sequence of musical melodies, the minutes and seconds of their playback, as well as the playback time of the entire CD as a whole. A line output is provided for connecting the player to stationary sound-amplifying equipment at home. From a set of batteries it can work continuously for up to 3,5 days. At the end of the housing there is a socket for external connection of the power adapter. ... >>

Humidifier Purifier 05.09.2001

The only one of its kind and unparalleled small-sized and simple device for cleaning, humidifying and sterilizing the air of residential and small industrial rooms. Polluted dry air is sucked into the device and enters the lamellar drums with a high specific surface area (up to 4,2 sq. m), rotating in water. Mechanical dust particles (up to one micron in size) linger and settle in the aquatic environment. At the same time, clean water is intensively evaporated from the large surface of the drums. The ambient air is optimally humidified. In small quantities (up to 50 ml), a bioabsorber is added to the water, which neutralizes pathogenic bacteria and other impurities of the air being cleaned. It is said that the famous Spanish tenor X. Carreras uses this particular air purifier in the rooms where he prepares for performances in opera performances and concerts. Once every two weeks, the drums are washed in the shower, and the tray is filled with fresh water and a new portion of bioabsorbent ... >>

From rhubarb - not only compote 31.08.2001

Rhubarb, like many other members of the buckwheat family, contains tannins. German experts suggested using an environmentally friendly extract of rhubarb roots instead of poisonous chromium salts for leather dressing. The harvest per hectare is enough to produce ten thousand pairs of shoes. Automotive firm "Audi" intends to test leather seats, processed in a new way. In addition, the petioles of rhubarb leaves are suitable for the production of detergents. And, as you know, they make delicious compote, and all this without the slightest harm to the environment. ... >>

steam helicopter 27.08.2001

The propeller of a single-seat mini-helicopter, developed in England, is rotated not by a motor, but by jets of water vapor escaping from nozzles at the ends of the blades. Concentrated hydrogen peroxide enters these nozzles through the tubes, the catalyst causes it to decompose there, and it turns into superheated water vapor with a temperature of up to 620 degrees Celsius. Steam breaks free at supersonic speeds, accelerating the rotor to 800 rpm. The steam helicopter reaches speeds of 160 kilometers per hour. ... >>

Football is good for bones 25.08.2001

This conclusion was made by English doctors who studied the preventive effect of various sports against osteoporosis - a disease in which bones become brittle due to loss of calcium. It turned out that the most useful in this regard are fast ball games, which are characterized by frequent changes in rhythm - football, basketball, tennis. Sports such as swimming and cycling have little effect on bone density. Other outdoor activities that help protect bones from osteoporosis include hiking, mowing, bowling, and dancing. Most often, osteoporosis attacks those who like to sit for hours in front of the TV, and least often - those who live in a house without an elevator, and the higher the better. ... >>

Dolphin in the mirror 23.08.2001

American biologist Lori Marino proved unequivocally that dolphins recognize themselves in the mirror. Until now, it was believed that only humans and large apes had this ability. Young dolphins were kept in a large pool, which was connected by an isthmus to a smaller pool, where a mirror was mounted on the wall. Dolphins were called to the shore of a large pool and bright indelible marks were applied to their heads, fins or belly with a special felt-tip pen. After that, the dolphins immediately went to the neighboring pool to look at their reflection. They turned to the mirror those places that the felt-tip pen touched. They were not taught this behavior and received no reward from the experimenters for using the mirror. The dolphins were just curious to see themselves. Some experts believe that those animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror are also capable of certain forms of abstract thinking. ... >>

inflatable bridge 19.08.2001

Italian engineer Marco Peroni proposed a prefabricated footbridge 50 meters long. Its supporting structure is made of fabric (fiberglass fabric) pipes and inflates in a few minutes with a compressor. Plastic plates are placed on top of the inflatable farm - and you can go across the river. The bridge can withstand a load of 40 tons, that is, about 500 people can be on it at the same time - if, of course, such a crowd fits on a small bridge. ... >>

Frescoes sound 18.08.2001

Physicists from the University of Oldenburg (Germany) have proposed a new method for examining ancient frescoes. Sound waves of a certain frequency are sent from the speaker to the walls with paintings. From damaged, crumbling or worn out places, the sound is reflected differently than from whole ones. No need to build bulky scaffolding to get to the ceiling. The first measurements of this kind were carried out in one of the cathedrals in Switzerland. The only drawback of the new technique is that it is too loud. ... >>

China will warm up Japan 17.08.2001

One and only, however, a large hydroelectric power station being built in the PRC can change the climate of Japan. The Three Gorges Power Plant, which is being built on the Yangtze, will have a dam 186 meters high and more than two kilometers long. Behind the dam, a reservoir with a volume of about 40 billion cubic meters is formed. In addition to generating electricity, water from the reservoir will be used to irrigate surrounding fields. Now the Yangtze River carries up to 38 cubic meters of fresh water into the Yellow Sea every second. Being lighter than salty sea water, it is located on top, and a layer of desalinated water prevents warmer sea water from giving up its heat to the atmosphere. Geophysicists' calculations show that if the inflow of fresh water into the sea decreases by only 10 percent, warm waters will rise to the surface and warm the air around the Japanese islands by several degrees. However, whether the calculations are correct can only be verified after construction is completed. The power plant is expected to be completed by the end of this decade. ... >>

To revive, just add water 16.08.2001

Many microorganisms, some unicellular and even multicellular animals and plants are able to dry out and tolerate the absence of water for a long time, and then come to life as soon as water appears. Most of these organisms use the so-called glycoproteins to protect their cells - mucous substances, which are a combination of carbohydrate and protein. But human cells without water die after a few seconds. Biologists from the Genomics Technical Center in Blacksburg (USA), by adding to human kidney cells a slimy glycoprotein derived from nostoc algae (it is part of the mud and can come to life after drying in the sun), were able to dry human cells at room temperature and then revive them . Eight days later, when water was added to the powder from the cells, half of them came to life and resumed division. Why are such experiments carried out? Of course, not in order to get an "instant person." Human cells are used to ... >>

footprints of giants 15.08.2001

Chinese geologists have found 120 footprints up to one and a half meters in diameter on a hillside in Gansu province. These are the largest known dinosaur footprints. About 150 million years ago, a herd of herbivorous lizards with a body length of up to 30 meters passed here. Smaller predatory dinosaurs crept behind the herd. ... >>

Synthetic lift 12.08.2001

According to experts from the Swiss company Schindler, a synthetic cable for an elevator is much safer than a traditional steel one. The new cable is made of aramid polymer fiber, the same fiber used to make bulletproof vests. It is as strong as a steel cable of the same thickness, but four times lighter. In addition, the bending radius allowed for synthetics is half that for a steel cable, so the pulleys in the elevator mechanism can be reduced. And the service life of such a cable is longer than steel. ... >>

Boys to the left, girls to the right 10.08.2001

As observations by French and American ornithologists have shown, albatrosses living on the Crozet Islands in the southern Indian Ocean feed in different places depending on their sex. Males fly to the coast of Antarctica, and females fly to the southern tip of Africa, which is about the same hundreds of miles away. According to scientists, the fact is that stronger winds are characteristic of the Antarctic, and only males, larger and stronger, can cope with them. ... >>

solar stop 05.08.2001

A solar panel was installed on the roof of a pavilion at one of the bus stops in the French town of Lifra. During the day, it accumulates energy, in the evening the time relay turns on the duty light, and the main lamp lights up only if the sensor senses the presence of at least one passenger under the canopy. It would be more expensive to bring the electric cable to the stop. ... >>

To the stars on the printer 04.08.2001

A group of Chinese experts from Tsinghua University in Beijing proposed a steam engine for space flights based on the principle of a modern computer printer. The engine consists of two wafers of silicon less than a square centimeter in area. One of the plates is engraved with a channel for water inflow and a "combustion chamber" where water evaporates when current pulses are applied to a titanium resistor. In another plate - a miniature nozzle (nozzle). Droplets of water, evaporating explosively, create jets of steam that fly out of the nozzle at a speed of 28 meters per second. The energy for the engine can come from solar panels. The steam engine is designed to control the orientation of small artificial satellites weighing up to a kilogram. ... >>

Meteorite from Lake Tagish 01.08.2001

On the night of January 18, 2000, a large meteorite fell on the ice of the Canadian Lake Tagish. It is calculated that before entering the earth's atmosphere, it weighed about 200 tons, but only fragments reached the Earth. Soon an amateur astronomer living nearby arrived on the scene, and then professionals arrived. They collected a lot of fragments from the ice, especially valuable because they fell in an area little affected by man and were soon picked up, not having time to pick up earthly pollution. The first results of the study of the find have now been published. The meteorite, as it turned out, belongs to carbonaceous chondrites - a rare class of meteorites rich in organic compounds. Its age is estimated at 4,5 billion years, that is, it is older than the planets of the solar system. In the selected fragments, there were many hydrocarbon molecules, microscopic diamond crystals, interstellar dust and something like clay. The latter is of particular interest: clay usually forms only in bodies of water, or at least in the presence of ... >>

Drank - come to the tester 25.07.2001

It is enough to breathe into the device, and in seconds it will report the degree of your intoxication. If the blood alcohol content is above the norm, an audible signal will sound, and a warning message will appear on the display screen of the digital tester. The device runs on a single battery. Its size is 12x6x3,5 cm, weight - 150 g ... >>

Large memory audio player 23.07.2001

The compact player, capable of accommodating a selection of music for several hundred hours of stereo sound, has an LCD screen and six function keys. Depending on the model, its memory is designed for a collection of 100 to 400 CDs of standard capacity. To download the memory, the player is connected to a personal computer using a USB cable. The software allows you to read from a CD and memorize pieces of music at different speed modes (five speeds are provided in total). It is possible to download music directly from the Internet. In accordance with a given sequence, the player can select one or another music and play individual melodies or entire blocks. The power source is a lithium battery. The case is made of impact-resistant polycarbonate. Dimensions: length - 15 cm, width - 8 cm, height - 2,5 cm. ... >>

To the music of Vivaldi 17.07.2001

Radio AM-FM/CD player with built-in touch control buttons is waterproof. You can take it with you to the bathroom, hang it or fasten it with a belt to the wall and listen to music or radio broadcasts to the sound of running water - this will not affect the sound quality in any way. Taking a shower, you can look at the clock from time to time (there is also a timer). The radio has five bands. There is also a CD storage device for 21 audio tracks. Radio/CD player dimensions - 17x28x5 cm. ... >>

Digital video recorder 13.07.2001

A digital video recorder that records not on the usual VHS video cassette, but on a permanent hard magnetic disk, is convenient both for operational recordings of television terrestrial and satellite programs, and for recordings set by an electronic timer. Can be used for subsequent dubbing to analog and digital video cassette recorders, DVD recorders. The reproduced images do not differ from those coming to the screen from the TV center. Depending on the model, the recording time is 20-40 hours. ... >>

Manual navigator 10.07.2001

In a matter of minutes, a hand-held navigator will determine the optimal route for your movement from your location to a hotel, gas station, restaurant, medical institution, shopping center, car parking and other 100 different city service points. The device will quickly provide information about the points through which you have to pass. It will warn about the road patrol, the state of the route, inform the reference phones of the hydrometeorological center and local hotels, show the estimated travel time on high-speed and local roads in 12 cities. Tips on the display screen will be, by the way, when approaching the border of the region, crossing it, approaching the highway junction. ... >>

Digital voice recorder with laser beam 02.07.2001

The easy-to-use digital audio recorder is ideal for recording 138 minutes of normal mode interviews and 69 minutes of fast mode interviews. The recorder is equipped with a laser beam pointing at the sound source, a built-in microphone and a loudspeaker. With a memory of 8 megabytes, it stores up to 99 messages with their serial numbers on the LCD screen. Operated by buttons "on", fast "rewind" forward and backward. There is an automatic shutdown mode. Erasing the record is done by pressing one button. Can be connected to an external speaker, computer, cassette deck with standard input jacks. Dimensions: length - 15 cm, diameter - 2 cm. ... >>

Barrier for rodents 29.06.2001

The device, connected to the mains, creates ultrasonic waves that penetrate walls, ceilings, floors and expel rodents (mice and rats) from the places where they built their nests. One device is designed for an average area of ​​250 m2 and does not damage computer networks, it is safe for children and pets - cats and dogs. ... >>

The camera takes pictures and instantly prints 25.06.2001

The latest digital camera, with just one button press, allows you not only to take pictures, view frames on the LCD screen, but also instantly print them without the help of a computer. High quality photo image with a resolution of 1600x1200 pixels is achieved by XNUMXx optical and XNUMXx digital zoom. The camera provides sequential photography in QuickTime (quick time) mode, which allows you to shoot short scenes. It also provides a variety of mounting functions. ... >>

Electronic chess player 23.06.2001

Any beginner can become an expert in the game of chess using a pocket computer chess player with a thousand game levels and variations of sixteen world famous matches. The teaching electronic module on a large liquid crystal display allows you to quickly and confidently solve complex problems in chess situations. Dimensions of the electronic chess partner - 15x6x2,5 cm. ... >>

Rotating TV 20.06.2001

The TV on a 360-degree freely rotating stand is convenient to watch from anywhere in the room. The stand is made of rolled steel with spraying and polished coating. The massive base - 56 cm in diameter - makes it stable and completely safe. For greater reliability, a TV with a diagonal screen up to 80 cm is attached with a removable strap. Power cords and antennas are not visible, they are passed through an opening made inside the curved leg. If necessary, an additional bracket for installing a player or VCR can be mounted. ... >>

LED flashlight 17.06.2001

The light of the flashlight is visible from a distance of more than 1,5 km! Four light-emitting diodes are used as a light source, they are practically unbreakable, withstand a fall from a height of 10 m and have a long service life - up to 100 hours, or, in terms of years, 000 years of intensive use (of course, with recharging the cells). Laboratory studies have shown that you can read with an electronic flashlight even after four weeks of continuous operation. Flashlight weight - 11 g, length - 200 cm. ... >>

Electric Bike 10.06.2001

The electric motor can be installed on any bike within 10 seconds. It works silently. The high-strength plastic motor housing with built-in headlight mounts to the bike frame without any tools. The lead battery is used for 50 minutes and then recharged. The maximum speed of a bicycle with an electric motor is 16 km/h. The drive traction system is practically not subject to aging or wear. The weight of the electric motor is 4 kg. ... >>

Rescue cuff 05.06.2001

A special cuff, reminiscent of a turtle, is tightly fastened to the child's wrist: a special key is needed to remove it. Inside the cuff is a pressure sensor. When a child is immersed in water, the device immediately emits a piercing sound. The signal is immediately fixed at the receiving device. It operates at a distance of up to 30 m from the pool or pond. While swimming, it’s a good idea to equip guests who have been spree in this way. You can also take care of the dog if it gets tired quickly when swimming. A rescue cuff is attached to her collar. The receiver measuring 15x5x5 cm is powered by the mains. ... >>

Traces of ancient tides 30.04.2001

In southern Africa, in the valley of the Sheba River, layered deposits were found that arose 3,2 billion years ago as a result of tides (then this area was on the ocean). Since the tides arise under the influence of the Moon's attraction, geologists calculated from the thickness of the layers and the distance between them that the Moon then revolved around the Earth in about 20 days (now - in 27). Moreover, the study of the South African layers suggests that the Moon's orbit was then closer to a circle than to an ellipse, which means that, most likely, the Moon was not an independent body captured by the Earth. The new find supports the hypothesis that our satellite is a piece of the Earth knocked out of it during a powerful collision with some other celestial body. ... >>

Disposable mobile phone 29.04.2001

American inventor Randy Altshul has developed a "disposable" cell phone. Already this summer, two models will be offered to customers: one will only allow you to make calls yourself, the other will also allow you to receive calls. A simpler one will be sold for $10, a more complex one - $2-3 more (although some economists believe that such a price can only be advertising, temporary - it will not pay back the expenses of the manufacturer and the telephone company). Both models have the appearance of a plate the size of a credit card, but thicker than it. They have all the really necessary properties of a conventional mobile phone. Reduced size and prices are explained by the fact that the disposable phone is devoid of all sorts of gadgets such as a phone book, electronic games, dictation dialing, Internet access, and so on, and the built-in six-volt battery cannot be charged. The phone uses two microcircuits, all connections between them and other parts are printed with conductive ink ... >>

Computer folds in four 28.04.2001

The prototype portable computer, proposed by the American firm Volan Design, folds into a box the size of an average book - 12,7 by 17,8 centimeters and 2,5 centimeters thick. And opening it, we get a full-fledged computer with sound speakers. The issue of serial production is being considered. ... >>

Music from the machine 27.04.2001

In some stores in Boston (USA), vending machines selling music in computer MP3 format appeared. This recording method, developed several years ago in Germany, allows you to burn the contents of 12 ordinary CDs on one CD with almost imperceptible loss of quality, but you need a computer to listen to the music recorded in this way. Music in MP3 format can be recorded not only on a disc, but also on the chip of a special player, which can be very portable - for example, the size of a key chain. In about a minute, 7 - 8 compositions of medium length are loaded into such a player from a vending machine. ... >>

New camel 26.04.2001

In the sand dunes of the Chinese province of Xinjiang, a new species of two-humped camel has been discovered, characterized by the ability to drink salt water. A DNA analysis of the new species, carried out by Chinese and South African geneticists, showed that it differs from other camels by three percent of its genome. External differences from ordinary Bactrians are smaller and wider-spaced humps. Found four herds, a total of about a thousand animals. The Chinese authorities are now organizing a reserve with a total area of ​​150 square kilometers to protect the new species. It is believed that by genetic engineering it will be possible to transfer genes to ordinary domestic camels that allow these animals to live on salt water. ... >>

Diagnosis by phone 25.04.2001

25.04.2001/XNUMX/XNUMX The pulse and breathing rate of its owner can be determined from the signal of a cell phone, even if he does not answer calls. A group of engineers from the American firm "Bell" drew attention to the fact that part of the radio waves emitted by the telephone antenna is reflected from the chest, heart and lungs of its carrier. And since these organs move rhythmically, the frequency of the reflected waves changes accordingly due to the Doppler effect. These fluctuations are very small - only one billionth part, but they can be caught. Engineers are now going to add a small circuit to the mobile phone that will detect Doppler changes and transmit information about them to the base station, where processing will extract information about the vital signs of the person in whose hand or pocket the phone is located. To get information about the work of the heart and lungs, just call the device. The Doppler information will be superimposed on the return signal indicating that the called phone is on and ... >>

Hydrogen from nuts 24.04.2001

The world's largest producer of hazelnuts is Turkey. About 250 tons of walnut shells have to be burned there every year. Turkish engineer Murat Doglu, who works at the University of Newcastle (England), discovered that by loading this waste into a simple gas generator, combustible gas can be obtained. Up to 15 percent of its volume is hydrogen, the rest is carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and nitrogen. Methane with carbon monoxide is able to react with water vapor, giving carbon dioxide and hydrogen. So the shells accumulating in Turkey can produce 6 tons of hydrogen. This fuel is enough for a thousand passenger cars with engines adapted for hydrogen to travel around the globe around the equator. ... >>

Volcanoes and plague 23.04.2001

Climatologist Richard Stothers from the Goddard Institute for Space Research (USA), having studied historical documents, ice samples drilled from great depths of the Greenland glaciers, and rings on cuts of old trees, claims to have found a connection between large volcanic eruptions and plague epidemics. Over the past 2000 years, there have been seven powerful eruptions, each of which has thrown at least one hundred million tons of dust and gases into the atmosphere. And in five cases out of seven, an epidemic of bubonic plague swept through the Old World shortly after the eruption. Volcanic dust brought into the upper atmosphere weakens solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. As a result, cold air currents are shifting to the south, in Europe and the Middle East the climate becomes colder and more humid, which contributes to the spread of plague bacilli. Plague-carrying rats try to stay closer to human dwellings and food supplies because of the cold snap. Then the epidemic begins. ... >>

The medicine speaks for itself 22.04.2001

It is often difficult for an elderly person to read the instructions for a medicine printed in small print. In the US alone, it is estimated that 98000 people die every year and up to XNUMX million are hospitalized due to medication errors. The American firm "InVision" proposes to hide in a cork or under the label of a medicine bottle a microchip, which contains information about the medicine and the rules for its use. If you bring a miniature speech synthesizer to the bottle, this pocket device will read aloud the name of the medicine, the name and phone number of the doctor, the dose size and the rules for taking it. Volume and reading speed can be adjusted. ... >>

Flight boots 21.04.2001

Moving around the space station in zero gravity, it would seem, is easy: you have to grab onto the walls and push off objects. But, having pushed off, it is no longer possible to slow down or change the direction of the flight, and at speeds developed in zero gravity, this can be dangerous. American engineer Philip Watts and physiologist David Carrier propose to give astronauts the means for controlled zero-gravity navigation. If you stand on the scales, raise an umbrella above your head and start clapping it, opening and closing. At the moment the umbrella is closed, the scale will show a noticeable decrease in weight. This force of repulsion from the air in zero gravity will be enough for movement. But the umbrella is too bulky, and the suit with wings like a bat proved to be ineffective. Since human legs are stronger than arms, the researchers suggest using mainly legs to fly around the station. A simple option is boots with elastic opening bells, which you can sort of run through the air, starting from it. For bo ... >>

Possum antidote 19.04.2001

As American biologists have discovered, the marsupial animal opossum, which looks like a rat, is naturally immune to the poisons of various snakes. From the blood serum of the opossum, a substance called the "neutralization factor of lethal toxins" was isolated, which, in experiments on mice, was able to neutralize lethal doses of various snake venoms, as well as venoms of scorpions and tarantulas. The found substance is a large protein molecule, too complex for mass synthesis. However, the biochemist B. Lipps was able to break a long molecule into several short segments and found that the resulting peptides - pieces of 10 - 15 amino acids are effective against many poisons of animal, plant and bacterial origin. These peptides can be synthesized artificially and injected into the blood of the poisoned. ... >>

Where does the rumor come from 18.04.2001

The Swiss company "Agence Virtuell" has launched a system for tracking information sources on the Internet. More than eight million new pages and new texts on old pages appear on the World Wide Web every day. A program similar to conventional search engines goes through all this, looking for given keywords. By registering the place and time of the first appearance of the information you are interested in, the system allows you to understand "where the legs grow from." This way, for example, one can identify the source of false rumors launched by a stock speculator about the fall of the shares of a company or find anonymous distributors of slander. ... >>

Haymaking with a laser 17.04.2001

At the annual exhibition of garden equipment in Frankfurt am Main (Germany), everyone's attention was attracted by the prototype of the laser lawn mower "Zero", released by the company "Wolf Garten". Four lasers cut the grass at a given level, maintaining the cutting height with an accuracy of one millimeter. The cut grass is then dried and ground inside the lawn mower into powder, which is immediately applied to the lawn soil along with mineral fertilizers. When the supply of fertilizer or gasoline runs out, the mower itself contacts suppliers via the Internet and places an order. "Zero" means "zero": the developers wanted to emphasize that their offspring can cut grass "to zero", noise and waste are zero, wear on the cutting unit is zero, and the owner also has zero worries. But the German magazine "Der Spiegel", which told about the novelty, believes that the demand for these laser-Internet delights will be zero. ... >>

Keys in the hole 13.04.2001

A strange-looking, but comfortable and effective keyboard for a computer began to be produced by a small American company, Kinesis. The main keys are collected in two holes - for the left and right hand. Auxiliary are under the thumbs. When typing, the brushes comfortably rest on the inclined board of the keyboard; the way of moving the fingers is significantly reduced. The submerged layout of the keys has reduced the overall size of the keyboard, so that, according to the manufacturer, you can put the mouse with its mousepad closer to your hand, and in general there is more free space on the table. Those who have tested the novelty say that it may take at least a month to relearn from a conventional keyboard. ... >>

Monitor for the blind 12.04.2001

A US-designed braille computer monitor allows the blind to read text files or email from a computer. On the surface of the spinning wheel, pegs protrude, folding into letters of Braille text. Until now, there were fixed displays of this type, on the screen of which only 70 - 80 letters were given out in portions, but here the reading is a continuous stream, the speed of which can be adjusted. In addition, the new display is about 15 times cheaper than a fixed-screen braille monitor. ... >>

Homeopathy for pigs 11.04.2001

Antibiotics are often used to prevent livestock diseases in animal husbandry and poultry farming. Their residues can accumulate in meat, milk and eggs, in addition, prophylactic doses of antibiotics can "educate" drug-resistant strains of pathogens. German veterinarians suggest using homeopathic remedies in animal husbandry. Taking 1440 piglets, the experimenters divided them into three groups. The first group received the usual doses of antibiotics, the second - homeopathic medicines, the third - a placebo (the same pills containing a neutral filler). It turned out that piglets treated with homeopathic remedies were sick less often than the other two groups. In order to achieve the same state of health in the first group, the doses of antibiotics had to be increased. Under a new law that came into force in Germany last fall, livestock products are allowed to be labeled "organic" (and charge higher prices) only if the animals are not more ... >>

Electric current against fouling 08.04.2001

Seaweed, crustaceans, barnacles, worms and other organisms settle in tons on the bottoms of ships, making it difficult to move and causing them to waste extra energy. A reliable remedy has been used against foulers for about half a century - poisonous paints based on tributyltin, but this toxic compound gradually dissolves in water, poisoning even those organisms that are not going to interfere with sailors. From 2003, the use of tributyltin will be banned internationally. A safe substitute was found by oceanologists from the German company Bioplan. They cover the bottom of the vessel with electrically conductive paint and supply a weak direct current to it. Hydrolysis occurs in a thin layer of water in contact with the ship's hull. Water is saturated with hydrogen ions and becomes acidic, which repels foulers. The strength of the current is constantly changing, sometimes to zero, and this does not allow foulers to adapt to changing acidity. The system can be turned off in winter (in cold water, most marine organisms do not ... >>

Come in, you'll be sniffed here 05.04.2001

Employees of the University of Pennsylvania (USA) propose to install at airports and train stations a device they have developed - a cabin in which each passenger will be sniffed by an electronic nose. Its sensitivity, higher than that of a dog's nose, makes it possible to confidently detect traces of drugs and explosives on the clothes and skin of a person entering the cabin in a few seconds. In the future, it is planned to adapt this device for use in security checkpoints: the individual smells of employees who are allowed access will be entered into the device’s memory. ... >>

Detective on the phone 04.04.2001

In the Morse code era, radio operators easily recognized each other by the way they worked on the key. A reconnaissance radio operator, forced to work under the control of the enemy, could hint at his lack of freedom by slightly changing the features of his "handwriting". Now in England, an artificial intelligence-based program has been created that can detect the individual characteristics of your use of a mobile phone and raise an alarm if these characteristics suddenly change. More than 15 cell phones are stolen every month in the UK alone. According to the Swedish firm Ericsson, phone companies lose 2 to 5 percent of their profits from calls made using stolen phones. Researchers at the Intelligent Systems Laboratory at University College London have found that the numbers you dial, the pace you dial, the length of calls you make, the time you usually call somewhere, are individual traits that rarely change significantly. The corresponding program running in the phone ... >>

Computer with a smell 03.04.2001

The French firms Digissan and France Telecom intend to introduce odors into the Internet. Two "aromatic columns" are connected to the computer, which contain a supply of several basic aromatic substances. Following the signals coming from the corresponding page on the Internet, the column fans mix the basic smells in certain proportions, obtaining a programmed aroma. For example, when browsing the pages of a company that sells kitchen furniture, the computer smells of the aromas of cooking dishes, and the page of a travel company will please you with the smells of exotic flowers or sea freshness. According to the developers, by the beginning of next year, their devices will be able to synthesize 200 different smells. ... >>

The priest had a dog 01.04.2001

The experiment, as if inspired by this endless folk poem, was conducted by employees of the Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig (Germany). Studying the dependence of the behavior of dogs on the presence of a person, they put some tidbit on the floor in front of the dog and strictly forbade touching it. While the experimenter remained in the room, the dog most often did not have enough food, but after his exit, no more than 5 seconds passed before the forbidden piece disappeared. Then human behavior was made more diverse. In some experiments, while in the room, he looked directly at the dog, in others he sat with his back to it or closed his eyes, or even played computer games. Conclusion: dogs are able to vigilantly follow the direction of a person’s gaze. If the experimenter did not look directly at the animal, the amount of food eaten contrary to the prohibition doubled. When a person looked at a dog, then, if she did grab food, in 75% of cases she did it stealthily - walked in circles around the room, as if not paying attention ... >>

Mobile phone helps to find a person 31.03.2001

It turns out that a mobile phone can be used to search for victims of earthquakes and determine the state of health of the injured person. Researchers at Bell Labs in New Jersey have made a discovery that could soon lead to a new technique for finding living people under the rubble of buildings destroyed by an earthquake or other natural disaster. Scientists have found that heartbeats and breathing can reveal the analysis of changes in the frequency of the transmitter of cell phones. It turned out that the pulse and breathing of a person, which cause slight fluctuations in the surface of the body, change the frequency of the radiation of a mobile phone. The reason for this is the Doppler effect, which consists in changing the wavelength of the radiation of an object that moves relative to the observer. In order to use the detected phenomenon in real conditions, it is necessary to modify the mobile phone itself and make changes to the software of mobile communication networks, where such signals are currently ... >>

Self-healing synthetic material 28.03.2001

Scientists at the University of Illinois (USA) announced the invention of a new synthetic material capable of self-healing. In the course of research in the field of composites, scientists came up with the idea of ​​filling them with microscopic capsules containing a special filling substance and a catalyst. When the smallest cracks appear in the material, the capsules burst and release a substance that fills the resulting space. As soon as the filling substance reacts with the catalyst, polymerization occurs and the damaged area is repaired. In the tests carried out, the mechanical characteristics of the material were restored by 75%. Currently, scientists are experimenting with various composites, which include from 15 to 30 capsules per square centimeter. Experiments show that products made from this material are many times more durable than those made from a conventional composite. The new material is not yet ready for industrial use. However, experts are already predicting ... >>

External keyboard for mobile devices 27.03.2001

AlphaGrip is developing an ingenious device that can significantly increase the productivity of handheld users who have a keyboard that is either too small or does not exist at all and must resort to handwriting. In appearance, AlphaGrip resembles a toy studded with buttons. They are located on several panels: two main panels on the front of the device and several buttons on the back. The front covers the entire alphanumeric range. The rear ones are designed for games - with them AlphaGrip turns into a game pad. The highlight is that, when working with AlphaGrip, the palms are located not horizontally, but almost vertically, and at the same time they are fixed in space by the curvature of the surface. Although this approach is unusual, it actually allows you to achieve fast blind typing - the user learns it in a few hours. The device operates in several modes: in addition to working as a remote keyboard for PC, handheld ... >>

Liquid nitrogen will help the development of space tourism 25.03.2001

A new way of fueling the reusable spacecraft (RSSC) may soon make space tourism quite affordable. The secret of the new technology is to get liquid oxygen directly from the atmosphere. The proposed refueling system, called "Alchemist", will allow an aircraft comparable in size to a Boeing 777 aircraft to take off from a conventional airfield. Since up to 90% of the launch weight of space shuttles is fuel, this method of refueling will lead to a significant reduction in launch costs. Taking off the vehicle without oxygen on board also cuts the launch weight in half and makes launch safer, since contact between oxygen and hydrogen is eliminated. At an altitude of about 8 km, the apparatus patrols for 3 hours, liquefying the oxygen of the air. Oxygen from the aircraft turbine enters two heat exchangers - in the wing and in the fuselage. After KKMI collects 340 tons of oxygen, more than doubling its weight, it is already like a rocket ... >>

Bluetooth watch 21.03.2001

At the Wireless Portable Symposium & Exhibition conference, IBM Corporation announced the development of a prototype wristwatch equipped with Bluetooth short-range radio communication. The watch runs under Linux OS and is equipped with a VGA resolution LED display. The prototype is a laboratory sample, and it is not yet clear whether IBM will bring it to industrial production. However, IBM experts are convinced that the world will inevitably move towards the creation of new computer and communication devices that combine a variety of functions: video phones, car PCs, Web tablets, etc. ... >>

The fabric is touch sensitive 20.03.2001

The Canadian Space Agency has developed a unique fabric that can respond to touch by converting it into an optical signal. This became possible due to the introduction of light guides with a foam substrate into the fabric structure. When the fabric is pressed, the material deforms, uniquely changing the characteristics of the light output passing through the fiber. The received signal is then processed and converted into a control action. The material was originally developed to provide more precise control of robotic arms while working in outer space, and was recently licensed by Midiman, a company specializing in the development of new music processing technologies. The company has already presented the first samples of a product that uses the capabilities of "smart" fabric. Surface One makes it easier and more precise to control channel volume when mixing music - instead of moving the sliders, ... >>

Flavor with film and music 19.03.2001

Indian inventor S. Jaidka received a patent for a device that will allow the use of various smells in television programs and musical compositions. The inventor said that the device he created can be connected to a computer, TV or audio system. The output of the electronic decoder is connected to an actuator that emits the required amounts of gas and/or aromatics and drives the heater or air conditioner to produce an effect consistent with the action taking place on the screen. ... >>

Welded shirt 18.03.2001

Paul Hilton and his colleagues at the Welding Institute in Cambridge (UK) have laser-welded a shirt from patches of synthetic fabric. Details for the shirt, made of polyester fabric with an admixture of viscose, were smeared around the edges with paint that absorbs infrared rays. The pieces were then aligned and edge-blown with a low-power infrared laser beam. The paint, having absorbed the energy, heated up and warmed up the threads, which, having melted, connected the workpieces into a shirt. Hilton believes that the strength of the connection meets the standard for the uniform of the English army, if not exceeds it. ... >>

Newspapers and the Internet: An Ecologist's Perspective 15.03.2001

Newspapers consume a lot of energy and raw materials inefficiently to inform readers of the news, virtual publications on the Internet are much more environmentally friendly. This popular belief is not true, says Professor Lothar Goetsching from the Institute of Paper Industry at the Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany). Taking a newspaper note of medium length (477 words), the professor compared the energy costs of publishing it on paper and on the Internet. It turned out that in order for the reader to read the news in the newspaper, it took 7,2 kilojoules of energy (for the production of newsprint, printing and delivery to the kiosk), and through the Internet (taking into account the energy consumption of the server, computer, modem and monitor) - 38,7 kilojoules. If the consumer of information did not want to read the note from the screen, but print it, then as much as 257 kilojoules (the energy consumption for printing and making a sheet of high-quality printer paper is added). However, the Ministry of Environmental Protection ... >>

Cell phone jammer 12.03.2001

Israeli firm "Netline Communications" produces a device that silences cell phones where annoying calls and constant conversations can interfere with others. About half a billion mobile phones are now used in the world, and this is already becoming noticeable in theaters, cinemas, concert halls, at meetings, in hospital wards and in other places where talking on the phone was until recently not only not accepted, but simply impossible. . A portable device the size of a thin book disrupts the interaction of a pocket phone and the nearest base station with its signals. The radius of action - 15 meters - covers a large auditorium. The device costs $200, is powered by both mains and batteries, so its owner can set a zone of silence around him, for example, in a train car or on the beach. The larger, $2800 fixed version disables phones within an 80-meter radius. These devices are ordered by educational institutions, ... >>

Cassette with music 11.03.2001

The sound reproducing device, released in the USA, looks like an ordinary tape-recording compact cassette, but the music is stored in it not on magnetic tape, but on a 32-megabyte memory chip. This is enough for about half an hour of music. The earpiece is connected to the contact located directly in the "cassette", and if you want to listen to the recording through the speakers, the device is inserted into any tape recorder: opposite the reproducing head of the tape recorder in the "cassette" there is an inductive coupling coil that transmits music to the head, after which the sound in the usual way intensifies. ... >>

extreme hardening 10.03.2001

The service life of metal parts operating under heavy loads can be significantly extended by applying a new temperature treatment proposed by the American crystallographer Robert Brunson. First, a part, such as aircraft turbine blades, is immersed in a cooling medium - from minus 110 to minus 200 degrees Celsius, depending on the composition of the alloy. Then the metal, which received a cold shock, is heated to 80-200 degrees Celsius. This procedure rearranges the molecular structure of the metal. Products processed according to the new technology not only become more durable, but also acquire a special resistance against cracking. For example, experiments have shown that the service life of brake pads operating on the wheels of jet aircraft has doubled. Titanium borehole bits reach twice the depths of conventional drill bits before they wear out. ... >>

Want to lose weight - sniff vanilla 09.03.2001

American researcher Liz Paul drew attention to the fact that workers in confectionery factories usually not only do not like sweets, but generally eat little. She came to the conclusion that the smell of vanilla, which is saturated with workshops, depresses the appetite. Paul made a patch-based sticker with vanillin and stuck it on her arm. When she felt the urge to snack, she held a fragrant strip to her nose and inhaled the smell of vanilla. In a few weeks, the researcher lost two kilograms in weight. The invention was tested at London's St George's Hospital, where the chief nutritionist asked 200 volunteers who wanted to lose weight to wear such vanilla, lemon and unscented stickers and sniff them when they felt hungry. In four weeks, the bearers of stickers with the smell of lemon and without any smell lost an average of one kilogram in weight. And each carrier of vanilla stickers has become lighter by an average of two kilograms. The results of the experiments were reported at the International Congress of Dietitian ... >>

Focusing artificial lens 07.03.2001

As you know, in the treatment of cataracts by removing the clouded lens or replacing it with a prosthesis - a plastic lens, the patient has to read with glasses, since the ability to accommodate the eye and focus it disappears. However, in Germany they have now begun to produce a French invention - an artificial lens that can focus. The muscles of the eye, the same ones that focus the natural lens, compress or stretch the rim of the lens, it moves forward or backward, achieving image clarity. ... >>

Wet windows 05.03.2001

An engineer from Essex (UK) Frederick McKee proposes to pump water through windows, more precisely, through a gap in double glazing. The inventor added to the water a compound that absorbs infrared (thermal) rays. For visible rays, the windows remain transparent, but the rooms do not warm up in the sun. Water from the windows enters through pipes into a heat exchanger, which can be installed in the shaded or basement parts of the building to heat them with solar heat. In winter, when the inside of the building is warmer than the outside, the mortar does not allow heat to escape through the windows to the outside. Such a building, says McKee, would have little need for air conditioning in summer and heating in winter. According to the inventor's estimates, a ten-story building with a base size of 30 by 30 meters, which now requires about 150 thousand pounds per year for heating and air conditioning, after installing "water" windows, will spend less than three thousand annually for these purposes. True, experts believe that it is unlikely to succeed ... >>

football virus 04.03.2001

Old man Hottabych once hit an entire football team with instant measles. A similar case is described in one of the latest issues of the New England Journal of Medicine. On September 19, 1998, after an American football game between Duke University and the Florida Blue Devils, both winners and losers of the same day came down with a rather severe viral stomach disorder. The investigation of this medical incident was completed only in October last year and showed that the causative agent of the disease passed from one team to another with the ball. The latest molecular techniques have made it possible to trace the path of the virus from two employees of the restaurant, which prepared cold turkey sandwiches for the players of one of the teams the day before the game, to the football players who ate this breakfast, and, finally, to the opponent's football players. Normally, this virus is transmitted with water or food, but here, according to epidemiologists, the transmission occurred through the leather cover of the ball. in the American ... >>

post refrigerator 03.03.2001

Refrigerated mailboxes have been installed in the lower halls of several residential buildings in one of Helsinki's suburbs. There are three compartments in the drawer, as in any normal refrigerator: a low-temperature compartment for storing frozen food, a compartment for fresh products and for vegetables and fruits. The total volume of such a box is 200 liters. This novelty should serve the development of food trade via the Internet. Having ordered groceries, you do not have to stay at home: they will be delivered and will be waiting for you in the mailbox. The key to the box is available from the delivery service. If the experiment is successful, the houses of the Finnish capital will be equipped with refrigerated mailboxes. ... >>

iron therapy 01.03.2001

To combine two home procedures - ironing and inhalation treatment - are offered by researchers from the American company Procter and Gamble. Modern irons are usually equipped with a steamer. Engineers of a well-known perfume company advise pouring not just water into the iron tank, but water with a few drops of medicine. Ironing clothes, you can treat colds with menthol or headaches with herbal extracts. And the linen at the same time acquires a pleasant smell. The idea has already been patented. I wonder who will now patent the steaming of cutlets from the iron during ironing? ... >>

Polymer LED indicators 28.02.2001

Delta Optoelectronics was one of the first companies in the world to produce indicators based on polymer LEDs. Seven-segment indicators of green, red and blue glow colors are already offered. ... >>

Standalone fingerprint scanner 27.02.2001

Specialists from the German company Bergdata have developed a miniature, mouse-sized, self-contained (that is, not requiring connection to a personal computer) device for taking fingerprints. Unlike other similar devices, the operation of this device is provided not by an optical, but by a thermal sensor, implemented on a specialized FingerChip chip from the French company Thomson-CSF. To take a fingerprint, it is enough to swipe it over a special window in the microcircuit housing at a speed of no more than 50 cm / s. The device has a resolution of 500 dpi. It provides fast (no more than 1 s) comparison of a fingerprint with a database of 600 samples and is intended for use in access systems to protected premises. The company's specialists are working on the problem of further miniaturization of the device so that it can be embedded, for example, in cell phones. ... >>

Receiver of different communication protocols 26.02.2001

Sony Computer Science Laboratories has created a prototype software radio receiver SOPRANO. The name is short for Software Programmable and Hardware Reconfigurable Architecture for Network. The software performs the functions of signal modulation and demodulation, as well as a number of other basic functions of the radio receiver. This solution will allow one receiver to support various radio protocols. The receiver operates in the 0,5-9 GHz frequency range, covering all digital mobile communication standards of the current and next, third generations, as well as Bluetooth and wireless local area networks. A frequency conversion IC has been released for the receiver using Multiport Direct Conversion technology. The circuit has dimensions of 2,4x1,8 mm and is made using 0,5 µm GaAs bipolar transistor technology. ... >>

Semiconductor for flexible display 25.02.2001

One more step has been taken towards the creation of a flexible electronic display. Japanese researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, led by Hideomi Koinuma, have developed a ferromagnetic semiconductor that functions at normal room temperature and does not absorb visible radiation. Most of these ferromagnets are operable only at ultralow temperatures. The material developed by the Japanese, containing titanium dioxide with an admixture of cobalt, can serve as the basis for the creation of flexible electronic displays and magnetic storage devices. ... >>

Microchip for telecasting on a cell phone 24.02.2001

Specialists from the Matsushita Denki Electrical Corporation, known around the world under the Panasonic trademark, have developed a high-density custom integrated circuit that makes it possible to simultaneously wirelessly transmit multiple moving pictures, which will allow you to watch several TV shows on one mobile phone screen in the future. ... >>

Translator Pen 23.02.2001

In Russia, a "miracle pen" will soon appear - "C-Pen", which can not only scan text, but also translate it from English into Russian and vice versa. "Si-Pen" does not exceed the size of an ordinary ballpoint pen. This portable device allows you to scan, process and store up to 2 thousand pages of text in memory, as well as transfer it via infrared to a personal computer. A miniature digital camera is built into the pen, which photographs the fragments of text of interest, the FineReader recognition system translates them into a text file, and the Lingovo electronic dictionary translates the text if necessary. In addition to Russian specialists, Swedish specialists took part in the development of the Sea Pen. ... >>

Video output chip for portable devices 22.02.2001

Toshiba has announced a chip that will be able to display video with sound on the small screens of PDAs and cell phones. The chip is called TC35273XB, its core is a RISC processor with a clock frequency of 70 MHz. The chip also has an integrated 12 MB memory, an encoder and a decoder that supports the MPEG-4 video and audio compression standard, designed for low-speed data transfer. This chip differs from similar devices just by the presence of integrated memory. This reduces power consumption, which is a big advantage for portable devices. ... >>

Cafe visitors are served by robots 20.02.2001

The first automated cafe in Germany opened in Cologne, where instead of waiters and waitresses, visitors are served by 25 machines. Vending machines not only serve food and drinks, but can also exchange a few words with the client. The helpful "automatic waiter" has 200 life stories in his memory, which he is able to share with the visitor. And if you are poorly served, then technical specialists are constantly on duty in the cafe, who can eliminate any malfunctions in the operation of the machines. ... >>

Household robot 18.02.2001

A home robot that can pour wine from a bottle into a glass, carry small objects around the apartment and look after children, will go on sale in Japan in the fall of 2001. The robot, which received the name DreamForce, looks very similar to a person, can walk, pick up small objects and perform simple operations. You can control its actions using a mobile phone, the screen of which displays exactly what the camera “sees”, which performs the functions of the robot’s eyes. The phone also serves as a remote control from which the robot is given commands. "Humanoid" robot was created in the company "Takara". He has a dwarf height of 35 cm and a mass of only 1,4 kg. A person's home assistant will cost about $700 in stores. ... >>

Walking boots exist 17.02.2001

Boots-walkers, invented by scientists of the Ufa State Aviation Technical University, have been put into mass production. Each boot is put on like normal shoes and is equipped with an internal combustion engine. Boots work on the principle of a pile hammer. In a single-cylinder engine, compression is carried out by the weight of a person. The energy generated during the combustion of the fuel mixture in a device attached to the leg pushes the runner forward several meters, then a similar compression of the mixture occurs in the second boot, and the process continues. Walking boots have a mass of 1,25 kg each. In such shoes, the step is from 1 to 4 m and you can reach speeds of up to 1417 km / h, which saves about 70% of human muscle energy. For a 100 km journey, boots consume 400 g of gasoline. ... >>

Solar energy will recharge the mobile phone 15.02.2001

The American company Sun Power Systems produces solar batteries for cell phones. To charge a "dead" phone, you just need to turn the device upside down and put it in a place lit by the sun. After approximately 5 hours of exposure to direct sunlight, the battery reaches 90% charge. The batteries are also equipped with an LED charge indicator. Undoubtedly, this type of accessories can be very popular in sunny countries, however, such batteries can be charged under artificial lighting, however, with a longer battery charge time. ... >>

Effective gasoline additive 14.02.2001

Polyisobutylene, a viscous liquid used in the production of synthetic rubber, according to the American chemist Paul Waters, can significantly improve the quality of gasoline. Waters added polyisobutylene to automobile fuel. Tests conducted on fifteen cars in several countries showed that such an additive reduces the amount of harmful emissions by 70 percent, increases engine power by 10 percent and mileage on the same amount of fuel by 20 percent. Gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules, different in length. Short molecules burn quickly, long ones slower, which leads to incomplete combustion of the fuel and the appearance of hazardous gases. The scientist believes that polyisobutylene increases the surface tension of gasoline droplets that enter the engine cylinders, and thus slows down the evaporation and, consequently, the combustion of short hydrocarbons. Droplets burn out simultaneously and completely, and hence the overall improvement in the combustion process and engine operation. ... >>

The prosthesis grows with the patient 13.02.2001

Scientists from the Cryolife medical corporation in Atlanta (USA) and German doctors are now developing a prosthetic heart valve for children, which is expected to grow with the patient. If such a valve is implanted in a child, there will be no need for subsequent operations to replace it with a larger valve in a growing heart. Moreover, this prosthesis is gradually overgrown with host cells and becomes completely its own. The starting material is a porcine heart valve, chemically freed from all cells that can cause a rejection reaction or are capable of carrying any porcine viruses that are dangerous to humans. There remains a pure collagen base - and the structure of collagen, this connective tissue protein, is basically the same in all mammals, and the immune system does not react to it. American doctors transplant patients with a pure collagen base of the valve, which is then overgrown with heart cells in the body. The Germans prefer to populate the call even before the transplant ... >>

Car wash with bacteria 12.02.2001

In the German town of Filderstadt, a car wash has opened, in which bacteria work. Water in this installation is used repeatedly. The filter that filters dirty water after washing cars is populated with a specially bred strain of bacteria capable of decomposing oil products. In addition, the water passes through a conventional filter that traps dirt and sand grains that could scratch the car's paintwork. As a result, water consumption is reduced by 95 percent. ... >>

Cleaning robot 10.02.2001

In many supermarkets in Holland, robotic cleaners are constantly roaming the trading floor, sweeping and washing the floors. A robot about a meter high independently bypasses obstacles, and if the buyer interferes with the passage, he politely asks him to step aside. Such machines are produced by the Dutch branch of the German company Siemens. ... >>

continents will ever merge 09.02.2001

The American geologist Christopher Scotese, studying the movements of the continents in our time, made curious conclusions. Africa is moving north and under its pressure, where it will someday connect with Europe, a mountain system will arise that is not inferior in size to the Himalayas. Australia is also heading north and will eventually join Asia. Both American continents are sliding towards Europe. According to Skotese, in 250 million years all the continents will unite into a new supercontinent, which he called Pangea Ultima (from the Greek words for "the whole Earth" and the Latin ultimus - the latest). What will happen to this supercontinent in the future? A scientist doesn't look that far. Perhaps Pangea Ultima will again begin to disintegrate, following the example of the first Pangea. ... >>

Olive oil protects against skin cancer 08.02.2001

The ancient Greeks were right to anoint their bodies with olive oil. So they protected themselves from skin cancer. Japanese researchers from the University of Kobe irradiated hairless mice (a breed specially bred for experiments) with an ultraviolet lamp three times a week. After five minutes, the skin of some animals was smeared with olive oil, while others were not. Eighteen weeks passed, and the "non-oiled" mice developed skin cancer, while those whose skin was rubbed with olive oil withstood radiation for another six weeks without consequences. When skin tumors also appeared in these mice, they were smaller and smaller than in the control group. The first pomace oil is especially effective when the olives are pressed without heating. Scientists suggest that the antioxidants contained in olive oil neutralize free radicals that appear under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and damage the DNA of skin cells. ... >>

Programmable dreams 07.02.2001

Psychologists and psychiatrists from Harvard Medical School (USA), led by Robert Stickgold, managed to inspire 17 experimental subjects with the same dream, though not very interesting. In these experiments, a group of 27 people were seated in front of computer screens and asked to play the famous computer game Tetris. Of the subjects, 10 were experienced players, 12 were beginners, and 5 suffered from short-term memory loss, that is, they remembered past events but could not remember what had just happened. The games went on for three days, in sessions of one to two hours in the morning and one hour before bed. The following morning, the subjects were asked about the content of the dreams. Seventeen participants in the experiment reported that they dreamed of falling Tetris elements. Moreover, these dreams appeared mainly after the second day of the games. Interestingly, three of the five amnesiacs also dreamed of Tetris figurines. Psychologists expected that the lack of "momentary" memory would prevent them from dreaming about the events of the past day. P ... >>

shielded house 06.02.2001

The German company "Baufritz" produces prefabricated houses with shielding from electromagnetic radiation. The rooms of such a house are finished with plasterboard panels, on which carbon powder is sprayed, absorbing electromagnetic waves by 98 percent. The harm of electromagnetic radiation to health remains unequivocally proven, but shielded houses are in demand among those whose land is located not far from radar stations, radio and television transmitters, as well as high-voltage lines. True, radios and televisions with a built-in antenna do not work well inside the house. And it is better not to use a cell phone in a shielded house: many models automatically increase the radiation power in case of poor hearing, and the speaker is holding this generator of electromagnetic waves right at the temple. ... >>

Motion sickness watch 05.02.2001

A watch-like wrist device is manufactured in the USA and serves as a remedy for seasickness. According to the manufacturer, Woodside Biomedical, the device stimulates with a weak electric current an active point on the skin of the wrist, irritation of which relieves dizziness and nausea. This point was known to ancient Chinese doctors and is still used in the practice of acupuncture. The miniature battery lasts for 48 hours of continuous operation. ... >>

Down with pay phones 04.02.2001

The number of cell phone owners in France is growing rapidly: in 1997 there were 9 million, in 1999 - twice as many, in mid-2000 - 26 million. The population of France (excluding overseas territories) is 59 million people, so almost half of the French have a pocket phone. Therefore, the 240 pay phones distributed throughout the country are gradually out of work: the number of calls from pay phones annually falls by 12-15 percent. A plan has recently been adopted to convert telephone booths into information multimedia points. With the help of an ordinary phone or ATM card, it will be possible to get access to the Internet for the price of a city phone call, use a video camera to transfer your image to the network, a scanner, a fax machine, and a copier. The refurbishment should begin this year. ... >>

The smallest twin-engine turbojet aircraft 02.02.2001

French student Nicolas Charmont built the world's smallest twin-engine turbojet aircraft. Using the engines of the Dutch company AMT, designed for unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, the student's creation reaches a speed of 240 kilometers per hour. Each of the turbines weighs two kilograms, and develops thrust of 40 kilograms. The total mass of the aircraft without fuel and the pilot is 70 kilograms, the wingspan is 5 meters. ... >>

radioactive thunderstorm 01.02.2001

Physicists from the University of Bologna (Italy), having installed radioactivity sensors on the Gran Sasso mountains, found that gamma radiation appears during thunderstorms. Moreover, two types of radiation were revealed. The activity of one, with a photon energy of up to three megaelectron-volts, increased slowly, lasted for about an hour, and just as slowly fell. It is believed that aerosol radioactive particles hovering in the upper atmosphere fall to the ground with rain. Another type of radiation is bursts with energies up to 10 megaelectronvolts lasting several minutes. Apparently, powerful electric fields accelerate free electrons present in the air, and when a fast electron collides with atmospheric atoms, so-called bremsstrahlung gamma radiation occurs. ... >>

Handwriting device 31.01.2001

The day is not far off when it will be possible to write and send e-mails with the help of a special pen developed by the Swedish company Anoto AB. Instead of a writing head, it contains an infrared emitter and receiver, with the help of which the built-in electronic circuit recognizes the movement of the user's hand on paper and transmits information via a Bluetooth connection to an external computer. There, the handwriting program processes it, converting it into text that can be formatted as a letter. The developed software will make it possible to use the miracle pen not only in tandem with a computer, but also with a mobile phone, where the novelty will greatly facilitate the process of writing and sending informative graphic and text messages. ... >>

Wireless communication for mobile phone 29.01.2001

The Japanese company Total Design Communications has developed a wireless headset for mobile phones called "i2me". Using the new Bluetooth technology, it provides a stable connection between the earphone and the "mobile phone" at a distance of up to 10 meters. Thus, nothing prevents now to put the phone in a bag and forget about it until the incoming call. Then, without getting confused in the wires, "pick up the phone" and start a conversation. And to do this is surprisingly simple: the device controls are limited to the answer button and the volume control. The new headset is powered by just one coin cell battery, which lasts for two weeks of intensive use. True, the price of new items is still too high - about $220. ... >>

virtual sweetheart 27.01.2001

The Japanese company Bandai, which produced the Tamagotchi electronic toy, has unveiled its new creation a virtual sweetheart who is flirtatious, naughty and does not like to talk about sports. Cybergirl carefully answers the love letters of her suitors. Bandai has developed seven variants of "imaginary" women, including a teacher, a waitress and a student party girl. Every day a man meets his "girlfriend" on the Web - they exchange emails and SMS messages. The girl is programmed so that her answers change depending on the time of day, year and type of question. So, declarations of love sent immediately after several "meetings" are ignored by the beloved, and the conversation about sports is reluctantly supported. But it is worth asking the right question at the right time, as the cybergirl becomes gentle and attentive. Such a romance can last from one to three months, and if the "courtship" is successful, then the beloved will be rewarded ... >>

Absolutely smooth surfaces 26.01.2001

Professor of the State University of North Carolina (USA) Jan Genzer and colleagues have developed a technology for manufacturing absolutely smooth surfaces. The substrate made of elastic polymer material is slightly stretched in all directions and coated with Teflon. After some time, the mechanical stress is released, the substrate returns to its original shape, and the Teflon molecules, chemically bonded to the surface, are brought extremely close to each other, forming a dense molecular film with a uniform structure. Its properties are very unusual: firstly, chemically it is much more inert than any other natural material. Secondly, which partially follows from the first, there is practically no friction between parts coated with Teflon using this technology. The new development can be used in the automotive industry (friction-free bearings) and medicine (implants that do not interact with surrounding tissues). ... >>

Nanorobots for human health 24.01.2001

Currently, intensive research is underway to create microscopic devices the size of a molecule, the so-called nanorobots, which can, for example, swim through human blood vessels, cleaning their walls of cholesterol deposits, kill nascent cancer cells, or synthesize new substances. In biology, protein motors that are located in a living cell have long been known. As a fuel, these engines use the chemical fuel of all living things - adenosine triphosphoric acid (ATP). Thanks to them, the transfer of various substances into the cell, the work of muscles, they are used even when copying DNA. A group of researchers from Cornell University, led by Carlo Montemagno, used the enzyme AT Phase to create a nanoengine. It is a complex of several proteins that work together to produce ATP. It looks like a cylinder with a diameter of 12 nm and the same height and consists of six proteins assembled around a single axis. AT Phase turns dv ... >>

Is there water on Mars 23.01.2001

In 2003, NASA plans to fly to Mars, where two robotic rovers will be delivered to determine if there is water on Mars. In December 1999, the Mars Polar Lander rover crashed on Mars, which received a false signal and turned off the engine before it landed on the surface of the planet. A few months earlier, due to a mismatch between English and metric units of length, the Mars Climate Orbiter spacecraft burned out in the atmosphere of Mars. Given the mistakes of past years, spacecraft will land on the surface of the "red planet" using air cushions. Ships that look like giant vines will bounce on them until they come to a complete stop. Then the covers of the aircraft will open and wheeled robots equipped with video cameras will come to the surface of Mars. Every day, the rovers will walk 90 meters, take pictures of the surface and explore the ground. The robots will transmit information to Earth for three months until dust clogs the mirror panels. ... >>

How to protect yourself from sea robbers 22.01.2001

Japanese designers are developing ways to protect against the attacks of sea pirates, which suffer ships in Southeast Asia. The Togapotop system (translated as "tiger cage") reacts to the hit of metal hooks, which are the main weapon of pirates, on the deck of the ship. When hit by such hooks, the wire stretched along the sides bends or breaks, as a result of which a system of mirrors and fiber optic cables is activated, and a powerful searchlight is turned on, illuminating the place of attack. Another system - Seajack Alarm - is based on the use of satellite tracking of the location of ships, speed and direction of movement. ... >>

Robot building a robot 19.01.2001

In the United States, an experiment was successfully carried out, during which a computer for the first time, without human participation, invented, developed and built another robot capable of moving. According to Rodney Brooks, director of the artificial intelligence laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, a computer created a scheme of the apparatus from randomly selected virtual components and transmitted the information to an automatic installation that produced the necessary parts. The authors of the experiment only slightly "helped" to connect the structure at several points indicated by the computer, and after a few minutes the robot began an awkward, but independent movement on the laboratory table. ... >>

Allergy to computer 17.01.2001

As Swedish ecologists have discovered, the chemical compound triphenyl phosphate, which is part of the plastic of monitor cases, can cause allergies in a person working at a computer or just being in a room with a computer turned on - especially in a small room. Triphenyl phosphate is introduced into plastics as a plasticizer and fire retardant (flame retardant). In some people, this compound causes allergies, usually in the form of itchy skin, difficulty breathing through the nose, and headaches. As studies have shown, when heated during normal operation to 50 - 55 degrees Celsius, the monitor case begins to release triphenyl phosphate vapor into the air. The content of this additive in the case plastic varies in different brands of monitors, but almost all manufacturers use it. Appreciable concentrations of the compound were found in the air within half a meter of the screen of ten of the 18 new monitors tested. These secretions are sharply weakened after eight days of continuous operation of the monitor (plasticizer ... >>

Microrobots of Swiss watchmakers 15.01.2001

A group of employees of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology led by Roland Siegart created a group of microrobots. The size of each of them is slightly larger than a cube of refined sugar. The robot is driven by two battery-powered stepper clock motors. Four infrared sensors allow him to bypass obstacles and follow the corridors of the labyrinth. When two robots meet, they exchange their serial numbers via infrared communication, and the one with the higher number (that is, he is "younger") gives way to the "older" one and can, obeying his commands, follow him. Microrobots are able to report their movements to the central computer by radio. And he builds a map of the premises they are examining. So it is proposed to use a team of robots for reconnaissance, say, of premises at a nuclear power plant after a release of radioactivity. ... >>

Water from the wind 14.01.2001

The village of Chingungo in northern Chile has only 350 inhabitants. There could be more, but there is almost no water there. Recently, 86 panels with nylon nets have been installed on the mountainside above the village. Almost every night, clouds pass over the mountain from the ocean. They rain down somewhere far beyond the mountains. But part of the water is deposited on the nets and flows into the gutter located under them. In order for one ordinary drop to appear on the network, about 10 million droplets of fog must settle. For a successful night, one network gives up to 700 liters of water, and the entire system for a month - about 300 thousand liters. Water from the air is five times cheaper than imported water in tankers. ... >>

Canned Coconuts 12.01.2001

An unripe coconut contains about half a liter of a clear, cool, sour-sweet liquid that quenches thirst well and contains a large amount of vitamins, potassium and sugar. This is the so-called coconut water, which later, as the nut ripens, is saturated with droplets of fat and turns into coconut milk. At the same time, the drink loses some of its usefulness, because coconut palm oil is rich in saturated fatty acids and contributes to atherosclerosis. Coconut water is one of the favorite drinks in those countries where the coconut tree grows. It could be in great demand outside the tropics, but it cannot be stored for a long time. Coconut water does not lend itself to pasteurization, it coagulates when heated, so it cannot be bottled and sold away from the tropics. Specialists from FAO - the United Nations Organization for Agriculture and Food Resources - have developed and patented a method for sterilizing coconut water that does not involve heating. The drink is filtered ... >>

Robot Cop 10.01.2001

Less than half a century has passed since R. Daniel Olivo was born under the pen of Isaac Asimov - a robot police officer, a participant in complex investigations, who more than once saved the lives of his human colleagues in alterations - and now an armed security robot has been created. The robot, called Roboguard, appeared at the King Mongkut Institute of Technology in Bangkok and is a non-moving combination of a computer, a video camera and a gun mounted on a mechanical arm. The gun is still for children, pneumatic. The pistol is equipped with a laser sight that casts a red light spot on the target. Roboguard can aim and shoot on its own initiative, noticing the movements of a person intruding into a protected area through infrared sensors. But the owner of the electronic security guard can control the shooting himself via the Internet, being anywhere in the world. In order for the robot to pull the trigger, you must enter a password. The inventors want to offer their creation to the Thai army and h ... >>

Ancient Cemetery of Athletes 08.01.2001

Studying burials in the necropolis of the ancient city of Miletus (Greece), the German archaeologist Manfred Kunter from the University of Giessen drew attention to a strange discrepancy. After examining about three hundred graves, Kunter noticed that the chic monuments and tombstones do not correspond to the features of the skeletons lying under them. The people buried here 2000 - 2400 years ago have solid bones with traces of powerful muscles, which speaks more of people of manual labor, and not of the pampered rich aristocrats who could have owned such monuments. Some of the skulls are missing individual teeth, although the remaining teeth were healthy and perfectly preserved. In several burials, metal scrapers were found, which were used to clean the skin after a bath by people of hard physical labor. A belt with a lead plaque was also found - ancient Greek boxers wound such belts around their fists before a fight. All this led the archaeologist to the conclusion that the best Milesian athletes were buried in the cemetery, and the tombstones ... >>

Mosquito trap 06.01.2001

According to the creators of the blood-sucking insect trap, engineers from American Biophysics, this pretty solid device, which costs almost $ 700, protects a 30-acre site from mosquitoes. Propane from a cylinder, undergoing flameless combustion on a catalyst, generates heat and carbon dioxide - the main landmarks by which a mosquito finds a person. Having penetrated into the vessel, from where the appetizingly smelling carbon dioxide flows, the bloodsuckers cannot get out and die. A stock of liquid propane of 9 kilograms is enough for two to three weeks of round-the-clock operation of the device. ... >>

Milk clothes 05.01.2001

If natural fibers such as silk and wool are made of protein, can not artificial fibers be made from other proteins, such as milk proteins? The idea arose half a century ago, but the milk fiber produced then smelled of well-aged cheese, which excluded its use in clothing. Now in France and Italy a method has been developed for obtaining tissues from milk that are completely odorless. These fabrics are lighter than silk and tend to wrinkle less. True, milk clothes will be very expensive: to get a gram of fiber, you need to process two liters of milk. ... >>

Speedometer on shoes 03.01.2001

For fans of jogging, the American company "Fitsens" launched the production of sneakers with a speedometer. The device, mounted on shoes, counts steps, translates them into distance traveled, calculates running speed and even the number of calories burned. All these data are transmitted over the radio channel to the electronic watch on the athlete's wrist. By special order, the system can be supplemented with a pulse rate sensor. After jogging, you can go online and transfer the results of the workout to the company's website, and receive doctor's recommendations in return. ... >>

Energy from olives 01.01.2001

In the town of Benameji in southern Spain, a thermal power plant with a capacity of 12 megawatts has been operating for three years, fueled by oil cake left after squeezing oil from olives. A third of the world's olive oil production comes from Spain, leaving more than five million tons of waste every year. Spanish peasants have long used this cake, after drying it, to heat their houses. The experiment at Benamehi was so successful that two more "olive" thermal power plants with a capacity of 16 megawatts are now planned. In total, the waste of the annual harvest can feed eight such power plants. ... >>

The use of puppets in medicine 30.12.2000

The American Barbie doll has found application in prosthetics: her knee joint can be replaced by sore finger joints. This idea came from the surgeon Jane Bahor from the Duke University Clinic (USA) four years ago. At first, she experimented with hinges cut off from store-bought dolls. But when the Mattel company, which produces Barbie, found out about these experiments, it presented the surgeon with several hundred such details. The only drawback is that the puppet's joints click when the fingers are bent. However, according to Bakhor, after some grinding, the sound disappears. ... >>

Rheumatics and athletes - in the cold 26.12.2000

A strange method of treating arthritis and rheumatism is used in the department of rheumatology of the clinic in the German city of Sentenhorst. This is the stay of an almost naked person in a refrigerator with a temperature of minus 110-120 degrees Celsius. A session lasting two to three minutes for some time relieves pain in the joints. The patient enters the cell in gloves and with a mask on his face, so as not to freeze his fingers and nose. The skin on the body is cooled down to plus two degrees Celsius. Between "refrigeration" courses of treatment, it is possible to reduce the doses of usually taken drugs. Some doctors expressed concern that a sudden cooling could cause a heart attack, but the head of the clinic replies that a heart condition is checked before treatment and there have been no such problems in 15 years of using the method. Sports doctors became interested in an unusual method of treatment. It turned out that a short-term (up to three minutes) stay at an ultra-low temperature acts on the muscles like a good massage, improves their blood flow. ... >>

The fire will be suffocated 23.12.2000

The Luxembourg company "Seode" offers a simple and reliable system of automatic fire extinguishing that does not need power supply. In fire-hazardous places, such as in electrical distribution cabinets or along cables like those that caught fire at the Ostankino television tower, a network of polymer tubes about a centimeter in diameter is laid. The tubes are connected to a high-pressure cylinder filled with an extinguishing agent suitable for extinguishing a fire in a particular place - water, foam, powder, nitrogen or carbon dioxide. If a fire occurs near such a tube, it begins to soften and bursts at 110 degrees Celsius, releasing an extinguishing agent under a pressure of about 5 atmospheres. According to the developers, this system will be especially effective on aircraft and ships. ... >>

Remedy for nicotine 19.12.2000

Canadian pharmacologist Edward Sellers and his colleagues at the University of Toronto drew attention to the fact that people in whose bodies nicotine decomposes more slowly than usual, as a rule, do not smoke. The thought arose: it is possible to treat this bad habit with means that slow down the breakdown of nicotine. After testing the action of more than two hundred compounds, pharmacologists settled on methoxsalen, a drug developed for the treatment of psoriasis. Methoxsalen blocks the action of an enzyme that breaks down nicotine. Tests showed that smokers who took 30 milligrams of methoxsalen smoked half as much and took fewer puffs. The nicotine stayed in their blood longer and supplements were simply not required. ... >>

Technique against pirates 18.12.2000

You are mistaken if you think that the pirates remained somewhere in the seventeenth century. In the waters of Southeast Asia, pirate attacks on cargo ships are now quite common. Over the past four years, the number of attacks on Japanese merchant ships has increased fivefold. And all over the world in 1999 there were more than three hundred cases of piracy. It got to the point that the team of the Japanese icebreaker "Sirase", which set off for Antarctica last fall, when passing through the most "pirate-dangerous" zones off the coast of Indonesia, tightly battened down and tied all the doors from the inside with ropes, and water cannons were placed on the deck to wash away those climbing on board of pirates. The methods of the pirates have remained the same: the ship is boarded by throwing hooks with ropes or rope ladders on board. In July of this year, 15 Japanese bulk carriers were equipped with a simple protection system. A wire connected to a tension sensor was stretched along the deck railing. When the hook breaks or pulls on the wire, an alarm will sound and the ... >>

robot 14.12.2000

The robot, created by IBM, can make faces. With the help of a television camera, he catches the facial expression of the person standing in front of him, and accordingly changes the position of his pupils, eyebrows and lips. So far, this is only a toy, but it was created to demonstrate and debug the principle of operation of household appliances of the near future, which will be able to obey the movement of the eyebrows and eyes of their owner. This method of control will be especially convenient for the disabled. ... >>

Old phone: heat up after use 11.12.2000

Every year, the British throw thousands of broken, obsolete or unwanted mobile phones into the landfill. But soon, at the pan-European level, a law is to be adopted requiring the obligatory waste-free use of all electronics. Unnecessary appliances should be disassembled into parts that can somehow be reused or buried in a safe place. Dismantling and sorting into parts small devices such as a pocket phone is a difficult and painstaking manual labor. Therefore, employees of Brunel University in London proposed to make mobile phones from metals and plastics with shape memory. When heated to a certain temperature, such an apparatus simply disintegrates, and the resulting pile of parts is easy to sort. If you set up different parts of the case, PCBs and chassis to change shape at different temperatures, the sorting process will be even easier. Such telephones and other electronic devices will gradually disassemble themselves for hours. ... >>

The clock controls the TV 09.12.2000

The Japanese company Casio has released an electronic watch with a built-in TV and VCR remote control. Since the electronics of different models are subject to different signals, the wrist control panel is able to self-learn from the "native" remote controls that are attached to TVs and VCRs. ... >>

Believers live longer 05.12.2000

This conclusion was reached by a group of American psychologists after analyzing the results of 42 independent studies conducted on this topic since 1977. They took into account the life expectancy of 125 people (mostly North Americans) compared with survey data on their attitudes towards religion. It turned out that the life expectancy of believers is on average higher than that of atheists. The researchers put forward three possible reasons for this. First, many believers do not use tobacco and alcohol, not to mention drugs. Secondly, believers usually have more social contacts (they regularly go to church and communicate with fellow believers), their families are more stable, and it has long been proven that both of these factors contribute to longevity. Thirdly, religion often gives people positive emotions and relieves depression. ... >>

Shake before use 02.12.2000

The flashlight, launched in the US, does not have batteries or a light bulb. In order for it to catch fire, it must be shaken several times. In this case, the magnet contained inside the body of the flashlight "runs" inside the coil, exciting an electric current in it, and its energy is stored in a miniature, but very capacious capacitor. From this energy, a white LED lights up, the service life of which is one hundred thousand hours. After shaking for 25 seconds, the flashlight shines for five minutes, and at a distance of 10 meters an illuminated circle with a diameter of two meters is created. The operating temperature range - from minus 90 to plus 85 degrees - no battery could withstand. Since nothing needs to be changed in the flashlight, it is made one-piece, sealed and can work underwater. ... >>

Internet for washing machine 30.11.2000

The South Korean firm LG Electronics has successfully connected a washing machine to the Internet, creating the first washing machine that can update washing programs through a site created by the owner of the machine. Unlike the Internet-connected refrigerator that the company created a few months ago, the washing machine does not have a built-in modem, but connects through a regular personal computer. The company spent $3,5 million and three years of work to create a new model of a washing machine. The company's next development will be an Internet microwave that downloads recipes from the Web. It will be presented to the public next year. The company's global plans include the creation of a home network that connects all electronic household appliances and allows the owner of the house to control them via the Internet. In the USA, a unique invention was presented - a disposable mobile phone. A prototype of such a phone has already been made, measuring only 5x7x0,5 cm. The first device is made of plastic, ... >>

Ambient light display 29.11.2000

Scientists at Edinburgh Napier University have announced the invention of a display that uses ambient light to display images on the screen. The basis of this device is a lattice, the cells of which are formed from a polymer fiber with a fluorescent substance. Adjusting the brightness of the pixels is carried out using a thin layer of liquid crystal, which is covered with a matrix. In this case, it is not the current that changes, but the voltage, which, as experts emphasize, provides serious energy savings. According to the developers, the fluorescence effect in the new display is so intense that it can work even in the dark, and the brightness of the image is on average 30 times higher than the brightness of ambient light. ... >>

SMS will save a stolen car 28.11.2000

One of the Austrian companies engaged in the production of anti-theft systems, presented at the fair "Security 2000", held in Essen (Germany), a new development. This is a system that, in response to an SMS (short text message) sent from the owner's mobile phone, will be able to stop the stolen car by cutting off the supply of gasoline, as well as lock the doors, thus preventing the hijacker from getting out of the car before the arrival of the police, or draw the attention of other drivers on your car, blowing red smoke from the exhaust pipe. Other topics of the Essen trade fair dedicated to security and protection technologies were identification devices for ATMs and personal computers, which use technologies for recognizing fingerprints, irises, voices, signatures, etc. - the so-called biometrics, as well as video monitoring systems. ... >>

Cities will become cleaner 27.11.2000

Japanese scientists are working on a project whose goal is to ensure that the streets of the future themselves cleanse the atmosphere of harmful impurities contained in car exhaust gases. According to Deutsche Welle, a new road surface developed by Mitsubishi engineers is being tested in Westminster, London. It is a concrete slab, on the outer surface of which a centimeter layer of a special composition containing titanium dioxide is applied. This substance serves as a catalyst, in the presence of which the toxic oxides of nitrogen contained in the exhaust gases decompose in bright sunlight into harmless components - oxygen and nitrogen. The effectiveness of the miracle coating was proven during the first series of experiments in the city of Osaka. Tests in London are designed to confirm that the new composition retains its effectiveness for a long time. ... >>

New car with air engine 26.11.2000

At the Auto Africa Expo2000 in Johannesburg (South Africa), a new air-powered vehicle was presented. The cost of a 200-kilometer trip in a car called e.Volution costs only 30 cents. The technology for the production of a compressor engine was created by a former Formula 1 engineer, Frenchman Guy Negre, who spent several years developing his idea. The engine uses compressed air, which is stored in cylinders placed at the bottom of the machine, similar to the oxygen tanks of scuba divers. ... >>

Security Robot 24.11.2000

The world's first security robot capable of opening fire on an intruder automatically or on command via the Internet was demonstrated at an exhibition in Bangkok. The shooter robot is made in Thailand based on an unarmed telerobot created in Australia in 1994. The new Thai robot is armed with a gun, as well as a camera and special sensors that respond to movement and temperature changes. Depending on the program, the robot can open fire automatically or wait for the owner's command via the Internet. ... >>

Robot policeman 23.11.2000

In Russia, in the Miass research and production association "Resource", a robot policeman has been created, which has already been tested in a number of departments of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Praying Mantis, as the inventors called their brainchild, penetrates hard-to-reach places without any problems, neutralizes explosive devices, transports and retrieves dangerous objects. By the way, there is already an application for it from the Central Internal Affairs Directorate of the Chelyabinsk Region. ... >>

Exhibition of domestic robots 21.11.2000

In Yokohama (Japan), the first world exhibition of domestic robots "ROBODEX-2000" has ended. Most of the robots presented at the exhibition have no practical application today and are something like a very expensive toy. The price of some robots (for example, a robot dancing to the music of Tchaikovsky, aquarium robots, dancing dogs and soccer robots) already on sale in Japan reaches $20. According to experts, today the computer industry and the level of technology development are still insufficient to so that household robots find mass application. But within the next few years, machines that will independently clean the apartment, wash dishes or look after children in the absence of parents may become a reality. ... >>

The robot copies a one-year-old child 20.11.2000

In Japan, a new robot has been born that accurately copies the gait of a one-year-old baby. At the same time, its dimensions correspond to the average for a Japanese boy of this age: 70 cm - height, about 5 kg weight. According to the characteristics, the model can be considered the best likeness of the human body developed in recent times. The creators assure that, despite the infantile timid gait, "Pino" will be able to participate in a football match of humanoid robots from around the world, scheduled for 2002. ... >>

Grasshopper robot 19.11.2000

The US Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories has unveiled a new type of robot that mimics the clumsy, almost completely random hops of a grasshopper. The mass of the robot is 510 g, the height of the jump reaches 10 times its height. The developers claim that this kind of movement is ideal for jumping over obstacles that other robots could not overcome. These obstacles can be either blocks of stone or tanks, or mountains, and craters on Mars or on the Moon. ... >>

Robot Football Championship 18.11.2000

Australia hosted the 150 League Robotic World Cup with 35 "mechanical" teams from 0 countries. In the main class in the final match, the European champions from Germany lost 2:2 to their rivals from the USA. The German robots were not saved from defeat by either the "quick-firing leg" specially prepared for the tournament, which not only hit the ball faster, but also took corners, nor the forward with the sonorous name of Ronaldo. Football robots, who contested the championship in the "major league", are cardboard boxes equipped with microelectronics and video cameras. They move at speeds up to XNUMX meters per second. The game is played on a field the size of a tennis table. The main feature of these players is autonomy, the independence of their decisions and actions during the match from coaches-engineers, i.e. the presence of the so-called "artificial intelligence". ... >>

Artificial protein synthesis 16.11.2000

A small apparatus, developed by the well-known pharmaceutical company Laroche, automatically synthesizes proteins. It is enough to enter a copy of the gene of the corresponding protein into the device - and the work begins. So far, the automaton has mastered the synthesis of about 60 proteins. It will help researchers of the human genome understand the function of different genes by discovering which protein is synthesized by each gene. ... >>

Eclipse and the body 15.11.2000

Employees of the German Institute for Pet Ethology at the University of Stuttgart observed the behavior of some animals during a solar eclipse on August 11 last year. Of the three horses kept in the open, one began to snort loudly with the beginning of darkening, run around the pasture, and, finally, tail between her legs and trembling all over, huddled under a tree. The horses of the Icelandic breed reacted outwardly very calmly: they stood in the twilight, lowering their heads and closing their eyes, as if dozing off. However, a pulse sensor mounted on the leg of one horse showed that, compared with the usual 30-40 beats per minute, at the time of total eclipse, the pulse increased to 100 beats per minute or more. Until now, the pulse of this frequency in horses was noted only during the races. The geese became worried and raised the alarm, and the ducks, sitting quietly on the shore, rushed into the water and gathered in the middle of the pond, as if hiding from a predator. Employees of two English universities conducted observations on a group of students. In time ... >>

Not a single paper is lost 13.11.2000

Hopes that the computer will save offices from paper blockages did not materialize. US office paper consumption is projected to double between 1996 and 2003. And where there are a lot of papers, they are inevitably lost from time to time. The Berlin company "Thax Software" offers a system that allows you to quickly track the location of any folder, paper, drawing or photo in a large institution and even in its out-of-town branches. An electronic label the size of a postage stamp is attached to each document flow unit. Inside it is a flat microcircuit, in response to a specific radio signal, it begins to emit a paper number on the air. The microcircuit does not require power - it uses the energy of a radio wave sent by a search device, the antennas of which are held in all rooms and offices. The same antennas take direction from the signal of the microcircuit. And immediately on the plan of the institution that appeared on the computer screen, a red circle begins to flash, indicating the location of the desired paper. If ... >>

Phone novelties 09.11.2000

The latest models of cell phones allow you not only to talk, but also to communicate via e-mail and even surf the Internet. However, for this you have to use a few phone buttons, which are clearly not enough for comfortable written communication. The Swedish company "Erikson" offers an additional keyboard for a mobile phone, organized on the principle of a computer keyboard. It is connected, if necessary, to the lower connector of the device. Another novelty of the company is a radio receiver connected to the telephone. Listen to it through headphones. When a call comes in, the radio automatically turns off. ... >>

Microbes are in the clouds 08.11.2000

Austrian microbiologists have discovered living and multiplying bacteria in the clouds over the Alps. It has long been known that microbial life exists in the upper atmosphere, but until now it was believed that bacteria were only accidentally carried there by the wind and, in the absence of food, soon perished. Each milliliter of water collected from clouds contains an average of 1500 bacterial cells of various shapes: round, rod-shaped, filamentous. It is assumed that bacteria can serve as centers for the formation of snowflakes and ice crystals. What they eat in the clouds is not yet clear. Apparently, these microorganisms tolerate freezing well and are not afraid of the ultraviolet rays of the Sun. ... >>

Invisible mark 02.11.2000

The English firm "Smart Water" began to produce a novelty for forensics. This invention of Phil Cleary, a retired police officer, is a water-soluble mixture of different substances that glows in the rays of an ultraviolet laser. A system is being installed in the apartment that sprays the intruding robber with this mixture. It is colorless, and traces of it on the skin and clothes are not visible, but it is almost impossible to wash them off. The composition is unique for each apartment, so by illuminating the suspect with a laser, you can find out exactly where he paid a visit. The system is installed separately or in addition to the alarm system already in the house, and a noticeable sign is fixed at the front door, notifying potential robbers of a serious interference (criminals who read the press bypass such apartments). An individual luminous mark is already being applied to motorcycles, cars, weapons and other valuable or dangerous movables. But in this case, the mixture is made insoluble so that rain does not wash it away. Except ... >>

Suit for Robinson 01.11.2000

For lovers of travel and extreme sports, the Finnish sportswear firm Reima has designed a suit that can raise the alarm if something happens to its wearer far from civilization. Numerous sensors sewn into the suit continuously measure body temperature, pulse rate and skin moisture. If these parameters go beyond the norm, and the owner of the suit has stopped moving, a miniature computer, also available in the suit, calls for help via satellite, and indicates the location of the victim. ... >>

GPS helps the blind 30.10.2000

American scientist Jack Loomis has developed a device that will help the blind navigate the streets of the city using the global satellite navigation system GPS. The device developed by Loomis contains a GPS signal receiver, a laptop computer and an original speaker system for orientation of a blind person. In order to increase the positioning accuracy to 1-2 m, in addition to satellite signals, an additional ground station signal must also be received. Detailed information about the area is entered into the computer in advance. Using GPS signals, the computer determines its location on a map that shows all the significant objects of the area - from houses, roads and sidewalks to trees and street lamps. The blind perceives the surroundings with the help of stereo headphones, on which an electronic compass is installed. This compass gives the computer information about the position of the person's head. A computer with the help of a speech synthesizer converts the visual environment around the blind into sound. For example ... >>

The radar is battery powered. 25.10.2000

It is generally accepted that a radar station is a solid and expensive structure with a bulky antenna and numerous blocks. But in the Livermore National Laboratory (USA), under the leadership of Mac Evans, a miniature and cheap battery-powered radar has been developed. The Evans locator emits two million ultra-short, low-power pulses per second. Its range is only 50 m. The reflected signal is processed by a special microcircuit that forms an image of the object from which the radio waves are reflected. Unlike conventional radars, which simultaneously receive signals from objects located at different distances, the Evans locator works only at a certain "depth", the value of which can be changed from a few centimeters to tens of meters. The locator allows you to determine the location and type of metal structures enclosed in concrete walls. On the same principle, it is possible to create a mine detector that detects not only the presence of a metal mine, but also its end. ... >>

Seventeenth moon of Jupiter 20.10.2000

We have already become accustomed to the fact that new satellites of the planets are discovered by automatic interplanetary probes or a space telescope. But it turns out that even today it is possible to make such a discovery with the help of a relatively small telescope standing on Earth. For the first time in 25 years, a new moon has been discovered around Jupiter. Its diameter is only five kilometers, it was discovered by American astronomers using a telescope with a diameter of 92 centimeters installed at the Kitt Peak Observatory 79 years ago. The new satellite, which does not yet have a name, is located at a distance of about 24 million kilometers from Jupiter and completes its revolution around the planet in about two Earth years. Thus, the total number of known satellites of Jupiter has now reached seventeen (the record in the solar system is held by Uranus, it has 20 satellites). Recall that the first four moons of Jupiter were discovered by Galileo in January 1610. Perhaps in February next year, the automatic probe "Galileo" will be able to receive more ... >>

Furniture is being tested 17.10.2000

In Nuremberg (Germany), there is a special institute that tests the safety of all consumer goods that go on sale. There are no data for Germany, but, for example, in the USA in 1997, 411 cases of home injuries related to beds and mattresses were recorded, 373 - to chairs, armchairs and sofas, and 222 - to desks, cabinets and shelves. To prevent such troubles, in Nuremberg furniture is tested for durability. The chair, equipped with sensors, is fixed on a test bench and subjected to alternate pressure on the back and seat up to 300 times. The pressure force of the pneumatic piston on the seat is up to 140 kilograms, on the back - at least 35 kilograms. In real life, such a chair will have to experience several million such loads during its service life, and you must be sure that it will not let the owner down. Before the advent of a special test bench, such chairs were tested at the city police department. They were placed in the duty room ... >>

giant crystals 12.10.2000

Researchers from the Lawrence Laboratory in Livermore (USA) managed to grow huge crystals of potassium pyrophosphate. The largest of the crystals has a volume of a quarter of a cubic meter and weighs 318 kilograms. It grew in a large tank, where a solution of potassium pyrophosphate evaporated at a temperature of 65 degrees Celsius. Molecules were deposited on a seed smaller than a thimble, and after 52 days a transparent giant with almost no defects in the crystal lattice grew. The crystals will be used to build super-powerful lasers, which are used in experiments on controlled nuclear fusion. ... >>

Dangerous airbags 09.10.2000

Most modern cars are equipped with so-called airbags - plastic bags that, upon impact or too sudden braking, instantly inflate, protecting the driver and passengers from injury. However, studies by American chemist Eric Betterton have shown that these life-saving pillows can be dangerous for people and the environment. Instant inflation of the pillows is provided by an explosive - sodium azide (NaN3), from 50 to 200 grams of which are embedded in each pillow. Upon impact, the sensors send an electrical impulse to the charge, under the action of which the sodium azide decomposes, releasing a large amount of nitrogen, and the pillow inflates. However, sodium azide itself is poisonous to a wide range of living organisms, and when in contact with moisture, it releases even more poisonous vapors. The entire US car park contains about 5000 tons of sodium azide in total. This number is growing because the latest models of cars have airbags that protect not only from frontal ... >>

Robot sapper 05.10.2000

During the war in Cambodia, about six million mines were laid in the land of this small country. At a normal pace of work, demining will take 600 years. The six-legged robot "Komet-1", proposed by the Japanese inventor Kenzo Nonami, will make it possible to do this in two years. Each leg of the robot is equipped with sensitive sensors, and before putting a foot on the ground, the robot holds it for a second three centimeters from the surface. If it is “clean” here, he lowers his leg, but if he feels a mine, he bypasses the dangerous area and marks it, throwing out a charge of paint. Following the robot are human sappers, extracting mines. In the future, this task can also be shifted to the robot. ... >>

Who do mosquitoes love 02.10.2000

Researchers from the University of Durham in England and the Medical Research Council in The Gambia concluded that mosquitoes bite pregnant women twice as often as other people. In the same proportion, their risk of contracting malaria also increases. Scientists believe that mosquitoes are attracted to chemicals released by the body of a pregnant woman along with exhaled air. These substances help malarial mosquitoes to find their breadwinners. In addition, pregnant women have higher body temperature and sweating. As a result, ideal conditions are created for the reproduction of bacteria on the skin, which also secrete compounds that attract mosquitoes. However, not only the physical condition, but also the behavior of pregnant women makes them more vulnerable. Research from the Gambia shows that pregnant women are twice as likely to drop their mosquito nets at night, and therefore twice as likely to be bitten by mosquitoes. ... >>

Data transmission over the mains 29.09.2000

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance consortium, which includes 38 companies, including Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, 3Com, Intel, AMD, announced the selection of Intellon, a small company that was one of the first to develop data transmission over the power grid, as the core technology. . Network devices compatible with this technology will allow users to use the home electrical wiring as a medium for Internet sharing, audio and video transmission. The main problem is the filtering of interference induced in the network by other electrical appliances. Mass production of devices is expected in the first half of 2001. ... >>

Internet along the railway 27.09.2000

Indian engineers have proposed an original way to quickly and cheaply access the Internet. The private telecommunications company plans to use India's developed railway network for this purpose, transmitting information over communication and signal cables laid along the railway track. The invention has already been tested on a forty-kilometer stretch of road. ... >>

Protecting your computer from theft 26.09.2000

The American company Cyber ​​Group Network in the near future plans to release a complex for protecting computers from theft, which has so far been given the code name C-4 Chip. A special microcircuit is installed in the computer and the necessary software is installed. The microcircuit transmits information using radio waves, which allows you to determine the location of the PC with an accuracy of 1,5 m. The microcircuit is also capable of receiving information that affects the hard drive and motherboard. If necessary, it is enough to send a command - and these devices will be disabled. A "softer" option is also possible, when important data is transferred to secret areas of the disk that are inaccessible to the thief. ... >>

New Lithographic Process for Growing Semiconductor Crystals 25.09.2000

Leading manufacturers of computer chips - Intel, AMD and Motorola, together with the Virtual National Laboratory (USA) are developing a new lithographic process used in the growth of semiconductor crystals. The new lithographic process uses extreme ultraviolet wavelengths to produce elements with a transverse dimension of less than 0,1 microns on a semiconductor chip by placing more transistors on a single chip. According to the developers, the new lithography technology will make it possible to create 100 times more powerful processors and 100 times more capacious memory chips than is possible with modern semiconductor growing technologies. The first processors created using this technology will operate at a clock speed of about 10 GHz (currently the fastest commercial chips from Intel and AMD are clocked at 1 GHz). It is planned that commercial production using ultraviolet litho ... >>

Transmission of odors over a distance 24.09.2000

Scientists at the Israeli Weizmann Institute have found a way to transmit odors over a distance. The method, called "olfactory communication", will allow the transfer of odors over the phone or through computers and televisions. Over the course of several months, a series of algorithms have been developed with which odors can be transmitted electronically. The newly created company SenselT plans to start selling the first "olfactory sensors" by the end of this year. And although sensors that recognize odors and recreate them have existed and have been used for a long time, scientists consider the ability to transmit odors over a distance to be the main discovery. ... >>

Identification of Internet users by fingerprints 23.09.2000

Sony has announced the creation of a reliable and convenient Internet user identification technology. The new FIU-700 integrates a capacitive fingerprint scanner and a public key code generator. Although the use of fingerprints is not new in identification technology, the device contains a fundamentally new identification scheme, since the comparison of biometric data and pre-entered fingerprints occurs directly in the device, and therefore the entered parameters do not enter the external network (they do not even enter the computer ). The mass of the device connected via the USB port is only 35 g, dimensions are 85x54x9 mm. ... >>

42 V car batteries 22.09.2000

To ensure high efficiency of the car in the future, the engineers of the German company Varta are developing new batteries designed for the on-board network with a voltage of 42 V. This need arose due to the growing number of devices and assemblies powered by the on-board electrical network. The lead-acid batteries commonly used can hardly cope with such a load, and the standard voltage of the on-board network (12 V) is sometimes insufficient. The main focus is on lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride systems with increased durability, high capacity and the ability to charge in a forced mode. ... >>

telephone clothing 21.09.2000

According to experts from France Telecom, the future is not for mobile phones, but for ... "telephone clothes." Scientists have already developed a "jacket-phone" model, where buttons or a specially embroidered "keyboard" on the wrong side of the jacket are used as buttons and keys, to which only a light touch is enough to access the network. A small earpiece will allow you to listen to the interlocutor, and you can speak into the microphone built into the collar. ... >>

Mobile phone with FM receiver 20.09.2000

Telit company announced the development of a new mobile phone model Gm 910 with a built-in stereo FM receiver (88-108 MHz). In addition to a fairly large number of familiar telephone functions, the "mobile" also has a built-in digital voice recorder for 8 minutes and a voice dialing system. The size of the Gm 910 model is 55x124x21 mm, the weight together with the standard battery is only 100 g. Additionally, the model can support the WAP protocol. ... >>

satellite doctor 19.09.2000

AeroAstro and Space Machine Advisors are jointly developing the Escort satellite, which should serve as a "satellite doctor". Such a "navigator" is planned to be used for inspection and diagnostics of expensive communication satellites during their operation in orbit. Escort is an inexpensive microsatellite that will be launched simultaneously with the main communication satellite or "meet" existing satellites in space. It will operate independently of the "master" satellite and will be able to safely maneuver around it when testing equipment or analyzing the results of these tests, as well as communicate with the ground control center to resolve problems. ... >>

Computer controlled by mime 18.09.2000

Hitachi has developed a technology that allows people with limited hand mobility to use a personal computer. The know-how is based on "reading" the user's facial expressions with a digital camera. Special software processes the resulting image, detecting blinking, eye or eyebrow movement, and, based on the information received, controls the operation of the computer. It is planned that the commercial implementation of such systems will begin in early 2001. ... >>

Silicone chip for artificial retina 17.09.2000

Scientists at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago reported successful implantation of artificial retinas in three patients with vision loss. The retina is a silicone chip containing about 3,5 microscopic elements that convert light falling through the eye into electrical impulses, and the operation of the "device" does not require any external power sources. The implantation of an artificial retina will partially restore vision in people with eye diseases, which affect about 30 million people in the world. ... >>

From trembling in the hands 16.09.2000

Tremor (trembling in the hands) can greatly interfere with the surgeon, especially during microsurgical operations. Some of the surgeons even take special medications before the operation, the so-called beta-blockers (by the way, they are considered doping among sports shooters). Cameron Riviere of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (USA) measured and recorded the trembling of the scalpel tip in the surgeon's hands. The trajectory of the scalpel is decomposed into three sinusoids with an amplitude of up to half a millimeter. Riviere built piezocrystals into the blade of the tool, which are connected to a generator that produces the same vibrations, but in the opposite phase. As a result, the scalpel does not tremble. ... >>

Ecology of roads 15.09.2000

The total length of highways in the United States is 6,2 million kilometers, they cover one percent of the territory, which corresponds to the area of ​​the state of South Carolina (almost twice the size of the Moscow region). But the negative impact of roads on the ecological state of the area extends over a much larger area. Based on data from studies conducted in Holland and Massachusetts (USA), Richard Foreman of Harvard University calculated that a road that drives 10 cars a day through a forest spreads its negative impact on a strip 305 meters wide. This is noise, dust, polluted air, sometimes - both garbage and seeds of plants alien to the area, in winter - salt water runoff. As a result, the harmful effects of roads extend to one-fifth of the entire US. ... >>

Two mushrooms on chocolate 14.09.2000

Until 1995, Brazil was the world's leading exporter of cocoa beans. Since then, the Brazilian cocoa crop has shrunk by about four times. The reason is the fungus Crinipellis pemiciosa, which attacked the plantations. It causes "witch's brooms" on the cocoa tree's branches and, more importantly, destroys the tree's beans themselves. But scientists have noticed that sometimes another fungus called Trichoderma viride grows on this fungus in the Amazon floodplain. Researchers at the US Department of Agriculture, along with Brazilian scientists, suggested that farmers spray trees with Trichoderma spores. There are already signs of a recovery in the plantations, but it is clear that in the next few years it will not be possible to return the harvest to normal, and the price of chocolate will continue to rise. ... >>

Children lengthen your life 13.09.2000

"These kids will drive me to the grave!" - the exhausted mother often sighs. However, studies by American zoologists have shown that everything is quite the opposite - children lengthen the life of the parent caring for them. Statistics show that in primates, the parent who is responsible for the main care of the offspring lives longer. In humans, gorillas, and chimpanzees, females live longer than males, and it is mainly the females who take care of the children. Owl-faced marmosets and jumping monkeys, whose males take over these cares, have a longer average lifespan for males than for females. ... >>

Three-legged driver with four arms 12.09.2000

On the test site of the company "Volkswagen" circle after circle makes an experimental model of a new car model. But behind the wheel - not a man, but a three-legged and four-armed robot named Klaus. His feet are on the gas, brake and clutch pedals, two hands hold the steering wheel, the third switches gears, the fourth turns the ignition key, switches the light and performs other small tasks. The test robot successfully replaces a person in this rather dangerous profession, winding thousands of kilometers along a closed road at a speed of up to 180 kilometers per hour. A satellite navigation device, a radar, a stereo camera and a laser locator help him not to go astray and slow down in time in front of an unexpected obstacle. Experts believe that the further development of such robots will eventually create a car that will drive itself. ... >>

Inflatable gloves 11.09.2000

One of the Canadian firms has started production of inflatable gloves for those who work with pneumatic hammers and vibration tools. On the wrist of the glove there is a pump in the form of a small rubber bubble with a valve. After 50-60 pressures on the bladder, the air chambers in the glove inflate and absorb 40 to 60 percent of the vibrations. During the day, you have to do a few more pressures on the pump to compensate for leaks. ... >>

Why do dinosaurs have a long neck 10.09.2000

Both artists and filmmakers usually depict long-necked lizards - diplodocus in the pose of a giraffe, when the giant stretches its small head to the tops of trees, eating juicy foliage and other gifts of flora. But is this how these communities were fed? Two researchers from the University of Oregon (USA) argue that dinosaurs fed in a completely different way, and their long necks did not serve them in order to get food sent by nature "from above". It is likely that the computer model created by scientists will help put an end to the protracted paleontological dispute. Previously, it was believed that, for example, sauropods had a curved neck, and they carried their heads high above the ground. There was a dispute about how the blood supply to the giant's head was carried out. One of the hypotheses even said that such lizards had several hearts, which by common efforts raised blood to a great height. However, now computer simulations have shown that the long-necked lizards were most comfortable with their necks parallel to the ground, even slightly lower, with ... >>

Asteroid found 09.09.2000

Astronomers have again discovered an asteroid that was discovered almost 90 years ago and has not been in the field of view of their telescopes since then. The asteroid Albert was discovered on October 3, 1911 by the Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa and named after Baron Albert Rothschild, sponsor of the Vienna Observatory. But Palisa was unable to accurately determine the parameters of the orbit, and since then Albert has not been observed. However, on May 1, 2000, American astronomer Jeff Larsen discovered a faintly luminous object moving a little further from the Sun than the Earth, in a highly elongated and inclined orbit. A computer database search showed that the orbit was in perfect agreement with the 1911 observations. It is calculated that Albert goes around the Sun in 4,28 years and every 30 years comes relatively close to the Earth - 40 million kilometers. The next such event is expected in September 2001. In total, 14 asteroids are now known, and there are no more "lost" ones among them. ... >>

Vertical keyboard 07.09.2000

The computer keyboard, which works roughly like a harmonica, vertically, was invented by Cornell University ergonomics professor Alan Hedge. Tests have shown that a vertical keyboard reduces the risk of carpal tunnel. The horizontal keyboard has been the norm since the invention of the typewriter. When working on it, the wrists bend, and the tunnel through which the nerves pass to the hand is compressed. This compression causes the so-called tunnel syndrome. If left untreated, it can lead to loss of sensation in the fingers and even loss of the ability to move the fingers. The two-piece vertical keyboard puts your wrists in a safer position. Typing on such a keyboard, of course, is possible only in a blind way, because the keys are not visible during operation. ... >>

Weeds as fuel 06.09.2000

It has long been noticed that weeds grow much faster than cultivated plants, are not afraid of pests, diseases, drought and do not require fertile soils. Spain intends to use this vital force of harmful plants. In two provinces in the north of the country, by 2002, they are going to build power plants that will use thistles as fuel for their boilers. Each of the two thermal power plants will need one hundred thousand tons of weed per year. To do this, they plan to sow thistles on 5000 hectares of waste arid land where nothing else can grow. Moreover, the Spaniards intend to use a specially bred giant variety of prickly weed: its stems are up to three meters high, and the roots go seven meters into the soil. Breeders from the Agricultural Institute in Madrid at first failed: the bred thistle variety was too sweet, and its sprouts were willingly eaten by field mice. Then a gene that gives bitterness was introduced into the plant, and the mice fell behind. ... >>

Cancer magnet 03.09.2000

The magnetic method for the destruction of certain types of malignant tumors was tested in the large Berlin clinic "Charite". A suspension of the smallest particles of iron oxide is injected directly into the tumor - the diameter of individual particles is only a few millionths of a millimeter. The patient is then subjected to an alternating magnetic field. At the same time, iron particles are heated to 45-47 degrees Celsius, this temperature is enough to kill tumor cells. The remaining tissues of the body, where there are no magnetic particles, do not heat up. So far, the method has been successfully tested in mice, and testing in humans should begin soon. ... >>

Power plant on bacteria 02.09.2000

A group of biochemists from the University of Michigan (USA) has assembled a fuel cell that runs on bacteria. Bacteria, like other living cells, decompose glucose and convert the resulting energy into adenosine triphosphate, the universal energy currency of the cell. In the course of this process, a flow of electrons arises, which activates all the systems of the cell. Biochemists have introduced molecules into the outer membrane of bacteria that divert part of the electron flow to themselves. A fuel cell fueled by a glucose solution generates a voltage of 0,6 volts at a current of up to 17 milliamps. After some improvement, it is supposed to use such batteries in portable communications equipment. Meanwhile, in one of the universities in Israel, a method is being developed to divert part of the energy from human cells in a similar way. Then it will be possible to feed with its own electricity, for example, an implanted hearing aid or a heart pacemaker. ... >>

Cigarette with built-in fire extinguisher 01.09.2000

A bill has been submitted to the US Senate requiring cigarette manufacturers to make their products fire-safe. Every year, in New York State alone, several hundred fires start from a thrown cigarette butt or from a cigarette falling from the mouth of a sleepy smoker. About 50 people die in these fires every year. The new law requires the cigarette to go out by itself if the smoker does not puff within two to three minutes. The design of a self-extinguishing cigarette has already been proposed: instead of tissue paper, a thicker one was taken, and in addition, it has rings made of paper impregnated with fire-extinguishing salts. By the way, matches have been impregnated with such salts (as a rule, ammonium compounds) for about a century and a half, slightly departing from the head, so that the thrown match itself goes out. ... >>

Judge in a suitcase 25.08.2000

In one of the science fiction works, an electronic judge appeared - a huge computer that contained in its memory a complete set of laws and precedents and formed its sentence based on mathematical logic. Now this fantasy has been realized in Brazil. Brazilian traffic police patrols are now equipped with an electronic judge - a laptop computer with an artificial intelligence program. True, this judge is competent only in one, rather narrow area - he is able to sort out the conflict between the drivers of colliding cars. The idea does not claim to fully automate the verdict, it only helps to somewhat relieve the country's judicial system of many simple cases that, according to the law, need to be tried. Data measured by a policeman on the road, the results of a survey of participants in the incident and their sobriety test are entered into the laptop. The computer can issue fines, issue an invoice for damages, and even recommend a deadline. ... >>

black box in space 18.08.2000

Having lost two spacecraft bound for Mars exploration due to technical and ground personnel errors, NASA decided to supply such vehicles with a "black box" in the future. This recorder, similar to an aircraft recorder, will be installed on the descent module. If the module crashes during landing, the "black box" will be preserved and will transfer its records about the causes of the accident to the orbital part of the device, and from there the data will go to Earth. Aviation recorders can withstand a fall with a negative acceleration of up to 3400 g, and space recorders can withstand 15-20 thousand. The first sample has already been created, it will soon be tested by firing it from a cannon. ... >>

Will chickens save Canada? 17.08.2000

Last summer, the West Nile virus made a lot of noise, having entered New York in not entirely clear ways. This disease, which mainly affects birds, infected 46 people, seven died. The city had to spend about $10 million to kill mosquitoes that transmit the virus. It is suspected that he entered the United States with some exotic bird imported from Africa. In order to notice the penetration of the West Nile virus in time, the Canadian authorities intend to place many small chicken coops on the southern border, along its entire length (2500 kilometers). When infected mosquitoes appear, the chickens will be the first to get sick, and the veterinarians watching them will raise the alarm. ... >>

And in the ice age there were warming 13.08.2000

As geologists have shown, having studied sediments at the bottom of lakes in New England (USA), periodic warming of water in the Pacific Ocean occurred during the ice age. The thickness of the layers deposited annually on the bottom of American lakes varies with temperature. The thicker the layer, the warmer the weather was in the area where the lake is located. It turned out that during the last ice age, 13 to 500 years ago, the weather was warmer every 17 to 500 years. This is happening now under the influence of the El Niño phenomenon - a warm current that periodically appears in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Ecuador and Peru, the influence of which extends to a significant part of North America. ... >>

Seals get the flu too 12.08.2000

Epidemiologists have long known that the type A influenza virus is the culprit in all major influenza pandemics, occurring not only in humans, but also in many other mammals, as well as in birds, such as ducks. Another virus, type B, has so far only been found in humans. Virologist Albert Osterhaus, working at the University of Amsterdam (Holland), recently found influenza type B virus in seals from the North Sea. More precisely, the virus was found in one seal, and in the other - only antibodies to it, but this indicates that the organism of the sea animal has already met with this disease. The strain of the virus found is almost identical to the one that caused an epidemic among humans in 1995. It seems that it was then that the virus was also introduced to seals, since blood samples from North Sea seals collected before 1995 and stored in a special freezer do not contain the virus, and out of 391 samples taken later, the virus was found in eight. Blood samples are regularly taken from seals in order to monitor marine pollution and have material for comparison on the sea. ... >>

Corals don't tan 11.08.2000

Employees of the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences have created a new, highly effective sunscreen based on substances secreted by corals. Since it uses natural compounds, it does not cause allergies. Coastal corals, staying on dry land for several hours twice a day at low tide, might suffer greatly from the sun's ultraviolet rays, but they secrete special compounds that protect against burns. These so-called mycosporine-like amino acids effectively absorb and scatter ultraviolet light. But their molecules are very unstable. It took almost ten years to work on obtaining similar, but stable compounds. In the molecules of mycosporin-like amino acids, chemists alternately replaced some of the atoms, striving to preserve the beneficial properties of the molecules and eliminate the instability. After testing hundreds of versions of the molecules, this was achieved. The release of the new cream has already been launched by an Australian cosmetics company. ... >>

spider robot 09.08.2000

In the laboratory of the Japanese company "Mitsubishi" a robot has been created, which in appearance and mode of movement resembles a spider. It consists of four rows of articulated metal balls with a diameter of four centimeters, in each of the balls an electric motor is hidden. The engines are controlled by wires by a computer (in the future, the "spider" will carry the computer on itself). The whole structure, measuring 85 by 35 centimeters and weighing 6,3 kilograms, runs briskly not only on a flat floor, but also on stairs, resembling a huge karakurt in habits. The robot can also move sideways. It is supposed to be used to inspect the corners of nuclear power plants inaccessible to humans. ... >>

fungus against drugs 06.08.2000

At an experimental agronomic station in the Hawaiian Islands, a species of Fusarium fungus was found that affects coca bushes, from the foliage of which cocaine is obtained. Fusarium is notorious for the owners of suburban areas, it parasitizes the roots of many cultivated plants and can completely destroy the crop. The spores of the fungus can survive for years in the soil. The possibility of dispersing them from aircraft over those areas of Colombia where the population lives mainly on coca cultivation is being considered. It is not yet clear whether the fungus will also attack other plants, but greenhouse experiments have shown that 50 other plant species do not succumb to this Fusarium strain. However, there are other reasons for reflection: some experts believe that the farmers, for whom coca cultivation is the only and not very labor-intensive source of income, will simply move their plantations deeper into the impenetrable rainforest. ... >>

prominence model 03.08.2000

A model of solar prominences has been implemented at the Department of Applied Physics of the California Institute of Technology (USA). Prominences are plasma - a hot gas of free electrons and positive ions. For a long time it was not known why these emissions of the solar atmosphere take such a variety of forms. It is now believed that the shape, size and speed of prominences (and they sometimes reach the Earth) are determined by the interaction of magnetic fields and electric currents in a conducting plasma. Physicists have simulated the development of a prominence by passing a current of about 6000 volts and a force of up to 60 kiloamperes through the plasma in a vacuum chamber, simultaneously applying a magnetic field that is several thousand times more intense than the Earth's magnetic field. ... >>

Origin of emeralds 01.08.2000

The main deposits of emeralds are located in Colombia (the highest quality stones are mined there), in Egypt, in the Urals, in India, Pakistan and in two or three other regions of our planet. Until now, one could only guess where certain emeralds mined in ancient times come from. Swiss mineralogist Dietmar Schwartz found a way to determine the birthplace of these gems by the isotopic composition of oxygen in them. Emerald is a beryllium aluminum silicate and contains oxygen. Schwartz sends a stream of cesium ions accelerated to high speed onto the stone, which evaporates several molecules of the crystal lattice, leaving a completely microscopic dent in the emerald with a diameter of 20 micrometers and a depth of fractions of a micrometer. The mass spectrometer immediately determines the composition of the evaporated atoms. The set of oxygen isotopes in each deposit is unique. Using this method, it was possible to determine that emeralds from Pakistan were inserted into earrings made in Ancient Rome. ... >>

Computer mouse will prevent stress 30.07.2000

British researchers have developed a new generation of information input device. The mouse, designed by two students from Lockborough University, is able to detect the user's mood by the force of a button press and send signals to a computer for further processing. Thus, the user is warned about the possibility of a stressful state, which, according to the developers, should help improve mood. ... >>

Molecular switches 29.07.2000

Researchers at the University of Illinois (USA) have developed a unique method for preparing a silicon wafer substrate for the deposition of organic molecules. This allows you to create "molecular switches" with an accuracy of individual atoms. According to the developers, crystalline silicon wafers produced today are quite suitable for the manufacture of switching matrices operating at frequencies up to 100 THz. If the pre-prepared wafer is treated with suitable organic molecules, the surface is covered with a matrix of uniformly rotating memory elements, each simulating the operation of a transistor that switches with each revolution. The processes of reading and writing information are carried out electrically, but the active element itself is a mechanical device, albeit of an ultra-small size. ... >>

Home appliances controlled via the Internet 28.07.2000

The Swedish company Vattenfall has developed a system for controlling household appliances using a cell phone and the Internet. By purchasing a portable device, the consumer gets the ability to remotely control household appliances, such as a microwave oven or VCR, from a cell phone or from a personal web page. In addition, he can monitor the state of his home by receiving data from automatic security systems on a cell phone or computer. ... >>

An hour and a half of music on your mobile phone 27.07.2000

The new model of Samsung SGH-M100 mobile phones has a built-in flash memory that allows you to store half an hour of music in MPXNUMX format, images and other files. This model allows you to download music files from the Internet and listen to them through headphones. ... >>

Handheld power generator will recharge the mobile phone 26.07.2000

At an exhibition in Geneva, the Spanish inventor J. Perez demonstrated a hand-held electric generator resembling an ordinary coffee grinder with a handle, which is designed to recharge mobile phone batteries. ... >>

False nails glow with mobile phone call 25.07.2000

The Japanese company Sunshine has introduced a new product, Optil, which will undoubtedly become popular among young people. "False nails" are equipped with small sensors, which, when receiving a signal on a "mobile phone", begin to shimmer in different colors. The number of "mobile nails" sets sold per month exceeded 7. ... >>

Identification of the owner of a mobile phone by fingerprint 24.07.2000

In South Korea, Samsung Electronics and PASS21 have jointly developed a special mobile phone with an integrated microchip that stores the owner's fingerprints. The latter also performs the functions of a regular credit card, which is used by hundreds of millions of people on the planet. With the help of Samsung specialists, a special sensor is additionally installed in a phone from which you can call anywhere, which allows you to determine the owner by sweat microparticles emitted by the fingertips. To use the novelty, it is necessary to connect store cash registers that read data from VISA, MasterCard or American Express credit cards with special electronic prefixes ("black boxes") worth only $10. The buyer approaches the cash register, opens the phone, puts his finger on the small window. The touch microchip automatically identifies the owner and issues an electronic signal to the "black box", after which the cash register withdraws money ... >>

Internet broadcast of digital video 23.07.2000

Cisco is the first to broadcast a feature-length, two-hour digital movie over the Internet. This was done using the Cisco New World IPSec Virtual Private Network, a highly secure broadband fiber optic backbone, Cisco 12000 routers and Cisco 7140 VPNs with an integrated firewall, and Triple DES encryption hardware. Data from the CyberCenter (Qwest Communications, Los Angeles) was sent to the Woodruff Arts Center (Atlanta), where the animated film TITAN A.E. was shown. Twentieth Century Fox film studios. ... >>

Personal Internet TV 22.07.2000

The Internet is increasingly being considered as a universal tool for the implementation of modern technologies. For example, the British firm IchooseTV recently launched a service that it calls the world's first personal Internet television. It will show original TV programs on demand. The company offers an interactive program guide composed of works by independent producers and studios. Users can independently choose interesting programs by compiling their own programs. One of the advantages of the service is the ability for advertisers to communicate with well-defined user groups. ... >>

Toshiba water cooled laptop 21.07.2000

Toshiba recently introduced the new Portege 3440CT laptop, which is just 1,9 cm thick and weighs 1,54 kg. For the first time, the PC is equipped with a processor water cooling system and comes with an additional lithium-ion battery, which allows you to increase the operating time without recharging up to 9 hours (the main battery life is 2,5 hours). The system is a "super-cooling heat pipe" that connects directly to the processor. This cooling system uses low-pressure water vapor to remove heat from the processor. The notebook has a low-voltage Pentium 111/500 MHz mobile processor, 11,3-inch TFT LCD, 100 MB PC64 SDRAM and S3 Savage IX graphics accelerator. ... >>

New polymer will speed up data transfer 20.07.2000

Researchers from the University of Washington and Southern California (USA) have developed a new polymer material that will significantly speed up the process of data transmission in telecommunications networks. The polymers act as modulators - intermediate devices between fiber optic networks and existing electronic devices (computers, televisions, etc.). "Optical chips" based on new polymers are capable of converting electrical signals into light at a speed 10 times faster than existing lithium-based devices. By changing the shape of polymer molecules, scientists managed to solve a long-standing problem - the elimination of the generation of electromagnetic fields that occur when working in the polymer itself. ... >>

Magneto-optical disk stores up to 1 GB of information 19.07.2000

Japanese companies Sony and Sharp have jointly developed a new magneto-optical (MO) disk with a diameter of 5 cm. The disk has a thickness of 0,5 mm and can store up to 1 GB of information. Sharp also plans to release a digital video camera for the new media by next spring. According to experts, the quality of MO video recording practically does not depend on the number of times a disc is played. Experts believe that the mass production of equipment with an MO disk will lead to the end of the era of video recorders and video cameras, where magnetic cassettes are used as a source of information. ... >>

digital refrigerator 18.07.2000

LG announced the development of a "digital refrigerator" that can receive information via the Internet and play MP15,1 files. The Digital Dios refrigerator is equipped with a 2000" LCD color screen and a network port. Sales are expected in the first half of XNUMX. ... >>

Taiwan makes more and more motherboards 17.07.2000

Analysts estimate that the cumulative share of motherboards manufactured in Taiwan this year accounted for more than 78,9% of the global market. This figure is expected to grow further - last year it was about 70%. ... >>

New ATX specification from Intel 16.07.2000

Intel Corporation has announced the release of the new ATX Riser Card VI .0 specification, which concerns the design of motherboards. The specification enables the creation of low-profile (short-height) reduced-format, cost-effective solutions based on the ATX family of motherboards (ATX, microATX, and FlexATX). The specification describes how to use existing components in the ATX family of formats to create low-profile desktop computers for POS, corporate, and home use. The ATX Riser Card specification allows the creation of passive or active additional riser cards (riser cards) containing 2x11 slots (2 x 11 in size) and using the sixth Slot 6 PCI slot on ATX, microATX and FlexATX motherboards. The specification is designed for a board with two or three connectors, although it allows the creation of designs with a large number of connectors. In addition, the specification regulates the maximum height, mechanical ... >>

Computer in a baby's cradle 15.07.2000

According to the London magazine New Scientist, a computerized baby cradle has been created in Japan. The device is equipped with several hundred sensors and is currently being tested at the Tokyo National Children's Hospital. According to the developers, such devices will help prevent the sudden death of babies during sleep. ... >>

Self-constructed systems 14.07.2000

Researchers Hod Lipson and Jordan Pollak decided to experiment with self-constructing systems. Neural networks and genetic algorithms were used as a decision-making device. To simplify the task (the system was supposed to create a device through successive experiments that could move on one leg with the help of one electric motor), the available elements were limited to cylinders of different lengths and ball joints. The motor could only move the cylinders linearly. Since neural networks are capable of self-learning, through successive approximations, prototypes were gradually obtained that were most adapted to the task. To test the functioning of the robot, a 30-printer was used, sequentially applying layers of thermoplastic that form the frame of the device. After the printer worked, the robot was ready for operation, into which it was only necessary to insert the motor. The result exceeded all expectations, however, ... >>

The car recognizes the owner by fingerprint 13.07.2000

Institute of Industrial Installations and Structural Technologies. Fraunhofer (Berlin) and the Bavarian automotive concern BMW have begun joint testing of a new anti-theft device. Driver identification is performed by fingerprint. First, control fingerprints of all persons entitled to drive this vehicle are entered into the memory of the on-board computer. To start the engine, the driver must put his finger on a special sensor installed in the cabin before turning the ignition key. The PC scans the papillary pattern and compares it with the existing control database (DB). If the recognition results match, the ignition is unlocked. The computer also sets the driver's seat height, the position of the rear-view mirrors, the tilt of the steering column and even his favorite radio station - all this information is stored in the database along with samples of "fingers". According to the developers, the new anti-theft device is convenient and reliable. ... >>

Anti-theft car radio 12.07.2000

To protect against theft of car audio equipment, motorists usually either take the radio with them or purchase models with removable panels. But Kenwood has developed a special "anti-theft" system with a swivel front panel Mask. The front panel of this "mask" automatically turns over and hides immediately after the ignition is turned off. ... >>

The device monitors the health of the pilot 11.07.2000

The Russian Systems Corporation has developed a unique device - an informer about the critical condition of the pilot (IKSL), designed to save the lives of combat aviation pilots and prevent air crashes, due to the so-called "human factor". In case of deviation in the behavior of the pilot from the established norms, the device gives the pilot warning signals. If the pilot does not react, the relevant information is sent to ground control services, and the aircraft control functions are taken over by the on-board computer. An experimental batch of devices has already been produced (the cost of each for Russian enterprises is about $55-60 thousand). It is planned that IKSL will be installed on the export models of the Su-30MKI and Su-30MKK. ... >>

Black box for coal mines 10.07.2000

To ensure the safety of work in mines, the Donetsk Innovation Center proposed a "black box" similar to those used in aviation. The device is a powerful steel capsule with a built-in multi-channel tape recorder. Such a completely autonomous "registrar" captures the operation of all mechanisms, the signals of ore gas sensors and even, as planned in the future, the location of each worker in the face. ... >>

spy beetle 09.07.2000

American scientists have developed another "representative" of electronic intelligence. An iron spy beetle (weight about 60 g, length 7,5 cm) was created at Vanderbilt University by order of the US military. The device is able to move in any direction and transmit an image and information about the objects surrounding it. Unfortunately, neither the "volatility" nor the complete superminiature of the "beetle", which has the shape of one of the largest insects - the giant rhinoceros beetle, has yet been achieved. The propulsion system of the mini-spy uses piezoelectric ceramics, which actuates the 6 legs of the beetle, spending a minimum amount of energy on this. The speed of the robot is 30 cm/h, the "payload" is 28 g of equipment (2 microvideo cameras weighing 14 g each). ... >>

Helping color blind people 08.07.2000

According to Deutsche Welle, the American geographer S. Brewer of the University of Pennsylvania has developed a special color scale for colorblind people, on the basis of which a computer can recolor maps, replacing one color with another in accordance with the individual characteristics of the user's color perception. The novelty should help people suffering from color vision disorders and having difficulty reading maps and atlases. ... >>

The talking scanner will speak the text 07.07.2000

An interesting novelty - Scan Talk Reader - is a joint development of the Japanese newspaper Asahishinbun and one of the largest manufacturers of optical equipment Omenkus. Publishers encode the text with special icons that the device recognizes and instantly "voices". The "talking" scanner will be on sale in the near future and will cost 8000 yen (about $76), which is much cheaper than a computer with screen reader software. ... >>

Computer for visually impaired people 06.07.2000

Scientists have long been working on the creation of various systems that can help people with visual impairments. In New Zealand, the Palais Data firm, which specializes in electronic devices for the blind, has developed a special Braille Notebook for using the Internet. It allows not only to reproduce text by voice, but is also equipped with a special 32-character panel, on which the content of a website page or an e-mail box is displayed with Braille icons designed specifically for the blind. Such devices will undoubtedly solve the problem of storing "oversized" books for the blind. The cost of a PC with a panel is about $5000, a model with a "reduced" screen of 16 characters costs $3300. ... >>

Destruction under given conditions 05.07.2000

Is it difficult to cut a block in the shape of, for example, a cube from a rock? Until recently, it was very difficult: in any case, in quarries. Today the situation has changed: at the International Institute of Applied Physics and High Technologies (Moscow) a prototype of the UEM-200 mobile electric discharge facility has been created. The principle of its operation - electro-hydraulic (electric discharge) - is that when a powerful current pulse passes in a liquid medium, an electrical breakdown is formed, and in it an expanding gas cavity, which creates a hydraulic shock of great destructive force. This method itself was discovered by the Leningrad inventor L. Yutkin back in the late 40s, but now, in an era of aggravation of all environmental problems, it attracts special attention. The destruction produced by hydraulic shock is not accompanied by either shock or seismic waves, or the release of any toxic substances. That is why the problem of using electric discharge technologies ... >>

The military protect nature 03.07.2000

Many species of the fauna of the Lower Volga region have been preserved due to the existence of strategic missile ranges in this region. This conclusion was made by the staff of the Center for the Conservation and Study of Biodiversity of the Volgograd Branch of the Russian Ecological Academy. On the territories of these polygons, which occupy an area of ​​hundreds of square kilometers, birds, insects and other animals still live, as well as many plant communities that have long been included in the Red Book and a number of international catalogs. If populations of cranes survived in the areas of military training grounds in the Far East, then in the steppe part of Russia - bustards and little bustards. Entire sections of the original feather grass stele turned out to be untouched. Within the same territory, located in the semi-desert Pallasovsky district of the Volgograd region, the well-known military training ground "Kapustin Yar" and the little blue mouse will continue to coexist. It is impossible to do without it - an important element of biological diversity, and ... >>

Liquid crystals for tumor diagnostics 02.07.2000

Another application for liquid crystals was found by specialists from the S. I. Vavilov State Optical Institute and the Military Medical Academy (St. Petersburg). A method has been developed that allows using these crystals (more precisely: one of their three varieties) to objectively diagnose malignant tumors. Liquid crystals are fluid substances that have some of the characteristics of crystals. Including - anisotropy: the physical properties of these substances (for example, the speed of light) are different in different directions. This is explained by. that the molecules of liquid crystals are elongated, arranged in parallel and generally more or less ordered. In the smallest - in nematic liquid crystals. In them, the molecules are randomly shifted relative to each other, although they are oriented in the same direction. If this substance is applied to any surface, then its molecules will be oriented in a certain way on it, and if the surface ... >>

Lynx in the water 01.07.2000

The amphibious hovercraft service boat was created by the joint efforts of specialists from the Neptune Central Design Bureau and the Almaz shipbuilding company (St. Petersburg). Thanks to ingenious design solutions, this boat can be operated in the most adverse conditions. At a speed of about 60 km / h, it moves through shallow water and swamps, through snow and over ice (including broken ice). along hummocks and along rivers during ice drift and freeze-up, along water areas overgrown with algae and reeds. Its air cushion is 0,7 meters. The vessel is even capable of climbing a long slope with a steepness of up to 5 degrees and overcome individual obstacles up to 0.5 meters high. . Even in the event of damage to both propulsion systems, the boat can be easily towed in hover mode. ... >>

Audio system via wiring 28.06.2000

Experts from the German Institute of Electronic Systems. Fraunhofer developed a technology that allows you to connect a stereo system to all rooms in an apartment or house through standard electrical wiring. For this, the signal, for example, from a CD player or PC is transmitted to a special decoder. The latter processes it and sends it to the home electrical network via a modem. Thus, each home socket can serve as a "source" of sound when connected to it with special mini-speakers. ... >>

New product labeling technology 27.06.2000

International Paper and Motorola have proposed a fundamentally new "Smart package" product labeling technology, which should become widespread and replace the usual bar coding in the future. To do this, they use Motorola's radio frequency identification (RFID) in conjunction with two particles of conductive ink, between which there is a miniature chip. Among the main advantages of the new technology is the small size of the marker, which can be placed anywhere and is almost invisible. Unlike a conventional barcode, information can be written on it that is not copied by typography. The RF method does not require line of sight for reading/writing, it is much cheaper than conventional RF markers and is resistant to damage. ... >>

Reliable black box cameras 26.06.2000

The German company Vidair has developed a portable video camera designed for the cockpits of passenger aircraft. Her information is automatically entered into the "black box". It is planned that by 2005 the planes of all airlines in the country will be equipped with such devices. The idea of ​​an "all-seeing eye", in whose field of view there would be not only technology, but also people, has existed for a long time. But the lack of a reliable film capable of withstanding the monstrous force of impact and high temperatures hampered development. Now that such a material (metal-based film) has appeared, the image can be preserved under the most extreme conditions. ... >>

New life for airships 21.06.2000

It is possible that long-forgotten airships will appear in the air in the near future. By order of the European Space Agency, a project has been created for a new aircraft, the scope of which should be observation and aerial photography of the area, relaying communication signals and conducting rescue operations. One of the advantages of the new apparatus is the low cost of its construction and operation, which should make the use of the apparatus profitable. "Suspended" over a densely populated area, the device can replace television towers and partially satellites for relaying a communication signal over an area of ​​100 km2. The airship will resemble the shape of the German "zeppelins" - huge cigar-shaped cylinders 220 m long and 55 m in diameter with a cabin below. It, unlike the devices of the early 20th century, will be able to rise to a height of over XNUMX km without interfering with either aircraft or satellites. The apparatus will not have a rigid internal structure. The lifting force will be provided by an elastic reservoir made of special ... >>

Laser flash is not a hindrance to the sensor 20.06.2000

Florida State University has invented a device that can protect the photosensitive elements of various sensors from high-power laser radiation. The device is an "electronic shutter" capable of making a transparent screen opaque at a very high speed, so that the impact of a powerful laser flash does not have time to damage the sensors. The screen consists of thousands of miniature slits (up to 50 microns in size) that can close and open up to 10 times per second. The novelty has a wide range of applications - from military to household video cameras and sunglasses. ... >>

Mountain bike for a geologist 19.06.2000

The American company WK Dickson, which specializes in cartographic surveys, has developed a special mountain bike that facilitates surveying. The bike is equipped with an antenna and a global positioning device, a laser rangefinder and a PC. The cost of a "complete set" with a bicycle is about $30000. As it turned out, computerized bicycle shooting is much more effective than traditional one. The new method can also be used for accurate mapping of various elements of urban utilities. ... >>

Radio bug monitors the child 18.06.2000

In Ireland, a special "baby bug" has been developed that will allow parents to track the whereabouts of their child around the clock. To do this, just turn on the computer or mobile phone and see the location of the child on the screen. The 4 cm device is attached to the child's clothing. It allows you to determine its location with an accuracy of 1,5 m using a satellite navigation system. ... >>

Wireless pen 17.06.2000

The Swedish companies Ericsson and Anoto have developed a special fountain pen that writes with ordinary ink on special paper. These recordings are then digitized and transmitted using mobile phones or the Internet. Inside the handle is a miniature video camera and a radio transmitter. The movement of the pen on the paper and its position relative to the dots on the paper are stored in the memory of the pen and then sent to the mobile phone using Bluetooth wireless technology. Mass production of new items is scheduled for mid-2001. ... >>

Planes against pigeons 16.06.2000

British biologists suspect that "thunder" from planes crossing the sound barrier is causing carrier pigeons to go astray. According to one hypothesis, pigeons use infrasounds that are not audible to humans, created by sea waves and surf, for navigation. Sonic booms from jet aircraft temporarily stun the birds, after which they lose their bearings. So, in June 1997, 60 thousand English pigeons were released from Nantes (France), but almost a third did not return home, and the rest were late. It turned out that their flight coincided with the flight of the supersonic Concorde. ... >>

Whey car 15.06.2000

Every year, German cheese dairies pour about ten million tons of whey left over from cheese production down the drain. True, a certain amount of this turbid liquid containing proteins, fats, carbohydrates, calcium and phosphorus goes to the production of baby food and medicines. But the sewage treatment plants can hardly cope with the rest. It takes as much oxygen to treat the wastewater of a large cheese factory as it does to neutralize the wastewater of a town of 24 people. Employees of the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Stuttgart have proposed a method for processing whey into raw materials for washing powder or diesel fuel. Serum after filtration and purification enters the bioreactor, where it is treated with two yeast strains. From a liter of waste, 400 grams of environmentally friendly detergent is obtained. Moreover, with a slight change in technology, whey can be used to make diesel fuel, similar to ... >>

Frankincense as medicine 13.06.2000

Traditional Indian medicine has long used frankincense, known to us only as an incense, as an anti-inflammatory agent. One of the clinics in Mannheim (Germany) has begun testing frankincense resin on a hundred patients with chronic ulcerative colitis. Known anti-inflammatory agents such as aspirin, ibuprofen, corticoid drugs are used in the treatment of this disease, but they all produce unpleasant side effects. It turned out that Indian incense tablets work at least as well as European remedies. Pharmacologists already know how frankincense resin works: it contains so-called boswellic acids, which block a certain enzyme that triggers inflammation. It is assumed that in other inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatism, bronchitis, incense should help. And recently found that boswellic acids in laboratory experiments are able to destroy the cells of some tumors. ... >>

Hybrid motorcycle with car 12.06.2000

The Dutch firm Brink Dynamics is testing a prototype three-wheeled vehicle for two people. A four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 65 horsepower accelerates the car to 100 kilometers per hour in nine seconds. The sliding roof provides comfort and protection from the rain. The start of mass production is scheduled for this autumn. ... >>

Bananas in containers 11.06.2000

One of the German shipbuilding companies handed over to the customer - the American company "Dole" two of the world's largest container ships for the transport of bananas from Costa Rica. Each of the 205-metre-long ships carries thirty thousand tons of bananas loaded into a thousand containers (twice as many as the largest banana carriers in existence). The ship's speed is 21 knots (about 40 kilometers per hour). On the way, bananas are cooled, and the total capacity of refrigerators is about 15 megawatts. The banana car is supplied with electricity from five diesel generators. ... >>

Breathing easier in the Carboniferous 10.06.2000

Why aren't there ants the size of dogs? Because insects do not have lungs in which the blood is saturated with oxygen, and then carries it throughout the body. Insects are supplied with oxygen by "forced ventilation": thin air tubes-tracheas fit all organs, and even individual cells. Of these, oxygen diffuses into the tissues. This inefficient way of breathing prevents insects from becoming larger than 10-15 centimeters. However, the imprints of giant dragonflies in coal seams have long been known. Their wingspan was 50-70 centimeters, like a fairly large aircraft model. How could such giants breathe? Robert Berner of Yale University measured the content of certain carbon and sulfur isotopes in Carboniferous deposits. The accumulation of these isotopes depends on the concentration of oxygen in the air. According to Berner's calculations, 250-350 million years ago, the Earth's atmosphere contained 35 percent oxygen instead of the current 21 percent. That's why the creatures could ... >>

Battery wrench 09.06.2000

The American Joe Piccone created a sliding wrench, the opening of the sponges of which is changed by pressing a button: the screw that rearranges the movable sponge is rotated by a micromotor. Two one and a half volt batteries are hidden in the key handle. It's only a prototype for now, but Piccone plans to start production in less than a year. ... >>

Bloodhounds of mercury 07.06.2000

Sweden trains police dogs to sniff out mercury. A few years ago, the Swedish parliament decided that all old, unwanted stocks of mercury and waste containing this dangerous metal should be neutralized by 2001. There is a lot of mercury in old manometers, barometers, thermometers, but they are relatively easy to find. It is more difficult to detect mercury in elbow siphons under washstand sinks in dentists (mercury amalgams are used to make dental fillings), as well as under the floor in chemical and other laboratories, where it could accumulate for years from small, randomly falling droplets. It is found by dogs that react to the smell of even one milligram of mercury. Each shepherd checks up to 110 siphons per day. In two years, two trained shepherd dogs found 10 tons of mercury, of which 1,3 tons were found in schools, where mercury was used relatively recently in demonstration experiments, and even in laboratory work of students. It is assumed that there are still about 40 tons left to be found, mainly in industrial ... >>

truck x-ray 07.06.2000

At US customs, the installation of new X-ray machines has begun, which work not on X-ray transmission, but on their reflection and can view anything - from a living person to a multi-ton truck. The computer processes data on the energy of X-rays scattered from the object, and builds an image of everything that is inside a suitcase or truck: hidden weapons, drugs, explosives, illegal passengers. On the new device, just in case, every 10th passenger arriving at US international airports is scanned. The dose of radiation received in this case is not more than the dose of cosmic rays per minute of flight in an airplane at an altitude of XNUMX kilometers. ... >>

foam paper 06.06.2000

Styrofoam is widely used for packaging fragile products - a porous plastic used to make packaging inserts for boxes with equipment and balls or flakes poured into such boxes to soften shocks. However, the synthesis of styrofoam consumes a non-renewable raw material - oil, gases that are dangerous for the Earth's ozone layer are used in its production, and the used packaging practically does not decompose, accumulating in nature. The German inventor Friedrich Pries from Hamburg founded a small company that produces foamed packaging material from waste paper using the technology he developed. Waste paper is finely cut, then ground into individual fibers, which are mixed with starch. Granules are pressed from this mass. They are subjected to high pressure in a sealed apparatus with superheated water vapor, and then the pressure is abruptly released. The granules foam, forming porous balls that absorb shocks better than styrofoam. They also receive packing inserts. ... >>

Electricity on cards 04.06.2000

In two hundred houses in the German city of Hannover, electric meters are being tested that allow you to pay for electricity without leaving your home. The new Siemens meter shows electricity consumption directly in German marks, and takes into account the cheap nightly tariff. Under the dial of the counter there is a slot where the owner of the apartment or house inserts a credit card from which the corresponding amount is debited. You can use a special "electric" card, which the consumer buys in advance at the bank, supermarket or gas station. A similar system is already widespread in England, where it is used by about four million households. In Switzerland, the "card" counter is being tested in 400 houses and apartments. In total, about twenty million home electricity meters are used in Germany, and if the experiment is successful, they will be gradually replaced. ... >>

temperature to taste 03.06.2000

As physiologists from the Yale School of Medicine (USA) have shown, temperature changes act on taste buds. Rapid cooling of the tongue produces a sour or salty taste in many, while heating the tip of the tongue produces a sweet taste. In a series of experiments, the tongues of volunteers were cooled below normal body temperature. When the temperature of the tongue fell below 20 degrees Celsius, many subjects in the mouth appeared salty or sour taste. When the temperature of the tongue was raised from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius, almost everyone noticed a sensation of sweetness, especially at the tip of the tongue. When cooling its central part, some felt bitterness. In general, two-thirds of people mistake changes in tongue temperature for changes in taste, although sensations can vary from bitter to sweet. The point, apparently, is that the nerves that transmit taste signals to the brain are also sensitive to temperature. Many of us will be able to reproduce this effect at home: if you touch the tip of your tongue to ... >>

phone-computer 02.06.2000

The Swedish company Ericsson presented a prototype of a folding cellular video phone, which also has some functions of a portable computer. If the owner of the phone just needs to talk, he does not unfold the device. If you want to see the interlocutor during the conversation, the device opens, and inside are a color screen, a miniature TV camera and a computer keyboard. You can surf the Internet, receive or send e-mail from this machine. Such a device, according to its creators, deserves a special name, it is proposed to call it "communicator". ... >>

laser tennis 28.05.2000

Tiger Electronics has developed a new version of table tennis. A source of laser radiation is installed above the table. Its beam plays the role of a tennis ball. The players' rackets have a special coating that reflects the incident beam onto the other half of the table. All this is accompanied by sound effects imitating the impact of the "ball" on the racket and the surface of the table. ... >>

Electronic matchmaker 23.05.2000

The cunning Japanese have developed and put on sale a very original device - an electronic matchmaker. The small-sized device (9x4 cm) is equipped with a microprocessor and a transceiver with a range of about 20 m. Having bought such a toy, men and women program it by entering their main "parameters", as well as requirements for a partner. In addition, they indicate the purpose of dating from an innocent desire to chat to serious marital intentions. Then the owner of the toy turns it on, puts it in his pocket and goes outside. The girl of his dreams comes towards him with the same electronic device. The devices enter into communication and, if their programs coincide, they give an audible signal. And then everything develops according to the eternal laws of nature. The instrument has become popular. They are also interested in some European countries. So we are on the threshold of a new revolution in the field of communication between people. ... >>

Device for the fight against domestic rodents and insects 22.05.2000

Recently, with the help of radio electronics, a terrible blow was dealt to harmful domestic insects and rodents. An American firm has put on sale a device that makes cockroaches, ants, spiders, ticks, flies, mice and rats leave the house. The fight against the enemy is being waged on two fronts at once. First, an electromagnetic field is induced in the room wiring of the house. Secondly, the blow to the enemy is applied acoustically. Two powerful speakers emit ultrasonic vibrations with a level of 120 dB. Their frequency is not perceived by the human ear, but the uninvited inhabitants of the house are forced to flee away. Interestingly, the speakers turn on at random intervals. According to the company, this is what prevents insects and rodents from "getting used to" ultrasound. An important detail is that cats, dogs and other pets do not scatter along with mice and cockroaches. And it should also be noted the special humanity of the device - it does not destroy the enemy, but simply forces him to retreat to new positions. Where? Well, on ... >>

Radar in the hands of a rescuer 21.05.2000

A German firm has released a portable radar to search for living people covered by an avalanche or buried under the rubble of buildings after an earthquake. The operation of the device is based on the frequency shift of ultrashort radio waves when they are reflected from moving objects (Doppler effect). If a collapsed person is breathing, if his heart is beating, these small movements are enough for the reflected wave to acquire a slightly different frequency (and length) than that emitted by the radar. It takes half a minute to find the victim. A dog trained to search for people under avalanches smells a person through a two-meter thickness of snow, and a radar through an eight-meter one. The device can also be used to search for people illegally crossing the border in the trunk of a car or in a cargo container. ... >>

Smoke prevents the rain 18.05.2000

After studying data from a special satellite that measures the amount of clouds and precipitation in the Earth's tropical zone, Israeli geophysicist Daniel Rosenfeld came to the conclusion that smoke interferes with the formation of rain. After severe forest fires in Indonesia in the spring of 1998, rainfall decreased in the area. The fact is that the rain begins when small droplets in the cloud merge into larger ones, which can no longer stay in the air and begin to fall. To do this, the droplets must be larger than 25-28 microns in diameter. However, smoke is made up of tiny soot particles, providing a convenient place for moisture to condense. Droplets much smaller than necessary to start coalescence condense around the smoke particles and do not tend to coalesce. Rosenfeld believes that polluted city air also interferes with the formation of large water droplets in clouds. ... >>

Dry ice vs fog 16.05.2000

Dry ice powder has long been used to disperse clouds, and now German meteorologists are trying to use it to disperse fog on the ground. Last November, fine grains of dry ice were sprayed on an airfield shrouded in dense fog near the city of Cottbus. At first, visibility only worsened. But a minute later, small ice crystals hung in the air, which soon fell to the ground. After four minutes, the fog within a radius of 50 meters completely disappeared. A larger-scale experiment of this kind is being prepared this year. ... >>

Noise curtains 15.05.2000

Anti-noise fabric, which is a multi-layered, but rather thin sandwich of sound-absorbing materials, was created at the Georgia Institute of Technology Research (USA). New fabric drapes reduce street noise by seven decibels (a 3 decibel reduction means it is halved). Some American hospitals have already equipped their wards with such protection. ... >>

Jet engine puts out fires 13.05.2000

The idea, proposed back in the GDR, is being implemented in united Germany: a jet engine can put out fires. More than ten years ago, as part of the conversion in the GDR, turbines from the MIG, which had exhausted their resource, were put on a decommissioned tank. Water was injected into the nozzles of the running turbines. Caught up by a powerful stream of exhausts, the water turned into the thinnest fog, quickly and effectively extinguishing the fire. Such installations were first used in extinguishing oil wells in Kuwait after the Gulf War. Now the fire department of the chemical company BASF has independently developed its own version of such an installation. Two turbines from fighters are mounted on a powerful truck. Their exhaust jets carry water, foaming mixture or extinguishing powder up to 130 meters away. The fuel supply is enough for an hour, while spraying almost half a million liters of water. When tested, an artificial fire in a kilometer-long tunnel was extinguished in a minute. An area the size of a football field is covered ... >>

Diagnostic shirt 11.05.2000

This shirt was invented by American engineer Marvin Sackner. Woven into the fabric of the shirt, which resembles a turtleneck, are six types of sensors, the same ones that monitor the condition of patients in an intensive care unit, but greatly miniaturized. The shirt registers up to 40 vital parameters of the person wearing it. Both common medical indicators are measured: blood pressure, pulse, cardiogram, temperature, and less commonly used, for example, the difference in the movements of the left and right halves of the chest during breathing (this difference may indicate the accumulation of fluid in the lungs). The experience of monitoring the health of cosmonauts was used. A thin cable from the shirt is connected to a pocket computer, which accumulates the collected data. Through the computer keyboard, the patient can also enter subjective data about their feelings, such as pain or dizziness. From time to time, the wearer of the shirt sends all the collected information via the Internet to doctors who, in the same way, give him ... >>

Feather plastic 08.05.2000

American researcher Walter Schmidt proposes to make plastic from chicken feathers, the mass of which accumulates in all countries with developed poultry farming, especially after the manufacturers of pillows and featherbeds have switched to modern synthetic materials. The material of feathers (as well as the material of wool, hair, horns and hooves) is mainly keratin protein, which is not inferior in strength to synthetic fibers. Only feather barbs are suitable for making plastic. To separate them, a rather complex process has been developed, which involves cutting the feathers and then fractionating them using sophisticated instruments such as a spectrometer and a differential scanning calorimeter. The barbs are then pressed with moderate heat. It turns out a material suitable, for example, as thermal insulation for houses. Keratin fibers from chicken feathers can also be used to make fine paper. As suggested by the English magazine The Economist, which told about this invention, writing on such paper is probably best. ... >>

Life at a minimum 05.05.2000

Having taken up the simplest known cellular organism - the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium, which has only 517 genes, the employees of the American Institute for Genomic Research began to extract one gene after another from it one by one. It turned out that without visible damage, a bacterial cell can lose almost half of its genes. She does not stop living, eating and sharing even when only 265-350 genes remain in her. Scientists have concluded that it will soon be possible to create a primitive artificial organism with two to three hundred synthetic genes, literally create a living thing from an inanimate one. However, this possibility creates many ethical, religious and social problems. Note that in each human cell there are about a hundred thousand genes. ... >>

Heated microphone 04.05.2000

The new subminiature microphone of the German company "Sennheiser" does not have a membrane. The sensing element is two very thin platinum wires heated by an electric current passed through them. Sound vibrations in the air slightly cool the wires, their resistance drops, and these resistance vibrations are amplified and converted into sound. ... >>

The largest dinosaurs 02.05.2000

Argentine paleontologists have found fragments of a skeleton in Patagonia that belonged to the largest dinosaur known so far. This herbivorous giant lived 105 million years ago, weighed twice as much as a large elephant (nine tons) and was 47-50 meters long. This is 5-8 meters more than the Argentinosaurus, which was still considered the largest of the pangolins. True, the Argentinosaurus was ten times heavier. Giant bones - a cervical vertebra two meters long and a femur - were found by peasants 1000 kilometers southwest of Buenos Aires and called in scientists. Excavations are not over yet, and the giant has not yet received an official scientific name. Meanwhile, the remains of an aquatic dinosaur that looks like a giraffe have been found in the Sahara. He was 18 meters high (of which the neck was 12), and weighed 60 tons. The lizard is named Sauroposeidon. Paleontologists who found the giant's neck vertebrae first mistook them for fossilized tree trunks. ... >>

New technology of optical signal transmission over long distances 28.04.2000

At the Fiber Optic Manufacturers Conference in Baltimore, Canada's Nortel Networks (NT) unveiled advanced technology for long distance optical transmission. Called ULTRA, the technology was developed by Qtera, which Nortel acquired in December 1999. It allows the transmission of a signal over fiber optic networks over 2,5 miles (4000 km) without costly regeneration. Current technologies provide signal transmission without regeneration for distances up to 400 miles (640 km). The speed of equipment based on ULTRA technology is 10 Gbps. ... >>

Global Positioning and Navigation System GNSS 25.04.2000

The European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety and Navigation Authority (Eurocontrol) are currently building the Global Positioning and Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The GNSS system is planned to be implemented in two stages. The first is the GNSS-1 system, which will operate using signals from the American GPS satellites currently in orbit and the Russian Glonass satellites, the second is the second-generation GNSS-2 system, which will provide ordinary users with an expanded set of services for positioning and navigation. ... >>

Navigation system for the blind 22.04.2000

In the cities of France will soon have a navigation system for the blind. Eosat (Lyon) has launched a special "box" that can be attached to the collar of a guide dog. The device, equipped with a microprocessor and a radio beacon, allows you to determine the location of a blind person in the city with an accuracy of up to 5 m, thanks to a radar network that compares data received by the satellite and small transceivers. To quickly determine the location of a person, it is enough for him to call the system operator by phone, who will determine the location of the interlocutor by the code of the "box". The navigation system has already passed preliminary testing in January this year in Chambéry. The radar device is still too big - a little more than a kilogram package of washing powder. In the near future, Eosat plans to significantly reduce the locator to the size of a matchbox, which will allow you to carry it in your pocket. ... >>

artificial vision 21.04.2000

A group of American scientists led by W. Dobell created an artificial vision system for people who have completely lost their sight. The artificial eye is a miniature television camera attached to the right lens of dark glasses. The image from it enters a laptop computer and is converted into electrical impulses, which are transmitted via cable directly to the brain through implanted electrodes. For the development of the device, a patient named Jerry, who lost his sight after a head injury, was "used" for a long time. Experiments with him began in 1978, when 68 platinum electrodes were implanted into his brain. As a result of 20 years of efforts, it was possible to find safe voltages of electrical impulses sent to the brain, to adjust their frequency and shape so that a stable image was formed in the head of a blind person. The patient can read letters 5 cm high at a distance of up to 2 m. The glasses have a laser distance sensor that reduces the brightness of the ... >>

The body amplifies the sound 20.04.2000

Specialists from the Center for Microelectronics at the University of Kaiserslautern have developed a new Hi-Fi loudspeaker design. The device, called "bodybass", consists of a special electronic circuit and a powerful but compact woofer and serves as an addition to conventional headphones, allowing you to significantly expand the frequency range of sound reproduction at the expense of the lower part of the spectrum. The speaker is mounted on the chest and the listener's lungs and bronchi are used as a resonator, and the trachea and upper respiratory tract are used as a sound transmission channel to the hearing organs. ... >>

Device for the treatment of mosquito bites 19.04.2000

Closer to summer, a variety of "tweeters" to repel mosquitoes are in great demand. However, many believe that such devices do not completely solve the problem. Perhaps this circumstance forced representatives of the German "Society of Applied Technologies" to develop an electronic device for healing mosquito bites. When touched on affected areas of the skin, the device sends out a thermal impulse that destroys mosquito venom and instantly relieves itching and subsequent redness of the skin. Approximate price of the device in Germany DM50. ... >>

Color TV with plastic screen 18.04.2000

For almost 2 years, the English company Cambridge Display Technology, together with Seiko-Epson, has been preparing for the release of the first color TV with a plastic screen. In the production of flexible screens on light-emitting polymers, materials developed by CDT were used (the latter are applied to the film using Seiko-Epson inkjet printing technology). The first presentation of a flexible monochrome display by Seiko-Epson and CDT took place in February 1998. Subsequently, a color version was developed based on it. The flexible display has a 180° viewing angle, no high-voltage electrical circuits, and is suitable for use in televisions and computer monitors. ... >>

Computer mouse will evaluate health 17.04.2000

The latest innovation from Almaden Research Center is the Emotion Mouse. The device is an ordinary mouse with a copper coating on the buttons and an IR source. Thanks to these "additions", the mouse allows you to determine the heart rate, temperature and electrical conductivity of the skin, as well as register the micro-movements of the user's fingers, whose psycho-emotional state is determined by a special program. To obtain the final result, the user must solve puzzles and view computer comics for half an hour. ... >>

Small glasses for a big picture 16.04.2000

Sony's new development, the Glasstron Personal LCD Monitor (PLM-A35), is a special glasses that uses concave mirrors to transfer a small image from a liquid crystal monitor directly to the eye's retina. The size of the generated high-quality image is equivalent to a 52-inch screen viewed from a distance of about 2 m. ... >>

Copper instead of aluminum in chips 15.04.2000

Semiconductor manufacturers from the United States, Taiwan and Germany have announced their intention to join forces to develop a new chip manufacturing technology. The companies intend to replace the currently used aluminum with copper. This will not only increase the performance of processors (copper conducts electricity better than aluminum) and reduce the cost of manufacturing logic devices, but also reduce the size of the devices themselves. The thickness of the "wires" in the chips will decrease to 0,1-0,13 microns. It is planned that 0,13-micron technology will be developed by the end of this year, and 0,1-micron - by 2002. Among the participants in the project, IBM, United Microelectronics Corp. and the German company Infineon Technologies. ... >>

Liver stones and sports 14.04.2000

Exercising two to three hours a week reduces the chances of you needing surgery to remove a gallbladder full of stones by 20 percent. The medical records of more than 60 employees of American hospitals and clinics, mainly service personnel, were studied (from these people, who are always "at hand" with doctors, it is easier to obtain both consent to the examination and all the necessary information about lifestyle). It turned out that among those who had to remove the gallbladder (and there were 3257 people), leading a sedentary lifestyle prevailed. Moreover, in order to avoid an operation, it is not necessary to seriously engage in physical education and sports, it is enough, for example, to walk 2-3 hours a week. So far, there is no indisputable explanation for this dependence, but it is assumed that active muscle movements prevent stagnation of bile in the bladder, and hence the formation of stones. ... >>

House delivered by helicopter 12.04.2000

The German firm "Evrohouse" has begun production of family cottages, which are delivered to the place by helicopter. An ordinary stone house of this size weighs over a hundred tons, but the use of modern materials borrowed from the aircraft industry has reduced the weight of the cottage to 25 tons. At the installation site, a concrete foundation must be prepared with communications embedded in it - pipes and cables. The helicopter lowers its load onto the foundation, and after a few hours the house is ready to be lived in. When moving to another city, your home can be transferred by air to a new place in the same way. "Air Houses" are planning to produce on the conveyor. ... >>

Storks in flight 11.04.2000

Last autumn, French ornithologists observed the flight of black storks, which usually leave European villages at the end of summer and fly to Africa for the winter, ending their journey in mid-October. Sixteen storks were equipped with radio beacons, which made it possible to track their position several times a day using satellite. The flight of storks to Africa lasted 20 days, they covered 350 kilometers a day at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour. There were many obstacles on the way, for example, the Pyrenees, which were overcome at an altitude of more than 2000 meters, the sea and the desert, through which they had to fly for three days. Data about the flight was sent to the Internet, so scientists and ordinary bird lovers all over the world could follow the storks. ... >>

First sight 10.04.2000

Sixty-two-year-old American Jerry N. is able to read the house number on the wall, does not bump into objects, watches TV, knows how to surf the Internet, does not miss hanging his hat on a nail ... This would not be surprising if he had not lost his sight over 20 years ago. The fact is that Jerry N. received an artificial vision system, on which a group of engineers led by R. Dobell worked for more than 30 years. A miniature television camera is mounted on the glasses of the former blind man, the signals from which are fed into a computer mounted on his belt. After processing, these signals go directly to the brain, to the visual cortex, through 68 platinum electrodes implanted there. Artificial vision is much weaker than natural, but still allows you to lead an almost normal life.' Serial production of such "artificial eyes" may begin this year. ... >>

Why is there no coal in Antarctica? 08.04.2000

In the Cretaceous period, when the whole Earth was warm, almost the entire planet was covered with lush tropical forests. On all continents since those times there were deposits of coal. Except for Antarctica, where only a few small and thin strata have been found. At the same time, it is known that Antarctica was also covered with deciduous forests. Why didn't coal form here? According to computer simulations of the ancient climate of Antarctica by David Burling of the University of Sheffield (England), the water balance of the Antarctic forests was very tight. How much water the trees received from the rains, so much evaporated. Therefore, the groundwater level was low, and swamps could not have arisen in Antarctica. And the formation of coal begins precisely with a peat bog: for tens of thousands of years, the dead remains of plants turn first into peat, then into brown coal, and finally into stone. As shown by the computer model, small swamps could appear only a few meters away. ... >>

The roof of Africa has become lower 07.04.2000

An expedition of 22 German surveyors climbed the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to accurately measure the height of this extinct volcano using artificial Earth satellites. Kilimanjaro, the continent's highest peak, is often referred to as the "roof of Africa". The global satellite positioning system, consisting of 27 satellites, allows you to accurately determine the position of any point on the surface of the Earth. The most accurate atomic clocks are installed on the satellites, periodically giving a radio signal. By picking up signals from several satellites with a special receiver and noting the difference in the time of their arrival, it is possible to calculate the exact position of the receiver. Having installed an antenna on the top, the expedition measured the height of the mountain with an accuracy of three centimeters. If we consider the height of the deviation of the top of the mountain from the geoid - the complex geometric figure that the Earth represents, then the height of Kilimanjaro is 5891 meters 76 centimeters. If we count from the sea level mark adopted in Tanzania, then ... >>

About the benefits of walking 06.04.2000

Steve Bird and his colleagues from the Department of Physical Therapy at the Medical College in Kent (UK) proved that walking affects the composition of the blood. They selected 56 sedentary volunteers and divided them into four groups. One group had to take a walk lasting 20-40 minutes daily, the second - two walks of 10-15 minutes, the third - three of 5-10 minutes. The fourth group sat at home in front of the TV. Before the start of the experiment, the blood levels of lipoproteins were measured in all of them - compounds of proteins with fat that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. This continued for 18 weeks, after which the analysis of blood fats was repeated. For those who walked for a relatively long time, the content of the most harmful lipoprotein fell by 50 milligrams, for the "intermediate" this drop was twice as modest, and for those who walked three times, but little by little, the content of the dangerous substance was reduced by only 10 milligrams. So long walks are most effective. The "sedentary" content of lipopes ... >>

Foldable keyboard 05.04.2000

You have to enter text into a pocket computer by drawing letters on its screen with a special pen, and the device understands far from every handwriting: you only need to write in a special computer font. An American firm began producing a foldable keyboard that doubles the size of a PDA but makes it almost as comfortable to use as a larger one. ... >>

Smell left and right 03.04.2000

As psychologists from the University of California (USA) have shown, the perception of smell depends on which nostril to inhale it. Thirty-two volunteers were given eight common scents to smell, including lemon and mint. The subjects had to answer questions about the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the smell and what it actually smells like. The snuff was taken first with one nostril, then the other. It turned out that the right nostril tends to evaluate odors more positively than the left. But the left nostril more accurately determines the origin of the smell. Experimenters believe that the differences found are associated with long-known differences in the activity of the two hemispheres of the brain. Each nostril sends signals to its own hemisphere. The left is more rational, reasonable, the right is more emotional. In accordance with this, the nostrils evaluate odors. ... >>

The biggest truck in the world 02.04.2000

A dump truck operating in one of the coal mines in Wyoming (USA) is considered the largest truck in the world. The total mass of the giant is 500 tons, and 330 tons of coal or waste rock are placed in its body. Engine power - 3000 horsepower, it rotates an electric generator, and electric motors are mounted in the wheel hubs. ... >>

Sterilization by ultraviolet 01.04.2000

The French Center for New Methods of Storage of Agricultural Products is conducting experiments on sterilizing products with flashes of ultraviolet rays. The discharge of a xenon lamp, which produces ultraviolet radiation 20 times more powerful than solar radiation, lasts from one tenth to one millionth of a second. This allows you to destroy microbes on the surface, for example, fruits, but not change their color and taste. Industrial installations of this kind should appear in France this year. It is supposed to sterilize by ultraviolet and surgical instruments. ... >>

Mass storage media 31.03.2000

Canadian scientists have developed a new ferromagnetic material from which it will be possible to manufacture high-capacity data drives. Based on polymers and iron, ferromagnetic ceramics were obtained. When this material is heated, iron atoms begin to move and begin to migrate, merging and forming so-called nanoclusters. The larger the clusters, the stronger the magnetism of the material. Thus, the magnetic properties of the material can be controlled within certain limits. ... >>

New video discs store up to four hours of video on each side 29.03.2000

In 2001, new videodiscs will be available for sale, which can record up to four hours of video on one side. The currently offered DVD-RAM discs allow you to record up to two hours of information on one side. New video discs are coated with a dosed mixture of antimony, germanium and tellurium. When recording or rewriting (up to 1000 times without quality degradation), the laser beam melts the composition, orients the crystals, which then harden. During playback, a beam of lower power reads digital information on the crystallized areas of the coating. In the new advanced technology, the disc is coated with two layers of compound, the top of which is transparent to the laser. It is enough to concentrate the beam on the lower layer so that the recording goes to it, and then goes to the upper layer. ... >>

There is a need to simplify the use of cell phones 23.03.2000

Ukraine and Belarus remain, perhaps, the last European countries where the registration of cell phones is required. And although the issue of eliminating such a permit is already being discussed, it is now rather difficult to say whether any changes will occur in the near future. But even if such an order is adopted, it most likely will not apply to GSM900 standard equipment. After all, it is at this frequency that air navigation systems operate in Ukraine. In Europe, other frequencies are allocated for this, and permission for such equipment is not required there. ... >>

Alternative energy for the space station 21.03.2000

A unique experiment is planned to be carried out at the Mir orbital station. A metal cable 6 km long will be suspended from the space object (tentatively the cable will be delivered to the station in May this year). The experiment will be financed by the international corporation "Gold and Apple". The peculiarity of the experiment is that in the metal cable, which, during the flight of the station, crosses the lines of force of the Earth's magnetic field, an emf arises. This gratuitous electricity will be removed by the station itself and used for its own needs. ... >>

Portable portable radar station 19.03.2000

To increase the efficiency of the work of specialists in rescuing victims of natural and man-made disasters, scientists from the Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine have created a portable portable radar station. It helps rescuers find living people in the rubble that arose during the destruction of buildings, among stones and rock fragments. The range of the radar is 10 m. ... >>

Mobile phone for navigation systems 18.03.2000

NTT Mobile Communications Network (NTT DoCoMo) has developed a Digital Mova P502i HYPER iMode mobile phone that can work with car navigation systems. By connecting your phone to a navigation device that supports iMode, you can see all available information on the navigator screen. The device also allows you to send and receive e-mail and is equipped with a monochrome LCD display. Estimated price $330. ... >>

Radio bug in a cigarette 17.03.2000

The need to obtain important information forced Russian scientists from the foreign intelligence service to develop a unique listening device - a "bug", which cannot be detected even with the most modern search tools. The "bug" does not have a battery, but instead uses a combustible thermocouple hidden in the tobacco of a cigarette. The "bug" microphone is mounted in the filter. After the Russian James Bond lights a cigarette, the thermocouple will generate current, the transmitter microphone will turn on and begin to broadcast all the words that sound within a radius of several meters. The disadvantage of the "bug" is its fragility: the cigarette-bug is suitable for single use. However, if you wish, you can save the cigarette butt and install the "bug" in a new cigarette later. The cost of "bug" on the black market is about $500. ... >>

When Europe Was Deserted 16.03.2000

As new studies by paleobotanists and geologists from the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) have shown, about 250 million years ago some kind of catastrophe occurred in Europe, due to which the huge coniferous forests that covered the continent before died out. In geological deposits, the number of fungal spores that live on dead wood has greatly increased. And again, living trees did not appear until five million years later. The cause of this mass extinction remains a mystery, although it is known that at that time the level of the oceans dropped dramatically and temperatures rose. Numerous volcanoes ejected about two million cubic kilometers of lava, which covered much of Siberia. Not only forests died, but 95 percent of all species of organisms - more than in the extinction of dinosaurs, which occurred 65 million years ago. Perhaps almost all life was killed by suffocating volcanic gases. ... >>

Flute, which is nine thousand years old 14.03.2000

Six flutes made from the bones of a crowned crane have been found in a burial dating back to the early Neolithic in the Chinese province of Henan. One of the flutes is perfectly preserved, without a single crack. It is not the oldest musical instrument known, but it is the oldest that can still be played. Musicians were able to extract sounds from it that the human ear had not heard for the past nine millennia. Now Chinese musicologists are studying the flute system, trying to understand what melodies could be played on it. The oldest Chinese scales were recorded "only" three thousand years ago. ... >>

Lynx perfume 12.03.2000

American zoologist John Weaver came up with a new way to study lynxes. He nails pieces of hard carpet to the trees, moistened with a specially formulated "perfume" that is attractive to the lynx. This aromatic composition consists of lynx pheromones and extracts of several plants, including valerian. Attracted by the scent, the cat rubs its head against the carpet, leaving its hair on it. Lures are checked every two weeks. From the DNA extracted from a single hair, you can find out the type of lynx (there are two in North America), sex, age, and even family ties of the animal: whether a whole family of lynxes rubbed against the bait or unrelated individuals that came up at different times. This method has already managed to find at least seven lynxes in the state of Washington, where they were considered extinct. The new method is also used to account for other American cats: ocelot, jaguar, cougar. A lure for a tiger has been developed, and work is underway on perfumes for grizzly bears. ... >>

Tobacco and carrots are incompatible 11.03.2000

Studies conducted at the University of Bologna (Italy) and the University of Texas (USA) have shown that beta-carotene, contained in carrots, tomatoes and other vegetables and usually protecting cells from malignant degeneration, is harmful to smokers. In recent years, beta-carotene has been available in tablet form, on its own or in addition to vitamins, and doctors recommend taking such tablets. It turned out that beta-carotene reacts in the smoker's body with carcinogens present in tobacco smoke, and itself turns into a carcinogen. A study of 29 smokers found that those who took beta-carotene were 18 percent more likely to develop cancer. ... >>

artificial sky 10.03.2000

The largest artificial sky was created at the University of Cardiff (England). It is a dome with a diameter of eight meters, seated with electric lamps in the amount of about a thousand. The brightness of each lamp is individually adjustable. All together they simulate light from a clear or cloudy sky, and one of them, more powerful, replaces the Sun. This original installation is intended for architects. Models of designed buildings and entire blocks are placed under the dome on a scale from 1/20 to 1/4. In a few minutes, a light picture is recreated at any time of the day in any weather in any city on the Earth, and you can see how these structures are illuminated, whether the houses will shade each other. ... >>

Noise vs Noise 08.03.2000

A 700-square-meter site near Paris Orly Airport will be protected from aircraft noise with the same noise, but in the opposite phase. Microphones mounted around the protected area on seven-metre-high lampposts will pick up the noise, then the computer will reverse its phase by 180 degrees, and this altered sound will be played back by a network of 500 loudspeakers. Two sounds that are opposite in phase cancel each other out. The system was tested at another airfield, and the noise was reduced by a factor of XNUMX. ... >>

Jetty with suction cups 06.03.2000

Two New Zealand inventors are testing their idea: in the port, large rubber suction cups are attached to the quay wall. The mooring ship leans sideways against the pier, the pumps start to work, and the suction cups tightly grab the board. The suction cups are reinforced in such a way that they can move up and down and sideways, depending on the level of the tide and waves. The new system allows a large ferry that runs between New Zealand's islands to dock at the touch of a button in four seconds, while the old one, with bollards tossed, requires the hard work of 12 sailors for 15 minutes. ... >>

sleeping clock 05.03.2000

The Japanese company Seiko has released an electronic wrist watch that, after lying somewhere in a box for up to four years, can continue to accurately indicate the current time. If the watch is not in motion for more than three days, its hands stop, but the internal memory continues to keep track of the time. Battery consumption is reduced by 75 percent. It is enough to take the watch in your hands so that the hands start up and indicate the exact time. ... >>

Kinescope on Chernobyl 04.03.2000

Every year, German viewers throw into the landfill about half a million used kinescopes weighing from 10 to 30 kilograms. Burying them is a big problem. Firstly, the phosphor that covers the screen from the inside contains cadmium and is therefore poisonous. Secondly, the cone of the kinescope is made of lead glass, which is also unsafe for burial (this glass absorbs X-rays that occur when the TV is in operation). And it is also difficult to melt it into new kinescopes, because the screen itself is made of another, barium-strontium glass, which also absorbs radiation. For secondary use, these varieties would have to be separated. The Munich company "Stratecon" proposes to use German kinescopes for shielding the Chernobyl sarcophagus. The idea is to build something like a rack of steel corners around the sarcophagus, on which to place old kinescopes in two layers, alternately - neck or screen first. You can also fill them with some material that absorbs radiation. Sweat ... >>

sensitive road 02.03.2000

If carbon fibers are mixed into concrete, such a road surface will change its electrical conductivity under the influence of the weight of cars passing on it. Deborah Chang from the University of Buffalo (USA), who discovered this effect, suggests using it to make roads sensitive to the movement of cars and even bicycles. It will be possible to measure the weight of heavy vehicles on the move (and charge them a fare corresponding to the weight), determine the location and speed of individual vehicles, use their signals to switch traffic lights. ... >>

Doctor in your pocket 01.03.2000

The American company "Aprex" began to produce jars for medicines with built-in computer memory. Such a jar remembers the time and date when it was opened to take a pill. From time to time, the jar can be connected to a computer and receive a printout of all the terms of taking the medicine. If the patient's condition has not improved, the doctor can determine whether the medication was taken regularly. In the future, the company intends to provide this package with a sound signal that will remind you of the need to take the medicine. ... >>

Samsung continues to support Rambus 28.02.2000

Samsung continues to support Rambus, whose position has been shaken since Intel's latest admission. Evidence of this is the fact that Avo Kanadjian, vice president of marketing for Samsung Semiconductor Americ, has moved to Rambus to lead the marketing department. In addition, Samsung announced the completion of the development of 288 Mbit RDRAM chips, becoming the first manufacturer to reach this mark. The company does not promise their mass production yet and is silent about the price. ... >>

Intel retires Direct Rambus DRAM (DR DRAM) 27.02.2000

Intel abandoned the public promotion of the Direct Rambus DRAM (DR DRAM) memory standard, which it started back in October 1997 at the Microprocessor Forum. Then Intel and Rambus announced their intention to bring this technology to market in 1999. Intel admitted that it was a mistake to impose the wrong ideology on the market and recognized the Double Date Rate DRAM (DDR DRAM) memory standard that had developed on the market. Now Intel has made an effort to create a new memory architecture and is leading the development of the post-DDR II memory standard by major memory manufacturers (Samsung Electronics, Hyundai MicroElectronics, Micron Technology, Infineon Technologies, NEC-Hitachi Memory Inc.). Like DR DRAM, the new memory standard will be licensed to other memory manufacturers not on the list of developers for a fee. Mass production of the new memory standard will begin in 2004-2005. ... >>

Joshua by VIA 26.02.2000

VIA postponed to the beginning of 2000 the release of its "dark horse" - the entry-level microprocessor Joshua for Socket 370: the slowest in terms of clock frequency (only 333-400 MHz) and the leader in terms of L2 cache (256 kB). ... >>

AMD discontinues 500MHz Athlon processors 26.02.2000

AMD discontinued production of the junior processor of the seventh generation Athlon at 500 MHz and on January 6, 2000 officially announced the release of the next processor in this line - Athlon 800. ... >>

AMD drops K6-III 26.02.2000

Having released only two models of K6-III microprocessors at frequencies of 400 and 450 MHz, AMD refused to continue developing microprocessors of this line. The latter were considered analogues of Intel's Pentium III. In the first quarter of 2000, a new, similar line of sixth-generation K6-2+ microprocessors is released, starting with the 500 MHz model. ... >>

New Pentium III Processors 25.02.2000

On December 20, 1999, Intel introduced the 800 and 750 MHz Pentium III processor models (at 100 and 133 MHz FSB). New models of processors, like all other modifications of the Pentium III Coppermine, are manufactured according to the 0,18 micron production technology. They feature Level 2 Advanced Transfer Cache and Advanced System Buffering technology. Mass deliveries of new processor models will begin in the 1st quarter of 2000. ... >>

Broadcasts to order 24.02.2000

In a number of cities in the United States went on sale pocket radio "Command Audio". It allows you to choose programs of your choice from a variety of programs - news, weather, sports, literary and musical programs, etc. Through a special programming channel, the receiver constantly receives encoded data about the programs of radio stations. With the help of these signals, the receiver switches from channel to channel in a timely manner, satisfying the tastes and preferences of its owner. True, for the use of the programming channel you have to pay 15 dollars a month. And the cost of the receiver itself is 200 dollars. In those areas where the mentioned programming channel is not available, the receiver operates in the normal manual tuning mode. ... >>

Cold hands, hot head 23.02.2000

The National Institute of Applied Sciences (France) has developed an ultra-precise thermometer, the sensor of which is glued to the temple and measures the temperature of the brain. An interesting result has already been obtained with the help of this unique device. It turns out that when doing mental calculations, the temperature of the brain rises by a few hundredths of a degree, and the temperature of the skin drops by 0,3 degrees Celsius. This is due to the fact that with increased mental activity, the vessels of the skin narrow. As a result, blood flow through the skin is reduced, it cools less and arrives at the brain a little warmer. ... >>

Alcohol is good for the liver 22.02.2000

Physiologists from the University of the Canadian province of Manitoba compared the rate of liver regeneration after injury in three groups of rats: those who drank only pure water, received a rather large amount of alcohol with water, and those who were poured a weak solution of alcohol into the drinker. It turned out that small doses of alcohol, in terms of per person corresponding to the consumption of up to one and a half liters of beer per day, accelerate the healing of the liver. Doctors emphasize that, firstly, these experiments need to be verified by other laboratories, and secondly, not everything that is useful to rats is equally useful to humans. ... >>

ultrasonic fertilizer 21.02.2000

American Dan Carlson sprays a solution of mineral fertilizers (phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen) on the leaves of plants, and then irradiates them with ultrasound at a frequency of three to five kilohertz. As a result, the yield increases by 20-100 percent. According to the author of the idea, ultrasound opens stomata - pores of adjustable diameter, which are present on the lower surface of the leaves and serve for gas and water exchange with the atmosphere. With his method, Carlson grows three-meter-high corn and one-and-a-half-meter-diameter pumpkins. These achievements have already entered the Guinness Book of Records. ... >>

To decipher the human genome 20.02.2000

At the end of last year, biologists working around the world to read the entire "text" of human hereditary information noted two important events. On November 22, the first billion "letters" were read - nucleotides that record hereditary information. The billionth was the letter G, that is, guanine. It took ten years of intensive work in different countries of the world, including Russia, to achieve this milestone. There are still two billion left, but as the pace of research continues to increase, the entire human genome will be read in two or three years. In early December, the complete decoding of the 800nd human chromosome was completed, it contains about 33,5 genes and 23 million nucleotides. There are XNUMX more chromosomes left to read. ... >>

Cardiograph in your pocket 16.02.2000

The German firm "Medisana" has started production of a pocket cardiograph. By pressing your thumbs on the contacts on the sides of a small box, after a few seconds you can see your electrocardiogram on the display. True, the device is by no means capable of replacing a real, large cardiograph. The result depends, for example, on the pressure applied to the contacts. The instructions say in bold type: "An abnormal ECG does not necessarily mean that you have serious heart disease. On the other hand, a normal ECG does not mean that you do not have serious, sometimes even dangerous, heart disease." That is, each owner of the device can interpret the results as he wishes. For nervous and suspicious people, as German doctors point out, such a cardiograph in your pocket can even be harmful. ... >>

Loose boots 15.02.2000

Why do boots get stuck in the mud? Because when a walker wants to take a step, dense mud, covering the boot from all sides, does not allow air to rush into the resulting void and atmospheric pressure does not allow the sole to be torn off the ground. By the way, the mechanism of suction of any objects by swamp swamp or quicksand is the same. The English inventor Cliff Cogger proposed boots that were not subject to this effect. In the boot of his system there is a tube with a valve leading from the sole to the trim of the top. It does not allow a vacuum to form under the sole, and the boot easily crawls out of any dirt. The detachments of the English coast guard and some fire brigades are already shod in non-binding boots, a new type of footwear is being tested in the American army. ... >>

Forced braking of cars 14.02.2000

An international conference was held in Germany, where a new system for automatically limiting the speed of cars was discussed. Already now, many cars in Europe have a computer navigation system. Using special navigation satellites, the car's on-board computer determines its location, and detailed maps are stored in the computer's memory. The driver needs to enter the destination into the computer, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen or spoken aloud from the computer, how to quickly and easily drive to the right place. If you indicate sections with speed limits on electronic maps, it is easy to make sure that when entering such a section, the car automatically slows down. British traffic control experts believe that it is enough to equip 60 percent of cars with such equipment and other drivers will also be more careful to comply with the restrictions. But although from a technical point of view everything is quite simple, legal moments are questionable. ... >>

Skin profilometry 11.02.2000

Employees of the Laboratory of Friction and System Dynamics from Lyon (France) have created a laser device that allows cosmetologists to accurately track the effect of creams, masks, lotions and other products that eliminate wrinkles. The thinnest laser beam glides over the surface of the skin, its reflection is captured by four photodiodes. The result is a three-dimensional map of the skin area with relief lines every 10 micrometers. By repeating such measurements, one can evaluate the effectiveness of a cosmetic product not by eye, as has been done so far, but in exact numbers. ... >>

Inflatable motorcyclist vest 10.02.2000

The Japanese firm "Mugen Danko" is launching a life jacket for motorcyclists, which is similar in principle to a marine inflatable vest. It is fastened to the motorcycle with a cable, which is connected to the valve of a canister charged with compressed carbon dioxide. If the motorcyclist starts to fall from his car, the cable is pulled and opens the valve, the vest instantly inflates and protects its wearer from injury. ... >>

Companion on a string 09.02.2000

As every schoolchild knows, when a conductor moves in a magnetic field, a voltage difference arises at the ends of the conductor, and if the conductor is closed, a current will occur. Thus, if a piece of wire is lowered from a satellite flying in the Earth's magnetic field, a current will appear in it, and the satellite will slow down and fall lower. That is, in order to leave the orbit, it is not necessary to turn on the brake engines and waste fuel - it is enough to unwind the coil with the wire. The reverse process is also possible: by passing current, for example, from solar panels, through a conductive "tail", it is possible to push the satellite up. Moreover, both methods have a higher efficiency than a jet engine. The fuel stored on the satellite for deorbiting (this process is usually provided after the end of its service life, so as not to litter the near space with "dead" devices), can be up to 20 percent of the mass of the satellite. The mass of the braking wire will be only two percent, due to which it is possible to increase ... >>

Mouse under the table 07.02.2000

Thirteen-year-old German schoolboy Moritz Pletzing invented the computer mouse for legs. It is placed under the table. The left foot adjusts the horizontal movement of the cursor on the screen, the right foot - vertical. The "foot" mouse is connected in addition to the usual one. It is convenient because the hand does not need to be torn off the keyboard, as a result of which the speed of work on the computer is significantly increased. The schoolchild's invention, shown at the traditional 34th exhibition of works by young scientists and inventors, will also be useful to disabled people. ... >>

American Roulette 04.02.2000

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have designed a tape measure, from the measurements made by which, the computer immediately builds on the screen a three-dimensional image of the room measured by the tape measure. It looks like an ordinary roulette, but a little larger. Built-in sensors determine the length of the stretched tape when measuring, the compass registers the direction in which the roulette body was turned, and another sensor determines the angle to the horizontal at which the measurement was carried out. All these parameters are transmitted by radio to a portable computer, which is included in the tape measure kit, and a perspective plan of the measured room appears on the display screen. ... >>

striped rabbit 03.02.2000

The jungles of Vietnam and Laos apparently hide quite a few animal species unknown to science. Since the early 90s, a new species of rhino, a small deer and an animal that is a cross between an antelope and a goat have been discovered here. It was called "saola" - that's what local hunters call it. And now a new species of rabbit has been discovered in Laos - the striped one. Back in 1995, scientists noticed three carcasses of unknown rabbits in a Lao market, but only last year an automatic camera trap installed in the Vietnamese Pu Mat reserve photographed such a rabbit alive. The new rabbit is similar to the already known striped species from the island of Sumatra, but its DNA is different. ... >>

It's raining diamonds on Uranus 01.02.2000

A group of physicists led by R. Bendetti from the University of California at Berkeley (USA) subjected a mixture of methane, ammonia and water vapor to a pressure of 10-50 gigapascals at temperatures of two to three thousand Kelvin. Long chain hydrocarbons, amorphous carbon, and small diamonds emerged. It is these conditions that prevail in the depths of the atmosphere of Uranus and Neptune. Therefore, it is assumed that the solid cores of these planets are constantly raining diamond crystals. ... >>

Smart DVRs 21.01.2000

Two very "smart" digital video recorders - "Thibault" and "Ripley" - went on sale. Both provide very high quality picture and sound, as well as multi-speed fast forward and rewind "Thibaut" fixes in memory those TV programs that his owner loves. They are automatically recorded in his absence. The duration of the recording is up to 30 hours. "Ripley" must receive an order from the owner to record certain programs, and you can specify the name of your favorite artist or director. The tape recorder will find them in a detailed electronic version of the program, and then record them on its own. Recording duration 28 hours. ... >>

Computer Clarion for cars 20.01.2000

Released personal computer "Clarion", designed specifically for cars. It allows you to control your car receiver with your voice. You can tune in to the desired station, change the volume and switch the CD player. The driver gets the opportunity to communicate with a specific cellular subscriber by simply calling his number. The computer reads all e-mails and messages sent to the pager while driving. The computer memory contains a map of the area, all points of which are tied to a specific starting point. In addition, the kit includes a global navigation system receiver. By voice request, the computer tells you how to get to a particular place. In addition to voice information, the display shows an arrow indicating the direction in which the vehicle is turning. ... >>

Eye instead of display 19.01.2000

Employees of the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT lab.) at the University of Washington have proposed a fundamentally new way to obtain an image directly on the retina by scanning a laser beam. The aim of the work was to obtain a full-color, bright, high quality three-dimensional image. Several models of such a device, called the Virtual Retinal Display (VRD), have already been manufactured - a virtual eye display. This is a very light, small and comfortable design, reminiscent of glasses. It has a field of view of more than 120 degrees, a resolution of about an arc second (almost the same as that of the eye) and much better color reproduction than standard monitors. The image is voluminous and very realistic: the deflector has two projection systems, separately for the left and right eyes, forming a stereo pair. And high brightness allows you to work with the display in daylight, watching a computer picture over objects in the field of view. In the design of ... >>

Micromotors 17.01.2000

The American company Micromo Electronics, in cooperation with German designers, has developed and mass-produces motors with a diameter of 1,9 mm. This micro-electric motor provides a torque of 50 to 300 micronewtons and a speed of up to 20 rpm. For a short time, it can develop 000 rpm. Replaceable gearboxes are attached to the motor, reducing the speed by 50 and 000 times. The gearboxes have the same diameter as the motor itself, and their length is from 4,12 to 47 millimeters. In the manufacture of microelectric motors, microlithography methods are used, as in the creation of computer circuits. Such dwarfs are used in cameras for automatic focusing of the lens, for moving magnetic heads in computer hard drives and in other precision instruments. ... >>

Europe in sulfuric acid 15.01.2000

Great hopes were pinned on one of the satellites of Jupiter - Europa. Pictures from the US spacecraft "Galileo" showed that the planet is covered by the ocean. On its surface is an ice crust with intersecting cracks. There was an assumption that some primitive life could exist in the depths of the ocean. And some enthusiasts even saw roads or pipelines laid by intelligent beings in the pattern of cracks. Now, however, those hopes appear to have been dashed. The same "Galileo" received infrared spectra, which indicate the presence of fairly concentrated sulfuric acid on Europa. Selecting in the laboratory various aqueous solutions that give an infrared spectrum closest to that obtained with Galileo, American scientists discovered that a solution of sulfuric acid gives such a picture. Where does it come from? According to one hypothesis, it is thrown out from the depths of Europe by underwater volcanoes, according to another, sulfur ions come from space, from the neighboring satellite of Jupiter - Io. They act on it ... >>

Two years on the phone 14.01.2000

A papier-mâché head filled with ethylene glycol-laced salt water will spend the next two years with a cell phone turned on to its ear. The sensors will show what proportion of the energy emitted by the phone is absorbed inside the head by a liquid mixture that mimics the human brain in terms of its electromagnetic properties. According to already available data, after a 15-minute conversation on a cell phone, the surface of the brain heats up by one tenth of a degree. An experiment conducted at the University of Bristol (England) should provide the basis for a pan-European standard for the safety of mobile phones. ... >>

Recharging with light 11.01.2000

A small device - a heart stimulator transplanted under the skin - saved the lives of many, but every few years the operation has to be repeated in order to change a dead battery. Osaka University (Japan) is experimenting with a stimulator recharged by light. A solar battery is introduced under the skin - a thin plate measuring two by two centimeters. By illuminating it with a laser beam for two hours, you can recharge the stimulator for 22 hours of operation. The laser is infrared, with a wavelength of 860 nanometers: this invisible light penetrates the skin well. The laser power is 30 percent of the permissible sanitary standards for human exposure. About 200 people in Japan wear pacemakers. Heart disease is getting younger, more and more middle-aged Japanese have to connect a stimulator, which means that throughout life they will either have to undergo operations with changing the battery many times, or find a way to recharge it. ... >>

long fingers of depression 10.01.2000

Men with unusually long ring fingers are more likely to suffer from depression than others. This was shown by a survey conducted by scientists from the University of Liverpool (England). They measured the finger length and height of 102 men, after which they underwent psychological tests for a tendency to depression. It turned out that those who have a higher ratio of finger length, especially the ring finger, to height, are more likely to become depressed than others. In other words, if a man's fingers are unusually long for his height (and usually, the taller the man, the longer his fingers), then he is prone to depression. In order not to mess around with measurements, you can use a rough guideline: in those prone to depression, the ring finger is noticeably longer than the average. Scientists suggest that the relationship between the length of the fingers and emotional disturbances is laid down in the embryo during development and is formed as a result of the action of the male sex hormone testosterone. The hormone affects the growth of long bones as well as the development of the brain. ... >>

Radioactivity in the Egyptian pyramids 08.01.2000

Egyptian and American experts measured the content of radioactive gas radon in the interior of the Egyptian pyramids. In three of the seven studied pyramids, an increased content of radon was found - from 816 to 5809 becquerels per cubic meter of air. Radon is produced by the decay of uranium found in many rocks, especially granite. This gas is often found in the basements of residential buildings, and even in rooms if the house is on rocky ground. Levels up to 200 becquerels per cubic meter are considered safe, and if there is more radon, enhanced ventilation is necessary. The radioactive gas can cause lung cancer. Tour guides work with tourists inside the pyramids for about four hours a day, and the radiation dose they receive is almost half the allowable dose. For tourists, a short stay in the pyramid is harmless. ... >>

Corks need to be fried 07.01.2000

Expert tasters say that about five percent of the time a good wine can be spoiled by a cork. Cork tones are woven into the bouquet of a noble drink, greatly reducing its price. This specific smell of cork is produced by fungi and microbes that have settled in its pores. For wines that are not intended for long-term storage, this does not matter much, they can even be plugged with a plastic cork, since nothing will pass from the cork into the wine in a few months. But for expensive collection wines aged for several decades, this is a problem. Corks are sterilized by heating, but in the depth of the material a temperature of no higher than 50 degrees Celsius is reached, which is not enough to destroy microorganisms. Employees of the Institute of Viticulture in Neustadt (Germany) suggested heating the corks with microwaves before corking. The institute has created a tunnel microwave oven with 70 generators, past which traffic jams pass on the conveyor. Next year, such stoves will ... >>

Each cashier - a lie detector 05.01.2000

The "lie detector" is widely known - a device that measures the pulse rate, respiration, blood pressure and skin resistance of the interrogated person during interrogation. When a person lies, he gets worried, and the first three indicators go up and the last one goes down. An idea has been patented in the USA: to equip every bank teller with such sensors. In the event of a robbery, the cashier will not have to discreetly press the button to call the police - the alarm will be raised by the system, which noted the extraordinary excitement of the employee. ... >>

Motorcycle record 03.01.2000

The English team of motorcycle racers set the national speed record for motorcycles on a jet racing motorcycle "Jillette-Mach-3". The two-wheeled projectile-like vehicle reached an average speed of 348,5 kilometers per hour in three runs. The races were held on the runway of an abandoned airfield in the north of England. Next year, the team intends to break the world record of 534,5 kilometers per hour and owned by the Americans. The designers of the car believe that its limit is at least 800 kilometers per hour. Three rocket engines provide 6000 horsepower. Acceleration from 0 to 160 kilometers per hour takes one and a half seconds. Wheel rims - metal. Parachutes are thrown out for braking. ... >>

Winding flashlight 01.01.2000

Baigen is an English company that makes clockwork lanterns. The battery is charged from a speaker hidden in the case. Twisting the knob for 20 seconds gives you four minutes of light. If you charge the battery from the mains, the flashlight shines for two hours. There is also a XNUMX volt DC socket for connecting other portable devices that can run on battery power. ... >>

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