Latest news of science and technology, new electronics

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

timeline

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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