Software Predicts Future Rock Stars

Lisa Zyga — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:51:09 -0800

The best talent scouts have a special instinct that tells them if a new band has the stuff to make it big - and make the record label money. Now, researchers have developed a software program that uses data from search queries on peer-to-peer file-sharing networks to predict which new artists will have hit songs.

Mutant Worms May Provide Cure for Obesity

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:37:22 -0800

A mutant roundworm that rapidly consumes its own fat could help researchers develop new treatments for obesity in humans.

Insects Use Plants as Telephones

Lisa Zyga — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:48:08 -0800

Some insects use plants as telephones, communicating with each other at opposite ends of the plant, researchers have found. Insects that live below ground and feed on a plant's roots send chemical signals via the leaves of the plant, alerting leaf-eating insects that live above ground that the plant is already occupied.

Flawed Fishing Policies Result in Fewer Fish

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:06:07 -0800

In an effort to maintain a steady population of fish, many fisheries have rules for minimum fish sizes or weights. If the fish is too small, it must be thrown back to give it more time to grow and reproduce. Now researchers have found that this policy is flawed.

Light Could Bring Music to Deaf People

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:37:14 -0800

Scientists have accidentally discovered that infrared light can stimulate neurons in the inner ear like sound waves do.

Scientists to Evolve Viruses to Death

Lisa Zyga — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:49:20 -0800

Evolution, by the very meaning of the word, is generally thought to be a process that slowly unfolds over time, without outside interference.

But now scientists from Rice University are trying to force certain viruses to evolve erratically, in an attempt to kill them. The technique is called "lethal mutagenesis," and while it may sound vicious, it could be a last resort of self-defense against contagious viruses that attack humans.

Sunscreen for Plants Could Increase Worldwide Crop Yields

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:50:43 -0800

According to clean chemical company Purfresh, food growers lose between 20 and 40 percent of their crops every year due to sun damage, especially in water-limited regions. The company recently developed a kind of "plant sunscreen" rated at SPF 45 that protects crops from harmful UV and IR rays while permitting beneficial rays to reach the plants.

Buzz Aldrin: Mars Pioneers Should Remain Permanently On Mars

Lisa Zyga — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:33:42 -0700

A trip to Mars could take years and cost billions of dollars. If NASA and the European Space Agency are going to commit to such an ambitious endeavor, they should try to get the most out of their investment. That's why, according to astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the first Mars pioneers should stay there permanently.

Scientists Discover that Scotch Tape Produces X-Rays

Lisa Zyga — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:39:00 -0700

Scientists have found that the everyday Scotch tape you use to tape paper and other household materials has another use: it produces X-rays.

Buckypaper: A Future Material for Airplanes to TVs

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:51:56 -0700

Researchers from Florida State have taken a step toward making commercial-grade buckypaper - an ultra-strong, ultra-light material that could be used in a wide variety of applications. Ideally, buckypaper could be 500 times stronger than, but 10 times lighter than, the strongest steel we have today.

LED Lightbulbs Coming in 2-3 Years

Lisa Zyga — Sun, 11 May 2008 10:20:00 -0700

Faiz Rahman, a nanoelectronics researcher at the University of Glasgow, predicts that LED light bulbs for the home will start appearing on store shelves in the next 2-3 years to compete with incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

Genetically Modified Flowers to Smell 10 Times Stronger

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:08:12 -0700

Scientists from Israel have discovered how to genetically enhance the scent of flowers by a factor of 10. The method could also lead to "extra-tasty" fruits and vegetables, since smell is a key factor in determining taste.

SanDisk announces ‘SlotMusic’: albums on microSD cards

Lisa Zyga — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:52:07 -0700

Could microSD cards - tiny devices the size of a fingernail - replace bulky CDs and intangible downloads for next-generation music lovers? Selling albums in microSD format is the latest concept from SanDisk, the California-based manufacturer of flash memory cards and developer of SD cards, which are now widely licensed.

Japan to Draw Up Plans for a Space Elevator

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:59:23 -0700

The idea of a space elevator made of ultra-strong carbon nanotubes has been talked about a lot over the past several years, but recently some research groups have begun to investigate the idea as a real possibility. Most recently, scientists from Japan have started an organization called the Japan Space Elevator Association, and they plan to host an international conference in November to draw up a timetable for the machine.

Electricity from Trees Could Prevent Forest Fires

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:40:16 -0700

MIT researchers are designing a system that uses electricity from trees to recharge batteries and generate power in remote locations. The small amounts of tree-generated electricity could be used to track forest fires and possibly "patrol" borders for smuggled radioactive materials.

Oven makes “fried” foods without oil

Lisa Zyga — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:43:32 -0700

As delicious as fried food tastes, most people realize that french fries and potato chips are not the healthiest things to eat. Now, food scientists have invented an oven that produces food that looks and tastes fried, but doesn't use the fattening oil that typically gives fried food its taste.

Scientists Create First Synthetic Tree

Lisa Zyga — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:49:18 -0700

Researchers have created a synthetic "tree" - a centimeter-sized hydrogel with nanopores that can pull water just like real trees pull moisture up their tall trunks.

Scientists Launch Largest Study of Near-Death Experiences

Lisa Zyga — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:31:50 -0700

Death is not a specific moment, but a process, researchers explain. They're investigating the experiences of people during cardiac arrest who begin that process, and "come back."

Software Measures Light Pollution, Optimizes Lighting Design

Lisa Zyga — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:49:36 -0700

In response to the growing concern of light pollution in urban areas, researchers have developed a system that automatically measures light pollution and optimizes lighting design. This quantitative data is the first published information that the researchers know of showing how much light escapes from outdoor lighting installations.

Folding Light Could Lead to Tiny Cell Phone Cameras

Lisa Zyga — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:05:09 -0700

In a standard camera lens, light is focused onto a single point in order to magnify a scene. In telescopes, on the other hand, lenses work differently, by reflecting light back and forth to achieve greater magnification. This idea can also be thought of as "folding" light.

Gold Stained Glass Windows Purify the Air

Lisa Zyga — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:37:32 -0700

Scientists have discoverd that, in medieval churches, stained glass windows painted with gold purify the air when heated by the sun. The researchers hope that this discovery could also be used for modern technologies, since the chemical reaction involved is very energy-efficient.

The Science Behind a Good Hair Day

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:14:22 -0700

Scientists are looking at human hair on the microscopic level to try to determine the differences between frizzy and silky hair. They hope their research could lead to better shampoos and conditioners, and give people more "good hair days."

Scientists Create World’s Thinnest Balloon

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:45:06 -0700

Scientists have recently created a balloon made of graphene, which is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon, making it the world's thinnest balloon.

Scientists Find Nicotine Addiction Gene

Lisa Zyga — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:04:09 -0700

Researchers have pinpointed a gene that helps determine if an individual is at a risk for developing a nicotine addiction. Generally, when smoking a cigarette for the first time, people either experience a pleasant buzz or a nauseating cough.

Flying Jet Pack Debuts in Wisconsin

Lisa Zyga — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:39:02 -0700

Secure in the shoulder harness of a 250-pound jet pack, 16-year-old Harrison Martin rose a few feet off the ground. With two fans at his sides providing upward thrust, he hovered for about 45 seconds before settling back down on earth.

Tiny Microscope Fits on Your Fingertip

Lisa Zyga — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:25:33 -0700

Researchers have developed a "microscopic microscope" - a microscope that's small enough to fit inside a cell phone yet that still delivers top-quality magnifying power.

Dinosaur Eel Inspires Bullet-Proof Armor

Lisa Zyga — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:20:48 -0700

MIT researchers are investigating how a primitive fish uses its scaly exoskeleton to protect itself from the sharp teeth of its predators. The scientists' goal is to develop a better kind of armor for soldiers to similarly protect them from bullets, shrapnel, and bombs.

Low-Calorie Wheat to Tackle Obesity

Lisa Zyga — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:44:09 -0700

In an effort to help people maintain healthy weights and still enjoy good food, scientists have created a genetically modified form of wheat that has fewer calories compared with other varieties.

Nanotubes Fill Key Role in Artificial Photosynthesis

Lisa Zyga — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:49:12 -0700

Carbon nanotubes may be the key in overcoming a challenging roadblock for scientists trying to create artificial photosynthesis.

Scientist Designs Plasma-Powered Flying Saucer

Lisa Zyga — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:13:22 -0700

A scientist from the University of Florida has recently filed a patent that is attracting everyone from NASA and the US Air Force to UFO-seekers and sci-fi enthusiasts.

Since 2006, Subrata Roy, a mechanical and aerospace engineering associate professor, has been working on a "flying saucer" aircraft design that turns surrounding air into plasma to generate its propulsion. The saucer, or "wingless electromagnetic air vehicle" (WEAV), has no moving parts and therefore could be more stable than airplanes and helicopters that rely on aerodynamics to provide lift.