Science

Environmentally Friendly TV Remote Runs On Touch, Not Batteries

by Steve Levenstein

Power your TV remote control just by using it? It's more likely than you think. Practical, environmentally friendly piezoelectric powered devices now being developed could completely replace batteries in the future.

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Something To Be Thankful For: Scientists Working Hard to Develop Unique Ways To Recycle Feathers

by Gloria Campos

Have you ever wondered what happens to plucked turkey feathers? For the most part turkey feathers as well as feathers from various other poultry are simply incinerated, made in to low -grade animal feedstock or thrown away only to end up in a landfill. Fortunately, several scientists are working hard to develop new eco-friendly ways to recycle these feathers for future use.

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Cyberchondria & The Art Of Googling Oneself Silly!

by Ron Callari

An actual research study titled "Cyberchondria: Studies of the Escalation of Medical Concerns in Web Search" was recently conducted by Microsoft researchers Ryen W. White and Eric Horvitz to analyze how the Web enables those obsessed in researching illnesses. A survey of 515 Microsoft employees determined that Internet surfing regarding health issues is on the rise. Inquiring minds want to know what's ailing them and why they are obsessed with tracking down health symptoms online from the common cold to cancer.

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Down The Pike: Immune Response Triggers For HIV And Prostate Cancer

by Boomer Babe

Attempts to trick human immune systems into fighting HIV and prostate cancer cells have had little success, mainly because the these cells keep managing to elude recognition as "bad" cells. But a new study, conducted by researchers at Yale University, may change that direction in the not-too-distant future.

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Laundry-Folding Robot Learns On The Job

by Steve Levenstein

Meet 'Foldy', a laundry-folding robot designed by a team at Japan's Keio University. The small, inexpensive robot doesn't just learn how to fold laundry, it remembers its lessons in time for the next load.

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"Social Awareness" To Replace Social Networking

by Ron Callari

The Internet of Things is fast approaching and with it comes Web 3.0, where "social awareness" will replace "social networking." Soon tweets and status updates will become fully automated and generated by the world around us versus us ever having to touch a keyboard again.

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Prescription Ice Cream To ReCharge Your Appetite After Chemotherapy

by Boomer Babe

A tasty, easy-to-digest food product that young and old adore, that would help limit the ravaging effects of chemotherapy on the stomach and intestines, is crying to be developed. But just what might that food be?

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The Recruitment Genome Project: So Long Resumes, Hello DNA!

by Beth Hodgson

What would you think if you were hired for a job, not because of your skills, your sunny personality, or even (let's just say it) your appearance; because, instead, the company was focusing upon your genes to determine if you're a good match or not? That's exactly what innovative company Arbita is proposing by taking a closer look at how the Human Genome Project could play a role in job recruitment.

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Blood Thirsty Lamp: Eco-Dangerous?

by Gloria Campos

Some people sign contracts and oaths with blood. Others suck your blood. Designer Mike Thompson has taken it upon himself to make a bloodthirsty lamp just in case we run out of resource to power things up.

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Rat Brained Robots! Rat Brained Robots! Gaaaahhhhh!!!!!!

by John P. Barker

Cyborg rats are taking over the world!

Okay, so that's a lie. But there are robots with little rat brains out there. And you'll be surprised what they're being used for.

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The Bad Driving Gene: 30 Percent Of Americans Have It!

by Boomer Babe

There is no commercially available test to determine if you have the BDNF gene variant.... But how's your driving?

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NEC Eyeglasses Translate Foreign Languages

by Chris Weiss

These interesting eyeglasses would serve as a virtual interpreter, allowing two people speaking completely different languages to hold a coherent conversation.

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Toshiba Introduces Fuel Cell Charger

by Chris Weiss

Taking fuel cell technology to the next level, Toshiba introduces the Dynario fuel cell charger, providing a clean, new way of charging your gadgets.

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Robot Swine Flu Patient Sweats, Cries, Moans... and Dies!

by Steve Levenstein

A new patient simulation robot now used to help train medical professionals in Japan has been programmed to not only exhibit symptoms of H1N1 swine flu, but to respond to proper - or improper - treatment.

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It Took 4.4 Million Years To Tweet About Our Oldest Ancestor!

by Ron Callari

If you are an Evolutionist and a member of the Twitterverse, new evidence dates our human ancestory back 4.4 million years. Move over Lucy, YOUR ancestor pre-dated you by over a million years. "Ardi" is her name, and being acknowledged on Twitter is her game.

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Ageless Fantasy: Perfume That Turns Back Time On The Aging Process

by Fashion Finds

Although women are beginning to embrace the aging process more readily - there's few that you could ask who would say that they wouldn't like to turn back time on the aging process.

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The 2009 Nobel Prize In Chemistry: Ribosomes Bring Life To DNA

by Myra Per-Lee

Our DNA would mean very little if it were not for ribosomes, because ribosomes transform DNA into living matter. But scientists did not know exactly how ribosomes function or even what ribosomes look like until the works of Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas A. Steitz, and Ada E. Yonath shared their knowledge of the structure and workings of these life-giving structures. These scientists are the 2009 recipients of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

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The 2009 Nobel Prize In Physics: Core Developments In Communications Networking

by Myra Per-Lee

Where would Google, Facebook, and Twitter be today without the inventions of Charles K. Kao, Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith? Non-existent. Likewise, Apple, IBM, and the hundreds of other companies that exploit the inventions of these men might not even be around. And then there are the many millions of people all over the world that are users of these technologies: we'd still be in the dark ages of communication.

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The 2009 Nobel Prize In Physiology Or Medicine: The Protective Role Of Telomeres In Cell Division

by Myra Per-Lee

The 100th Nobel Prize® ever awarded was given today to scientists Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider, and Jack W. Szostak for their work in the discovery of "how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase." They received the 2009 Nobel Prize In Physiology or Medicine. It was the first time in the Nobel Assembly's history that two women have received the honor at the same time.

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2009 Ig Nobel Prizes Awarded To 10 Distinguished Researchers And Innovators

by Myra Per-Lee

The 19th first annual Ig® Nobel Prizes were awarded on October 1, 2009 at Harvard University's Sanders Room in front of a standing room only audience! Check out these awards. You will learn about things you've always wondered like why don't pregnant women tip over, how can your girlfriend help you during a chemical war, and whether beer bottles make better candle holders than head busters. Ten awards you'll want to vie for next year: Ig Nobel Prizes in Peace, Literature, Physics, Medicine, Economics...

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