Spectrum
10 December 2009—This week at the International Electron Devices
Meeting (IEDM), in Baltimore, Md., Cornell University engineers
presented research that shows progress in powering cybernetic organisms
with a radioactive fuel source.
Electrical engineering associate professor Amit Lal and graduate
student Steven Tin presented a prototype microelectromechanical systems
(MEMS) transmitter—an RF-emitting device powered by a radioactive source
with a half-life of 12 years, meaning that it could operate
autonomously for decades. The researchers think the new RFID
transmitter, which produces a 5-milliwatt, 10-microsecond-long,
100-megahertz radio-frequency pulse, could lead to the widespread use of
radioisotope power sources.
Posts tonen met het label futuretech. Alle posts tonen
Posts tonen met het label futuretech. Alle posts tonen
27-10-2015
Chinese firm makes world's first 3D blood vessel bio-printer
Times of India
BEIJING: A Chinese biotechnological company announced that it has developed the world's first 3D blood vessel bio-printer, which makes it possible to produce personalized functional organs, the media reported.
Sichuan Revotek, based in Chengdu, said the significant breakthrough has been achieved through its self-developed stem cell bio-ink technology, 3D bio-printer and cloud computing platform, the China Daily reported.
BEIJING: A Chinese biotechnological company announced that it has developed the world's first 3D blood vessel bio-printer, which makes it possible to produce personalized functional organs, the media reported.
Sichuan Revotek, based in Chengdu, said the significant breakthrough has been achieved through its self-developed stem cell bio-ink technology, 3D bio-printer and cloud computing platform, the China Daily reported.
05-09-2015
A small, modular, efficient fusion plant
MIT
It’s an old joke that many fusion scientists have grown tired of hearing: Practical nuclear fusion power plants are just 30 years away — and always will be.
But now, finally, the joke may no longer be true: Advances in magnet technology have enabled researchers at MIT to propose a new design for a practical compact tokamak fusion reactor — and it’s one that might be realized in as little as a decade, they say. The era of practical fusion power, which could offer a nearly inexhaustible energy resource, may be coming near.
It’s an old joke that many fusion scientists have grown tired of hearing: Practical nuclear fusion power plants are just 30 years away — and always will be.
But now, finally, the joke may no longer be true: Advances in magnet technology have enabled researchers at MIT to propose a new design for a practical compact tokamak fusion reactor — and it’s one that might be realized in as little as a decade, they say. The era of practical fusion power, which could offer a nearly inexhaustible energy resource, may be coming near.
01-09-2015
Wearable tech that uses your body to transmit the signal
First there were mobile devices such as your smartphone—rechargeable computers made for the pocket or purse.
Then there came wearables such as smart watches, glasses, or apparel—sensor-laden devices worn on the body itself, but still separate from it.
Now, a team of researchers at the University of California, San Diego led by professor Patrick Mercier have developed a new wireless communication technique that involves sending magnetic signals through the human body. The next stop: Technology that uses you, the user, to function
29-08-2015
AI robot that learns new words in real-time tells human creators it will keep them in a “people zoo”
Glitch News
Androids are being developed that have an uncanny resemblance to people. A pinnacle example is an android crafted by roboticist David Hanson that resembles the famous and deceased science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. What makes android Dick so remarkable isn’t so much his appearance as it is his ability to hold an intelligent conversation.
Androids are being developed that have an uncanny resemblance to people. A pinnacle example is an android crafted by roboticist David Hanson that resembles the famous and deceased science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. What makes android Dick so remarkable isn’t so much his appearance as it is his ability to hold an intelligent conversation.
24-08-2015
New record energy efficiency for artificial photosynthesis
Gizmag
As the world moves towards developing new avenues of renewable energy, the efficiencies of producing fuels such as hydrogen must increase to the point that they rival or exceed those of conventional energy sources to make them a viable alternative. Now researchers at Monash University in Melbourne claim to have created a solar-powered device that produces hydrogen at a world-record 22 percent efficiency, which is a significant step towards making cheap, efficient hydrogen production a reality
As the world moves towards developing new avenues of renewable energy, the efficiencies of producing fuels such as hydrogen must increase to the point that they rival or exceed those of conventional energy sources to make them a viable alternative. Now researchers at Monash University in Melbourne claim to have created a solar-powered device that produces hydrogen at a world-record 22 percent efficiency, which is a significant step towards making cheap, efficient hydrogen production a reality
Carbon nanofibres made from CO2 in the air
BBC
It currently produces 10g per hour.
The team says it can be "scaled up" and could have an impact on CO2 emissions, but other researchers are unsure.
Nonetheless, the approach offers a much cheaper way of making carbon nanofibres than existing methods, according to Prof Stuart Licht of George Washington University.
Scientists in the US have found a
way to take carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and make carbon
nanofibres, a valuable manufacturing material.
Their solar-powered
system runs a small current through a tank filled with a hot, molten
salt; the fluid absorbs atmospheric CO2 and tiny carbon fibres slowly
form at one of the electrodes.It currently produces 10g per hour.
The team says it can be "scaled up" and could have an impact on CO2 emissions, but other researchers are unsure.
Nonetheless, the approach offers a much cheaper way of making carbon nanofibres than existing methods, according to Prof Stuart Licht of George Washington University.
21-08-2015
IBM has built a digital rat brain that could power tomorrow’s smartphones
In August 2014, IBM announced that it had built a “brain-inspired” computer chip—essentially a computer that was wired like an organic brain, rather than a traditional computer. These chips are designed to work like neurons—the brain’s nerve cells. Wired reported on Aug. 17 that the team working on the brain chips recently hit a new milestone—a system has about 48 million digital neurons, which is roughly as many as found in the brain of a rodent.
18-08-2015
Fairy Lights in Femtoseconds
Digital Nature Group
We present a method of rendering aerial and volumetric graphics using femtosecond lasers. A high-intensity laser excites a physical matter to emit light at an arbitrary 3D position. Popular applications can then be explored especially since plasma induced by a femtosecond laser is safer than that generated by a nanosecond laser. There are two methods of rendering graphics with a femtosecond laser in air: Producing holograms using spatial light modulation technology, and scanning of a laser beam by a galvano mirror. The holograms and workspace of the system proposed here occupy a volume of up to 1 cm^3; however, this size is scalable depending on the optical devices and their setup. This paper provides details of the principles, system setup, and experimental evaluation, and discussions on scalability, design space, and applications of this system.
We present a method of rendering aerial and volumetric graphics using femtosecond lasers. A high-intensity laser excites a physical matter to emit light at an arbitrary 3D position. Popular applications can then be explored especially since plasma induced by a femtosecond laser is safer than that generated by a nanosecond laser. There are two methods of rendering graphics with a femtosecond laser in air: Producing holograms using spatial light modulation technology, and scanning of a laser beam by a galvano mirror. The holograms and workspace of the system proposed here occupy a volume of up to 1 cm^3; however, this size is scalable depending on the optical devices and their setup. This paper provides details of the principles, system setup, and experimental evaluation, and discussions on scalability, design space, and applications of this system.
3D holograms that can be touched and felt
RT
Immersive, highly visual, 3D environments are now on the horizon after British scientists managed to recreate mid-air sensory experiences by controlling sound waves to project 3-D haptic holograms that can be seen and felt.
A team from the University of Bristol’s Interaction and Graphics research group, using the UltraHaptics, a system for creating haptic feedback in mid-air, were successful in testing several shapes, including spheres and pyramids.
Immersive, highly visual, 3D environments are now on the horizon after British scientists managed to recreate mid-air sensory experiences by controlling sound waves to project 3-D haptic holograms that can be seen and felt.
A team from the University of Bristol’s Interaction and Graphics research group, using the UltraHaptics, a system for creating haptic feedback in mid-air, were successful in testing several shapes, including spheres and pyramids.
16-08-2015
LG Display Unveils Incredible New Flexible Televisions
IFL Science
LG Display continues to be the leading pioneer in flexible technology - debuting its new flexible TV panel at an event in Korea this week.
18 inches wide, the screen offers high definition viewing and 1 million megapixels – but can be rolled up into a 3 cm radius without damage to the screen or technology.
The screen was made possible by its OLED, or organic light emitting diode, technology, which allows it to be lighter, thinner and more flexible than standard LCD screens.
At an event in Korea earlier this week, LG demonstrated its newest flexible display screens, which are 55 inches wide and paper-thin at 0.97 mm thick, and weigh just 1.9 kg – all the while still offering high definition. Attachable to surfaces via magnets, the new screen can be fitted to curved walls.
LG Display continues to be the leading pioneer in flexible technology - debuting its new flexible TV panel at an event in Korea this week.
18 inches wide, the screen offers high definition viewing and 1 million megapixels – but can be rolled up into a 3 cm radius without damage to the screen or technology.
The screen was made possible by its OLED, or organic light emitting diode, technology, which allows it to be lighter, thinner and more flexible than standard LCD screens.
At an event in Korea earlier this week, LG demonstrated its newest flexible display screens, which are 55 inches wide and paper-thin at 0.97 mm thick, and weigh just 1.9 kg – all the while still offering high definition. Attachable to surfaces via magnets, the new screen can be fitted to curved walls.
Robots evolve faster when you kill them
TechRadar
Computer scientists have discovered that robots evolve faster and more efficiently after a mass extinction.
The team at the University of Texas, Austin used a simulated mass extinction modelled on real-life disasters, and found that it hastens evolution in artificial intelligence.
The simulation involved connecting neural networks to simulated robot legs with the aim to make a robot evolve to the point it was walking stably.
Computer scientists have discovered that robots evolve faster and more efficiently after a mass extinction.
The team at the University of Texas, Austin used a simulated mass extinction modelled on real-life disasters, and found that it hastens evolution in artificial intelligence.
The simulation involved connecting neural networks to simulated robot legs with the aim to make a robot evolve to the point it was walking stably.
Disney ups investments in mind-reading tech
Cnet
Few people actually focus on the videos they watch online. That might even be for the best. What would it say about us if we gave our complete attention to cat GIFs on Twitter, Chuck Norris memes on Imgur or dancing babies on Vine?
But distraction, it turns out, is bad for advertisers. An AOL-commissioned study by global marketing firm Nielsen last year confirmed as much, finding that "distracted video viewing dramatically impacts advertising effectiveness." Such results just might explain why the Walt Disney Co. keeps investing in technology to get inside people's heads.
Few people actually focus on the videos they watch online. That might even be for the best. What would it say about us if we gave our complete attention to cat GIFs on Twitter, Chuck Norris memes on Imgur or dancing babies on Vine?
But distraction, it turns out, is bad for advertisers. An AOL-commissioned study by global marketing firm Nielsen last year confirmed as much, finding that "distracted video viewing dramatically impacts advertising effectiveness." Such results just might explain why the Walt Disney Co. keeps investing in technology to get inside people's heads.
13-08-2015
The evolution machine: Mother robot makes each child better than the last
Gizmag
It was only last month that futurists Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking warned about the dangers of intelligent machines, and a new research project led by the University of Cambridge won't do much to put their minds at ease. Scientists have created a mother robot that can not only build its own children robots, but mimic the process of natural selection to improve their capabilities with each generation.
The process begins with a robotic arm and a set of five plastic cubes with motors inside. Each cube features a unique "genome" made up of a combination of between one and five genes. This genome gives each cube its own set of attributes, relating to its shape, construction and motor commands.
It was only last month that futurists Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking warned about the dangers of intelligent machines, and a new research project led by the University of Cambridge won't do much to put their minds at ease. Scientists have created a mother robot that can not only build its own children robots, but mimic the process of natural selection to improve their capabilities with each generation.
The process begins with a robotic arm and a set of five plastic cubes with motors inside. Each cube features a unique "genome" made up of a combination of between one and five genes. This genome gives each cube its own set of attributes, relating to its shape, construction and motor commands.
10-08-2015
See Through Walls by the Glow of Your Wi-Fi
IEEE Spectrum
It used to be that a bad guy besieged by police could just shoot out the lights and hide in the dark. As if it weren’t enough that today’s cornered malefactors have to worry about night vision goggles, tomorrow’s thugs may also have to worry about the soft radio glow of wireless routers and mobile communications towers.
It used to be that a bad guy besieged by police could just shoot out the lights and hide in the dark. As if it weren’t enough that today’s cornered malefactors have to worry about night vision goggles, tomorrow’s thugs may also have to worry about the soft radio glow of wireless routers and mobile communications towers.
U.S. Sets Goal for Faster Supercomputers. Much, Much Faster.
NewYork Times
President Obama
has announced an ambitious plan to build the world’s fastest computer, a
machine capable of speeds far beyond technology’s current reach, in a
bid to enlarge the frontiers of fields including medicine, biology and
astronomy.
By
2025, the government will aim to create a machine capable of performing
a quintillion operations a second, or one exaflop, roughly 30 times
faster than today’s fastest computer.
04-08-2015
Here’s That Lexus Hoverboard Finally in Action
Wired
After a month of teasers and speculation, Lexus has finally shown off its real, live, working hoverboard. It may not be Back to the Future, but it’s still a mighty satisfying ride.
As it turns out, the future is hard; professional skateboarder Ross McGouran has plenty of spills on the way to mastering even basic moves. That’s perhaps not surprising, given that riding the Lexus hoverboard is basically like straddling a maglev train. As we explained in June, the Lexus hoverboard relies on superconductors and magnets, which work against gravity to lift board and rider above the ground. That cool-looking steam coming off of the sides isn’t decorative; it’s liquid nitrogen, cooling the superconductors to -321 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature at which they become superconducting.
After a month of teasers and speculation, Lexus has finally shown off its real, live, working hoverboard. It may not be Back to the Future, but it’s still a mighty satisfying ride.
As it turns out, the future is hard; professional skateboarder Ross McGouran has plenty of spills on the way to mastering even basic moves. That’s perhaps not surprising, given that riding the Lexus hoverboard is basically like straddling a maglev train. As we explained in June, the Lexus hoverboard relies on superconductors and magnets, which work against gravity to lift board and rider above the ground. That cool-looking steam coming off of the sides isn’t decorative; it’s liquid nitrogen, cooling the superconductors to -321 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature at which they become superconducting.
30-07-2015
Graphene Roll-Ups Make Friction Disappear, Could Revolutionize Machine Engineering
Txchnologist
Chalk another amazing ability up for the supermaterial graphene. It seems the atom-thick sheets of linked carbon atoms can virtually eliminate friction.
The simulation above depicts the graphene-lubricant discovery–blue graphene sheets roll up to encase gold nanodiamonds as a surface of black diamond-like carbon slides over. Once the graphene wraps into so-called nanoscrolls around the nanodiamonds, the sheets make friction disappear.
Chalk another amazing ability up for the supermaterial graphene. It seems the atom-thick sheets of linked carbon atoms can virtually eliminate friction.
The simulation above depicts the graphene-lubricant discovery–blue graphene sheets roll up to encase gold nanodiamonds as a surface of black diamond-like carbon slides over. Once the graphene wraps into so-called nanoscrolls around the nanodiamonds, the sheets make friction disappear.
The first machine that can jump on water
Ars Technica
We’ve made machines that can float on water and machines that can walk on water, but until now, robots or automata that can leap suddenly into the air from the surface of a pond have eluded us. But a group of engineers, led by a researcher at the Seoul National University, have just created a machine that can jump on water. Rather impressively so, in fact.
We’ve made machines that can float on water and machines that can walk on water, but until now, robots or automata that can leap suddenly into the air from the surface of a pond have eluded us. But a group of engineers, led by a researcher at the Seoul National University, have just created a machine that can jump on water. Rather impressively so, in fact.
Has the time come for floating cities?
Guardian
Until the late 1980s, nestled behind the Yan Ma Tei breakwater in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay, you could find tens of thousands of boat-dwellers who formed a bustling, floating district. The residents were members of the Tanka community, and their ancestors were fishermen who retreated from warfare on land to live permanently in their vessels. Until the mid-20th century, these traditional outcasts were forbidden even to step ashore.
The typhoon shelter was famous for its restaurants' cuisine – including Under Bridge Spicy Crab – and it was a nightlife hub, alive with mahjong games and hired singers. Shops on sampan (flat boats) catered to the floating district's needs.
Until the late 1980s, nestled behind the Yan Ma Tei breakwater in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay, you could find tens of thousands of boat-dwellers who formed a bustling, floating district. The residents were members of the Tanka community, and their ancestors were fishermen who retreated from warfare on land to live permanently in their vessels. Until the mid-20th century, these traditional outcasts were forbidden even to step ashore.
The typhoon shelter was famous for its restaurants' cuisine – including Under Bridge Spicy Crab – and it was a nightlife hub, alive with mahjong games and hired singers. Shops on sampan (flat boats) catered to the floating district's needs.
Abonneren op:
Posts (Atom)