ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

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• Imaging techniques reliably predict treatment outcomes for TB patients
• Rattled atoms mimic high-temperature superconductivity
• X-ray laser reveals how bacterial protein morphs in response to light
• Finding infant Earths and potential life just got easier
• A new look at the finer details of rust show an assumed atomic structure has been wrong all along
• New research paves the way for nano-movies of biomolecules; Scientists use X-ray laser as ultra slow-motion camera
• The walls can talk: New optical technique extracts audio from video
• More smartphone play equals less fun during leisure
• Wireless brain sensor could unchain neuroscience from cables
• Electric eels deliver taser-like shocks
• New revelations on dark matter and relic neutrinos
• Unlocking the potential of big data in the cloud
• Engineer applies robot control theory to improve prosthetic legs
• Researchers develop a system to reconstruct grape clusters in 3D, assess quality
• Reliable RNA analysis now easier with 'dashboard' tool
• New model to detect aggressive driving
• Milestones in human-machine cooperation
• The future of work: More digital piecework, less job security
• Astronomers observe galactic 'blow out'
• Research could improve nuclear power plant safety, and stop your kettle furring up
• Green light for European Extremely Large Telescope construction
• Pulsars with black holes could hold the 'Holy Grail' of gravity
• Controlled emission and spatial splitting of electron pairs demonstrated
• Technology breakthrough reveals cellular transcription process
• New tool to tweak rainbows of X-ray laser light
• Computer-based approach to treating anxiety may reduce suicide risk
• Smaller lidars could allow UAVs to conduct underwater scans
• Upsetting the stability of super-small gold clusters generates multifaceted nanocrystals with potent catalytic properties
• Broadband and ultrathin polarization manipulators developed
• A molecular thread: Flexible metal–organic frameworks with a range of pore sizes are made by threading through molecular ligands
• Green route to key molecular building blocks: Ruthenium catalyst goes with the flow
• Confining tiny gold colloids inside nanoscale templates reveals how to design complex structures
• Volunteers can now help scientists seek Ebola cure in their (computer's) spare time
• Interventional radiology procedure preserves uterus in patients with placenta accreta
• Maths shows that treating AIDS, hepatitis C simultaneously is more effective

Imaging techniques reliably predict treatment outcomes for TB patients Posted: 04 Dec 2014 01:06 PM PST Two medical imaging techniques, called positron emission tomography and computed tomography, could be used in combination as a biomarker to predict the effectiveness of antibiotic drug regimens being tested to treat tuberculosis patients, according to researchers. With multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis on the rise worldwide, new biomarkers are needed to determine whether a particular TB drug regimen is effective.

Rattled atoms mimic high-temperature superconductivity Posted: 04 Dec 2014 01:03 PM PST An experiment has provided the first fleeting glimpse of the atomic structure of a material as it entered a state resembling room-temperature superconductivity – a long-sought phenomenon in which materials might conduct electricity with 100 percent efficiency under everyday conditions.

X-ray laser reveals how bacterial protein morphs in response to light Posted: 04 Dec 2014 01:03 PM PST Researchers have captured the highest-resolution snapshots ever taken with an X-ray laser that show changes in a protein's structure over time, revealing how a key protein in a photosynthetic bacterium changes shape when hit by light. They achieved a resolution of 1.6 angstroms, equivalent to the radius of a single tin atom.

Finding infant Earths and potential life just got easier Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:31 AM PST Among the billions and billions of stars in the sky, where should astronomers look for infant Earths where life might develop? New research shows where -- and when -- infant Earths are most likely to be found.

A new look at the finer details of rust show an assumed atomic structure has been wrong all along Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:26 AM PST Scientists have been studying the behavior of iron oxide surfaces. The atomic structure of iron oxide, which had been assumed to be well-established, turned out to be wrong. The behavior of iron oxide is governed by missing iron atoms in the atomic layer directly below the surface. This is a big surprise with potential applications in chemical catalysis, electronics or medicine.

New research paves the way for nano-movies of biomolecules; Scientists use X-ray laser as ultra slow-motion camera Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:26 AM PST An international team has caught a light sensitive biomolecule at work with an X-ray laser. The study proves that X-ray lasers can capture the fast dynamics of biomolecules in ultra slow-motion.

The walls can talk: New optical technique extracts audio from video Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:10 AM PST A simple new optical technique to extract audio information from silent high-speed video has been demonstrated. The work is based on an image-matching process.

More smartphone play equals less fun during leisure Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:10 AM PST Today's smartphones are designed to entertain and are increasingly marketed to young adults as leisure devices. Not surprisingly, research suggests that young adults most often use their phones for entertainment purposes rather than for school or work. Researchers surveyed a random sample of 454 college students to examine how different types of cell phone users experience daily leisure.

Wireless brain sensor could unchain neuroscience from cables Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:07 AM PST Neuroscience research has been constrained by the cables required to connect brain sensors to computers for analysis. Scientists have now described a wireless brain-sensing system to acquire high-fidelity neural data during animal behavior experiments.

Electric eels deliver taser-like shocks Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:06 AM PST The electric eel -- the scaleless Amazonian fish that can deliver an electrical jolt strong enough to knock down a full-grown horse -- possesses an electroshock system uncannily similar to a Taser. That is the conclusion of a nine-month study of the way in which the electric eel uses high-voltage electrical discharges to locate and incapacitate its prey.

New revelations on dark matter and relic neutrinos Posted: 04 Dec 2014 09:13 AM PST Satellite have been studying relic radiation (the most ancient light in the Universe). This light has been measured precisely across the entire sky for the first time, in both intensity and polarization, thereby producing the oldest image of the Universe. This primordial light lets us "see" some of the most elusive particles in the Universe: dark matter and relic neutrinos. Between 2009 and 2013, the Planck satellite observed relic radiation, sometimes called cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. Today, with a full analysis of the data, the quality of the map is now such that the imprints left by dark matter and relic neutrinos are clearly visible.

Unlocking the potential of big data in the cloud Posted: 04 Dec 2014 08:09 AM PST Cloud computing and Big Data are the two top innovation hubs in ICT. Together they have the potential to become pivotal enhancers of social transformation and economic development for many years to come, experts say.

Engineer applies robot control theory to improve prosthetic legs Posted: 04 Dec 2014 08:08 AM PST New research enables powered prosthetics to dynamically respond to the wearer's environment and help amputees walk. Wearers of the robotic leg could walk on a treadmill almost as fast as an able-bodied person.

Researchers develop a system to reconstruct grape clusters in 3D, assess quality Posted: 04 Dec 2014 07:30 AM PST Software to help reconstruct grape clusters with three-dimensional computer vision techniques has been developed by scientists. The system helps to automatically assess different parameters that define the quality of the wine grape during harvest time.

Reliable RNA analysis now easier with 'dashboard' tool Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST An international multi-laboratory team has demonstrated a new software tool, the 'erccdashboard,' that can evaluate the performance of experimental methods used to study gene expression. It provides the first standardized approach for any lab to evaluate the quality of its gene expression analyses.

New model to detect aggressive driving Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST Researchers have developed a system capable of detecting patterns of reckless driving behavior with non intrusive methods for the driver.

Milestones in human-machine cooperation Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST Major technical progress has been made on several fronts with the Robo-Mate exoskeleton. A key focus of the initial twelve months of the Robo-Mate project was to define the various production processes of end-users from different industries (e.g. automotive, automotive components, dismantling, and scrap recycling).

The future of work: More digital piecework, less job security Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST The rapid advance of digital technology has huge repercussions for the future of work. An economist calls for a new regulatory framework that addresses the ongoing changes in the working environment.

Astronomers observe galactic 'blow out' Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:11 AM PST For the first time, an international team of astronomers has revealed the dramatic 'blow out' phase of galactic evolution. The astronomers have discovered dense gas being blasted out of a compact galaxy (called SDSS J0905+57) at speeds of up to two million miles per hour. The gas is being driven to distances of tens of thousands of light years by the intense pressure exerted on it by the radiation of stars that are forming rapidly at the galaxy's center. This is having a major impact on the evolution of the galaxy.

Research could improve nuclear power plant safety, and stop your kettle furring up Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST Taking inspiration from nature, researchers have created a versatile model to predict how stalagmite-like structures form in nuclear processing plants – as well as how lime scale builds up in kettles.

Green light for European Extremely Large Telescope construction Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST ESO's main governing body, the Council gave the green light for the construction of the European Extremely Large Telescope in two phases. Spending of around one billion euros has been authorized for the first phase, which will cover the construction costs of a fully working telescope with a suite of powerful instruments and first light targeted in ten years time. It will enable tremendous scientific discoveries in the fields of exoplanets, the stellar composition of nearby galaxies and the deep Universe. The largest ESO contract ever, for the telescope dome and main structure, will be placed within the next year.

Pulsars with black holes could hold the 'Holy Grail' of gravity Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST The intermittent light emitted by pulsars, the most precise timekeepers in the universe, allows scientists to verify Einstein's theory of relativity, especially when these objects are paired up with another neutron star or white dwarf that interferes with their gravity. However, this theory could be analysed much more effectively if a pulsar with a black hole were found, except in two particular cases, according to researchers. Pulsars are very dense neutron stars that are the size of a city (their radius approaches ten kilometers), which, like lighthouses for the universe, emit gamma radiation beams or X-rays when they rotate up to hundreds of times per second. These characteristics make them ideal for testing the validity of the theory of general relativity, published by Einstein between 1915 and 1916.

Controlled emission and spatial splitting of electron pairs demonstrated Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:40 AM PST In quantum optics, generating entangled and spatially separated photon pairs (e.g. for quantum cryptography) is already a reality. So far, it has, however, not been possible to demonstrate an analogous generation and spatial separation of entangled electron pairs in solids. Physicists have now taken a decisive step in this direction. They have demonstrated for the first time the on-demand emission of electron pairs from a semiconductor quantum dot and verified their subsequent splitting into two separate conductors.

Technology breakthrough reveals cellular transcription process Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:38 AM PST A new technology that reveals cellular gene transcription in greater detail has been developed by researchers. "This new research tool offers us a more profound view of the immune responses that are involved in a range of diseases, such as HIV infection. At the level of gene transcription, this had been difficult, complex and costly to do with current technologies, such as microscopy," a researcher said.

New tool to tweak rainbows of X-ray laser light Posted: 03 Dec 2014 02:18 PM PST Scientists are developing a device known as a dechirper, which will provide a new way of adjusting the range of energies within single pulses from SLAC's X-ray laser.

Computer-based approach to treating anxiety may reduce suicide risk Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:10 PM PST A group of psychology researchers has developed a simple computer-based approach to treating anxiety sensitivity, something that could have major implications for veterans and other groups who are considered at risk for suicide. "We have been using computer-delivered interventions for many years now in an effort to more efficiently deliver effective treatments," said a psychology professor. "This study gives us evidence that a brief intervention may help to prevent suicide risk."

Smaller lidars could allow UAVs to conduct underwater scans Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:10 PM PST A research team has designed a new approach that could lead to underwater imaging lidars that are much smaller and more efficient than the current full-size systems. The new technology would allow modest-sized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) carry bathymetric lidars, lowering costs substantially.

Upsetting the stability of super-small gold clusters generates multifaceted nanocrystals with potent catalytic properties Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:01 PM PST Researchers have devised a way to destabilize gold nanoclusters so that they form tiny atomic nuclei that then grow together into perfectly proportioned, 12-sided dodecahedron crystals. These unique polyhedra have energy-rich surfaces that can boost the catalytic efficiency of important chemical reactions and serve as potential adsorption sites for targeted sensor devices.

Broadband and ultrathin polarization manipulators developed Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:00 PM PST Scientists have developed a technology that can manipulate a polarized light in broadband operation with the use of a metamaterial. When an object or its structure is analyzed by using a polarized light such as a laser, the results are generally affected by the polarization state of the light.

A molecular thread: Flexible metal–organic frameworks with a range of pore sizes are made by threading through molecular ligands Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:00 PM PST The ability to 'thread' a molecular ligand through a metal-organic framework (MOF) to alter the pore size of the material -- and yet allow the MOF to retain its crystallinity and principal structural features -- has been demonstrated in a new study.

Green route to key molecular building blocks: Ruthenium catalyst goes with the flow Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:00 PM PST An efficient catalyst has opened up an environmentally benign route to a family of molecular building blocks found in many pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, a study shows.

Confining tiny gold colloids inside nanoscale templates reveals how to design complex structures Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:00 PM PST Gold nanoparticles smaller than 10 nanometers spontaneously self-organize in entirely new ways when trapped inside channel-like templates. A new study shows that this feature could facilitate easier nanoscale manufacturing of biosensors and plasmonic devices with intricate, high-density surface structures.

Volunteers can now help scientists seek Ebola cure in their (computer's) spare time Posted: 03 Dec 2014 11:24 AM PST Beginning today, anyone can download a safe and free app that will put their computer or Android-based mobile device to work to form a virtual supercomputer to help scientists screen millions of chemical compounds to identify new drug leads for treating Ebola.

Interventional radiology procedure preserves uterus in patients with placenta accreta Posted: 03 Dec 2014 05:40 AM PST A procedure can preserve fertility and potentially save the lives of women with a serious pregnancy complication called placenta accreta. Results of the new study showed that placement of balloons in the main artery of the mother's pelvis prior to a Caesarean section protects against hemorrhage and is safe for both mother and baby.

Maths shows that treating AIDS, hepatitis C simultaneously is more effective Posted: 03 Dec 2014 05:37 AM PST Researchers have collaborated on a mathematical analysis that concludes that joint therapy to counter HIV in patients who also have hepatitis C increases the chance of success in the fight against both infections. Between eight and nine million people worldwide simultaneously suffer from AIDS and hepatitis C.

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