ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

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• Record-breaking black hole outburst detected
• Milky Way core drives wind at 2 million miles per hour
• Hubble's high-definition panoramic view of Andromeda galaxy
• Hubble goes high def to revisit the iconic ‘Pillars of Creation'
• Fracking in Ohio confirmed as cause of rare earthquake strong enough to be felt
• New instrument reveals recipe for other Earths
• Super-Earths have long-lasting oceans
• Stars' spins reveal their ages
• 'Glowing' new nanotechnology guides cancer surgery, also kills remaining malignant cells
• Electromagnetic waves linked to particle fallout in Earth's atmosphere, new study finds
• Selling extended warranties via independent companies lowers price but hurts consumers
• New technology to detect lingering cancer cells during breast surgery
• Acoustic levitation made simple
• New technology focuses diffuse light inside living tissue
• Underwater drones map ice algae in Antarctica
• Sensor demonstrates lack of space in living cells
• Atoms queue up for quantum computer networks
• Geographic information helps provide public health intelligence at mass gatherings
• New analyses of Martian chemical maps suggest water bound to sulfates in soil
• New concept of fuel cell for efficiency and environment
• Technology to recycle all type of plastics without using water
• Production of 500 daily litres of bioethanol from food waste
• 3D reconstruction software for antique auto parts and prehispanic objects
• Bamboo bike recharges mobile devices, external batteries by peddling

Record-breaking black hole outburst detected Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:25 PM PST Last September, after years of watching, astronomers observed and recorded the largest-ever flare in X-rays from a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

Milky Way core drives wind at 2 million miles per hour Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:25 PM PST At a time when our earliest human ancestors had recently mastered walking upright, the heart of our Milky Way galaxy underwent a titanic eruption, driving gases and other material outward at 2 million miles per hour. Now, at least 2 million years later, astronomers are witnessing the aftermath of the explosion: billowing clouds of gas towering about 30,000 light-years above and below the plane of our galaxy.

Hubble's high-definition panoramic view of Andromeda galaxy Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:25 PM PST The largest NASA Hubble Space Telescope image ever assembled, this sweeping view of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) is the sharpest large composite image ever taken of our galactic neighbor. Though the galaxy is over 2 million light-years away, the Hubble telescope is powerful enough to resolve individual stars in a 61,000-light-year-long section of the galaxy's pancake-shaped disk.

Hubble goes high def to revisit the iconic ‘Pillars of Creation' Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:25 PM PST In celebration of its 25th anniversary, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has revisited the famous "Pillars of Creation" region of the Eagle Nebula (M16), providing astronomers with a sharper and wider view. As a bonus, the pillars have been photographed in near-infrared light, as well as visible light.

Fracking in Ohio confirmed as cause of rare earthquake strong enough to be felt Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:24 PM PST A new study links the March 2014 earthquakes in Poland Township, Ohio, to hydraulic fracturing that activated a previously unknown fault. The induced seismic sequence included a rare felt earthquake of magnitude 3.0, according to new research.

New instrument reveals recipe for other Earths Posted: 05 Jan 2015 11:16 AM PST How do you make an Earth-like planet? The 'test kitchen' of Earth has given us a detailed recipe, but it wasn't clear whether other planetary systems would follow the same formula. Now, astronomers have found evidence that the recipe for Earth also applies to terrestrial exoplanets orbiting distant stars.

Super-Earths have long-lasting oceans Posted: 05 Jan 2015 11:16 AM PST For life as we know it to develop on other planets, those planets would need liquid water, or oceans. Geologic evidence suggests that Earth's oceans have existed for nearly the entire history of our world. But would that be true of other planets, particularly super-Earths? New research suggests the answer is yes and that oceans on super-Earths, once established, can last for billions of years.

Stars' spins reveal their ages Posted: 05 Jan 2015 11:16 AM PST When you're a kid every birthday is cause for celebration, but as you get older they become a little less exciting. You might not want to admit just how old you are. And you might notice yourself slowing down over the years. You're not alone -- the same is true of stars. They slow down as they age, and their ages are well-kept secrets. Astronomers are taking advantage of the first fact to tackle the second and tease out stellar ages.

'Glowing' new nanotechnology guides cancer surgery, also kills remaining malignant cells Posted: 05 Jan 2015 09:59 AM PST A new way to selectively insert compounds into cancer cells has been developed by scientists -- a system that will help surgeons identify malignant tissues and then, in combination with phototherapy, kill any remaining cancer cells after a tumor is removed. Ultimately, it could make cancer surgery far more effective.

Electromagnetic waves linked to particle fallout in Earth's atmosphere, new study finds Posted: 05 Jan 2015 09:59 AM PST In a new study that sheds light on space weather's impact on Earth, researchers show for the first time that plasma waves buffeting the planet's radiation belts are responsible for scattering charged particles into the atmosphere.

Selling extended warranties via independent companies lowers price but hurts consumers Posted: 05 Jan 2015 09:59 AM PST Retailers selling home appliances and electronics goods typically make 15-20 percent profit from these products but realize more than 200 percent profit from selling extended warranties for them. A new study finds that even though selling warranties through independent firms will lower extended warranty prices, the consumers may actually be worse off.

New technology to detect lingering cancer cells during breast surgery Posted: 05 Jan 2015 08:27 AM PST Some patients undergoing lumpectomy surgery for the removal of an early detected breast tumor – the surgical option of choice for this diagnosis -- are benefiting from new intra-operative technology that detects microscopic amounts of cancer cells on removed tumor tissue not visible during or following surgical intervention.

Acoustic levitation made simple Posted: 05 Jan 2015 08:25 AM PST Scientists have developed a new levitation device that can hover a tiny object with more control than any instrument that has come before.

New technology focuses diffuse light inside living tissue Posted: 05 Jan 2015 07:15 AM PST For the first time, a new technique that focuses diffuse light inside a dynamic scattering medium containing living tissue has been revealed by researchers. In addition, they have improved the speed of optical focusing deep inside tissue by two orders of magnitude. This improvement in speed is an important step toward noninvasive optical imaging in deep tissue and photodynamic therapy.

Underwater drones map ice algae in Antarctica Posted: 05 Jan 2015 07:14 AM PST New robot technology leads Antarctic exploration into a new epoch. It is now possible to study the underside of sea ice across large distances and explore a world previously restricted to specially trained divers only.

Sensor demonstrates lack of space in living cells Posted: 05 Jan 2015 07:14 AM PST Proteins and other bio-molecules are often analyzed exclusively in aqueous solutions in test tubes. But it is uncertain if these experimental studies can be transferred to the densely-packed cellular environment. Researchers have developed a novel method that can be used to analyze the effects of the lack of space in living cells with the aid of a microscope for the first time. They designed a sensor that changes color depending on how confined the space in the cell is.

Atoms queue up for quantum computer networks Posted: 05 Jan 2015 07:14 AM PST In order to develop future quantum computer networks, it is necessary to hold a known number of atoms and read them without them disappearing. To do this, researchers have developed a method with a trap that captures the atoms along an ultra-thin glass fiber, where the atoms can be controlled.

Geographic information helps provide public health intelligence at mass gatherings Posted: 05 Jan 2015 06:28 AM PST The potential for an existing infection to spread at mass events should not be underestimated, researchers say. Infectious diseases are one of the many health issues that worry the organizers of mass gatherings, such as the Hajj and the World Cup. Tools of the trade can help event organizers to better plan, monitor and respond timely to such eventualities, they add.

New analyses of Martian chemical maps suggest water bound to sulfates in soil Posted: 05 Jan 2015 06:27 AM PST A spatial association between the presence of sulfur and hydrogen found in Martian soil has been proposed by scientists. The team suggests that further observations by the Curiosity rover in Gale Crater could move forward models of aqueous processes on Mars. For example, recent analyses of "Rocknest" soil samples suggest complementary modes of soil hydration in the Gale Crater area.

New concept of fuel cell for efficiency and environment Posted: 05 Jan 2015 05:18 AM PST Scientists have proposed a new method to enhance fuel cell efficiency with the simultaneous removal of toxic heavy metal ions.

Technology to recycle all type of plastics without using water Posted: 04 Jan 2015 12:23 PM PST Traditionally, plastic recycling processes involve using a lot of water. In order to avoid this waste, researchers have developed a new green technology that doesn't require liquids, and has the capacity to process materials such as styrofoam, polystyrene and ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) using the same type of customizable machinery.

Production of 500 daily litres of bioethanol from food waste Posted: 04 Jan 2015 12:23 PM PST From waste generated in the processing of cereals, scientists have produced bioenergy in the form of ethanol, and designed a prototype plant that generates 500 litres of bioethanol a day.

3D reconstruction software for antique auto parts and prehispanic objects Posted: 04 Jan 2015 12:23 PM PST A program has been developed that can produce digital 3D images from the projection and digitization of binary data. This allows three-dimensional reconstruction of various objects in order to reproduce parts of classic  automobiles, prehispanic antiques, as well as serving as a tool for face recognition.

Bamboo bike recharges mobile devices, external batteries by peddling Posted: 04 Jan 2015 12:23 PM PST A bamboo bicycle that transforms the kinetic energy generated by pedaling into a source of electricity has been developed by researchers. The bike has the ability to simultaneously recharge mobile devices, smartphone's external battery and a navigation dashboard located on the handlebars which measures the distance and time, and also has Bluetooth connection.

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