ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

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• Repeated self-healing now possible in composite materials
• Astronomers: 'Tilt-a-worlds' could harbor life
• Earthquake simulation tops one petaflop mark
• Lens turns any smartphone into a portable microscope
• Wind tunnel tests support improved aerodynamic design of B61-12 bomb
• Tiger beetle's chase highlights mechanical law
• Targeting cancer with a triple threat: New nanoparticles can deliver three drugs at once
• Rethink education to fuel bioeconomy, says report
• Key to easy asthma diagnosis is in the blood
• Flaw in 'secure' cloud storage could put privacy at risk
• Researchers help Boston Marathon organizers plan for 2014 race
• Sensitive detection method may help impede illicit nuclear trafficking
• Engineers develop new materials for hydrogen storage
• New sensor improves the level of efficiency in detecting ozone
• Mobile robots support airplane manufacturers
• Wire inspection: As fast as a world-class sprinter
• Scientists come up with method of reducing solar panel glare
• New design for mobile phone masts could cut carbon emissions
• Intelligent prosthetic liners could ease pain for lower limb amputees
• Nanocrystalline cellulose modified into efficient viral inhibitor
• Fiber-optic microscope will help physicians detect cancer, diseases at early stages
• Dragon cargo craft launch scrubbed; Station crew preps for spacewalk
• Brand/type of helmet, mouthguard may not significantly reduce risk of sport-related concussion in high school football players
• Nano shake-up: Routine handling can affect nano drug carriers
• Website information on colon cancer too complex, fails to address key concerns, researcher finds
• Telemedicine training for rural parents of children with autism

Repeated self-healing now possible in composite materials Posted: 15 Apr 2014 03:14 PM PDT Internal damage in fiber-reinforced composites, materials used in structures of modern airplanes and automobiles, is difficult to detect and nearly impossible to repair by conventional methods. A small, internal crack can quickly develop into irreversible damage from delamination, a process in which the layers separate. This remains one of the most significant factors limiting more widespread use of composite materials. Scientists have now created fiber-composite materials that can heal autonomously through a new self-healing system.

Astronomers: 'Tilt-a-worlds' could harbor life Posted: 15 Apr 2014 12:37 PM PDT A fluctuating tilt in a planet's orbit does not preclude the possibility of life, according to new research. In fact, sometimes it may help. That's because such "tilt-a-worlds," as astronomers sometimes call them -- turned from their orbital plane by the influence of companion planets -- are less likely than fixed-spin planets to freeze over, as heat from their host star is more evenly distributed.

Earthquake simulation tops one petaflop mark Posted: 15 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT Computer scientists, mathematicians and geophysicists have optimized the SeisSol earthquake simulation software on the SuperMUC high performance computer to push its performance beyond the 'magical' one petaflops mark -- one quadrillion floating point operations per second.

Lens turns any smartphone into a portable microscope Posted: 15 Apr 2014 10:38 AM PDT The Micro Phone Lens can turn any smartphone or tablet computer into a hand-held microscope. The soft, pliable lens sticks to a device's camera without any adhesive or glue and makes it possible to see things magnified dozens of times on the screen.

Wind tunnel tests support improved aerodynamic design of B61-12 bomb Posted: 15 Apr 2014 10:38 AM PDT Sandia National Laboratories has finished eight days of testing a full-scale mock unit representing the aerodynamic characteristics of the B61-12 gravity bomb in a wind tunnel. The tests on the mock-up were done to establish the configuration that will deliver the necessary spin motion of the bomb during freefall and are an important milestone in the Life Extension Program to deliver a new version of the aging system, the B61-12.

Tiger beetle's chase highlights mechanical law Posted: 15 Apr 2014 10:38 AM PDT If an insect drew a line as it chased its next meal, the resulting pattern would be a tangled mess. But there's method to that mess: It turns out the tiger beetle, known for its speed and agility, does an optimal reorientation dance as it chases its prey at blinding speeds.

Targeting cancer with a triple threat: New nanoparticles can deliver three drugs at once Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:55 AM PDT Chemists have designed nanoparticles that can deliver three cancer drugs at a time. Such particles could be designed to carry even more drugs, allowing researchers to develop new treatment regimens that could better kill cancer cells while avoiding the side effects of traditional chemotherapy. "We think it's the first example of a nanoparticle that carries a precise ratio of three drugs and can release those drugs in response to three distinct triggering mechanisms," says the lead researcher and author.

Rethink education to fuel bioeconomy, says report Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:55 AM PDT Microbes can be highly efficient, versatile and sophisticated manufacturing tools, and have the potential to form the basis of a vibrant economic sector. In order to take full advantage of the opportunity microbial-based industry can offer, though, educators need to rethink how future microbiologists are trained, according to a report.

Key to easy asthma diagnosis is in the blood Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:53 AM PDT Using just a single drop of blood, a team of researchers has developed a faster, cheaper and more accurate tool for diagnosing even mild cases of asthma. This handheld technology — which takes advantage of a previously unknown correlation between asthmatic patients and the most abundant type of white blood cells in the body — means doctors could diagnose asthma even if their patients are not experiencing symptoms during their visit to the clinic.

Flaw in 'secure' cloud storage could put privacy at risk Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:52 AM PDT Computer scientists have found a flaw in the way that secure cloud storage companies protect their customers' data. The scientists say this weakness jeopardizes the privacy protection these digital warehouses claim to offer. Whenever customers share their confidential files with a trusted friend or colleague, the researchers say, the storage provider could exploit the security flaw to secretly view this private data.

Researchers help Boston Marathon organizers plan for 2014 race Posted: 15 Apr 2014 08:24 AM PDT After experiencing a tragic and truncated end to the 2013 Boston Marathon, race organizers were faced not only with grief but with hundreds of administrative decisions, including plans for the 2014 race -- an event beloved by Bostonians and people around the world.

Sensitive detection method may help impede illicit nuclear trafficking Posted: 15 Apr 2014 08:13 AM PDT According to a new study, coupling commercially available spectral X-ray detectors with a specialized algorithm can improve the detection of uranium and plutonium in small, layered objects such as baggage. This approach may provide a new tool to impede nuclear trafficking.

Engineers develop new materials for hydrogen storage Posted: 15 Apr 2014 06:44 AM PDT Engineers have created new ceramic materials that could be used to store hydrogen safely and efficiently. The researchers have created for the first time compounds made from mixtures of calcium hexaboride, strontium and barium hexaboride. They also have demonstrated that the compounds could be manufactured using a simple, low-cost manufacturing method known as combustion synthesis.

New sensor improves the level of efficiency in detecting ozone Posted: 15 Apr 2014 06:41 AM PDT Researchers have developed a more effective ozone sensor than the ones used so far. The new sensor detects this gas faster and in lower amounts. Ozone is present in the atmosphere and it plays a significant role in the protection of living beings because it absorbs the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. However, the exposure to certain concentrations of this gas may cause health problems, such as headache, burning and irritation of the eyes and respiratory system problems; that is why it is relevant to detect its presence effectively.

Mobile robots support airplane manufacturers Posted: 15 Apr 2014 06:41 AM PDT The robots move at walking speed along airplane components; in doing so, it applies a sealant against corrosion in equal measure. The mobile assistant is surrounded by technical workers who install, drill, and test. Admittedly this scenario is still a glimpse of the future – but in just a few years, it should be reality for the aerospace manufacturing industry.

Wire inspection: As fast as a world-class sprinter Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:44 AM PDT Pipes, rails, and wires are manufactured at high speeds. A new optical inspection system reviews the workpieces at 10 meters a second and finds defects in real time that can be as narrow as a single hair.

Scientists come up with method of reducing solar panel glare Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:44 AM PDT The glare from solar farms could be a thing of the past, thanks to new research. Researchers have developed a multi-layer anti-reflection coating for glass surfaces, which reduces the sun's reflection from photovoltaic panels while at the same time improving their efficiency. It is applied using the same technology as that used for depositing anti-reflection coatings on eye glasses.

New design for mobile phone masts could cut carbon emissions Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:44 AM PDT A breakthrough in the design of signal amplifiers for mobile phone masts could deliver a massive 200MW cut in the load on UK power stations, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 0.5 million tons a year.

Intelligent prosthetic liners could ease pain for lower limb amputees Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:41 AM PDT A new device could help to relieve the pain and discomfort experienced by thousands of amputees as a result of poorly fitting replacement lower limbs. Researchers are developing a prototype of the world's first prosthetic 'intelligent' liner with integrated pressure sensors, which could be available in as little as three years. The sensors for the device measure the pressure and pulling forces at the interface between a patient's stump and socket of their prosthesis. In excess these pressures in excess can cause tissue damage, leading to painful sores.

Nanocrystalline cellulose modified into efficient viral inhibitor Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:41 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in creating a surface on nano-sized cellulose crystals that imitates a biological structure. The surface adsorbs viruses and disables them. The results can prove useful in the development of antiviral ointments and surfaces, for instance. 'It would be possible to provide protection against viruses, spread by mosquitoes, by applying ointment containing nanocrystalline cellulose onto the skin. Nanocrystalline cellulose applied on hospital door handles could kill viruses and prevent them from spreading. However, we first need to ascertain if the compounds will remain effective in a non-liquid form and how they work in animal tests,' one researcher suggested.

Fiber-optic microscope will help physicians detect cancer, diseases at early stages Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:39 AM PDT An inexpensive, portable and re-usable endoscopic microscope has been developed that will help clinicians detect and diagnose early-stage disease, primarily cancer. An endoscopic microscope is a tool or technique that obtains histological images from inside the human body in real-time. Some clinicians consider it an optical biopsy.

Dragon cargo craft launch scrubbed; Station crew preps for spacewalk Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:30 AM PDT Monday's launch attempt of the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft, loaded with nearly 5,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station's Expedition 39 crew, was scrubbed due to a helium leak on the Falcon 9 first stage. The next launch opportunity would be Friday, April 18 at 3:25 p.m. EDT if the issue can be resolved.

Brand/type of helmet, mouthguard may not significantly reduce risk of sport-related concussion in high school football players Posted: 14 Apr 2014 02:21 PM PDT A sports medicine physician has concluded the the brand or type of helmet or mouthguard does not significantly reduce concussion risk among high school football players. While helmet brand or age did not significantly affect the incidence or severity of sport-related concussion, prior concussion and the use of specialized or custom mouthguards were associated with an increased incidence of the injury. This is in contrast to manufacturers' claims that a specific brand of helmet or type of mouthguard can significantly reduce the risk of concussion.

Nano shake-up: Routine handling can affect nano drug carriers Posted: 14 Apr 2014 12:44 PM PDT Routine processing can affect the size of nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery, new research shows. Nanotechnology has unlocked new pathways for targeted drug delivery, including the use of nanocarriers, or capsules, that can transport cargoes of small-molecule therapeutics to specific locations in the body. The catch? These carriers are tiny, and it matters just how tiny they are. Change the size from 10 nanometers to 100 nanometers, and the drugs can end up in the wrong cells or organs and thereby damage healthy tissues.

Website information on colon cancer too complex, fails to address key concerns, researcher finds Posted: 14 Apr 2014 11:07 AM PDT Popular web information on colorectal cancer is too difficult for most lay people to read and doesn't address the appropriate risks to and concerns of patients, a study by a gastroenterologists suggests. The study is the first to analyze the appropriateness of internet-based materials in terms of health literacy. "Internet information is best used as a supplement. With colon cancer screening, there are many options and each has its risks and benefits. An actual discussion with a physician would help patients choose the best option," the researcher notes.

Telemedicine training for rural parents of children with autism Posted: 14 Apr 2014 10:40 AM PDT An effective distance parent training program has been developed to address critical shortage of ABA-trained professionals in rural communities. Through this program, parents increased their knowledge of ABA strategies and concepts by an average of 39 percentage points and improved their implementation of these strategies with their children by an average of 41 percentage points, said one author, who employs technology to help make evidence-based practices accessible to rural and underserved populations.

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