KurzweilAI.net Accelerating Intelligence News

'Toy Universe' Could Solve Life's Origins

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:16:50 GMT

Evogrid, a simulation of properties of the early oceans on Earth, is intended to model possible biochemical routes to the development of life, eventually using millions of volunteer computers in an interconnected grid. (Source: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/090702-am-evogrid-evolution.html)

Sound imaging: clever acoustics help blind people see the world

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:57:27 GMT

University of Bristol and University of Laguna researchers have developed a system using video from portable cameras that calculates the distance of obstacles, predicts the movements of people and cars, and generates three-dimensional acoustic maps, compensating for head positioning using a gyroscopic sensor. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news165759079.html)

Laser light switch could leave transistors in the shade

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:08:36 GMT

An optical transistor that uses one laser beam to control another could form the heart of a future generation of ultrafast photonic computers, overcoming the speed limits with wires, say Swiss researchers. Using a green beam to switch an orange output beam from weak to strong is analogous to the way a transistor's control electrode switches a current between "on" and "off" voltages, and hence the 0s and 1s of digital data. And doing it with a single molecule means billions could be packed into future photonic chips. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17400-laser-light-switch-could-leave-transistors-in-the-shade.html)

Discovery pinpoints new connection between cancer cells, stem cells

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:21:20 GMT

Telomerase, best known for enabling unlimited cell division of stem cells and cancer cells, has a surprising additional role in the expression of genes in an important stem cell regulatory pathway, say researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The unexpected finding may lead to new anticancer therapies and a greater understanding of how adult and embryonic stem cells divide and specialize. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news165674795.html)

Sea level rise: It's worse than we thought

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:10:42 GMT

The continued melting of glaciers and ice caps outside of Greenland and Antarctica will add another 10 to 20 centimeters to sea level by 2100, according to one report. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327151.300-sea-level-rise-its-worse-than-we-thought.html?full=true)

Robot rescue "rat" feels its way through rubble

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:03:30 GMT

A new robot with artificial whiskers could one day be used to locate survivors of natural disasters, or people trapped in burning buildings. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17403-robot-rescue-rat-feels-its-way-through-rubble.html)

Open-Source Data Glove

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:49:43 GMT

AcceleGlove, a low-cost programmable glove that records hand and finger movements, could be used for robotic control and in video games, sports training, or physical rehabilitation. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22838/)

NASA, Japan Release Most Complete Topographic Map Of Earth

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:11:06 GMT

NASA and Japan have released a new digital topographic map of Earth that covers more of our planet than ever before, produced with detailed measurements from NASA's Terra spacecraft. (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090630162848.htm)

Can a new implant coating technique create a new six million dollar man?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:49:21 GMT

An electrochemical process for coating metal implants to make them resemble biological material vastly improves their functionality, longevity and integration into the body a Tel Aviv University researcher has found. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news165499519.html)

Computer-Guided Nanoparticle Therapy Destroys Tumors

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:43:55 GMT

Polymer-coated gold nanorods completely destroyed all tumors in a nonhuman animal model of human cancer with a single dose, scientists have found. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news165512266.html)

Why microbes are smarter than you thought

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:37:05 GMT

Examples of "intelligent" behavior by microbes include chemical conversations and "quorum sensing" to decide when to launch an attack on their host. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17390-why-microbes-are-smarter-than-you-thought.html)

Review: Wetware by Dennis Bray

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:29:26 GMT

Living cells are chemical computers. (Volker Steger/Christian Barpelle/SPL) They take information from the environment and process it to produce behavioral "outputs." The processing units are proteins, which perform all the same operations as the logic gates of a computer. Inputs from the environment cause the proteins to flip shape, to aggregate, and to chemically modify other proteins in a cascade of information processing that sweeps through the cell until it reaches effector proteins that make the cell move or change shape. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227141.600-review-wetware-by-dennis-bray.html)

Carbon Ring Storage Could Make Magnetic Memory 1,000 Times More Dense

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:13:45 GMT

A method of improving storage density by three orders of magnitude using cobalt dimers on hexagonal carbon rings has been developed by researchers at Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/23773/)

Toyota Develops Mind-Controlled Wheelchair

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:03:05 GMT

Toyota researchers have built a brain/machine interface that controls a wheelchair using EEG sensors placed over the areas of the brain that control motion, with plans for a wide range of applications in medicine and nursing care. (Source: http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218101872)

Singularity University - Day One

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:52:56 GMT

Day 1 at Singularity University featured discussions with Peter Diamandis and Ray Kurzweil. (Source: http://hplusmagazine.com/editors-blog/singularity-university-day-one)

Medicine's New Toolbox

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:44:03 GMT

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells (adult cells genetically reprogrammed to act like embryonic stem cells) could capture the details of human disease with unprecedented accuracy and revolutionize the way researchers search for new treatments. Because each cell line comes from a human patient, the cells reflect the complex array of factors that led to the patient's disease: the genetic mutations, the effects of environmental history. And because those cells can be prodded to develop into a variety of tissue types, scientists can watch the disease unfold in a petri dish. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22832/)

A Robot that Navigates Like a Person

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:34:28 GMT

European researchers have developed a robot capable of moving autonomously by algorithms designed to mimic different parts of the human visual system, with two cameras that serve as "eyes" in a movable "head." (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22946/)

Scientists create first quantum processor

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:07:52 GMT

A team led by Yale University researchers has created the first rudimentary two-qubit solid-state quantum processor, taking another step toward building a quantum computer. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news165418586.html)

Solar X-rays may create DNA building blocks on Titan

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:02:11 GMT

Blasting the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan with X-rays can produce adenine, a base component of DNA, a new laboratory study suggests. When meteoroid impacts deliver water to the moon's surface, the finding adds to evidence that Titan may be ripe for life. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17380-solar-xrays-may-create-dna-building-blocks-on-titan.html)

Africa alone could feed the world

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:35:53 GMT

There is enough space in the world to produce the extra food needed to feed a growing population. And contrary to expectation, most of it can be grown in Africa, say two international reports published this week. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227143.100-africa-alone-could-feed-the-world.html)

Physics brings realism to virtual reality

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:31:58 GMT

The latest multi-core processors and some smart software allow techniques used by physicists and engineers to simulate the real world in extreme detail, creating virtual worlds governed by real physics, rather than the simplified versions used today. One expert evens predicts that such techniques could be used to create Matrix-like virtual worlds indistinguishable from reality within just a few years. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17389-innovation-physics-brings-realism-to-virtual-reality.html)

A Ham Radio Weekend for Talking to the Moon

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:55:01 GMT

On Saturday, amateur radio operators will bounce signals off the moon, using parabolic antenna radio telescopes around the world. Also see Echoes of Apollo (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/technology/27moon.html)

Stem cell surprise for tissue regeneration

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:41:14 GMT

Genes that make muscle stem cells in the embryo are surprisingly not needed in adult muscle stem cells to regenerate muscles after injury, scientists working at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Embryology with colleagues have found. The finding challenges the current course of research into muscular dystrophy, muscle injury, and regenerative medicine, which uses stem cells for healing tissues, and favors using age-matched stem cells for therapy. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news165144902.html)

Domestic robots with a taste for flesh

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:35:10 GMT

Five domestic robots that gain energy by eating flies and mice, digested by an internal microbial fuel cell, have been built by James Auger, at the Royal College of Art, London and collaborator. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17372-gallery-domestic-robots-with-a-taste-for-flesh.html)

Teenage 'baby' may lack master aging gene

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:30:06 GMT

Brooke Greenberg is 16 years old now (the picture shows her at age 11), but hasn't aged since she was an infant. Understanding her condition could provide an insight into the genetics of aging. Richard Walker of the University of South Florida College of Medicine thinks that Brooke is the first recorded case of what he describes as "developmental disorganization." His hypothesis is that the cause is disruption of an as-yet unidentified gene, or genes, that hold the key to aging by orchestrating how an organism matures to adulthood, reproduces, then gradually ages and dies. Brooke's condition could give important leads to the identity of this master regulator. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17379-teenage-baby-may-lack-master-ageing-gene.html)

Invisibility cloak could hide buildings from quakes

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:21:57 GMT

The physics of invisibility cloaks could allow for designing a cloak that could render objects "invisible" to destructive storm waves or tsunamis, say physicists in France and the UK. When waves travel through the cloak they are compressed into tiny fluctuations in pressure and density that travel along the fastest path available. By tuning the cloak's properties, that path can be made to be an arc that directs surface waves away from an area inside the cloak. When the waves exit the cloak, they return to their previous, larger size. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17378)

Hidden cancer threat to wildlife revealed

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:48:49 GMT

Cancer poses a serious threat to wild animals, say twp pathologists working for the Wildlife Conservation Society, the second leading cause of death, as in humans. Understanding the cancers in animals will help understand them better in humans. The pathologists list 22 species that suffer from viral cancers. While some of the viruses have only been found in wildlife, others are closely related to human viruses, including papilloma virus, herpes simplex virus and hepatitis virus. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17358-hidden-cancer-threat-to-wildlife-revealed.html)

Finding a fair price for free knowledge

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:40:25 GMT

If we really want to end scarcity, we will have to build institutions that promote knowledge-sharing, while at the same time ensuring that there are incentives for creative and technical minds to contribute. Wikipedia and Google's book-scanning projects are examples of such institutions. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227141.000-finding-a-fair-price-for-free-knowledge.html)

Waterproof Lithium-Air Batteries

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:35:53 GMT

Lightweight, high-energy batteries that can use the surrounding air as a cathode are being developed by PolyPlus. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/22926/)

Warning over 'superbug' risk from pets

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:27:45 GMT

Antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" originating in hospitals are now increasingly being found in cats and dogs, and in victims of bites. Ironically, most animals probably acquired their infections originally from their owners. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17359-warning-over-superbug-risk-from-pets.html)

Daily Coverage From Singularity University All Next Week

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:08:13 GMT

H+ magazine writer Lisa Rein will be sitting in on the first week of Singularity University, starting Monday, blogging daily and twittering (@lisarein). (Source: http://hplusmagazine.com/editors-blog/daily-coverage-singularity-university-all-next-week)

Privacy Requires Security, Not Abstinence Protecting an inalienable right in the age of Facebook. By Simson Garfinkel * E-mail * Audio » o Listen - Flash o Listen - MP3 o Subscribe to podcast o

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:04:16 GMT

"We need to learn how to protect privacy by intention, not by accident," says security expert Simson Garfinkel. "Although technology can help, my belief is that such protections need to start with clearly articulated polices... We need some kind of Privacy Protection Agency to give our rights a fighting chance. Our piecemeal approach is no longer acceptable." (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22831/)

Singularity University Launches Inaugural Summer Program At Moffett Field

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:00:03 GMT

Singularity University (SU) -- the new academic institution with the goal of preparing the next generation of leaders to address "humanity's grand challenges" -- today announced the selection of 40 students to represent the inaugural class for the Graduate Summer Program (GSP). Singularity University narrowed the final 40 students from a pool of more than 1,200 candidate applications around the globe. The summer program begins on June 29, 2009, based at its campus on NASA Ames Research Park. SU also announced that leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm ePlanet Ventures joins SU as the newest Corporate Founder to support the institution. Singularity University is modeled after the successful International Space University, founded at MIT in 1987, which has become one of the leading interdisciplinary, international and intercultural institutions for the study of space. The Graduate Summer Program is a nine-week graduate-level interdisciplinary curriculum designed to facilitate understanding, collaboration, and innovation across a broad range of carefully chosen scientific and technological disciplines whose developments are exponentially accelerating. A Look at the Summer Class Students for the inaugural summer program were chosen based on their level of expertise in individual "tracks," demonstrated entrepreneurial and leadership skills, and their commitment to addressing and solving important issues facing our world. "The level of interest from candidates around the world exceeded our initial expectations," said Dr. Ray Kurzweil, co-founder of Singularity University. "We received applications from expert candidates in over 60 countries, so competition was very tough for the 40 open spots. Narrowing the field was challenging. The selected students embody the key characteristics, experience, and 'start-up mentality' we believe are required to address our grandest challenges today and tomorrow." The summer class is composed of 26 men and 14 women, ranging in age from 22 to 47 years old. The 13 nations represented are: USA, Canada, Israel, United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, India, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, and Russia. Specific experience and expertise in one of the ten key fields of study, or "tracks," was required to secure a spot in the inter-disciplinary institution. The number of student experts in each of the ten tracks are: future studies and forecasting - 5; policy, law and ethics - 7; finance and entrepreneurship - 5; networks and computing systems - 6; biotechnology and bioinformatics - 3; nanotechnology - 2; medicine, neuroscience and human enhancement - 4; AI, robotics - 3; energy and ecological systems - 2; and space and physical sciences - 3. "It's rare that a new university comes into existence, and we are proud of the students representing this first class," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, co-founder of Singularity University. "Ray Kurzweil and I look forward to seeing what this stellar combination of students and faculty will produce throughout the course of the program. The potential is unlimited. And, we truly believe Singularity University will positively impact humanity." Venture Capital Support Behind SU ePlanet Ventures joins SU as the only venture capital firm at the Corporate Founder level, with a donation of $250,000. In addition to financial support for SU, the firm will mentor students as they develop projects and new business ideas, a partner will serve as an advisor and lecturer on the Finance and Entrepreneurship track, and sit on the Board of Trustees. Google is an existing Corporate Founder. "The close alignment of our goals with SU made the partnership a natural fit," said Asad Jamal, Chairman and CEO of ePlanet Ventures. "ePlanet Ventures was founded to support innovation in technology and sciences, and has been a leader in discovering disruptive innovation and promoting cross-border migration of technological innovation, business models and entrepreneurship. We anticipate great ideas and global solutions to come from SU with the expert concentration of students, faculty, and other supporters. We're thrilled to be a part of this innovative venture from the start." Interest in sponsoring Singularity University has been strong since its founding, and nearly all its financial supporting positions have been filled. Three positions are still available to join ePlanet Ventures and Google as Corporate Founders, and SU is in discussions with a number of the Bay Area companies to fill the remaining positions. They can visit www.singularityu.org/interested for more information on corporate and individual sponsorship. Looking Forward Singularity University will offer 3-day "C-level" and 10-day "mid-level" executive management programs in Fall '09. Exact program dates will be announced later in the year. Interested candidates can submit applications and request additional information at www.singularityu.org/interested. Full disclosure: KurzweilAI newsletter editor Amara D. Angelica is Curriculum Lead for Singularity University Source: Singularity University press release (Source: )

From X PRIZE to Singularity University

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:08:06 GMT

Dr. Peter Diamandis, Chairman of Singularity University, describes his vision for the new institution. (Source: http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/ai/x-prize-singularity-university)

Optogenetics

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:58:05 GMT

Optogenetics combines genetic engineering, lasers, neurology and surgery to create a mechanism for easier and more effective direct control of groups of neurons in treating disorders such as Parkinson's, chronic pain, and depression. (Source: http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/enhanced/enhanced-optogenetics)

Interview With Singularity University Executive Director Salim Ismail

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:49:10 GMT

In a video interview, Singularity University Executive Director Salim Ismail offers an inside look at Singularity University's inaugural summer session, which opens June 29 at NASA Ames. (Source: http://singularityhub.com/2009/06/24/singularity-university-to-launch-june-29-exclusive-interview-with-executive-director-salim-ismail/)

First acoustic metamaterial 'superlens' created

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:36:51 GMT

The world's first acoustic "superlens," which could lead to high-resolution ultrasound imaging, non-destructive structural testing of buildings and bridges, and novel underwater stealth technology, has been developed by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news165064464.html)

Kites flying in high-altitude winds could provide clean electricity

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:26:49 GMT

If one percent of the power in high-altitude winds could be tapped by tethered kites floating in jet streams around 32,000 feet, it would continuously power all of civilization, a study by Stanford University researchers has found. (Ben Shepard) (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news165082424.html)

New Drug Kills Cancer with Few Side Effects

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:51:41 GMT

Olaparib, a drug that shrinks or stabilizes tumors with few side effects in patients with certain treatment-resistant hereditary cancers, is being tested in trials at the Institute of Cancer Research, in Sutton, England. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22928/)

'Chemical Nose' to Sniff Out Cancer Earlier, Improve Treatment Options

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:24:16 GMT

Using a "chemical nose" array of nanoparticles and polymers, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a fundamentally new, more effective way to differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells and between metastatic and non-metastatic cancer cells. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news164998242.html)

Galactic Colonization Limited By The Inability To Expand Exponentially

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:21:12 GMT

Rather than discounting the spread of an intelligent civilization, the Fermi Paradox merely points out that advanced civilizations with exponential growth are unlikely to exist, due to finite resources, suggest Pennsylvania State University scientists. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news164986606.html)

New Android Phone Announced

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:59:10 GMT

T-Mobile has announced the second "Google phone," the MyTouch 3G. built on Google's Android operating system, with a touch screen. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/23747/)

Brain could adapt well to cyborg enhancements

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:48:27 GMT

The human brain may be able to include cyborg implants in its representation of the body. When we use tools, our brains incorporate them into the mental body map, researchers at University of Claude Bernard in France have found. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17346)

'Lightbulb' molecule has a bright future

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:26:46 GMT

A single molecule that reliably emits white light and could speed the development of low-energy LEDs has been developed by Seoul National University and University of Valencia researchers. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17355)

Bird navigation breaks entanglement record

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:32:43 GMT

An electron pair generated in bird eyes during navigation using the Earth's magnetic field could be entangled for at least 100 microseconds, suggest University of Oxford researchers. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/23748/)

Human Eye Inspires Advance In Computer Vision

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:23:08 GMT

Inspired by the behavior of the human eye, Boston College computer scientists have developed a technique that lets computers see objects as fleeting as a butterfly with nearly double the accuracy and 10 times the speed of earlier methods. (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090618084258.htm)

'Milking' Microscopic Algae Could Yield Massive Amounts Of Oil

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:17:13 GMT

Tiny, single-cell algae known as diatoms could be genetically engineered to actively secrete oil products, scientists in Canada and India suggest. (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090622165830.htm)

The AI Report

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:06:16 GMT

Humanoid robots, passing the Turing test, unsupervised learning, and AI's used to fight terrorism and a few of the topics in AI, robotics, and intelligence covered in this special section written by 22 experts. (Source: http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/22/singularity-robots-computers-opinions-contributors-artificial-intelligence-09_land.html)

New method to detect quantum mechanical effects in ordinary objects

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:52:17 GMT

A superconducting qubit could be used to demonstrate nanomechanical quantum entanglement and superpositions in a large collections of atoms in a NEMS resonator, say California Institute of Technology researchers. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news164885583.html)

Top Two Slots on Newest TOP500 List of Supercomputers Unchanged, but New Systems in Germany, Saudi Arabia are Shaking Things Up

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:59:26 GMT

The just-announced new annual TOP500 list of the world's most powerful supercomputers is still led by IBM's Roadrunner and Cray's Jaguar, but in third place, a new contender has emerged: an IBM BlueGene/P system called JUGENE, installed at the Forschungszentrum Juelich (FZJ) in Germany, at 825.5 teraflop/s. Other notable systems are the Bull-Sun JUROPA at FZJ in Germany, ranked at 274.8 Tflop/s, the IBM BlueGene/P system at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia at No. 14, and the Chinese-built Dawning 5000A at the Shanghai Supercomputer Center at No. 15. The U.S. still is the leading consumer of HPC systems with 291 of the 500 systems. As energy efficiency becomes a more critical issue for supercomputing centers, the TOP500 list also now provides data on energy use, expressed as the number of megaflop/s per watt. The most energy efficient supercomputers are based on IBM QS22 Cell processor blades (up to 536 Mflop/watt), but other systems are catching up fast. (Source: )

Intel's Wireless Power Play

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:39:35 GMT

Intel researchers demonstrated on Thursday an iPod speaker wirelessly powered by magnetic fields produced from a coil a meter away. The technology could be incorporated into Intel products, such as laptops or other portable devices, for wireless battery charging. (Kate Greene) (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/22906/)

Cell Phones That Listen and Learn

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:26:11 GMT

SoundSense, which picks up sounds and tries to classify them into "voice," "music," or "ambient noise" categories, is a step in building a system that can learn user behavior on the go, say its Dartmouth College developers. The software could allow for giving users feedback on their daily activities for health, time-management, and life-logging applications. (Dartmouth College) (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/22907/)

New technology enables high-speed data transfer

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:10:56 GMT

GridFTP allows Department of Energy researchers to transfer data between facilities at 200 megabytes per second, providing a reliable, high-performance communications infrastructure to facilitate large-scale, collaborative science endeavors. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news164554181.html)

Twitter Plays Key Role in DoS Attacks in Iran

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:29:11 GMT

Easy-to-use ways to launch denial-of- service attacks to mobilize a cyber-army against Iranian sites by simply clicking a link could backfire. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/external/idg/2009/06/18/18idg-twitter-plays-key-role-in-dos-attacks-in-iran-33328.html)

Innovation: Smarter phone calls for your smart phones

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:14:30 GMT

Google Voice (will soon give users a single number that is forwarded to different combinations of devices according to who is calling and what time it is), a possible Google device that would switch to the cheapest provider, and "super Wi-Fi" "white space" mobile devices using the now-available analog TV spectrum are among the coming innovations in smarter call management. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17338-innovation-smarter-phone-calls-for-your-smart-phones.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news)

Human eye inspires advance in computer vision

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:48:51 GMT

Inspired by the behavior of the human eye, Boston College computer scientists have developed a technique that lets computers see objects as fleeting as a butterfly or tropical fish with nearly double the accuracy and 10 times the speed of earlier methods. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news164509831.html)

3D printing for new tissues and organs

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:42:32 GMT

Rapid prototyping might one day allow kidney, liver and muscle tissues to be constructed in the laboratory from a patient's own cells with close-to-natural detail ready for transplantation. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news164525294.html)

Apple Releases Faster IPhone as Competition Escalates

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:14:07 GMT

Apple releases a new iPhone at 7 a.m. today with faster speed and more features, and new iPhone operating-system software this week that adds more than 100 new features and works on the 3G S and older models. (Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=akV8wtfAoptM)

Collecta Launches Really Real-Time Search Engine

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:52:31 GMT

Collecta draws information streams from blogs using Wordpress, news services, social aggregation sites, Flickr, and Twitter to provide what it claims is the first truly real-time search engine. (Source: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2009/06/collecta_launch.html?chan=technology_technology+index+page_top+stories)

Designing Structures Made of Nanomaterials

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:52:04 GMT

Computer scientists at Microsoft have simplified a model that creates recipes for self-assembling nanomaterials. Particle packing: Algorithms designed by Microsoft researchers predict what the forces between a group of particles must be in order for them to self-assemble into a particular structure, such as a closely packed cube. (Salvatore Torquato) (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22899/)

Plan to teach military robots the rules of war

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:36:50 GMT

An "ethical governor" that aims to ensure that robot attack aircraft behave ethically in combat has been developed by robotics engineer Ron Arkin at the Georgia Institute of Technology. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17332-plan-to-teach-military-robots-the-rules-of-war.html)

Semantic technology takes off

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:54:25 GMT

Key news at the Semantic Technology Conference in San Jose:

Wolfram Alpha rep Russel Foltz Smith said they will offer an API to their engine that will allow companies with natural-language front ends to call their engine and get rich data from across the web.

Ask.com announced they are crawling the web gathering Q&A pairs and parsing them for quality, and now have 300 million specific questions and answers available on line, in a beta feature.

Microsoft's Bing search engine inspired the crowd with its combination of a new interface, extracts from Powerset's web indexing, and the Powerset access to Wikipedia. Rumors at the conference: Bing has grown by 25% in a few months; the image and video search features imported from live.com's web site are popular.

The number of companies offering ontological creation and search tools, the presence of VCs and publishers, and the 1,275 attendees suggests that the semantic web movement is taking off in spite of the downturn in the economy. (Source: )

Synthetic cells get together to make electronics

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:24:47 GMT

A network of artificial cells that work together to act as a rectifier (AC to DC converter) has been built by researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. (Nature) Like real cells, the protocells are droplets of watery fluid enclosed in an oily membrane, but they can fuse together, forming unidirectional electronic circuits. The droplet networks could be used as an interface between electronic implants and living tissue, as tissue scaffolds to guide the regrowth of complex organs, or to provide low-power energy sources. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17325-synthetic-cells-get-together-to-make-electronics.html)

Inside the Pentagon's New Plan for Drones That Don't Piss Off Pakistan

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:58:26 GMT

The U.S Air Force is planning to build a new breed of more-selective military drones (less collateral damage), with swarms of bird-size bots shadowing targets, new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of launching mini-missiles at multiple targets at once, microscopic drones with smaller weapons that can hunt in swarms, and tiny, biologically inspired micro air vehicles (MAVs) that can flap through alleys and inside buildings. (Source: http://www.esquire.com/the-side/feature/new-air-force-drones-in-pakistan-061709)

nVidia 200M GPUs: 'Twice the Power, Half the Battery Drain'

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:40:06 GMT

Twice the power, half the battery drain of last year's GPU -- that's a claim that nVidia makes about its new 200M series laptop GPUs, announcing five graphics processors to be incorporated in devices from gamer machines to all-purpose laptops capable of running an HD movie. (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/15/AR2009061501460.html)

Attempted Iran media clampdown meets Internet age

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:14:06 GMT

The U.S. State Department called on Twitter last weekend to put off a scheduled shutdown for maintenance -- an indication of the vital role social networking now plays in international crises. CNN broadcasted images posted on Facebook and Twitter, explaining on-air that it was using "creativity" to cover a big event under government restrictions. (Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hJV3PeXNYF8-HXBgHkLBl94HkCHgD98SFEUG0)

Lung-on-a-chip could replace countless lab rats

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:24:01 GMT

"Microlungs" grown from human tissue might one day help to replace the vast numbers of rats used to check the safety of drugs, cosmetics, and other chemicals. Cell biologist Kelly BeruBe at the University of Cardiff, UK, has managed to grow human lung cells into flat differentiated layers that resemble the inner lining of the lungs. The ultimate aim is to develop a chip on which thousands of microlungs can be grown then tested simultaneously, (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227126.800-lungonachip-could-replace-countless-lab-rats.html)

CT scan nearly as good as regular colonoscopy

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:54:23 GMT

By spotting 85 percent of polyps, CT scans offer a way to detect the precancerous growths in a way that is less invasive than a conventional colonoscopy, a European team of researchers reports. (Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/44724/title/CT_scan_nearly__as_good_as_regular_colonoscopy)

Cells Are Like Robust Computational Systems, Scientists Report

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:42:37 GMT

Gene regulatory networks in cell nuclei use redundancy -- backups for master genes -- in the same way that large computing systems, such as Amazon and Google, can keep operating despite server failures, an international team led by Carnegie Mellon University computational biologist Ziv Bar-Joseph reports. (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090616103205.htm)

A Stem-Cell Therapy for Blindness

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:24:56 GMT

An experimental therapy using human embryonic stem cells to treat degenerative eye diseases has proved safe and effective in animal studies, and may begin early human trials in the next few months if approved by the FDA. Developed by Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), the treatment re-creates retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, which are often the first to die off in age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases, which in turn leads to loss of vision. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22871/)

Re-Engineering the Earth

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:55:24 GMT

A few scientists are considering radical -- and possibly extremely dangerous -- schemes for reengineering the climate by brute force. Their ideas are technologically plausible and cheap, so a rich and committed environmentalist could act on them tomorrow. And thatâ€™s the scariest part. (Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200907/climate-engineering)

Scientists invent 1.2nm molecular gear

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:56:57 GMT

A 1.2 nanometer molecular gear has been developed by scientists at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news164281362.html)

A Renowned Geneticist Analyzes Consumer Tests

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:43:05 GMT

Francis Collins, the former head of the National Human Genome Research Institute, has had his genome analyzed by the big three of direct-to-consumer genetic testing: 23andMe, Navigenics, and DecodeMe. He found significant differences in the numbers of genetic variations used to calculate disease risk, as well as the final risk score. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/23680/)

Buckyballs polymerised to form buckywires

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:24:01 GMT

University of Cambridge scientists have found a way to polymerize buckyballs so that they line up into buckywires. Buckywires ought to be handy for all kinds of biological, electrical, optical and magnetic applications. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/23682/)

Dear CNN, Please Check Twitter for News About Iran

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:13:00 GMT

While CNN is absent from the story, Twitter is how Iranians are communicating with the outside world. Real-time, online, crowdsourced media may become the best place to keep up with current events; this incident could be an important part of that history unfolding. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2009/06/14/14readwriteweb-dear-cnn-please-check-twitter-for-news-abou-45130.html)

High-flying kites could power New York

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:03:57 GMT

A fleet of kites could harvest enough energy from high-altitude winds to power New York City, with an average wind power density of up to 16 kilowatts per square meter, report researchers from the Carnegie Institution and California State University. Technologies proposed to harvest these high altitude winds include tethered, kite-like turbines that would be floated to the altitude of the jet streams at an altitude of 20,000-50,000 feet and transmit up to 40 megawatts of electricity to the ground via the tether. (Source: http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0615-wind.html)

New Glimpses of Life's Puzzling Origins

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:35:18 GMT

In the last few years, four surprising advances have renewed confidence that a terrestrial explanation for life's origins will eventually emerge. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/science/16orig.html)

Scientists discover magnetic superatoms

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:13:40 GMT

A "magnetic superatom" -- a stable cluster of atoms that can mimic different elements of the periodic table and that one day may have applications in spintronics (using electron spin for memory and data processing) -- has been discovered by Virginia Commonwealth University scientists. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news164298138.html)

Researchers Test Nanoparticle To Treat Cardiovascular Disease In Mice

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:06:48 GMT

Nanoparticles that can attack plaque -- a major cause of cardiovascular disease -- have been developed by UC Santa Barbara researchers. The nanoparticles are lipid-based collections of molecules that form a sphere called a micelle that has a peptide (a piece of protein) on its surface. The peptide binds to the surface of the plaque, rupturing it. (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090604155619.htm)

Reengineering A Food Poisoning Microbe To Carry Medicines And Vaccines

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:50:28 GMT

Bacteria that normally cause food poisoning but have been genetically engineered to be harmless can be loaded with medicine or vaccine for delivery to the intestines (the bacteria can survive the harsh acid conditions of the stomach) for absorption of the compounds into the bloodstream, researchers have found. (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090615093923.htm)

First extragalactic exoplanet may have been found

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:55:51 GMT

A possible planet has been detected in the Andromeda galaxy by University of Zurich astronomers, using gravitational microlensing, in which a distant source star is briefly magnified by the gravity of an object passing in front of it. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17287-first-extragalactic-exoplanet-may-have-been-found.html)

'Resurrection bug' revived after 120,000 years

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:47:23 GMT

A tiny bacterium has been coaxed back to life after spending 120,000 years buried three kilometers deep in the Greenland ice sheet. Researchers say it could resemble microbes that may have evolved in ice on other planets. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17305-resurrection-bug-revived-after-120000-years.html)

Tantalizing clues to the chemical origins of life

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:43:03 GMT

An artificial DNA-like molecule that can change its sequence to bind to a DNA template without the help of enzymes has been created by researchers at the Scripps Research Institute. (Science/AAAS) The thioester peptide nucleic acid (tPNA) has a peptide (amino acid) backbone on which bases anchor, analogous to the sugar-phosphates backbone on which bases anchor in DNA and RNA. When presented with a DNA template molecule, the tPNA reorganized itself until it had complementary (matching) base pairs. The findings could shed light on how molecules underpinning life were first able to emerge from a chemical soup. If the system can can be designed to function as a gene, it would be a candidate for service as the genetic component in current efforts to construct a cell artificially. Until now, scientists trying to make self-replicating systems have constructed long DNA- and RNA-like molecules from small, information-carrying units that stack together, in the same way that DNA stacks together from nucleotide units in nature. The problem with these is that, once assembled, the sequence of bases cannot usually be changed. (Source: http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090612/full/news.2009.563.html)

Gluing particles together on the micro- and nano-scale

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:31:20 GMT

A method to precisely bind nano- and micrometer-sized particles together into larger-scale structures, overcoming the problem of uncontrollable sticking, has been created by New York University researchers. Ordered arrays of the micrometer-sized particles can be used in sensors and photonic crystals that can switch light; smaller nanoparticles have a wide range of electrical, optical, and magnetic properties that are useful for applications. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news164207158.html)

Human ear inspires universal radio chip

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:44:05 GMT

Bio-inspired active radio-frequency "silicon cochlea" chips modeled on the cochlear hair cells of the human inner ear that could be used in ultra-wideband radio systems (from 600 MHz to 8 GHz), reducing required power and hardware resources, have been developed by MIT researchers. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227126.200-human-ear-inspires-universal-radio-chip.html)

Intel breaks Moore's Law with new Atom chips

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:02:28 GMT

The next generation of Intel's Atom chips, codenamed "Pineview," will lower cost and power use, but at the expense of any significant speed boost. (Source: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9134326)

NASA/Ames ready to explode one of the coolest space missions ever

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:40:06 GMT

NASA plans send a rocket booster into the moon, triggering a six-mile-high explosion that scientists hope will confirm the presence of water frozen in craters near the moon's south pole. As a potential source of oxygen for life support and hydrogen for rocket fuel, that water would be a tremendous boost to NASA's plans to restart human exploration of the moon. (Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_12590357)

Gene therapy technique thwarts cancer by cutting off tumor blood supply

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:35:09 GMT

University of Florida researchers have come up with a new gene therapy method to disrupt cancer growth by using a synthetic protein to induce blood clotting that cuts off a tumor's blood and nutrient supply. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news163989319.html)

WHO declares swine flu pandemic

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:19:59 GMT

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global flu pandemic, meaning the swine flu virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world. It has spread to 74 countries. It is the first flu pandemic in 40 years; the last in 1968 killed about one million people. However, the current pandemic seems to be moderate and causing mild illness in most people. (Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8094655.stm)

The Human Genome: Yours for $48,000

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:56:41 GMT

A $48,000 genome-sequencing service has been launched by Illumina. While $48,000 is still out of reach for most consumers, the price reflects an exponential drop in the cost of sequencing technologies in recent years. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22793/)

The dark side of animation

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:52:47 GMT

Custom animation in PowerPoint lectures negatively impacts student learning, University of North Carolina researchers have found. Animated slides meant to present information incrementally actually require greater concentration, which makes it harder to remember content as well as reducing overall exposure time to the "complete" slide, the researchers found. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news163936965.html)

Antibody Drugs Customized by Genotype

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:45:58 GMT

PIKAMAB believes that it can make monoclonal antibodies (engineered to hone in on specific biological targets) more effective by grouping patients together based on their genotype and offering a customized antibody developed for that genotype. The company hopes that this "stratified" approach to drug development and treatment will help drug companies achieve better results. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22795/)

Problems are solved by sleeping

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:13:10 GMT

Volunteers who entered REM during sleep improved their creative problem solving ability by almost 40%, University of California San Diego researchers showed. The researchers believe REM sleep allows the brain to form new nerve connections without the interference of other thought pathways that occur when we are awake or in non-dream-state sleep. (Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8090730.stm)

U.S. an Innovation Laggard?

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:52:48 GMT

According to the latest BusinessWeek, innovation in America is on shaky ground, so "where is the next Google going to happen?" asks Peter Diamandis, chairman and CEO of the X Prize Foundation in a video interview. "AI, robotics, and nanotechnology ... will create hundred-billion-dollar industries and reshape our nation in its productivity," he suggests. (Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1147791456)

Scientists advance safety of nanotechnology

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:46:11 GMT

An autophagy inhibitor has counteracted nanoparticle-induced lung damage in mice from ployamidoamine dendrimers (cause lung damage by triggering programmed autophagic cell death), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences researchers have found. The findings suggest that compounds could be developed that could be incorporated into the nano product to protect against lung damage, or patients could be given pills to counteract the effects. The findings could also provide important insights into how nanoparticles cause other toxic effects. (Source: http://www.physorg.com/news163904073.html)

Acoustic Black Hole Created in Bose-Einstein Condensate

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:34:21 GMT

The sonic equivalent of a black hole in a Bose-Einstein Condensate has been created by Israel Institute of Technology researchers using a deep potential well to generate an event horizon between subsonic and supersonic flow of atoms. Sonic black holes ought to produce Hawking radiation, since quantum mechanics predicts that pairs of "virtual" phonons with equal and opposite momentum ought to be constantly springing in and out of existence in BECs. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/23625/)

Record-breaking superlens smashes diffraction limit

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:20:50 GMT

A new superlens that could make it possible to film molecules in action in real time with visible light has been developed by HP Labs researchers. The lens takes advantage of subwavelength details in evanescent components of light, which can propagate in a material with a negative refractive index. To achieve a record-breaking resolution of 1/12th of the wavelength of light, the researchers grew smooth silver film just a few tens of nanometers thick on a layer of germanium, forcing the silver to form a smooth thin film. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/23650/)

Wireless Power Harvesting for Cell Phones

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:35:40 GMT

A device that can harvest up to 50 milliwatts of power from ambient radio frequencies for recharging a cell phone is being developed by Nokia researchers. It will require a wideband receiver capable of capturing signals from between 500 megahertz and 10 gigahertz. (Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/22764/)

Growing Organs in the Lab

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:35:32 GMT

By using a patient's cells to grow new types of tissue in the lab, researchers are finding new ways to custom-engineer your new body parts by using your own cells. (Source: http://singularityhub.com/2009/06/08/growing-organs-in-the-lab/)

Stretched neutrinos could span the universe

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:55:49 GMT

The most massive quantum-mechanical superpositions of three different mass-energy states of "relic" neutrinos produced by the big bang may have slowed down, stretching them across the universe as it expanded, according to calculations by George Fuller and Chad Kishimoto of the University of California, San Diego. (Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227115.800-stretched-neutrinos-could-span-the-universe.html)