Would you like to try something new an exciting? It’s only a few steps up from the Lego robots, so invest €10 million in a robotic octopus and you will be able to search the seabed just like the real thing. At least that's what it says, these scientist that are attempting to build a robot with arms that work in the same way that octopuses tentacles are stepping foot onto new soil. Having no solid skeleton or frame, this robot would be world’s first entirely soft robot.” The trouble with today's remote-controlled subs, is that their large hulls and clunky robot arms cannot reach into the nooks and crannies of coral reefs or the rock formations on ocean floors. That means they are unable to photograph objects in these places or pick up samples for analysis. And that's a major drawback for oceanographers hunting for signs of climate change in the oceans and on coral reefs”. Said Cecilia Laschi of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa. Do to the fact an octopus's tentacles are capable of and moving in all directions, they can reach, grasp and manipulate objects in tiny spaces with precise precision. "So we are replicating the muscular structure of an octopus by making a robot with no rigid structure - and that is completely new to robotics," she says This is truly a great leap in the scientific field in the robot area.
http://www.robotoctopus.com
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Biometrics in Epassports
ePassports are tiny chips that are hard to copy because it has biometric information in it that measures a persons physical characteristics and behavioral characteristics. The ePassport takes points on someones' face for facial recognition. Denis Chagnon of the ICAO or the International Civil Aviation Organization helped create this. So far 70 countries are using the ePassport and the system will only get better as time goes on and more countries begin to use the ePassport. Although this process is not one hundred percent perfect it still works well and will prevent identity theft when it comes to passports.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102056426
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
X-Ray Machine for Food
The researchers are experimenting with x-ray technology to zap the dangerous bacteria that hide in foods you eat such as leafy greens, tomatoes, ground beef and, peanuts. The x-ray machine being tested at Michigan State University can reduce pathogens 99.999% food experts say. The technique, which uses a low-dose form of irradiation, destroys the bacteria on delicate foods without turning them to a mush.
Products like peanut contaminated with salmonella have sickened more than 650 people about 44 states and killed at least nine. And in 2006, spinach tainted with E. coli (a bacteria) from one field in California caused one of the worst nationwide food-poisoning outbreaks in recent years, killing three people and sickening at least 205. About 76 million Americans are stricken with food-borne illness each year.
The methods to improve some food safety irradiation is a necessary step that could prevent many illnesses and deaths. In August, the Food and Drug Administration approved irradiation for iceberg lettuce and spinach, which have been responsible for some of the worst outbreaks in recent years. That approval is expected to open doors to more irradiated foods.
Irradiation is something that kills harmful bacteria by briefly exposing food to ionizing radiation, or short energy wavelengths. Irradiation has already been approved for use on many foods, including spices, poultry, wheat flour and ground beef but there are also many barriers to irradiating foods on a larger scale, particularly fresh produce. Some experts say it’s not ready for mass production due to a lack of major facilities. Also, irradiation is not permitted on certified organic products. And much of the public is still uneasy about buying foods that carry an international symbol for irradiation.
http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-08-10-08
Products like peanut contaminated with salmonella have sickened more than 650 people about 44 states and killed at least nine. And in 2006, spinach tainted with E. coli (a bacteria) from one field in California caused one of the worst nationwide food-poisoning outbreaks in recent years, killing three people and sickening at least 205. About 76 million Americans are stricken with food-borne illness each year.
The methods to improve some food safety irradiation is a necessary step that could prevent many illnesses and deaths. In August, the Food and Drug Administration approved irradiation for iceberg lettuce and spinach, which have been responsible for some of the worst outbreaks in recent years. That approval is expected to open doors to more irradiated foods.
Irradiation is something that kills harmful bacteria by briefly exposing food to ionizing radiation, or short energy wavelengths. Irradiation has already been approved for use on many foods, including spices, poultry, wheat flour and ground beef but there are also many barriers to irradiating foods on a larger scale, particularly fresh produce. Some experts say it’s not ready for mass production due to a lack of major facilities. Also, irradiation is not permitted on certified organic products. And much of the public is still uneasy about buying foods that carry an international symbol for irradiation.
http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-08-10-08
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Energy at Night(Liquid Battery)
As many people know, scientists keep creating new types of solar power to help the world with global warming. Light is present for about half of the day; but what do we do when it becomes night? Donald Sadoway a true inventor has created a prototype liquid battery that can convert night light into energy. Because of this we can now collect energy on a twenty-four hour basis. This will help our world tremendously. Also these types of batteries can last much longer then conventional batteries, and they are much cheaper. The battery works by electrodes, which are molten metals, and electrolytes start to conduct a current between them, which happens to be a molten salt. This results in a device that can quickly absorb large amounts of electricity. Due to some effects in test trials with the battery, Donald Sadoway hopes to realese a commercial product in about five years.
SageTV HD Theater
Ever want to watch a movie from the internet onto your family TV? Now there is a new technology allowing people to watch videos, movies, or view pictures on their TV as opposed to huddling around the computer. The box has Component slots along with regular AV, and S-Video. It may also be connected to the internet with a built in ethernet port. Looking to utilize the HD feature on many home Televisions the sage has a HDMI port in addition to the other inputs. The box supports video, photos, Mp3 formated music, and WMA format. This feature is most widely known to be used to make your TV compatible with netflix's new instantly on tv feature.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342724,00.asp?kc=PCRSS02129TX1K0000530
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342724,00.asp?kc=PCRSS02129TX1K0000530
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