Imagine an everyday regular military man that is able to run faster jump higher and all of his physical abilities are expanded well that’s pretty much the case with the new prototype exoskeleton. Basically, an exoskeleton is a wearable machine that gives human enhanced abilities. Imagine a battalion of super soldiers that can lift hundreds of pounds as easily as lifting 10 pounds and can run twice their normal speed. Soldiers will be able to carry more weapons and supplies. By increasing strength, soldiers will also be able to remove large obstacles from their path while marching. It will also enable them to wear heavier body armor and other ballistic protection. An average human walks 4 to 6 mph, but soldiers are often expected to carry up to 150 pounds of supplies in their backpacks. Even the best-conditioned troops cannot go very fast carrying that much weight on their backs. It's not certain how fast DARPA's exoskeleton will be able to move. An independently developed body amplifier, the “SpringWalker”, has been tested at speeds faster than 10 mph (16 km/h). In a couple of years these prototypes will be put into production and they will be made so that all infantry will be able to be much stronger


http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-04/building-real-iron-man

Gene Defect corrected in human stem cell

Correcting Cells:

What do you think life would be like if you could correct all inherited genetic diseases. Science researches have discovered a way to help patients by transforming tissue into stem cells, potentially being able to reverse the conditions. Using the older technology of cell programming scientists believe that they can use cells to create stem cells which can virtually grow into any tissue type. This system is stated in the article to be called "induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) reprogramming, this involves introducing four genes known to be active in the developing embryo, which in turn change the cells' pattern of gene expression to one that resembles an embryonic cell rather than an adult one."

While this has not yet completed full testing on humans researches are very confident it will be successfull, leading to a huge step in fixing inherited diseases which in many cases lead to increased risk of cancer.

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22724/

World's Largest Laser

The U.S Department of Energy has recently completed what is now the largest laser on Earth. Twelve years in the making, this laser located in Livermore, California has many goals. The main purpose of this gigantic structure is to recreate nuclear fusion. Unlike Nuclear fission which splits atoms to create energy, the process used in nuclear power plants, nuclear fusion creates no radioactive waste. Harnessing the energy created from fusion would change all plans for future energy sources. Although the process is extremely costly( the structure cost $3.5 billion) if we were able to control and sustain this source of energy it could swing the current state of our pollution emissions.


http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=worlds-largest-laser-nif-2009-04-01

Robot octopus

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

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

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

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.