• Disinfectants create toxic by-products

    Using disinfectants to keep water drinkable was one of the major achievements of the twentieth century; a recent study now shows that the chemicals used to purify the water we drink and use in swimming pools react with organic material in the water yielding toxic consequences

  • UAV relies on alternative energy for silent performance

    U.S. Navy researchers merge two separate efforts — UAV technology and fuel cell systems — to develop UAV with stealthy characteristics: small size, reduced noise, low heat signature, and zero emissions

  • Robot controlled by human thoughts

    Japanese researchers develop a robot that can be given commands by human thoughts; a helmet equipped with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors which measure the changes in cerebral blood flow associated with specific thoughts — and transmits the information to the robot

  • Cold fusion is enjoying a rebirth

    Researchers presented new evidence for the existence of this promising — and controversial — energy source’ papers discussed last week at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society

  • Soldiers' helmets serve as sniper location system

    Commodore researchers develop a networked helmet that help soldiers and first responders fighting in a hazardous urban environment pin-point and display the location of enemy shooters in three dimensions and accurately identify the caliber and type of weapons they are firing

  • U.K. consortium to build nuclear fusion reactor

    U.K. companies have formed a consortium to bid for construction of the main reactor vacuum vessel of the €5 billion (£4.6 billion) International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER) nuclear fusion reactor

  • IDF develops remote-controlled bulldozer

    A new addition to the growing legion of unmanned vehicles: The Israeli military develops remote-controlled bulldozer; the bulldozers were used during the Gaza operation to clear roads of mines and explosive devices

  • Researchers test straw house for earthquake resilience

    There is a growing realization that we need a different construction method for buildings in earthquake-prone regions — especially if these regions are poor and cannot enjoy the latest in engineering; University of Nevada test straw houses as the solution

  • New device locates people in danger

    University of Pittsburgh researchers develop a tracking device that can pinpoint within a few feet the locations of people inside burning buildings or other structures where there is an emergency

  • New ideas for deflecting Earth-threatening asteroids

    As scientists use better equipment to make more accurate observations of space, they find more Earth-threatening objects loitering in Near Earth Orbit; a debate is growing as to the best method to deal with this threat

  • Denmark, Sweden ahead of U.S. in new global IT report

    Denmark and Sweden are better than the United States in their ability to exploit information and communications technology; this good news for the United States: it climbed one spot from No. 4 in 2007 to No. 3, and the report says the United States was well placed for a technology-driven recovery as it has the top scientific research institutions in the world and best collaboration between universities and industries

  • Flow sensors based on hair structures of blind cavefish

    Members of the fish species Astyanax fasciatus cannot see, but they sense their environment and the movement of water around them with gel-covered hairs that extend from their bodies; Yellow Jackets researchers develop sensors which mimic the blind fish’s sensors; these sensors could have a variety of underwater applications, such as port security, surveillance, early tsunami detection, autonomous oil rig inspection, autonomous underwater vehicle navigation, and marine research

  • Video on beyond line-of-sight high-bandwidth connection possible

    Boeing demonstrates that transmitting video on beyond line-of-sight high-bandwidth connection is possible

  • Better bullet-proof vests with advanced fiber weaves

    Manchester University researchers say that bullet-proof vests used to protect the lives of police officers could be further improved with advanced fiber weaves

  • South Korea develops homemade stealth technology

    While the United States keeps a close eye on work by Shina, Russia, and India on stealth technology, South Korea announces it has mastered the technology