• New London center to develop stronger ceramic materials

    Imperial College London launches Structural Ceramic Center; center will research and develop dramatically stronger and more durable structural ceramics made of inorganic materials such as oxides, carbides, and nitrides; new materials will be used in vehicle and body armor, reusable space craft, and pebble beds in nuclear reactors

  • Lobster's eyes inspire hand-held detection device

    The crustacean’s impressive ability to see through dark, cloudy, deep sea water is guiding scientists in developing a ray that could be used by border agents, airport screeners, and the Coast Guard

  • Budget cuts threaten Fermilab's viability

    Fermilab’s 2008 budget will be 17 percent smaller than the 2007 budget; 200 of its 1,900 scientists will be laid off next month; NOνA’s neutrino experiment, Tevatron collider, other programs to be halted; one scientist says: “Effectively, Fermilab is put on a glide-path to shut down after 2011”

  • iRobot wins $286 million Army robot contract

    iRobot signs contract to supply the U.S. Army with 3,000 of the company’s PackBot military robot platform; contract marks Army’s intention of increasing role and missions of robots in battle

  • Adding bellyflaps to blended-wing aircraft increase their manoeuvrability

    Blended-wing aircraft generate less drag, are quieter, and use far less fuel; they are also less maneuverable because the aerodynamic surfaces that control an aircraft’s pitch are located closer to the aircraft’s center of gravity than those on a conventional aircraft; the solution, adding bellyflaps

  • New, quick test for dehydration

    In-the-field exertions by soldiers and first responders may cause dehydration, the result of fluid loss of only a few percent of body weight; Philips offers a transducer which measures how much the skin deforms when sucked — a clear indication of dehydration

  • Robotic device to help first responders

    UC San Diego graduate engineering student designs Gizmo — a robotic device which can be sent to dangerous areas to collect and transmit information that emergency personnel need

  • Existing biotechnology would save energy, cut CO2 by 100 percent

    A major — and surprisingly overlooked — contribution to reducing greenhouse gasses: New analysis shows that use of existing biotechnology in the production of bulk chemicals could reduce consumption of nonrenewable energy and carbon emissions by 100 percent

  • Innovative nozzle protects firefighters against flashover

    Firefighters face not only the immediate fire, but also the risk of flashover — this is when fumes seeping out of walls and furniture get so hot they spontaneously ignite; innovative nozzle from an Austrian company addresses this risk

  • Shape-memory rubber developed

    University of Rochester researchers develop shape-memory rubber which allows designers to make products as diverse as biomedical implants, conformal face-masks, self-sealing sutures, and “smart” labels; material made from shape-memory polymers, once stretched into a new shape, stay in that form until heated, at which time they revert to their initial shape

  • Enjoying the benefits of GPS technology without giving up on privacy

    The proliferation of location-based services raises the specter of an Orwellian Big Brother society in which a citizen’s every move is monitored and tracked; two computer scientists offer a way to enjoy the benefits of location-based services, while avoiding the more sinister aspects of the technology

  • Photonic crystal fiber creates broad spectra of light

    Bath University researchers explain the ability of photonic crystal fiber to create broad spectra of light, opening the way for developments in various technologies

  • Boeing installs high-energy chemical laser aboard a C-130

    The laser, which includes a 5,400 kg integrated laser module, has been installed in a rotating turret on the aircraft’s belly and aligned with the previously installed beam control system

  • U.K. government promotes commercialization of innovative technology

    The U.K. government and a couple of research associations are seeking bids from universities interested in hosting new Innovation and Knowledge Centers (IKCs); each center will be funded with £9.5 million spread over five years

  • New siren for emergency vehicles shakes the ground

    If the flashing blue lights, ear-piercing sirens, and blazing headlamps of a police car or an ambulance do not manage to attract your attention, then shaking the earth under your feet surely will