Brain implants could enhance learning and mental capacity by detecting desired activity and enhancing information flows to and from the hippocampus

April 7, 2017May 11, 2013 by Brian Wang

The abilities to learn, remember, evaluate, and decide are central to who we are and how we live. Damage to or dysfunction of the brain circuitry that supports these functions can be devastating, leading to Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, PTSD, or many other disorders. Current treatments, which are drug-based or behavioral, have limited efficacy in treating these …

Retired US Admiral suggest railguns with Mach 5 shotgun pellets for anti aircraft and anti-missile steel cloud

April 7, 2017April 4, 2013 by Brian Wang

China is about 30 years from catching up to US miltary spending and about 40-50 years from catching up with a comparable military capability. Even after catching up on budgets, China would lag in training and other factors that would take time to mature. China currently has developed some anti-ship missiles which pose a possible …

Over 200 million electric bikes in China in 2013 and What to Look for in a $1000 E-bike

April 7, 2017March 27, 2013 by Brian Wang

People in China rode more than 180 million e-bikes (electric bikes) by the end of last year, up 36 percent since 2010, according to Wood Mackenzie Ltd. Average lead content in a two-wheel e-bike has dropped from about 13 kilograms (29 pounds) in 2010 to 11 kilograms last year, according to the Edinburgh-based researcher. There …

Telepresence Robots from $350 to $16000

April 7, 2017January 25, 2013 by Brian Wang

Several remote telepresence robots have come to market over the past few years, and more are on the way. Shown below are drivable remote telepresence robots from MantaroBot, Vgo, Anybots, and Suitable Technology. A lower cost non-mobile desktop alternative from Revolve Robotics, known as the “Kubi,” is shown at the right. ABI Research has projected …

NASA Researchers Studying Advanced Nuclear Rocket Technologies

April 7, 2017January 23, 2013 by Brian Wang

Advanced propulsion researchers at NASA are a step closer to solving the challenge of safely sending human explorers to Mars and other solar system destinations. By using an innovative test facility at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., researchers are able to use non-nuclear materials to simulate nuclear thermal rocket fuels — ones …

Nanometer-scale diamond tips improve nano-manufacturing

April 7, 2017November 15, 2012 by Brian Wang

One of the most promising innovations of nanotechnology has been the ability to perform rapid nanofabrication using nanometer-scale tips. The fabrication speed can be dramatically increased by using heat. High speed and high temperature have been known to degrade the tip… until now. “Thermal processing is widely used in manufacturing,” according to William King, the …

Spacex Grasshopper pictures and video

April 7, 2017November 12, 2012 by Brian Wang

TPM – SpaceX has over the past few months been testing a new experimental reusable rocket design, which the company calls “Grasshopper,” launching and landing it twice in two separate “test hops,” from its site in McGregor, Texas. Spacex’s ultimate goal, and that of its founder Elon Musk, is to drastically reduce the current costs …

Incremental Solar Electric Propulsion Improvement Enables Electric Propulsion Human Missions to the Moon, Asteroids, and Mars

April 7, 2017October 30, 2012 by Brian Wang

NASA FISO presentation – This Way To Deep Space Electric Propulsion Human Missions to the Moon, Asteroids, and Mars (27 pages) New solar array technologies (e.g. ROSA, FAST, Ultraflex) could provide the power for a high-‐power SEP stage (with specific powers of 130-‐220 W/kg). Space Solar array technology has been doubling every four years. There …

IBM Researchers Demonstrate Initial Steps toward Commercial Fabrication of Carbon Nanotube Chip

April 7, 2017October 29, 2012 by Brian Wang

For the first time, IBM scientists precisely place and test more than ten thousand carbon nanotube devices in a single chip using mainstream manufacturing processes. Novel processing method helped pave the way for carbon technology as a viable alternative to silicon in future computing. IBM scientists have demonstrated a new approach to carbon nanotechnology that …

Popular Science has an overall negative feature of Andrea Rossi but Hopeful on LENR

April 7, 2017October 25, 2012 by Brian Wang

Popular Science has a length feature on Andrea Rossi and his energy catalyzer. After a lot of Rossi background with some new reportage, conclusion is not favorable I removed all identifying information and sent the report to an expert at NASA experienced in conducting third-party validation tests. While the NASA expert didn’t entirely refute the …

School of Dentistry Invents Dental Fillings That Kill Bacteria and Remineralize the Tooth

April 7, 2017May 10, 2012 by Brian Wang

Scientists using nanotechology at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry have created the first cavity-filling composite that kills harmful bacteria and regenerates tooth structure lost to bacterial decay. Rather than just limiting decay with conventional fillings, the new composite is a revolutionary dental weapon to control harmful bacteria, which co-exist in the natural colony …