IEEE spectrum reports on a live NTT test of Super 3G. DoCoMo has taken on something of a leading role in promoting Super 3G inside the 3G Partnership Project (3GPP) a consortium of wireless operators and vendors, including Vodafone, Lucent, Motorola, and Nokia, working to create global specifications for 3G technologies. Essentially, Super 3G is …
The transcript of my recent talk at the nanobio conference is up The powerpoint for my presentation is available for download from the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology I have provided some clarification of a couple of points in my presentation which were reported at the Register (UK news site) Further improvements to the pre-molecular manufacturing …
Sir Arthur C Clarke makes several interesting observations of the past and the future. On the past: Launching Sputnik and landing humans on the Moon were all political decisions, not scientific ones, although scientists and engineers played a lead role in implementing those decisions. (I have only recently learned, from his long-time secretary Carol Rosin, …
A protein in our cells called ‘Bub 1’ is essential for normal cell division to take place; if the gene that generates Bub 1 is ‘switched off’ then the cells are unable to divide successfully. Now that scientists understand the precise role of Bub 1 in normal cell division, as well as what goes wrong …
The Guardian indicates Craig Venter’s team has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth. The announcement, which is expected within weeks and could come as early as Monday at the annual meeting of his scientific institute in San …
there has been a fair amount of discussion about the idea of genetically screening 1000 eggs or embryos in order to get genetically gifted populations (1000 Einsteins). My past cognitive enhancement survey from 2006 for using drugs, genetics, computers and other methods for cognitive enhancement. It is not all about genes. Not all of the …
There has been an interpretation ruling on loan guarantees for 100% of the loan to a maximum of 80% of the total project for carbon dioxide reducing energy projects The loan guarantees make nuclear energy the cheapest option for energy. It pretty much guarantees that all 30 nuclear reactors that are in the planning stages …
A human embryonic stem cell is reined in – prevented from giving up its unique characteristics of self-renewal and pluripotency – by the presence of a protein modification that stifles any genes that would prematurely instruct the cell to develop into heart or other specialized tissue. Thanks to the simultaneous presence of different protein modifications, …
Superstrong transparent plastic has been made using superior layering technique. Before this process load transfer has been quite ineffective at loadings more than 5-10%. After that the mechanical properties of regular composites actually start degrading with increasing portion of inorganic filler. Kotov’s findings indicate that organization of the composite and tuning of molecular interactions between …
Michigan State University researchers believe, using thermoelectric generation technology, a 5% improvement in bsfc for and on highway truck is a reasonable 5 year goal 10% improvement possible with new Thermoelectric materials. They currently have a 40 watt thermoelectric generator for gathering waste heat from a truck exhaust. They can get an engine about 1-3.5% …
Welcome to the Carnival of space week 23. We have two articles inspired by the 50th anniversary of Sputnick, then we have a mixed bag of articles on raising pigs on Mars, habitable planets, another look at the Apollo program, Nasa colorizing of space photos, the Carancas meteorite, Type 1a Supernovae, my own submission on …