EMC2 Fusion has built an upgraded model of Bussard’s last experimental plasma containment device, which was known as WB-6. “We got first plasma yesterday,” Nebel said – but he and his colleagues in Santa Fe, N.M., still have a long way to get the WB-7 experiment up to the power levels Bussard was working with. …
Using a new type of stem cells made from ordinary skin cells, U.S. researchers said on Thursday they treated mice with sickle cell anemia, proving in principle that such cells could be used as a therapy. U.S. and Japanese researchers last month reported they had reprogrammed human skin cells into behaving like embryonic stem cells, …
This is a follow up to my proposal for widespread monitoring and analysis of biomarker data in people to improve medical research and treatment. There would be work to do to bring costs down and to make more comprehensive tests. Which is why I was suggesting that someone like an Andy Grove (who lead Intel …
One of my readers, Mav, pointed out that physorg.com has announced: Case Western Reserve University researchers have bred a line of “mighty mice” (PEPCK-Cmus mice) that have the capability of running five to six kilometers at a speed of 20 meters per minute on a treadmill for up to six hours before stopping. This announcement …
Phased array chip will drastically lower the cost of phased array radar and wireless super-high speed communication. Some phased arrays are larger than highway billboards and the most powerful – used as sophisticated radar, surveillance and communications systems for military aircraft and ships – can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The high cost has …
Businessweek reports that wireless industry consultants and marketing executives with knowledge of Google’s plans say it has been showing prototypes of a new phone to handset manufacturers and network operators for a couple of months Industry sources don’t expect one before the second half of 2008. Combine Google’s financial heft with its ultra-sophisticated ability to …
Cnet reports Google has funded a lunar rover robot X-prize of $30 million Brian WangBrian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging …
One goal for the future of electronics is the ability to print large, flexible circuits using machines similar to printing presses. While great strides have been made in developing bendable and lightweight organic materials to use in this type of circuitry, methods to deposit those materials over large areas have not been as successful. Recently, …
The efforts thus far have yielded designs for a laptop that would cost about $47; a $10 system remains the ultimate goal. Negroponte’s One Laptop Per Child Organization submitted a proposal to the Indian government under which the group would have worked to produce laptops for Indian students starting at $100. The OLPC organization has …
IDC estimates that the world had 185 exabytes of storage available last year and will have 601 exabytes in 2010. But the amount of stuff generated is expected to jump from 161 exabytes last year to 988 exabytes (closing in on 1 zettabyte) in 2010. Brian WangBrian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a …
Different materials for solar sails with wide variation in capability are all in development. The lighter the sail then the faster it will accelerate. This link has a table which shows the different speeds possible with different accelerations. The carbon nanotube sail has the highest potential. 1 square kilometer 30 kg or 0.03 grams per …