Physicists Induce Superconductivity in Non-Superconducting Materials and improve efficiency in Known Superconducting Materials

Researchers at the University of Houston have reported a new method for inducing superconductivity in non-superconducting materials, demonstrating a concept proposed decades ago but never proven. The technique can also be used to boost the efficiency of known superconducting materials, suggesting a new way to advance the commercial viability of superconductors, said Paul C.W. Chu, …

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China will need to remove all fertility restrictions in order to get reasonable bump in birth rate

Beijing decided to significantly scale back the one-child policy in November last year. Leading Chinese demographers, such as Cai Fang from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, predict the policy change would lead to a significant improvement in the country’s terribly low fertility rate. Cai believes the birth rate will bounce back to 2.4 if …

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OECD Leading Index Points To Stabilizing Global Economic Growth

A leading indicator of the OECD economy, which is designed to anticipate turning points in economic activity relative to trend, increased 0.07 percent sequentially to 100.7 in September, continuing the upward trend seen in recent months. Year-on-year, the index moved up 0.97 percent. The sub-indicator for Japan points to economic growth above trend, and the …

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China’s third plenum promises deep reform but sets up a committee to work out the details

China’s Communist Party said it will create a new committee to “deepen reforms” to allow the free market to play a larger role in the economy at the conclusion of a four day policy summit, known as the Third Plenum, on Tuesday. In a statement issued after the closed-door meeting had ended the official Xinhua …

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Panasonic power loader light exoskeleton

Panasonic has developed a power assist robot named “Power Loader”. It is being targeted for assisting construction workers and disaster relief crews. The new “Power Loader Light” is smaller than prior versions. Users of the exoskeleton can easily carry about 30kg in one arm. The commercial version should allow each wearer of the exoskeleton to …

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Dropbox founder Drew Houston wants to Sync files on all devices

LA Times – Dropbox is a service with the goal of being able instantly (and seamlessly) syncs all of your files on all of your devices. Dropbox has more than 50 million users and adds another every second. It’s one of the fastest-growing companies Silicon Valley has ever seen. Both Apple’s Steve Jobs and Google’s …

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Uranium producers reporting for 2011 and India and Japan have reactor startup delays for months

1. World Nuclear news – Paladin Energy and Uranium One both had record years for uranium production in 2011. Denison and Rio Tinto had problems. Uranium One, the year’s attributable production totalled a record 10.7 million pounds U3O8 (4116 tU), up 45% on 2010 figures, with record full-year sales of 9.9 million pounds U3O8 (3808 …

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India’s economic growth slumps

Economist – Expectations for India’s economic growth rate have been sliding inexorably. In the early spring there was still heady talk about 9-10% being the new natural rate of expansion, a trajectory which if maintained would make the country an economic superpower in a couple of decades. Now things look very different. The latest GDP …

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Australian scientists have demonstrated that atoms can be guided in a laser beam

Artist’s impression of the speckle pattern created by a multimode light beam (top, red), and the image measured in this experiment created by a multimode beam of atoms (top, blue). Source: Dr Tim Wetherell, ANU Scientists have demonstrated for the first time that atoms can be guided in a laser beam and possess the same …

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Carnival of Space 150 – the new Obama Mars Space vision, asteroids, life on titan, space anniversaries and More

Ad Support : Nano Technology   Netbook    Technology News &nbsp  Computer Software Here is the Carnival of Space 150. The Carnival of Space is coordinated through the UniverseToday. 1. Centauri Dreams sends “A Dusty Finish in Glasgow”: discussing two papers on the properties of interstellar dust from a conference that itself closed on a dusty note with the …

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