Aluminum encapsulated ceramic tiles for hybrid armor

CPS Technologies (CPS) has developed a technology for improving the toughness of ceramic tiles in composite armor systems by selectively reinforcing them with metal and metal matrix composites (MMC) and then packaging them in a hermetic layer of high-pressure cast aluminum. Armor integrators can translate this improvement into more consistent ballistic performance, reduced need for …

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Stem cell discovery could lead to improved bone marrow transplants and stem cells and baldness

1. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have identified a key molecule for establishing blood stem cells in their niche within the bone marrow. The findings, reported in the January issue of Cell Stem Cell, may lead to improvements in the safety and efficiency of bone marrow transplants. The new study shows that …

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Stumbleupon drove more traffic to other sites than Facebook and more than other sites combined

Stumbleupon has surpassed Facebook to become the number one website for generating social media traffic in the U.S, accounting for 43.34% of the market as January 2011 commenced. Stumbleupon also drove more traffic than Twitter, Youtube, Digg, Reddit and MySpace combined. If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or …

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A microfluidics chip that captures rare cancer cells in blood tests is headed for commercialization.

A microfluidics chip designed to capture cancer cells circulating in the blood is taking a step closer to clinical use, thanks to a new partnership between Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Veridex, a diagnostics company owned by Johnson and Johnson. According to a release from the company, the technology “will enable [circulating tumor cells] to …

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DNA Tunneling Detector Embedded in a Nanopore

Nanoletters- DNA Tunneling Detector Embedded in a Nanopore We report on the fabrication and characterization of a DNA nanopore detector with integrated tunneling electrodes. Functional tunneling devices were identified by tunneling spectroscopy in different solvents and then used in proof-of-principle experiments demonstrating, for the first time, concurrent tunneling detection and ionic current detection of DNA …

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Printable batteries at 400 Watt hours per kilogram and other ARPA-E funded battery projects

Planar Energy claims its solid-state lithium-ion battery design can deliver three times the energy density of today’s lithium-ion batteries at less than half the cost per kilowatt-hour. The solid-state inorganic nature of the battery is the key to its high performance, says M. Scott Faris, the firm’s chief executive officer. Planar Energy has received $4 …

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NASA studies issues for very high altitude wind power generation and the latest on Kitegen’s 3 MW prototype

In Mark Moore’s world, long nanotubes reach into the clouds, serving at once to tether a turbine-vehicle flying at 2,000 feet, or 10,000 feet, or 30,000 feet (610, 3,050 and 9,150 meters); and also to conduct the power that vehicle can harvest from the wind back to Earth. * eight to 27 times the power …

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Bureaucracy, Corruption and Incompetence

Bureaucracy, corruption and incompetence in government and in the processes of a nations system are closely related to the overall effectiveness and efficiency of a nation. What costs more bureaucracy or corruption or incompetence ? Depending upon the situation they can all be the dominant cost and they work together to increase costs to society …

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China GDP numbers and Wikileaks

Many internet pundits pounced on the latest WikiLeaks allegation that China’s GDP figures were “man-made.” and Jim Trippon at Seekingalpha sets China’s GDP record straight. * The source of the wikileak quote was none other than vice premier Li Keqiang, the very man slated to become China’s next premier, after Wen Jiabao steps down * …

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Pill for restoring the aging immune system to a more youthful state

UCSF researchers have identified an existing medication that restores key elements of the immune system that, when out of balance, lead to a steady decline in immunity and health as people age. The team plans to begin larger-scale clinical trials in 2011 to test the drug’s effectiveness and hopes for broader availability within a few …

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