Researchers constructed a type of superlattice that shows “unique low-to-high and high-to-low resistance switching that may be applicable to the fabrication of an emerging memory device known as resistive random access memory,” or RRAM. RRAM (Resistive random-access memory) at wikipedia RRAM has the potential to become the front runner among other non-volatile memories. Compared to …
You can lie down in economy seating by using the vertical space where the carry on baggage is Note: this would be useful for future spacecraft as well to achieve relative comfort in relatively tight spaces. The FLEX-SEAT model provides affordable reclining accommodations for long flights with additional benefits. Some features are superior to conventional …
Winterberg’s design to obtain a high thrust with a high specific impulse, uses propulsion by deuterium micro-bombs, and it is shown that the ignition of deuterium micro-bombs is possible by intense GeV proton beams, generated in space by using the entire spacecraft as a magnetically insulated billion volt capacitor. The design could have exhaust that …
Guest article by Joseph Friedlander Your occasional correspondent made a special trip to Tel Aviv (I live out in the sticks in Israel) to the Systematics (http://www.systematics.co.il/English/about.html) hosted the Tel Aviv Solidworks 2010 Show. This is the one show I try to go to every year to keep up with the tools of the industrial …
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer zips through JavaScript nearly 10 times faster than usual when Google’s new Chrome Frame plug-in is partnered with the browser, benchmark tests show. According to tests run by Computerworld, Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) with the plug-in was 9.6 times faster than IE8 on its own. Computerworld ran the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark suite …
The NCCS massively parallel high-performance storage system (HPSS) data archive allows users to store vast amounts of long-term data. HPSS currently consists of tape and disk storage components, Linux servers, and HPSS software. As of October 2008 the system is storing over 3.5 petabytes of data. Tape storage is provided by robotic tape libraries that …
The panel and presentations on life extension were the highlight of the Convergence08 unconference. – Gregory Benford’s companyGenescient has bought Methuselah fruit flies. The flies were not allowed to breed until half were dead. So selective breeding over 28 years has resulted in flies that live 4.5 times longer than normal. Over 700 genes have …
Nvidia has desktop supercomputers through several retail partners that have a peak of 4 teraflops performance using GPGPUs and a cost in the range of $8000-10,000 Nvidia personal supercomputing information is here There are links to the online retailers for the Nvidia desktop supercomputers here Here is the datasheet for the Convey Computer HC-1. In …
China and Taiwan agreed on 108 weekly flights that no longer have to go through Hong Kong airspace. The two sides also agreed to direct shipping links between 63 Chinese ports and 11 Taiwanese ports. The transport links will take effect within 40 days. Direct shipping links can save more than $100 million in costs …
NASA looks to be developing larger (12-40KW) radioisotope thermoelectric generators for the moon’s surface. Hopefully NASA finishes this work as they have a history of starting big RTG projects and not completing them. Also, it probably would be better to use the Hyperion uranium hydride reactor instead, which has been covered extensively on this site …
Major Japanese sake manufacturer Gekkeikan announced on March 28, 2008, that it has developed a new technology for producing bioethanol, which is attracting keen interest as a replacement for fossil fuels. Using “super yeast” — sake yeast genetically modified with koji mold genes — the innovative technology can directly produce ethanol from inedible plant materials …