IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2009) in Kobe, Japan, is presenting many interesting robots. [H/T Sander Olson] A rapid pole climbing robot from the University of Pennsylvania. Robot-Assisted Rapid Prototyping for Ice Structures Video of ice sculpting robot at this link McGill University researchers are currently developing experimental robotic systems for building …
George Church, a genetics professor at Harvard Medical School and member of Harvard’s Origins of Life Initiative, reported the creation of billions of synthetic ribosomes that readily create a long, complex protein called firefly luciferase. “The reason it is a step toward artificial life is that the key component of all living systems is the …
Picture is the 16 qubit prototype. There was a 28 qubit prototype as well. A new announcement seems to imply 2000-4000 qubits by the end of 2008. “low thousands of qubits by the end of the year [2008]”. The die has room for a million qubits. A research paper has results that compare the time …
The world’s first gene detection platform made up entirely from self-assembled DNA nanostructures has been made. The other interesting aspect is to generalize the techniques used to rapidly create 100 trillion reactive and functional DNA components with easily readable results. If the attached differentiated labels could be rapidly scanned on mass then one could get …
The currency gained 0.14 percent to 7.3867 against the dollar as of 12:54 p.m. in Shanghai, from yesterday’s close of 7.3969, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. The yuan rose 0.1 percent to 10.9836 per euro. Forwards contracts in the currency show traders are more bullish about yuan gains over the next 12 …
A Brown University researcher, James Valles, claims to have discovered Cooper pairs in superinsulators that, when cooled near absolute zero, offer infinite resistance–acting as perfect blocks to conduction. Superinsulators may someday be wired together with superconductors to create supercircuits that generate zero heat. The researchers are currently developing a theory to rival the theory of …
BAE Systems has delivered a functional, 32-megajoule Electro-Magnetic Laboratory Rail Gun (32-MJ LRG) to the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va. Installation of the laboratory launcher is currently underway, and according to BAE, this is the first step toward the Navy’s goal of developing a tactical 64-megajoule ship-mounted weapon. Eight and 9-megajoule rail …
Researchers at the Delft University of Technology’s Kavli Institute of Nanoscience and the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) have succeeded in controlling the spin of a single electron merely by using electric fields. This clears the way for a much simpler realization of the building blocks of a (future) super-fast quantum computer. An …
American Superconductor in a joint venture to develop 10 MW wind generators. National Institute of Science and Technology is funding development of technologies for 10 Megawatt-Class, Direct Drive Offshore Wind Generators Powered by High Temperature Superconducting Wire digg_url= ‘http://advancednano.blogspot.com/2007/10/american-superconductor-developing-10.html’ =’compact’;reddit_url=’http://advancednano.blogspot.com/2007/10/american-superconductor-developing-10.html’reddit_url=advancednano.blogspot.com/2007/10/thermoelectronics-for-cars-trucks.html Direct drive wind generator systems utilizing HTS wire instead of copper wire for the generator’s …
WiPower uses induction (magnetic coupling) to transfer power from the base station to the receiving devices. They are claiming 68% efficiency in the transfer of power and believe that they can achieve 80% efficiency. A regular power cord is 58% efficient. Brian WangBrian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with …
The International Herald Tribune discusses a Middle East literally in flames from the Hindu Kush to the Mediterranean is by no means a distant or unrealistic prospect. On the face of it, neither country has anything to gain from war, since neither can possibly prevail. Syria is too weak reconquer its lost territory and Israel …