Wired has a feature on the rapidly progressing capabilities with DNA Nanotechnology Original paper: “Folding DNA into Twisted and Curved Nanoscale Shapes,” by Hendrik Dietz, Shawn M. Douglas, and William M. Shih, published in the August 7, 2009, issue of Science. The ability to engineer complex shapes to custom specification likely will be as critical …
sample of a novel material that may be used to remove heat from future radar systems. (Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek) Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) are developing a novel material for transferring heat away from ultra-high-power defense electronics. The exotic material, a composite of diamond and copper, is one of the …
Aubrey de Grey: Founder of Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS) is a 25-year long research strategy, currently underway, to develop a regenerative medical procedure to periodically repair all the age-related damage in the human body, thereby maintaining a youth-like state indefinitely Question: Tell us about the SENS foundation. What …
Genetic researchers at Children’s National Medical Center and the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry in Tokyo published the results of the first successful application of “multiple exon-skipping” to curb the devastating effects of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in an animal larger than a mouse. Multiple exon-skipping employs multiple DNA-like molecules as a “DNA band-aids” to …
The 89th Carnival of Space is hosted by the Moon Society, an organization dedicated to motivating the masses to reclaim our lunar heritage. This site provided details on progress to the Skylon spaceplane. Centauri Dreams re-examines the Drake Equation Paul Anderson (from Merid iani Journal) notes an exo-planet has been discovered that is only two …
This is a review of the status of fusion tokomaks for steady state continuous operation and suitability as a consistent neutron source for the proposed fusion-fission hybrid nuclear waste to nuclear fuel transmutation system From the 2008 overview of Fusion research by R. Stambaugh of General Atomics: The Fusion Development Facility Mission (FDF): Develop Fusion’s …
There was a NASA study of hypersonic skyhooks that determined the best designs and the strength of materials needed. No show-stoppers were uncovered. However, the elements of the concept require further development and refinement and then actual implementation programs. They have to build and test hardware to make the engineering work reliably. The recent development …
Between 11,000 and 23,000 miles of dedicated CO2 pipeline would need to be laid in the United States before 2050, according to PNNL’s estimates, in addition to the 3,900 miles already in place (which carry mostly naturally occurring CO2 used to stimulate production from aging oil wells). The MIT Future of Coal 2007 report estimated …
1. A team of internationally renowned astronomers and opticians may have found a way to make “unbelievably large” telescopes on the Moon. – they are synthesizing ionic liquids that remain molten even at liquid-nitrogen temperatures.– all the materials for an entire lunar telescope 20 meters across would be “only a few tons, which could be …
A better biodiesel process has been developed with no waste products and lower costs. Raw fats and oils of any type are combined with an alcohol. This mixture is run through a sulfated zirconia column heated to 300 degrees Celsius. Easy Fatty Acid Removal (EFAR) system recycles any unreacted raw material back through the reactor. …
On the left is a schematic of the first 3-D “fishnet” metamaterial that can achieve a negative index of refraction at optical frequencies. On the right is a scanning electron microscope image of the fabricated structure, developed by UC Berkeley researchers. The alternating layers form small circuits that can bend light backwards. Image by Jason …