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February 28, 2007
The Power of Bubbles
Ever wonder why submarines travel so slow under water? No? Me neither. But there's nothing wrong with learning something new. Water pressure creates drag slowing almost any fast moving object underwater. In fact the faster a sub moves, the greater the drag.
So scientists searched high and low for something that could travel thru water will little to no friction and they found it; the bubble. Working with the Pentagon, they created a prototype sub that encases itself in a self-sustaining bubble. The bubble moves thru water quickly with no drag to the sub itself allowing it to attain greater speeds with greater fuel savings. The actual process of encasing an object in a bubble is called super-cavitation.
I wonder if this technology can be applied to divers.
via SciFi
Posted by tranism at 1:31 AM | Permalink
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February 25, 2007
Revision Revolt
The challenge: how would you intelligently power a city block in a sustainable manner? Think big idea. Think small environmental impact. Think about ways to make a difference in how we fuel our future. Re:Volt is your chance to flip a switch on the status quo on dirty energy. To use the sun, wind or even people in an inventive way. To make a positive impact on our environment. For the next three months, we're looking for your revolutionary plan. Wherever you are, whatever you do, you could be the one to empower the next ideas about power. Imagination is a force so think about it and enter the competition. The deadline is April 1st.
more info here
Posted by tranism at 9:10 PM | Permalink
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Robot Swarms Evolve
This story is fascinating and yet slightly unnerving. Swiss researchers (really?) recently demonstrated how robots can evolve and pass on traits to later generations.
The research revolves around groups of robots that start out as individuals, each with their own unique randomly generated digital genome. Their only preprogrammed instructions are to explore, find food, avoid poison and do it all in the most efficient manner. Their anatomy consists of a motor, wheels, sensors and LEDs.
Each staging area contains large red knobs. Some are food, represented by the Apple icon and some are poison, represented by a skull and crossbones. The bots are unable to distinguish which is which until they're up close but by that time, real food sources may already be depleted by other bots.
Here's the fascinating part. The bots figured out if they work together, they can locate food sources much faster. After some 500 generations later, they formed a rudimentary communication system to notify others when foods sources are found and to flag areas where poison is located. The bots that inherently had genomes better suited to working in groups and splitting tasks successfully passed on their "DNA" to offspring. Those that worked alone eventually starved themselves to death, thus removing their genome from the gene pool.
Now here's the scary bit. Some of the starving bots found an alternative way to get food. After all, they were all programmed to find food in the most efficient manner. Given their environment and situation, they evolved a new behavior whereby they lure other bots using false signals to steal from them and it seems the other bots have yet to figure out a defense against this.
The researchers caution this is no where near real biological evolution since it's infinitely more complex. However this research does demonstrate how behavior and evolution are directly affected by the environment. I believe that's another strike against Darwin nay-sayers.
via New Scientist
Posted by tranism at 7:19 PM | Permalink
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February 16, 2007
This Dolphin Thanks Bridgestone Tires
This is a touching story about a dolphin name Fuji at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium who got a second lease on life thanks to the most unlikely of friends; the Bridgestone Corporation. You see, Fuji suffered from a debilitating form of fin rot - a bizarre and rare case of localized necrosis. To keep the disease from spreading, Veterinarians had to amputate most of her fin. Dolphins need to play in order to be happy but without her fin, Fuji was unable to keep up with her brethren, thus she grew depressed and withdrawn.
That's when an $83,000 research grant from Bridgestone gave this dolphin a second chance. Made from the same rubber used in Formula 1 race cars, Bridgestone crafted a custom fin fitted for her body. The prosthetic has given Fuji full range of motion and within weeks, she was jumping in the air again.
It sounds like an easy task but making rubber as smooth as dolphin skin is incredibly difficult. Not to mention making a rubber fin light enough to wear for the rest of her life and one that will resist corrosion. Congratulations and many thanks to the research team, Bridgestone and the Fuji's caretakers for not giving up.
YouTube video
via neatorama
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February 15, 2007
HIV Attacked for Massive Damage
Scientists have discovered a weak spot in the AIDS virus that is susceptible to antibodies which could lead to a vaccine.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health issued a report yesterday Feb. 14th, about a specific protein in HIV that provides the initial "handshake" when making contact with immune cells. The cells are tricked thus giving the virus the opportunity to take over. This specific protein can be neutralized by a protein we all make but immune cells have yet to identify it as a resource to use against HIV. When the virus is positively identified, the correct antibody is applied easily neutralizing the virus.
Although the journal is careful to point out it's not a cure yet, they remain positive about future research which would ultimately lead to a vaccine.
I think it's an amazing prospect that our bodies may already have the weapon to defeat the virus, it just never knew to use it. There are currently 2 other HIV vaccines in human trial so if anything, this new research is another beacon of hope to hold on to.
via yahoo news
Posted by tranism at 11:14 AM | Permalink
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February 8, 2007
Japan's Snow-Digesting Picachu Bot
Our Japanese technologic-overlords are at it again! This experimental robot roams parking lots and sidewalks in search of a certain white powdery substance (no, not THAT substance). Using GPS sensors, built-in video cameras, tank-like treading, and no human supervision, the Yuki-taro bot seeks out and gorges on snow; scooping it into its hungry mouth.
That's where things get weird. Instead of simply blowing or melting the snow down, the Pokemon-inspired automaton's guts compress it into tightly packed blocks of ice; which are then pooped out the bot's backside(!!!) and later collected and stored for Summertime refrigeration needs.
The inspiration for 800 pound Yuki-taro seems to come from mankind's increasing fear of any sort of manual labor. Afterall, no one hates shoveling snow more than a Japanese scientist.
via Pink Tentacle
Posted by mac at 11:34 AM | Permalink
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