Sci-Tech news

• Imagine if your computer could heal itself when attacked

  08-08-2016 22:00
  
  Computer, heal thyself! With menacing bugs and viruses floating around the internet, such a command would be useful. In fact, it may be moving toward reality.
  
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• NASA sees Tropical Storm Omais weakening near Japan

  08-08-2016 21:43
  
  NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite spotted Tropical Storm Omais just off-shore, and east of the big island of Japan.
  
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• Zoo releases last summer batch of threatened butterflies

  08-08-2016 21:38
  
  The Oregon Zoo has released the last batch of its zoo-raised Oregon silverspot butterflies into the wild as it winds up a summer program aimed at boosting the numbers of the once-common yellow-and-black butterfly in coastal habitats.
  
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• How to avoid hacking? Read this story, then turn off your computer

  08-08-2016 21:10
  
  Here's some advice for newbies to the largest cybersecurity and hacking conferences in the world, taking place in Las Vegas this week: Hackers are going to hack, so do everything you can to get out of their way.
  
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• NASA gets an infrared look at newly formed Tropical Depression 08W

  08-08-2016 21:05
  
  NASA's Aqua satellite recently caught a look at the newly formed tropical depression in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.
  
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• Lake Tanganyika fisheries declining from global warming

  08-08-2016 21:00
  
  The decrease in fishery productivity in Lake Tanganyika since the 1950s is a consequence of global warming rather than just overfishing, according to a new report from an international team led by a University of Arizona geoscientist.
  
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• Drought conditions slow the growth of Douglas fir trees across the West

  08-08-2016 21:00
  
  Whether growing along the rim of the Grand Canyon or living in the mist with California's coastal redwoods, Douglas fir trees are consistently sensitive to drought conditions that occur throughout the species' range in the United States, according to a study led by a researcher at the University of California, Davis.
  
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• Complexity makes airline computer systems vulnerable

  08-08-2016 20:57
  
  Twice in less than a month, a major airline was paralyzed by a computer outage that prevented passengers from checking in and flights from taking off.
  
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• Apple buys US machine learning startup

  08-08-2016 20:57
  
  Apple on Monday confirmed that it has bought US machine learning startup Turi as Silicon Valley giants focus on a future rich with artificial intelligence.
  
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• NASA sees Tropical Storm Javier form in the Eastern Pacific

  08-08-2016 20:55
  
  Tropical Storm Javier formed on Aug. 7, 2016 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean off Mexico's western coast. Javier formed partially from the remnants of Hurricane Earl. NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement core satellite found that Javier contained heavy rain. On Aug. 8, Javier triggered hurricane and tropical storm warnings.
  
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• Watch a tiny space rocket work

  08-08-2016 20:53
  
  Moving a nanosatellite around in space takes only a tiny amount of thrust. Engineers from Michigan Technological University and the University of Maryland teamed up, put a nanoscale rocket under a microscope, and watched what happened.
  
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• Towards a better screen: New molecules promise cheaper, more efficient OLED displays

  08-08-2016 20:49
  
  Harvard University researchers have designed more than 1,000 new blue-light emitting molecules for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that could dramatically improve displays for televisions, phones, tablets and more.
  
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• Gaming Could Make Teens Perform Better in School

  08-08-2016 20:13 via nbcnews.com
  
  If there was ever a reason to let your teen play more video games, this may be it.
  
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• Negative attention from teachers can lead to more negative student behaviors

  08-08-2016 19:46
  
  Previous research has found that student-teacher interactions during the school day are important factors in behavioral and academic outcomes for the students. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri College of Education have developed a new method for observing and measuring teacher interaction with every child in a classroom. As a result of testing this method within K-3 classrooms, Wendy Reinke, an associate professor of educational, school and counseling psychology, found that student
  
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• Fin24.com | Icasa's broadband spectrum sale hits another snag

  08-08-2016 19:38
  
  The Telecommunications Ministry has filed a suit to block the sale of more than $1bn of wireless spectrum by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.
  
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• Ben-Gurion University startup technology SayVU deployed at Rio Olympics

  08-08-2016 19:36
  
  A new app, SayVU, conceived as a graduate student project at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, is being deployed at the 2016 Rio Olympics. International Security & Defense Systems (ISDS), the security integrator for the Olympics, selected SayVU as one of the Israeli technologies being used to protect attendees.
  
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• NASA infrared imagery shows Tropical Depression Ivette weakening

  08-08-2016 19:33
  
  Tropical Depression Ivette continues to weaken in the Central Pacific Ocean and infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite showed a small area of strong storms remaining in the system.
  
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• Iran bans 'Pokemon Go' over security concerns

  08-08-2016 19:23
  
  Iranians are no longer allowed to catch Pikachus after authorities decided to ban the "Pokemon Go" mobile game because of security concerns.
  
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• Yahoo launches site for free Hulu television

  08-08-2016 19:20
  
  Yahoo on Monday launched a website for watching Hulu television shows in the United States.
  
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• Chemical engineers explore market for pure levoglucosan

  08-08-2016 19:19
  
  Chemical engineers and chemists from Rice University and China's Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have made something so useful and unusual they aren't yet sure how much it's worth.
  
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• A plant present in Brazil is capable of colonizing deforested areas

  08-08-2016 19:17
  
  Tropical reforestation programs tend to prioritize native pioneer tree species, which colonize disturbed or cleared areas thanks to their high reproductive capacity and rapid growth, among other characteristics.
  
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• Nothing—and something—give concrete strength, toughness

  08-08-2016 19:16
  
  What does one need to strengthen or toughen concrete? A lot of nothing. Or something.
  
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• Study first to quantify impact of oil and gas emissions on Denver's ozone problem

  08-08-2016 18:13
  
  The first peer-reviewed study to directly quantify how emissions from oil and gas activities influence summertime ozone pollution in the Colorado Front Range confirms that chemical vapors from oil and gas activities are a significant contributor to the region's chronic ozone problem.
  
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• NOvA shines new light on how neutrinos behave

  08-08-2016 18:09
  
  Scientists from the NOvA collaboration have announced an exciting new result that could improve our understanding of the behavior of neutrinos.
  
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• Small molecules to help make SMARTER cereals

  08-08-2016 18:00
  
  University of Adelaide researchers are rethinking plant breeding strategies to improve the development of new high-yielding, stress-tolerant cereal varieties.
  
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• Okinawa mozuku: The treasure under the sea

  08-08-2016 18:00
  
  Mozuku is a unique Okinawan seaweed. Scientifically known as Cladosiphon okamuranus, this alga is popular in Japanese cuisine, and it has been farmed for more than 35 years. The cultivation of this seaweed is a key element in the economy of Okinawa: in 2006, the Japanese Cabinet Office estimated a 20,000 ton production, with an economic value of billions of Yen. 99% of this seaweed is produced in Okinawa, almost entirely farmed by humans. When in 2015 the production dropped for causes related wi
  
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• Ancient DNA evidence traces origin of horses' smooth ride

  08-08-2016 18:00
  
  Horses have held an important place in human history since ancient times. So-called ambling horses are particularly prized for their ability to travel in a way that's comfortable for riders, with a smooth, four-beat rhythm. Earlier studies traced that easy gait to a single typo in a gene involved in coordinated limb movement. Now, researchers who have genetically examined historic horse remains say that gaitedness in horses made its first appearance in Medieval England around 850 AD and rapidly
  
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• Mini NASA satellite begins environmental testing

  08-08-2016 17:53
  
  Construction of NASA's Dellingr CubeSat - a miniature satellite that provides a low-cost platform for missions - is complete, and the satellite has just left the lab for environmental testing. This is a key step after any satellite has been built to make sure it can withstand intense vibrations, the extremes of hot and cold, and even the magnetic fields of space - all the rigorous conditions the CubeSat will encounter during launch and spaceflight.
  
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• Archaeology team makes world-first tool discovery

  08-08-2016 17:51
  
  How smart were human-like species of the Stone Age? New research published in the Journal of Archaeological Science by a team led by paleoanthropologist April Nowell of the University of Victoria reveals surprisingly sophisticated adaptations by early humans living 250,000 years ago in a former oasis near Azraq, Jordan.
  
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• Wal-Mart buying online retailer newcomer Jet.com

  08-08-2016 17:50
  
  Wal-Mart has agreed to buy fast-growing online retail newcomer Jet.com, which had launched with a splash a year ago when it announced its intention to challenge online leader Amazon.
  
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• Boom in live video helping some creators make a living

  08-08-2016 17:40
  
  Casey Cooper is one of the most famous drummers on the planet right now. He has a million followers on YouTube, and his flaming-sticks drumming cover of Ellie Goulding's "Burn" is insane.
  
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• At a Glance: Livestreaming apps beyond Facebook Live

  08-08-2016 17:40
  
  Live video is growing more popular as a way for families to share big moments with faraway loved ones and for artists and athletes to connect with fans.
  
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• Hulu dropping free video as it prepares cable TV alternative

  08-08-2016 17:38
  
  Hulu is dropping the free TV episodes that it was initially known for as it works on an online television service to rival cable TV.
  
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• Toward practical quantum computers: Built-in optics could enable chips that use trapped ions as quantum bits

  08-08-2016 17:36
  
  Quantum computers are largely hypothetical devices that could perform some calculations much more rapidly than conventional computers can. Instead of the bits of classical computation, which can represent 0 or 1, quantum computers consist of quantum bits, or qubits, which can, in some sense, represent 0 and 1 simultaneously.
  
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• IceCube search for the 'sterile neutrino' draws a blank

  08-08-2016 17:31
  
  In an effort to fill in the blanks of the Standard Model of particle physics, science has been conducting a diligent search for a hypothesized particle known as the "sterile neutrino."
  
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• Smarter self-assembly opens new pathways for nanotechnology

  08-08-2016 17:30
  
  To continue advancing, next-generation electronic devices must fully exploit the nanoscale, where materials span just billionths of a meter. But balancing complexity, precision, and manufacturing scalability on such fantastically small scales is inevitably difficult. Fortunately, some nanomaterials can be coaxed into snapping themselves into desired formations-a process called self-assembly.
  
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• Lithium-ion batteries: Capacity might be increased by six times

  08-08-2016 17:30
  
  The team was able to show through neutron measurements made at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France, that lithium ions do not penetrate deeply into the silicon. During the charge cycle, a 20-nm anode layer develops containing an extremely high proportion of lithium. This means extremely thin layers of silicon would be sufficient to achieve the maximal load of lithium.
  
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• Tailored AFM probes created via 3-D direct laser writing

  08-08-2016 17:29
  
  Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a technique that allows researchers to analyze surfaces at the atomic scale, and it's based on a surprisingly simple concept: A sharp tip on a cantilever "senses" the topography of samples.
  
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• MIT Aerospace Engineers Develop Carbon Nanotube “Stitches” to Strengthen Composites

  08-08-2016 17:24 via scitechdaily.com
  
  Using carbon nanotube “stitches,” aerospace engineers from MIT have found a way to strengthen composites, helping make airplane frames lighter and more damage-resistant. The newest Airbus and Boeing passenger jets flying today are made primarily from advanced composite materials such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic — extremely light, durable materials that reduce the overall weight […]
  The post MIT Aerospace Engineers Develop Carbon Nanotube “Stitches” to
  
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• Visible lasers offer exquisite control of x-ray light in a tabletop apparatus

  08-08-2016 17:20
  
  By crossing two counter-rotating ultrafast laser beams in a gas target, scientists controlled the direction and polarization of laser-like beams in the extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray portions of the spectrum. This represents a new ability to manipulate x-ray light using visible light, and obviates the need for inefficient and expensive optics that other approaches must use to filter and steer such beams.
  
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• China's Midea grabs near-95% stake in German firm Kuka

  08-08-2016 17:19
  
  Chinese appliance giant Midea said on Monday it had secured almost 95 percent of German robotics firm Kuka, in the face of European fears over losing control over the high-tech company.
  
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• Delta resumes some service after hours of global outage

  08-08-2016 17:17
  
  Delta Air Lines canceled around 300 flights Monday after its computer systems crashed worldwide, stranding thousands of passengers on a busy travel day.
  
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• Navigating the human genome with Sequins

  08-08-2016 17:12
  
  Australian genomics researchers have announced the development of Sequins—synthetic 'mirror' DNA sequences that reflect the human genome. This intuitive new technology, which can be used to better map and analyse complexity within the genome, is freely available to the academic research community.
  
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• Photoelectrodes revealed

  08-08-2016 17:10
  
  To turn intermittent solar energy into transportable chemical fuels, scientists are investigating a key junction inside designer photoelectrochemical cells. The junction forms between two materials: the layer that absorbs sunlight and releases electrons and the contacting layer that uses the electrons to produce fuel. The connections are difficult to probe. Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) devised an ultrafast probe that measures electron transfer rates at these inte
  
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• Liquid light switch could enable more powerful electronics

  08-08-2016 17:07
  
  Researchers have built a miniature electro-optical switch which can change the spin—or angular momentum—of a liquid form of light by applying electric fields to a semiconductor device a millionth of a metre in size. Their results, reported in the journal Nature Materials, demonstrate how to bridge the gap between light and electricity, which could enable the development of ever faster and smaller electronics.
  
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• Looking different to your parents can be an evolutionary advantage

  08-08-2016 17:05
  
  Looking different to your parents can provide species with a way to escape evolutionary dead ends, according to new research from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).
  
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• Making a solar energy conversion breakthrough with help from a ferroelectrics pioneer

  08-08-2016 17:04
  
  Designers of solar cells may soon be setting their sights higher, as a discovery by a team of researchers has revealed a class of materials that could be better at converting sunlight into energy than those currently being used in solar arrays. Their research shows how a material can be used to extract power from a small portion of the sunlight spectrum with a conversion efficiency that is above its theoretical maximum—a value called the Shockley-Queisser limit. This finding, which could l
  
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• Spanish travel agencies cash in on 'Poketourism'

  08-08-2016 17:03
  
  Just like countless other countries, Spain has been hit so hard by the Pokemon Go craze that travel agencies are seeking to cash in on the global phenomenon with specialised tours.
  
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• What’s Inside Ceres? New Research Suggests That Ceres Has a Weak Interior

  08-08-2016 17:02 via scitechdaily.com
  
  New research reveals that Ceres has a weak interior, and that water and other light materials partially separated from rock during a heating phase early in its history. In the tens of thousands of photos returned by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, the interior of Ceres isn’t visible. But scientists have powerful data to study Ceres’ inner […]
  The post What’s Inside Ceres? New Research Suggests That Ceres Has a Weak Interior appeared first on SciTech Daily.
  
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• 'Alarming' bleaching of Maldives corals: conservationists

  08-08-2016 17:02
  
  Coral reefs in the Maldives are under severe stress after suffering mass bleaching this year as sea temperatures soared, a top conservationist body warned Monday.
  
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