November 3rd, 2009
Biodegradable silk electronics to improve implants
Building on advancements in foldable ultra-thin flexible circuits, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed electronics that almost completely dissolve inside the body by incorporating silk.
Technology Review reports that the research group has demonstrated arrays of transistors made on thin films of silk.
(Credit: Rogers/Omenetto via Technology Review)
Typically, implanted electronics are encased to protect them from the body, but these new electronics don’t need such protection. The silk allows for the electronics to conform to biological tissue as it melts away over time. And the thin silicon circuits left behind don’t cause irritation because they are just nanometers thick.
The image on the left depicts the implantable device. It consists of a clear silk film, about one centimeter squared, with six silicon transistors on its surface. The device can be implanted in mice like the one in this image and the silk degrades over time. It causes no harm to the animal. (The orange liquid on the hair is a disinfectant used during the surgery.)
Here is how the article describes how the devices are made:
To make the devices, silicon transistors about one millimeter long and 250 nanometers thick are collected on a stamp and then transferred to the surface of a thin film of silk. The silk holds each device in place, even after the array is implanted in an animal and wetted with saline, causing it to conform to the tissue surface.
November 1st, 2009
Wave disk engines to make hybrid vehicles cheaper, more efficient
Researchers from Michigan State University and the Warsaw Institute of Technology are developing a wave disk engine and electricity generator that promises to be five times more efficient than traditional auto engines in electricity production, 20% lighter, and 30% cheaper to manufacture.
Possible technical realization of the wave-disk engine idea (Credit: Piechna, et al)
The new hyper-efficient engine is about the size of a large cooking pot, and could replace current backup generator technology of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, according to Green Car Congress.
The idea may not be far-fetched as the team, led by Norbert Müller, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, has recently been awarded $2.5 million from the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program to begin work on a vehicle-size wave disc engine/generator that could be ready in two years.
October 28th, 2009
Software that automatically fixes itself, without shutting down
Software vulnerabilities that take days or weeks to fix may one day be a thing of the past. A team of researchers have presented new software, called ClearView, that automatically patches errors in deployed software in a matter of minutes.
As Technology Review reports, ClearView works without assistance from humans and without access to a program’s underlying source code. Instead, it monitors the behavior of a binary: the form the program takes in order to execute instructions on a computer’s hardware.
A paper, Automatically Patching Errors in Deployed Software, published by the Association for Computing Machinery, explains how ClearView works as five sequential steps:
- It observes normal executions to learn invariants that characterize the application’s normal behavior
- Uses error detectors to distinguish normal executions from erroneous executions
- Identifies violations of learned invariants that occur during erroneous executions
- Generates candidate repair patches that enforce selected invariants by changing the state or flow of control to make the invariant true, and;
- Observes the continued execution of patched applications to select the most successful patch
October 25th, 2009
Carbon nanotubes: Great for agriculture, but for humans?
In what can eventually kick up a firestorm similar to the genetically modified food controversy, the emerging field of “nano-agriculture” is making headlines. It involves the use of nano-particles — wisps 1/50,000th the width of a human hair — in agriculture and could have beneficial affects for crops, say scientists.
Tomato seeds exposed to carbon nanotubes (right) sprouted and grew faster than unexposed seeds. (Credit: The American Chemical Society)
University of Arkansas researchers report that tomato seeds exposed to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) germinated faster and grew into larger, heavier seedlings than other seeds. That growth-enhancing effect could be a boon for biomass production for plant-based biofuels and other agricultural products, they suggest.
Considerable scientific research is underway to use nanoparticles — wisps 1/50,000th the width of a human hair — in agriculture. The goals of “nano-agriculture” include improving the productivity of plants for food, fuel, and other uses.
The scientists report the first evidence that CNTs penetrate the thick outer coating of seeds, and support water uptake inside seeds, a process which can affect seed germination and growth of tomato seedlings.The nanotube-exposed seeds sprouted up to two times faster than control seeds and the seedlings weighed more than twice as much as the untreated plants.
October 19th, 2009
'Scaffolding' to regenerate lost or damaged bones and tissues, even stop age clock
Implantable organ and tissue “scaffolds” are currently in the spotlight for regenerative medicine, and may allow for the replacement of most body parts that flounder with age within 30-50 years, according to a report from BBC.
That means future centenarians born today could have a “physical” age of 50 at a calendar age of 100.
A “scaffolding” technique developed at Leeds University allows for transplantable tissues, and eventually organs, that the body can make its own. Once the scaffold has been transplanted, the body takes over and repopulates it with cells without any fear of rejection - the main reason why normal transplants wear out and fail .
Using this technique, a research team at Leeds has managed to make fully functioning heart valves, which involves taking a healthy donor heart valve - from a human or a suitable animal, such as a pig - and gently stripping away its cells using a cocktail of enzymes and detergents. The inert scaffold left can be transplanted into the patient, writes the BBC. According to Eileen Ingha, a professor at the university’s Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, trials in animals and on 40 patients in Brazil have shown promising results.
Across the continent, another approach to scaffolding is underway at Tel Aviv University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. There, professor Meital Zilberman has developed an artificial biologically active scaffold made from soluble fibers, which may help humans replace lost or missing bone.
October 15th, 2009
Computers have speed limit as unbreakable as speed of light, say physicists
A pair of physicists have shown that if processors continue to accelerate in accordance to Moore’s Law, we’ll hit the wall of faster processing in roughly 75 years.
The curtain will eventually come down for silicon in today’s manufacturing methods once engineers can no longer further shrink transistors and the copper wires that connect them. Processor fabrication using new technologies such as imprint lithography, graphene, and quantum computing will continue to yield faster and smaller chips. Nonetheless, those advanced techniques only stave off the absolute ceiling for speed, no matter how small the components get, according to professors Lev Levitin and Tommaso Toffoli at Boston University’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. As Inside Science reports, the two have slapped a speed limit on computing. Read the rest of this entry »
October 13th, 2009
Resilient cockroach-inspired robot survives large falls, dashes off
IEEE Spectrum writes of a small resilient robot created by Paul Birkmeyer and Prof. Ronald Fearing at the Biomimetic Millisystems Lab at UC Berkeley.
Aptly called DASH (Dynamic Autonomous Sprawled Hexapod), the six-legged insect-inspired robot can reach speeds of 1.5 meters per second and is flexible/strong enough to be dropped from a height of 28 meters without breaking. A single DC motor powers the legs and a small servomotor to slightly deform the robot’s body, allowing it to make turns.
DASH was created using a fabrication process called smart composite microstructures, or SCM. Developed by UC Berkeley researchers, the process is quick, inexpensive, and purpose-built for the design challenges of microrobots.
SCM allows for complicated, functional folded structures that move using elastic deformation rather than through the use of traditional mechanical elements like pin joints or bearings. It integrates large flexible joints, created by a laser micro-machining and lamination, with novel actuators. The result is a robot made up of composite materials that can not only withstand a drop from a tall building, but also immediately dash off, undamaged.
DASH is but one of several ongoing projects underway at the Biomimetic Millisystems Lab. For instance, check out the synthetic gecko adhesive which cleans itself during use, as the natural gecko does. Or the Micromechanical Flying Insect (MFI) Project, an effort to develop a 25 mm (wingtip-to-wingtip) device capable of sustained autonomous flight.
Among the goals of the researchers is to; “Harness features of animal manipulation, locomotion, sensing, actuation, mechanics, dynamics, and control strategies to radically improve millirobot capabilities.”
October 10th, 2009
Researchers replicate butterfly wings on a nano-scale
A cross-national team of researchers have developed a technique to replicate biological structures, such as butterfly wings, on a nano-scale.
The new bio-material could be used to make optical devices, such as optical diffusers for solar panels or coverings that maximize solar cell light absorption.
Researchers from the State University of Pennsylvania and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Spain developed a fabrication technique to develop wings at the nano-scale level that could replicate the optical responses of butterfly wings. The replicas contain light emitting properties similar to those of insects, mimicking the colors, iridescence (the ability to change colors depending on the angle) and the metallic appearance which is visible with a changing viewing angle. Read the rest of this entry »
October 9th, 2009
Ubicomp 2009 and the fusion of our digital and physical worlds
Recently, I used my newly downloaded Zipcar app on my iPhone to unlock and honk my booked vehicle from several yards away. It was more novel than useful, but a tall tale example of the countless invisible interactions we’re having with sensing, inferring, and data transferring machines every day. It’s also a good sign that ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) has arrived.
New to ubicomp? Here’s a quick refresher: The concept of ubiquitous computing (also called pervasive computing) centers on information processing bridging the gaps between the digital and physical worlds. It includes all intelligent device communications and connected services that utilize sensors and devices across wire-line and wireless networks. That includes, but is not limited to, Industrial Ethernet, cellular, satellite, wireless LAN, and Bluetooth.
A recent conference dedicated to ubiquitous computing is another example of the multidisciplinary field anchoring in as the center of our computing future. Hundreds of researchers and students gathered at the 11th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing (UbiComp ‘09) at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando to present their ideas for the gadgets of tomorrow.
Here are a few of the notable examples that made it into the Miami Herald:
- The “Cheeron++” is a fluffy color-changing robot built by students in Japan that cheers after a day of exercise, and gets mad when you haven’t been active enough.
- Another student from Ochanomizu University in Japan put computer chips in clothes hangers that could help a computer keep track of your outfits and share it with a social network like Twitter to help you coordinate your wardrobe.
- Students from Tsinghua University in China used cellphone cameras and a projector to let passersby use a phone to brush the air and paint on the projected image.
- A group from Carnegie Mellon University proposed sensors in cellphones to test the air quality.
Eric Paulos, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon, told the Miami Herald; “We’re used to using our mobile phones as a communication tool, but it can also be a measurement instrument. We know what happened when people added a camera, we got citizen journalism. . . . What happens if you could measure things? You could talk about the air quality in your neighborhood.”
The combination of technologies that continually provide real time information at the point of task and distribute updates to where we are and what we are doing will change our behaviors and make ubiquitous computing indispensable.
October 6th, 2009
A brain-computer interface that communicates thoughts between people
New research from the University of Southampton has demonstrated that it is possible for communication from person to person through the power of thought alone.
Looking to take brain-computer interfaces (BCI) to the next level, Dr. Christopher James from the University’s Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, set out to show that brain-to-brain (B2B) communication is possible. Utilizing electrodes, computers, and the internet, he claims that his experiment is a “proof of concept” that shows, for the first time, true brain to brain interfacing.
Dr James noted: “Whilst BCI is no longer a new thing and person to person communication via the nervous system was shown previously in work by Professor Kevin Warwick from the University of Reading, here we show, for the first time, true brain to brain interfacing. We have yet to grasp the full implications of this but there are various scenarios where B2B could be of benefit such as helping people with severe debilitating muscle wasting diseases, or with the so-called ‘locked-in’ syndrome, to communicate and it also has applications for gaming.”
Below is a three and a half-minute video detailing the BCI experiment:
Christopher Jablonski is a freelance technology writer. Previously, he was the manager of marketing editorial at CBS Interactive, delivering client solutions on BNET, ZDNet, and TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
Subscribe to Emerging Tech via Email alerts or RSS.
SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads
- Five Steps to Determine When to Virtualize YourServers VMware Server virtualization isn't just for big companies. Entry-level ... Download Now
- The Impact of Virtualization Software on Operating Environments VMware Today's use of virtualization technology allows IT professionals to ... Download Now
- The True Costs of Virtual Server Solutions VMware In an economic environment that is repeatedly heralding the message "do ... Download Now
Recent Entries
- Biodegradable silk electronics to improve implants
- Wave disk engines to make hybrid vehicles cheaper, more efficient
- Software that automatically fixes itself, without shutting down
- Carbon nanotubes: Great for agriculture, but for humans?
- ‘Scaffolding’ to regenerate lost or damaged bones and tissues, even stop age clock
Most Popular Posts
- Wave disk engines to make hybrid vehicles cheaper, more efficient
- Software that automatically fixes itself, without shutting down
- Computers have speed limit as unbreakable as speed of light, say physicists
- 'Scaffolding' to regenerate lost or damaged bones and tissues, even stop age clock
- Carbon nanotubes: Great for agriculture, but for humans?
- Resilient cockroach-inspired robot survives large falls, dashes off
Top Rated
- Computers have speed limit as unbreakable as speed of light, say physicists+15 votes
- Software that automatically fixes itself, without shutting down+10 votes
- Resilient cockroach-inspired robot survives large falls, dashes off+8 votes
- Biodegradable silk electronics to improve implants+6 votes
- 'Scaffolding' to regenerate lost or damaged bones and tissues, even stop age clock+5 votes
- Carbon nanotubes: Great for agriculture, but for humans?+5 votes
- Wave disk engines to make hybrid vehicles cheaper, more efficient+4 votes
- Researchers replicate butterfly wings on a nano-scale+2 votes
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
Archives
Favorite Links
Blogroll
People
ZDNet Blogs
- All About Microsoft
- The Apple Core
- Between the Lines
- BriefingsDirect
- Collaboration 2.0
- Dev Connection
- Digital Cameras & Camcorders
- Ed Bott's Microsoft Report
- Emerging Tech
- Enterprise Web 2.0
- Forrester Research
- Googling Google
- GreenTech Pastures
- Hardware 2.0
- Home Theater
- iGeneration
- Irregular Enterprise
- IT Project Failures
- Laptops & Desktops
- Lawgarithms
- Linux and Open Source
- Managing L'unix
- The Mobile Gadgeteer
- On Sustainability
- Rational Rants
- The Semantic Web
- Service Oriented
- Smartphones and Cell Phones
- Social Business
- Social CRM: The Conversation
- Software & Services Safari
- Software as Services
- Storage Bits
- Team Think
- Tech Broiler
- Technology and the Global Supply Chain
- Tom Foremski: IMHO
- The ToyBox
- Virtually Speaking
- The Web Life
- ZDNet Education
- ZDNet Government
- ZDNet Healthcare
- Zero Day
White Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads
- Desktop Authority Version 7.8.1 ScriptLogic Desktop Authority centralizes control over the desktop, combining into one ... Download Now
- Data Center Automation in an Uncertain Economy IBM Today, organizations just like yours are under greater than ever pressures ... Download Now
- Reducing Server Total Cost of Ownership with VMware Virtualization Software VMware VMware virtualization enables customers to reduce their server TCO and ... Download Now
Popular Sanity Saver Videos
