The SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY News Thread

[GenjiChan]

NASA to deploy water-seeking robot on Moon in 2017, manned lunar base could be next

Just send a big drilling robot and dug into the moon until water (rather magma) comes out and floods the surface.. Tes!

[Xion Valkyrie]

http://io9.com/5960071/man-in-coma-u...?post=54237893

Cue .hack//SAO possibilities.

[Paranoid Android]

Lol I just came here to post that ^ (from different source)

Anyways, that's horrifying that they're conscious during their vegetative state. But brain imagining is amazing at bringing communication to a new level. I guess this will help diagnosis.

Another random source:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Veg...396/story.html

Quite interesting how he communicates with associating yes/no with mental imagery

[AnimeFan188]

Next big thing for hard drives: self-assembling polymers:

"University of Texas at Austin boffins are touting an advance in materials which
could help squeeze five times as much data onto hard drives."

See:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11...density_boost/

[Ithekro]

Rogue Planet discovered 100 light years from Earth.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49823152...science-space/

[ogon_bat]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Rogue Planet discovered 100 light years from Earth.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49823152...science-space/

Makes me wonder how many smaller rogue planets and moons are out there.

[AnimeFan188]

Super Material Can Stop Speeding Bullet:

"Researchers at a Rice University lab are researching technology that that could
potentially stop a 9-millimeter bullet and seal the entryway behind it - an advance
that may have huge implications for ballistic protection for soldiers, as well as other
uses."

See:

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs...news-tech.html

[kyp275]

Originally Posted by ogon_bat

Makes me wonder how many smaller rogue planets and moons are out there.

...That's no moon!!!

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

Super Material Can Stop Speeding Bullet:

"Researchers at a Rice University lab are researching technology that that could
potentially stop a 9-millimeter bullet and seal the entryway behind it - an advance
that may have huge implications for ballistic protection for soldiers, as well as other
uses."

Yea well... call me when they can stop 7.62 rifle rounds >_>;;

[AnimeFan188]

Meet The Tiny Bomb-Wielding Spacecraft That Could Someday Save Our Species:

"Scientists have given some thought as to how we'll defend ourselves when a giant
asteroid inevitably heads our way and solutions range from paintballs to nukes. A
team at Iowa State University has settled on the latter, and they've got plans for
ship to do it waiting in the wings."

See:

http://gizmodo.com/5961485/meet-the-...ve-our-species

[AnimeFan188]

New Satellite Will Be Space Mechanic, Gas Station:

"A young spaceflight company is building what it hopes will be the ultimate space
handyman, a combination repair droid and orbital gas station to serve ailing
satellites around Earth.

The company, called ViviSat, is planning to launch a fleet of specially built spacecraft
that will be able to attach to other vehicles in Earth orbit that need a pick-me-up."

See:

http://www.space.com/18520-space-gas...satellite.html

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

New Satellite Will Be Space Mechanic, Gas Station:

"A young spaceflight company is building what it hopes will be the ultimate space
handyman, a combination repair droid and orbital gas station to serve ailing
satellites around Earth.

The company, called ViviSat, is planning to launch a fleet of specially built spacecraft
that will be able to attach to other vehicles in Earth orbit that need a pick-me-up."

See:

http://www.space.com/18520-space-gas...satellite.html

When will we get our first R2-D2?

[Ithekro]

When Disney buys into the idea.

[LoweGear]

Artificial Muscles Created From Carbon Yarn

Originally Posted by Sky News

Artificial muscles that can lift loads 200 times heavier than a human muscle could power the limbs of superstrong robots in the future, scientists say.

In tests the muscles, made from twisted strands of carbon yarn, were able to pull more than 100,000 times their own weight.

Professor Ray Baughman, from the University of Texas at Dallas, said: "The artificial muscles that we've developed can provide large, ultrafast contractions to lift weights that are 200 times heavier than possible for a natural muscle of the same size.

"Because of their simplicity and high performance, these yarn muscles could be used for such diverse applications as robots, catheters for minimally invasive surgery, micromotors, mixers for microfluidic circuits, tunable optical systems, microvalves, positioners and even toys."

However, for technical reasons, they are unsuitable for replacing lost or damaged muscle in the human body.

The muscles are made from carbon nanotubes - hollow strands of carbon 10,000 times thinner than human hair yet 100 times stronger than steel.

Yarn made from the nanotubes is soaked in wax and shaped into a coiled structure. When heated by electricity or a flash of light, the wax expands, causing the yarn to contract and twist.

The process goes into reverse when the heating is stopped and the yarn cools.

Results of tests of the artificial muscle have been published in the journal Science.

In terms of power-to-weight ratio, the muscles were four times more efficient than an internal combustion engine.

They were also capable of operating in temperatures above 1,000C, higher than the melting point of steel.

Prof Baughman said one possible application could be "smart suits" for firefighters, which would be designed to react to dangerous temperatures by providing greater protection.

"This intelligent materials function aspect is very important," he said.

[Maximum Strength]

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by LoweGear

Artificial Muscles Created From Carbon Yarn



[Maximum Strength]

Make it into something I can wear!

[ChainLegacy]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Rogue Planet discovered 100 light years from Earth.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49823152...science-space/

These things fascinate me for some reason. Even more strange are intergalactic stars, found in empty space, outside of any galaxy...

[Ithekro]

Originally Posted by LoweGear

Artificial Muscles Created From Carbon Yarn



[Maximum Strength]

Is that anything like the electoactive polymers (Muscle Packages) you would find in Full Metal Panic?

[Ascaloth]

Where do I place my order for my personal M9E Gernsback?

[ogon_bat]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Is that anything like the electoactive polymers (Muscle Packages) you would find in Full Metal Panic?

The only difference is that this yarn works with heat, while those polymers work with electricity. Anyway I can see the new mechanized infantry making its appearance before the end of the decade, albeit my guess is that they will be even smaller than 8 meters but a lot bigger than Iron Man.

[Ithekro]

Originally Posted by Ascaloth

Where do I place my order for my personal M9E Gernsback?

Since we don't have Cold Fusion power generation systems, I imagine the best you will get is a M6 Bushnell. They will 'skip' the First Generation versions (or prehaps the currently testing power armor is "first generation") and go for second generation with the new artifical muscles.

[RRW]

Japan is famed for its history of unique design, and Tokyo Designers Week is the biggest chance the country has to show it's still got it. Taking place across the city from October 30th until November 5th, the event brings together artists, students, architects, and technology companies in a celebration of all things design.

This year's event was built around the themes of "House" and "Play," but not all exhibitors stuck to the themes so strictly. Our visit managed to take in skateboards made from kimonos, giant rabbit art, Kinect-powered alarm clocks, giraffe-shaped skyscrapers, and over six hundred cellphones. Read on to see these and more.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/19/3...eek-2012-japan