Category archives: research

 

 

NC State researcher finds more efficient way to cool devices, looks to cut costs too

Read more
 

Does your electronic device have you a bit hot under the collar these days? A researcher at NC State has developed a faster and less expensive method for cooling gadgets — especially those that tend to crank the heat up. Dr. Jag Kasichainula, an Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, authored a paper on the research that implements a “heat spreader’ composed of a copper-graphene composite and an indium-graphene interface film to cool devices. Because the two materials exhibit a high thermal conductivity, they allow the device to cool more efficiently while distributing said heat — 25 percent quicker than the pure copper in many pieces of tech. And if that wasn’t enough, the research also details the process for creating the composite using electrochemical deposition. “Copper is expensive, so replacing some of the copper with graphene actually lowers the overall cost.,” Kasichainula notes. If you’re itching to read a full rundown of the findings, the full text can be accessed via the source link below. NC State researcher finds more efficient way to cool devices, looks to cut costs too originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink NC State University | SpringerLink (Full text) | Email this | Comments

 

Delaware Ph.D. student hopes to solve energy woes with renewable hydrogen production

Read more
 

Hydrogen fuel is a fickle mistress. On one hand, it teases us with the promise of renewable energy and a cleaner tomorrow. On the other hand, it’s most often produced with natural gas as the source — hardly the clean break from fossil fuels that many had envisioned. Fortunately, there are other methods to harness this abundant element, and a doctoral student at the University of Delaware may have created a worthwhile process. Similar to previous research we’ve seen — which relies on ceric oxide and energy from the sun — Eric Koepf has designed a reactor that combines zinc oxide powder, solar rays and water to derive hydrogen as a storable energy source. Most intriguing, it’s thought that the zinc oxide byproduct from the reaction will be reusable — a potential gateway to sustainable energy. Koepf will spend the next six weeks in Zurich at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, where his reactor prototype will be put through its paces to determine its efficiency and effectiveness. If successful, his advisors envision that one day, we may see giant versions of Koepf’s reactors producing hydrogen on an industrial scale. We certainly won’t fault them for dreaming big. Delaware Ph.D. student hopes to solve energy woes with renewable hydrogen production originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink PhysOrg | University of Delaware | Email this | Comments

 

Researchers create incredibly thin solar cells flexible enough to wrap around a human hair

Read more
 

You’ve probably heard that the sun is strong enough to power our planet many times over, but without a practical method of harnessing that energy, there’s no way to take full advantage. An incredibly thin and light solar cell could go a long way to accomplishing that on a smaller scale, however, making the latest device from researchers from the University of Austria and the University of Tokyo a fairly significant discovery. Scientists were able to create an ultra-thin solar cell that measures just 1.9 micrometers thick — roughly one-tenth the size of the next device. Not only is the sample slim — composed of electrodes mounted on plastic foil, rather than glass — it’s also incredibly flexible, able to be wrapped around a single strand of human hair (which, believe it or not, is nearly 20 times thicker). The scalable cell could replace batteries in lighting, display and medical applications, and may be ready to be put to use in as few as five years. There’s a bounty of physical measurement and efficiency data at the source link below, so grab those reading glasses and click on past the break. Researchers create incredibly thin solar cells flexible enough to wrap around a human hair originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink PhysOrg | Nature Communications | Email this | Comments

 

AT&T Labs, Carnegie Mellon research haptic-feedback steering wheel for turn-by-turn directions

Read more
 

A force-feedback steering wheel . It’s quite literally the stuff of racing games, and AT&T labs , along with Carnegie Mellon, is researching the possibly of throwing similar tech into your real-world whip. MIT’s Technology Review recently highlighted the project, which uses 20 vibrating actuators shoved inside of a steering wheel to create a variety of patterns — a counter-clockwise sequence could indicate a left turn, for example. As you might have guessed, one of the goals is to keep drivers less distracted by the likes of visual turn-by-turn GPS navigators and more focused on the road. While it’s currently being tested with driving simulators, the results are positive so far, if a bit modest. When supplemented with typical audio / visual navigation, folks near the age of 25 kept their eyes planted on the asphalt for 3.1 percent more time than without it. Notably, the improvement wasn’t found with those over 65 in the aforementioned instance, however, supplemented with just the audio, the vibrating wheel had them focusing on the road by an increase of four percent. According to Technology Review , this isn’t the first time haptic feedback has been tested as a driving aid, although past tests have, notably, resulted in ” fewer turn errors ” by those behind the wheel. Best of all, the tech is capable of sending more than just navigation cues — it could certainly be useful in a Telsa . So when can you expect to find a force-feedback steering wheel in your ride? Technology Review cites Kevin Li, an AT&T Labs researcher on the project, who says the main hurdle is making something that people will just “get,” and that it’s still “years” away from becoming a possibility. While there’s no photos of the setup just yet, a full report on the research will get release in June. Hey, there’s always Forza and Gran Turismo , at least for now — right? AT&T Labs, Carnegie Mellon research haptic-feedback steering wheel for turn-by-turn directions originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink Electronista , The Verge | MIT Technology Review | Email this | Comments

 

Watson lends a helping hand to cancer research, partners with Memorial Sloan-Kettering

Read more
 

Supercomputers at the forefront of medical practice? The notion is by no means a stretch of the imagination. Yet, research of this kind mostly goes unnoticed — that is, unless the computational wizardry handholding these advancements belongs to Jeopardy! ‘s AI king . That’s right, Watson , IBM’s bold-face named powerhouse of silicon wizardry, will be made available as a development tool for oncologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering to deliver “individualized cancer diagnostic and treatment recommendations” derived from the center’s case note database. Drawing upon that raw processing power, field practitioners will purportedly have access to a wealth of the latest therapeutic advances which would, normally, take too long to spread outside of specialized facilities. The agreement is not the first of its kind, as this time last year IBM had announced a similar partnership with Columbia University , although no further news has come from that union. MSKCC, for its part, does have concrete plans to move its small pilot program forward, with a target launch set for later this year and plans to expand the project’s reach by end of 2013. Jump past the break for the official presser. Continue reading Watson lends a helping hand to cancer research, partners with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Watson lends a helping hand to cancer research, partners with Memorial Sloan-Kettering originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink CNET | | Email this | Comments

 

MIT's laser-powered camera can detect objects hidden around corners (video)

Read more
 

One of the most thrilling things about human existence is that you never know what’s lurking around the corner. It could be a newborn baby, a sweet job, a delicious churro — doesn’t really matter, because it’s a surprise, and surprises are fun and surprising. Just don’t tell that to the doldrum dwellers over at MIT, because apparently, they don’t agree. The same team that created a camera with light-speed shutter rates has now expanded upon their project, with a camera capable of seeing around corners. Literally. To do this, the system uses a so-called femtosecond laser to send out extremely short light pulses — so short, in fact, that their entire lifespan is measured in quadrillionths of a second. To capture an object lurking around a corner, the device aims its laser at a nearby wall, thereby allowing the light to bounce around the room before eventually landing on the concealed object. Once it hits the jackpot, the light will reflect back onto the wall, and eventually return to a detector, which can gauge the exact location of the object based on the distance the laser traveled. This happens over and over again at different angles, meaning that the system will ultimately be able to get a general idea of the hidden room’s layout. Researchers hope that their system will eventually be used in emergency rescue situations, or to help drivers see what’s around the bend, though there’s no telling when any of that could actually happen. For a diagrammatic rundown, check out the video after the break. Continue reading MIT’s laser-powered camera can detect objects hidden around corners (video) MIT’s laser-powered camera can detect objects hidden around corners (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink USA Today | MIT | Email this | Comments

 

Researchers find fewer words being added to languages, fewer ways to tell you precisely that

Read more
 

What if one of the words in this post means absolutely nothing in the year 2094. It’s possible, and more possible than ever before. That’s according to recently published research from a group at the Institutions Markets Technologies’ Lucca Institute for Advanced Studies in Italy, who have found that fewer new words are being added to languages today than in eras prior. Despite the proliferation of the internet and untold new ways to communicate, more and more words are being eliminated while fewer words replace them. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact reason(s) why, but most gurus suggest that reliance on rigid spellcheck tools and the rise of short-form communication have made it less necessary to find new ways to say things. You can read more on the findings there in the source link, where we’re sure master wordsmiths will be saddened by the lack of descriptive flair. Researchers find fewer words being added to languages, fewer ways to tell you precisely that originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Physorg | Email this | Comments

 

Android study finds privacy and security risks related to in-app advertising

Read more
 

Android has certainly taken heat for malware-related bits in the past. Now, a recent study by computer scientists at North Carolina State University reveals that over half of the 100,000 apps from the Android Market Google Play include so-called ad libraries, which are essentially handed out by Google or third-party devs to retrieve ads from servers and launch them on your phone. Of these, 297 were classified as “aggressive,” as they’re allowed to run code from a remote server. Furthermore, Dr. Jiang along with his squad of researchers found that more than 48,000 of the apps put to the test could track location via GPS, while other accessed info could range from call logs, contact numbers, to the apps list on your device. It’s unclear if this also applies to Android slates, though this particular study conducted only included handsets. Continue reading Android study finds privacy and security risks related to in-app advertising Android study finds privacy and security risks related to in-app advertising originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | NCSU News | Email this | Comments

 

China may ship more smartphones than the the US this year

Read more
 

The rapid modernization of China shouldn’t really come as a shock anymore. But, you might be a bit surprised to hear that the venerable IDC is predicting the world’s most populous country will soon surpass the US in smartphone shipments. The research agency is predicting the People’s Republic will account for 20.7 percent of the global smartphone market by the end of 2012, narrowly edging out the US by 0.1 percent. That gap is only expected to grow over the next several years as mobile broadband becomes more prevalent in the country and it continues to urbanize. Check out the PR after the break for more details. Continue reading China may ship more smartphones than the the US this year China may ship more smartphones than the the US this year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink IDG | IDC | Email this | Comments

 

Swimming robots break wave-powered distance record, don't even stop for high-fives

Read more
 

Remember those autonomous sea-faring robots we saw back in November? Well, it looks like their self-propelling paddles have slowly waded them into the record books. The bots have traveled a distance of 3,200 nautical miles (2,876 land miles), cutting the previous record of 2,500 adrift — not bad considering there’s no fuel involved. The quartet of data-hunting droids initially set off from San Francisco, before completing the first leg of their journey in Hawaii four months later. The quadrumvirate are now set to split, with two heading off to Japan, crossing the Mariana Trench (believed to be the deepest place on earth) while the other pair head south to Australia, with both duos aiming to reach their final destinations later this year. Swimming robots break wave-powered distance record, don’t even stop for high-fives originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink BBC | Liquid Robotics (PDF) | Email this | Comments