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archive: Jan-Feb 2008
Tech-news archive: January-February 2008
Self-healing rubber bounces back
(Feb 21, 2008)
A material that is able to self-repair even when it is sliced in two
has been invented by French researchers. The as-yet-unnamed material
– a form of artificial rubber – is made from vegetable
oil and a component of urine. The substance, described in the journal
Nature, produces surfaces when cut that retain a strong chemical attraction
to each other.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Brain control headset for gamers
(Feb 20, 2008)
Gamers will soon be able to interact with the virtual world using
their thoughts and emotions alone. A neuro-headset which interprets
the interaction of neurons in the brain will go on sale later this
year. "It picks up electrical activity from the brain and sends wireless
signals to a computer," said Tan Le, president of US/Australian firm
Emotiv.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Nanowires allow 'power dressing'
(Feb 14, 2008)
Scientists in the US have developed novel brush-like fibres that generate
electrical energy from movement. Weaving them into a material could
allow designers to create "smart" clothes which harness body movement
to power portable electronic gadgets. Writing in the journal Nature,
the team say that the materials could also be used in tents or other
structures to harness wind energy.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Holographic displays step closer
(Feb 7, 2008)
Holograms could soon be helping monitor surgical procedures after
a faster way to make the 3D images is discovered. The journal Nature
reports the breakthrough by US researchers who developed a novel material
in which holographs can be created in minutes. The images that the
material can capture are almost as sharp as those broadcast on US
television.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Hypersonic passenger jet designed
(Feb 6, 2008)
A British firm claims to have designed a hypersonic passenger plane
that could one day fly between Europe and Australia in less than five
hours. The A2 aeroplane, designed by Reaction Engines in Oxfordshire,
would carry 300 passengers at a top speed of 4,000 mph. The company
said the aircraft, which is still at the concept stage, could be operating
within 25 years.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
'Darkest ever' material created
(Jan 17, 2008)
The "darkest ever" substance known to science has been made in a US
laboratory. The material was created from carbon
nanotubes – sheets of carbon just one atom thick rolled
up into cylinders. Researchers say it is the closest thing yet to
the ideal black material, which absorbs light perfectly at all angles
and over all wavelengths.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Apple announces ultra-thin laptop
(Jan 16, 2008)
Apple boss Steve Jobs has unveiled the world's thinnest laptop, called
the MacBook Air. The computer, which is 0.76 inches (1.93cm) at its
thickest point, was unveiled at an event in San Francisco. The Apple
head also launched online film rentals for iTunes users in the US
from almost every major film studio, including Disney and Fox.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Gates hails age of digital senses
(Jan 8, 2008)
The way people interact with computers is going to dramatically change
in the next five years, Microsoft chief Bill Gates has told BBC News.
He predicted that the keyboard and mouse would gradually give way
to more intuitive and natural technologies. In particular, he said,
touch, vision and speech interfaces would become increasingly important.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
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