http://www.physorg.com/ en-us Physorg.com internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Substantial advances for applications of nanocrystals in the fields requiring a continuous output of photons and high quantum efficiency may soon be realized due to discovery of non-blinking semiconductor nanocrystals. This discovery recently announced by scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), University of Rochester, Cornell University and Eastman Kodak Company is an important step to the use of the nanocrystals in various practical devices ranging from low-threshold lasers to the solar cells and biological imaging and tracking. The complete findings of the study are published on line in the May 10, 2009, issue of the journal Nature. http://www.physorg.com/news161536250.html Nanotechnology Thu, 14 May 2009 16:11:23 EST news161536250 (PhysOrg.com) -- Does your robot seem to be acting a bit neurotic? Maybe it's just their personality. Recently, a team of researchers has designed computer-coded genomes for artificial creatures in which a specific personality is encoded. The ability to give artificial life forms their own individual personalities could not only improve the natural interactions between humans and artificial creatures, but also initiate the study of `The Origin of Artificial Species,` the researchers suggest. http://www.physorg.com/news161517506.html Technology Thu, 14 May 2009 10:59:07 EST news161517506 (PhysOrg.com) -- An international team of scientists has determined the structure of the chlorophyll molecules in green bacteria that are responsible for harvesting light energy. The team's results one day could be used to build artificial photosynthetic systems, such as those that convert solar energy to electrical energy. A research paper about the discovery will be published on 4 May 2009 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. http://www.physorg.com/news160676286.html Biology Mon, 04 May 2009 17:18:41 EST news160676286 Scientists in Japan are reporting an advance toward giving artificial cells another hallmark of life -- the ability to tap an energy source and use it to undergo sustained movement. Their study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, describes the first `self-propelled` oil droplets (used as a model for research on artificial cells) that can run on a chemical `fuel.` http://www.physorg.com/news160233585.html Chemistry Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:20:03 EST news160233585 These days, chemical analysts are expected to track down even single molecules. To do this highly sensitive detective work, nano researchers have developed minute strings that resonate in characteristic fashion. If a molecule docks onto one of the strings, then it becomes heavier, and its oscillations become measurably slower. http://www.physorg.com/news159699566.html Nanotechnology Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:00:03 EST news159699566 Robots are gaining on us humans. Thanks to exponential increases in computer power -- which is roughly doubling every two years -- robots are getting smarter, more capable, more like flesh-and-blood people. http://www.physorg.com/news159646306.html Electronics Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:12:32 EST news159646306 (AP) -- First, it was a ban on artery-clogging trans fats. Then calories were posted on menus. Now the New York City health department is taking on salt. City officials are meeting with food makers and restaurants to discuss reducing the amount of salt in common foods such as soup, pasta sauce, salad dressing and bread. http://www.physorg.com/news159643965.html Medicine & Health Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:33:06 EST news159643965 (PhysOrg.com) -- Parasite infestations might have a good side. Wild mice from a Nottinghamshire forest have given experts at The University of Nottingham clues as to the importance of some parasites, such as lice, for the conditioning of a `natural` immune system. http://www.physorg.com/news159636984.html Biology Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:36:56 EST news159636984 (PhysOrg.com) -- A tendon can be one of the most common and frustrating injuries for an athlete - often forcing them to stay away from the sports field for up to eight weeks. http://www.physorg.com/news159553333.html Nanotechnology Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:25:04 EST news159553333 (PhysOrg.com) -- Last year Joel Sadler and his classmates faced a daunting challenge in their Biomedical Device Design and Evaluation course: Create a low-cost, high-performance prosthetic knee joint for amputees in the developing world. Dubbed the JaipurKnee Project, the team aimed to help rectify lives ravaged by war and diseases such as diabetes. http://www.physorg.com/news159030845.html Medicine & Health Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:15:28 EST news159030845 Researchers from the Monell Center report that the red panda is the first non-primate mammal to display a liking for the artificial sweetener aspartame. This unexpected affinity for an artificial sweetener may reflect structural variation in the red panda's sweet taste receptor. http://www.physorg.com/news159022758.html Biology Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:01:18 EST news159022758 Runners clutching bottles of energy drink are a common sight, and it has long been known that sugary drinks and sweets can significantly improve athletes' performance in endurance events. The question is how? http://www.physorg.com/news158993357.html Medicine & Health Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:00:15 EST news158993357 Artificial heart pacemakers have saved and extended the lives of thousands of people, but they have their shortcomings - such as a fixed pulse rate and a limited life. Could a permanent biological solution be possible? http://www.physorg.com/news158493548.html Medicine & Health Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:59:32 EST news158493548 As the Credit Crunch continues to affect the worldwide markets the need for efficient methods to combat financial fraud has become more important than ever. Now researchers at the University of Sunderland are working on a smart computer that they believe will be able to detect insider trading fraud within the stock exchange almost instantly. http://www.physorg.com/news158490138.html Technology Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:04:13 EST news158490138 The design of efficient systems for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, driven by sunlight is among the most important challenges facing science today, underpinning the long term potential of hydrogen as a clean, sustainable fuel. But man-made systems that exist today are very inefficient and often require additional use of sacrificial chemical agents. In this context, it is important to establish new mechanisms by which water splitting can take place. http://www.physorg.com/news158233827.html Chemistry Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:51:51 EST news158233827 (AP) -- While the potentially dangerous Conficker worm was being tracked throughout April Fools' Day, more harmless hoaxes were being fired out across the Internet. http://www.physorg.com/news157889089.html Technology Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:05:24 EST news157889089 (PhysOrg.com) -- A blind fish that has evolved a unique technique for sensing motion may inspire a new generation of sensors that perform better than current active sonar. http://www.physorg.com/news157135791.html Technology Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:53:04 EST news157135791 (PhysOrg.com) -- No doubt proteins are complex. Most are "large" and full of interdependent branches, pockets and bends in their final folded structure. This complexity frustrates biochemists and protein engineers seeking to understand protein structure and function in order to reproduce or create new uses for these natural molecules to fight diseases or for use in industry. http://www.physorg.com/news157043680.html Chemistry Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:15:03 EST news157043680 (PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the UT Dallas Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute have demonstrated a fundamentally new type of artificial muscle, which can operate at extreme temperatures where no other artificial muscle can be used -- from below the temperature of liquid nitrogen (-196° C) to above the melting point of iron (1538° C). http://www.physorg.com/news156781465.html Nanotechnology Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:25:48 EST news156781465 Scientists have used a popular kids swimming pool game to guide their development of a system for controlling moving robots that can autonomously detect and capture other moving targets. http://www.physorg.com/news156603133.html Electronics Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:54:03 EST news156603133 A penny can go a long way on the Internet. http://www.physorg.com/news156407691.html Technology Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:35:30 EST news156407691 (PhysOrg.com) -- In the middle of MIT`s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) sits a platform of fake grass with tomato plants nestled in terra cotta pots, growing under the light of an artificial sun. But this urban, indoor garden has a twist: the caretakers of the plants are entirely robotic. http://www.physorg.com/news155904807.html Electronics Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:54:22 EST news155904807 Italian researchers have developed a wheelchair that obeys mental signals sent to a computer, they said Friday. http://www.physorg.com/news155588055.html Technology Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:54:42 EST news155588055 Intelligent champagne bottles, "green" USB sticks made of corn and an understanding alarm clock led the parade of fun, futuristic gadgets at the world's biggest high-tech fair. http://www.physorg.com/news155385303.html Electronics Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:35:41 EST news155385303 Spine surgeons at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and other U.S. centers are reporting that artificial disc replacement works as well and often better than spinal fusion surgery. The two procedures are performed on patients with damaged discs in the neck. http://www.physorg.com/news154960289.html Medicine & Health Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:32:15 EST news154960289 Researchers at Purdue University have developed a technique using spun-sugar filaments to create a scaffold of tiny synthetic tubes that might serve as conduits to regenerate nerves severed in accidents or blood vessels damaged by disease. http://www.physorg.com/news154881405.html Medicine & Health Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:37:19 EST news154881405 (PhysOrg.com) -- Queen Mary scientists have, for the first time, used computer artificial intelligence to create previously unseen types of pictures to explore the abilities of the human visual system. http://www.physorg.com/news153990584.html Medicine & Health Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:10:36 EST news153990584 A simple, chemical materials model may lead to a better understanding of the structure and organization of the cell according to a Penn State researcher. http://www.physorg.com/news153830013.html Chemistry Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:35:16 EST news153830013 A surgical technique known as targeted muscle reinnervation appears to enable patients with arm amputations to have improved control of functions with an artificial arm, according to a study in the February 11 issue of JAMA. http://www.physorg.com/news153512131.html Medicine & Health Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:16:27 EST news153512131 (PhysOrg.com) -- The results of proof-of-feasibility studies lead the researchers to believe that routine medical procedures such as breast biopsies will be performed in the future with minimal human guidance, and at greater convenience and less cost to patients. http://www.physorg.com/news153510630.html Medicine & Health Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:51:08 EST news153510630