With all the buzz that is being created by portable e-book readers, it's worth taking a look at one of the advanced display technologies - also often referred to as electronic paper - that make these devices happen. Unlike a conventional flat panel display, which uses a power-consuming backlight to illuminate its pixels, electronic paper reflects light like ordinary paper and is capable of holding text and images indefinitely without drawing electricity, while allowing the image to be changed later. Because they can be produced on thin, flexible substrates an due to their paper-like appearance, electrophoretic displays are considered prime examples of the electronic paper category. Electrophoretic displays already are in commercial use, for instance in the Kindle or in the Sony Reader, but so far the displays are mostly black and white. There are still cost and quality issues with color displays. New work by researchers in South Korea shows that organic ink nanoparticles could provide an improved electronic ink fabrication technology resulting in e-paper with high brightness, good contrast ratio, and lower manufacturing cost.
Monthly Archives: January 2010
Elliot Scientific to Distribute AKELA Laser Products in UK and Ireland
Elliot Scientific is pleased to announce that it has signed a distribution agreement with AKELA Laser Corporation of Monmouth Junction, New Jersey.
Fluidigm and Bayer CropScience Enter Global Agreement for Marker-Assisted Breeding and Quality Control
Bayer CropScience will be using Fluidigm technology to conduct marker-assisted breeding, genetic analysis in its molecular breeding program and quality control on its vegetable seeds.
Plasma Experiment celebrates Max-Planck-Institute anniversary on board ISS
On 27th January 2010 the 25th series of experiments studying complex plasmas will start on board the international space station ISS. Physicists from the Max-Planck-Institute for extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany, will use them to study fundamental structure forming processes to better understand what happens in liquids and solids.
Electron microscopic examination of Alzheimer’s amyloid fibrils
Flash frozen under the electron microscope: examining the mechanical properties of Alzheimer's amyloid fibrils.
Smart capsules that release their contents at a selected temperature
How can an active principle be delivered in a controlled way? Until now, there was no obvious answer to this question. Now however, researchers at the CNRS Paul Pascal Research Center in Bordeaux have designed smart capsules that are able to release their contents on demand, simply by raising the temperature.
Stopping bacterial infections with biochemical ‘nanofactories’ instead of antibiotics
New research at the A. James Clark School of Engineering could prevent bacterial infections using tiny biochemical machines that can confuse bacteria and stop them from spreading, without the use of antibiotics.
Applied Nanotech Holdings Expands Its Presence in Solar Field
Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with ArimaEco Energy Technologies Corporation of Taiwan (ArimaEco), a world leader in concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) module development, system integration, and installation with systems deployed in Asia and Europe.
Intelligent, High-Flow MEMS Valve Combines Drastic Energy Savings With Significantly Smaller Footprint
Microstaq Inc., a developer of the world's most advanced silicon MEMS-based fluid control technology, announced today the industry's high volume of its unique Silicon Expansion Valve (SEV), based upon the company's revolutionary Ventilum technology.
AIXTRON Expands to New R+D facilities
AIXTRON AG today announced an important step in the implementation of its accelerated Research and Development strategy by building a new state of the art R+D campus at its premises in Herzogenrath-Kohlscheid in support of the company's Research and Development strategy.
Researchers develop new nanomedicine tool for gene delivery
The tool, a peptide called PEG-POD, provides a vehicle for therapeutic genes and may help researchers develop therapies for degenerative eye disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
Review of key developments in 2009 in nanotechnology safety research
In its first feature article of 2010, SAFENANO provides a summary of key nanoEHS developments from 2009, and considers how these are likely to shape 2010 in nano.
Tegal Receives Silicon DRIE Tool Order From Precision Timing Device Manufacturer
Tegal Corporation, an innovator of specialized production solutions for the fabrication of advanced MEMS, power ICs and optoelectronic devices, today announced it has received an order for a Tegal 200 SE DRIE tool, equipped with the Tegal ProNovaTM ICP source, from a leading manufacturer of precision timing devices.
Exide Technologies Opens New Global Technology Center
Exide Technologies, a global leader in stored electrical-energy solutions, today opens its new Global Technology Center at the Company's Milton, Georgia world headquarters.
Insectlike ‘microids’ might walk, run, work in colonies
A new approach in the design of miniature, insectlike robots could lead to 'microids' the size of ants that move their tiny legs and mandibles using solid-state 'muscles'.
Blood proteins may hold key to developing instruments for rapid detection of radiation dose
To develop a fast, cheap and accurate technology for determining the level of radiation exposure victims might suffer in a nuclear incident, Stanford is leading a new federally funded consortium of academic, government and industry researchers.
Energy-harvesting rubber sheets could power pacemakers, mobile phones
The material, composed of ceramic nanoribbons embedded onto silicone rubber sheets, generates electricity when flexed and is highly efficient at converting mechanical energy to electrical energy.
Graphene specialist Jeanie Lau receives national honor at White House
Lau is a recipient of the 2009 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
As in Lake Wobegon, Behind the Wheel, All Drivers Feel Above Average | Discoblog
The thoughts can occur to all of us when we slip behind the wheel of a car: That guy in the other lane is crazy, the old lady up ahead is driving dangerously slow, and seriously, how long is it taking that guy to make that turn? Apparently, we’re all kept warm in our cars by our smugness.
When researchers from Ottawa University polled nearly 400 drivers, ranging from driver’s license newbies to the very old, they found that all of them rated themselves favorably compared to other drivers. In other words, everyone thinks they’re above average.
The researchers asked the drivers how they would fare under different driving conditions including poor weather, emergency stops, and heavy traffic. They also asked the drivers how likely they were to have a crash, compared to an average motorist of the same sex.
The BBC reports:
All drivers, men and women, young and old, rated themselves over the “average motorist”, especially when this average motorist fell into the over 65 age category. Young men felt the most superior. Middle-aged men rated themselves as better than similarly aged drivers, and far superior to younger and older motorists. Older drivers – aged 65 plus – felt most superior when they compared themselves with motorists of the same age.
Really? So if everyone is such a great driver–who are those other people clogging up the roads and making the dumb turns?
The researchers warned that while confidence can be beneficial, it can also lead to people paying less attention when they’re behind the wheel. They suggested this overconfidence might be one of the reasons why so many young people get into accidents.
Related Content:
DISCOVER: Drinking vs. Talking
DISCOVER: Driving Simulator
DISCOVER: Do Cell Phones Put Blinders on the Driver?
DISCOVER: The Physics of . . . Changing Lanes
80beats: In the Commute of the Future, Drivers Can Let a Pro Take the Wheel
Image: iStockphoto
Are Americans Becoming More Distrustful of Science? | The Intersection
Some alarming results just out from Yale and George Mason. Not only are Americans growing less convinced about global warming– either that it is happening or that it is human caused. We knew that already. But what’s more, Americans also appear less trusting of scientists in general, which is pretty alarming, as there have long been positive (if vague) sentiments towards the scientific community in this country:
The survey also found lower public trust in a variety of institutions and leaders, including scientists. For example, Americans’ trust in the mainstream news media as a reliable source of information about global warming declined by 11 percentage points, television weather reporters by 10 points and scientists by 8 points….
Finally, Americans who believe that most scientists think global warming is happening decreased 13 points, to 34 percent, while 40 percent of the public now believes there is a lot of disagreement among scientists over whether global warming is happening or not.
All of this amounts to nothing short of a complete PR nightmare. I am no public opinion specialist, but I wonder if we are seeing a trace of scandals like ClimateGate and GlacierGate in the data here. If so, it would be just more evidence (not that I needed it) that we are getting it handed to us by the skeptics, as never before….
