The Week’s Best iPad Apps [Video]

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SPIN Play: It's a leaner, more straightforward take on a digital publication than some we've seen—there are no interactive infographics or crazy control schemes—but that's probably a good thing. If you're familiar with Spin, this incarnation will be familiar: there are some longer features, shorter capsule profiles, album reviews, a handful of movie reviews, and a laundry list of new songs you simply must check out. But what's nice about it is that now you don't have to search those songs out on your own. Tap the music icon and they play. Tap the video icon, where available, and a video plays. They keep playing as you poke through the magazine, too, which is nice, though you can stop them at any point (or advance to the next track without the article-specific icons) through an always-present playback bar at the top of the layout. $2.

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Nintendo 3DS Could Actually Diagnose Eye Disorders [Gaming]

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The Nintendo 3DS, once slammed as an eye-destroying device, is now being thought of as a tool for diagnosing eye disorders. According to Digital Trends, optometrists feel this could be a useful tool for early warning signs.

"The 3DS could be a godsend for identifying kids under six who need vision therapy," associate director for health sciences and policy for the American Optometric Association Michael Duenas told the Canadian Press.

Kids who can't see the 3D effect could possibly have a lazy eye. Dizziness or discomfort caused by the 3DS could also indicate a vision problem. Of course, there is still contingency of cranky old men who aren't having it."Kids should be out running around," noted director of the Vision Performance Institute at Pacific University Jim Sheedy.[Digital Trends] More »


Nanotechnology: Engines On

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Controlling climate change, abandoning dependency on fossil fuels, and creating the conditions for sustainable development will require as great a transformation as our ancestors accomplished over tens of thousands of years in moving from agrarian to urban societies. "Nanotechnology: Engines On" is a new book about how Nanotechnology is contributing to solve this vital challenges.

New blood analysis chip could lead to disease diagnosis in minutes

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A major milestone in microfluidics could soon lead to stand-alone, self-powered chips that can diagnose diseases within minutes. The device, developed by an international team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, Dublin City University in Ireland and Universidad de Valparaiso Chile, is able to process whole blood samples without the use of external tubing and extra components.

Electrodeionization technology to reduce cost to process biomass-based chemicals, fuels and treat water

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Argonne National Laboratory and Nalco Company, with headquarters in Naperville, Ill., have reached a licensing agreement for an electrodeionization technology that will help significantly reduce the cost of producing clean energy and of the chemicals and water used in industry. The separations technology can process biomass-based feedstocks into biofuels and chemicals.

Scientists use light to join nanoparticles into new materials

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Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory shined a low-power laser - similar in intensity to ones used in office laser pointers - into a solution of gold and carbon nanoparticles suspended in water. Unexpectedly, they found that the carbon nanoparticles decomposed or deformed to create a kind of "glue" that enabled the creation of long gold and carbon chains that assembled continuously wherever the laser was pointed.