Science

Just when you thought that innovations could not get any more compact, a new report out of Rice University is claiming that scientists have been able to construct a working battery that is six times thinner in size than a bacterium. The microscopic ... battery measures 150 nanometers in width, meaning that it is literally hundreds of times thinner than a human hair follicle, and more than 60,000 times smaller than a regular AAA battery. Battery / Supercapacitor Hybrid The diminutive power pack is manufactured by the thousands in dense arrays. It is actually a cross between a battery and a ... (view more)

According to a new report, the world's population will reach nine billion in just 39 years. The finding is raising new questions about our ability to handle that kind of growth, particularly in regions where population expansion is expected to rise ... fastest. The study comes from Professor David Bloom and can be found in a recent publication from the Harvard School of Public Health. Right now our global population is just under seven billion people. Bloom predicts that the number will increase to nine billion by 2050, and ten billion by the end of the century. (Source: secaucusnewjersey.org ) ... (view more)

Maintaining an active lifestyle remains an ongoing struggle for many people. But a new, hi-tech wristband is looking to keep people motivated to stay fit and make health-conscious decisions throughout the day. Jawbone, a company known for ... manufacturing Bluetooth headsets, has expanded their production to include a lightweight bracelet that monitors an individual's daily physical activity through the use of built-in motion and vibration sensors. Smartphone Pics Reveal Eating Patterns Called "Up," the wrist wear accompanies a smartphone app that enables users to record their eating habits ... (view more)

For years, volunteer doctors and missionaries have worked to test and treat malaria cases in developing countries. The infectious disease continues to run rampant throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and parts of the Americas. Now, a doctoral student ... at the University of California is building an efficient testing and treatment system that will feature Windows Phone 7. In parts of Africa, where 90 per cent of malaria death occurs, health workers test patients with a diagnostic assessment tool that works in a similar manner to that of a home pregnancy test (a blood sample on a small plastic ... (view more)

A coalition of mechanical engineers in Iran are reporting that sometime in the near future, dental patients will actually be able to print off their own custom tooth prosthetics, thanks in large part to the innovations made in three-dimensional ... printing. The current dental prosthetic procedure usually takes a few weeks for a dentist to take x-rays of the jaw and later, make the necessary cast for dental implants or replacement crowns that are unique to the patient's mouth. 3D Printing Drastically Cuts Waiting Time The new innovation is currently in the testing phase of development and is said ... (view more)

From Family Matters to The Simpsons and, of course, Back to the Future, the idea of time travel has become a common theme in American pop culture. There's no doubt, then, that many will be disappointed to hear of a new report from a group of Hong ... Kong scientists which suggests that traveling through time is simply impossible. The report comes from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where researchers under the direction of Professor Shengwang Du have concluded that single photons (the absolute smallest particle of light) simply can't travel faster than light. The finding is ... (view more)

Terrafugia's flying car , which has been in development for some time, has been given the 'thumbs up' by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) -- meaning it should start appearing on U.S. highways soon. The NHTSA has granted ... Terrafugia's drive-able plane -- called the Transition -- a special exemption that will allow the company to begin shipping units from its Massachusetts plant (after final testing, that is). Terrafugia says the Transition will be ready for manufacturing this year, with the first completed units being shipped out early in 2012. (Source: foxnews.com ) ... (view more)

It's been two decades now since The Rocketeer soared into U.S. theatres and we're still walking, biking, and driving to work. But not all is lost: so long as you can come up with $100,000, you might soon be able to propel yourself to and from the ... office with a Martin Aircraft jetpack. Our hopes of zig-zagging through the sky are up this week after word that the Martin Aircraft company recently conducted a successful field test of its jetpack prototype. The real victory during the test, however, was the demonstration of the jetpack's emergency parachute. The chute worked exactly as it was ... (view more)

For most of us, using the lavatory is anything but a luxurious experience. That might change, however, as Kohler promises that their new Numi toilet is one of the most hi-tech toilets ever to be launched in North America. Adjustable, Customizable ... and Motion-Controlled Features While recent years have brought about "smart phones" and "smart tablets", the Numi is the first "smart toilet" in the world. The new Numi toilet has many interesting features, including customized seat positions, water pressure and temperature control and even ambient lighting. Add audio (complete with FM radio and an ... (view more)

Researchers at a Montreal university are using nanotechnology to combat cancer in the human body. This new method directly targets problem areas, potentially saving thousands of lives in the process. One of Canada's leading engineering schools, ... Polytechnique Montreal, revealed the successful manipulation of a tiny remote-controlled magnetic sphere that could travel through the body and deposit cancer treatment directly on the targeted area. In the study, a live animal with a situation comparable to liver cancer was used and treated. (Source: thesudburystar.com ) The traveling sphere used to ... (view more)