Tech

Jun 06, 2013 04:45 PM EDT

Firefighting Robot Could Save Lives By Providing 3D Maps of Burning Structures

Robots may soon accompany firefighters on their calls to tame building fires, thanks to a team of researchers at the University of California, San Diego.

Jun 07, 2013 10:18 AM EDT

"Invisibility Cloak" Hides Information by Creating Holes in Time

Invisiblity cloaks have made headlines ever since Harry Potter first donned his. However, while a myriad of real-life attempts at the technology have surfaced in the last few years, researchers at Purdue University have demonstrated a method for “temporal cloaking” capable of making information vanish by creating holes in time.

Jun 05, 2013 12:47 PM EDT

Mind-controlled Helicopter May Lead to More Autonomy for Disabled People [VIDEO]

Using nothing but the power of his mind, a researcher siting in a gymnasium in Minnesota is able to operate a remote-controlled helicopter, successfully commanding the device to turn left and right, change altitude and even navigate through a series of hoops.

Jun 04, 2013 05:31 PM EDT

Secrets of Roman Concrete Probed to Develop More Sustainable Modern Varieties

The concrete used by ancient Romans to build structures that have withstood the elements for thousands of years is being given a fresh look by scientists who hope to better understand the key to making more durable and sustainable concrete.

Jun 04, 2013 03:34 PM EDT

MIT Professor Awarded $500,000 for Inventions Combining Organic and Inorganic Matter

Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Angela Belcher was awarded the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize for her work in creating novel electronic materials used from everything from solar cells and fuel to environmentally-friendly batteries.

“It would take an elephant, balanced on a pencil, to break through a sheet of graphene the thickness of Saran Wrap.”

Jun 03, 2013 10:49 AM EDT

Graphene Retains Title as World's Strongest Material

Graphene, even in an imperfect form, remains the strongest material in the world, according to new research from Columbia University, which found that the single layer of latticed carbon atoms is virtually unbreakable even when stitched together like a quilt.

May 31, 2013 05:33 PM EDT

Using Nanoclay to Regenerate Bones Shows Promise in Lab

A team of researchers at North Dakota State University have made great strides in tissue engineering by designing scaffolds with nanosized clays that can aid in the mineralization of bone minerals.

May 31, 2013 09:12 PM EDT

Graphene Sensor 1,000 Times More Sensitive Than Those Currently in Use

Graphene, the wonder product that won its creator a Nobel Peace Prize, is at it again - this time in the form of a revolutionary sensor that will soon allow cameras to take clear, sharp photos even in dim conditions, according to the man behind the discovery.

May 30, 2013 01:49 PM EDT

Using Cloud Computing to Monitor Agricultural Pests Could Save Wheat Crops

An unusual interdisciplinary collaboration between an entomologist, a computer scientist and a rangeland specialist has the potential to bring significant aid to farmers facing a catastrophic threat to wheat crops.

May 29, 2013 11:06 AM EDT

Privately-sponsored Telescope a Symbol of a Space Revolution, Makers Say

A telescope designed to send images of the Earth and space taken from the Moon over the Internet was unveiled on May 25 at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Vancouver, Canada.

May 28, 2013 08:25 PM EDT

From Sidewalks to Smartphones: Scientists Transform Cement into Liquid Metal

In a move that could open up a world of innovation, scientists have discovered how to turn liquid cement into a liquid metal and, in doing so, open it up to use in consumer electronics for everything from thin films and protective coatings to computer chips.