Hasta La Gadget!

Most of the so-called “young folks” would argue that Facebook lost its innocence the day that parents were invited to play along, but there’s no question that politicians would disagree vehemently. A recent study published by the number crunchers at Pew Internet found that over half (54 percent, if we’re being precise) of adults “used the internet for political purposes in the last cycle, far surpassing the 2006 midterm contest.” A total of 58 percent hopped online for political news, while one in five (22 percent) used Twitter or a social networking site for “political purposes” in 2010. Taken as a whole, a staggering 73 percent of online adults took part in at least one of these activities in 2010, and judging by the power of these networks in the recent Middle Eastern / African uprisings, we get the impression that figures will only be rising in elections to come. Too bad you can’t “Like” a politician to give them your vote — haven’t these polling places realized what century we’re in?

Continue reading Blame the 2010 elections for your parents being on Facebook, Twitter

Blame the 2010 elections for your parents being on Facebook, Twitter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Pew Internet  | Email this | Comments

At some point in the future, it’s going to be hard to just brush of those “computer-chip-in-my-brain” conspiracy theorists. That’s because researchers at the University of Wisconsin have found that neurons will gladly thread themselves through semiconductor tubes, opening up possibilities for interfacing these cells with computers.

Neurons, which make up the main part of our brain and nervous system, are composed of a main body and a long extension called an axon, which carries signals away from the body and towards other neurons. Graduate student Minrui Yu and colleagues found that, through creating a very small tube from layers of silicone and germanium, neurons would push their axons through the tube, leaving the cell’s main body, which is too large for the small opening, outside of it.

According to the scientists, this opens up the possibility of creating engineered networks of cells, planned and organized through these tubes, that can be studied through voltage sensors and other equipment. Right now, the group is exploring the possibility of using the tunnels to study diseases that affect the neurons, like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. However, the network of neurons that they have created might one day be useful for interfacing our nervous system with artificial limbs. This won’t be happening tomorrow, as there’s still an engineering gap between networking the cells and getting them to actually do something, but even inching towards a future of naturally-controlled prosthetics is certainly welcome news.

[via ScienceNews]

It’s no secret: if your laptop sits atop your lap for an extended period of time, you’re going to get burned — okay, so maybe not burned, but you’re definitely going to feel the heat. Luckily GE has been working (under contract for DARPA) on a new phase-change based thermal conductor that promises to cool electronics twice as well as copper, at one-fourth the weight. The breakthrough means big things for those of us who’d like to make babies one day, but we doubt that’s why DARPA’s shelling out the big bucks — the new material functions at 10 times normal gravity, making it a shoo-in for on-board computing systems in jetliners. Using “unique surface engineered coatings” that simultaneously attract and repel water, the new nanotechnology could mean not only lighter, cooler electronics, but also an increase in computing speeds. Goodbye scrotal hyperthermia, hello cool computing! Full PR after the break.

Continue reading GE’s new phase-change based thermal conductor could mean cooler laptops — literally

GE’s new phase-change based thermal conductor could mean cooler laptops — literally originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  GE (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

No, not those MiniDiscs. The ones we’re talking about, created by researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, are much, much smaller — less than 300 nanometers across. The tiny disks of magnetic material are formed using glass spheres that are themselves about 300nm in diameter. They are arranged into hexagonal shapes on top of a thin, magnetic layer and are then bombarded with argon ions. The ions wear away the magnetic layer that is not protected by the glass spheres, leaving behind tiny disks. The argon also starts to eat at the glass too, shrinking the spheres and, as they erode, chipping away at the edges of those newly formed disks on the surface. This gives them a nano beveled edge, allowing for a so-called vortex twist that enables magnetic storage of individual bits at incredibly low power. While it remains to be seen what kind of storage density can be achieved in this manner, we do know one thing for sure: you’re a real trooper if you made it through that post. Give yourself a pat on the back and three internet points.

Mini disks with slanted edges could save your data, not the music industry originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhysOrg  |  Advanced Functional Materials  | Email this | Comments

We had to do a double take when we read this headline from Reuters, but sure enough, it’s not April1st yet and its writers don’t seem to be joking: the location of the lost city of Atlantis has finally been discovered. Such is the bold claim from an international team of researchers, dreamers and intrepid adventurers. With the use of ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography, they’ve unearthed evidence to suggest that a spot on the southern coast of Spain, just north of Cadiz, played host to what may have been human society’s first metropolis. One of the reasons why it’s taken archaeologists so long to pinpoint its whereabouts may be the fact that it lies 60 miles inland, where you wouldn’t really expect it to be susceptible to the effects of tidal waves (which is what Plato’s account of the ancient city identified as its demise). A National Geographic documentary on the subject will be broadcast this evening where we may learn more about what was discovered, the methods for doing so, and the gorgeous tans those scientists built up in sunny Spain.

Continue reading Researchers claim discovery of lost city of Atlantis, conveniently located in southern Spain

Researchers claim discovery of lost city of Atlantis, conveniently located in southern Spain originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Reuters  | Email this | Comments