Instant-start computers possible with new breakthrough
Ithaca NY (SPX) Dec 19, 2014 -
To encode data, today's computer memory technology uses electric currents - a major limiting factor for reliability and shrinkability, and the source of significant power consumption. If data could instead be encoded without current - for example, by an electric field applied across an insulator - it would require much less energy, and make things like low-power, instant-on computing a ubiquitou ...
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Choreography of an electron pair
Heidelberg, Germany (SPX) Dec 19, 2014 -
Physicists are continuously advancing the control they can exert over matter. A German-Spanish team working with researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg has now become the first to image the motion of the two electrons in a helium atom and even to control this electronic partner dance. The scientists are succeeding in this task with the aid of different laser ...
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Future batteries: Lithium-sulfur with a graphene wrapper
Washington DC (SPX) Dec 17, 2014 -
What do you get when you wrap a thin sheet of the "wonder material" graphene around a novel multifunctional sulfur electrode that combines an energy storage unit and electron/ion transfer networks? An extremely promising electrode structure design for rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries.
Lithium-sulfur batteries are of great commercial interest because they boast theoretical specific ene ...
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In United States, drones take off as Christmas gifts
Los Angeles (AFP) Dec 20, 2014 -
Andrew Steele, 15, chose a drone as a Christmas present. And he's not alone. Thousands of drone fans - young and old - turned out at a recent show in Los Angeles.
While historically people have thought of drones as military aircraft or flying devices used by businesses, the growth of drones as recreational vehicles has exploded.
And the range of devices on offer - many of which could ...
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Companies demo enhanced global communications for military
Mclean, Va. (UPI) Dec 22, 2014 -
A new global reach push-to-talk voice and data communications capability for the Defense Information Systems Agency has been developed by two U.S. companies.
The capability for DISA's Distributed Tactical Communication System, or DTCS, is from Exelis and Iridium and was demonstrated recently in partnership with the agency's Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services program office.
Exeli ...
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Opinion: Dysfunctional geopolitics
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 21, 2014 -
The Feinstein CIA torture report has given the U.S. a geopolitical black eye of worldwide dimensions.
For the average Russian, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, African, Arab, Iranian, or any other race or nationality, America is now no better or worse than any other global scoundrel.
And we are not referring to a sophisticated reader and world traveler but even among those we now hear ...
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NASA uses powerful X-ray telescope to take vibrant photo of the sun
Washington (UPI) Dec 22, 2014 -
NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) has taken its first photo of the sun.
The NuSTAR is an extremely powerful X-ray telescope made for taking pictures of black holes and other objects outside the solar system, but it was recently aimed at the sun.
The photo is actually a combination of two photos, with NuSTAR collecting the X-ray imagery and then that image was ...
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