sci/tech sensation news magazine

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that Russia will help Venezuela develop nuclear energy — a move likely to raise U.S. concerns over increasingly close cooperation between Caracas and Moscow.

Chavez said he accepted an offer from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for assistance in building a nuclear reactor.

"Russia is ready to support Venezuela in the development of nuclear energy with peaceful purposes and we already have a commission working on it," Chavez said. "We are interested in developing nuclear energy."

Putin offered Chavez assistance in developing nuclear energy during a meeting in the Russian city of Novo-Ogaryovo last week. The prime minister did not specify what kind of cooperation he could offer Venezuela, but Russia is aggressively promoting itself as a builder of nuclear power plants in developing nations.

Russia has ramped up its cooperation with Venezuela since last month's war with Georgia, which badly damaged Moscow's already strained ties with the West, particularly the United States.

During Chavez's visit to Russia last week, a Russian naval squadron sailed for the Caribbean Sea in preparation for joint exercises with Venezuela later this year — a move that appeared retaliatory after the U.S. sent warships to deliver aid to Georgia.

The deployment is expected to represent the largest Russian naval maneuvers in the Caribbean — and perhaps the Western Hemisphere — since the Cold War.

Chavez says that stronger ties with Russia will help build a multi-polar world — a term the two allies use to describe their shared opposition to what they claim is U.S. global domination.

Since 2005, Venezuela has agreed to buy more than US$4.4 billion worth of weapons from Russia including fighter jets, combat helicopters, and 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles. And President Dmitry Medvedev has offered Chavez a loan to purchase additional weapons.

Chavez argues the United States and European Union do not have the right to prevent developing countries from pursuing nuclear technology, and he has strongly defended Iran's nuclear program despite the Western powers' fear that Tehran may be building nuclear weapons.

Before taking Russia up on its offer, Chavez had expressed interest in acquiring a nuclear reactor from Argentina and working with Iran, among other countries, to research nuclear energy.

[Via ap.google.com]

A hybrid-electric vehicle, or HEV, combines an electrical energy storage system with an occupied means of generating electrical energy, usually through the consumption of some type of fuel. Each type of HEV has its own operating quality and chosen design practices, as well as advantages and disadvantages. The development of interior ignition engine vehicles, especially in automobiles, is one of the supreme achievements of modern technology as a new rising energy saving and environment -friendly vehicle, that is why the hybrid-electric vehicles were created to give convenience to every human. In the process of creating the hybrid electric car, the most important is the energy saving and the environmental protection. Wherein nowadays this are the common problems faced by the society. Having the hybrid-electric car evolved from the electric car.
However, the main disadvantage of the electric car is that it is mainly dependent on the batteries. Therefore, has limited range. First of all, the hybrid electric car was supposed to be an electric vehicle with batteries for power storage and is also equipped with an on-board heat engine-powered generator. This means that this type of hybrid has an extended range. The heat engine power and the battery power are specifically intended as an important scheme that constantly modulates the excess between the heat engine and the battery power systems. This will also depend on the driving schedule. Since the beginning of the use of automobiles, electric cars have been already recognized and conceptualized. Even though the electric power train is better in various aspects, as an energy source, the battery was unequal to the superior-energy content, easiness in terms of the handling, and inexpensive and profuse supplies of motor fuel. Now, it has almost been a century since the electric car has been popularly discussed, but recent developments in the HEV technology and the growing concerns for the environment has revived the drive for an HEV and this has become a realization today.
We can consider the personal means of transportation as a very important bond in the economic chain of current modern societies and that a private vehicle appears to be the popular choice. Electric vehicles are more energy efficient than the contemporary vehicles wherein the electric vehicles operates at approximately 46 percent of effectiveness, while a contemporary vehicle operates at about 18 percent only. There are studies that generally concludes that electric cars with batteries are approximately 10 to 30 percent more efficient with energy than the usual gasoline cars, depending on the exact assumptions of the vehicles energy usage and energy chain efficiency. Certainly, the comparisons of the electric vehicles and the conventional vehicles are comparisons between an extremely developed power system that is nearly in the end of its research and development, and the innovative power system in the beginning stages of the development wherein important development can be expected as the new technology evolves. Furthermore, the advantages of electric powered modes of transportation extends beyond the true outlook of economizing energy. Electric generation plants can use substitute fuels that are not adaptable to portable power systems. Electric vehicles are the definitive alternative fuel vehicles because their power is taken from the source fuels utilized to produce electricity. Aside from that, the flexibility of the fuel alone can offer important useful and economic advantages especially in relation to a variety of energy resources. The electric car is truly a promising technology that could transform one's means of transportation into a far more environmentally type of commodity. Through this innovation emission controls become more important, effective and economically beneficial.

[Via www.alternativeenergyhq.com]

Scientists announced a new imaging technique that allows the viewing of a wide range of protein motions on a real-time basis. This could lead to breakthroughs in the studies of biological functions and structures of proteins in the human body, which in turn, could open up new possibilities in drug development.

``The technique allows the viewing of protein motion in water, which is how more than 70 percent of proteins in the human body exist, and recording video-images of the changes also becomes possible,'' said Ihee Hyot-cherl, a researcher at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and one of the co-authors of the study.

``This could vastly improve the understanding of the way proteins work, which could contribute to improving drug-making processes. Aside from detecting proteins, the technique could also be used for researching nano-materials, making it useful in both biotechnology and nano-technology,'' he said.

The study, titled ``Tracking the Structural Dynamics of Proteins in Solution Using Time-Resolved Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering,'' will be published in the October edition of the peer journal, Nature Methods.

Proteins are basically considered the essence of life, participating in every cellular process in living organisms, including absorbing oxygen, digesting food and producing electrochemical signals that enable thinking.

Proteins carry out their biological functions by altering their structures, with motions ranging from subtle to substantial and slow to very fast. Thus, the study of protein structure, which is key to understanding the way they work, is one of the most important frontiers in modern science.

Various methods have been used for monitoring the changes in protein structures, with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography most conventionally used.

Although NMR and X-ray crystallography are effective for looking at the overall three-dimensional structures of proteins, both have limited ability in detecting very fast motions.

Other methods, such as optical spectroscopy, are very good at detecting fast changes, but do not yield much information about the three-dimensional protein structure.

The researchers led by Ihee and Marco Cammarata of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) focused on developing an alternative technology of time-resolved wide-angle X-ray scattering (TR-WAXS). This allowed them to monitor very fast, nanosecond-scale protein movements in the context of the three-dimensional structure, Ihee said.

The researchers successfully used TR-WAXS to track the rapid structural changes occurring in human hemoglobin, the well-known oxygen-transport protein, in nearly physiological conditions.

Advancement in the understanding of protein structures could eventually allow drug companies to develop drugs that specifically target certain proteins.

[Via www.koreatimes.co.kr]

A motorbike which is powered by biofuel and has lower emissions than rivals has won a race at the Norfolk Snetterton track.

Team Inzane's Ducati 800SS, adapted and developed to use biofuel, was driven to victory by Russell Joyner on September 14th.

The race, which Joyner won by just two hundredths of a second, was the "pinnacle of a fantastic season", said Team Inzane technical director Ian Calvert.

Since motorbike racing authorities first allowed the use of biofuels, Team Inzane has been the first team to field a biofuel powered bike.

It uses bioethanol E85, which is a blend of 15 per cent petrol and ethanol distilled from biomass.

The team was supported by the Energy Efficiency in Motor Sport government initiative, which aims to have by 2010 at least one championship in which fuel flow is regulated so environmental and energy efficiency design is stimulated.

EEMS project manager Dan Rapson said: "This is a great achievement by the team and demonstrates just how compatible the energy efficiency message is with the spectacle of exciting motor sport.

"In a relatively short space of time, Inzane has taken this from the test track to the podium - showing that with the full commitment of the team and the right support, significant steps forward can be taken."

Via http://www.lowcarboneconomy.com/

Regions of the world suffering from extensive droughts and water shortages might find a long-term solution with nanotechnology, researchers are saying.The reality of this type of water filtration system could be closer than some think, because other technologies are too expensive and difficult to maintain for the poor conditions in which the inhabitants live. Carbon nanotubes, being simple in design but very effective in operation, might be the answer. The structure of these tubes allows only very small molecules – such as water molecules – to pass through. The thickness of these carbon fibers is less than a billionth of that of a strand of human hair, which still keeps out harmful agents such as bacteria, viruses and metals.

In addition to the efficient engineering behind these nanotubes, the power needed to drive water through a system would be comparatively low to conventional practices. It’s important to take note of this effort to bring clean water to a drought-stricken population, because over one billion people alive today are without access to safe drinking water. An estimated 2.4 billion people on top of that are said to have improper water sanitation, with the majority living in developing countries.

[Via www.waterfiltrationblog.com]

Droid guardians would take bullet for fleshy masters

US tech and aerospace firm Honeywell has submitted a patent proposal which would see airliners protected from shoulder-fired terrorist missiles by drone escorts.

Flight International reports that Honeywell lawyers filed the proposals last month. The idea would be that as an aircraft took off, the unmanned escort would fly automatically in formation with it. In the event of a missile attack, the drone would attempt to spoof or blind the incoming weapon's seeker head. If this failed, the robot aircraft would take the hit.

"This formation drone aircraft, which carries various missile detection and diversion equipment, is controlled by a wireless data link that is coupled directly into the airliner's flight control system," the Honeywell documents state.

"When the formation drone determines that a missile is being viewed by a missile sensor head, the formation drone lays down a predetermined pattern of exploding flares to divert the missile away from the airliner, attempts to spoof the missile using laser countermeasures or sacrifices itself to protect the airliner."

In the normal case where no attack took place, the drone would stay with the escorted airliner to an altitude of 18,000 feet, well above the service ceiling for shoulder-fired missiles. Then it would peel off and return to the airport to pick up its next charge, or land for refuelling and maintenance if required.

Homing anti-aircraft missiles, aka Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) are much less commonly available than basic armour-piercing unguided rockets like the RPG. Nonetheless they are seen as a credible threat by security and counter-terrorism officials. Examples of such weapons include the Russian SA-14, said to have been supplied to Iran and thence onward to Iraqi insurgents. An SA-14 was used to shoot down a British military helicopter over Basra in 2006. Israeli airliners were also targeted (unsuccessfully) by MANPADS above Kenya in 2002.

The US Department of Homeland Security is currently trialling protective laser anti-MANPADS systems aboard commercial flights in America. The DHS goal is thought to be the widespread adoption of such systems, but the aviation industry belief is that this would be prohibitively expensive.

Honeywell's patent application argues that the approach of operating suitably equipped escort drones at airports makes more sense, as it is only during the takeoff and landing phases of flight that airliners are vulnerable to MANPADS.

The Flight report can be read here.

Medcal treatments will take a quantum leap forward once we can develop drugs that are genetically tailored to a specific individual. But to do that, we need a way to sequence someone's DNA quickly and cheaply. Today, it takes months and costs six figures. Pacific Biosciences' Single-Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) DNA sequencer is going to change that.

DNA sequencing is slow and takes a lot of computational power. To put it into Homer Simpson terms, the DNA is replicated, torn into little pieces, sorted out and analyzed bit by bit, then reassembled by a computer. The SMRT sequencer improves on the process because it "watches" the DNA as it is being replicated by the polymerase, reading each piece of DNA in something called the Zero-Mode Waveguide. The ZMW is a "nanophotonic visualization chamber" made by making a hole just a few tens of nanometers across in a metal film just 100 nanometers thick. Chemicals introduced into the reaction give off tiny flashes of colored light, which are detected by the highly parallel optics system (pictured). The CCD can detect the lights, and computers use that information to figure out which base pairs are in which ZMW window, decoding long strands of DNA in real-time. You could be running down to the DNA-Mart for a quick DNA scan as soon as 2013.

[Via io9.com]

Citroen has revealed what its new C4 robot commercial will involve, taking the cult automaton onto the streets of New York.

The robot will visit Manhattan and strut its metal puffs to the strains of MC Lita's remix of the BeeGees' 'Staying Alive'.

Citroen says the new robot is "funked-up", completed with 'bling' accessories like jewelled teeth, disco lights and glitter-ball beret.

This will be the fourth advert to feature the dancing automaton, this time designed to showcase the remodelled 'New Look' C4 that goes on sale this month.

The vehicle has a restyled exterior, new equipment trim levels and a variety of new petrol engines co-developed with BMW, designed to produce lower CO2 emissions.

[Via www.totallymotor.co.uk]

In 'U.S. sees six disruptive technologies by 2025,' Computerworld reports that the National Intelligence Council (NIC) is preparing a report about disruptive technologies expected to have a major impact on the world. The NIC defines as disruptive 'a technology with the potential to cause a noticeable -- even if temporary -- degradation or enhancement in one of the elements of US national power (geopolitical, military, economic, or social cohesion).' According to a preliminary version of this report, the list of these disruptive technologies should include biogerontechnology, energy storage materials, biofuels and bio-based chemicals or service robotics. But read more for additional details about biogerontechnology...

This 'Global Trends 2025' report will be delivered to the next U.S. president in December 2008. It has been prepared by SRI Consulting Business Intelligence (SRIC-BI) for the National Intelligence Council (NIC). You can see above the process used by SRIC-BI to select these potentially disruptive technologies. (Credit: SRIC-BI/NIC)

The Computerworld article contains several comments made by Thomas Fingar, deputy director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during a speech given this month in Orlando, Florida. Here is what he says about climate change. "By 2025, 'it is not a good time to live in the Southwest because it runs out of water and looks like the Dust Bowl. It is not a good time to be along the Atlantic Seaboard, particularly in the South because of the projected increase and intensity and severity and frequency of severe weather -- more hurricanes, more serious storms, and so forth,' Fingar said."

Now, let's look at a preliminary version of the 'Global Trends 2025' report released online by the NIC in April 2008 under the title "Disruptive Civil Technologies." Here are two links to an a text version and a PDF one (48 pages, 602 KB) of this preliminary report. The illustration above has been extracted from this report.

Of course, this report is very interesting to read -- and some of you will read it in its entirety. But let's focus here on this relatively new concept of biogerontechnology (only 42 references by Google as I'm writing this post). But what is it? "Biogerontechnology offers the means to accomplish control over and improvement in the human condition, and promises improvements in lifespan. The advancement of the science and technology underlying the biological aging process has the potential to not only extend the average natural lifespan, but also to simultaneously postpone many if not all of the costly and disabling conditions that humans experience in later life, thereby creating a longevity dividend that will be economic, social and medical in nature."

Why is this a potential disruptive technology? Here are some answers from the report.

• The disruptive potential comes in the form of new treatment modalities, shifts in the cost, and resulting allocation and use of health care resources.
  
• Nations will be challenged as a result of changing demographic structures, new psychologies, activity patterns of aging yet healthy citizens, and the resulting requirement to formulate new national economic and social policies.
  

This report -- which is quite long -- gives more details about why biogerontechnology is potentially disruptive. "Since the start the twentieth century, when the average natural lifespan in the United States was 47 years of age, gains in life expectancy have been impressive thanks to a combination of medical interventions, lifestyle choices, and behavior modifications. In 2005, the average human life expectancy in the United States was 78 years, with life expectancy for women approximately five years longer than for men. The US Census Bureau estimates that life expectancy will increase by another six years by 2050. Biogerontechnology, which offers the means to accomplish control over and improvement in the human condition, promises even greater longevity gains. The advancement of the science and technology underlying the biological aging process has the potential to not only extend the average natural lifespan forecasts but also to simultaneously postpone many if not all of the costly and disabling conditions that humans experience in later life, thereby creating a longevity dividend that will be economic, social and medical in nature. The disruptive potential will also come in the form of new treatment modalities, and shifts in the cost, allocation and use of health care resources. Nations will be challenged as a result of the changing demographic structures and new psychologies, behaviors and activity patterns of aging yet healthy citizens and the concomitant need to formulate new national economic and social policies."

For much more information, please read this very instructive report before the final version is delivered to the next U.S. president.

Sources: Patrick Thibodeau, Computerworld, September 10, 2008; and various websites

Nanotechnology has reached critical mass. Nowhere is this more evident than in medicine. Rising medical costs, demands for less-invasive procedures and pressures for immediate feedback of medical conditions, all point to nanotechnology as offering a new approach in healthcare. According to U.S. National Science Foundation estimates, by 2015 the annual global market for nano-related goods and services will top $1 trillion, thus making it one of the fastest-growing industries in history. Assuming that these figures prove to be accurate, nanotechnology will emerge as a larger economic force than the combined telecommunications and information technology industries at the beginning of the technology boom of the late 1990s. This report covers the specific segments of the medical nanotechnology markets, with particular emphasis on those segments where this emerging technology is or shows the potential to be most impactful.

Nanotechnology, a field of science and technology that aims to control matter at the atomic, molecular and macromolecular level, potentially has far-reaching and paradigm-shifting implications for biology, drug discovery and medical technologies. The discipline has already yielded healthcare discoveries that have been used for drug delivery and diagnostic purposes. In this study, we describe various nanotechnologies under development for biological and medical purposes and assess their potential. Moreover, this analysis is arranged to provide an overview of the regulatory issues faced by the medical nanotechnology industry and focuses on how specific segments within the industry are poised for high future growth.

(Nanowerk News) New nanotechnology paints for walls, ceilings, and surfaces could be used to kill hospital superbugs when fluorescent lights are switched on, scientists heard today (Wednesday 10 September 2008) at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity College, Dublin.

The new paints contain tiny particles of titanium dioxide, which is the dazzling white compound often used as a brightener in commercial paints. It will also be familiar to tennis fans as the powder used for the white lines to mark out the courts at Wimbledon.

Scientists have discovered that extremely small, nanoparticle-sized forms of titanium dioxide can kill bacteria and destroy dirt when they absorb ultraviolet light (UV) energy from the sun. They produce active molecules which clean up the painted surfaces.

"It would be best if the titanium was antibacterial at wavelengths of light that you find indoors, such as fluorescent light, so that paints containing the nanoparticles could be used in hospitals and other places where a clean environment is important," said Lucia Caballero from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.

The researchers looked at the survival of the food poisoning bacterium Escherichia coli on different formulations of paints containing the titanium nanoparticles under different types and intensities of lights. "We found that paints containing titanium dioxide are more successful at killing bacteria if the concentration of the nanoparticles is stronger than in normal paint. Our best results showed that all the E. coli were killed under ordinary fluorescent lights," said Lucia Caballero.

"However, other common additives in paints, such as calcium carbonate, silica or talc decreased the antibacterial efficiency of the paint. If calcium carbonate was present the kill rate dropped by up to 80%," said Lucia Caballero. "Our tests on a commercially available paint showed that the ability of the paint to inactivate bacteria was massively reduced compared with a paint formulation which did not contain such additives."

With rising concern about the spread of hospital superbugs, healthcare trusts are increasingly looking to find better ways to maintain hygienic standards in hospitals. The same concerns are driving developments in the food industry and in pharmaceutical companies. These new nanoparticle paints could provide a simple and cost-effective solution.

"Facilities such as bathrooms and child care facilities, public conveniences and domestic bathrooms would all benefit from good hygiene control," said Lucia Caballero. "In all these places, surface hygiene could be improved by the action of fluorescent light on catalytic surfaces such as paints containing nanotitanium. This would slow down contamination and save on the costs of cleaning maintenance."

Source: Society for General Microbiology

More than 550 iPhone apps currently populate the iPhone store, and the number is constantly growing. The challenge lies not in acquiring apps, but in finding the ones relevant to your needs.

Here’s a quick-n-dirty list of some key iPhone apps for small business owners, corporate employees, and everyone in between (In no particular order. Go here for detailed reviews):

1. Mileage Counter

A quick and easy replacement for the traditional written mileage counter, this tool also allows you to calculate your vehicle’s fuel consumption. Handy for small business owners and anyone else who needs to report mileage.

2. Budget Tracker

This tool allows you to set a budget, then enter your expenditures into your iPhone to track how close you are to spending it all.

3. 43 Actions

The ultimate action list, this app allows you to organize actions, add new ones via email or Twitter, check off finished actions, get agendas emailed to you on a regular basis, and more.

4. VAT calculator

A list of countries is available for you to instantly calculate VAT in a variety of countries. Handy for the frequent business traveler.

5. Currencies

Keep an eye on a variety of exchange rates, each equipped with a calculator that goes between your currency and the foreign one.

6. Attendance Countdown

Tracks your working hours easily and quickly. Tap on the time to specify your arrival. The app counts down how many working hours you have left, and allows you to email times for your own records or for your boss.

7. Feed Reader

This RSS feed reader comes equipped with autoscrolling to make getting your daily information fix easily and quickly.

8. Countdownr

Counts down to a date and time; for example, a birthday. Specify a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual countdown message. When the time comes, an alert goes off. Syncs with Google Calendar.

9. Worldwatchr

Allows you to view webcams of your choice directly on your iPhone. Handy for traffic and weather info.

10. Salesforce Mobile for the iPhone

Instant customer information on Salesforce.com’s mobile platform. What more could you ask for?

11. QuickVoice Voice Recorder

A cost-effective, quality voice recorder that Gizmodo loves for its pause feature.

12. Oracle Business Indicators

Business performance info at the touch of an iPhone screen, including a range of analytics. No more need to pop open the laptop before that big meeting.

13. StockWatch

Let your stockwatching obsessions flower with this standard stock app equipped with a column for your real-time gains and losses.

14. Taskr

Another task app, with an Adobe AIR desktop hookup. Easy and convenient.

15. Evernote

Evernote combines the good ol’ task-list function with notes capability and an image search. Syncs across platforms and devices.

16. SugarSync

Access your Mac or PC from anywhere, anytime, viewing and sharing a variety of files. Back up an unlimited number of computers.

17. Local city real time traffic reports

Detailed, real-time traffic conditions with all the usual radio information—what happened, how bad it is, time it happened—plus a map and GPS location.

18. Language Translator

Translates more than 20 languages through the Google language translator.

19. Airport Flight Delays

Flightstats.com data, fitted like a glove to your iPhone. Check out delay info to see if you can sleep in or languish a little longer. http://www.flightstats.com/go/Home/home.do

20. PackageTrackr

Tracks your package through UPS, FedEx, DHL, the US Postal Service, and more. Handy for planning purposes.

21. Map Mailer

Send Google maps locations via email by clicking on a map location, entering text, and sending. Emails come with links to Google Maps. Twice the accuracy and half the cell phone calls for finding colleagues and friends.

22. CareerBuilder App

Search for jobs on the go through CareerBuilder’s website. Use geolocation to find a job near your real-time location.

23. CheckPlease

Easy restaurant price/tip calculator that spits out tip amounts and cost per person.

24. Cards

Stores credit- and ATM card details, as well as bank account information. Just don’t ever forget the encryption password—it’s not retrievable.

25. Balance

Track your budget or bank account balance. Obsoletes the manual checkbook balancing method, but doesn’t (yet) come with password protection.

[Via businesspundit]

BEIJING, Sept. 3 -- In the 29th Olympics in Beijing, China outnumbered the United States by snatching more than 10 percent of the total gold medals. That could serve as a persuasive testimony that the country has pushed itself to the list of the world's top sports powers. Compared with its marvelous sports performance, China, however, has achieved far less recognition in science. It has never won a Nobel Prize, a top prize gauging one's contribution to the world in a certain realm, still far behind Britain, Germany and Japan, not to mention the U.S..

Over the past years, China has made great headway both in sports and science. In its first participation in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, the country dispatched a six-member delegation, with only one athlete to compete. 52 years later in the 23rd Olympics in the same city, China's athletes bagged a total of 15 gold medals, marking the country's gradual advancement to the circle of athletics powers. In the 2004 Athens Olympics China was second only to the U.S. in the gold table, and it has a overwhelming superiority to other countries in gold medal in this year's Beijing Olympics, which further consolidated the country's status in the world's sports.

In the realm of science, China, however, has not established an international status proportionate with its comprehensive national strength. At many international academic conferences or in many influential international academic magazines, our Chinese scholars have had only a very limited influence.

In the world's 20th congress of genetics convened in Berlin in July, for instance, none of the 12 keynote speakers were from China, and only two Chinese participants were invited to deliver speeches, 1.2 percent of the total 168 speakers. Also in the world-renowned magazine The Cell, no Chinese scholar published an article from 1981 to 2004.

Like sports, boosting science also needs substantial policy support. In recent years, the government has increased financial input in science and technology, but their smooth development will continue to be hindered by bottlenecks if no improvements are made in the problematic fund-distribution mechanism.

The belief is still deeply rooted in the minds of many people that distribution of the funds on scientific research is used as a tool to balance the interests of different groups, but not as one to boost scientific development and technological invention. To change the long-prevailing mindset, relevant authorities should get the point that the money should flow to the groups of people who can really contribute to the country's scientific advancement. Now it is difficult to imagine that our athletic sports could have achieved such prominent progress if the country's funds invested in sports were not used to cultivate excellent sportsmen.

Science and sports, by nature, have a common goal and standard. That is both aim to reach the world's top level under internationally recognized standards. China's sports have held on to exactly this model, thus resulting in its rapid development in recent years.

In science, on the other hand, a different development mode has been adopted and the domestic criteria are used to replace international ones. A particular example is that the appointments to the title of "academicians", a top title both in honor and economic treatment, which is awarded to people not completely in accordance with their contribution to the world's frontier sciences.

Another distinct difference between sports and science is that the level of the former cannot be raised indefinitely, thus leaving space for less developed countries to catch with up advanced ones. But this is not applicable to science. With scientific and technological advancement happening almost on daily basis, a slow progress made by a country also means its regression in this field compared with other ones. A country underdeveloped in science could catch up with developed ones through utmost persistence and long-term accumulation.

In sports people can only make slow improvement when they reach a certain level, and even come to a standstill for a long time, given that even specially trained athletes cannot surpass the physical limits. Science is totally different with the world's science and technology leaping forward every day. People even cannot predict the boundary of scientific and technological progress.

Now that China is in a period of steady economic development, we should not let slip the historical chances for scientific development. Instead we should lay out a reasonable program for scientific, technological and educational development in order to advance the country's science forward in as short a period of time as possible.

We should work harder to develop into a scientific and technological world power through improving our financial input, talents cultivation and research mechanism. With added scientific research funds, we should absorb more talents and promote its system reform just like what we have done in the sports field.

Over the past three decades, China has cultivated a solid base for scientific and technological talents worldwide. But some of them, because of mastering internationally applicable know-how, have chosen to stay overseas. Thus, we should encourage those with an aspiration to serve the motherland to return, and at the same time, create a favorable environment for domestic scientific and technological personnel to play their part.

In pursuing the reform of the scientific research and development system, we should set up a department that is independent of group interests and can coordinate and monitor the country's overall scientific development.

To raise the country's scientific status in the international society will not only boost national confidence, but also produce an inestimable role in the country's social development. All these can serve as a necessary groundwork for the resurrection of the Chinese nation.

The authors are professors respectively with Peking University and Tsinghua University. The article is reprinted from Global Times

(Source: China Daily)

MESA, ARIZ.: Arizona State University's (ASU) researchers have secured US$3 million funding for an algae-to-biofuel project.

Two ASU scientists, Qiang Hu and Milton Sommerfeld are growing algae in solar tubes at the school campus to demonstrate the fuel can be produced on a larger scale, according to various news reports.

The project secured a licensing agreement with private investment group, Heliae Development and US$1.5 million in the technology. Heliae will return fees and a share of income from commercialising the technology to the university.

Heliae is led by Frank Mars, a member of the Mars family behind food conglomerate M&M's. Several members of the family are also investing in the technology because of their personal commitment to helping develop environmentally friendly energy sources, according to ASU.

Science Foundation Arizona, a non-profit group, will also award a US$1.5 million grant to the project.

Source link: www.energycurrent.com

We love babbling PR tosh, so when a spectacularly ludicrous pile of techno-hyperbole oozed into our inbox from Asus, we simply had to share it with you lot.

The company wrote to tell us all about their ‘Bamboo Series’ of laptops - consisting of 12.1″ and 11.1″ models powered by Intel Core 2 Duo-powered processors - which are being trumpeted as “spurring the Green Computing Revolution,” no less.

But these are no ordinary laptops - no sir!

Regaling in ‘artisan-grade Moso bamboo paneling’, Asus insist that their mix of “organic tactility, refreshing scent and minimalist aesthetics” apparently gives the laptops “an arresting aura of spirituality, warmth and old world charm that synthetic materials and cold, impersonal metals will struggle to replicate.”

And there’s more, with Asus getting all poetical about what it’s like to touch the laptops. Get a load of this trumpery:

“With every touch, users will be able to feel the difference – the bamboo gives an instant sense of familiarity, just like the sensation one would get from running one’s fingertips across furniture. The sensation of being close to nature is even conveyed when users use the touch pad. The genuine bamboo fiber patterns on the touch pad create the sensation of touching live bamboo.”

Asus are so hyped up about their green credentials that they’ve taken to dishing out lectures to others: “For solution providers, the key to going green entails looking beyond mere legal compliance and proactively inculcating green values among staff. ASUS is the beacon of success for this approach.”

Ya. Rly.

Once we’d had a little bit of a sit down to recover from the pungent whiff of wafty PR nonsense, we took a closer look and found that there’s quite a lot to like about these laptops.

For starters, they look great. Compared to the usual dull black boxes and shiny silvery concoctions knocked out up by trendy laptop makers, the Asus laptops have a refreshingly natural look - although we wouldn’t go as far as ascribing any kind of spirituality to the things. Well, not unless we’d been on some particularly potent drugs.

Lurking inside the 12.1 screen model there’s a choice of Intel T9400/P8600/P8400 Core 2 Duo processors, 256MB nVidia GeForce 9300M GS graphics with up to 4GB of Dram, backed by a 320GB hybrid hard disk drive with 256MB of Flash, with the smaller 11.1″ screen lappie offering a regular 80-120GB HDD and a 32GB SSD.

Both laptops use Asus’ new Super Hybrid Engine power-saving technology which promises an increased battery life of some 35-75% against similarly spec’d notebooks. Very nice.

We’ve no idea on pricing yet, but we suspect all that panda-depriving bamboo is going to hike the retail price in an unpleasantly upward direction.

Specs and more details

CHARLESTON - The same day two energy companies announced plans to build West Virginia's first coal-to-gasoline plant, a spokeswoman for one of the state's largest environmental groups was trying to convince state lawmakers that coal-to-liquids technology would be a step in the wrong direction.

Vickie Wolfe of the West Virginia Environmental Council said coal- to-liquid technology was less efficient than conventional fuels, resulted in more greenhouse gas emissions and would lead to more environmental damage caused by coal mining.

"Coal is not clean and won't be," she told lawmakers on the Joint Committee on Economic Development, which is studying the issue.

CONSOL Energy of Pittsburgh and Synthesis Energy Systems of Houston announced July 28 they were entering into a joint venture to build a coal gasification plant in Marshall County.

Coal-to-liquid technology is seen as a tool by many policymakers for decreasing the nation's reliance on foreign oil. It has been used by the Germans during World War II and by South Africa, which lost access to oil due to international embargoes resulting from the country's apartheid policies.

The reason coal-to-liquid hasn't been more widely used is the expense of converting coal into useable fuel. But now with a barrel of oil costing as much as $147, coal-based fuels can compete commercially.

Before Wolfe spoke to committee members, they heard from state Division of Energy Director Jeff Herholdt, who pointed to figures showing energy demand will continue to rise over the next two decades. Coal is expected to meet more than a quarter of that demand.

Asked by a committee member what the state was doing to promote coal-to-fuel technology, Herholdt said "I certainly have to run that by the governor."

But he also said the governor has traditionally stressed it is the state's job to provide the infrastructure businesses need to build coal-to-liquid plants.

Wolfe didn't think that would be a wise use of resources. She said the process of producing coal-based fuels uses about half the BTUs the fuel actually puts out, making it less energy efficient than traditional fuels. She compared it to corn-based ethanol, which has been criticized for taking nearly as much energy to produce than it delivers.

"It is not a very efficient process," she said of coal to liquids. Converting coal to liquid also produces roughly twice the amount of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, than the production of traditional fuels. CONSOL and Synthesis said they would bury the CO2 deep withinthe earth, a process known as carbon sequestration.

However, carbon sequestration has yet to be shown effective on a large-scale industrial basis. Wolfe pointed to the climate change report produced by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which determined the technology was decades away from maturing.

She also pointed to research stating even with sequestration, coal to gas technology still puts out more CO2 than traditional fuels.

A large part of Wolfe's presentation was trying to convince lawmakers to start thinking about alternatives to coal as an energy source. She said coal led to environmental damage and referred to a recent study by a West Virginia University researcher that says people living in coal-mining communities had more health problems.

Committee members took no action of Wolfe's suggestions, given the hearing was only for informational purposes.

Copyright State Journal Corporation Aug 1, 2008

(c) 2008 State Journal, The. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

Source: State Journal