High-speed cosmic ray particles--protons and neutrons of still-mysterious origins that travel at nearly the speed of light--collide with water molecules in the atmosphere, stripping away electrons from those molecules and converting them into electrically charged ions. The ions then begin attracting other water molecules, which eventually form clouds.
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Killer Asteroids May Escape NASA's Notice
NASA estimates that there are about 20,000 asteroids and comets in our solar system that are potential threats to Earth. They are larger than 460 feet in diameter -- slightly smaller than the Superdome in New Orleans. So far, scientists know where about 6,000 of these objects are.
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The Incredible Shrinking Camera
Biomedical engineers have pulled off something like the shrinking submarine, except it’s real. This time, it’s a miniature camera in a capsule.
Doctors use this camera capsule to examine the inside of the small intestine, one part of the body that’s hard to reach with more conventional diagnostic tools.
It carries a camera on a computer chip, light source, radio transmitter and a battery.
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Doctors use this camera capsule to examine the inside of the small intestine, one part of the body that’s hard to reach with more conventional diagnostic tools.
It carries a camera on a computer chip, light source, radio transmitter and a battery.
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Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Tactical Smartphone Applications
Warfighters operating in theatre may soon have greater situational awareness with the added ability to download high-value tactical data anywhere in the field on smartphones loaded with new applications from Lockheed Martin.
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China warns against missile defence systems
China's foreign minister warned on Wednesday that there was a "looming danger" of an arms race in outer space, as he urged countries not to deploy missile defence systems that could undermine global security."The practice of seeking absolute strategic advantage should be abandoned," Yang Jiechi told the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
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Organelle Simulated on Microchip for First Time
More and more synthetic versions of key parts of the human cell, including chromosomes, have been developed by scientists in the past decade or so. Now researchers are aiming even higher, developing the first working artificial prototype of an "organ" of a human cell—the Golgi apparatus, which helps modify biomolecules and package them for delivery around the cell.
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New Device Sequences Complete Human Genome Faster, Cheaper Than Ever
A new gene sequencing device designed by Stanford engineer Stephen Quake may finally usher in the long predicted practice of personalized genetic medicine. By using a new refrigerator-sized machine to decode the DNA, Quake has cut both the cost and time of the process by at least a fifth.
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NASA to Spend $50 Million to Spur Commercial Spacecraft
NASA plans to spend up to $50 million in federal stimulus money to help foster development of commercial spacecraft for launching astronauts and cargo into space.
Under the plan, NASA will competitively award Space Act agreements to promising private companies to boost their commercial spacecraft work. NASA said last week that it intended to issue a formal Commercial Crew and Cargo Program solicitation. Proposals will be due 45 days later with multiple awards expected in November.
Under the plan, NASA will competitively award Space Act agreements to promising private companies to boost their commercial spacecraft work. NASA said last week that it intended to issue a formal Commercial Crew and Cargo Program solicitation. Proposals will be due 45 days later with multiple awards expected in November.
'Printed chips' could be boon for consumers
'Printed chips' could be boon for consumersAugust 12th, 2009 By Steve Johnson -->
Until now, creating the microchips that power all of our electronic gadgets has been a laborious, complex and time-consuming process costing billions of dollars. But if a Milpitas, Calif.-based startup succeeds, making them could be as easy as printing a piece of paper.
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Until now, creating the microchips that power all of our electronic gadgets has been a laborious, complex and time-consuming process costing billions of dollars. But if a Milpitas, Calif.-based startup succeeds, making them could be as easy as printing a piece of paper.
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More Issues with Air Speed Indicators on Airbus Aircraft Surface
Over the weekend, the AP reported that faulty airspeed indicators (pitot tubes) had been found on Northwest Airlines Airbus 330s that caused pilots not to know their airspeed on at least a dozen flights. Airspeed indicators are thought to be a contributing factor to the loss of Air France 447, although French accident investigators continue to insist they have no evidence that says the crash was caused by or related to problems with the pitot tubes.
Russian Military Defence Technology to Counter US
The US Military will have the airborne strike capability to hit any part of Russia within two decades, according to the head of the Russian Air Force. On this basis, he said, the Russian military intends to construct and implement advanced 21st century air defence technology as a counter-mechanism.
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New Low Cost Fighter Aircraft for USAF
The United States Air Force is in the market for a new, lightweight combat aircraft, as opposed to a highly technologically advanced multi-role combat aircraft in the class of the soon-to-enter-service F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Its aim is to induct a new "fixed-wing platform" capable of carrying out "strike, armed reconnaissance and advanced aircraft training in support of irregular warfare." That is to say, a dedicated light fighter of the kind not used en-masse for some decades.
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