ScienceDaily: Computers & Math News

Bionic reconstruction lets patients use a robotic prosthetic hand controlled by the mind Posted: 24 Feb 2015 04:26 PM PST Three Austrian men have become the first in the world to undergo a new technique called "bionic reconstruction", enabling them to use a robotic prosthetic hand controlled by their mind, according to new research. All three men suffered for many years with brachial plexus injuries and poor hand function as a result of motor vehicle and climbing accidents.

Sensor-packed smartphones can read your mood, guard your data, and wreak havoc in the wrong hands Posted: 24 Feb 2015 12:47 PM PST Smartphones have replaced nearly every conceivable gadget, but computer scientists are teaching them some new tricks. The researchers are adapting accelerometers, GPS chips, gyroscopes and other sensors to make phones that can read a user's mood, eliminate passwords, protect financial transactions and more.

Dendrite eraser: New electrolyte rids batteries of short-circuiting fibers Posted: 24 Feb 2015 11:31 AM PST A new electrolyte allows rechargeable batteries to operate well without growing dendrites, tiny pin-like fibers that short-circuit rechargeable batteries.

Intelligent tree inventory detector Posted: 24 Feb 2015 09:09 AM PST Planning and managing vegetation in urban area is complex, yet it can be seamlessly done using computerized tree inventory and Geographic Information System (GIS).

Optical nanoantennas set the stage for a NEMS lab-on-a-chip revolution Posted: 24 Feb 2015 08:29 AM PST Newly developed tiny antennas, likened to spotlights on the nanoscale, offer the potential to measure food safety, identify pollutants in the air and even quickly diagnose and treat cancer, according to the scientists who created them.

Cyberbystanders: Most don't try to stop online bullies Posted: 24 Feb 2015 06:17 AM PST In a new study, 221 college students participated in an online chat room in which they watched a fellow student get “bullied” right before their eyes. Only 10 percent of the students who noticed the abuse directly intervened, either by confronting the bully online or helping the victim.

First portable system for monitoring patients with Parkinson's disease tested on 50 people from different countries Posted: 24 Feb 2015 05:31 AM PST The evolution of Parkinson's is monitored in real time through a new portable system, with results sent to the doctor to improve the prescription of medication, developers report.

Facebook in mourning: mediatization of death and RIP pages as virtual shrines Posted: 24 Feb 2015 05:29 AM PST In the wake of high a profile death, it is increasingly common to see mass public outpourings of grief on RIP Facebook pages. This article explores media coverage of death and its relation to public expression of grief via social media.

Motor proteins prefer slow, steady movement Posted: 23 Feb 2015 12:48 PM PST A new theoretical approach clarifies interactions between motor proteins and yields the discovery that both weak and strong forces influence how they keep a cell's transport system robust. The study suggests that the collective behavior of motor proteins like kinesins keeps cellular transport systems robust by favoring slow and steady over maximum movement.

Building tailor-made DNA nanotubes step by step Posted: 23 Feb 2015 12:48 PM PST Researchers have developed a new, low-cost method to build DNA nanotubes block by block -- a breakthrough that could help pave the way for scaffolds made from DNA strands to be used in applications such as optical and electronic devices or smart drug-delivery systems.