ScienceDaily: Computers & Math News

Online photos provide evidence for value of clean water Posted: 03 Feb 2015 01:01 PM PST A novel approach to calculating the value of clean water has been developed by scientists. Analyzing photos posted to the online photo-sharing site Flickr, researchers found Minnesota and Iowa lakes with greater water quality receive more visits than dirtier lakes, and that users are willing to travel farther to visit those clean, clear lakes.

One-atom-thin silicon transistors hold promise for super-fast computing Posted: 03 Feb 2015 01:01 PM PST Researchers have created the first transistors out of silicene, the world's thinnest silicon material. This new 'wonder material' could make computers and other electronics more efficient.

Rediscovering spontaneous light emission Posted: 03 Feb 2015 12:59 PM PST LEDs could replace lasers for short-range optical communications with the use of an optical antenna that enhances the spontaneous emission of light from atoms, molecules and semiconductor quantum dots.

Physicists observe motion of skyrmions Posted: 03 Feb 2015 10:31 AM PST Small magnetic whirls may revolutionize future data storage and information processing if they can be moved rapidly and reliably in small structures. Scientists have now been able to investigate the dynamics of these whirls experimentally. The skyrmions, as these tiny whirls are called after the British nuclear physicist Tony Skyrme, follow a complex trajectory and even continue to move after the external excitation is switched off. This effect will be especially important when one wants to move a skyrmion to a selected position as necessary in a future memory device.

If Facebook use causes envy, depression could follow Posted: 03 Feb 2015 09:34 AM PST Facebook use can lead to symptoms of depression if the social networking site triggers feelings of envy among its users, research shows. "Facebook can be a fun and healthy activity if users take advantage of the site to stay connected with family and old friends and to share interesting and important aspects of their lives," an author said. "However, if Facebook is used to see how well an acquaintance is doing financially or how happy an old friend is in his relationship--things that cause envy among users--use of the site can lead to feelings of depression."

The future of holographic video Posted: 03 Feb 2015 08:18 AM PST Holographic video displays, featuring 3-D images, are about to "go large" and become a lot more affordable at the same time.

Developing smart services in the cloud Posted: 03 Feb 2015 06:43 AM PST Cloud-based platform helps systematically design and implement smart services. More and more manufacturing companies are looking to build on their success by expanding their core business to include services. Particularly promising are smart services, which provide intelligent ways of connecting people, things and data.

Faster first aid for catastrophe victims Posted: 03 Feb 2015 06:41 AM PST A new system aims to speed up the triage of victims during mass casualty incidents: Instead of colored paper tags, first responders use colored electronic wristbands. These serve to locate victims and transmit vital data to emergency response control centers. An app for Android smartphones also lets victims buried alive under a collapsed building contact rescue teams even though mobile phone networks are down.

New technique doubles the distance of optical fiber communications Posted: 03 Feb 2015 06:41 AM PST A new way to process fibre optic signals could double the distance at which data travels error-free through transatlantic sub-marine cables. The new method has the potential to reduce the costs of long-distance optical fibre communications as signals wouldn't need to be electronically boosted on their journey, which is important when the cables are buried underground or at the bottom of the ocean.