ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy 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.

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.

Novel pretreatment could cut biofuel costs by 30 percent or more Posted: 24 Feb 2015 10:13 AM PST Researchers have invented a novel pretreatment technology that could cut the cost of biofuels production by about 30 percent or more by dramatically reducing the amount of enzymes needed to breakdown the raw materials that form biofuels.

Together, nanotechnology, genetic interference may tackle 'untreatable/ brain tumors Posted: 24 Feb 2015 10:13 AM PST There are no effective available treatments for sufferers of Glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive and devastating form of brain tumor. Now a study may offer hope to the tens of thousands diagnosed with gliomas every year, using a nanomedical treatment first engineered to tackle ovarian cancer tumors.

Ultra-thin nanowires can trap electron 'twisters' that disrupt superconductors Posted: 24 Feb 2015 08:34 AM PST Superconductor materials are prized for their ability to carry an electric current without resistance, a valuable trait crippled or lost when electrons swirl into tiny tornado-like formations called vortices. To keep supercurrents flowing at top speed, scientists have figured out how to constrain troublesome vortices by trapping them within extremely short, ultra-thin nanowires.

Using 'fuzzy logic' to optimize hybrid solar/battery systems Posted: 24 Feb 2015 08:29 AM PST A group of researchers in Tunisia and Algeria show how fuzzy logic has helped them create an ideal photovoltaic system that obeys the supply-and-demand principle and its delicate balance. They have now described this new sizing system of a solar array and a battery in a standalone photovoltaic system.

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.

Why a latte is less likely to spill than a coffee Posted: 24 Feb 2015 08:29 AM PST Carrying a cup of coffee can be precarious for a sleepy-eyed caffeine addict who might accidentally send a wave of java sloshing over the rim, but add some foam and the trip becomes easier. New research shows that just a few layers of bubbles can significantly dampen the sloshing motion of liquid, and it may have applications far beyond breakfast beverages, including the safer transport of liquefied gas in trucks and propellants in rocket engines.

Detecting defects at the nanoscale will profit solar panel production Posted: 24 Feb 2015 07:28 AM PST New research may lead to major efficiency gains and cost savings in the manufacture of flexible solar panels. The goal is to develop new technologies for the detection, cleaning and repair of micro and nanoscale defects in thin films that are vital in products such as printed electronics and solar panels.

New acoustic insulation material that incorporates fibers from orange tree pruning Posted: 24 Feb 2015 07:26 AM PST Scientists are using the fibers from orange tree pruning as an acoustic insulator. Researchers have developed boards that, compared with the conventional gypsum boards, provide a 150% improvement in the acoustic insulation.

Crude oil production: Asphaltene analysis takes a giant step Posted: 24 Feb 2015 06:18 AM PST Scientists develop a method to improve the detection of asphaltene that precipitates in crude oil and clogs production lines.

Renewable energy obtained from wastewater Posted: 24 Feb 2015 05:31 AM PST Researchers have devised an efficient way to obtain electrical energy and hydrogen by using a wastewater treatment process. The proposed system uses bacteria which consumes the organic material and produces electricity which allows producing hydrogen, the energetic vector of the future. The results point to further developments of this technology at industrial scale.

New, useful feature of Moringa seeds revealed Posted: 24 Feb 2015 05:29 AM PST Previous studies have shown that the extracts from seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree can be used for water purification. In a new study, researchers show that the Moringa seeds can also be used for separation of different materials. Separation processes are very important in mining industries and the new knowledge could contribute to reduce the needs for expensive synthetic chemicals. Moringa trees are known as 'miracle' trees because of their many uses as food and as a source of oil.

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.