NEAR SPACE CRAFT: The $60 Viking I spacecraft, with its payload of just 800 grams, was launched recently and rose almost 30 Km above the Earth's surface. An amateur project in Arizona, the 50 cubic foot helium balloon carried a digital camera that took around 3,000 photos and a Spot GPS tracker. How's that for budget-beating! More at ProjectViking and video on YouTube.
PRINT YOUR FACE: Georgia Tech, USA, has created the Trimensional app for the iPhone. Go in a dark room and start the app. It shines light on your face from various directions and creates a 3D image that you can then email. Print the scan on a 3D printer, or share it as a movie or animated gif. Coming soon to Android phones too. Given the body parts people photocopy, I hate to think where this will go. More at Trimensional and video on YouTube.
IT CAME FROM SPACE: DARPA's Space Surveillance Telescope features a curved charge coupled device, a very wide field-of-view and
large-aperture f/1.0 optics. It has a very sensitive 3.5 metre primary
mirror, an agile mount and a high-speed shutter so it can scan quickly
and with high sensitivity. Based on the ground, it'll be watching for
asteroids and other material that could damage satellites. Just
asteroids, or space invaders and balloons too? More at DARPA.
FOAM FILTERS: Hemicellulose is a by-product of forest materials, while chitosan is crushed up crustacean shells. Correctly combined the two substances form a solid foam that can remove heavy metals, radioactive iodide and other unwanted substances from drinking water. Researchers from North Carolina State University are exploring ways to use it on a large scale. Just look for a good head of foam on your next glass of water. More at North Carolina State University.
SPIN DOCTORS: Electrons have a property known as spin. Researchers at Ohio State University were able to use an organic spintronic magnet to polarise the spins in an electrical current powering an LED. They used the spin to read, write, and manipulate data on a plastic spintronic device. This ability could lead to computers and devices that are lighter and more flexible. It used to be a hard drive that would spin; now it may be the electrons powering it. More at Kurzewailai.
- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz
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