Tech Universe: Thursday 10 March

A new flameproof suit from Lamination Technologies can protect its wearer from flames indefinitely and from temperatures over 1000 C for around 12 seconds. Photo / Thinkstock

MIND YOUR KNITTING: A new flameproof suit from Lamination Technologies can protect its wearer from flames indefinitely and from temperatures over 1000 C for around 12 seconds. That could be long enough to get out of a burning racecar with only minor second degree burns, or for a firefighter to move out of danger. The fabric is made from artificial fibres that are spun into yarn then knitted into sheets that trap pockets of air. The suit will be live tested in 2012 by the driver of the Bloodhound SSC rocket powered car that aims to go faster than 1600 kph. So how does the suit let body heat out? It must be very warm to wear. More at NewScientist and video on YouTube.

PING, "YOU HAVE NEW FOOD": IntraPace's Abiliti system to treat obesity is undergoing clinical trials. The device is implanted and activated inside the patient, where it monitors food and drink that arrives in the stomach, and watches activity and sleeping patterns. After the person eats or drinks the system sends a series of customised low-energy electrical impulses to the stomach to create an early feeling of fullness. The doctor can download reports from the system with detailed data about food consumption and exercise trends. No more fooling the doctor about your food and exercise folks. More at Intrapace.

WONDER GEL: The University of Central Florida have created "frozen smoke" - an aerogel made of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Applications could include sensitive robot hands, batteries and explosives detectors. It can detect minute changes in pressure, store huge amounts of energy and even detect traces of toxins or explosives. All that and yet it can't make me a cup of tea? More at University of Florida.

RED, GREEN, BLUE AND DARK: Night vision cameras can only record images in green. Until now. The Nanosystem Research Division of AIST has created a camera that can record red, green and blue even at night. To create its colour images the camera analyses the wavelengths reflected when objects are illuminated with infrared. They're still working on being able to use different lenses, and on creating a less expensive commercial version. If they're shining infrared anyway, why not just use white lights and solve the problem? More at DigInfo and video on YouTube.

BEDTIME STORIES: According to researchers exposure to artificial light just before bed, such as from TV, computer or cellphone screens, can disturb or reduce sleep. The US National Sleep Foundation found that 95% of people it surveyed used some type of electronics in the hour before going to bed, while two thirds reported not getting enough sleep. The NSF say lack of sleep is negatively impacting work and health, and many people use caffeinated drinks or naps to cope. And that's... where's my coffee? More at Reuters.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz