Interesting Tech http://interesting.rk.net.nz collection of interesting topics on tech Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:45:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 Sound waves precisely position nanowires http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172830 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172830#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:45:22 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172830 (Phys.org) —The smaller components become, the more difficult it is to create patterns in an economical and reproducible way, according to an interdisciplinary team of Penn State researchers who, using sound waves, can place nanowires in repeatable patterns for potential use in a variety of sensors, optoelectronics and nanoscale circuits.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172830 0 Pearly perfection http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172828 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172828#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:44:23 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172828 The mystery of how pearls form into the most perfectly spherical large objects in nature may have an unlikely explanation, scientists are proposing in a new study. It appears in ACS’ journal Langmuir, named for 1932 Nobel Laureate Irving Langmuir.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172828 0 Taking stock of technology http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172826 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172826#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:43:23 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172826 At the recent Harvard IT Summit, Anne Margulies, vice president and University chief information officer, mentioned how Harvard had been at the forefront of information technology since its inception, even to the point of naming the burgeoning field. Quoting from a then-futuristic piece titled "Management in the 1980s" in a 1958 issue of the Harvard Business Review, Margulies noted that the article declared, "We shall call it ‘information technology.’"

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172826 0 Japan formally OKs new nuke safety requirements http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172824 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172824#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:42:23 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172824 Japan’s nuclear watchdog formally approved a set of new safety requirements for atomic power plants Wednesday, paving the way for the reopening of facilities shut down since the Fukushima disaster.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172824 0 New canary seed is ideal for gluten-free diets in celiac disease http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172822 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172822#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:41:24 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172822 A new variety of canary seeds bred specifically for human consumption qualifies as a gluten-free cereal that would be ideal for people with celiac disease (CD), scientists have confirmed in a study published in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172822 0 Alcatel-Lucent plans overhaul, big cost cuts (Update) http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172820 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172820#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:40:23 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172820 Telecommunications equipment manufacturer Alcatel-Lucent launched a major effort Wednesday to boost its fortunes by shedding businesses and jobs as part of a deep cost cutting program.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172820 0 Indonesia to use rain-making technology to stop fires http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172818 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172818#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:39:24 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172818 Indonesia plans to use weather changing technology to try to unleash torrents of rain and extinguish raging fires on Sumatra island that have cloaked neighbouring Singapore in thick haze, an official said Wednesday.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172818 0 Quantum information in low light: New photo-detection scheme makes do with few photons http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172816 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172816#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:38:25 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172816 (Phys.org) —At low light, cats see better than humans. Electronic detectors do even better, but eventually they too become more prone to errors at very low light. The fundamental probabilistic nature of light makes it impossible to perfectly distinguish light from dark at very low intensity. However, by using quantum mechanics, one can find measurement schemes that can, at least for part of the time, perform measurements which are free of errors, even when the light intensity is very low.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172816 0 Surprise species at risk from climate change http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172814 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172814#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:37:26 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172814 (Phys.org) —Most species at greatest risk from climate change are not currently conservation priorities, according to an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) study that has introduced a pioneering method to assess the vulnerability of species to climate change.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172814 0 Security ROI: 5 Practices Analyzed http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172812 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172812#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:36:27 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172812 Which security practices bring the best return on investment? Not all of the most popular practices are good for your company.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172812 0 Java 7 Update 25 fixes 40 security issues, enables certificate revocation checking http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172810 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172810#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:35:28 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172810 Oracle addressed 40 security issues in Java and enabled online certificate revocation checking by default in its scheduled critical patch update for Java on Tuesday. Thirty-four vulnerabilities patched in the newly released Java 7 Update 25 (Java 7u25) version affect only client deployments of Java. Another four affect both client and server deployments, one affects the Java installer and one the Javadoc tool that’s used to create HTML documentation files.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172810 0 Cumulus Networks unveils ‘Cisco killer’ http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172808 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172808#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:34:28 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172808 After three years under the radar, secretive Cumulus Networks has finally emerged from stealth mode.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172808 0 Smart ring and socks unveiled http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172806 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172806#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:33:29 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172806 A ring that unlocks smartphones and socks which provide feedback about footsteps are the latest devices in the growing wearable tech sector.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172806 0 Google Challenges Surveillance Gag Order http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172804 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172804#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:32:28 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172804 Google argues it has a First Amendment Right to report the number of demands for information it receives under national security laws.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172804 0 Making peril permanent: Google’s Gmail app redesign http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172802 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172802#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:31:29 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172802 Google’s recent update of its Gmail app made archive the default setting, encouraging its users to save their email, literally, forever. This may mean a doctor’s message about a medical condition, a love note, a conversation about an employer, a neighbor, or with a therapist, may be preserved for decades and, consequently, is left forever at risk.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172802 0 LTE Advanced is coming, but smartphone users may not care http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172800 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172800#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:30:31 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172800 Faster network speeds are better, right? LTE Advanced is coming soon to the Samsung Galaxy S 4 smartphone, offering double the downlink speeds of LTE (Long Term Evolution).

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172800 0 TripAdvisor acquires mobile app GateGuru http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172798 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172798#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:46:29 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172798 Travel ratings website TripAdvisor said Wednesday it has acquired US start-up GateGuru, a mobile app focused on flight and airport information.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172798 0 Siberian caves warn of permafrost meltdown http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172796 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172796#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:45:30 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172796 Climate records captured in Siberian caves suggest 1.5 degrees of warming is enough to trigger thawing of permafrost, according to a paper to be given at the Geological Society of London on 27 June.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172796 0 Aussies cash in on billion-dollar apps industry http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172794 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172794#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:44:32 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172794 Australians are taking a big bite out of the multi-billion dollar mobile and tablet applications industry, a media researcher says.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172794 0 Building 3-D fractals on a nanoscale: Structure repeats itself from micro to nano http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172792 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172792#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:43:33 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172792 It all starts with a single octahedron structure, then after four iterations there are already 625 of them. Each iteration creates a new octahedron at each vertex. The result is a fascinating 3D fractal construction on micro and nanoscale, suitable e.g. for high-performance filters. Researchers at the University of Twente’s MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology present this invention in the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172792 0 When benzene’s bonds break: Hydrogen release depends on bond scission, not absorption http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172790 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172790#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:42:35 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172790 (Phys.org) —In adding steam to benzene, C6H6, to generate hydrogen, the step that determines the reaction’s speed is not the benzene’s absorption onto the catalyst, but rather the first benzene bond that breaks, according to scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The team further explored increasing the speed of the hydrogen-producing reaction by evaluating rhodium and iridium catalysts on a magnesium aluminum spinel support. Through experimental and computational studies, they found that small rhodium particles had a higher turnover efficiency than either larger rhodium particles or iridium. This research graced the cover of ACS Catalysis.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172790 0 Gay marriage ruling unlikely to cause anti-gay backlash http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172788 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172788#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:41:36 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172788 Concerns that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling favorable to gay marriage might produce a backlash that would impede efforts to achieve equality are unfounded, according to a study by researchers at University of California campuses in Riverside and Irvine, University of Connecticut and Princeton University.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172788 0 Multiview 3-D photography made simple http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172786 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172786#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:40:37 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172786 Computational photography is the use of clever light-gathering tricks and sophisticated algorithms to extract more information from the visual environment than traditional cameras can.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172786 0 Autophaser improves sample analysis in areas such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and oil spills http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172784 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172784#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:39:38 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172784 (Phys.org) —A new software package allows researchers to vastly improve the performance of one of the key tools used to analyse medical and environmental samples.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172784 0 Evidence supports value of internal assessment in schools http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172782 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172782#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:38:39 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172782 Research carried out at Victoria University challenges criticism of internal assessment in schools and shows the assessment method plays an important role in helping students to think critically.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172782 0 Ground monitoring equipment deployed on two Ethiopian volcanoes showing signs of unrest http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172780 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172780#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:37:40 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172780 Images taken from space have indicated that some of the world’s unmonitored volcanoes may not be as peaceful as we might like to think. Satellite radar has shown that the surfaces of a number of volcanoes within the East African Rift are deforming – inflating and deflating.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172780 0 Giant 3-D printed bugs shed light on insect anatomy http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172778 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172778#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:36:42 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172778 Minute insects, from the Australian National Insect Collection, have been super sized by up to forty times using a novel 3D scanning system and printed using a state of the art 3D printer.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172778 0 Researchers develop technique to test manatees for heart disease http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172776 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172776#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:35:33 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172776 (Phys.org) —Leisurely swims in warm, tropical waters fueled by the gaze of admiring fans and a healthy vegetarian diet. The life of a manatee hardly seems likely to prompt concerns about heart disease. But researchers at the University of Florida say the lumbering, loveable sea cow’s ticker deserves a closer look because of the animal’s endangered status.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172776 0 Deep-sea shark nursery found in Outer Hebrides coral reef http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172774 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172774#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:34:33 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172774 (Phys.org) —Marine biologists from Heriot-Watt have discovered a deep-sea shark spawning ground on Scotland’s only inshore coral reef.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172774 0 A microphone that listens with light http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172772 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172772#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:33:33 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172772 A sensor developed in Norway gives microphones hyper-acute hearing and a sense of direction.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172772 0 DNA constructs antenna for solar energy http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172770 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172770#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:32:33 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172770 Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have found an effective solution for collecting sunlight for artificial photosynthesis. By combining self-assembling DNA molecules with simple dye molecules, the researchers have created a system that resembles nature’s own antenna system.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172770 0 Sweet solutions for detecting disease http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172768 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172768#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:31:31 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172768 Based at the Institute of Chemistry in the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ján Tkáč’s research combines glycomics – the study of sugars in organisms – with biochip sensors based on nanoparticles and nanotubes. The complexity of sugar molecules, he says, has so far held back the development of glycomics, but today it is one of the fastest developing scientific fields.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172768 0 Steve Jobs’ draft email plays pivotal role in antitrust case http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172766 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172766#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:30:32 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172766 An email composed, but never sent, by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs may prove instrumental in the Justice Department’s case that Apple, along with the five largest book publishers, colluded to fix prices for electronic books.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172766 0 Two proteins that control nuclear DNA distribution also regulate development by altering gene expression http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172764 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172764#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:45:14 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172764 Cell biologists believe that gene expression in eukaryotic cells is partly controlled by the uneven distribution of DNA in the nucleus. Colin Stewart and Audrey Wang at the A*STAR Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore, and their international co-workers, have identified two proteins that control this distribution of DNA. Their findings have important implications for disease and cellular development.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172764 0 The contribution of particulate matter to forest decline http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172762 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172762#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:44:15 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172762 Air pollution is related to forest decline and also appears to attack the protecting wax on tree leaves and needles. Bonn University scientists have now discovered a responsible mechanism: particulate matter salt compounds that become deliquescent because of humidity and form a wick-like structure that removes water from leaves and promotes dehydration. These results are published in Environmental Pollution.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172762 0 US economy: Steady as she goes http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172760 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172760#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:43:16 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172760 America’s economy will hum along its path of moderate growth, adding 4.7 million jobs through the end of next year, say University of Michigan economists.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172760 0 Seeing data http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172758 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172758#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:42:18 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172758 More data are being created, consumed, and transported than ever before, and in all areas of society, including business, government, health care, and science. The hope and promise is that this influx of information—known as big data—will be transformative: armed with insightful information, businesses will make more money while providing improved customer service, governments will be more efficient, medical science will be better able to prevent and treat diseases, and science will make discoveries that otherwise would not be possible.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172758 0 Hybrid nanostructures: Getting to the core http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172756 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172756#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:41:19 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172756 Material scientists expect the new multifunctional properties of hybrid nanostructures will transform the development of high-performance devices, including batteries, high-sensitivity sensors and solar cells. These self-assembling nanostructures are typically generated by depositing ultrasmall objects with different properties on the surfaces of tiny semiconducting wires. However, the factors that govern their formation remain elusive, making these structures difficult to control and design.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172756 0 Researchers engineer synthetic pathways for new antibacterial treatments http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172754 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172754#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:40:21 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172754 Bacteria, for the most part, thrive in extreme temperatures and in arid conditions. But some types of bacteria have the capacity to do this and more: they grow within diverse environments and adapt easily. One such species is the Bacillus subtilis. Known to make its home in soil and in water, researchers have also found evidence that B. subtilis is frequently present in the human gut.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172754 0 Converting bioethanol into hydrogen for fuel cells becomes significantly simpler with innovative metal catalysts http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172752 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172752#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:39:22 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172752 A process known as ethanol steam reforming is creating opportunities for fuel cell researchers, thanks to the recent rise of the bioethanol industry. This technique generates hydrogen gas (H2) directly within fuel cell systems onboard vehicles by decomposing bioethanol in the presence of special catalysts—an approach that could use current gasoline delivery infrastructures to power alternative energy transportation. Currently, ethanol steam reforming suffers from a major obstacle: its multiple reaction pathways can produce toxic carbon monoxide (CO) byproducts that ruin fuel cell membranes.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172752 0 Pairs of gene-regulating proteins work together to identify their proper binding sites within the genome http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172750 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172750#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:38:22 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172750 Research led by Lawrence Stanton and Prasanna Kolatkar of the A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore has provided valuable insight into embryonic development. Stanton and Kolatkar teamed up with colleagues in Singapore to determine how transcription factor proteins assemble at DNA sequences called enhancers, which help coordinate gene expression.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172750 0 Magnetic materials that change their properties when heated could pack more data onto hard drives http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172748 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172748#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:37:23 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172748 A ‘sandwich’ of three iron alloy layers could help to create computer hard drives that can store more data than ever before. Tiejun Zhou and co-workers at the A*STAR Data Storage Institute in Singapore expect that their development, based on a new technology called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), could boost the capacity of disks.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172748 0 YouTube is the most important music source for the Finnish youth, survey finds http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172746 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172746#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:36:25 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172746 YouTube has become the primary music service among young adults, finds a new study by Aalto University. 99% of the respondents to a survey on digital music use listened to YouTube at least sometimes, 35% every day.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172746 0 African black slug serves as healthy reminder http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172744 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172744#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:35:25 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172744 A new, invasive species of slug found recently in South Texas serves as a good reminder to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before eating them, according to an expert with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172744 0 Apple pours OS X Snow Leopard another Java fix http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172742 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172742#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:34:26 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172742 Apple on Tuesday patched Java 6 for OS X Snow Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion, fixing 34 flaws that Oracle addressed the same day for Windows. The update reiterated Apple’s intent to keep patching Snow Leopard, the five-year-old operating system that remains the second-most-popular version on the Mac.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172742 0 Microsoft Dynamics ERP software moves to the Azure cloud http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172740 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172740#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:33:26 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172740 Microsoft is upping the stakes in the growing market for cloud-based ERP, with its Dynamics GP 2013 and NAV 2013 products now available for deployment on its Azure service. The launch, announced Tuesday, gives customers another option for cloud-based ERP (enterprise resource planning) services besides NetSuite, SAP Business ByDesign, and others. It’s a bit late in coming, as Microsoft originally said availability would be toward the end of last year.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172740 0 PlayStation update freezing consoles http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172738 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172738#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:32:27 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172738 A system software update has rendered some PlayStation 3 consoles unusable, manufacturer Sony confirms.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172738 0 The Microsoft break-up that never happened http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172736 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172736#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:31:28 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172736 Thomas P. Jackson, the former federal judge who in 2000 ruled that Microsoft should be split into two companies as punishment for monopolistic business practices, died Saturday at his Maryland home. He was 76.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172736 0 Forrester: PaaS makes developers happy http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172734 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172734#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:30:27 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172734 Although the platform as a service (PaaS) market is smaller than both IaaS and SaaS segments of the cloud computing industry, research firm Forrester says this technology could be one of the most important cloud-based services for businesses moving forward.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172734 0 Low-cost molecule boosts stability and amplification characteristics of solution-based polymer semiconductors http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172732 http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172732#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:34:30 +0000 admin http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?p=172732 Replacing traditional rigid silicon wafers with semiconductors made from flexible polymers would herald an age of advanced, ‘wearable’ electronics. Switching to these semiconductors, known as organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), would also reduce manufacturing costs significantly. However, most plastic materials have trouble moving electrons and their polar opposites—positively charged empty ‘holes’ inside semiconductor lattices—with sufficient speed for electronic amplification.

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]]> http://interesting.rk.net.nz/?feed=rss2&p=172732 0