Prehistoric Flute Found
Tubingen University scientists in Germany have discovered 35,000 years old flutes which indicates that humans in Europe had established a complex and creative culture. The three flutes were found found in the Hohle Fels cavern in southwest Germany. The flutes were assembled from 12 pieces of griffon vulture bone.
Archaeologist Nicholas Conard said, It’s unambiguously the oldest instrument in the world.
Source: Prehistoric flute in Germany is oldest known
World’s Largest Laser Unveiled
“Bringing Star Power to Earth”, a banner erected next to the $3.5 billion National Ignition Facility (NIF) which holds the record-breaking laser which is made up of 192 individual beams. Each one about 40 centimeters square. The laser fusion facility is designed to reduce tiny pellets of hydrogen into thermonuclear energy.
From NIF director, More energy will be produced by this ignition process than the amount of laser energy required to start it. This is the long-sought goal of energy gain that has been the goal of fusion researchers for more than half a century.
Source: World’s strongest laser unveiled at California lab
Angel & Demons Antimatter Real?
Antimatter is real but currently it cannot be used to produce a bomb as shown in the latest Dan Brown movie “Angel and Demons”. CERN is a real organisation but an antimatter bomb was never produced in CERN.
From CERN: When antimatter comes into contact with matter it annihilates: the mass of the particle and its antiparticle are converted into pure energy. Large-scale annihilation of antimatter and matter could theoretically be used in a destructive way. However, there is no way that antimatter could be created in sufficient quantities to be used in a bomb. Nor could it be transported, as the antimatter traps capable of containing any significant quantity of antimatter would have to be enormous, and would require huge amounts of energy to operate.
Yes, CERN did capitalised from the movie by having a Angels and Demon microsite.
Source: CERN Angels and Demons
Research Into Invisibility Cloak
Humans have been fascinated with invisibility cloaking device. The Klingons do so on Star Trek. So how far have researchers gone in their search for invisibility. Previously reported, scientists from David R. Smith’s lab at Duke University are moving closer to creating a real cloak of invisibility.
Recently researchers from Cornell University and UC Berkeley claim to have prototyped their own cloaking devices. Both designs are based on an idea inspired by theoretical physicist John Pendry at Imperial College, London. The basic idea is to steer light around an object, fooling you into seeing only the background view.
Source: Carpet Cloaks Bring Invisibility to the Optical World
Most Earth-like Planet Found
Scientist has found Gliese 581d, 1.9 times size of Earth, has a lot more in common with our planet than astronomers first thought. Michel Mayor, an astrophysicist at Geneva University in Switzerland said, The Holy Grail of current exoplanet research is the detection of a rocky, Earth-like planet in the ‘habitable zone,’
It is said that Gliese 581d could even be covered by a large and deep ocean and it is the first serious ‘water world’ candidate.
Source: Scientists discover a nearly Earth-sized planet
Glacier Bleeds Million-Year-Old Microbe
The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica was seen to be bleeding red water like blood waterfall. Scientist investigating this phenomena discovered this is caused by tiny organisms which have survived for millions of years, living on sulfur and iron compounds.
The microbes descended from marine microorganisms and they stayed alive by generating energy from chemical reactions with sulfur and iron.
Source: Glacier “Bleeds” Proof of Million-Year-Old Life-Forms
Action Games Sharpen Eyesight
University of Rochester research shows that playing action video games make you notice even very small changes in shades of grey against a uniform background. Basically improving your eyesight.
Researcher Daphne Bavelier said, Normally, improving contrast sensitivity means getting glasses or eye surgery, somehow changing the optics of the eye. But we’ve found that action video games train the brain to process the existing visual information more efficiently, and the improvements last for months after game play stopped.
Source: Action video games sharpen eyesight: U.S. study
Ethical Stem Cell Technology
Researchers from UK and Canadian have manipulated human skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells without using viruses. This process make it safer for humans as using viruses have the risk they could become cancerous.
The new method uses genes instead to trigger IPS cells into useful stem cells.
Source: Researchers find safer way to make stem cells
NASA’s Carbon Observatory Satellite Crashes
NASA’s $278 million satellite designed to monitor carbon dioxide emissions in Earth’s atmosphere crashed into the Indian Ocean near Antarctica this morning. A clamshell nose cone that shields the satellite as it goes through the atmosphere failed to separate as commanded.
John Brunschwyler, the Taurus program manager said, “As a direct result of carrying that extra weight we could not make orbit”.
Scientists wanted to use the Orbiting Carbon Observatory to discover how carbon dioxide, suspected of being a trigger of global climate change, is cycling through the planet.
Source: Botched launch ends U.S. satellite’s mission
Flex Insulin Pump That Sticks To Your Skin
Designer Ellaluna Taylor has created an Insulin Pump system that is worn naturally under clothing as a discreet glucose management solution. She described it as a revolutionary method of Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Treatment.
Designed with a Remote Micro Reader Interface the Therapy System is programmed through the use of a unique integrated Pump Interface and Blood Glucose Reader. Simple and easy to use the Flex Micro-Reader allows for instant Blood glucose level readings and the Remote transmission of Insulin Dosage adjustments allowing for greater control.
Source: Flex Insulin Pump Overcomes Diabetes, Fear of Leeches
