Posts tagged Science at Switched

Posts with tag science

Researchers Devise Neural Implant That Learns Over Time

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 29th 2008 at 10:12AM

Brain-machine interfaces have done quite a bit in helping handicapped individuals interact with prosthetic limbs, computers and other humans, but a new neural implant concocted at the University of Florida could make all those past devices look archaic.

Put simply, researchers have discovered a method that would enable brain-machine interfaces to "adapt to a person's behavior over time and use the knowledge to help complete a task more efficiently." Until now, the brain was the instrument doing all the talking while the computer simply accepted commands; with this method, "the computer could have a say in that conversation, too."

In all seriousness, this type of learning mechanism could be game-changing in the world of physical therapy, but we hesitate to give something mechanical inside of our body too much free will, ya dig? [Source: University of Florida News via Physorg]

French Researchers Study the Brain Scans of Porn Watchers

by Christine Whitney, posted Jun 20th 2008 at 9:29AM

A team of researchers from France's University of Picardie Jules Verne were curious about erections. So they came up with a study designed to uncover just what goes on in mens' minds when they look at "certain images" (porn). The complicated study involved such diverse elements as a "penile plethysmograph," fishing videos, and smut. Eight bros watched raunchy vids or something while researchers tracked their erections, er, reactions, and, according to boingboing, "how hard they were."

Researcher Harold Mouras and co. studied whether "mirror neurons," neurons that are activated both when a person performs an action and watches that action being performed, were involved in erectile processes. And what better way to find out than good ol' fashioned pornography.

And mirror neurons are behind it all! the study suggests. The scientific data is a bit mind-boggling, but basically shows that those crazy neurons can act like erectile triggers, and can "activate" an erection each time one looks at dirty pics on YouPorn.

The "bold" study is said to be the first of its kind. Oh, those French. [Source: New Scientist via BoingBoing]

Fewer Than 1 in 5 Doctors Use Efficient Electronic Medical Records

by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 19th 2008 at 9:41AM

Doctors Say Electronic Records Are Good, But Don't Use Them

The next time you sign in for a doctor's appointment, take a look behind the registration counter. What do you see? Is it an array of modern computer terminals, or row upon row of shelves crammed with paper medical records? Chances are it's the latter, according to a recent survey, which found just one-in-five doctors have access to electronic records, with the rest stuck shuffling through folders when trying to diagnose a patient.

This is despite that very same survey showing that those who do have electronic record-keeping systems in their offices are far more efficiently able to treat their patients. Why the disparity? Cost, of course. Doctors are saying that adopting these systems are prohibitively expensive. Doctors are also saying that their productivity is greatly reduced as they transition from paper to electronics. For these reasons , they're asking the government aid to make the upgrades.

It's incredible that today's outrageous HMO fees and co-pays can't cover the cost, but one way or another, that stack of paper that's tracked you since birth is destined for the recycling bin -- ideally after a run through a shredder. [Source: The New York Times]

Scientists Create Mutant Bugs that Produce Crude Oil

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jun 16th 2008 at 2:16PM

Like the beginning of every great science fiction movie, experts claim that they've discovered a cure for our fuel-dependency woes that only requires an army of genetically modified bacteria... that eats wheat straw and excretes crude oil.

You read that right: Scientists have created bugs that are able to snack on woodchips or sugar cane and produce waste in the form of easily malleable oil. Not only are the buggers capable of creating a by-product that can quickly be refined into fuel for vehicles, but scientists say the process is carbon-negative -- it outputs less carbon than is required to produce it. Director of the project -- dubbed LS9 -- Greg Pal says that barrel prices could run as low as $50, and that the company plans to have a commercial facility producing the crude in 2011.

And as for the potential threat of world-destroying attack from the mutant bugs? Says Pal, "We're putting these bacteria in a very isolated container: Their entire universe is in that tank. When we're done with them, they're destroyed." Sure buddy -- but we're going to re-watch 'Them!' just in case. [Source: Times Online]

Scientists Inch Closer to Mind Reading

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 11:45AM

Scientists are getting closer and closer to reading your thoughts. Of course, the method uses expensive MRIs, which the subject must be completely still for, and can easily fool by thinking about something other than the target objects.

This is, however, a major advancement for researchers who are able to identify nouns a person is thinking about, even if the model for reading the patterns has never encountered the word before. The scan works by seeing what verbs are associated with the noun by sensing activity in the areas of the brain associated with different senses.

By developing a complex catalog of over a trillion nouns cross referenced with a hand full of simple verbs the computer models were able to predict what the brain scans would like for a given word. A person would then be shown two words and asked to think about one. The computer would take an image of the persons brain scan and compare it with its predictions to generate a guess as to which word the subject was thinking about. The model guessed correctly 77-percent of the time.

The method is far from perfect, but it is the first time that a clear link between the words we use and our neural activity has been shown. [Source: The Guardian]

Exoskeletons Available for Pre-Order

by Terrence O'Brien, posted May 30th 2008 at 5:02PM

Wired had you covered if you were wondering how to become a Batman-esque superhero with a belt full of fancy gadgets. But what if you wanted to take on a more fanciful and imposing set of powers like those of the sleek metal-suited Iron Man? Well, Berkeley Bionics has started taking orders for prototypes of their Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) exoskeletons.

Berkeley Bionics has spent the last several years developing and working to perfect their exoskeletons, which augment both a person's lifting strength and endurance. With the HULC device, a person can carry up to 200 pounds without seriously impeding their mobility while using up to 15 percent less oxygen to bear the weight, increasing the length of time a person would be able to haul such a load.

The military is clearly the intended target of the demonstration video, but the technology also has value to the medical community -- the exoskeleton may one day help those with mobility disorders escape the confines of a wheelchair. [Source: Berkley Bionics, Via: New Scientist]

Seadog Pump Could Usher in an Ocean-Powered Revolution

by Terrence O'Brien, posted May 29th 2008 at 11:03AM

Generating usable amounts of power without burning fossil fuels or collecting piles of nuclear sludge has become the holy grail of the environmental movement and much of the scientific community. Solar has proven too expensive and inefficient so far, while wind power is criticized as unsightly and occasionally dangerous to wildlife.

Scientists have been searching for a way to harness the power of ocean waves and tidal flows, with varying degrees of success. Salt water corrodes electronics and the forces involved aren't nearly as dramatic as those at work at Niagara Falls or the Hoover Dam. A company out of Minnesota, Independent Natural Resources (INR), has developed the Seadog Pump, which churns out power from ocean waves at a relatively high efficiency, converting 22 percent of the ocean wave energy into usable energy. The Seadog also lacks any electronics, making it extraordinarily cheap and simple to build as well as making it much more resistant to the corrosive powers of the sea.

INR plans to have their first commercial facility up and running by the end of the year or early 2009. [Source: Crave]

Scientists Create Tumor-Tracking Implant

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 9th 2008 at 5:19PM

Scientists at Purdue University have created a device -- no larger than a needle -- that can locate tumors and detect radiation levels in chemotherapy patients.

The small RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip is sealed hermetically in glass and powered by placing electrical coils next to the patient. When powered up, the device can send the exact dosage of radiation being received by the tumor along with the location of the tumor. This makes treatment more efficient and less dangerous to surrounding tissue and organs.

Scientists hope to enter clinical trials in 2010 with a version smaller than a grain of rice.

From Engadget

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Robotic Anal Probe Navigates Your Colon, Looks For Polyps

by Will Safer, posted Mar 28th 2008 at 1:04PM

We've reported before on robots that play music for you. We've written up reports on robots that memorize your voice commands and can change the channel or lower the volume automatically on your home theater system. And now, we've found a robot that researchers say will navigate its way through your colon, looking for polyps -- a replacement of the dreaded colonoscopy, an uncomfortable procedure that nonetheless can save lives by detecting cancer early.

Yes, we've written about the robot invasion, but never before about one so... invasive.

This new device, which is only in the prototype phase, is being tested now on "snippets of pig colon" to gauge its ability to move itself and navigate through the digestive tract by using small sticky pads called mucoadhesives.

By replacing the need for uncomfortable and painful procedures with endoscopes, Dutch researchers hope more people will decide to have screenings. Early detection of colon cancer is the number way to beat the disease. Colon cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in the United States and is the second most cause of cancer deaths, according to reports.

The self-propelled robot would not only accomplish its task with less discomfort for the patient, but would also be less likely to damage the colon. While a colonoscopy with an endoscope is relatively safe, about 1 in 500 procedures do result in some damage to the colon.

The mucoadhesives work by allowing the robotic device to grip and release the colon walls without causing damage. And since the colon is constantly producing more mucus, the pads would be essentially washed away within a few hours of the procedure's conclusion.

From MSNBC.

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New Lunar Rover Could Build Roads On the Moon

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 27th 2008 at 3:03PM

If you've been wondering what your tax dollars are being spent on over at NASA just take a quick look at this video. The new lunar rover, dubbed Chariot because astronauts ride it while standing on the back, is getting put through its paces at the Lunar Yard at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

The six-wheeled Chariot tops out at 20-miles-per-hour and can accept a range of interchangeable attachments, including plows and drills. Scientists have so far been happy with the results, and say it has had no problem handling the moon-like loose surface at the Lunar Yard, which is a good thing since the Chariot is designed to one day build roads or drill for minerals on moon's surface.

Even though the first build has exceeded the engineers expectations, it will undergo further improvements, including wheels that can move up or down independently of one another for greater agility and a smoother ride.

From Engadget and New Scientist

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New Computer Chip Detects Bird Flu

by Thomas Houston , posted Mar 25th 2008 at 2:21PM

STMicroelectronics announced it has created a microchip with the ability to identify influenza viruses, including bird flu. The VereFlu Chip, built in partnership with Veredus Laboratories, can scan and detect multiple human strains of influenza within hours (current diagnostic testing can take days to weeks).

According to the World Health Organization, there have been 236 human deaths linked to Avian Flu (H5N1 strain). Reuters reports hospitals, airports and border checkpoints have expressed interest in the technology, but the VereFlu Chip is still being tested in Singapore. The technology sounds promising, but we hope it doesn't make airport waits any longer.

From Engadget and Reuters

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Arthur C. Clarke, Sci-Fi Legend, Dies at Age 90

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 19th 2008 at 6:11PM

Yesterday an icon in the world of science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke, died. The 90-year-old geek patriarch suffered from post-polio syndrome. Clarke is best known for his novel '2001: A Space Odessy' which began life as short story called 'The Sentinel' before Stanley Kubrick turned it into a hallucinatory sci-fi epic.

Clarke is also credited with having first conjured up the idea of space elevators, and using satellites as relays for communications.

In addition to his over 30 novels and almost as many non-fiction works Clarke is also known for his mini-series about unexplainable phenomena 'Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World' and 'Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers.'

Clarke worked right up until the end of his life releasing his last novel 'Firstborn' in 2007. He will truly be missed.

From AOL News

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Cyber Goggles Could Help Find Your Keys

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 14th 2008 at 4:42PM

Professor Kuniyoshi at the University of Tokyo is trying to make frantic searches for misplaced objects, like keys, a thing of the past. Kuniyoshi and a group of scientists have developed what they're calling 'Cyber Goggles,'

The system is based around a small camera mounted on the glasses, a viewfinder over the right eye, and a computer carried on the persons back. The computer processes the information coming from the camera is able to recognize shapes and objects and assign them names. Kuniyoshi showed off how the system could recall and identify objects such as a CD, a cell phone, and a potted plant.

The next step is to make the video searchable. After entering the name of an object you're looking for, say your keys, the computer will go through the video recorded through out the day, and locate the most recent appearance of the object in question and show you its last known location. As the system is shrunk down and becomes more capable it may have a place helping those with memory troubles including Alzheimer's disease.

From Daily Mail

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Monkeys Control Robot Legs - With Their Minds (Video)

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Feb 26th 2008 at 5:07PM

The scientists at Duke University must be stopped! Researchers have created an unholy alliance, bringing together the two biggest threats to human dominance of the planet Earth (outside ourselves) -- monkeys and robots.

The researchers' motivations are innocent, however. The scientists put electrodes in the brains of two rhesus monkeys then stuck them on a tread mill. Wait -- this gets better. The electrodes were then connected to a pair of robotic legs that moved as the monkeys thought about walking. Even when the treadmills stopped the monkeys were able to keep the robotic legs in motion for several minutes with just the power of their minds.

While this may sound like the plot of a Sci-Fi film about science gone awry, the research is actually aimed at restoring mobility to those who suffer paralysis. By understanding how the brain controls legs, researchers hope to develop robotic leg braces that humans will be able to control with their minds.

A noble cause, but we're still gonna have nightmares about bionic chimps.

From TechDigest

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Honda's New Steam-Powered Hybrid Engine

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Feb 21st 2008 at 1:06PM

Honda has just unveiled a concept car using a so-called Rankine cycle co-generation unit to power a hybrid engine. The engine recycles wasted heat from the exhaust to generate steam that turns a turbine-generating electricity, which charges the batteries. The concept has proven more efficient than the regenerative breaking system employed by most current hybrid cars, including the Prius, especially when cruising at highway speeds.

The concept is not entirely new, and Honda claims that at 62 miles-per-hour the new engine is 3.8 percent more efficient than past versions. Apparently, the engine is currently not efficient enough (not to mention too expensive) to merit being installed in a production vehicle, but Honda has said that this may change if it can can make the engine even more efficient.

From Engadget

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Researchers Devise Neural Implant That Learns Over Time

French Researchers Study the Brain Scans of Porn Watchers

Fewer Than 1 in 5 Doctors Use Efficient Electronic Medical Records

Scientists Create Mutant Bugs that Produce Crude Oil

Scientists Inch Closer to Mind Reading

Exoskeletons Available for Pre-Order

Seadog Pump Could Usher in an Ocean-Powered Revolution

Scientists Create Tumor-Tracking Implant

Robotic Anal Probe Navigates Your Colon, Looks For Polyps

New Lunar Rover Could Build Roads On the Moon

New Computer Chip Detects Bird Flu

Arthur C. Clarke, Sci-Fi Legend, Dies at Age 90

Cyber Goggles Could Help Find Your Keys

Monkeys Control Robot Legs - With Their Minds (Video)

Honda's New Steam-Powered Hybrid Engine

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