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Submission + - knitting with DNA in a microscope... (nat.vu.nl)

Submitted by

Joost van Mameren

on Tuesday November 13, 2007 @06:36AM

Joost van Mameren writes: "By grabbing the ends of DNA with laser beams, one can make DNA do very unusual things. It is even possible to put a loop in a DNA molecule and slide it along a second DNA molecule, even though DNA and proteins are much too small to see with a microscope! Researchers of VU University, Amsterdam, use so-called "optical tweezers" to grab plastic beads with a diameter of only a thousandth of a millimeter, that are visible under a microscope. The beads are caught in the focal point of a focused laser-beam. By sticking the ends of two DNA molecule to such beads, they can bend, twist and stretch the DNA anyway they like. The website provides a little video demonstrating their DNA gymnastics."

Submission + - 'Near perfect' hydrogen brewing (newscientist.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 13, 2007 @06:32AM

An anonymous reader writes: Penn State researchers have devised a way to make microbes brew up to 99 per cent of available hydrogen out of plant material. The secret is to use a voltage to give them a thermodynamic hand with reactions that limit conventional fermentation to extracting just a third at best of hydrogen locked up in organic material. Hydrogen sourced this way pays back around 1.4 times the energy used to make it, compared to extracting hydrogen from water which pays back only a fifth.

Submission + - Japan's melody roads play music as you drive (guardian.co.uk)

Submitted by

Krishna Dagli

on Tuesday November 13, 2007 @06:13AM

Krishna Dagli writes: "What would be the sound like inside the vehicle? Does one also feel small speed bumps?

The concept works by using grooves, which are cut at very specific intervals in the road surface. Just as travelling over small speed bumps or road markings can emit a rumbling tone throughout a vehicle, the melody road uses the spaces between to create different notes."

Submission + - 11 GW of coal-fired power in India (yokogawa.com)

Submitted by

Mspangler

on Monday November 12, 2007 @11:43PM

Mspangler writes: "As the article says; " When completed, the Barh Supercritical Coal-fired Power Plant will generate a total of 1,980 MW (3 units x 660 MW), making it the largest thermal power plant in Bihar. Unit 1 is planned to start operation in October 2009. India's power industry has been straining to keep up with the country's recent economic growth, and the expansion of power generation capacity has become a top priority. Consequently, NTPC plans to add 11 GW in capacity through the construction of new coal fired power plants by 2012. The Barh Power Plant is one of these planned facilities."

By the way Yokogawa makes control systems. We have one, which is why I am on this mailing list.

Kyoto was a farce. The battle to stop global warming is lost, the only question is how best to adapt to it."

Submission + - Wikipedia's Fundamental Problems

Submitted by Moryath on Monday November 12, 2007 @10:18PM

Moryath writes: We all know Wikipedia isn't perfect — but can it be saved? Is it usable, or at the same time those who love it crow, why is it that more people are now leaving than entering? Why is it that the vast majority go by, perhaps contribute once, and quickly become like even Wikipedia's co-founder, utterly disillusioned? Why do former administrators come out and tell the problems themselves even when the "community" threatens them?

Or is it something more basic — is it that wikipedia's administrators are too powerful, and too willing to place an indefinite ban on anyone they choose, with no recourse? Is it impossible for new users to even come in and work, with edit-count-itis and entrenched cliques running the place into the ground?

Submission + - Is the U.S. military overpriced and outdated?

Submitted by

Anonymous Coward

on Thursday May 03, 2007 @01:41PM

Anonymous Coward writes: "The U.S. spends over half a trillion dollars a year on its military, yet its losing to a bunch of rag tag terrorists with almost no budget who hate each other as much as they hate the U.S. http://www.thefuturewatch.com/UseforMilitary.html"

Submission + - The Legend of Zelda: A Pain in my Ass

Submitted by Rev Dj RaZorslave on Thursday May 03, 2007 @01:33PM

Rev Dj RaZorslave writes: From the mind who brought you Emo Assualt Squadron what would life with a constantly kidnapped girlfriend really be like. . . 8Bit Humor tackled by people with way to much imagination and time on their hands, anyone who ever played any of Legend of Zelda games. . .

Submission + - Nanotechnology on the catwalk

Submitted by

Roland Piquepaille

on Thursday May 03, 2007 @01:33PM

Roland Piquepaille writes: "This event didn't take place in Paris or Milano, but at Cornell University during their Cornell Design League fashion show on April 21. It's now official: "nanotechnology has entered the fashion world." Fashion designers and fiber scientists have unified their efforts at Cornell to show a two-toned gold dress and a metallic denim jacket made of cotton fabrics coated with nanoparticles. And these garments can prevent colds and flu, destroy noxious gases and never need washing. When will we see these garments at our department store? The researchers don't say, but read more about the technology used and pictures of the real models — and the nanofibers used."

Submission + - Princeton physicists connect string theory

Submitted by

tinkertim

on Thursday May 03, 2007 @01:11PM

tinkertim writes: "Physorg is reporting that Princeton physicists have connected the string theory with established physics. From the article:

String theory, simultaneously one of the most promising and controversial ideas in modern physics, may be more capable of helping probe the inner workings of subatomic particles than was previously thought, according to a team of Princeton University scientists.
"

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