26547956
submission
Freddybear writes:
Digital forensics experts at Dartmouth have developed software that can analyze digital photos to rate how drastically they have been altered by digital editing techniques. "The Dartmouth research, said Seth Matlins, a former talent agent and marketing executive, could be “hugely important” as a tool for objectively measuring the degree to which photos have been altered."
24787874
submission
Freddybear writes:
A French court has ordered ISPs to block access to Copwatch Nord Paris I-D-F, a website designed to allow civilians to post videos of alleged police misconduct. French police unions applauded the decision.
24186102
submission
Freddybear writes:
"Not long after the development of the first laser in 1960 scientists discovered that shining a beam through certain crystals produced light of a different color; more specifically, it produced light of exactly twice the frequency of the original. The phenomenon was dubbed second harmonic generation
The green laser pointers in use today to illustrate presentations are based on this science, but producing such a beautiful emerald beam is no easy feat. The green light begins as an infrared ray that must be first processed through a crystal, various lenses and other optical elements before it can illuminate that PowerPoint on the screen before you.
It was later discovered that applying an electrical field to some crystals produced a similar, though weaker, beam of light. This second discovery, known as EFISH – for electric-field-induced second harmonic light generation – has amounted mostly to an interesting bit of scientific knowledge and little more. EFISH devices are big, demanding high-powered lasers, large crystals and thousands of volts of electricity to produce the effect. As a result, they are impractical for all but a few applications.
In a paper published today in Science, engineers from Stanford have demonstrated a new device that shrinks EFISH devices by orders of magnitude to the nanoscale. The result is an ultra-compact light source with both optical and electrical functions. Research implications for the device range from a better understanding of fundamental science to improved data communications."
22743176
submission
Freddybear writes:
Via MAKE magazine's blog, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana have developed a method of using an ordinary glucose meter to selectively detect and quantify a wide range of chemicals. The method involves custom-tailored DNA coupled to the enzyme invertase. When the DNA detects the specific chemical which it is designed to react with, it releases the invertase which converts ordinary table sugar to fructose and glucose, which can be measured by a standard glucose meter.
22366370
submission
Freddybear writes:
Researchers in France have assembled an acoustic superlens from an array of soda cans. The cans act as resonators, and by exciting the array with tailored sound waves, the sound volume can be made to peak in specific volumes less than a few centimeters wide.
22084048
submission
Freddybear writes:
Along with 90 (and still counting) other Internet law and IP law professors, [David Post of the Volokh Conspiracy law blog] have signed a letter (drafted by Dave Levine, Mark Lemley, and me) in opposition to Sen. Leahy’s “PROTECT IP Act.”
21725472
submission
Freddybear writes:
Xiph.org, makers of ogg audio and theora video codecs submitted a detailed proposal to the FTC for the patents workshop. Their proposal recommends changes which would help to eliminate the practice of "submarine" patents regarding standardized technologies.
17264486
submission
Freddybear writes:
A small model helicopter set a new record for laser-powered copter drone flight. Powered by a diode-laser beamed power system from LaserMotive, the copter drone, built by built by Ascending Technologies, hovered for 12 hours, 26 minutes and 56 seconds.
16496272
submission
Freddybear writes:
"More than 1,450 fossilized creatures — all of them about a million years older than those found at Los Angeles' La Brea Tar Pits — have been discovered at a 28-acre Southern California Edison excavation site in San Timoteo Canyon."
16339708
submission
Freddybear writes:
U Penn's GRASP lab posted new video of their scary fast maneuverable quad rotor drone. It can now fly through openings (hoops) which are themselves moving.
16190132
submission
Freddybear writes:
Microsoft acts quickly to defuse scandal by granting blanket licenses to Russian human rights groups, without requiring them to apply.
15455980
submission
Freddybear writes:
NOAA has published an extensive draft report on the recent heat wave in Russia.
