Science_afficionado - Slashdot User

Submission + - A new way to enhance thermal conductivity (vanderbilt.edu)

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Science_afficionado

on Wednesday December 14, 2011 @06:19PM

Science_afficionado writes: "Generally, the thermal conductivity of a given material is fixed. However, a team of Vanderbilt engineers have discovered that the thermal conductivity of thin films can be enhanced by as much as 45 percent. The ability to tune and enhance a material's ability to conduct heat could provide engineers with an important new tool for managing thermal effects in microelectronics, optoelectronics and nanocomposites. The discovery was reported Dec. 11 online by Nature Nanotechnology (http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nnano.2011.216.html)"

Submission + - Bionic leg gives amputees a natural gait (vanderbilt.edu)

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Science_afficionado

on Friday August 19, 2011 @03:47PM

Science_afficionado writes: "A new lower-limb prosthetic — the first with powered knee and ankle joints that work together — allows amputees to walk without the leg-dragging characteristic of conventional artificial legs. The device uses the latest advances in computer, sensor, motor and battery technology to give it bionic capabilities."

Submission + - Making microelectronics out of nanodiamond (vanderbilt.edu)

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Science_afficionado

on Thursday August 04, 2011 @04:15PM

Science_afficionado writes: "Electrical engineers at Vanderbilt have created the basic components for computer chips out of thin films of nanodiamond. These combine the properties of vacuum tubes and solid state microelectronics and can operate in extreme environments where normal devices fail."

Submission + - Scientists invent world's smallest periscopes (vanderbilt.edu)

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Science_afficionado

on Friday February 27, 2009 @06:04PM

Science_afficionado writes: "A team of scientists and engineers from Vanderbilt University have invented the world's smallest version of the periscope and are using it to look at cells and other micro-organisms from several sides at once. They call their devices "mirrored pyramidal wells" because they consist of pyramidal-shaped cavities molded into silicon about the width of a human hair whose interior surfaces are coated with a reflective layer of gold or platinum. The university has applied for a patent. For more details, images and video go to http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/stories/micropyramids.html"

Submission + - Cockroaches are morons in the morning (vanderbilt.edu)

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Science_afficionado

on Thursday September 27, 2007 @05:44PM

Science_afficionado writes: "A new study has found that cockroaches are morons in the morning and geniuses in the evening in terms of their learning capacity. Previous studies suggest that the learning capacity of both people and rats are also affected by their internal biological clocks. But the effect is far more dramatic in cockroaches and it is the first time it has been found in insects. And, no, the researchers didn't try giving their cockroaches a sip of coffee to see if it revived them! For the details, go to http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/stories/cockroach.html."

Submission + - Rocket-powered prosthetic arm (vanderbilt.edu)

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Science_afficionado

on Monday August 20, 2007 @05:03PM

Science_afficionado writes: "Mechanical engineers at Vanderbilt University have miniaturized a rocket motor and combined it with a mechanical arm, creating the closest thing yet ot a bionic arm."

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