Submission + - Ethnic Food in Space (environmentalgraffiti.com) 1
rtknox00 writes: For astronauts spending months in space, the smallest touch of home can make a big difference. So when South Korea's first astronaut Ko San boards the International Space Station this April he'll be bringing along a hefty supply of kimchi, the national dish of his native country. While bringing a cherished food on a long journey might seem like a simple act, taking kimchi into space required millions of dollars in research and years of work.
Submission + - The Truth About New Jet Pack Hype (popularmechanics.com) 1
An anonymous reader writes: This week a cool, sub-$100,000 rocket belt was unveiled and will be on sale this summer, but that's the sad thing: it's still not a real jet pack. Here's a fascinating inside look at the human-flight industry, full of law-suit scandals, technical difficulties, fuel-economy woes and endless delays. The good news? It all points to the next generation of rocketeer research, with real applications for medical rescue and military technology actually coming on the horizon. From the article: "With a little patience, and a little funding, we could actually have the pleasure of grumbling over regulatory issues we never dreamed possible. Like being limited to specific kinds of air strips, because the jet strapped to your back is classified by the FAA as an ultralight. Or being required to wear a ballistic parachute, because Amarena's Thunderjet design could reach altitudes as high as 10,000 feet (and, for the record, speeds of up to 160 mph, provided someone can solve wind-resistance issues). So while rocket belts continue to taunt our collective inner child, if you can wait another year, or two, or maybe 10, something truly impossible is barreling toward you"
Submission + - Carbon nanotubes can treat cancer, are safe to eat (stanford.edu)
iandoh writes: A team of scientists at Stanford University has tracked the movement of carbon nanotubes through the digestive system of mice. They've determined that the nanotubes are expelled and do not exhibit any toxicity in the mice. As a result, the study paves the way toward future applications of nanotubes in the treatment of cancer and tumor. Previous research by the same team demonstrated that nanotubes can be used in cancer treatments. Nanotubes can be used to destroy cancer cells in two ways. One method involves shining light on the nanotubes, which activates the nanotubes and generates heat to destroy cancer cells. Another method involves attaching medicine to the nanotubes, which are able to accurately "find" cancerous cells without impacting healthy cells.
Submission + - robotic swarm technology imitates nature (environmentalgraffiti.com) 1
inghamb87 writes: "Scientists have studied flocks of starlings and cracked the mystery behind the birds' ability to fly in large formations, and regroup quickly after attacks, without getting confused and ramming into each other. While the information is cool, some scientists seem to think that the best use of this knowledge is not to aid our appreciation of nature, but to make more effective robot swarms."
