There’s no doubting the time saving convenience
of microwave ovens. But what about the time wasted because of them?
Their super fast cooking means there really isn’t enough time to go and
do something else while we wait for our food, so we find ourselves
loitering around watching the seconds tick down. A couple of researchers
from Japan’s Keio University
have come up with the perfect solution for those of us who need to be
entertained at every minute of every day in the form of the CastOven,
which lets users enjoy a bite-sized piece of YouTube goodness while they
wait for their food. Read More
LG claims world’s thinnest LCD TV crown with 2.6mm thin 42-inch panel
By Darren Quick
December 21, 2009
LG has just fired off another salvo in the
ongoing battle between Japanese and Korean LCD manufacturers to claim
the title of world’s thinnest LCD TV panel. The Korean company has
managed to break the 3mm barrier to produce an LCD TV panel measuring
just 2.6mm (0.1-inch) thin. The 42-inch panel weighs less than 4kg
(8.8lb), boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution.
Read More
My snoring doesn’t worry me – however, my wife
finds it a pain in the neck. And while it might be stopping her from
getting a good’s night sleep, it could be doing me more harm if it’s a
sign that I’m suffering from sleep apnea – a condition in which patients
pause during breathing while asleep, denying themselves oxygen. For
US$2.99 snorers (or their long-suffering partners) can purchase a new
iPhone app developed by Remote Analysis Ltd, a telemedicine provider
from Finland, that analyzes snoring and advises if the patient should
seek medical help. Read More
Researchers have discovered that common bacteria
suspended in a solution can be made to turn microgears. This opens up
the possibility of building hybrid biological machines at the
microscopic scale. The researchers say the discovery demonstrates how
microscopic swimming agents, such as bacteria or man-made nanorobots, in
combination with hard materials, can constitute a "smart material",
which can dynamically alter its microstructures, repair damage, or power
microdevices. Read More
Short on space but still need somewhere to sit
down and eat? Here’s an innovative solution – the Picture Table is a
unique dining table that flips back against the wall and becomes a
stylish showcase for your favorite photograph, poster or piece of art.
Read More
Most people are aware that ultraviolet (UV) rays
can cause damage to the skin, but it can also damage the eyes. The
cumulative effect of not protecting eyes from the sun can cause
unpleasant problems such as cataracts, skin cancers around the eye and
pterygium - an abnormal growth which starts in the corner of the eye but
can grow over the cornea. Researchers from Penn State are hoping that a
new recipe for making glass will further improve the protection offered
by UV blocking sunglasses. The team has discovered that adding cerium
oxide to phosphate glass could result in sunglasses, windows and solar
cells that block UV light more effectively and have increased radiation
resistance. Read More
A network of cameras deployed around the Arctic
to understand the trigger mechanism for the beautiful light display
called the aurora borealis – also known as the Northern Lights – has
discovered that sometimes the vast curtains of aurora borealis collide,
producing a stunning outburst. The reason no one on Earth has ever
noticed these collisions before is that they occur on such a vast scale
it takes a network of sensitive cameras spread across thousands of miles
to get the whole picture. Read More
Wireless technology is moving fast, and here's a
reminder of just how fast. At the beginning of 2009 we were reporting on
Australian Telco Teltra achieving a world record network speed
of 21Mbps, now Ericsson has demonstrated its latest mobile broadband
technology, HSPA Evolution, with lightning speeds of almost 42Mbps. Read More
Blood clotting is a complex cascade of events
that works well for normal cuts and scrapes, however, more serious
injuries can overwhelm the body’s natural blood-clotting process. With
traumatic injury the leading cause of death for people aged 4 to 44, a
team of researchers has sought a way to enhance the natural
blood-clotting process by creating synthetic platelets that show promise
in halting internal and external bleeding. Read More
IBM forecasts the next 5 big ideas for the next 5 years
By Darren Quick
December 20, 2009
Casting one’s eye into a crystal ball is a risky
undertaking that can leave the forecaster as visionary or fool –
particularly if they are short term predictions that can easily be
checked. But that hasn’t deterred the soothsayers at IBM coming up with
their fourth annual “Next 5 in 5” list of innovations that will impact
our lives in the next five years. Based on market and societal trends as
well as emerging technologies, the latest list focuses on innovations
that have the potential to change how people live, work and play in our
burgeoning cities. Read More
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