New and Emerging Technology News part 72 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Sunday, 26 January 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 72

 
Lenco L-71 turntable
Dutch manufacturer Lenco has introduced a new turntable at IFA today which offers advanced digital functionality at a fraction of the price of equivalent units. The Lenco L-71 turntable retails at less than EUR100 and records directly to USB memory stick or SD card. That makes the cost of liberating the music you've already paid for on vinyl much cheaper than ever before.  Read More
Dyson D26 vacuum uses the anti-static qualities of carbon fibres on the brushbar
Carbon Fiber is unquestionably a wonder substance, being used to construct the world’s fastest and most expensive race cars and bikes, not to mention a host of other items where light weight, strength and stiffness are more important than cost. So when we first saw the pics of the Dyson D26 Carbon Fibre vacuum, we figured it was a lightweight vacuum cleaner – no, the wonder substance is actually used for its anti-static qualities and is used in the fibres on the brushbar and is claimed to be a significant improvement in picking up fine dust particles and allergens.  Read More
The Aerosystem One
UPDATED There’s no doubting Jean Michel Jarre’s enduring talent as a musician and showman, so it’ll be interesting to see how he goes in his new role as an AV entrepreneur with his new speaker system AeroSystem One. Launched Thursday at IFA in Berlin, the EUR 800 (US$1000) stand-alone HD multi-directional sound tower contains a 60 W sub-woofer and two 30 W speakers all integrated to deliver a roomful of sound. How good is it? Sensational!  Read More
The EcoRide BE-35 all-electric bus
Even in the form of diesel-powered buses, mass transit is a much more environmentally friendly way to get people around than individual cars. All- electric buses, however, take the eco-credentials of mass transit to the next level and from next week, commuters in the San Gabriel/Pamona area of Los Angeles County can do their bit for the environment by traveling on three Proterra EcoRide BE35 all-electric buses purchased by Foothill Transit.  Read More
The Canon XF100 camcorder
With a compact form factor, the new XF105 and XF100 are Canon’s smallest professional camcorders to date. Targeted at electronic newsgathering (ENG) crews, independent filmmakers, documentary producers, event videographers and military agencies, they use the same Canon XF Codec featured in the XF305 and XF300, introduced earlier this year. This is an MPEG-2 4:2:2 codec for capturing and recording native 1920 x 1080 video at a constant bit rate of 50Mbps that offers twice the color resolution of HDV and other 4:2:0 formats. It also ensures widespread compatibility with existing industry infrastructure and non-linear editing (NLE) systems with an MXF (Material exchange Format) File Wrapper that combines video, audio and metadata in a single file.  Read More
Pellets of Solegear's 100 percent natural, non-toxic, biodegradable Polysole plastic
The 2010 North American Frost and Sullivan Award* for New Product Innovation of the Year has been awarded to Canadian company Solegear, for its 100 percent biobased Polysole plastic. According to Solegear, although many of today’s biopolymers come from a natural feedstock, they are compounded using synthetic additives. Polysole, however, utilizes proprietary additives that are entirely natural and organic. The non-toxic plastic is claimed to have high impact and tensile strength, and can be efficiently processed using conventional techniques such as extrusion, blow molding and injection molding. Its biodegradation point can also reportedly be tweaked, so it can maintain its molecular integrity until product-specific compost conditions are met.  Read More
Last year we reported on a breakthrough by researchers at Rice University that brought graphite’s potential as a mass data storage medium a step closer to reality and created the potential for reprogrammable gate arrays that could bring about a revolution in integrated circuit design and extend the limits of miniaturization subject to Moore’s Law. The researchers showed how electrical current could repeatedly break and reconnect 10-nanometer strips of graphite to create a robust reliable memory “bit”. At the time, they didn’t fully understand why it worked so well. Well, a year is a long time in science and now they do.  Read More
The E-Beetle in Vancouver
Despite the stunningly futuristic looks and high technology of cars such as the Aptera, practical electric vehicles don’t need to be exotic. Take, for instance, the E-Beetle. It’s a 1972 VW Beetle, which a group of students from the University of British Columbia Electric Car Club retrofitted with an electric motor. They had originally intended to enter it in the Zero Race, in which teams in electric cars are racing each other around the world. Once they realized they couldn’t make the deadline, however, they settled for a more modest goal – to drive it 6,400 km. (3,977 miles) across Canada... and they’re almost done.  Read More
SEM image of the silver nanowires in which the cotton is dipped during the process of cons...
As their name suggests, most existing water purifying filters clean the water by physically trapping or filtering out bacteria. Stanford researchers have now developed a new kind of water purifying filter that isn’t really a filter at all. Instead of trapping bacteria, the new filter actually lets them pass right through. But, by the time they emerge from the filter they have been killed by an electrical field running through it. Not only is the new filter more than 80,000 times faster than existing filters, it is also low-cost, has no moving parts and uses very little power, which should make it particularly attractive for use in the developing world where it is needed most.  Read More
The MGH microfluidic neutrophil-capturing device
Recently, researchers have come to realize that neutrophils – the most abundant type of white blood cell – play a key role in both chronic and acute inflammation, and in the activation of the immune system in response to injury. Of course, the best way to study neutrophils is to get a hold of some, but traditional methods have required relatively large blood samples, and take up to two hours. Because neutrophils are sensitive to handling, it is also possible to inadvertently activate them, which alters their molecular patterns. A microfluidic device developed at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), however, allows for neutrophils to be collected from a relatively small blood sample, unactivated, in just minutes.  Read More
  
The Drift Innovation HD-170 and the GoPro HERO HD
I’ve always been fascinated by actioncams... or helmetcams, or POVcams, or whatever else you want to call them. Even before they were available to us mere consumers, I used to wonder, What would it look like if you could see what a camera saw, if it were mounted on that model airplane/squirrel’s back/cereal spoon/football, etc? Thus it was that when Drift Innovation released its high-def HD-170 this July, with its swiveling fisheye lens and viewing screen, I wanted to try one out. So I’d have something to compare it against, I also got hold of a GoPro HERO HD – probably the most popular actioncam currently available. I put the two through their paces, and you can see the results in the video that follows.  Read More
Sony Bravia KDL-NX810
Sony has added to its range of 3D BRAVIA HDTVs with the announcement of the availability of three new NX810 LCD models. In screen sizes of 46-, 55- and 60-inches the sets all feature Full HD (1080p) resolution and 3D capability. DynamicEdge LED Backlighting with local dimming is employed for improved contrast while Sony’s Motionflow PRO 240Hz Technology is on board to ensure smooth motion for fast moving images.  Read More
Diagram of a mitochondrion, like those used in the mitochondria biofuel cell
In Back to the Future, the Mr. Fusion cold fusion device could produce electricity from food scraps. Well, cold fusion is still some ways off (depending on who you talk to), but powering electronics with food may not be. Shelley Minteer, a Professor of Chemistry at Saint Louis University in Missouri, announced this Wednesday the development of a biofuel cell that could be powered by sugars or fats like those found in soda pop or vegetable oil. The device incorporates mitochondria, which are found within the cells of our own bodies, where they serve to produce energy from ingested calories. Are you listening, Doc Brown?  Read More
The judges have announced the semi-finalists in the James Dyson Award competition
Can you feel the mounting tension? The judges for the James Dyson Award 2010 have now revealed the competition's semi-finalists. Entries from 18 countries have been whittled down to just 20 items, some of which we've seen before in Gizmag and others which may be new to you. Most of the remaining projects now benefit from a short video overview, so let's have a quick look at some we haven't yet featured.  Read More
A homemade laser microscope has revealed the very lively, secret life of a drop of water
Some burning questions have just got to be answered, no matter the substantial costs involved. One such question demanding attention is: can a laser pointer be used to examine the microscopic contents of a drop of water? Happily, the answer is yes, and without the aforementioned prohibitive expense. In this home experiment, a laser pointer was shone through a drop of water collected from the base of a potted plant and the magnified image projected on an opposing wall. Read on to see a video showing a bemused-looking cat watching the resulting light show.  Read More
The finalists in the Electrolux Design Lab 2010 competition have had their design concepts...
The jury has wielded the axe on the 25 semi-finalists in the Electrolux Design Lab competition, leaving just eight finalists from the original 1,300 entries to battle it out for the prize of a six-month paid internship at an Electrolux global design center and 5,000 Euros (approx. US$6,350). The 2010 brief asked industrial design students to consider how people will prepare and store food, wash clothes, and do dishes in the homes of 2050, when 74 percent of the global population are predicted to live in an urban environment. Let’s take a look at the lucky eight entries vying for the title.  Read More
A Scanning Nonlinear Dielectric Microscope Inset left: shows topography and electric dipol...
For most of us, storing and accessing the vast majority of our computer data involves using either hard disk or solid state drives or perhaps a combination of both. Each method boasts its own advantages and while the battle for storage supremacy between the two rages in public, research at Japan's Tohoku University has revealed another option. Using a pulse generator to alter the electrical state of tiny dots on a ferroelectric medium, Kenkou Tanaka and Yasuo Cho have successfully recorded data at around eight times the density of current hard disk drives.  Read More
The Ciclotte exercise bike
Exercise equipment generally favors function over form, which is why it is often found gathering dust in the basement or under the bed. The Ciclotte stationary bicycle bucks that trend with an elegant design that anyone would be proud to put on display, which should hopefully increase the chances of using it. It's sexy curves aren't surprising as it derives its distinctive look from the Ciclò – a monowheel prototype bike also designed by Luca Schieppati that is now part of Milan’s Triennale Design Museum permanent collection.  Read More
QinetiQ Zephyr on final approach for world record
QinetiQ has filed for three world records for Zephyr, its solar powered high-altitude long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Air System (UAS), with the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) – the world governing body for air sports, aeronautics and astronautics world records. The three records subject to ratification are the absolute duration record for an Unmanned Air Vehicle, the duration record for a UAV in the U/1.c / 50-500Kg category and the absolute altitude record for a UAV in that category of 70,740ft (21,561m).  Read More
'Hygroelectric' collectors could someday harness atmospheric electricity
Nikola Tesla once dreamed of being able to harness electricity from the air. Now, research being conducted at Brazil’s University of Campinas (UC) is indicating that such a scenario may indeed become a reality. Professor Fernando Galembeck, a UC chemist, is leading the study into the ways in which electricity builds up and spreads in the atmosphere, and how it could be collected. “Our research could pave the way for turning electricity from the atmosphere into an alternative energy source for the future," he stated. "Just as solar energy could free some households from paying electric bills, this promising new energy source could have a similar effect.”  Read More

JVC's new Picsio GC-WP10 is IPX8 certified waterproof and records up to 1080p high def vid...
JVC has long been a major force in hand-held camcorders, but last year turned its attention to the world of pocket-cams with the release of the Picsio GC-FM1 which offered full 1080p high definition video and 8 megapixel stills. Now the company has added a couple more models to its Picsio range, the waterproof GC-WP10 and the GC-FM2.  Read More
The marine rescue UAV prototype
People often need to be rescued at sea because of stormy weather – exactly the kind of conditions in which it is not safe to fly. Nonetheless, fully-crewed helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are regularly sent out into such weather to perform maritime rescues, endangering both the crew and the expensive aircraft themselves. Soon, however, a new type of unmanned remote-control aircraft may be able to do the job. Not only would flight crews be kept out of harm’s way, but as demonstrated by a functioning prototype, the aircraft would outperform conventional planes in rough weather, thanks to shape-shifting technology.  Read More
Hollow microneedles open the door to new techniques for diagnosing and treating a variety ...
A research team at North Carolina State University has created incredibly small microneedles to be used in the treatment of medical conditions by inserting nanoscale dyes called quantum dots into the skin. This new procedure could advance a doctor’s ability to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, including skin cancer.  Read More
UK scientists have sequenced the entire wheat genome, and released the data to crop breede...
Scientists from the University of Liverpool, in collaboration with the University of Bristol and the John Innes Centre in Norfolk, have sequenced the entire wheat genome. They are now making the DNA data available to crop breeders to help them select key agricultural traits for breeding. The data is presently in a raw format, and will require further read-throughs and annotations, plus the assembly of the genetic data into chromosomes, before it can be fully applied. Using advanced genome sequencing platforms, however, the task isn’t as daunting as it might seem. While the sequencing of the human genome took 15 years to complete, the wheat genome has taken only a year. This is thanks in no small part to U Bristol’s next-generation genome analyzers, which can read DNA hundreds of times faster than the systems that were used to sequence the human genome.  Read More
Potentially toxic petroleum-based wood adhesives may soon give way to safer soy-based glue...
Two thousand years ago Jesus may have walked on water, but soon we may be walking on food. In a bid to become more environmentally sustainable, scientists have unveiled a new "green" alternative to commonly used petroleum-based wood adhesives. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Products Laboratory in Wisconsin, speaking at this week's 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, talked about the development of a soy-based glue. The substance is derived from food products such as soy milk and tofu, and could mean a new generation of eco-friendly flooring, furniture, cabinets and other wood products.  Read More
The original Commodore 64 in stylish beige
Back in the halcyon days of the 80’s, my siblings and I were lucky enough to receive a VIC-20 computer for Christmas. As much fun as I had whiling away the hours on such classics as Missile Command and Lode Runner, I was always insanely jealous of friends who had the power of the Commodore 64 at their fingertips. Now, some 20 plus years later, I may finally be able to satiate my jealousy with the news that the good ol’ C64 could soon be back on the market – and with some much more impressive specs.  Read More
Viking Modular has placed SSD storage on a DDR3 memory module to create SATADIMM
Viking Modular has unveiled a novel approach to adding a solid state storage boost to a computer or server. Instead of being bound by the familiar 2.5 or 3.5 inch (63.5/88.9mm) form factor, the company has introduced SATADIMM - storage on a memory module. It's shaped like system RAM and slides into DDR3 slots on the motherboard but connecting up its onboard SATA interface results in up to 200GB Enterprise Class Solid State Drive storage being made available. Although likely to find its way into business systems and data center servers in the immediate future, system designers may well find the module useful for creating even thinner mobile devices, such as tablet computers.  Read More
The Canon EOS 60D
Canon has unveiled the mid-level EOS 60D, which will replace the EOS 50D. The new DSLR camera features an 18-megapixel CMOS (APS-C size) image sensor, DIGIC 4 processor, HD video recording at 1080p and is the first of Canon’s EOS line to include an articulated LCD screen that lets users keep their eyes on the prize when shooting from various angles. The 3-inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen is similar to that found on the EOS Rebel T2i, boasting 1,040,000 dot/VGA resolution plus anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings.  Read More
The Galvanic vestibular stimulation system
There are airplanes and swimming pools that give prospective astronauts a taste of what a zero-gravity environment will feel like, but the sensations that they will feel upon returning from such an environment are also important to simulate. Astronauts coming back to Earth’s gravity often experience disturbances in their vision and neurological function, to the point that they can have trouble walking, keeping their balance, or even safely landing their spacecraft. By utilizing a Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) system, however, scientists can give them a sneak peek of what to expect, so they can better compensate for it when it happens in the field.  Read More
The first Seaswarm prototype being tested in the Charles River in mid-August 2010 (Image: ...
Over 800 skimmers were deployed in the Gulf of Mexico during the summer of 2010 to help clean up the Deepwater Horizon leak; however, it is estimated that these skimmers collected only three percent of the surface oil. Researchers at MIT have devised a system, called Seaswarm, consisting of a fleet of vehicles that may make cleaning up future oil spills both less expensive and more efficient than current skimming methods. A robotic prototype created by the researchers could autonomously navigate the ocean surface using cutting edge nanotechnology to collect surface oil and process it on site.  Read More
 
ORNL's James Klett with his LED-cooling graphite foam
LED lamps may soon be able to go much longer between fixture replacements thanks to a new graphite foam cooling system developed at the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The graphite foam works by passively wicking heat away from the lamp via its lightly-packed, open skeletal structure – and given that a ten-degree decrease in operating temperature can double the lifespan of LED lighting components, the benefits of keeping them cool are clear.  Read More
Thanko dual USB in-car charger caters for iPad
Japanese gadget giant Thanko has joined the likes of the iLuv by offering a dual USB in car charger that lets you juice your mobile devices while on the go. Selling for US$19.99, iLuv charger certainly fills a need. Thanko's iPad compatible unit fills a need as well, at a significantly lower price point: 680 yen or about $8.  Read More
Sony has introduced a couple of new Alpha digital SLR cameras featuring its new Translucen...
If you've suffered a missed photo opportunity due to the short time your digital SLR takes to get its mirror out of the way, then Sony reckons it has the answer. The mirror inside the new α33 and α55 digital cameras doesn't move out of the way at all, it's just semi-transparent and simply allows the light from the lens through to the CMOS sensor while also redirecting some to the camera's autofocus sensor. Whether shooting stills or high definition video, Sony says that its new technology allows for simultaneous image capture and fast, accurate autofocus.  Read More
Honda Jazz hybrid: world’s first B-class hybrid car
Honda is set to unveil a hybrid version of its Jazz supermini at the Paris Motor Show next month. Destined for market in 2011, the Hybrid Jazz will use Honda's IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) parallel hybrid system, placing an electric motor in between a CVT gearbox and the same 1.3-litre i-VTEC engine found in the Hybrid Insight.  Read More
The Mitsuoka Motors Orochi
Beginning on September 1st at the Mitsuoka Motors showroom in Osaka, car enthusiasts will be able to rent the company's supercar, the Orochi, for 33,000 yen per day (or about US$390). While Mitsuoka is not an especially well-known name in the motor industry, the company is making a splash among gearheads looking for a slick car that will make heads turn.  Read More
A human liver (Image: Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College)
Researching liver disorders is extremely difficult because liver cells (hepatocytes) cannot be grown in the laboratory. However, researchers at the University of Cambridge have now managed to create diseased liver cells from a small sample of human skin. The research shows that stem cells can be used to model a diverse range of inherited disorders and paves the way for new liver disease research and possible cell-based therapy.  Read More
The Raven controller for PS3 from Nyko
The controller is probably the gamers’ most important tool. The controller that was first released for the original PlayStation back in December 1994 has remained largely unchanged in design through the release of the PS2 and the current PS3 to become a classic and instantly recognizable to gamers the world over. Despite its iconic status, some PS3 gamers prefer the feel of the the Xbox controller in their hands and, while there are plenty of third-party controllers floating around, there are few that cater to this market as well as the Raven from Nyko.  Read More
The Heliotrope power house dominates the landscape at the foot of the Black Forest
If someone asks you to describe a solar power plant you'd likely look to convey an image of row upon row of sun-soaking panels pointing skyward. It's doubtful that the first thought to pop into your head would be of someone's home, unless of course you've already witnessed the likes of the Heliotrope. Sited at the foot of the Black Forest in Germany, this magnificent cylindrical power house is the creation of solar architect Rolf Disch and is the world's first home to produce more energy than it consumes. As the architect announces plans to take his PlusEnergy vision to a global audience, we take a closer look at his first creation.  Read More
Teaser image of the Kestrel EV
If you thought it was high time someone produced an electric vehicle (EV) using that most versatile and environmentally friendly of fibers, hemp, then you can breathe a sigh of relief. Motive Industries Inc. has announced the development of Canada’s first electric vehicle whose body is made from an impact resistant bio-composite material that is made from hemp mats. If it remembers to turn up, the four-passenger car, called the Kestrel, will make its debut during the EV 2010 VÉ Conference and Trade Show in Vancouver in September.  Read More
The skin of certain frogs, including this foothill yellow-legged frog, contain secretions ...
While kissing a frog might not transform him into a handsome prince, his skin might one day save your life. Scientists in Abu Dhabi have discovered a method for using the natural substances found in frog skins to create a powerful new group of antibiotics with potential to fight against drug-resistant infections.  Read More

Researchers from the University of Michigan have unveiled a more efficient, brighter and h...
Only a small percentage of backlight actually makes its way out through the multiple layers that make up the ubiquitous LCD displays we use today. That may change with the development of new filter technology at the University of Michigan. White light is sent through tiny, precisely spaced gaps on nano-thin sheets of aluminum and is said to result in brighter, higher definition color reproduction. Other benefits of the technology include efficiency gains and simpler manufacturing.  Read More
Cheyenne Crow from Exmovere Holdings with child wearing Exmobaby pajamas (Photo: Liz Roll)...
Seems not even babies are safe from the advances in wearable technology. Nowadays, unborn children can tweet or listen to music and fully-fledged infants can wear a suit that changes color when they have a fever. The latest wearable concept is the Exmobaby sleep suit – a baby garment designed to monitor a baby’s heart rate, emotional state and activity level and to wirelessly relay the information to a cell phone or PC.  Read More
Just how environmentally friendly are electric vehicles like the Tesla Roadster?
Because they produce no exhaust gases in operation electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as the eco-friendly alternative to conventional gas-fueled cars. While zero-local emissions is clearly a big plus, other factors contributing to the overall environmental impact of EVs are often overlooked – namely the manufacture, usage and disposal of the batteries used to store the electrical energy and the sources of power used to charge them. Now, for the first time, a team of scientists from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (or EMPA) have made a detailed life cycle assessment or ecobalance of the type of lithium-ion batteries most frequently used in EVs, to see if they really are as environmentally friendly as their manufacturers would have us believe.  Read More
NEC has developed a new bioplastic from non-edible cellulose and cardanol that's said to b...
NEC has announced the development of a new biomass-based plastic produced by bonding non-edible cellulose with cardanol, a primary component of cashew nut shells. The new bioplastic is said to achieve a level of durability that makes it suitable for use in electronic equipment and boasts a high plant composition ratio of more than 70 per cent.  Read More
The Swimsense performance monitor from FINIS
Joggers and cyclists have all kinds of technological wizardry at their fingertips – or wrists – to let them no how they’re performing. Now there’s an easy way for swimmers to keep track of their aquatic exertions in the form of the Swimsense from FINIS. This watch-sized device is worn on the wrist and uses motion sensing technology to automatically detect and record the number of laps swum, total distance, calories burned, lap time, pace, and stroke count... it can even differentiate between backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle and butterfly.  Read More
Paul Day and Alan Asbeck worked on adhesives for the feet of the gecko-like Stickybot (Ima...
The biology of a gecko’s foot that gives the lizard its remarkable climbing ability has been used by engineers at Stanford University to create a robot that can climb smooth surfaces including a wall of slick glass. With feet modeled on the intricate design of gecko toes, the Stickybot could lead to the development of robots that can scale vertical surfaces to access dangerous or hard to reach places.  Read More
Sony's new A560 (left) and A580 DSLR cameras
There’s been a bit of a flood of DSLR cameras unveiled in recent weeks. Nikon announced its first DSLR to record full 1080p video, while Canon added the Studio Version of its EOS 7D and its EOS 60D with an articulating LCD to its lineup. Not to be outdone, Sony joined the party unveiling its new translucent mirror cameras, the α33 and α55, which aren’t like conventional DSLRs as their mirror allows light through to the CMOS sensor instead of moving out of the way. Alongside the α33 and α55 Sony also announced the 16.2-megapixel α580 and 14.2-megapixel α560, which feature Sony’s newly developed Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and BIONZ imaging processor.  Read More
Sydney Do (right panel, at right) works on his prototype astronaut air bag system
Should the astronauts living on the International Space Station ever need to evacuate, the plan is that they will be able to board the station’s resident escape spacecraft, which will then take them back to Earth. That escape craft, called Orion, is currently under construction. Like the Apollo spacecraft that it resembles, Orion is intended to land at sea. If it should happen to come down on the land, however... well, those astronauts could be in for a rough landing. With that in mind, a graduate student in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics is developing an air bag system to cushion Orion’s occupants in the event of a dry landing. The system, interestingly enough, was inspired by the structure of seeds.  Read More
The digital tapestry created by Crystal CG
Anyone who’s had a look at our Yez concept car story will know that the Chinese Government haven’t taken any half measures with Expo 2010 in Shanghai. In an absolutely frightening display of power and wealth it splashed out roughly US$60 billion on the event – that’s more than the GDP of two thirds of the world’s nations. China’s foreign currency reserves currently amount to the greatest fortune ever assembled anywhere at any time on planet earth – US$2.5 trillion – and they're only just getting started with accumulating wealth. The theme of the Shanghai expo is “Better City – Better Life” and, while a lot of the focus is on technological inventions and advancements, the goal of the Chinese Pavilion is to show the past, present and future. There is no better illustration of this than the centerpiece of the Pavilion – a stunning digital tapestry that takes one of China’s most famous paintings and updates it for the 21st Century. If you were impressed by the beautiful moving scroll that wowed audiences at the Beijing Olympics opening and closing ceremonies in 2008, then prepare to be blown away all over again.  Read More
The genome of the Golden Delicious apple has been sequenced (Photo: Glysiak)
No sooner do we hear about the sequencing of the wheat genome, than word comes this week that the genome of the apple has been decoded. The feat was accomplished through a collaboration between 18 research institutions in the US, Belgium, France, New Zealand and Italy, and was coordinated by Italy’s Istituto Agrario S. Michele all'Adige (IASMA). DNA sequences of the Golden Delicious apple were produced in 2007/08, and over 82 percent of the genome was assembled into the total 17 apple chromosomes in 2009. Now, over 90 percent of the genes have been anchored to a precise position in the chromosomes. It may all sound like Greek (or Italian) to us non-geneticists, but the upshot of the whole thing is that we should now be able to selectively breed apples like never before, resulting in hardier, tastier fruits.  Read More


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