Biotech is really hitting its stride as far as rapid progress – and grabbing headlines – is concerned. New Scientist takes a look at the work of Craig Venter – the tycoon who recently attempted to patent a ‘minimal genome’ – who claims his team have passed an important milestone in the journey towards creating entirely synthetic bacteria … and at his competitors, who believe that Venter’s
project isn’t creating genuine synthetic life at all.
Tag Archives: technology
A magnetic generator that actually works as advertised
Once you’ve indulged in a bit of schadenfreude and watched the CEO of ‘perpetual motion’ company Steorn explaining why it is that his demo failed to work, marvel at the fact that magnetism can be used to create a ready source of energy – this
little gadget is powered by small vibrations {correction} moving a bundle of tiny magnets, which creates a tiny electric current that can power an equally tiny electronic device, like a sensor. How great would it be to have a phone you could recharge with a vigorous shake?
Robot soccer at the nanoscale
It appears that my home nation’s (inexplicably) best-loved sport has pervaded as far as the nanoscale; Georgia Tech is hosting a soccer competition for nanobots that takes place on a field smaller than a grain of rice. Not much space for the referee to hide, then.
Spacesuits designed for comfort
Via the latest Carnival of the Space Geeks hosted at Colony Worlds comes word of a new design of space suit, created by Louise Riofrio. Although, as Ms. Riofrio admits, it’s actually quite an old design, at least in principle; the suits given to the X-1 test pilots were based on the same theory of using mechanical counter-pressure as opposed to inflating the suit with air. Riofrio’s suits are allegedly lighter, safer and more comfortable than the ‘bubble suits’ currently in use … and they look a bit more stylish, too.
Defense Looking For Human Scale Power System
Gargoyles and uber-geeks begarlanded with gadgets may have the Department of Defense to thank for improvements in portable power supplies. They’re sponsoring a new $1 million prize to encourage the development of a power system that weighs less than 4 kilograms and provides 96 hours of power for soldiers in the field. [image by moria] [defense tech]