The Silent Protests of the Invisible Man

Meet Liu Bolin, the artist that could truly be called the Invisible Man for his talent. He travels around the world and takes pictures oh him mixed with the surroundings and it has nothing to do with photoshop.
Mr. Bolin paints his body in order to blend with the things that are behind him. He is 36 and he lives in Shandong, eastern China. The artist does everything so accurately that passers by don't even notice him until he starts moving. According to Liu, his idea was to illustrate the influence of city surroundings on people.
The artist said that his works bring the idea of not coping with the contemporary society. In addition, he finds it as a silent protest against the harassment of artists.
"Some people call me the invisible man, but for me it's what is not seen in a picture which is really what tells the story," Liu was quoted by Daily Mail as saying. He said that after he graduated school, he was desperate in finding a job and figured out that there was no place for him in the society and Liu began experiencing its darker side, where there are no social relations. He started feeling unnecessary. "From that time, my attitude turned from dependence into revolting against the system," said Liu.
After the Chinese authorities closed down his art studio, located in Beijing, where the artist worked until 2005, he was inadvertently highly motivated to carry on with his art. Although modern art registered a quick increase in popularity, especially in the capital of China, the government authorities presumably had another view. According to Liu, officials did not want modern artists to continue working and a lot of exhibitions had been shut down.
Mr. Bolin said: "The situation for artists in China is very difficult and the forced removal of the artist's studio is in fact my direct inspiration of this series of photographs, Hiding In The City." The talented artist received a lot of knowledge at the prestigious Sculpture Department of Central Academy of Fine Arts in China. To be able to get his works right, Liu spends about ten hours working on his pictures.
"I am standing, but there is a silent protest, the protest against the environment for the survival, the protest against the state. I wanted to photograph the reality of scenes of China's development today," explained Liu. link.....

Russian Scientists Reached the Bottom of World's Deepest Lake

Russian scientists claim they were able to break the world record for the deepest dive in fresh water. According to Russian news reports, two mini-submarines managed to reach the bottom of the deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal, the depth of which is 1,680 meters (5,512ft). But there still hasn't been any official confirmation of the record.
Current mission of the Russian scientists is part of a 2-year plan that aims towards preserving the ecosystem of the lake, which contains nearly 1/5th of the world's fresh water. In 1996 the area around Lake Baikal, located inSiberia, was declared a Unesco World Heritage.
Two major Russian news agencies, Interfax and Itar-Tass, quoted the organizers of the expedition as saying that the two capsules, dubbed Mir I and Mir II, had reached the bottom of Lake Baikal.
"This is a world record for a submarine diving in fresh water," Interfax quoted one of the organizers as saying.
It would be interesting to note that the two mini-submarines are already included in the record books for undersea expeditions, reaching the depths of over 4,000 meters.
Prior to the beginning of the expedition, its leader Artur Chilingarov said that it would be a complex one.
"There are technological problems, fickle weather conditions. Fresh water dictates its own special conditions," he stated.
The two Russian capsules were developed to be able to work in seawater, but scientists had to discard hundreds of kilos from the 18-ton submarines so they would be more buoyant in less dense fresh water.
Environmentalists showed concerns over Russia's presumable goals to exploit the mineral wealth of Lake Baikal. However, expedition leaders insisted that their mission was intended exclusively for research and preservation purposes only.
According to Mr Chilingarov, his team looks forward to arrange "a package of practical measures and recommendations" in order to support the preservation of the lake.
Lake Baikal is located in south-east Siberia, extending on a territory of over 3.15-million-ha. It is world's oldest lake - 25 million years. The lake features an exceptional diversity of endemic flora and fauna, which is of great value to evolutionary science. link....

Invisibility is now one step closer

Using the nanotechnology scientists were able to make a significant step towards inventing an "optical cloaking", which represents a device able to make objects invisible. The device guides light around anything that is placed withing the so-called "cloak".
The engineers at Purdue University have followed mathematical guidelines that were devised last year by the UK physicists to create a theoretical design, which in its turn uses an array of very small needles. The latter radiate from a central spoke outwards.
The theoretical design looks like a round hairbrush. It would bend around any object that is "cloaked". Those objects that are situated in the background will be visible but the ones that are cloaked not. Vladimir Shalaev, the university's Robert and Anne Burnett Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, mentioned that the invisibility of the cloaked objects is provided by the cylindrical array of nano-needles.
Despite all the upper mentioned advantages, the theoretical design, however, according to Shalaev, has one significant limitation: it is can function only for a single wavelength. Thus it cannot work for the whole frequency range of the visible spectrum.
According to the calculations made by the researchers the device can make any object invisible if it is in a wavelength of 632.8 nanometers. This wavelength corresponds to the color red.
Shalaev says that it is quite possible to develop a design able to work for all colors of visible light. This, however, currently represents a big challenge for the scientists. "In principle, this cloak could be arbitrarily large, as large as a person or an aircraft", he said. This nanotechnological research is based at the Discovery Park of the Birck Nanotechnology Center at Purdue.
In 2006 several researchers published their findings on optical cloaking device. Shalaev mentioned that the mathematical requirements for the device were quite general, which is why together with his team he thought of fulfilling the requirements with a concrete and specific design.
Shalaev stated that his team is able to cloak objects regardless of their size. For this, however, scientists need two fulfill two requirements: one is that the light must not reflect off of the object and the second requirements is that the light must surround the whole object in a way so people would see only the background and not the object that is cloaked.
In case only the first requirement is fulfilled than you would to see a dark shape of the object, thus it would be clear that something was there. The most difficult task is to satisfy the second requirement, that is to bend the light around the cloaked object. When it is done you will see only the background. The whole device is made of, what scientists say, non-magnetic metamaterials. link....

Cloak that Redirects Seismic Waves from Buildings

According to scientists from the University of Liverpool they carried out a research that showed it is quite possible to create an invisibility cloak that would protect different constructions from earthquakes.
It is worth mentioning that seismic waves generated by earthquakes include body and surface waves, the former traveling through the earth and the latter traveling across it. Researcher's latest invention is able to manage the surface waves that lead to great destructions as a result of earthquakes.
The technology was elaborated by Sebastien Guenneau, from the University's Department of Mathematics along with Stefan Enoch and Mohamed Farhat from the Fresnel Institute (CNRS) in Marseilles, France.
The researchers were able to 'tune' their latest invention to the conflicting frequencies of incoming seismic waves, being able to redirect waves of different frequencies. The new technology makes use of concentric rings of plastic that are fixed to the Earth's surface to redirect surface waves.
"For each small frequency range, there is a pair of rings which does most of the work and these move about a lot - bending up and down - when they are hit by a wave at their frequency. The waves are then directed outside the cloak where they return to their previous size," explain scientists. They say that the waves are not reflected, but carry on traveling behind the cloak without lowering the level of their intensity. Thus researcher's latest invention transfers the risk from one area to another, but it does not fully eliminate it.
"The challenge now is to turn our theories into real applications that can save lives - small scale experiments are underway," researchers say. link....

Experts Unveil Inventions that Will Be Used in Everyday Life by 2039

Recently the New Scientist magazine predicted that by 2039 the X-Ray vision and invisibility cloak could be used in everyday life. The magazine listed a number of latest scientific and technological inventions that in the near future could be used by people.
Researches that are currently performed on ultrasound will make the X-Ray vision in humans possible, giving the possibility to virtually see through walls. As for the invisible cloaks then, experts believe these will be available in the shops by 2039. The technology used in the invisibility cloaks, which are currently tested by scientists, tricks the human eye by altering the light waves. Read more here: Invisibility is now one step closer.
The list also includes a replication of a gecko's foot, which scientist will create for gloves and boots, making it possible for people to easily climb walls by sticking to them just like the Spiderman.
The magazine's representatives interviewed scientists to discover that within 30 years the world will observe world's first handheld language-translating device that will instantly convert foreign words that are heard by its user. The invention will resemble the "Babel Fish" in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
It is worth mentioning that New Scientist magazine collected information about the latest inventions in science to mark the 30th anniversary of the first cellular network that was launched in Japan back in 1979.
Experts also included in their list an invention called "handheld healing machine", which can identify and instantly heal internal injuries in a human body.
In 2039 scientists also predict that people will use readily-available jet pack which will help users fly short distances avoiding being stuck in traffic jam.
Experts also predict that humans will use a device able to gather human energy and utilize it to charge cell phones and iPods.
The authors of the article in the scientific magazine mention that in 30 years time the upper mentioned scientific and technological inventions might have a great influence on our life and their impact could be even bigger than mobile phones, the Internet and the iPods.
The full list features the following inventions:
X-Ray vision
Invisibility cloak
Hand-held healing machine
Spiderman-like materials for gloves and boots
Human energy phone charger
Jet pack
Personal spaceship
Artificial diving gills
Translating machine link....

Invisibility Vs Waves and the Void Vs Copernicus

Invisibility Cloak for Killer Waves

Instead of creating stronger ocean-based constructions that would resist tsunamis, scientists proposed an easier solution - what if the structures disappeared.
A team of scientists from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Aix-Marseille Universite in France and the University of Liverpool in England performed several laboratory experiments during which they showed that it is possible to develop a sort of dike that acts just like an invisibility cloak which is able to hide off-shore platforms from the killer waves. Physicists used a similar principle in the development of optical invisibility cloaks.
According to the French and British scientists, tsunami invisibility cloaks will not really make the buildings vanish, instead they will be able to control ocean waves in such ways so that off-shore platforms, coast lines and even islands would be invisible to tsunamis.
In case the experiments prove to be successful in the real world, scientists will be able to make a tsunami pass with little or no impact on anything located inside the cloak.
The Void Idea to Challenge Copernican Principle
For along time the dark matter represented a huge mystery for scientists. However, recently physicists at Oxford University announced that the dark matter could be just an illusion. Different scientists are puzzled by the question why does our universe expand. They consider that it's the dark matter that provokes the expansion of the universe.
Oxford physicists proposed a theory according to which we live in a special place in the universe and namely we are situated in a huge void in which the density of matter is rather low. Such suggestion comes in contradiction with the Copernican Principle. The idea that we are located in a special place in the universe could be viewed by some scientists as something absurd.
According to Oxford scientists they would perform a number of tests of the Copernican principle to reveal the mystery in the nearest future. link....

Scientists One Step Closer to Creating Invisibility Material

Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, say they have come very close to developing cloak which could make people and objects invisible. They performed a demonstration of the invisible cloak, created from synthetically engineered materials, which are able to change the direction of light around three dimensional objects.
It is worth mentioning that previously scientists were able to create a material that can make invisible only two dimensional objects.
Xiang Zhang together with his colleagues at the university is going to release their discovery later this week. The results of the research will be published in the journals Nature and Science.
The finding could be widely used in a variety of fields, but mainly in the military applications, being able to put out of sight people and objects. A human eye can easily see objects due to the fact that they spread the light that shines on them, reflecting a part of it back to the eye.
The invisible cover features so-called mate-materials that can redirect radar, light or other waves that strike the object, resembling water that flows around a smooth rock in a river. Meta-materials represent fusion of metal and circuit board materials, including ceramic, Teflon or fiber combination. These materials are developed to curve visible light is a special way. Researchers have the goal of using the materials to arc light around objects so they don't produce reflections or shadows.
The technology is different from stealth, which instead of making the plane invisible, simply lowers the cross-section available to radar, thus making the plane difficult to track. It would be interesting to note that the funding of the research was provided partially by the US Army Research Office and theNational Science Foundation's Nano-Scale Science and Engineering Center. link....

Scientists Closer to Developing Invisible Portals

With the help of a technique called transformation optics, scientists will be able to make "invisible portals" like the ones seen in several Harry Potter movies leading to platform 9 and 3/4. Transformation optics allows researchers from Hong Kong University and Fudan University in Shanghai to change the direction of light waves, which would make portals invisible to the human eye.
Scientists portray the idea of "a gateway that can block electromagnetic waves but that allows the passage of other entities". The portal is hidden as a result of optical illusion created with the help of transformation optics and a "superscatterer" developed using photonic crystals.
The New Journal of Physics published an article about the discovery that also mentioned its ability to be turned on and off remotely. According to Dr Huanyang Chen, from thePhysics Department at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, those who stand outside the gateway are going to see something that resembles a mirror, reports The Telegraph. link....

Latest Invention: The Smallest Laser in the World Created by US Researchers

The latest invention of American researchers is the laser that claims to be the smallest in the world. They managed to develop the laser by squeezing light into a space that is even tinier than a protein molecule. Their latest invention could be a significant breakthrough in the field of optical technology, making one step closer to nanolasers, which can be used to investigate and manipulate DNA. In addition, the laser can lead to the creation of super-fast computers and improved telecommunications.The team of researchers was led by Professor Xiang Zhang. He mentioned that the plasmon laser constricts light into a gap that is only 5nm wide. An important step was the ability to detain light in a small space for a specific period of time required for light to stabilize into a "coherent" laser state, having all of its waves synchronized.It is worth mentioning that plasmons are in fact wave-like movements of excited electrons on the surfaces of different metals. By connecting light to these oscillations, scientists managed to compress it further than usually, reports The Telegraph. More information on lasers and latest inventions you can find here at www.IfoNIAC.com, please check the links at the bottom of the story.

Professor Zhang, from the University of California at Berkeley said: "Plasmon lasers represent an exciting class of coherent light sources capable of extremely small confinement. This work can bridge the worlds of electronics and optics at truly molecular length scales." Their latest invention was described in the online version of the journal Nature. The scientist who co-authored the research, Dr Thomas Zentgraf, from the University's Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centre, stated: "The advantages of optics over electronics are multifold. For example, devices will be more power efficient at the same time they offer increased speed or bandwidth." link....

Imagine Solar Panels That Blend-in So Much That They Become 'Invisible'

You know, most of the time technology seems to stand out, instead of blend-in with its surroundings, so it is a rare occasion when some type of technology blends in so well with the surroundings that you would not even notice it if you were not consciously aware of it.
However, blending-in, in a very unique way, seems to be what it is all about for the Solé Power Tile™ System, developed by SRS Energy in the USA.We've all seen the usual solar panels, mounted on top of the house roof, usually taking up only some of the roof space. It's usually hard to miss, because these panels stand out from the rest of the roof. Now imagine this - what if you could have solar panels, still mounted on your home's roof, but completely invisible to the naked eye. And therein lies the trick - instead of being invisible, SRS Energy have designed and transformed the panels into the shape of normal roof tiles. So, when you look up at your roof, you'll never know the difference.
What a truly novel idea, in my opinion. Technology that blends in and becomes basically invisible. The Solé Power Tile™ system is the first of a kind building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing system designed for curved roofs.
This is a great example of how homeowners can make a positive difference by converting to green energy, without having to compromise the aesthetic appeal of their homes. According to the company, this system will be able to generate clean solar energy for decades.
The system blends in with several styles of clay tiles found in the US, which make it easy to integrate into an existing roof.
The Solé Power Tile™ System uses cutting-edge, thin film solar technology - very popular for its ability to convert a greater range of light, which incidentally includes the light range at dusk and dawn.
With the company's first installation, an area of approximately 300 square feet was installed, which should generate approximately 2,400 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. link....

First Discovery Of Life's Building Block In Comet

Artist's concept of Stardust encountering comet Wild 2This is an artist's concept of the Stardust spacecraft beginning its flight through gas and dust around comet Wild 2. The white area represents the comet. The collection grid is the tennis-racket-shaped object extending out from the back of the spacecraft.

NASA scientists have discovered glycine, a fundamental building block of life, in samples of comet Wild 2 returned by NASA's Stardust spacecraft.

"Glycine is an amino acid used by living organisms to make proteins, and this is the first time an amino acid has been found in a comet," said Dr. Jamie Elsila of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "Our discovery supports the theory that some of life's ingredients formed in space and were delivered to Earth long ago by meteorite and comet impacts."
Elsila is the lead author of a paper on this research accepted for publication in the journal Meteoritics and Planetary Science. The research will be presented during the meeting of the American Chemical Society at the Marriott Metro Center in Washington, DC, August 16.
"The discovery of glycine in a comet supports the idea that the fundamental building blocks of life are prevalent in space, and strengthens the argument that life in the universe may be common rather than rare," said Dr. Carl Pilcher, Director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute which co-funded the research.
Proteins are the workhorse molecules of life, used in everything from structures like hair to enzymes, the catalysts that speed up or regulate chemical reactions. Just as the 26 letters of the alphabet are arranged in limitless combinations to make words, life uses 20 different amino acids in a huge variety of arrangements to build millions of different proteins.
Stardust passed through dense gas and dust surrounding the icy nucleus of Wild 2 (pronounced "Vilt-2") on January 2, 2004. As the spacecraft flew through this material, a special collection grid filled with aerogel – a novel sponge-like material that's more than 99 percent empty space – gently captured samples of the comet's gas and dust. The grid was stowed in a capsule which detached from the spacecraft and parachuted to Earth on January 15, 2006. Since then, scientists around the world have been busy analyzing the samples to learn the secrets of comet formation and our solar system's history.
"We actually analyzed aluminum foil from the sides of tiny chambers that hold the aerogel in the collection grid," said Elsila. "As gas molecules passed through the aerogel, some stuck to the foil. We spent two years testing and developing our equipment to make it accurate and sensitive enough to analyze such incredibly tiny samples."
Earlier, preliminary analysis in the Goddard labs detected glycine in both the foil and a sample of the aerogel. However, since glycine is used by terrestrial life, at first the team was unable to rule out contamination from sources on Earth. "It was possible that the glycine we found originated from handling or manufacture of the Stardust spacecraft itself," said Elsila. The new research used isotopic analysis of the foil to rule out that possibility.
Isotopes are versions of an element with different weights or masses; for example, the most common carbon atom, Carbon 12, has six protons and six neutrons in its center (nucleus). However, the Carbon 13 isotope is heavier because it has an extra neutron in its nucleus. A glycine molecule from space will tend to have more of the heavier Carbon 13 atoms in it than glycine that's from Earth. That is what the team found. "We discovered that the Stardust-returned glycine has an extraterrestrial carbon isotope signature, indicating that it originated on the comet," said Elsila. The team includes Dr. Daniel Glavin and Dr. Jason Dworkin of NASA Goddard. "Based on the foil and aerogel results it is highly probable that the entire comet-exposed side of the Stardust sample collection grid is coated with glycine that formed in space," adds Glavin.
"The discovery of amino acids in the returned comet sample is very exciting and profound," said Stardust Principal Investigator Professor Donald E. Brownlee of the University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. "It is also a remarkable triumph that highlights the advancing capabilities of laboratory studies of primitive extraterrestrial materials."
The research was funded by the NASA Stardust Sample Analysis program and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Stardust mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, developed and operated the spacecraft. link....

NASA Unmanned Jet to Take 3D Hi-Res Images of Earthquake Faults

To better understand the possibilities of California's deadly earthquake, researchers at NASA came up with the idea of using a jet equipped with an autopilot system and radar to identify the earthquake faults with high-precision.
Scientists dubbed their system Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR). It features a UAVSAR pod that is 10 feet long and which can take high-resolution photos beneath the surface of the earth. The autopilot system makes it possible for the radar to repeatedly fly above the same regions.
One flight will not give a lot of information on the earthquake faults. However, after scanning the faults again after several hours, days or months, each movement turns obvious with the help of interferometry, a method of making obvious the dissimilarities between several sets of information. More news about NASA and scientific technology you can find here at www.InfoNIAC.com, check the links at the bottom of the story.
Now scientists at NASA are using a jet with UAVSAR to map faults in the San Francisco Bay Area, central and southern California, as well as the Los Angeles Basin, which encompasses the San Andreas and Hayward faults. To increase the scanning time and reduce the cost of the whole project, researchers decided to use an unmanned jet. Taking advantage of the information gathered from the scans, NASA looks forward to develop a detailed image of the movement of faults. More information and images is available here. link....

Latest Invention: Eco-friendly Driverless Vehicles

At Heathrow Airport engineers are testing their latest invention - personal driving pods that will transport travelers to their destinations non-stop and at the same time reduce the level of pollution and eliminate overcrowding. If the pods prove to be successful it is possible that the network of such vehicles will be built in different countries worldwide.
Two ULTra Personal Rapid Transit vehicles can be observed at London Science Museum that marks its centenary by exhibiting ten icons that played the most important role in changing the world. The exhibition is entitled "The Making of the Modern World" and the latest invention of researchers and engineers from Advanced Transport Systems stands next to the steam locomotive. Visitors of the Science Museum will have the possibility to ask questions regarding the ULTra vehicles and see how they work.
Passengers taking the PRT vehicles will need to come to one of the three stations and as they board ULTra they are asked to select their destination on the touch screen. After that vehicles take passengers straight to the chosen destination without stopping at any other location. Thus the latest invention from Advanced Transport Systems will provide a quicker and eco-friendlier transportation. More information of green transportation and technology you can find here at www.InfoNIAC.com, check the links at the bottom of the story.
Graham Bradburn, chief executive of Advanced Transport Systems, described the invention by saying that: "It is the physical manifestation of many years work for ATS and BAA, and represents the vision of the original individuals involved." link....

Researchers Could Create Perfect Visual Memory Drug

A team of researchers was able to isolate a protein that could help people obtain a perfect memory. Spanish scientists recently reported they discovered a substance that could be used as a memory-booster.
While carrying out experiments on mice and examining the visual cortex, a brain area that till now has been poorly studied, researchers found that if they increased the production of RGS-14 they could significantly increase the animals' ability to remember the things that have seen. It was discovered that mice that had a boost of the protein in the visual cortex were able to keep in mind the objects for up to 2 months. Usually mice remember these objects for an hour or so.
Scientist mentioned that the mystery region of the visual cortex, called layer 6 of region V2, plays a role in creating visual memories. If the region is removed, mice will be unable to remember anything they see. More information on drugs and studies can be found here at www.InfoNIAC.com, check the links at the bottom of the article.
In case the protein is found to increase memory in humans, it could be used for a wide range of purposes. An interesting fact is that the protein has an effect only on visual memory. It can prove to be useful for those who need to remember a lot of visual images at once, like say engineers or architects. Spies would like to take advantage of the protein as well. Additional information on the research you can find here. link....

Latest Invention: Q2 Cube - Revolutionary Dial-free Internet Radio

The latest invention from Armour Group comes after the company decided to work together with Cambridge Consultants. Recently Armour presented the Q2 Cube, which is a new-generation internet radio that is going to be demonstrated at IFA Berlin in the period between the 4th and 9th September 2009.
There are four pre-selected radio stations and user can choose one by simply turning the Cube onto one of the four faces. There's a fifth face that can be used to turn up or down the volume by tilting the Q2 Cube forwards of back. Users can select the stations with the help of an online account on their home computer and then place the Cube anywhere in the house and enjoy favorite music.
The Fall of 2009 will see the launch of Armour's latest invention, which is based on a prototype for the first time developed by Cambridge Consultants at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, informs Cambridge Network. You can read more on latest inventions here at www.InfoNIAC.com - check the links at the bottom of the story.
In regard to their latest invention Kevin Taylor, E-Commerce and Marketing Director at Armour, stated: "The revolutionary user interface caught our attention. Having agreed to commercialize the technology, it was Cambridge Consultants' expertise in developing low cost wireless platforms that helped us get the product to market so quickly."
According to Duncan Smith, Head of Consumer at Cambridge Consultants, they worked together with Armour's manufacturers and experts in technical product development. The latest invention from Armour and Cambridge Consultants will allow visitors of IFA 2009 in Berlin to get in touch with a new-gen internet radio. link.....

InfoNIAC Presents: Top 10 Latest Inventions of July 2009

1. Water-Efficient Washing Machine
This invention was developed by Xeros (not to be confused with Xerox). Its washing machine uses nylon beads and thus is able to save up to 90 percent of water compared to traditional washers. Thus the washing machine has two main advantages: it saves you money and is environmentally friendly. Read more…
2. Technology that Scans User's Ear to Avoid Theft
This technology can protect iPods and other mobile devices from theft. The ears of every person have individual "acoustic fingerprint". The technology analyzes the distinctive sounds of the ear chamber and then decides whether the device belongs to the owner or not. It is worth mentioning that such invention could be widely used to improve safety measures of bank accounts and passports. Read more…
3. System that Converts Boot Force into Electricity
This invention could become very popular among soldiers. It uses the energy accumulated from tramping feet to power a wide range of portable devices. With its help soldiers' backpacks would be lighter by up to 10 kilograms, because it would exclude the necessity of wearing heavy batteries. The invention could also be used in everyday life. For example when a person does jogging they can power their MP3 player. Read more…
4. Portable Microscope Attached to Mobile Phone to Identify and Track Diseases
This invention could be widely used by scientists to identify dangerous diseases like malaria and tuberculosis and transmit the data to health centers for research. It could be used in Africa to track the spread of diseases, take pictures of cell samples and covey via Internet the information to European specialists for additional studies. Read more…
5. Cloak that Changes the Direction of Seismic Waves
The invention is not developed yet, but there are premises for its creation. Earthquakes produce body and surface waves. Using concentric rings the cloak will have the ability to control the dangerous surface waves and redirect them to avoid the destruction of buildings. Read more…
6. Device that Helps Dogs' Owners Understand Their Language
The name of the invention is Bowlingual. It analyzes the dog's bark and attempts to identify the pet's emotions. It features a unit with a speech synthesizer that informs the owner about what their pet wants to say. Everything is displayed on the gadget's screen. Read more…
7. Technology that Lets Users Operate Animated Characters Using Own Movements
OpenSTAGE platform is the technology that makes it possible for people to operate with virtual characters by moving own body parts. There is no need to wear any additional devices that in other inventions track the body movement - a person simply stands in front of a monitor and the technology tracks every movement and transfers the information to the computer, thus bringing an animated character to life. Such technology can be used in medicine, sports and entertainment. Read more…
8. Synthetic Tree that Captures CO2
The artificial tree is the latest invention of scientists from Columbia University. The technology allows to capture CO2 a thousands times faster compared to a real tree, which is crucial for tacking global warming. The tree gathers carbon dioxide emitted from cars and airplanes just like a sponge and then filters it. In 24 hours the tree can absorb about a ton of CO2, which is almost the amount of gas emitted by 20 cars. Read more…
9. 3D Sensors that Allow Users to Interact with Various Devices Without Touch
This invention allows users to interact with computers and other devices just like the main character in "Minority Report" did, i.e. without touch. The technology could be widely used in gaming. In addition, the 3D sensors could replace weight detectors in cars, thus be able to signal, for example, whether a child is in a seat. Read more…
10. Robot that Writes Prescriptions and Distributes Drugs to Patients
The number one robotic nation is Japan and one of its latest inventions in the field was developed by Panasonic. The company claims that its robot is able to write prescriptions and distribute drugs to patients. The robot will be able to do the job in just 2 hours in a hospital with 400 beds (twice as fast as a skilled pharmacist). Read more… link....

Looking Back At Earth: LCROSS Spacecraft Successfully Detects Life On The Blue Planet

Shown above (upper left) are images of the Earth from a distance of approximately 360,00 km. At this range the Earth's diameter is approximately 2.2 degrees. Also shown (lower graphs) are spectra from the downward looking Near Infrared Spectrometer and Ultraviolet/Visible Spectrometer.

On Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, the LCROSS spacecraft successfully completed its first Earth-look calibration of its science payload. An additional Earth-look and a moon-look are scheduled for the remainder of the cruise phase of the mission.The purpose of the LCROSS Earth-look was to perform a routine health check on the science instruments, refine camera exposure settings, check instrument pointing alignment, and check radiometric and wavelength calibrations.From its vantage point of 223,700 miles (360,000 km) from Earth, the LCROSS science team changing exposure and integration settings on the spacecraft's infrared cameras and spectrometers and performed a crossing pattern, pushing the smaller fields of view of the spectrometers across the Earth’s disk. At this range, the Earth was approximately 2.2 degrees in diameter.
"The Earth-look was very successful," said Tony Colaprete, LCROSS project scientist. "The instruments are all healthy and the science teams was able to collect additional data that will help refine our calibrations of the instruments."
During the Earth observations, the spacecraft's spectrometers were able to detect the signatures of the Earth's water, ozone, methane, oxygen, carbon dioxide and possibly vegetation. link....

Observe the Biggest Train Set in the World

Observe and adore the biggest train set in the world, covering 1,150 square meters and having about 6 miles of track. What is really impressive is that the track is still not finished. Its authors and designers are two German brothers, Frederick and Gerrit Braun, who decided to build the track on the banks of Elbe that flows through Hamburg. The construction started in 2000.
The track features 6 regions: America, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Germany and the Austrian Alps. The American region includes big models of the Rocky Mountains and Mount Rushmore. The Swiss region features a mini-Matterhorn and the Scandinavian part includes a 4-feet-long passenger ship that floats in a 'fjord'.
The brothers expect to finish the whole construction in 2014. In the end they expect to build a track covering over 1,800 square meters and including nearly 13 miles of track. By this time visitors will also be able to see several new sections, including France, Italy and the UK.
Currently the construction includes 700 trains and over 10,000 carriages and wagons. The track's longest train is 46-feet-long. The whole structure features 900 signals, 2,800 buildings, 4,000 cars (most having illuminated headlights) and 160,000 figures, each being designed individually.
To be able to build the scenery, the two brothers needed over 4,000kg of steel and 700kg of artificial grass. There's also a system that connects 250,000 lights that were installed to replicate the night and day. The system automatically turns the lights on and off.
In order to show the visitors their work, brothers had to hire 160 people. In average, it took Frederick and Gerrit Braun 500,000 hours and about $11.7 million to build the track. Most of the money has come from ticket sales. The brothers used the money to extend their scenery, reports The Sun.
"Our idea was to build a world that men, woman, and children can be equally astonished and amazed in. One of our fundamentals has always been to meet every challenge, no matter how hopeless it seems to be in the beginning," said. Gerrit. link....

High-speed Solar Bullet Train Might Travel Through Arizona by 2018

A company from Tucson looks forward to develop a high-speed train that would run on solar energy. Currently the project is in idea stage. According to preliminary estimations, the first phase of the project might require $27 billion.
For the first phase the developers have the idea of creating a train system that would link Tucson and Phoenix. As soon as the idea is brought to life, it is planned to expand the system north to Grand Canyon and south to Nogales. The developers expect to activate the train system in 2018.
The idea to build a solar bullet train came to the founders of Tucson-based Solar Bullet LLC, Bill Gaither, retired civil engineer, and his business partner Raymond Wright. They look forward to develop a sun-powered train that would achieve a speed of 220 mph and would run on 4 tracks.
According to Gaither, the inner 2 tracks are going to be used for nonstop journey from Tucson to Phoenix. The remaining tracks are going to serve 6 intermediate stations that will be located in Chandler, Maricopa, Casa Grande, Eloy, Red Rock and Marana.
The solar bullet train will need 110 megawatts of electricity. The power will be produced by solar panels installed overhead. For more information visit:AzStarBiz. link....

Building That Can be Easily Dismantled and Reconstructed Elsewhere

Together with a team of designers, Marcello Silvestre, from Iodice Architetti, developed a futuristic design of the Italian Pavillion. The project was made exclusively for the Shanghai World Expo 2010.
Among the designers who worked on the project besides Silvestre, there should be mentioned: Francesco Iodice and Giuseppe Iodice from Iodice Architetti, Giampaolo Imbrighi, Teresa Crescenzi, Antonello De Bonis, and Cosimo Dominelli.
The most interesting feature of the building is that it can be easily dismantled and reconstructed in another place. By observing the building's smaller scale, you can see how the pavilion is made and how it can be dismantled and reconstructed. The sections of the pavilion together create a geometrical variety that serve as symbols of the tradition and regional customs that characterize the Italian identity.
It is worth mentioning that the pavilion represents a fusion of an Italian urban building and the architectural composition of a popular Chinese construction game, known as Shanghai.
The whole construction will cover 3,600 square meters and will be 18 meters high. Inside, the pavilion is divided in a number of irregular sections that are connected with the help of a steel bridge structure. Each section has a different size. Each of the parts of the mosaic illustrates a single picture.
The form of the building symbolizes how complex are the cities in Italy, featuring short and narrow roads that can unexpectedly turn into large squares, which is similar to common urban centers in China. link....

Hydrogen Powered Gadgets Presented at Solar and Fuel Cell Exposition in Tokyo

The capital of Japan housed a number of companies that presented their latest inventions in technology, but not just any technology. The exposition, entitled document.writePV & FC Expo 2009, held at Tokyo Bog Sight, host the largest show of photovoltaic (solar cells) and fuel cell technology, bringing together companies and investors.
Among the most impressive inventions on the exposition there was the dancing hydrogen-powered robot along with her robot dog companion.
Despite the fact that there are still debates regarding the possibility of hydrogen economy, the number of visitors, as well as the commercial interest at the exposition shows that hydrogen economy will definitely become an element of a future sustainable economy.
Among other latest inventions at the FC Expo 2009, there was Yamaha's FC-dii hydrogen fuel cell motorbike. It can be powered either by fuel cell, which uses methanol, or by external li-ion battery.
Several hydrogen powered gadgets were presented at the exposition by Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies. One of them was a hydrogen powered assisted-drive bicycle. Currently its price is $4,600. The bicycle features hydrogen packs that generate power when needed. These packs can be recharged.
In addition, there were a number of hydrogen powered toys along with fuel cell/energy generation learning kits, such as the H-racer 2.0, which is rather pricey, $120, but it features a solar cell and a "hydrogen station."
The popular Japanese company Kawasaki was not left unnoticed. It presented its fuel cell light rail concept.
Many consider that hydrogen represents one of the few practical options to substitute natural gas and oil for means of transport. It can be produced using solar, wind or wave power, as well as from biogas. link....

Prada Transformer - a Building that Changes Its Shape

Previous works of Rem Koolhaas, a famous Dutch architect and "Professor in Practice of Architecture and Urban Design" at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, USA, always managed to impress people but his latest work is probably the most daring and inspiring. It's called the Transformer and was designed in collaboration with Prada.
The Transformer represents a pavilion that was designed with the goal of accommodating various cultural programs and functions such as art, architecture, film, and fashion. Because the famous architect doesn't always consider applying traditional methods of design and construction, his new creation literally transforms according to a specific function. The name says it all - the Transformer changes its shape for different events.
Designers will construct the Transformer using a steel framed tetrahedron, which will be covered in a plastic membrane. Four different shapes make the tetrahedron: a hexagon, cross, rectangle and circle.
Whether a fashion show is going to take place or a movie will be shown, the construction will be lifted then rotated on its axis and then put back down. A rectangle floor was developed for cinema; for a fashion show the Transformer will have the floor in shape of a cross and so on. Visitors will have the ability to see and appreciate the building starting with the end of March and till July 2009 in Seoul.
More information about the construction you can get here. link....

Romanian Green Apple-shaped Building

A lot of designers and design companies look forward to present their creations at Shanghai 2010 World Expo. One of the most impressive constructions was presented by Romania. Its designers came up with their version of national pavilion that has the shape of a green apple, referring to a "green city" concept.
It is expected that the national pavilion will cover 2,000 square meters. According to Romanian officials, the shape of the
building, as well as its logo "Greenopolis" highlight the significance of a healthy way of life, sustainable development and knowledge-based solutions for a contemporary society.
Officials also added that Romania attempts to focus of a city's historical heritage to be able to comprehend, develop and interpret this wisdom in an improved quality of life for the country's modern urban citizens.

It is worth mentioning that an open tender for erection of the building has been initiated. link....

Japanese Temple Offers High-Tech Grave

Due to the fact that Japan is an island with lack of land, some Japanese seniors raise concerns about finding a place for their "after-life". But due to the continuous development of high-tech in the country, some found quite a solution to their problem.
Buddhist tradition presumes that the bodies of the dead are cremated. The urns with the ashes of the cremated are then buried in traditional cemeteries where a gravestone marker is added.
It is worth mentioning that a plot of land for a grave in the capital of Japan costs from 2 to 3 million yen, which is somewhere between $18,000 and $27,000. The developers of a high-tech multi-storey vault managed to cut these costs three times and now more people are looking forward to apply the new technology.
For instance, a 79-year-old Shinya Shimada is now paying his respect to the ancestors by visiting a contemporary vault, instead of a traditional one.
"Initially, I was a bit uncomfortable with a high-tech grave. But now, I have come to see it positively," he said.
Entering an ordinary 3-storey building located alongside a Buddhist temple, Mr Shimada uses his ID card to dial-up the gravestones and urns that include the ashes of his ancestors. Then a special machine resembling a library stack transports the urns from behind the altars, while music and pictures of the ones that passed away accompanies the process. The images are displayed on a TV monitor.
"Looking at their pictures, I actually talk a lot more to my deceased parents and sister. Unlike the usual gravestone, this makes me feel nostalgic," said Mr Shimada.
Houkou Shimizu is the monk who works in the temple that owns the technologically advanced vault. He mentioned that it took him a while to figure out the whole idea behind the contemporary multi-storey vault. However, limited land space pushed him towards developing the state-of-the-art machine. link....

Supersonic Vehicle to Serve as a Prototype for Hypersonic Commercial Aircraft

According to representatives from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, they are going to test a 10 meter (33ft)-long vehicle dubbed Silent Supersonic Technology Demonstrator (S3T) . The test is going to take place in 2012 and it is worth mentioning that the S3T follows the Supersonic Transport program, which ended up in 2005 with the flight of Next-1 a 2 meter-long vehicle.
The demonstrator represents a part of the project that aims towards the creation of a commercial supersonic aircraft in 2015. Researchers hope that the upcoming super jet could pass the distance between the US west coast and Tokyo in 5 hours. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency says that the Japanese government each year provides $200 million for the program.
The program began in 2007, setting up the second phase of the previous technologically advanced research project. Recently the agency presented a deck model of the S3T. The presentation took place at Farnborough.
The Japanese look forward to work on the project taking into consideration ecological problems, in accordance with recent trends of European countries and the United States. It wants to cut the sonic boom and the noise of the vehicle at take-off.
In the meantime, the agency prepares to launch its Mach 5.0 hypersonic propulsion technology demonstrator. The research will continue running until 2015. link....

Israel to Witness World's First Solar-Hybrid Power Plant

This solar flower is the first in the world to mix concentrated solar power with hybrid-microturbine in order to produce power non-stop.
It seems that the system comes from sci-fi movies, but it's real, moreover it has already been installed by
Aora in Kibbutz Samar in Israel. On June 24, 2009 the system will go online. Built in a desert, it occupies a rather small area of land due to the fact that it takes advantage of efficient solar reflectors, if compared to similar system. In addition, Kibbutz Samar's tower generates enough electricity to power 70 homes.
Here's how it works:

during the whole day, the system's 30 heliostats track the sun and bring its light to the top of a 30-meters tall tower that concentrates the solar energy into solar thermal. The tower also features a micro-turbine that can be powered by solar thermal. However, when there's no sun, it can run on biodiesel, natural gas or biogas.
Due to the fact that the system is hybrid and is able to function for 24 hours a day, theoretically a number of similar system could be installed in different small communities. Thus they could provide electricity to a village without having to connect to the general electric grid network. At the moment the company plans to set up similar system in several countries. On June 24, 2009 people will witness the official presentation of the system. link....

World's First Solar-powered Stadium Built in Taiwan

Taking advantage of the solar-energy, a new futuristic-looking stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, can generate its own electricity.It is worth mentioning that the stadium has been constructed for the World Games, which are going to take place this July.This is world's first stadium to use exclusively solar power technology to produce all of its electricity, having 8,844 solar panels installed on its roof.
The solar panels will be able to produce the amount of electricity that could power 3,300 lights along with Two giant monitors on the stadium. Having the shape of a horse shoe, the huge structure can boast a seating capacity of 55,000. Its developers say that the stadium will be used for athletics and rugby events.
After the 2009 World Games, the Taiwanese national football team is going to play its home matches there, reports Daily Mail.
The design of the gigantic construction is attributed to Japanese architect Toyo Ito.
The somewhat unusual semi-spiral shape was designed with the goal of imitating a dragon and offering a "cordial welcome and a cheerful greeting" to all athletes and viewers with its open-ended structure.
According to a Taiwanese official, the solar panels will be able to produce up to 1.14 million kWh of electricity per year, which means a reduction on annual carbon dioxide emissions by 660 tons. link....

Vulture - The Unmanned Aircraft Able to Stay in the Air for 5 Years

Officials from Flight Global stated that DARPA will probably sign a contract to create an unmanned aircraft that is able to stay in the air for about 5 years at a time. The representatives from DARPA characterize their project, entitled "Vulture," as a "persistent pseudo-satellite capability in an aircraft package." Generally speaking the aircraft is able to fly over a single area, communicating or performing analysis for years at a time.
Having such grand goals the company has to overcome some serious barriers. One of the major obstacles is linked with the fact that designers have to figure out the way to supply power to such an aircraft during the long missions. In addition it is worth mentioning that the aircraft will carry a 1000 pound (450 kg) payload in terrible winds at an altitude of 60,000 to 90,000 feet. In regard to the design of the aircraft, it will probably be the one seen in the picture, developed by NASA, however, there is no certain time table on when the craft will actually be ready.
US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency looks forward to push the limits of unmanned aviation to extremes. The latest UAV project of DARPA currently raises eyebrows.
"We want to completely change the paradigm of how we think of aircraft," stated Daniel Newman, who holds the post of Vulture project manager. "Aviation has a perfect record - we've never left one up there. We will attempt to break that record," he added.
"The ability to "close the business case" on an aircraft that could be launched and then not maintained or brought home for five years would be a "paradigm shift. We would no longer define an aircraft by the launch - recover - maintain - launch cycle," outlined Newman.
Besides problems with providing power to the craft, engineers are working on maximizing aero-structural efficiency and avoiding the deterioration of materials during their long-time exposure to stratospheric flight.
Basically the aircraft operates like a satellite, which is, however, not regulated by orbital mechanics. "It could be positioned over the battle, at 65,000ft versus 260 miles," outlined DARPA's Wade Pulliam. According to Pulliam, the Vulture is a pseudo-satellite, the operation of which in the stratosphere and not in the low Earth orbit would give a 65 dB upgrading in communications capability and considerably increase onboard sensor resolution.
Technology has come a long way in the past few decades and the advances don't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. From laptops and cellphones to the advent of Internet communications, we are moving toward a brave new world of possibilities. Even buying a new computer is tricky, since it'll probably be outdated by the time you open the box! link....

Latest Invention: First Solar-Powered Aircraft to Fly Around the World

The Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist, Bertrand Piccard, is currently working on the development of his latest invention - world's first airplane that will be able to fly around the globe using only solar power. His grandfather was Auguste Piccard and his father was Jacques Piccard. Both were famous balloonists and inventors. Auguste Piccard was the one to create the pressurized cabin and the stratospheric balloon, which was able to fly up to 16,201 meters, when launched back in 1932. He was also the one to invent the Bathyscaphe, a submarine that in 1952 managed to dive to 3150 meters.
Jacques Piccard, Bertrand's father, broke the world record with deepest-ever dive. He went down 7 miles to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. In addition, he was the one to create the first passenger submarine in the world. As for Bertrand, than it is worth mentioning that the balloonist managed to make the first non-stop trip around the globe in a balloon, registering the longest flight in the history of aviation. Now the inventor works on Solar Impulse project, a solar-powered aircraft. Together with his team Bertrand wants to promote renewable energies. The inventor hopes Solar Impulse will succeed in making a tour around the world without fuel. At the moment engineers are working on the first prototype of the plane at Dubendorf, Switzerland. One of the main goals is to create a new-generation aircraft that will boast a low weight, smart energy management systems as well as high performance storage elements.
Its wingspan will be 80 metres, which is wider than that of an Airbus A380. This will minimize drag and provide more space for solar cells. Engineers will install a layer of ultra-thin solar cells, which will be flexible enough to resist deformations and vibrations.
It is hoped that the aircraft will be tested later this year and the second prototype will be built in 2010. The Solar Impulse team hopes to real flight around the world will take place in 2011. The main funding for the project comes from Solvay, Omega, and Deutsche Bank.Technical help comes from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), a Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Dassault, a French group of firms under the management of Serge Dassault. link....

World's First Solar Powered City to Be Built in Florida

A company called Florida Power & Light looks forward to spend $350 million to construct a 75-megawatt photovoltaic solar plant that will be located in a new solar-powered city. According to the company, the project could start later this year. The city where the plant will be constructed was dubbed Babcock Ranch and it will be located near Fort Myers.
Currently to most powerful photovoltaic solar plant is located in Spain, where it was built in 2008 and where it can generate up to 60MW. However, it is expected that the Florida new power plant will be able to reach 75MB, which means that it might become the largest photovoltaic solar plant in the world. It is worth mentioning that the photovoltaic cells transform sunlight into electricity. The company that works on the project hopes that its new city will become the first to produce energy from renewable solar energy.
"The FPL solar plant will be inside Babcock Ranch. Along with solar panels on the roofs of buildings citywide, it will be a revolutionary leap forward in clean energy for an urban area," said in his statement Syd Kitson, CEO of Kitson & Partners.
One of the biggest problems the company could face is convincing people to establish their business in an unestablighed city, albeit that community assures 20,000 permanent jobs. link....

Latest Invention: Hologram Projector to Help You Feel a Hologram

The latest invention developed by scientists from the University of Tokyo is a hologram projector that allows a person to touch a hologram with bare hands. Usually it is impossible to do so due to the fact that holograms are made only of light. However, improved technology allows a user to actually feel holograms floating in 3D space.
Researchers called their latest invention Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display. The hologram projector takes advantage of an ultrasound phenomenon, which scientists dubbed acoustic radiation pressure. Thus, the projector is able to generate a pressure sensation on a person's hands that are identified with the help of two Nintendo Wiimotes.

According to Japanese scientists, the technology does not require any physical contact, which means that the quality of the hologram will not be diluted. The team of researchers led by Hiroyuki Shinoda, recently presented their latest invention at SIGGRAPH 2009 in New Orleans. On their website the team explains: "A retroreflective marker is attached on the tip of user's middle finger. IR LEDs illuminate the marker and two Wiimotes sense the 3D position of the finger. Owing to this hand-tracking system, the users can handle the floating virtual image with their hands." link....

India Builds World's Largest Solar Steam System to Feed 20,000 People

The largest solar steam system in the world was built in the shrine of Sai Baba. The system was installed with the support of New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah. Sai Baba was a 19th century Sufi saint who was highly respected by both Hindus and Muslims.
World's largest solar steam system is able to provide daily dose of 3,500 kg of steam, which is quite enough to make food for 20,000 people. The system was created with the goal of making it possible to cook food for devotees who pay a visit to the shrine. It is located 90 kilometers from Nashik and its total cost is estimated at Rs13.3 million ($280,000) and over 40 percent of the cost was paid by the government. Find more about solar devices here at www.InfoNIAC.com by checking the links at the bottom of the article. The system will allow saving about 100,000 kg of cooking gas and will be able to provide steam for cooking when there's no electricity to power the feed water pump that helps the water circulate in the system, reports Hinduism Today.
According to an official statement more than 40 systems located on a dish area of about 12,000 sq meters "have been supported by the ministry so far for various applications, though the major application is cooking only." link....

Breakthrough - Healing Water to Regenerate Wounds Faster

Scientists from the United States have created a "super-oxidized" water. As they say, the new type of water is able to speed up the healing of wounds.
The firm that developed the "super-oxidized" water is called Oculus and it is located in California. The water was filtered through a salt membrane and according to the scientists from Oculus their water kills viruses, bacteria and fungi.
The new type of water has shown good results against MRSA. New Scientist magazine reported that scientists from UK are already testing the water on patients that have diabetic foot ulcers.
The main ingredient of Microcyn (which is the name of the "healing water"), are oxychlorine ions, which represent electrically charged molecules. This is how they work - the oxychlorine ions pierce the cell walls of free-living microbes.
It is worth mentioning that the water is only able to kill cells that are completely surrounded by it. This is because cells are bound tightly together in a matrix. To kill the cells scientists take purified water and then pass it through a membrane of semi-permeable sodium chloride. The latter produces the key ingredient of the "healing water" - oxychlorine ions.
One of the studies showed that the healing time of patients who had advanced foot ulcers was 43 days when they were treated with water and some antibiotic. This is much faster if compared to 55 days of standard treatment. link....

The History of Aerosol Spray Cans

The concept of an aerosol can originated as early as 1790.

The concept of an aerosol originated as early as 1790, when self-pressurized carbonated beverages were introduced in France. In 1837, a man called Perpigna invented a soda siphon incorporating a valve. Metal spray cans were being tested as early as 1862. They were constructed from heavy steel and were too bulky to be commercially successful.
In 1899, inventors Helbling and Pertsch patented aerosols pressurized using methyl and ethyl chloride as propellants.

Erik RotheimOn November 23, 1927, Norwegian engineer Erik Rotheim (also spelled Eric Rotheim) patented the first aerosol can and valve that could hold and dispense products and propellant systems. This was the forerunner of the modern aerosol can and valve. In 1998, the Norwegian post office issued a stamp celebrating the Norwegian invention of the spray can.
Lyle Goodhue and William SullivanDuring World War II, the U.S. government funded research into a portable way for service men to spray malaria-carrying bugs. Department of Agriculture researchers, Lyle Goodhue and William Sullivan, developed a small aerosol can pressurized by a liquefied gas (a fluorocarbon) in 1943. It was their design that made products like hair spray possible, along with the work of another inventor Robert Abplanalp.

Robert Abplanalp - Valve CrimpIn 1949, 27-year-old Robert H. Abplanalp’s invention of a crimp on valve enabled liquids to be sprayed from a can under the pressure of an inert gas. Spray cans, mainly containing insecticides, were available to the public in 1947 as a result of their use by U.S. soldiers for preventing insect-borne diseases. Abplanalp’s invention made of lightweight aluminum made the cans a cheap and practical way to dispense liquids foams, powders, and creams. In 1953, Robert Abplanal patented his crimp-on valve "for dispensing gases under pressure." His Precision Valve Corporation was soon earning over $100 million manufacturing one billion aerosol cans annually in the United States and one-half billion in 10 other countries.
In the mid-1970s, concern over the use of fluorocarbons adversely effecting the ozone layer drove Abplanalp back into the lab for a solution. Substituting water-soluble hydrocarbons for the damaging fluorocarbons created an environmentally friendly aerosol can that did not harm the environment. This put the manufacture of aerosol spray can products into high gear.
Robert Abplanal invented both the first clog-free valve for spray cans and the "Aquasol" or pump spray, which used water-soluble hydrocarbons as the propellant source.
Spray Paint in a CanIn 1949, canned spray paint was invented by Edward Seymour, the first paint color was aluminum. Edward Seymour's wife Bonnie suggested the use of an aerosol can filled with paint. Edward Seymour founded Seymour of Sycamore, Inc. of Chicago, USA, to manufacture his spray paints. link....

Microwave weapon will rain pain from the sky

The Pentagon plans to develop a crowd-controlling microwave device that can be fired from an aircraft – but there are concerns over safety.

THE Pentagon's enthusiasm for non-lethal crowd-control weapons appears to have stepped up a gear with its decision to develop a microwave pain-infliction system that can be fired from an aircraft. The device is an extension of its controversial Active Denial System, which uses microwaves to heat the surface of the skin, creating a painful sensation without burning that strongly motivates the target to flee. The ADS was unveiled in 2001, but it has not been deployed owing to legal issues and safety fears.
Nevertheless, the Pentagon's Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD) in Quantico, Virginia, has now called for it to be upgraded. The US air force, whose radar technology the ADS is based on, is increasing its annual funding of the system from $2 million to $10 million.
The transmitting antenna on the current system is 2 metres across, produces a single beam of similar width and is steered mechanically, making it cumbersome. At the heart of the new weapon will be a compact airborne antenna, which will be steered electronically and be capable of generating multiple beams, each of which can be aimed while on the move.The new antenna will be steered electronically and is capable of generating multiple heat beams The ADS has been dogged by controversy. Jürgen Altmann, a physicist at Dortmund University in Germany, showed that the microwave beams can cause serious burns at levels not far above those required to repel people. This was verified when a US airman was hospitalised with second-degree burns during testing in April 2007. The airborne version will not make it any less contentious. "Independent of the mode of production, with this size of antenna the beam will show variations of intensity with distance - not just a simple decrease - up to about 500 metres," says Altmann. Shooting it on the move with any accuracy will be difficult, he adds.
Dave Law, head of the technology division of the JNLWD, says the new antenna will operate at the lowest possible effective power level and will have a sophisticated automated target-tracking system.
In a recent cost-benefit analysis, the US Government Accountability Office rated the ADS worst out of eight non-lethal weapons currently in development. link....

Military mega-lasers are too hot to handle

Tactical High-Energy Laser (THEL) has shot down an arsenal of aerial targets in live tests , however they cannot maintain lengthy operation.
HIGH-ENERGY laser weapons have been hailed as the future of anti-missile defence, but they may be further from being battle-ready than military chiefs hoped.
In recent tests, several prototypes have suffered serious damage to their optics at intensities well below the expected levels of tolerance. "Optical damage has been quietly alarming upper management in most major programmes," Sean Ross of the US Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico told a meeting of the Directed Energy Professional Society in Newton, Massachusetts, last week. There are also big problems managing the waste heat generated by high-intensity beams.
Laser weapons require mirrors and lenses to focus powerful beams onto distant moving targets, and to compensate for atmospheric perturbations that can reduce the power they deliver. The higher the intensity of the beam, the more likely it is to damage the surface of its optical components.
Optical surfaces are designed to withstand powers up to a specific damage threshold, but tiny flaws or irregularities - which can be extremely difficult to spot - reduce this threshold by making them more vulnerable to heat. Contaminants deposited on the surface can also reduce this threshold by forcing the surface to absorb energy.
These problems have begun to stall the development of laser weapons. Earlier this year in the US, engineers halted tests of the $4.3 billion megawatt-class Airborne Laser short of full power to avoid damaging "a handful of optics in the turret", according to Mike Rinn, a Boeing vice-president who manages the programme. They realised that the optics, designed years ago, would be "frail" in the presence of any contamination, which would be virtually inevitable in flight. In the next week or so, Boeing engineers will install replacement optics and test them on the ground before running the laser at full power in flight.
Finding a way of preventing laser weapons from frying themselves is proving just as troublesome. Depending on the type of laser, generating 1 watt of laser beam produces about 4 watts of waste heat that must be dissipated. The challenge is to develop a cooling system that is both small and extremely robust. link....