Leapfrog / Disruptive Technologies

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 29 Feb 2008 06:49

Metallic glass (aka. amorphous alloys) become much tougher, in addition to their existing high-strength properties:

http://www.physorg.com/news123430580.html

These will be among the future wonder-materials for aerospace.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 02 Mar 2008 18:13

Strong, Light, Tough, Stretchy Nanocomposites

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 04 Mar 2008 05:25

Bacteria + Riboflavin + Waste = Energy

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 07 Mar 2008 04:32

Here's an interesting development, brought to us from whales:

Can Whales Improve Jet Fighters, Wind Turbines and Ceiling Fans?

These days, if you watch some of these contemporary space sci-fi shows and movies, they'll often feature spaceships and other craft which have all kinds of exotic organic shapes, which seem mainly for artistic or aesthetic purposes.

But now it's been found that some kinds of organic shapes, such as the bumps on whale flippers, can actually significantly improve their fluid dynamics characteristics.

So who knows whether tomorrow's aircraft or windmills won't feature more of these organic shapes in the future. Phenomena like these might never have come to light without the detailed investigation into whales and their shape characteristics. This is why it's good that countries like India have science programs extending in all directions, as compared to our neighbors like Pak who only spend money on researching things they associate with power, like nukes.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 07 Mar 2008 05:34

As we all know, nanoparticles can be loaded into materials to enhance or alter their properties. However, even nanoparticles can diminish properties like transparency, if they are present in enough quantity.

However, a new technique which uses polymers to alter the interface between the nanoparticles and their surrounding matrix can allow even these tiny particles to seem smaller than they are, for optical purposes:

http://www.physorg.com/news124041770.html

This could mean new types of nanoparticle-reinforced glass which would still retain their full transparency. It would be nice if the technique could be adapted to the nano-sized voids in aerogel, so as to permit its use in windowpanes without suffering from any hazy, smokey appearance that detracts from its transparency.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 07 Mar 2008 10:16

More on DARPA's HI-MEMS program:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol ... ttr=797093

If they perfect this technology, it will make guerrilla warriors obsolete.

This is the solution to asymmetric guerrilla warfare, not negotiation or capitulation. Imagine such small creatures acting as delivery systems for a few milligrams of RDX onto any guerrilla target. They won't even be able to sleep comfortably in their foxholes at night.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 07 Mar 2008 10:21

Bilayered Graphene is capable of improving its signal-to-noise ratio, as compared to other materials at the nanoscale:

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/show ... =206902149

http://www.semiconductor.net/article/CA ... c=topstory

The graphene age comes closer!

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 12 Mar 2008 09:59

Venter Promises Bacteria That Make Oil from CO2

Perhaps it would be more useful if they made gasoline directly, eliminating the refining step.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 18 Mar 2008 03:25

New chip design is 10 times more energy-efficient:

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/17183/53/

ravar · Post by **ravar** » 19 Mar 2008 12:48

Hope this is the forum to post this. If somebody has posted this before, apologies...

India is planning an expansion of its micro air vehicle research after a decade that saw spending of $500,000.

The work to date has produced prototype fixed, rotor and flapping-wing MAVs with further work needed on a range of enabling technologies including navigation, power supply and launch and recovery.

Related government-funded research that could be applied to MAVs includes India's National Aerospace Laboratories' work on DC micromotors, lithium ion batteries, fuel cells and microwave energy sources. It is also working on microturbines that could be used for MAVs as small as 150mm (5.9in) across. Research on fluid flow through micro channels at the Indian Space Research Organisation was also identified as having MAV applications.
"I think we can now demand a bit more [than $500,000]. From this small thing [MAVs] a useful thing can be done," says Indian government advisor VJ Sundaram, speaking on 11 March at the first US-Asian demonstration and assessment of micro aerial and ground vehicle technology conference, held in Agra, India.

The Indian defence research organisations first supported MAV concepts in 1998. A study of MAVs was initiated in 2002 and a "national perspectives" report was produced in April 2003.

A decision to develop MAVs was taken in 2005 and in the same year there was an US-Indian workshop on the technology. A fixed-wing MAV project was proposed in 2006 and last year India held its first MAV competiton in Agra.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... nding.html

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 20 Mar 2008 03:35

Boston Dynamics Shows Off 'BigDog'

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 23 Mar 2008 05:14

A new Silicon Valley company called Luxim, has invented a tiny lightsource that is 10 times as energy-efficient as incandescent bulbs, and twice as efficient as high-end LED lighting.

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl ... 22/2049257

Here's a link to a video:

http://news.zdnet.com/2422-13568_22-192842.html

That tiny lightsource can put out as much light as a streetlamp. Imagine if Indian streetlights and other lamps could be powered in this way.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 23 Mar 2008 08:51

Cheap, Efficient Thermoelectrics

Nanomaterials could be used for lower-emission cars and solar panels.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 25 Mar 2008 06:40

So, the age of magic powder has arrived:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/ ... 0219.shtml

Regenerative powder - yes, that's powder with a d

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 25 Mar 2008 08:25

More on the amazing capabilities of graphene:

Graphene is the New Silicon

This material could extend Moore's Law for another couple of decades.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 26 Mar 2008 10:26

Optical chips:

http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20466/

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 29 Mar 2008 23:34

Manufacture and Sell Anything in Minutes

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 02 Apr 2008 10:36

Tooth Regeneration

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 03 Apr 2008 08:23

http://www.green-energy-news.com/arch/n ... 80027.html

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 03 Apr 2008 09:58

Finding the Next Earth

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 04 Apr 2008 10:38

Take a look at this news:

http://technology.newscientist.com/arti ... icity.html

http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/03/direct ... -into.html

A radiovoltaic material could provide an alternate means of harvesting energy from a nuclear reaction, distinct from the heat transfer method of traditional nuclear thermal reactors. Just like how a solar photovoltaic cell harvests energy from sunlight in a manner that's distinct from traditional collection of heat energy from sunlight.

This material almost reminds me of this recent achievement by Fujitsu:

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NE ... 04/148436/

So Fujitsu has made some kind of hybrid planar-graphene-nanotube structure. Perhaps this is the kind of structure that could help maximize heat transfer and even current flow, for a Radiovoltaic application.

If you look at the bottom-most diagram, and see where it points to "catalyst", then one could imagine gold nanoparticles where that catalyst is. The gold nanoparticles could then serve as the alpha-targets or bandgap material. The nanotubes would transport the electricity and heat away from the fuel. Lithium hydride could surround the nanotubes, acting as a moderator.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 07 Apr 2008 09:52

And speaking of nanoparticles for improved performance, take a look at this:

Argonne Nat'l Labs Develops Lithium Nanoparticle Electrodes for Better Batteries

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 08 Apr 2008 09:46

Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for:

http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/20531/

Faster DNA

New techniques could finally make a $1,000 genome possible.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 15 Apr 2008 02:52

Laser triggers electrical activity in thunderstorm for the first time

Device on mountaintop takes first step toward manmade lightning

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 15 Apr 2008 09:39

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Toward a Quantum Internet

Researchers have built a quantum logic gate in an optical fiber, laying the foundation for a quantum computer network.

By Kate Greene

The promise of quantum computers is tantalizingly great: near-instantaneous problem solving, and perfectly secure data transmission. For the most part, however, small-scale demonstrations of quantum computation remain isolated in labs throughout the world. Now, Prem Kumar, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Northwestern University, has taken a step toward making quantum computing more practical.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 17 Apr 2008 04:35

US army develops robotic suits

By Rajesh Mirchandani
BBC News, Utah

Gee, only 6 decades after Heinlein

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 17 Apr 2008 06:41

Software Algorithm Can Extract Musical Notes from Recordings

wav-to-midi conversion! wow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFCjv4_jqAY

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 17 Apr 2008 09:33

And here's a nice feature on the really ambitious efforts, which conceive of genome sequencing for $100, never mind $1000

http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/20640/

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 19 Apr 2008 23:56

April 17, 2008
Attempts To Repair Soldiers Will Bring Rejuvenation Therapies

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 20 Apr 2008 09:39

InPhase to Ship Holographic Storage Drive in May

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 30 Apr 2008 03:06

FALX Personal Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

pics:

http://www.gizmag.com/falx-to-debut-hyb ... 4/gallery/

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 30 Apr 2008 09:32

Harvard's George Church is bringing a cheap new gene-sequencing machine to the marketplace:

http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/20696/

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science ... 60863.html

http://www.polonator.org/

Just like IBM did with its PC, this machine is using an open-architecture standard, with off-the-shelf parts that will bring costs down.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 01 May 2008 06:51

A fourth fundamental component in electronics has been developed, called the memristor. Capable of changing its resistance based on previous current flows, it could revolutionize electronics, and make possible activity similar to the human brain:

http://www.physorg.com/news128786808.html

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/34013

Nandu · Post by **Nandu** » 03 May 2008 01:43

Space telescope that focusses light using diffraction rather than reflection or refraction. Focal point is kilometers away, so only suitable for space.

http://space.newscientist.com/article/d ... -lens.html

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 11 May 2008 08:57

Amorphous Platinum gives superior performance with less material:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/?p=1016

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 15 May 2008 10:18

Thin film solar cell production breakthrough

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 22 May 2008 07:40

Read this:

http://frontierindia.net/geared-turbofa ... pabilities

Here's also a nice article from latest May2008 edition of Mechanical Engineering Magazine:

Changing the Game

Potentially radical advances in gas turbines came in all shapes and sizes in 2007.

Just read this and drool:

Engine compressors and turbines run most efficiently at higher rpm, while fans operate best at lower speeds. The unique feature of the geared turbofan engine is a fan hub-mounted epicyclic, or planetary, gearing system that drives the fan at lower speeds, permitting higher bypass ratios. By using a three-to-one gearing system, the GTF fan speed is cut by one-third, allowing for much less fan noise and higher bypass ratiosâ€”8:1 to 11:1. With such a high bypass ratio, fuel consumption goes down. A gearbox adds weight to the engine, but this is counterbalanced by the need for fewer engine airfoils, since engine components can now run at more efficient speeds that aren't limited by fan aerodynamics or stress limits.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 25 May 2008 08:08

ORNL Invents New, Cheaper Titanium Manufacturing Technique

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 27 May 2008 13:40

Researchers demonstrate 'avalanche effect' in solar cells

Researchers at TU Delft (Netherlands) and the FOM Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter have found irrefutable proof that the so-called avalanche effect by electrons occurs in specific, very small semiconducting crystals. This physical effect could pave the way for cheap, high-output solar cells. The findings are to be published in scientific journal Nano Letters this week.

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 27 May 2008 14:00

Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Graphene-Polymer Composite

New composites could lead to better food packaging, and to lighter car and airplane parts.

By Prachi Patel-Predd

Bharat Rakshak

Leapfrog / Disruptive Technologies

Bilayered Graphene

India plans increase on MAV spending

Geared Turbofans