MIT researchers developing organic transparent solar cells

By Rob Aid
2 Comments17 April 2011

mit-transparent-organic-photovoltaic-cellsA group of researchers from MIT develops a photovoltaic cell based on organic molecules, which harnesses the energy of infrared light while allowing visible light to pass through, thus enabling power generation in transparent. Coated onto a pane of standard window glass, it could provide power for lights and other devices, and would lower installation… »

Trimensional – a 3-D scanner smartphone application

By Damir Beciri
One Comment14 April 2011

trimensional-used-to-create-3d-modelGrant Schindler, a researcher from Georgia Tech’s College of Computing, managed to come up with a simplified version of a tool that used to cost hundreds of dollars a year ago into something that can be done with an app. Trimensional is the first app that allows users with an iPhone 4, iPad 2 or… »

IBM researchers made nanomedicine breakthrough

By Damir Beciri
One Comment12 April 2011

ibm-treated-cellResearchers from IBM and the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have discovered that new types of polymers are able to physically detect and destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria and infectious diseases. These agents also prevent the bacteria from developing drug resistance by actually breaking through the bacterial cell wall and membrane, a fundamentally different mode of attack… »

Vanadium oxide nanowires enable windows to block the heat on hot days

By Rob Aid
4 Comments9 April 2011

vanadium-oxide-sarbaji-tbanerjeeNew findings in materials science research from the University at Buffalo (UB) could accelerate the creation of “smart” windows. UB researchers managed to manipulate the trigger temperature for vanadium oxide, in order to make it transparent to infrared light at lower temperatures, but it goes through a phase transition to begin reflecting infrared light once… »

Green architecture – HGTV Green Home 2011

By Damir Beciri
3 Comments8 April 2011

hgtv-green-home-2011-frontHGTV Green Home 2011 recently received both Platinum LEED certification and Energy Star certification which acknowledges its energy efficiency. With approximately 2400 square feet of finished space, the home meets rigorous standards for sustainable site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, proximity to transit and existing infrastructure and innovative design. HGTV… »

Sensor film could help in food quality control

By Damir Beciri
7 April 2011

sensor-folie-emftA while ago we wrote about folks from Fraunhofer who came up with active packaging that increases shelf life of spoilable products, and their colleagues came up with a way to indicate whether the food on the shelf is already spoiled due to errors which could occur before the food is packaged, or due to… »

Nickel allergy fought more efficiently by calcium nanoparticles

By Rob Aid
3 Comments4 April 2011

nanoparticles-vs-nickel-allergy-teamNanoparticles could offer big hope in a small package to the many millions of people who are allergic to the nickel in everything from jewelry to coins and cell phones. The allergy causes a red, itchy rash when it comes into contact with their skin. Although some countries regulate the amount of the metal in… »

FIMM and MultiTouch created multitouch display for microscopes

By Damir Beciri
One Comment3 April 2011

fimm-multitouch-webmicrosopeResearchers at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) have in collaboration with the Finnish company Multitouch Ltd created a hand and finger gesture controlled microscope. WebMicroscope is a combination of web-based virtual microscopy and a giant-size multitouch display, and it was developed a few years ago by researchers at the universities of Helsinki and… »