Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Another reason to buy gold: nanoparticles help to kill brain tumors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/gold-nanoparticles-cancer-brain-tumor/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/gold-nanoparticles-cancer-brain-tumor/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/gold-nanoparticles-cancer-brain-tumor/#comments Another reason to buy gold: nanoparticles help to kill brain tumors

Stanford scientists have used lab-made gold nanoparticles to highlight malignant tissue in the brain, making it easier for surgeons to cut out tumors while leaving healthy bits in tact. Measuring just five millionths of an inch in diameter, these tiny glistening orbs are injected into the patient and then left to bleed out through leaky blood vessels in parts of the brain that have been damaged by the disease. They then get stuck in the bad tissue itself, marking it out for the scalpel when viewed with the right type of imaging. It's not totally new -- we've actually seen gold nanotech deployed against the Big C in stem cells before, but better to be useful than avant-garde.

[Brain image via Shutterstock]

Another reason to buy gold: nanoparticles help to kill brain tumors originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrain cancerbrain tumorBrainCancerBrainTumorcancerdiseasegoldimagingmedicalmedicinenanoparticlenanoparticlessciencestanford universitystanford-universityStanfordUniversitytumorTue, 17 Apr 2012 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Notre Dame heralds paint-on solar cells, wants to smear your home with its goop (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/notre-dame-heralds-paint-on-solar-cells-wants-to-smear-your-hom/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/notre-dame-heralds-paint-on-solar-cells-wants-to-smear-your-hom/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/notre-dame-heralds-paint-on-solar-cells-wants-to-smear-your-hom/#commentsLeave it to the Fighting Irish to take a stab at solving the world's energy woes. Notre Dame researchers have successfully developed solar cells that can be easily painted on to any conductive surface. Imagine, for a moment, applying this solution to your home rather than attaching solar panels to the roof. The paint mixture incorporates quantum dots of titanium dioxide, which is then coated with either cadmium sulfide or cadmium selenide, and is then suspended in mixture of water and alcohol to create a spreadable compound that's capable of generating electricity. While its efficiency isn't currently much to crow home about -- which hovers around one-percent -- scientists are now actively pursuing ways to improve this aspect while making a more stable compound. Most importantly, the paint can be made cheaply and in large quantities, which suggests that even if efficiency remains in the doldrums, it may be a very worthwhile pursuit. Touchdown Jesus is already watching the video after the break.

Continue reading Notre Dame heralds paint-on solar cells, wants to smear your home with its goop (video)

Notre Dame heralds paint-on solar cells, wants to smear your home with its goop (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nanoparticlesNotre DameNotreDamepaintquantumquantum dotsQuantumDotssolarsolar cellssolar energysolar paintsolar panelsolar panelsSolarCellsSolarEnergySolarPaintSolarPanelSolarPanelssprayspray paintspray-onSprayPaintuniversityuniversity of notre dameUniversityOfNotreDamevideoSun, 25 Dec 2011 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Aluminum oxide 'egg-carton' could improve quantum dot efficiency]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/06/aluminum-oxide-egg-carton-could-improve-quantum-dot-efficiency/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/06/aluminum-oxide-egg-carton-could-improve-quantum-dot-efficiency/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/06/aluminum-oxide-egg-carton-could-improve-quantum-dot-efficiency/#comments Quantum Dots Quantum dots have been deemed the future of everything from light bulbs, to displays and solar panels. Yet, one thing has been keeping them down -- a lack of efficiency. Current has a tendency to leak in between the dots, instead of passing straight through all the time. But, researchers at Harvard have found a possible solution. By surrounding the dots with an insulating layer of aluminum oxide, which hugs them like an egg carton, they were able to direct the current, greatly increasing the light-emission yield and reducing wasted electricity. Of course, this only applies to light-producing quantum dots at the moment, but it's possible it could eventually be applied to solar panels and increase the amount of energy harvested from the sun's rays. If you're scientifically inclined, check out the latest issue of Advanced Materials for the complete research paper.

Aluminum oxide 'egg-carton' could improve quantum dot efficiency originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced materialsAdvancedMaterialsAluminum oxideAluminumOxideefficiencyharvardharvard universityHarvardUniversitynano particlesNanoParticlesquantum dotquantum dotsQuantumDotQuantumDotsresearchTue, 06 Dec 2011 03:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Fluorescent nanosensor tattoo monitors glucose under the iPhone's glare]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/fluorescent-nanosensor-tattoo-monitors-glucose-under-the-iphone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/fluorescent-nanosensor-tattoo-monitors-glucose-under-the-iphone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/fluorescent-nanosensor-tattoo-monitors-glucose-under-the-iphone/#commentsUnless you're a True Blood diehard, the idea of bleeding yourself intentionally shouldn't really seem all that appealing. So imagine how most diabetics feel when they're forced to prick their fingers seven times a day in the name of health. Well, soon they might not have to thanks to a nanosensor tattoo and... an iPhone? Developed by Prof. Heather Clark and her Northeastern University team, this injection of subdermal nanoparticles combines "fluorescent dye, specialized sensor molecules...and a charge-neutralizing molecule" that attach to glucose, releasing ions and altering the tat's glow in the process. The researchers had originally designed a "large boxlike" tattoo-reading device, but an apparent Apple fanboy on the team modded an iPhone case with LEDs and a filter lens to make the whole affair a bit more stylish. Next up for the team is, you guessed it, an app for that -- although this one'll focus on sodium.

Fluorescent nanosensor tattoo monitors glucose under the iPhone's glare originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleApple iPhoneAppleIphonediabetesfluorescentglucoseHeather ClarkHeatherClarkiPhonenanoparticlesnanosensor tattoonanosensor tattoosNanosensorTattooNanosensorTattoosNortheastern UniversityNortheasternUniversitysodiumtattootattoosTrue BloodTrueBloodThu, 21 Jul 2011 21:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Quantum dots could coat the world in nano-sized solar panels]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/quantum-dots-could-coat-the-world-in-nano-sized-solar-panels/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/quantum-dots-could-coat-the-world-in-nano-sized-solar-panels/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/01/quantum-dots-could-coat-the-world-in-nano-sized-solar-panels/#comments We've long believed in the mystical power of quantum dots, so it makes perfect sense to us that one day they'll be used to fully harness the Sun God's rays and thereby save the planet. The nano-particles turn light into electricity, and could potentially be manufactured cheaply and abundantly enough to coat surfaces in current-generating paint. The main obstacle to this has so far been efficiency: the clever little dots just don't work very hard. However, scientists at the University of Toronto now claim to have discovered a fix. Instead of using a single layer of particles, which can only harvest one meager wavelength from the full gamut of solar light, they added a second coat on top and configured it to be sensitive to an additional part of the spectrum. By adding third and fourth layers, the researchers hope to achieve a commercially viable efficiency of 10-percent within the next five years. We humbly call on Ra to be pleased with their efforts.

Quantum dots could coat the world in nano-sized solar panels originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nanoparticlesquantumquantum dotsQuantumDotssolarsolar energysolar paintsolar panelsolar panelsSolarEnergySolarPaintSolarPanelSolarPanelssprayspray paintspray-onSprayPaintUniversity of TorontoUniversityOfTorontoFri, 01 Jul 2011 18:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Gurus track inhaled nanoparticles as they experience Mach 5 lung travel]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/gurus-track-inhaled-nanoparticles-as-they-experience-mach-5-lung/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/gurus-track-inhaled-nanoparticles-as-they-experience-mach-5-lung/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/gurus-track-inhaled-nanoparticles-as-they-experience-mach-5-lung/#comments Ever wondered what kind of objects you inhale on a daily basis, leaving your lungs to sort out whatever it is that you snort in? Scientists at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Harvard School of Public Health have, and they're tired of simply imagining. A crew of wizards at the institution have started to test a so-called FLARE system (fluorescence-assisted resection and exploration), which enables them to see and monitor nanoparticles as they enter and travel through the lungs. The goal here is to "determine the characteristics and parameters of inhaled nanoparticles that mediate their uptake into the body -- from the external environment, across the alveolar lung surface and into the lymphatic system and blood stream and eventually to other organs." In short, this here study may offer a better understanding of the health effects surrounding air pollution... or restart the mask-wearing craze that SARS initiated. But probably both.

Gurus track inhaled nanoparticles as they experience Mach 5 lung travel originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diseaseFLAREHarvardhealthimagingmedicalmedicinenanoparticlesnanotechnanotechnologypulmonaryresearchsciencetrackinguniversityFri, 19 Nov 2010 11:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: of electric tractor unicycles, garbage-powered garbage trucks, and luminous nanoparticle trees]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/14/inhabitats-week-in-green-of-electric-unicycles-garbage-powere/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/14/inhabitats-week-in-green-of-electric-unicycles-garbage-powere/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/14/inhabitats-week-in-green-of-electric-unicycles-garbage-powere/#commentsEach week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

This week we were blinded by the light as researchers unveiled a way to transform city trees into luminous streetlights using gold nanoparticles. We also showcased a mesmerizing paper LED structure shaped like a tree at Tokyo Designers Week, and speaking of stellar architecture, check out this stunning star-shaped Taiwanese tower topped with a built-in wind turbine.

In other news, strap on your rollerblades and hang tight - from the Department of Questionable Transportation comes the FlyRad, an insane electric unicycle that pulls you down the street at 25 miles per hour. Meanwhile, the city of Toronto is doing their part to preserve the environment by rolling out a fleet of garbage trucks that can be powered by the very waste they collect. Finally, the University of Rhode Island signaled a bright future for efficient transportation as they unveiled four designs that could tap the United States' 2.7 million miles of roadways for solar energy.

This week we also looked at several new applications for futuristic manufacturing technologies - a dutch designer has pioneered a way to create 3D printed shoes that fit feet perfectly, and researchers have found that activated carbon cloth is a quicker picker-upper for toxic waste. Finally, with the holidays on their way, this week we rounded up our top ten green gadget gifts for 2010!

Inhabitat's Week in Green: of electric tractor unicycles, garbage-powered garbage trucks, and luminous nanoparticle trees originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D printing3dPrintingarcitecturecarbon clothCarbonClothFlyRadinhabitatinhabitats week in greenInhabitatsWeekInGreennanonanoparticlesnanotechnanotechnologyrecyclingsolar powerSolarPowertokyo designers weekTokyoDesignersWeekunicyclewind powerWindPowerSun, 14 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cambridge scientists develop lower-than-low power WORM memory]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/cambridge-scientists-develop-lower-than-low-power-worm-memory/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/cambridge-scientists-develop-lower-than-low-power-worm-memory/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/cambridge-scientists-develop-lower-than-low-power-worm-memory/#comments Researchers at Cambridge University have recently published a paper on their new type of WORM (write once read many) memory which is even more low powered than the ones that came before it. The new electron-only design of the memory is solution processed, making it low cost as well as it requires no lithography. The device, using ZnO semiconductor nanoparticles to inject electrons into a polymer which is capable of conducting. The electrons are then used to program the memory by permanently lowering the conductivity of the polymer, producing insulation. This result is far lower power densities than previously recorded, by orders of magnitude. The research team believes that it can make further improvements to the device as they continue to work.

Cambridge scientists develop lower-than-low power WORM memory originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cambridge universityCambridgeUniversityefficiencylow powerLowPowermemorynanoparticlessemiconductorwormwrite once read manyWriteOnceReadManyFri, 03 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers remotely control worms using magnetic nanoparticles, tomorrow: people?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/09/researchers-remotely-control-worms-using-magnetic-nanoparticles/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/09/researchers-remotely-control-worms-using-magnetic-nanoparticles/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/09/researchers-remotely-control-worms-using-magnetic-nanoparticles/#comments
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have announced they've found a way to remotely control worms using magnetic nanoparticles attached to cell membranes, and say they can cause the worms to stop moving simply by exposing the particles to a magnetic field and heating them up. This, they say, could lead to a host of medical benefits -- but if The X-Files has taught us anything, it's that remote-controlled nanotechnology can also fall into the wrong hands, and make people stop moving.

Continue reading Researchers remotely control worms using magnetic nanoparticles, tomorrow: people?

Researchers remotely control worms using magnetic nanoparticles, tomorrow: people? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arnd PralleArndPrallemageneticmagnetic nanoparticlesMagneticNanoparticlesnanoparticlesnanotechnanotechnologyuniversity of buffaloUniversityOfBuffalowormwormsx-filesFri, 09 Jul 2010 11:54:00 EST<![CDATA[InVisage envisions a world where cell phone cameras don't suck, embraces quantum dots]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/invisage-envisions-a-world-where-cell-phone-cameras-dont/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/invisage-envisions-a-world-where-cell-phone-cameras-dont/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/invisage-envisions-a-world-where-cell-phone-cameras-dont/#comments The invention of nanocrystal semiconductors -- more commonly called quantum dots -- has spurred scientists to create everything from precisely-colored LED lamps to higher-density flash memory. There's also been some talk of applying a solution of the tiny crystals to create higher sensitivity cameras, and according to a company named InVisage, that latter utility is almost ready for commercial production. By smearing light-amplifying quantum dots onto the existing CMOS sensors used in cell phone cameras like so much strawberry jam, InVisage claims it will offer smartphone sensors that have four times the performance and twice the dynamic range of existing chips by the end of the year, and roll out the conveyor belts in late 2011, just in time for the contract to end on your terrible new cameraphone.

[Thanks, Matt]

InVisage envisions a world where cell phone cameras don't suck, embraces quantum dots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CMOSInVisagenanocrystalsnanoparticlesnanotechnologyquantumquantum dotquantum dotsQuantumDotQuantumDotsQuantumFilmsensorsensorsTue, 23 Mar 2010 02:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers receive grant to develop color-changing contacts for diabetics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/23/researchers-receive-grant-to-develop-color-changing-contacts-for/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/23/researchers-receive-grant-to-develop-color-changing-contacts-for/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/23/researchers-receive-grant-to-develop-color-changing-contacts-for/#commentsContact lenses that act as a glucose monitoring system for diabetics aren't exactly a new idea, but it looks like a group of researchers from the University of Western Ontario might be a bit closer to making them a reality, as they've now received a $200,000+ grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to further develop the technology. The secret to their contacts are some "extremely small" nanoparticles that are embedded in the hydrogel lenses which, like some similar systems (such as those pictured at right), react to the glucose molecules in tears and cause a chemical reaction that changes the color of the lenses -- thereby informing the wearer when their blood sugar is too low or too high. What's more, the reseachers say the same basic idea could also have a wide range of other applications beyond glucose monitoring -- for instance, being used in food packaging to indicate if the food is spoiled or contaminated.

[Thanks, Yuka]

Researchers receive grant to develop color-changing contacts for diabetics originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contact lensesContactLensescontactsdiabetesdiabeticdiabeticsglucoseglucose monitoringGlucoseMonitoringnanoparticlesuniversity of western ontarioUniversityOfWesternOntarioUWOWed, 23 Dec 2009 22:16:00 EST<![CDATA[World's smallest laser cracks open the door to THz CPU race]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/worlds-smallest-laser-cracks-open-the-door-to-thz-cpu-race/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/worlds-smallest-laser-cracks-open-the-door-to-thz-cpu-race/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/worlds-smallest-laser-cracks-open-the-door-to-thz-cpu-race/#comments
 So you thought 100nm was about as narrow as lasers could get, huh? Well think again brother, because scientists at Norfolk State University have now demonstrated a 44nm 'spaser' that performs a laser's functions by the alternative means of surface plasmons. By using such an unorthodox technique, the researchers have been able to overcome the minimum size limitation to lasers, and they even claim spasers could be made as small as 1nm in diameter. Peeking into the (not too near) future, this could improve magnetic data storage beyond its current physical limits, and even lead to the development of optical computers that "can operate at hundreds of terahertz" -- and here you were, thinking that your brand spanking new Core i7 system with Blu-ray was future-proof.

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World's smallest laser cracks open the door to THz CPU race originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>laserMikhail NoginovMikhailNoginovnanoelectronicsnanolasernanoparticlesnanophotonicsnanotechnologyNorfolk State UniversityNorfolkStateUniversityplasmonicssmallest laserSmallestLaserspasersurface plasmonsSurfacePlasmonsMon, 17 Aug 2009 05:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Philips to unveil saliva-based roadside drug test later this year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/06/philips-to-unveil-saliva-based-roadside-drug-test-later-this-yea/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/06/philips-to-unveil-saliva-based-roadside-drug-test-later-this-yea/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/06/philips-to-unveil-saliva-based-roadside-drug-test-later-this-yea/#comments
In the vein of the breathalyzer, Philips has developed an on-the-go drug test, that can be used by the side of the road to test suspected imbibers for cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamines and methaphetamine. Unlike the standard alcohol testing equipment, this one is used by having the suspect spit into a small receptacle, which is then inserted into the measurement chamber which contains magnetic nanoparticles coated with ligands that bind to one of five different drug groups, delivering color coded test results in about 90 seconds. Philips, which has been developing the device since 2001, built it as an optical device that would be easy to mass produce for law enforcement. The company expects to ship them by the end of the year, though there's no word on exactly which markets will employ them as of yet.

[Via Coolest Gadgets]

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Philips to unveil saliva-based roadside drug test later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copsdrug testdrug testingDrugTestDrugTestingnanoparticlesnanotechnologyphilipspoliceroadside drug testingRoadsideDrugTestingThu, 06 Aug 2009 06:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists develop 'coin sorter' for nanoparticles, first-ever nanofluidic device with complex 3D surface]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/05/scientists-develop-first-nanofluidic-device-with-complex-3d-surf/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/05/scientists-develop-first-nanofluidic-device-with-complex-3d-surf/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/05/scientists-develop-first-nanofluidic-device-with-complex-3d-surf/#comments The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Cornell University have banded together and formed what they're touting is the first nanoscale fluidic device with a complex three-dimensional surface. The staircase-shaped prototype is 10nm at its tiniest and 620nm at its tallest -- all smaller than the average bacterium, and a departure from the usual flat, rectangular-shaped fare. According to the press release, it can manipulate nanoparticles by size, similar to how coin sorters separate your pocket change. Potential uses includes helping to measure nanoparticle mixtures for drug delivery or gene therapy, or the isolation / confinement of individual DNA strands. Don your science caps and hit up the read link for the more technical details

[Via PhysOrg]

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Scientists develop 'coin sorter' for nanoparticles, first-ever nanofluidic device with complex 3D surface originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cornellcornell universityCornellUniversitynanonano particlesnano technologynanofluidicNanoParticlesnanoscaleNanoTechnologynational institute of standards and technologyNationalInstituteOfStandardsAndTechnologynistSun, 05 Apr 2009 14:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers tout nano explosive's ability to blast cancer cells]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/researchers-tout-nano-explosives-ability-to-blast-cancer-cells/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/researchers-tout-nano-explosives-ability-to-blast-cancer-cells/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/researchers-tout-nano-explosives-ability-to-blast-cancer-cells/#comments
We've already seen nanoparticles put to use to help diagnose cancer (in mice), and it now looks like researchers have found another, potentially bigger use for 'em -- namely, to blast those cancer cells away altogether. That's apparently possible by mixing two so-called nanothermite composites that act as a fuel and an oxidizer, which in turn generate combustion waves that can hit velocities ranging from 1,500 to 2,300 meters per second (or somewhere in the neighborhood of Mach 3). Being on the nano-scale, however, the researchers say the explosives can be used safely within the human body and, indeed, they say they have 99% success rate in tests on animal tissue. If all goes as planned (a relatively big "if"), the researchers say the technology could be ready for use in two to five years.

[Via Futurismic]

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Researchers tout nano explosive's ability to blast cancer cells originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancermedicalnanonanoparticlesMon, 28 Jan 2008 11:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Silver Seal antibacterial, washable mouse and keyboard]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/silver-seal-antibacterial-washable-mouse-and-keyboard/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/silver-seal-antibacterial-washable-mouse-and-keyboard/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/silver-seal-antibacterial-washable-mouse-and-keyboard/#commentsAs far as "world's firsts" go this is a pretty minor one, yet we'd be neglect in our duties were we not to present you with the Silver Seal Antibacterial, Washable Keyboard and Mouse, which manufacturer Seal Shield claims to be the only set combining both of these hygienic features. Designed for use in hospitals and other germ-laden environments, the Silver Seal desktop features those same silver ion nanoparticles that have become all the rage among hypochondriacs these days, and is totally submersible (dishwashers, too!) to expedite regular cleanings. Hospital IT procurement specialists should start looking for the set next month, and although no MSRP is available yet, we'll wager that you're looking at diNovo-level pricing.

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Silver Seal antibacterial, washable mouse and keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antibacterialkeyboardsmicenanoparticlesperipheralsseal shieldSealShieldsilver ionssilver sealSilverIonsSilverSealFri, 19 Oct 2007 09:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers devise thermally-activated flexible display]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/researchers-devise-thermally-activated-flexible-display/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/researchers-devise-thermally-activated-flexible-display/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/researchers-devise-thermally-activated-flexible-display/#commentsThe race to create bigger smaller and better flexible displays now has yet another participant, but Weijia Wen and colleagues at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology are putting a toasty twist on their iteration. The team has reportedly developed a "flexible, thermally-activated electronic display made from a mixture of metal nanoparticles and plastic," which costs far less than most similar alternatives to create and measures just 150-microns in thickness. Moreover, these units are able to change hues based on the surrounding temperatures, and while only fixed patterns are available for viewing at the moment, the crew hopes to implement an array of "thermal pixels" in the future for more dynamic opportunities. A display that warns you of an overheating machine / battery / toy -- who woulda thunk it?

[Thanks, Alan]

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Researchers devise thermally-activated flexible display originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flexible displayFlexibleDisplayheat activatedHeatActivatedhong kongHongKonglcdnanoparticlesnanotechnologypdmspolydimethylsiloxaneresearchsciencethermal pixelsThermalPixelsFri, 06 Jul 2007 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Cornell designer concocts garb that prevents colds, shuns pollution]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/07/cornell-designer-concocts-garb-that-prevents-colds-shuns-pollut/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/07/cornell-designer-concocts-garb-that-prevents-colds-shuns-pollut/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/07/cornell-designer-concocts-garb-that-prevents-colds-shuns-pollut/#comments
We've seen sensor-laden, iPod-friendly, and electroluminescent garb in years past, but a crafty design student over at Cornell University wasn't satisfied with stopping there. Olivia Ong is hoping to get her career in fashion off to a very safe start, as her functional clothing lines include "a garment that can prevent colds and flu and never needs washing," and if that wasn't fresh enough, she's also conjured up another that "destroys harmful gases and protects the wearer from smog and air pollution." The prototype Glitterati garb was showcased at the school's Design League fashion show, and both articles contained "cotton fabrics coated with nanoparticles" that give them the unique qualities. No word on whether or not we can expect such protective (albeit stylish) threads to hit the strip anytime soon, but considering that "one square yard of nano-treated cotton would run you about $10,000," we doubt us common folk would be selling off assets to take it home anyway.

[Via MedLaunches]

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Cornell designer concocts garb that prevents colds, shuns pollution originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2007 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artclothingcoldscornelldesignfashionfiberfunctional clothingFunctionalClothinggarbGlitteratihealthillnessmedicalnanoparticlesnanotechnologynoxioussciencesicksicknessstudentuniversityMon, 07 May 2007 07:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Morpho Towers: ferrofluid sculptures that groove to the music]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/morpho-towers-ferrofluid-sculptures-that-groove-to-the-music/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/morpho-towers-ferrofluid-sculptures-that-groove-to-the-music/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/morpho-towers-ferrofluid-sculptures-that-groove-to-the-music/#comments
There's just something irresistible about random objects that get down to surrounding beats, and the Morpho Towers: Two Standing Spirals installation is quite the eye-catcher indeed. The pair of ferrofluid sculptures were deigned to stand in a platter of ferrofluid and move "synthetically to music," which translates into a magnetic field being generated by sound and creating autonomous art. Subsequently, the towers react by attracting "spikes of ferrofluid" from the bottom-up, which can mold itself and transform into a variety of stunning shapes. The spikes themselves are designed to "rotate around the edge of the spiral cone, becoming large or small depending on the strength of the magnetic field," and by utilizing time series metadata ingrained in the music, the designers can create (and control) more dramatic scenes on the towers' sides. So if you're interested in what a magnetic Christmas tree might look like, be sure to take a peek after the jump for the artwork in motion.

[Via SciFiTech]

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Morpho Towers: ferrofluid sculptures that groove to the music originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artcreationdancedancingdesignelectromagnetferrofluid sculpturesFerrofluidSculpturesinventionmagneticmorpho towersMorphoTowersmotormusicnano particlesnano technologyNanoParticlesNanoTechnologytowervideoThu, 05 Apr 2007 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers develop cheap, effective nanoparticle infrared detector]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/26/researchers-develop-cheap-effective-nanoparticle-infrared-detec/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/26/researchers-develop-cheap-effective-nanoparticle-infrared-detec/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/26/researchers-develop-cheap-effective-nanoparticle-infrared-detec/#commentsMIT's venerable Technology Review reports that a team of Canadian researchers led by Edward Sargent have devised a highly sensitive infrared chip that could potentially make night-vision goggles and other imaging devices both cheaper and more effective by using, what else, nanotechnology. The system involves spinning a glass slide or silicon chip to evenly coat it with a special solution of conducting nanoparticles called quantum dots -- something that can be done for as little as $17 per square meter, Sargent says. With the solution, the chip is able to pick up both the near and short-wave infrared (SWIR) bands, allowing for accurate night vision even in cloudy conditions. What's more, Sargent says the technology could also be applied to medical devices, since SWIR light can apparently easily pass through tissue at no risk to the patient. Your guess is as good as ours as to when we'll actually see any of this outside of the lab, but with the promise of higher yields than traditional fabrication processes, there's definitely an incentive to push this tech out the door.

[Via Medgadget]

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Researchers develop cheap, effective nanoparticle infrared detector originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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