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[Sharp Pantone 5 ICS phone has 8 color choices, 3.7-inch screen -- oh, and a radiation detector]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/sharp-pantone-ics-phone-8-color-radiation-detector/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/sharp-pantone-ics-phone-8-color-radiation-detector/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/sharp-pantone-ics-phone-8-color-radiation-detector/#comments sharp-pantone-ics-phone-8-color-radiation-detector

Color us shocked and jealous at the new Android 4.0 phone from Sharp -- strange and wonderful even by Japan's highly elevated standards. The eight colors of the 3.7-inch Pantone branded phone from carrier Softbank are nice for sure, but the ability to sense between .005 and 9.99 μSv/h of radiation is in a new category altogether. Though Sharp has hedged a bit by describing the detector as "non-compliant" with Japan standards at this point, the possibilities seem endless for such a feature -- the ability to constantly report your location and radiation level to Facebook comes to mind, for instance. It will be offered -- in Japan only, we presume -- with a 4-megapixel rear camera, eight Pantone colors, 0.3-megapixel front camera, 854 x 480 resolution, and will be dust-proof and waterproof. The price hasn't been discussed yet, but we can't imagine too much quibbling whatever it is, for a phone that could keep you gamma-ray safe.

Update: We have an image after the break showing how Sharp reduced the radiation circuits into a tiny package needed for the Pantone 5. The phone even has a dedicated button for the feature.

Continue reading Sharp Pantone 5 ICS phone has 8 color choices, 3.7-inch screen -- oh, and a radiation detector

Sharp Pantone 5 ICS phone has 8 color choices, 3.7-inch screen -- oh, and a radiation detector originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 02:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4MP Camera4mpCameraAndroidAndroid 4.0Android4.0eight colorsEightColorsgammagamma raysGammaRaysice cream sandwichIceCreamSandwichICSJapanjapanesejapanese earthquakeJapaneseEarthquakemobilepostcrosspantonepantone 5pantone vPantone5PantoneVradiationradiation detectorradiation exposureRadiationDetectorRadiationExposuresharpsoftbankTue, 29 May 2012 02:13:00 EST<![CDATA[UnEasyshare: Kodak's now-defunct, Rochester-based nuclear reactor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/uneasyshare-kodaks-now-defunct-rochester-based-nuclear-reacto/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/uneasyshare-kodaks-now-defunct-rochester-based-nuclear-reacto/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/uneasyshare-kodaks-now-defunct-rochester-based-nuclear-reacto/#comments ImageReady for this unsettling Kodak moment? It seems the one-time imaging powerhouse held a decades-long secret deep in a bunker below Building 82 on its Rochester campus. The now vacant facility, a concrete-shielded chamber built in 1974, was once home to a californium neutron flux multiplier (CFX) or, in layman's terms, a small nuclear reactor as recently as six years ago. Certainly, that's not the technology one would normally associate with an outfit built on the foundations of photography, but according to recently released documents, its three and a half pound store of enriched uranium was used primarily for neutron radiography -- an imaging technique -- and chemical purity testing. The site's long been shut down and the radioactive material in question carted off with federal oversight, but for denizens of that upstate New York territory, alarming news of the reactor's existence has only just surfaced. Before you cast Kodak the evil side eye, bear in mind post-9/11 policies forbade the company from making the whereabouts of its small reactor widely known, though earlier scientific studies did make reference to the CFX's existence. It's an eye-opening glimpse into the esoteric machinations of private industry and the deadly dangers that lurk below your feet.

UnEasyshare: Kodak's now-defunct, Rochester-based nuclear reactor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californium neutron flux multiplierCaliforniumNeutronFluxMultiplierKodakneutron imagingneutron radiographyNeutronImagingNeutronRadiographyNuclear reactorNuclearReactorradiationRochesterMon, 14 May 2012 14:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists bend gamma rays, could neuter radioactive waste]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/10/scientists-bend-gamma-rays-in-experiment/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/10/scientists-bend-gamma-rays-in-experiment/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/10/scientists-bend-gamma-rays-in-experiment/#comments Image

Bending most light is easy; bending it in gamma ray form, however, has often been deemed impossible given how hard it is for electrons to react to the extreme frequencies. University of Munich scientist Dietrich Habs and his Institut Laue-Langevin teammate Michael Jentschel have proven that assumption wrong: an experiment in blasting a silicon prism has shown that gamma rays will refract just slightly through the right material. If a lens is made out of a large-atom substance like gold to bend the rays further, the researchers envision focused beams of energy that could either detect radioactive material or even make it inert by wiping off neutrons and protons. In theory, it could turn a nuclear power plant's waste harmless. A practical use of the technology is still some distance off -- but that it's even within sight at all just feels like a breakthrough.

Scientists bend gamma rays, could neuter radioactive waste originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>experimentgamma rayGamma RaysGammaRayGammaRaysinstitut laue langevininstitut laue-langevinInstitutLaue-langevinInstitutLaueLangevinlensnuclearnuclear powerNuclearPowerprismradiationradioactiveresearchsciencescience and technologyScienceAndTechnologyscientistscientistssiliconsilicon prismSiliconPrismuniversity of munichUniversityOfMunichThu, 10 May 2012 05:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba made $898.8 million profit, could manage to lend you twenty bucks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/08/toshiba-fy-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/08/toshiba-fy-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/08/toshiba-fy-2011/#comments Image

Toshiba isn't going with the flow this financial season, bucking the trend and posting a healthy (albeit reduced) net profit of 73.7 billion yen ($898.8 million). Whilst down from $1.7 billion in 2010, the company points to the European debt crisis, Japanese Earthquake and high oil prices as the barriers to further success. Unlike its local rivals, Tosh branched out early into "social infrastructure," building everything from radiation detectors, power plants and LED light bulbs -- businesses that made a stack of cash while its computer and TV businesses slumped. Unencumbered by these crises in the future, the company is projecting to make $1.68 billion across the next 12 months -- at which point it might treat itself to a spa day, or something.

Continue reading Toshiba made $898.8 million profit, could manage to lend you twenty bucks

Toshiba made $898.8 million profit, could manage to lend you twenty bucks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20112012BusinessEarningsEuropean Debt CrisisEuropeanDebtCrisisFinancialsFY2011HDDhdpostcrossJapanJapanese EarthquakeJapaneseEarthquakeProfitQ1 2012Q12012RadiationSocial InfrastructureSocialInfrastructureSovereign DebtSovereignDebtThailand FloodingThailandFloodingToshibaTVTue, 08 May 2012 05:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Bunnie Huang builds open-source geiger counter to help Japanese civilians]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/bunnie-huang-geiger-counter/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/bunnie-huang-geiger-counter/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/bunnie-huang-geiger-counter/#comments
Chumby co-creator Andrew "Bunnie" Huang was so moved by the Japanese Earthquake and Fukushima meltdown that he felt compelled to help out. Teaming up with nonprofit organization Safecast, he started work on a radiation monitor that was suitable for everyday civilian use, rather than it remain the sole province of officials. As well as its readings being able to stand up to scientific scrutiny, Huang's counter had to remain functional after a natural disaster, last for ages and be small enough for people to carry around. When he had finished building the reference design, he open-sourced the design so companies like Medcom and individuals could build their own. If you'd like to dabble in the arts of radiation monitoring, head on down to the source link for a fascinating insight into how it's done.

Bunnie Huang builds open-source geiger counter to help Japanese civilians originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andrew Bunnie HuangAndrew HuangAndrewBunnieHuangAndrewHuangBunnie HuangBunnieHuangChumbyDevsEarthquakeFukushimaFukushima DaiichiFukushimaDaiichiJapanJapanese EarthquakeJapaneseEarthquakeOpen-SourceRadiationSafecastFri, 16 Mar 2012 21:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel puts CPU and WiFi radio together on same chip, with proper shielding of course]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/20/intel-puts-cpu-and-wifi-radio-on-same-chip/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/20/intel-puts-cpu-and-wifi-radio-on-same-chip/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/20/intel-puts-cpu-and-wifi-radio-on-same-chip/#comments It's little notches like these that could eventually carve out a big Intel-shaped niche in the mobile universe. What you're looking at is a prototype chip codenamed 'Rosepoint' that somehow crams a digital WiFi radio and a dual-core Atom CPU onto the same piece of silicon. Interference would normally make such proximity impossible, but Rosepoint incorporates new anti-radiation and noise-cancelling shielding to prevent the components from corrupting each other. The aim isn't just to shrink everything, but also to deliver "state of the art power efficiency" by removing unnecessary circuitry. Intel even claims it can fit the RF antenna onto a chip too, but it doesn't want to show that off just yet. Too many prying eyes.

Intel puts CPU and WiFi radio together on same chip, with proper shielding of course originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atomdigital wifiDigitalWifiintelintel rosepointIntelRosepointinterferencenoise shieldingnoise-cancelling shieldingNoise-cancellingShieldingNoiseShieldingradiationradiation shieldingRadiationShieldingRFrosepointshieldingsocsystem-on-chipwifiMon, 20 Feb 2012 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[NYPD begins testing long-distance gun detector as alternative to physical searches]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/nypd-begins-testing-long-distance-gun-detector-as-alternative-to/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/nypd-begins-testing-long-distance-gun-detector-as-alternative-to/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/nypd-begins-testing-long-distance-gun-detector-as-alternative-to/#comments As part of its ongoing effort to keep New York City safe, the NYPD has begun testing a new scanning device capable of detecting concealed firearms from a distance of about 16 feet. Developed in conjunction with the Department of Defense, the technology uses terahertz imaging detection to measure the radiation that humans naturally emit, and determine whether the flow of this radiation is impeded by a foreign object -- in this case, a gun. During a speech Tuesday, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the device shows "a great deal of promise as a way of detecting weapons without a physical search." Kelly went on to say that the technology would only be deployed under "reasonably suspicious circumstances," though some civil liberties activists are already expressing concerns. "We find this proposal both intriguing and worrisome," New York Civil Liberties Union executive director Donna Lieberman said in a statement, adding that the scanner could all too easily infringe upon civilian privacy. "If the NYPD is moving forward with this, the public needs more information about this technology, how it works and the dangers it presents." For now, the NYPD is only testing the device at a shooting range in the Bronx, and has yet to offer a timeline for its potential deployment.

NYPD begins testing long-distance gun detector as alternative to physical searches originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civil libertiesCivilLibertiesdepartment of defenseDepartmentOfDefensefirearmsgungunshandgunslaw enforcementLawEnforcementnew york citynew york police departmentNewYorkCityNewYorkPoliceDepartmentnypdpoliceprivacyprototyperadiationscannerterahertzterahertz imaging detectionTerahertzImagingDetectionSat, 21 Jan 2012 07:08:00 EST<![CDATA[India: cellphones generate radiation, send a text message instead]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/india-cellphones-generate-radiation-send-a-text-message-instea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/india-cellphones-generate-radiation-send-a-text-message-instea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/india-cellphones-generate-radiation-send-a-text-message-instea/#comments
Is your cellphone bad for your health? India's government seems to think so, because it's planning a law that will require all phones to display how much electro-magnetic radiation they generate. Radiation is measured in SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) and the Indian limit has been lowered to match the USA's 1.6W/kg, whereas before it followed the European ceiling of 2W/kg. But even handsets that meet this criterion may have to declare their SAR level, and also carry a message asking people to keep their calls or short or use SMS instead -- implying that the Indian government regards radiation as dangerous at any level.

[Thanks, Yogesh]

India: cellphones generate radiation, send a text message instead originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CancerCellphone RadiationCellphone Radiation and CancerCellphone Radiation CancerCellphoneRadiationCellphoneRadiationAndCancerCellphoneRadiationCancerIndiaIndia GovernmentIndiaGovernmentIndian GovernmentIndian Telegraph Act 1885IndianGovernmentIndianTelegraphAct1885mobilepostcrossR ChandrashekharRadiationRChandrashekharSARSpecific Absorption RateSpecificAbsorptionRateFri, 23 Dec 2011 07:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba's radiation spotting camera means the end of 'nuclear hotspot hide and seek']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/14/toshibas-radiation-spotting-camera-means-the-end-of-nuclear-ho/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/14/toshibas-radiation-spotting-camera-means-the-end-of-nuclear-ho/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/14/toshibas-radiation-spotting-camera-means-the-end-of-nuclear-ho/#comments
Toshiba's developed a camera that will take the guesswork out of finding radiation hotspots. Since the deadly particles / waves gather together in clumps, cleanup crews have to hunt around blind using geiger counters. The "Portable Gamma Camera" overlays data from a radiation sensor onto a live picture -- areas shaded with red pixels have high radiation, yellow and green is medium and blue is low. Simply point it where you think the trouble is and it'll show you exactly where to avoid. A prototype was used during the initial stages of the Fukushima cleanup and this model's around half the size and it can even run on batteries -- giving you three hours of lifesaving radiation detection.

Toshiba's radiation spotting camera means the end of 'nuclear hotspot hide and seek' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FukushimaFukushima DaiichiFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power StationFukushimaDaiichiFukushimaDaiichiNuclearPowerStationGeiger CounterGeigerCounterPortable Gamma CameraPortableGammaCameraRadiationToshibaToshiba Portable Gamma CameraToshibaPortableGammaCameraWed, 14 Dec 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[NASA looks to send landers to Europa in 2020, wants to break the ice]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/nasa-looks-to-send-landers-to-europa-in-2020-wants-to-break-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/nasa-looks-to-send-landers-to-europa-in-2020-wants-to-break-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/nasa-looks-to-send-landers-to-europa-in-2020-wants-to-break-the/#comments
There's still a lot of mystery surrounding Jupiter's moon Europa, but researchers at NASA seem fairly certain that there's a watery ocean lurking beneath its icy exterior. Their theories may finally be put to the test later this decade, thanks to a concept mission crafted by astronomers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. According to Space.com, JPL researchers have come up with a plan that would send a pair of landers to Europa by 2026, in the hopes of finding out whether the rock has ever supported life forms. The endeavor certainly wouldn't be easy, since Jupiter blankets its moon in heavy radiation, but researchers think they can mitigate these risks by sending in an extra lander as backup, and by keeping the mission short and sweet. Under the plan, each 700-pound robot would use a mass spectrometer, seismometers and a slew of cameras to search for any organic chemicals that may be lodged within the moon's ice. Neither craft will sport a protective shield, so they'll only stay around the planet for about seven days, so as to avoid any radiation damage. At this point, the mission is still in the concept phase, though the JPL is hoping to launch both landers by 2020. JPL researcher Kevin Hand was quick to point out, however, that this would be a "habitability mission," and that NASA doesn't expect to find any signs of current life on Europa. Lars von Trier was unavailable for comment.

NASA looks to send landers to Europa in 2020, wants to break the ice originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aliencamerachemicalconceptEuropaexplorationJet Propulsion LaboratoryJetPropulsionLaboratoryjplJupiterlanderlars von trierLarsVonTrierlifemass spectrometerMassSpectrometermissionmoonnasaorganic chemicalOrganicChemicalplanetradiationresearchrobotspacespace explorationSpaceExplorationMon, 12 Dec 2011 08:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Cyberdyne turns its HAL exoskeleton into an anti-radiation suit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/cyberdyne-turns-its-hal-exoskeleton-into-an-anti-radiation-suit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/cyberdyne-turns-its-hal-exoskeleton-into-an-anti-radiation-suit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/cyberdyne-turns-its-hal-exoskeleton-into-an-anti-radiation-suit/#comments The original Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) suit was designed to help those with muscle diseases, but it's now been upgraded to cope with a very different type of problem: handling radioactive substances. One of the few wearable materials that can stop radiation is tungsten, which is extremely heavy: a typical tungsten vest weigh up to 132 pounds. When worn in conjunction with a HAL exoskeleton, however, a vest can be worn for lengthy periods without causing fatigue -- potentially allowing greater access to hazardous sites like Fukushima.

Cyberdyne turns its HAL exoskeleton into an anti-radiation suit originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CyberdyneexoskeletonfukushimaHALheavyhybrid assistive limbHybridAssistiveLimbprotectionprotectiveprotective clothingProtectiveClothingradiationradiation suitRadiationSuitradioactivetungstentungsten vestTungstenVestMon, 07 Nov 2011 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: magnetic highways, MoMA tech exhibit and lasers in the sky]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/04/inhabitats-week-in-green-magnetic-highways-moma-tech-exhibit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/04/inhabitats-week-in-green-magnetic-highways-moma-tech-exhibit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/04/inhabitats-week-in-green-magnetic-highways-moma-tech-exhibit/#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.

Renewable energy supercharged our transit system this week as Inhabitat showcased Vycon's plans to tap speeding subway trains for immense amounts of kinetic energy, and we took a look at an innovative magnetic highway system that harvests energy from passing cars. Biofuels also got a boost from several unlikely sources as researchers discovered that bacteria in panda poop is incredibly efficient at breaking down plant matter, and scientists developed a way to recycle newspaper into biofuel. We also showcased a real-time energy monitoring device for kids, we learned that some radioactive areas around Fukushima are more dangerous than Chernobyl, and we took a look inside a subterranean atomic shelter that has been transformed into a cavernous underground office.

How do machines communicate with people? If you're pondering that idea, you'll be interested in this exclusive video interview with Museum of Modern Art curator Paola Antonelli on MoMA's new 'Talk to Me' technology exhibit which recently opened in New York City. We were also amazed by several artistic innovations this week as Wacom unveiled a pen that instantly digitizes anything you can draw and Sarah Garzoni created a beautiful series of printed paper butterflies.

In other news, we shined the spotlight on several brilliant advances in lighting technology as scientists successfully created rain by shooting laser beams into the sky and a designer unveiled a solar OLED tile system that can transform skyscrapers into zero-energy displays. We also brought you several bright ideas in wearable tech as Halston unveiled a glow-in-the-dark sequin gown, a ghostly troop of illuminated radiation suits wandered through the German countryside, and a Cornell student developed a type of clothing that traps toxic gases. Meanwhile the Hudson River lit up with a luminous field of 200 LEDs and Laser Power Systems unveiled plans for a nuclear powered car. Speaking of green transportation, we also spotted a high-tech E-Max motorcycle that converts pressure into power, and we watched Toyota's all-electric P001 racer become the first EV to break the Nurburgring's 8-minute speed record.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: magnetic highways, MoMA tech exhibit and lasers in the sky originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalanimalsbacteriacare-maxeco-friendlyelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleEVglowglow in the darkGlowInTheDarkgreeninhabitatInhabitats Week in GreenInhabitatsWeekInGreenlaserlaser beamsLaserBeamslightlightingmotorcycleoledp001pandaradiationsolarsolar powerSolarPowertoxictoyotaVyconSun, 04 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Scosche's RDTX-PRO for iPhone and iPod touch detects radiation, funds charities]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/scosches-rdtx-pro-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch-detects-radiation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/scosches-rdtx-pro-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch-detects-radiation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/scosches-rdtx-pro-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch-detects-radiation/#comments
Scoshe already offers a fairly impressive range of mobile accessories, but its now branched out into some uncharted territory with its latest offering. The company has just announced its new RDTX-PRO radiation detector and app for the iPhone and iPod touch, which launches in Japan next month. With no calibration needed, the device attaches to your iOS handheld via the dock connector and offers gamma radiation detection above 60keV within +/- 5% accuracy. If that wasn't enough, the peripheral can also be used as a standalone alarm for radioactivity for up to 96 hours, and the aforementioned app will let you to share your findings via Facebook, Twitter or Google Maps. Still not convinced Scosche is fighting the good fight? Well, $10 from each $330 unit sold will benefit a group of charities dedicated to aiding those affected by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. For an closer look at the UI, take a peek at the gallery below, or for the full rundown, hit the PR after the break.

Gallery: Scosche RDTX-PRO

Continue reading Scosche's RDTX-PRO for iPhone and iPod touch detects radiation, funds charities

Scosche's RDTX-PRO for iPhone and iPod touch detects radiation, funds charities originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecharityfacebookgoogle mapsGoogleMapsiPhoneiPod TouchIpodTouchmobilepostcrossOSradiationradiation detectorRadiationDetectorRDTX-PROscoscheScosche Industriesscosche RDTX-PROScoscheIndustriesScoscheRdtx-protwitterWed, 31 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: little tykes under the spotlight]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-little-tykes-under-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-little-tykes-under-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-little-tykes-under-the/#comments In the rough and tumble debate surrounding the mobile phone's ability to cause cancer, both sides agree that our young ones -- indeed, some of the heaviest users -- could be at an increased risk for cellular-induced tumors. According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the radio emissions from mobile devices penetrate much deeper into the brains of children, and in the case of little tykes ages five to eight, their noggins will absorb twice the energy of the average adult. This, combined with their developing nervous systems, has brought concern for the welfare of our youngest mobile-savvy citizens, and led to a European study of nearly 1,000 (informed?) participants. Data was gathered over a four-year period, which relied upon self-reporting methods, where youngsters were found to not talk very often, and typically sent text messages instead -- big surprise, right?

While long-term risks remain unknown, the researchers conclude that "a large and immediate risk of cellphones causing brain tumors in children can be excluded." In other words: little Suzy won't begin sprouting cancer cells overnight. While you doting parents may find comfort in the latest research, you might consider stopping short of giving the mischievous rascal an unlimited voice plan. After all, gossip still spreads best at the school yard.

[Image courtesy Derek Olson (flickr)]

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: little tykes under the spotlight originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrain tumorBrainTumorcancercell phoneCellPhonecellphones and cancercellphones dangerousCellphonesAndCancerCellphonesDangerouschildchildrendangerousevidenceexpertshealthhypothesiskidsmedicineNational Cancer InstituteNationalCancerInstitutenot dangerousNotDangerousradiationresearchwhoworld health organizationWorldHealthOrganizationFri, 29 Jul 2011 04:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Bomb-sniffing crystals may save us from nuclear Armageddon, tea leaves agree]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/bomb-sniffing-crystals-may-save-us-from-nuclear-armageddon-tea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/bomb-sniffing-crystals-may-save-us-from-nuclear-armageddon-tea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/bomb-sniffing-crystals-may-save-us-from-nuclear-armageddon-tea/#comments
Worried that a nuclear attack might wipe out all of American civilization? You needn't be, because the scientific community's crystal ball says crystal balls may save humanity. Last week, the Department of Energy awarded a $900,000 grant to Fisk University and Wake Forest, where researchers have been busy exploring the counter-terrorist capabilities of strontium iodide crystals. Once laced with europium, these crystals can do a remarkably good job of picking up on and analyzing radiation, as the team from Fisk and other national laboratories recently discovered. Cost remains the most imposing barrier to deploying the materials at airports or national borders, though soothsaying scientists claim it's only a matter of time before they develop a way to produce greater crystalline quantities at an affordable price. The only thing Miss Cleo sees is a glistening press release, in your very near, post-break future.

Continue reading Bomb-sniffing crystals may save us from nuclear Armageddon, tea leaves agree

Bomb-sniffing crystals may save us from nuclear Armageddon, tea leaves agree originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystaldepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyenergyfisk universityFiskUniversitygovernmentgranthomeland securityHomelandSecuritymoneynational securityNationalSecuritynuclearphysicspoliticspsychicradiationresearchwake forestwake forest universityWakeForestWakeForestUniversitywarwargadgetMon, 18 Jul 2011 08:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: Danish chatterbox edition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-danish-chatterbox-edit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-danish-chatterbox-edit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-danish-chatterbox-edit/#commentsConcerned that a decade and a half of regular cellphone will have a long-term effect on your health? Hopefully the latest study conducted by members of the World Health Organization (WHO) will put your mind at ease. The examination followed nearly 3 million Danish adults, studying links between phone use and the formation of acoustic neuromas -- non-cancerous, slow-growing brain tumors that form on the main nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain. The study concluded that people who've used a handset for 11-15 years weren't any more likely to develop a tumor than those who don't use cellphones at all, though scientists are unsure that this is a long enough period of time to determine a significant correlation (or lack thereof). Still, this comes as refreshing news two months after the WHO released a study revealing that RF waves coming from phones are "potentially carcinogenic," due to a limited link to glioma and acoustic neuroma. Of course, none of these reports can actually conclude that cellphones cause cancer -- only that the two may be correlated. So, what does this latest study really do? It legitimizes the need to conduct more studies.

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: Danish chatterbox edition originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrain tumorBrainTumorcancercell phoneCellPhonecellphones and cancercellphones dangerousCellphonesAndCancerCellphonesDangerousdangerousevidenceexpertshealthhypothesismedicinenot dangerousNotDangerousradiationresearchwhoworld health organizationWorldHealthOrganizationThu, 14 Jul 2011 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Fukushima plant operator uses modded robot vacuum to suck up radioactive dirt (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/09/fukushima-plant-operator-uses-modded-robot-vacuum-to-suck-up-rad/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/09/fukushima-plant-operator-uses-modded-robot-vacuum-to-suck-up-rad/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/09/fukushima-plant-operator-uses-modded-robot-vacuum-to-suck-up-rad/#comments A few months ago, back when Japan was freshly reeling from that devastating earthquake and tsunami, it became obvious that robots could help survey radiation levels in Fukushima, even if they were powerless to lower them. Now, Tokyo Power Electric Co., the company that operates the damaged nuclear plant, is experimenting with an ad hoc system designed to clean at least some of the radioactive dirt from the reactors. What you see in that clip below is an industrial-grade vacuum cleaner attached to a Warrior, the most heavy-duty of iRobot's mobile bots. The idea is that workers can control the system from a safe distance, and let the robot handle the dirty work of removing toxic sand and debris. Head past the break to see it in action, combing the floor of the (eerily) empty plant.

Continue reading Fukushima plant operator uses modded robot vacuum to suck up radioactive dirt (video)

Fukushima plant operator uses modded robot vacuum to suck up radioactive dirt (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthquakeearthquake reliefEarthquakeReliefFukushimaiRobotiRobot WarriorIrobotWarriorJapanJapaneseJapanese EarthquakeJapaneseEarthquakemodmodsnuclear powernuclear power plantNuclearPowerNuclearPowerPlantradiationrobotrobotsTEPCOTokyo Power Electric Co.TokyoPowerElectricCo.vacuumvacuum cleanerVacuumCleanervideoWarriorSat, 09 Jul 2011 23:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: cancer experts say 'What, me worry?']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/04/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-cancer-experts-say-wh/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/04/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-cancer-experts-say-wh/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/04/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-cancer-experts-say-wh/#commentsIf you haven't already gotten whiplash from the ongoing cellphone-cancer debate, a freshly released scientific review might just do the trick. In the paper, published Friday, a panel of experts from Britain, Sweden and the US conducted a thorough survey of previous studies, before concluding that existing literature is "increasingly against" the theory that cellphone use causes brain tumors in adults. The researchers also questioned the biological mechanisms underpinning this hypothesis, while acknowledging some lingering uncertainties, since data on childhood tumors and longer-term research are still lacking.

The results come just a few weeks after the World Health Organization released its own literature review, in which it claimed that cell phones should be considered "potentially carcinogenic." But Anthony Swerdlow, a professor at Britain's Institute of Cancer Research and leader of the most recent investigation, said his group's work doesn't necessarily contradict the WHO, since the latter was simply seeking to evaluate cancer risks according to its own "pre-set classification system" -- under which things like pickled vegetables and coffee are also considered "potentially carcinogenic." Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that the debate will die down anytime soon, though Swerdlow expects more definitive conclusions within the next few years -- assuming, of course, that all of our brains haven't turned to oatmeal by then.

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: cancer experts say 'What, me worry?' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 06:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrain tumorBrainTumorcancercell phonecellphonecellphones and cancerCellPhonesAndCancerdangerousevidenceexpertshealthhypothesisliterature reviewLiteratureReviewmedicinenot dangerousNotDangerousradiationresearchreviewrisksciencetheoryWHOworld health organizationWorldHealthOrganizationMon, 04 Jul 2011 06:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Everything around you is decaying, and this is what it sounds like (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/everything-around-you-is-decaying-and-this-is-what-it-sounds-li/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/everything-around-you-is-decaying-and-this-is-what-it-sounds-li/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/everything-around-you-is-decaying-and-this-is-what-it-sounds-li/#comments Forget that math music nerd debate, there's no controversy here -- only the sweet, sweet sounds of cascading gamma rays. Working with Nuclear Safety and Training Group, KTH and nuclear physicists from AlbaNova University Centre's KSU, Swedish art collective Kollektivet Livet pieced together interactive software that mutates ionizing radiation into polarizing music. Incorporating all 3,175 known isotopes, the Radioactive Orchestra allows users to tweak decay rate and scale resulting in a personalized, hipster head-boppin glitch-hop track. We admit this sounds like old Bjork (doesn't all bloopy music?), but it's pretty nifty considering this is the sound of environmental decay. The project also has a more noble intent -- one aimed at swapping your radioactive fears for PC-acceptance. We're not sure this is going to get the unseen 'terror' onto anyone's Facebook Like list, but it will provide a good thirty minute distraction. Headphone nutters should plug-in for the full video after the break.

[Thanks, Alexander]

Continue reading Everything around you is decaying, and this is what it sounds like (video)

Everything around you is decaying, and this is what it sounds like (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamma raygamma ray musicGammaRayGammaRayMusicisotope decayIsotopeDecaykollektivet livetKollektivetLivetksukthkth ksukth ksu kollektivet livetKthKsuKthKsuKollektivetLivetnuclear physicsnuclear physics musicNuclearPhysicsNuclearPhysicsMusicradiationradiation musicRadiationMusicradioactive musicradioactive orchestraRadioactiveMusicRadioactiveOrchestraswedish art collective kollektivet livetSwedishArtCollectiveKollektivetLivetvideoTue, 28 Jun 2011 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: the WHO changes its mind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-the-who-changes-its-mind/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-the-who-changes-its-mind/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-the-who-changes-its-mind/#commentsTo say that experts generally don't agree about whether cellphone radiation can fry your brain is an understatement of massive proportions, but amazingly enough, the World Health Organization has come to a pseudo-conclusion. A group of 31 scientists from 14 countries working in the org's International Agency for Research on Cancer says that -- based on a survey of the literature -- those electromagnetic fields are as likely to be potentially carcinogenic as 266 other worrisome substances, including DDT pesticide and the exhaust from your automobile. Mind you, the WHO isn't saying that cellphones cause cancer, as today's decision is merely the latest call for more research, but the fact that respected scientists even claim that a correlation should be considered will probably be enough to stir the pot.

Continue reading Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: the WHO changes its mind

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: the WHO changes its mind originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancercancerouscellularcellular radiationCellularRadiationdangerdangeroushazardhazardousnot dangerousNotDangerousradiationWHOworld health organizationWorldHealthOrganizationTue, 31 May 2011 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[San Francisco backs away from cellphone radiation law, will distribute common sense instead]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/san-francisco-backs-away-from-cellphone-radiation-law-will-dist/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/san-francisco-backs-away-from-cellphone-radiation-law-will-dist/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/06/san-francisco-backs-away-from-cellphone-radiation-law-will-dist/#comments Science! It's the heady stuff that keeps the looneys in check and our feet planted on the earth. Back it up with a powerful CTIA lobbying effort and science can even move San Francisco policy. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that The City's law requiring cellphone retailers to label each device's SAR level as tested by the FCC has been put on indefinite hold, with a watered-down version likely taking its place. Surely, this is yet another example of big business and government colluding to the detriment of man? Not really, not this time. As Joel Moskowitz, director at the IC Berkeley Center for Family and Community Health, and even the FCC will tell you, the SAR value is a poor measurement of radiation intake for consumers:
"The specific absorption rate isn't a very useful measure because it's the peak reading on a variety of tests conducted on cell phones to measure their radiation, but doesn't indicate the average amount of radiation a user would generally be exposed to. You could buy a lower SAR phone, but on average it could produce more radiation than a higher SAR phone."
Although changes to the law have not yet been formally introduced, they'll likely result in retailers handing out "tip sheets" to customers that explain how to minimize radiation exposure from their new handsets. Ok, you win this time, reason, but we can still debate image artifacting on certain long-form birth certificates... to the choppa!

San Francisco backs away from cellphone radiation law, will distribute common sense instead originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphone radiationCellphoneRadiationfcclawlegalradiationsan franciscoSanFranciscosarFri, 06 May 2011 06:11:00 EST<![CDATA[HP webOS keyboard passes FCC smell test, won't zap you to death with radiation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/29/hp-webos-keyboard-passes-fcc-smell-test-wont-zap-you-to-death/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/29/hp-webos-keyboard-passes-fcc-smell-test-wont-zap-you-to-death/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/29/hp-webos-keyboard-passes-fcc-smell-test-wont-zap-you-to-death/#comments We already got some hands-on time with HP's sleek webOS keyboard, and now it's the FCC's turn. The skinny peripheral -- that's Bluetooth Keyboard KT-1087 to you -- popped up on the Federal Communications Commission's site, stripped naked for the government filing enthusiasts of the world to collectively ogle. That hopefully means the rest of us will see the wireless add-on for sale in the near future, AA batteries not included -- it would sure go nicely with that HP TouchPad you've been eyeing. Those who get a perverse thrill watching unreleased products sprawled out, alien autopsy-style are encouraged to check out the gallery below.

Gallery: webOS Keyboard FCC Filing

webOS Keyboard FCC Filing

HP webOS keyboard passes FCC smell test, won't zap you to death with radiation originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluetoothbluetooth keyboardBluetoothKeyboardfccfederal communications commissionFederalCommunicationsCommissionfilinghewlett-packardhpkeyboardpalmradiationwebosFri, 29 Apr 2011 20:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Arduino geiger counter brings open source radiation detection to the geeky masses (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/18/arduino-geiger-counter-brings-open-source-radiation-detection-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/18/arduino-geiger-counter-brings-open-source-radiation-detection-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/18/arduino-geiger-counter-brings-open-source-radiation-detection-to/#comments
Need to detect radiation? We sure hope not -- but if you're looking for a straight-forward, altogether geeky geiger counter, the Libelium gang has your back. En route to the Tokyo Hackerspace as we speak (and believe us, they need it), the Radiation Sensor Board for Arduino is a low-cost alternative to existing devices. It's available now either with a compatible geiger tube for €95 ($135) or without for €65 ($50). Hit up the source link to get started, but not before peeping the thing in action after the break. Is there anything you can't do with Arduino?

Continue reading Arduino geiger counter brings open source radiation detection to the geeky masses (video)

Arduino geiger counter brings open source radiation detection to the geeky masses (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduinodiygeigergeiger counterGeigerCounterhackhackerhackerspacehomebrewjapanlibeliumopen sourceOpenSourceradiationradiation detectorradiation sensorradiation sensor boardradiation sensor board for arduinoRadiationDetectorRadiationSensorRadiationSensorBoardRadiationSensorBoardForArduinotokyotokyo hackerspaceTokyoHackerspacevideoMon, 18 Apr 2011 18:51:00 EST<![CDATA[iRobot Packbots enter Fukushima nuclear plant to gather data, take photos, save lives (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/18/irobot-packbots-enter-fukushima-nuclear-plant-to-gather-data-ta/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/18/irobot-packbots-enter-fukushima-nuclear-plant-to-gather-data-ta/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/18/irobot-packbots-enter-fukushima-nuclear-plant-to-gather-data-ta/#comments
 iRobot recently deployed a pair of robots to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan, where intense levels of radiation have made it increasingly dangerous for human rescue workers to operate. The remote-controlled Packbots entered one of Fukushima's reactor buildings on Sunday morning, in the hopes of providing authorities with a better idea of what's going on inside the plant's nether regions. Each Packbot entered the facility with an attached video camera, allowing Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) to receive live interior images and temperature readings of the troubled reactor building. It would certainly be a daunting task for any human to undertake, but the Packbot is specially designed to cope with hazardous conditions (in the past, it's been used to defuse bombs for the U.S. Army). And the Packbot isn't alone, either. Authorities are also using a mechanical excavator and transporter to wipe away some of the debris outside the plant, while an unmanned helicopter has been hoisted skyward, to take aerial photos of the area. TEPCO has yet to release information on the Packbots' findings, but if Sunday's mission proves to be a success, they'll be sent in to two other reactor buildings, to do it all over again. Check out a video and an extra image of the Packbot, after the break.

Continue reading iRobot Packbots enter Fukushima nuclear plant to gather data, take photos, save lives (video)

iRobot Packbots enter Fukushima nuclear plant to gather data, take photos, save lives (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daiichidisasterdisaster reliefDisasterReliefearthquakeFukushimaFukushima DaiichiFukushimaDaiichiirobotJapanjapanese earthquakeJapaneseEarthquakenuclear powernuclear reactorNuclearPowerNuclearReactorpackbotradiationrescuetepcotsunamivideoMon, 18 Apr 2011 10:56:00 EST<![CDATA[TALON robot gets declawed, helps Japan sniff out radiation (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/16/talon-robot-gets-declawed-helps-japan-sniff-out-radiation-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/16/talon-robot-gets-declawed-helps-japan-sniff-out-radiation-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/16/talon-robot-gets-declawed-helps-japan-sniff-out-radiation-vide/#comments

Robotics experts at the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory just taught an old war machine some new tricks, namely radiation detection -- a timely acquisition of knowledge, for sure. Swapping out rocket launchers and machine guns for a suite of radiological sensors, digital cameras, and a GPS device, this modified TALON will be used to map the radiation levels (and create a visual output) surrounding the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The newly modified TALON landed in Japan just last week, joining an existing team of robot helpers already in use in the disaster area, including two additional TALONs equipped with sensors that can identify more than 7500 environmental hazards. Guns for Geiger counters seems like a good trade to us; check the video up top to watch the 'bot try out its treads.

[Thanks, John]

TALON robot gets declawed, helps Japan sniff out radiation (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>department of energyDepartmentOfEnergydisasterdisaster reliefDisasterReliefDOEearthquakeFukushimaFukushima DaiichiFukushimaDaiichigeigergeiger counterGeigerCountergovernmentGPSJapanjapan earthquakejapan earthquake 2011JapanEarthquakeJapanEarthquake2011mappingnuclear powerNuclearPowerradiationrobotRobotstalonususavideoSat, 16 Apr 2011 23:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: magic airplane skin, Japan's nuclear leak, and the circuit board table]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/inhabitats-week-in-green-magic-airplane-skin-japans-nuclear/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/inhabitats-week-in-green-magic-airplane-skin-japans-nuclear/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/inhabitats-week-in-green-magic-airplane-skin-japans-nuclear/#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.

As the nuclear crisis at Japan's Fukushima power plant continues to devastate the region and one reactor sprung a leak releasing tons of radioactive water, this week Inhabitat reported that green algae could play a critical role in cleaning up the spill. We also brought you Japan's latest radiation-detecting robot, and we took a look at how fallout from the controversial crisis is affecting energy policy around the world -- China is cutting plans for future reactors in favor of solar fields while Germany may trade 17 nuclear plants for wind farms.

In other news, green transportation went from the soaring skies to the deep blue sea this week as we looked at NASA's self-healing "magic skin" that will protect planes from lighting, and Sir Richard Branson unveiled a streamlined eco sub that will explore the ocean's depths. We also learned that the European Union is set to kick off an electric F1 racing championship just as Tesla took top place in the 5th Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally. Finally, we looked at two innovative technologies for enabling human movement -- a robotic exoskeleton that gives paraplegics the ability to walk and a prosthetic suit that lets people swim like mermaids.

This week we also spotted several awesome example of green gadgetry - a colorful Legotron camera made out of everyone's favorite building bricks and a geek chic binary table constructed entirely from vintage circuit boards. We also spotted a concept for an energy-generating playground that harnesses the literal power of play.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: magic airplane skin, Japan's nuclear leak, and the circuit board table originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChinadesignF1inhabitatinhabitats week in greenInhabitatsWeekInGreenJapanleakLegomagic skinMagicSkinMonte CarloMonteCarlonasanuclearnuclear leakNuclearLeakradiationrallytableweek in greenWeekInGreenSun, 10 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monirobo measures radiation following nuclear crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi power plant]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/monirobo-measures-radiation-following-nuclear-crisis-at-japans/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/monirobo-measures-radiation-following-nuclear-crisis-at-japans/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/monirobo-measures-radiation-following-nuclear-crisis-at-japans/#comments According to a report by a Japanese news agency, a radiation monitoring robot, aptly named Monirobo, is the first non-human responder to go on-site following the partial meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The machine, which was developed by Japan's Nuclear Safety Technology Centre to operate at lethal radiation levels, reportedly began work Friday, enlisting a 3D camera, radiation detector, and heat and humidity sensors to monitor the extent of the damage. A second Monirobo, used to collect samples and detect flammable gases, is expected to join its red counterpart soon -- both robots are operated by remote control from distances up to one kilometer away. They join the US Air Force's Global Hawk drone in unmanned surveillance of the crisis.

Monirobo measures radiation following nuclear crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi power plant originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>detectorearthquakeFukushima DaiichiFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power StationFukushimaDaiichiFukushimaDaiichiNuclearPowerStationjapanjapan earthquakejapan tsunamiJapanEarthquakejapaneseJapanTsunamimelt downmeltdownmonirobonuclearnuclear meltdownnuclear powerNuclear Safety Technology CentreNuclearMeltdownNuclearPowerNuclearSafetyTechnologyCentrepower plantPowerPlantradiationradiation detectorradiation monitorRadiationDetectorRadiationMonitorrobottsunamiWed, 23 Mar 2011 01:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: xkcd explains radiation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/visualized-xkcd-explains-radiation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/visualized-xkcd-explains-radiation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/visualized-xkcd-explains-radiation/#comments This radiation infographic is too small to read. There's a reason for that. Technically, it's because we constrain images to 600 pixels wide. Stylistically, it's because we'd like to point out that all things are relative. Head on over to xkcd to see just how much ionizing radiation you're likely to be exposed to performing radioactive activities (or just sitting still) and how that compares to the amount that researchers presently believe is capable of having an ill effect. Then, decide whether you should enlarge or reduce the size of your tinfoil hat accordingly.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Visualized: xkcd explains radiation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ionizingradiationradioactiveradioactivityvisualizedXKCDMon, 21 Mar 2011 13:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Dutch researchers dust off X-ray machine from 1896 to compare it to modern equipment]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/dutch-researchers-dust-off-x-ray-machine-from-1896-to-compare-it/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/dutch-researchers-dust-off-x-ray-machine-from-1896-to-compare-it/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/dutch-researchers-dust-off-x-ray-machine-from-1896-to-compare-it/#comments This one is a bit shocking to us. X-rays were discovered in 1896, and recently, a team of researchers at Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands pulled a machine from 1896 off the shelf for the purpose of comparing its results to modern equipment. The researchers say that this original equipment pumped out around 1,500 times more radiation than new equipment in order to produce its results. Speaking of those results, they are unsurprisingly less sharp and detailed than modern X-rays, but they still look pretty impressive if you ask us. The X-rays were conducted on a cadaver this time around rather than a living person because of the high levels of radiation. Full results will be published in the Journal Radiology this month.

Dutch researchers dust off X-ray machine from 1896 to compare it to modern equipment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>medicalmedicineradiationradiologyx-rayx-raysxrayxraysThu, 17 Mar 2011 07:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Lightning photographed by superfast X-ray camera, Nikola Tesla nods with approval]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/28/lightning-photographed-by-superfast-x-ray-camera-nikola-tesla-n/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/28/lightning-photographed-by-superfast-x-ray-camera-nikola-tesla-n/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/28/lightning-photographed-by-superfast-x-ray-camera-nikola-tesla-n/#comments You know, we could just leave you with the image above and be done here, but its backstory is almost as cool. Researchers at the Florida Institute of Technology have built a 1,500-pound X-ray camera that can shoot ten million frames a second and then pointed it at a nearby flash of lightning to try and learn more about it. How did they know where the lightning would strike? Well, in true scientific fashion, they caused it themselves! This was done by shooting rockets into thunderstorms, with attached wires directing the flow of energy down into their target zone. The imagery produced from the X-ray sensor is actually extremely low-res -- a 30-pixel hexagonal grid is all you get -- but it's enough to show that X-ray radiation is concentrated at the tip of the lightning bolt. What good that knowledge will do for the world, we don't know, but we're sure it'll provide nice fodder for the next round of superhero empowerment stories.

Lightning photographed by superfast X-ray camera, Nikola Tesla nods with approval originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 07:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameraelectricityflorida institute of technologyFloridaInstituteOfTechnologyjoseph dwyerJosephDwyerlightningphotographyradiationresearchuniversityx-rayx-ray cameraX-rayCameraTue, 28 Dec 2010 07:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Casemate's iPhone 4 Bounce case protects your noodle from inevitable radiation baking]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/casemates-iphone-4-bounce-case-protects-your-noodle-from-inevit/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/casemates-iphone-4-bounce-case-protects-your-noodle-from-inevit/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/casemates-iphone-4-bounce-case-protects-your-noodle-from-inevit/#comments As the everlasting debate rages on, and brains continue to / not to melt with every passing phone call, Casemate's taking no chances whatsoever. By collaborating with Pong -- a company that makes its ends by "protecting users of cellular telephones from the potentially harmful effects of radiation exposure" -- the Bounce was born. For all intents and purposes, it's a simplistic form-fitting iPhone 4 case (BlackBerry models are en route), available in a foursome of hues and tested to reduce normal cellphone radiation (SAR) by at least 60 percent. Purportedly, the case can redirect your phone's electromagnetic energy away from your head... right into the brain of some lucky chap sitting next to you on the subway. But hey, at least it serves another purpose: solving that blasted iPhone 4 reception issue. Two birds, one $49.99 dent in your credit card. Propaganda vid is just past the break.

Continue reading Casemate's iPhone 4 Bounce case protects your noodle from inevitable radiation baking

Casemate's iPhone 4 Bounce case protects your noodle from inevitable radiation baking originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 22:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryBlackBerryBlackBerry 8520BlackBerry 9650BlackBerry 9700Blackberry8520Blackberry9650Blackberry9700casecase mateCaseMatecellphone RadiationCellphoneRadiationdangerousiphone accessoryiphone caseIphoneAccessoryIphoneCaseperipheralpongprotectionRadiationsecurityFri, 19 Nov 2010 22:04:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC quietly changes guidance on cellphone radiation risks, further isolates San Francisco law]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/01/fcc-quietly-changes-guidance-on-cellphone-radiation-risks-furthe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/01/fcc-quietly-changes-guidance-on-cellphone-radiation-risks-furthe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/01/fcc-quietly-changes-guidance-on-cellphone-radiation-risks-furthe/#comments Here's something that'll surely send Birthers and Roswellians into a tizzy. The FCC quietly changed its long-standing recommendation that consumers concerned with cellphone radiation should purchase phones with lower SAR levels -- SAR meaning Specific Absorption Rate or the rate at which at which energy is absorbed by the body. The revision to the FCC website was made last week without any formal announcement. Odd, given the brouhaha created when the city of San Francisco passed a law requiring retailers to display SAR values next to cellphones as part of "right to know" safety campaign. A move that caused the CTIA to pull its fall event out of The City only to replace it with a big fat lawsuit. Here's a snippet from the FCC Consumer Fact sheet about SAR for Cellphones:
Many people mistakenly assume that using a cell phone with a lower reported SAR value necessarily decreases a user's exposure to RF emissions, or is somehow "safer" than using a cell phone with a high SAR value. While SAR values are an important tool in judging the maximum possible exposure to RF energy from a particular model of cell phone, a single SAR value does not provide sufficient information about the amount of RF exposure under typical usage conditions to reliably compare individual cell phone models. Rather, the SAR values collected by the FCC are intended only to ensure that the cell phone does not exceed the FCC's maximum permissible exposure levels even when operating in conditions which result in the device's highest possible - but not its typical - RF energy absorption for a user.
So why the sudden, unannounced change? Collusion between the cellphone industry's lobbying machine and big gov? Doubtful, the claification certainly makes sense to us. Besides, The Washington Post says no, citing a source familiar with the FCC's decision. Great, case closed then.

FCC quietly changes guidance on cellphone radiation risks, further isolates San Francisco law originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 04:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonecellphone radiationCellphoneRadiationctiafccradiationsan franciscoSanFranciscosarspecific absorption rateSpecificAbsorptionRateFri, 01 Oct 2010 04:53:00 EST<![CDATA[CTIA sues San Francisco over cellphone radiation law]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/24/ctia-sues-san-francisco-over-cellphone-radiation-law/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/24/ctia-sues-san-francisco-over-cellphone-radiation-law/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/24/ctia-sues-san-francisco-over-cellphone-radiation-law/#comments San Francisco may have signed cellphone radiation labels into law, but the stickers won't stick without a fight -- the Cellular Telephone Industries Association (CTIA) just filed a complain in federal district court, claiming the new law supersedes the FCC's authority to regulate radio emissions and misleads consumers into believing some phones are safer than others. As we've discussed previously, the CTIA does have something of a point. Every phone that makes it to market is rigorously tested for cell phone radiation levels, and those that pass fall below a specific 1.6 watt per kilogram threshold already. But hey, we're all for bombarding our brains with that much less radiation, as long as our calls stay connected and our text messages arrive on time. If only there were a label for that... Read the CTIA's full complaint at our more coverage link.

CTIA sues San Francisco over cellphone radiation law originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphoneCellphone radiationCellphoneRadiationCTIAdangerousfccindustrylabellabelinglabelslawlawsuitlawsuitslegalnot dangerousNotDangerousradiationSan FranciscoSanFranciscoSARsuesuitSat, 24 Jul 2010 16:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: a strange world where echo doesn't exist]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/visualized-a-strange-world-where-echo-doesnt-exist/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/visualized-a-strange-world-where-echo-doesnt-exist/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/visualized-a-strange-world-where-echo-doesnt-exist/#comments Anechoic chambers are special rooms designed to absorb sound or electromagnetic radiation; they're nothing new, and most audio and electronics companies consider them critical parts of their testing facilities. Considering how odd they look, though, we never get tired of a good picture of one -- and Apple's press conference today pimping its in-house inventory of 17 such chambers gave us an opportunity to look at some of the craziest we've ever seen. See more at Apple's web page devoted to its antenna design and test labs.

Visualized: a strange world where echo doesn't exist originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anechoicanechoic chamberAnechoicChamberappleaudioechoemfiphoneiphone 4Iphone4radiationrfvisualizedFri, 16 Jul 2010 15:49:00 EST<![CDATA[IKAROS gets first burst of solar propulsion, wants more]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/ikaros-gets-first-burst-of-solar-propulsion-wants-more/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/ikaros-gets-first-burst-of-solar-propulsion-wants-more/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/ikaros-gets-first-burst-of-solar-propulsion-wants-more/#comments Photons, man, it's all about the photons. Japan's solar sail-equipped IKAROS probe has recorded its first propulsion derived from the force of sunlight rays hitting its tender surface. The force generated is a truly minuscule 1.12 millinewtons, but that can go a long way (literally) in a frictionless environment like space. The kite's sails also soak up Sol's emitted light to generate electricity, making the most out of the one resource available to it. So now that we've figured out how to do all that, shall we get started on colonizing Mars or what?

Continue reading IKAROS gets first burst of solar propulsion, wants more

IKAROS gets first burst of solar propulsion, wants more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flightikarosinterplanetaryinterplanetary travelInterplanetaryTraveljapanjapanesejaxakitephotonsproberadiationsailsolarsolar energysolar powersolar radiationsolar sailsolar windSolarEnergySolarPowerSolarRadiationSolarSailSolarWindspacespace explorationspace flightspace kitespace travelSpaceExplorationSpaceFlightSpaceKiteSpaceTravelthrustunmannedWed, 14 Jul 2010 05:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Planck telescope maps the universe in search of primordial light]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/planck-telescope-maps-the-universe-in-search-of-primordial-light/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/planck-telescope-maps-the-universe-in-search-of-primordial-light/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/planck-telescope-maps-the-universe-in-search-of-primordial-light/#comments Yep, that innocuous-looking picture above is the whole freaking universe, as perceived by the Planck telescope -- a long-wave light detector that's been catapulted into space to search for Big Bang clues. The European Space Agency is using it in order to get the most precise information to date on Cosmic Microwave Background radiation (apparent in the image as the magenta and yellow mush in the, ahem, background), which could in turn enlighten us on the conditions that gave rise to all of us omnivores prowling a gravity-assisted, ozone-protected, floating rock. The first mapping run took just over six months to complete, but the plan is to produce four such images using the Planck's super-cold (nearly at absolute zero) sensors before retiring the thing. Results are expected no sooner than 2013, so please do slide back from the edge of your seat.

Planck telescope maps the universe in search of primordial light originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big bangBigBangcmbcosmic microwave backgroundCosmicMicrowaveBackgroundcosmosdataesaeuropean space agencyEuropeanSpaceAgencyexplorationimagingplanckplanck telescopePlanckTelescoperadiationresearchspacespace explorationspace probeSpaceExplorationSpaceProbetelescopeuniverseTue, 06 Jul 2010 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellphone radiation law to help, confuse San Francisco consumers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/san-francisco-passes-cellphone-radiation-law-to-confuse-consumer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/san-francisco-passes-cellphone-radiation-law-to-confuse-consumer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/san-francisco-passes-cellphone-radiation-law-to-confuse-consumer/#comments Oh San Francisco, you and your progressive ways. The city just passed a law -- a first in the US -- requiring retailers to post the Specific Absorption Rates (aka SAR, the rate at which at which energy is absorbed by the body) in no less than 11-point font right next to any cellphone being sold. Sounds good as far as consumer education goes, right? And a functioning democracy demands an educated and informed electorate. But here's the thing: the jury's still out (just pick your favorite dangerous / not dangerous study to fit your belief) on the effect of radiation at levels less than the 1.6 watts per kilogram threshold set by the FCC. As such, CTIA spokesman John Walls has a point when he says that highlighting the SAR levels might confuse consumers into thinking that some cellphones are safer than others. In other words, consumer education needs to go much further than any retail-shelf placard could possibly communicate. Well, at least the law will keep us safe long enough to walk out the door and trip over a hippie.

P.S. The image above is from the "Get a Safer Phone" (note the wording) rankings provided by the Environmental Working Group.

Cellphone radiation law to help, confuse San Francisco consumers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonectiadangerousfccjohn wallsJohnWallslawnot dangerousNotDangerousradiationretailsan franciscoSanFranciscosarWed, 16 Jun 2010 05:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-radiation gadgets take a few steps towards science, but are they legit?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/08/anti-radiation-gadgets-take-a-few-steps-towards-science-but-are/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/08/anti-radiation-gadgets-take-a-few-steps-towards-science-but-are/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/08/anti-radiation-gadgets-take-a-few-steps-towards-science-but-are/#comments
 Gadgetwise recently ran a piece about two small-sized companies who are peddling something we've doubtless all encountered: anti-radiation devices. The thing is, nobody's proven yet that radiation from things like cellphones and laptops causes any harm... but why take chances when you can have the power of Belly Armor protecting your fetus? The thing that sets companies like Belly Armor and Pong Research -- which manufactures a cell phone case which purportedly protects against radiation -- is that they've spent a considerable amount of time and effort conducting research as they developed their products. So, undoubtedly, the Belly Armor blanket (which runs about $70) does protect your unborn child from your laptop's crazy rays -- again, though, the jury's still out on the effects of said rays. Should we err on the side of caution and start shelling out the bucks for anti-radiation gear, or should we just hope for the best?

Anti-radiation gadgets take a few steps towards science, but are they legit? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altantiradiationbelly armorBellyArmorcellphonespong researchPongResearchradiationTue, 08 Jun 2010 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[British surgeons using radiation beams to halt macular degeneration]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/british-surgeons-using-radiation-beams-to-halt-macular-degenerat/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/british-surgeons-using-radiation-beams-to-halt-macular-degenerat/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/british-surgeons-using-radiation-beams-to-halt-macular-degenerat/#commentsWe've seen more eyesight restoration efforts than we could easily count, but rather than tooting their horn about some theoretical discovery, boffins at Kings College Hospital in London are actually putting their hard work to use on real, live human brings. The new process, which goes by the name brachytherapy, is a one-off treatment for macular degeneration. In essence, surgeons carefully light up a beam of radiation within the eye for just over three minutes, which kills harmful cells without damaging anything else. A trial is currently underway in order to restore eyesight in some 363 patients, and everything thus far leads us to believe that the process is both safe and effective. As for costs? The procedure currently runs £6,000 ($9,889), but that's still not awful when you consider that existing treatments involving injections run £800 per month. Hop past the break for a video report.

Continue reading British surgeons using radiation beams to halt macular degeneration

British surgeons using radiation beams to halt macular degeneration originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindblindnessbrachytherapybritisheyeeyesighthealthinternationallasermacular degenerationMacularDegenerationmedicalocularradiationsciencescientistscientistssightsurgeonsurgerytreatmentukMon, 23 Nov 2009 07:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Website rates best and worst cellphones by radiation output levels -- how does yours stack up?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/27/website-rates-best-and-worst-cellphones-by-radiation-output-leve/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/27/website-rates-best-and-worst-cellphones-by-radiation-output-leve/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/27/website-rates-best-and-worst-cellphones-by-radiation-output-leve/#comments

You're surely aware that your cellphone bleeds radiation into your face the whole time you're on the phone with your mom, best friend or lover, right? Yes, it's a fact we try not to think about most of the time, but now there's a tool out there on the internets for the more reality-facing folks among us. The Environmental Working Group's launched a website dedicated to rating cellphones on their radiation output alone. Ranking highly (meaning they put out the lowest levels of radiation) are the Motorola RAZR V8, and AT&T's Samsung Impression. In fact, it seems that Samsung is cranking out the healthiest phones these days! Phones with poor showings includes T-Mobile's myTouch 3G and the Blackberry Curve 8830. So hit the read link and tell us, how does your phone rate?

[Via bookofjoe]

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Website rates best and worst cellphones by radiation output levels -- how does yours stack up? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphone radiationcellphone ratingCellphoneRadiationCellphoneRatingcellphonesenvironmentenvironmental working groupEnvironmentalWorkingGroupewgmobileradiationratingratingsstudiestoxictoxinsSun, 27 Sep 2009 08:27:00 EST