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Scientists made the blackest material ever
Scientists may have made a breakthrough in materials that can help manipulate light at nanoscale, but is it really, really, really black? No. Researchers at Saudi Arabia's King Abdulla University of Science and Technology have created a carbon-nanotube material that absorbs 98 to 99 percent of light (at all angles) between 400 and 1,400nm. But there's actually a reason why something that black needs to exist. These absorbers take on important roles when it comes to solar power absorption and optical interconnects, where fiberoptic data is being passed around. Researchers were able to put a small concentration of their special nanoparticles into a solution, which gave 26 percent more absorption than carbon nanotube -- the previous prince of (material) darkness. For now, there's none more black.
Google announces Android 'special event' for November 16th in Los Angeles
We just got word from Google of an Android-themed event next week, with little more than the words "These Go to Eleven" right up top -- a reference to a phrase from the 1984 mockumentary This is Spinal Tap. To top things off, the email came from "Nigel Tufnel," Christopher Guest's character from the film. The event kicks off in Los Angeles at 2PM local time (that's 5PM for you folks on the East Coast) on Wednesday, November 16th. We'll be there live, and so will you -- catch the livestream at YouTube.com/Android. There are a few more subtle hints in the invite teaser image, so jump past the break to see if you can pick them out.
MGM reveals specifications, extras for Spinal Tap on Blu-ray
The mere mention of Spinal Tap gets our gears turning, and saying that phrase in the same sentence as "Blu-ray" pretty much stops us in our tracks. The cult classic will be making its long-awaited high-def debut on January 20th, 2009, and MGM has just revealed a few new details to keep the buzz, um, buzzing. The flick will boast a 1080p / AVC MPEG-4 transfer on a BD-50 disc, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless surround track, three audio commentaries (with Rob Reiner, stars Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer, and other filmmakers), a host of deleted scenes, five music videos, trailers and TV spots. Of note, the BD will feature an exclusive "Create You Own Band" BD-Java game, though we can see the novelty there wearing off pretty quick. MSRP is set at $34.99, though it'll probably be available for a few bucks over eleven on launch week. Sorry, couldn't resist.
