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[NASA preps black hole-hunting space telescope for launch next month]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/nasa-preps-black-hole-hunting-space-telescope-for-launch-next-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/nasa-preps-black-hole-hunting-space-telescope-for-launch-next-mo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/nasa-preps-black-hole-hunting-space-telescope-for-launch-next-mo/#comments NASA preps black hole-hunting space telescope for launch next month

Scientists will soon have a new tool at their disposal in their search for black holes and a greater understanding of what NASA describes as "the most energetic and exotic objects in space." The space agency announced today that it has begun preparing its Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array -- otherwise known as NuSTAR -- for launch from Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean, with a liftoff planned for no earlier than June 13th. The telescope is by far the most advanced of its type to date, boasting ten times the resolution and more than 100 times the sensitivity of its predecessors, as well as a new design that relies on a complex set of 133 ultra-thin nested mirrors -- a setup NASA compares to a Russian Doll. Those interested can get a brief overview of the mission in the video after the break

Continue reading NASA preps black hole-hunting space telescope for launch next month

NASA preps black hole-hunting space telescope for launch next month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 02:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>launchnasaNuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ArrayNuclearSpectroscopicTelescopeArrayspacespace telescopeSpaceTelescopetelescopevideox-rayx-ray telescopeX-rayTelescopeThu, 31 May 2012 02:58:00 EST<![CDATA[UT Dallas researchers seek to imbue your smartphone with X-ray superpowers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/ut-dallas-researchers-seek-x-ray-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/ut-dallas-researchers-seek-x-ray-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/ut-dallas-researchers-seek-x-ray-smartphone/#comments UT Dallas researchers hope to imbue your smartphone with X-ray superpowers

If anybody ever told you that the future would be awesome, they were right. A new bit of research has emerged from the University of Texas at Dallas, which describes equipment that may allow people to see through walls -- and if that weren't wild enough, creators of the specialized CMOS imaging hardware believe the same technology could be integrated into our mobile phones. To pull off the feat, the scientists tapped into a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that exists between microwave and infrared known as the terahertz range. Due to privacy concerns, the equipment is being designed to operate at a distance of no more than four inches, but its creator hypothesizes that the technology will still be useful for finding studs in walls, verifying documents and detecting counterfeit currency. In other words, this brand of x-ray vision isn't exactly on par with Superman's abilities, but it's bound to work better than mail order spectacles from Newark.

UT Dallas researchers seek to imbue your smartphone with X-ray superpowers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cmosKenneth OKennethOmetamaterialmobile phoneMobilePhonemobilepostcrossresearchsciencesee-through visionSee-throughVisionsmartphonesmartphonesterahertzthzuniversity of texasUniversityOfTexasut dallasUtDallasx-rayx-ray gogglesx-ray specsX-rayGogglesX-raySpecsFri, 20 Apr 2012 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: dinosaur robots, a robotic bee and X-ray origami animals]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/dinosaur-robots-a-robotic-bee-an/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/dinosaur-robots-a-robotic-bee-an/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/dinosaur-robots-a-robotic-bee-an/#comments Each 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 researchers harnessed technology to reap groundbreaking discoveries in the natural world as Inhabitat reported that a team of Russian scientists revived a 32,000-year-old Arctic plant, and a 298-million-year-old-forest was discovered beneath a coal mine in China. Meanwhile Google geared up to launch a "sea view" service that lets anyone explore the Great Barrier Reef and Makerbot launched a line of colorful 3D printed shells for hermit crabs. Scientists also harnessed advanced printing technology to create a new breed of realistic dinosaur robots and a miniature self-assembling robotic bee, and the National academy of Sciences urged a review of the risks and safety of nanomaterials.

Green transportation also soared to astronomical new heights this week as a Japanese company announced plans to build a 20,000-mile-high space elevator by the year 2050. Back on earth, Toyota unveiled the first teaser shots of its upcoming FT-Bh mini hybrid vehicle, a "bricked" Tesla Roadster launched an electric vehicle debate, and we showcased the Taga -- the ultimate bike stroller combo. Green design also hit the slopes as Tenna, Switzerland took the wraps off the world's first solar wing-powered ski lift and William Hughes carved up the snow wearing a blazing bright LED snowboarding suit.

In other news, eco phone design rang loud and clear this week as AT&T announced plans to place green labels on mobile devices, Shikun Sun developed a DrawBraille smartphone for the blind, and a NYC architect turned defunct phone booths into free mini libraries. We were also wowed by several eye-opening recycled designs -- a fully functional twin lens reflex LEGO camera and a series of furnishings made from decommissioned military ammunition. Last but not least, we watched a gigantic solar-powered metal flower bloom in Buenos Aires, Nike created a prosthetic running sole for amputee triathletes, and we shined a light on Takayuki Hori's beautiful X-ray origami animals.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: dinosaur robots, a robotic bee and X-ray origami animals originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dattgoogleinhabitatledmakerbotNikerobotsThisWeekInGreenWeekInGreenwilliam hughesWilliamHughesX-raySun, 26 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NASA finds smallest ever black hole by its 'heartbeat' (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/nasa-finds-smallest-ever-black-hole-by-its-heartbeat-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/nasa-finds-smallest-ever-black-hole-by-its-heartbeat-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/nasa-finds-smallest-ever-black-hole-by-its-heartbeat-video/#comments
NASA's found the smallest black hole it's ever seen, thanks to the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) -- weighing around three times as much our own sun, it's near the bottom weight limit for the super-heavy phenomena. It was discovered by its unique "heartbeat", an X-Ray emission that takes place when gas sucked from a nearby star is swirled around the event horizon until friction causes it to super-heat. The disc then repeats the process every 40 seconds and when examined, looks just like the readout on an ECG machine. After the break we've got a video that talks you through it all and we won't mind if you start booming "Space... the final frontier..." halfway through -- we did too.

Continue reading NASA finds smallest ever black hole by its 'heartbeat' (video)

NASA finds smallest ever black hole by its 'heartbeat' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Black HoleBlackHoleGoddard Space Flight CenterGoddardSpaceFlightCenterHeartbeatNASANASA Goddard Space Flight CenterNasaGoddardSpaceFlightCenterRossi X-Ray Timing ExplorerRossiX-rayTimingExplorerRXTESpacevideoX-RayMon, 19 Dec 2011 15:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Avatar special edition takes another dip on iTunes Tuesday, brings exclusive extras]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/avatar-special-edition-takes-another-dip-on-itunes-tuesday-brin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/avatar-special-edition-takes-another-dip-on-itunes-tuesday-brin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/avatar-special-edition-takes-another-dip-on-itunes-tuesday-brin/#comments If you've made the switch to watching movies delivered via the internet instead of disc, one of the things that you'll usually give up is interactive special features, but Fox is turning that trend around with its latest repackaging of Avatar. The iTunes Extras Special Edition of the movie goes on sale Tuesday and includes "Green Screen X-Ray" features letting viewers deconstruct the extensive special effects during 17 scenes as they watch, as well as an original screenplay from director James Cameron, his scriptment, and a gallery of 1,700 images. You can get an idea of how the X-ray feature works from the images here and a trailer (included after the break), but at $20 for an HD copy, we figure it will be just the most dedicated fans taking a trip back to Pandora before the 3D Blu-ray is freed from exclusivity next year.

Continue reading Avatar special edition takes another dip on iTunes Tuesday, brings exclusive extras

Avatar special edition takes another dip on iTunes Tuesday, brings exclusive extras originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleavatarfoxgreen screenGreenScreenhdpostminiitunesitunes extrasItunesExtrasjames cameronJamesCameronspecial featuresSpecialFeaturesvideox-rayMon, 19 Dec 2011 10:41:00 EST<![CDATA[New periodic table element names confirmed, textbook makers sigh in relief]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/new-periodic-table-element-names-confirmed-textbook-makers-sigh/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/new-periodic-table-element-names-confirmed-textbook-makers-sigh/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/new-periodic-table-element-names-confirmed-textbook-makers-sigh/#comments
What's in a name? If you're the general assembly of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, then quite a lot. It's that bunch who have finally rubber-stamped the names of elements Darmstadtium (110), Roentgenium (111) and Copernicum (112) on the Periodic table. The trio are so named in honor of Darmstadt (where it was first created), Wilhelm Röntgen (discoverer of X-Rays) and Nicolaus Copernicus (explaining the universe since 1533). All three elements are "super-heavy", lab-created substances that rapidly degrade down into less interesting materials -- Copernicium-285 has a relatively long half-life of 29 seconds. The ratification went without a hitch, causing a sigh of relief amongst the textbook makers who have included the elements in the table for quite some time. Although we were hoping that element 111 would have to change its name back to the original, nearly unpronounceable unununium.

[Image courtesy of the BBC / Talkback Thames]

New periodic table element names confirmed, textbook makers sigh in relief originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CopernicumCopernicusDarmstadtDarmstadtiumelementelementsInternational Union of Pure and Applied PhysicsInternationalUnionOfPureAndAppliedPhysicsIUPAPNicolaus CopernicusNicolausCopernicusPeriodic TablePeriodic Table of the ElementsPeriodicTablePeriodicTableOfTheElementsRoentgeniumWilhelm RöntgenWilhelmRöntgenX RayX Raysx-rayx-raysXRayXRaysTue, 08 Nov 2011 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Social x-ray glasses can decode emotions, make your blind dates less awkward]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/social-x-ray-glasses-can-decode-emotions-make-your-blind-dates/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/social-x-ray-glasses-can-decode-emotions-make-your-blind-dates/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/social-x-ray-glasses-can-decode-emotions-make-your-blind-dates/#comments You may consider yourself a world-class liar, but a new pair of "social x-ray" glasses could soon expose you for the fraud you really are. Originally designed for people suffering from autism, these specs use a rice grain-sized camera to pick up on a person's 24 "feature points" -- facial expressions that convey feelings of confusion, agreement and concentration, among others. Once recognized, these signals are analyzed by software, compared against a database of known expressions and then relayed to users via an attached headphone. If their date starts to feel uncomfortable, a blinking red light lets them know that it's time to shut up. Rosalina Picard, an electrical engineer who developed the prototype with Rana el Kaliouby, acknowledged that her algorithm still needs some fine tuning, but told New Scientist that the glasses have already proved popular with autistic users, who often have difficulty deciphering others' body language. No word yet on when these social specs could hit the market, but they'll probably make us even more anti-social once they do.

Social x-ray glasses can decode emotions, make your blind dates less awkward originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>algorithmaugmented realityAugmentedRealityautismawkwardbehaviorcameraemotionexpressionfacefacial recognitionFacialRecognitionglassesliemind readmind readingMindReadMindReadingprotoprototypeRana el KalioubyRanaElKalioubyrosalina picardRosalinaPicardseventh senseSeventhSensex-rayxrayTue, 12 Jul 2011 04:18:00 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[Magic Mirror Kinect hack puts an x-ray spin on augmented reality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/magic-mirror-kinect-hack-puts-an-x-ray-spin-on-augmented-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/magic-mirror-kinect-hack-puts-an-x-ray-spin-on-augmented-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/magic-mirror-kinect-hack-puts-an-x-ray-spin-on-augmented-reality/#comments
That's right -- not even CES can stop the endless wave of Kinect hacks. The latest, and one of the more impressive to date, is the so-called "Magic Mirror" developed by Tobias Blum from the Technical University of Munich, which bridges augmented reality with x-ray vision (of sorts). Of course, the "of sorts" is that it doesn't actually peer through your body to reveal your skeleton (yet), but instead maps a random skeleton from a CT scan onto your frame to create a real-time freakout. As with most Kinect hacks, this one is best seen on video -- check it out after the break.

Continue reading Magic Mirror Kinect hack puts an x-ray spin on augmented reality

Magic Mirror Kinect hack puts an x-ray spin on augmented reality originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ARaugmented realityAugmentedRealityhackkinectkinect hackKinectHacktechnical university of munichTechnicalUniversityOfMunichTobias BlumTobiasBlumvideox-rayx-ray visionX-rayVisionTue, 04 Jan 2011 22:52:00 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[KDDI au outs Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 collections at the same time]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/18/kddi-au-outs-winter-2010-and-spring-2011-collections-at-the-same/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/18/kddi-au-outs-winter-2010-and-spring-2011-collections-at-the-same/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/18/kddi-au-outs-winter-2010-and-spring-2011-collections-at-the-same/#comments A few of these handsets were already public knowledge, but by and large, KDDI's mind-numbing torrent of phones announced as members of its new Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 collections will leave you once again asking why you haven't sold your four-bedroom suburban home and relocated your entire family to a 125 square foot flat in the heart of Tokyo. We've already talked about the X-Ray, a member of KDDI's fashion-forward iida line, and the 16.4 megapixel Sony Ericsson S006 -- but other highlights include the IS04, IS05, and IS06, Android smartphones from Toshiba, Sharp, and Pantech, respectively (which doesn't even include Sharp's IS03 announced at CEATEC a few days ago). Of the three, none matches the IS03's 960 x 640 display nor its low-power secondary LCD, but the Toshiba Regza IS04 notably features a 12.1 megapixel cam.

As the iida line goes, the X-Ray will be joined by the G11, a follow-on to 2009's G9 model -- and from what we can discern, it'll be a GSM / CDMA dual mode slider for international roaming with a touch-sensitive area below the 854 x 480 display in place of the G9's physical keys. Highlights among the other models include an upgraded Sharp Aquos Shot SH010 combining a 14.1 megapixel sensor with a waterproof shell, a Bravia-branded Sony Ericsson S005 with a 1GHz processor, and "simple" phones from Kyocera and Pantech -- the K008 and PT002, respectively -- that are designed for the occasional shopper that actually doesn't want ridiculous specs designed to make every phone outside Japan look like a DynaTAC. There's also a new e-reader, the E Ink-equipped Biblio Leaf SP02, featuring integrated solar recharging -- a smart feature for a device designed to sip power in the first place -- and a new mobile WiFi hotspot from Pantech, the WiFi Walker Data05. If you need to know more, follow the source link, but we've got to warn you: it might be hours before you're done.

KDDI au outs Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 collections at the same time originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidaquosaquos shotAquosShotbibliobiblio leafbiblio leaf sp02BiblioLeafBiblioLeafSp02braviaca006casioclamshellcyber-shotdata walkerDataWalkerericssonexilimflipg11googlegzonegzone type-xGzoneType-xiidais03is04is05is06japank006k007k008kddikddi auKddiAukyoceramobilepantechpt002regzas005s006sh009sh010sh011sharpsonysony ericssonSonyEricssonsp02spring 2011Spring2011t005t006toshibatype-xurbanourbano mondUrbanoMondwinter 2010Winter2010x-rayMon, 18 Oct 2010 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[KDDI crafts gorgeous see-thru designer phone with LED sub-display and dual-mode radios (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/18/kddi-crafts-gorgeous-see-thru-designer-phone-with-led-sub-displa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/18/kddi-crafts-gorgeous-see-thru-designer-phone-with-led-sub-displa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/18/kddi-crafts-gorgeous-see-thru-designer-phone-with-led-sub-displa/#comments KDDI launched a wave of new phones this morning, but this is the one we really want to hold -- it's called the X-RAY, and it's one of two new products in the company's iida designer brand. Crafted by Tokujin Yoshioka, it's a high-end Japanese clamshell with a 1-Seg TV tuner, NFC payments, and an 8 megapixel camera -- you know, the usual -- but with a translucent case (also available in blue and black) that leaves nothing to the imagination. There's a QSD8650 CDMA-ready Snapdragon in there, a GSM radio as well, a 7 x 102 pixel LED scrolling sub-display to display alerts and notifications, plus all the requisite chips and wires beautifully laid out. It'll be on display in Harajuku this Tuesday, but there's no word on availability or price quite yet. However, given that the prime accessory for the X-RAY is a solid crystal stand that makes the phone look like it's floating on air, we probably don't want to know. Video after the break.

Gallery: KDDI X-RAY press pics

Continue reading KDDI crafts gorgeous see-thru designer phone with LED sub-display and dual-mode radios (video)

KDDI crafts gorgeous see-thru designer phone with LED sub-display and dual-mode radios (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 03:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-segiidaKDDINFLQSD8650SnapdragonTokujin YoshiokaTokujinYoshiokavideoX-RAYMon, 18 Oct 2010 03:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Infrared and X-ray spectroscopy sheds light on Greek statues' original color schemes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/infrared-and-x-ray-spectroscopy-sheds-light-on-greek-statues-or/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/infrared-and-x-ray-spectroscopy-sheds-light-on-greek-statues-or/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/infrared-and-x-ray-spectroscopy-sheds-light-on-greek-statues-or/#comments
Life in Classical Greece was a lot more colorful than we've been lead to believe by the weather beaten statues seen in school textbooks and on field trips to museums, and conservators have developed a wide array of techniques to determine precisely how these artifacts were once decorated. In addition to using raking light (lighting at extreme angles to reveal subtle changes in the surface of a work, which can reveal where paint was once applied) and UV light (to reveal organic compounds characteristic of older paints), infrared and X-ray spectroscopy can be used to see which wavelengths of light will be absorbed by a material, and which will be reflected. The reflected wavelength tells the researcher (approximately) which color was once applied. And let us tell you, some of these color combos are... eye catching, to say the least. Hit the source link to see for yourself.

Update: Thanks to "sir popo" (if that's his real name) for the More Coverage link!

Infrared and X-ray spectroscopy sheds light on Greek statues' original color schemes originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artgreecehistoryinfraredInfrared spectroscopyInfraredSpectroscopysciencespectroscopyStatuex-rayX-ray spectroscopyX-raySpectroscopySat, 28 Aug 2010 20:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Terahertz radiation and metamaterials combine to form super X-Ray specs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/08/terahertz-radiation-and-metamaterials-combine-to-form-super-x-ra/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/08/terahertz-radiation-and-metamaterials-combine-to-form-super-x-ra/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/08/terahertz-radiation-and-metamaterials-combine-to-form-super-x-ra/#commentsTerahertz radiation and metamaterials combine to form super X-Ray specs It looks like somebody actually coughed up the extra dollar for the De Luxe model X-Ray specs in the back of Mad Magazine, then reverse-engineered 'em in the name of science. That somebody is Richard Averitt, whose team at Boston University has come up with a way to use metamaterials and terahertz transmissions to see through you. We've seen metamaterials plenty of times before, typically being used for nefarious deeds on the opposite end of the spectrum: invisibility cloaks. Here they form pixels for a digital imager that can be activated by THz radiation. If you're not familiar with THz radiation, it's a (supposedly perfectly safe) form of energy waves that pass through materials -- much like X-Rays but without all the nasty DNA-shattering effects on the way through. There's just one problem: nobody (not even this guy) has made a powerful enough THz emitter just yet, meaning we're all safely naked under our clothes for at least another few years.

Continue reading Terahertz radiation and metamaterials combine to form super X-Ray specs

Terahertz radiation and metamaterials combine to form super X-Ray specs originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 May 2010 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boston universityBostonUniversitymetamaterialRichard AverittRichardAverittsee-through visionSee-throughVisionterahertzthzx-rayx-ray gogglesx-ray specsX-rayGogglesX-raySpecsSat, 08 May 2010 15:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's A4 system-on-chip gets decoupled from iPad, investigated with the help of an X-ray]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/apples-a4-system-on-chip-gets-decoupled-from-ipad-investigated/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/apples-a4-system-on-chip-gets-decoupled-from-ipad-investigated/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/apples-a4-system-on-chip-gets-decoupled-from-ipad-investigated/#comments Ever so gently, we're starting to peel away the layers of mystery surrounding the A4 system-on-chip that powers Apple's fancy new slate device. iFixit, helped by reverse engineering firm Chipworks, have gone to the trouble of both dissecting and X-raying the iPad's central processing hub in their quest to lift the veil of ignorance. Their findings confirmed that the A4 is built using a "package on package" method, meaning that the 256MB of Samsung-provided SDRAM is stacked immediately atop the CPU, which is noted as being reductive to both latency and energy use. With a single core processor inside, the iFixit team concluded the iPad had to be running on a Cortex A8 -- which is very much the likeliest choice at this point -- but their assertion that it couldn't be a Cortex A9 MPCore inside is inaccurate, as those chips also come in single-core options. Either way, it'll be interesting to see how it stacks up against Samsung's Hummingbird chip, which was designed by Intrinsity, the same company Apple is being rumored to have recently acquired. Finally, the visual inspection of the iPad's mobo puts a model number to the already known PowerVR GPU, narrowing it down to the SGX 535, while also naming and picturing a number of other exciting components, such as the always popular capacitive touchscreen controller. Hit the source link below for all the lurid images.

Apple's A4 system-on-chip gets decoupled from iPad, investigated with the help of an X-ray originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a4appleapple a4apple ipadAppleA4AppleIpadarmchipworkscortex a8cortex a9CortexA8CortexA9dissectionhardwareifixitipadpackage on packagePackageOnPackagepowervrpowervr sgx 535PowervrSgx535processorsocsystem-on-chipteardownx-rayTue, 06 Apr 2010 05:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create Amazing X-Ray Wireless Network!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/01/researchers-create-amazing-x-ray-wireless-network/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/01/researchers-create-amazing-x-ray-wireless-network/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/01/researchers-create-amazing-x-ray-wireless-network/#comments
Don't freak out or anything, but those wireless signals you bask in everyday could be watching you. Or at least they might, someday, if the work from a group of researchers at the University of Utah makes it beyond the lab. As Technology Review's Physics arXiv blog reports, they've devised a means to modify a standard 802.15.4 wireless network (commonly used by home automation services like ZigBee) to actually "see" movement through walls, and with some degree of accuracy, no less. As you might expect, however, that's not quite as simple as a firmware upgrade, and currently requires a 34-node network to keep watch on a standard living room, which is apparently enough to pin down moving objects within a meter or so. To do that, the system essentially bombards the space with an array of wireless signals and keeps watch on any changes in signal strength, building up a "picture" of the room in the process. No promises on a commercial version just yet, but the researchers see plenty of potential for it, and are even talking about a portable, GPS-equipped version that police or emergency responders could use before entering a dangerous area.

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Researchers create Amazing X-Ray Wireless Network! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>802.15.4researchuniversity of utahUniversityOfUtahwirelesswireless networkWirelessNetworkx-rayx-ray visionX-rayVisionThu, 01 Oct 2009 15:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Transparent aluminum! Would that be worth somethin' to ya, eh?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/transparent-aluminum-would-that-be-worth-somethin-to-ya-eh/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/transparent-aluminum-would-that-be-worth-somethin-to-ya-eh/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/transparent-aluminum-would-that-be-worth-somethin-to-ya-eh/#comments
It's hard to say if boffins at Oxford University got their inspiration from Nimoy and Co., but one thing's for sure: they aren't joking about the creation of transparent aluminum. In what can only be described as a breakthrough for the ages, a team of mad scientists across the way have created "a completely new state of matter nobody has seen before" by blasting aluminum walls (around one-inch thick) with brief pulses of soft X-ray light, each of which is "more powerful than the output of a power plant that provides electricity to a whole city." For approximately 40 femtoseconds, an "invisible effect" is seen, giving the gurus hope that their experiment could lead to new studies in exotic states of matter. For a taste of exactly what we mean, feel free to voice command your PC to jump past the break. Or use the keyboard, if you're feeling quaint.

Continue reading Transparent aluminum! Would that be worth somethin' to ya, eh?

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Transparent aluminum! Would that be worth somethin' to ya, eh? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aluminumFLASH laserFlashLaserlasernuclear fusionNuclearFusionoxfordOxford UniversityOxfordUniversityresearchsciencespaceStar trekStarTrekTransparent aluminiumTransparentAluminiumuniversityuniversity of oxfordUniversityOfOxfordworld recordWorldRecordx-rayTue, 04 Aug 2009 01:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Scotch tape surprises everyone by producing X-rays]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/23/scotch-tape-surprises-everyone-by-producing-x-rays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/23/scotch-tape-surprises-everyone-by-producing-x-rays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/23/scotch-tape-surprises-everyone-by-producing-x-rays/#comments As far as we're concerned, sticky tape is mostly just for out-there modding projects, but scientists have confirmed another use for it: X-rays. After hearing word of research in that direction by Soviet scientists in the 1950s, researchers at UCLA peeled scotch tape at 1.18 inches per second in a vacuum chamber and found that X-ray pulses were emitted by the process. A human thumb has already been successfully X-rayed by this technique, and if future investigation proceeds swimmingly, paramedics and aid workers operating off the grid might be able to do X-rays without bulky and dangerous nuclear technologies. We'll admit it -- we never saw scotch tape X-rays coming, but then, neither did you, right?

[Via Switched]

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Scotch tape surprises everyone by producing X-rays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>healthscotch tapescotchtapesticky tapestickytapetapeuclax-rayx-raysxrayxraysThu, 23 Oct 2008 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[X-ray Light exposes our failure to be super]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/21/x-ray-light-exposes-our-failure-to-be-super/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/21/x-ray-light-exposes-our-failure-to-be-super/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/21/x-ray-light-exposes-our-failure-to-be-super/#comments
It's a shame that the amazing always becomes ordinary given enough time and popular exposure. Case in point: the x-ray. Childhood longings to possess such visual power are ultimately replaced by painful memories of leaden-concealed trips to the emergency room. Until this, the X-Ray Light from designer Wonsuk Cho. A whimsical look through the lampshade for eyes eager to see. Unfortunately, these lampshade / lights aren't yet available to purchase -- another dream dashed by cruel reality.

[Via Technabob]

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X-ray Light exposes our failure to be super originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artdesignlamplampshadewonsuk choWonsukChox-rayx-ray lightX-rayLightTue, 21 Oct 2008 08:22:00 EST<![CDATA[TSA to introduce less annoying laptop bag rules this Saturday]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/15/tsa-to-introduce-less-annoying-laptop-bag-rules-this-saturday/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/15/tsa-to-introduce-less-annoying-laptop-bag-rules-this-saturday/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/15/tsa-to-introduce-less-annoying-laptop-bag-rules-this-saturday/#comments
According to a report in USA Today, starting on Saturday the TSA will be relaxing its policies on laptop removal from bags, and will be letting specific bags types ride through the X-ray machines with their cargo intact. The agency will allow travelers using bags which provide an unobstructed view of the computer inside to keep their laptops tucked away during the screening process, though they'll still require "accordion" or "backpack" style bag-users to grab a bin. The TSA isn't naming names or attaching labels to specific bags, but has provided guidelines to fliers suggesting what style would be most conducive to not getting shaken down every time you go to the airport. Of course, the TSA could have been doing this since the start of their time-wasting (and false-security-inducing) process, thus saving us innumerable headaches... but that would have made too much sense.

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TSA to introduce less annoying laptop bag rules this Saturday originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You know those elephant-sized medical scanners? Totally amazing machines, sure, but things like that aren't apt to be shipped into obscure jungles throughout Africa. Thankfully, a team of researchers have developed something that could bring medical scanning to an even larger chunk of the world: a real live Tricorder. Of course, it's not really going by that moniker, but the diminutive scanner is able to interface with a cellphone via USB and utilize its 3G / WiFi access to send raw scan data to servers and receive images back. Granted, you won't get any high-resolution viewing from your average mobile, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.

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Portable medical scanners built to interface with cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 May 2008 06:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While it may not give you quite the graphic glimpse as some of the recent CT scanners we've seen, a group of researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark think their new and improved x-ray system still won't have any trouble catching on, and the results are certainly hard to argue with. The key to those sharper pics, it seems, is so-called "dark field microscopy," a technique that, as NewScientist points out, is normally used by biologists. As you might expect, however, there's some upsides and downsides to this particular technique. On the plus side, all that's needed is a simple set of four silicon filters in addition to some standard x-ray equipment. Unfortunately, those four filters mean you also have to take four separate images to get one clear image, giving the patient quite the extra dose of radiation. Even so, the researchers say there are some circumstances where that would be justified, including using the technology to give airport screeners a better peek at potential explosives.

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X-rays get boost from "dark field" technology originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dark fielddark field microscopyDarkFieldDarkFieldMicroscopyx-rayTue, 22 Jan 2008 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[LEXID prototype gun can peek through walls]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/21/lexid-prototype-gun-can-peek-through-walls/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/21/lexid-prototype-gun-can-peek-through-walls/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/21/lexid-prototype-gun-can-peek-through-walls/#comments
Believe it or not, devices used to see through walls are far from revolutionary, but hey, we'll take every one we can get. Reportedly, Physical Optics Corporation has concocted a prototype gun that utilizes the same method of viewing that a lobster does to see what's ahead in murky waters. The LEXID (Lobster Eye X-ray Imaging Device) functions by "radiating objects with tiny amounts of X-ray energy," subsequently allowing its user to see behind steel, wood or concrete. According to David Throckmorton, a project manager in Homeland Security's Science and Technology division, the resulting images aren't exactly drool-worthy, but they do allow you to make out a stash of weapons or a crouching enemy. Unfortunately, completion is too far out to estimate a price, but its creators are hoping to one day make it cheap enough for exterminators and contractors to purchase and use. 'Course, we could imagine middle schoolers getting into all sorts of trouble if one of these floated into the locker room.

[Via The Raw Feed, image courtesy of POC]

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LEXID prototype gun can peek through walls originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guninspectionlexidlobsterprototypesecurityx-rayFri, 21 Dec 2007 06:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba one-ups Philips with AquilionONE CT scanner]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/toshiba-one-ups-philips-with-aquilion-one-ct-scanner/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/toshiba-one-ups-philips-with-aquilion-one-ct-scanner/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/toshiba-one-ups-philips-with-aquilion-one-ct-scanner/#comments
Philips' Brilliance iCT sure had a nice run, but no sooner than it hit the spotlight, Toshiba has arrived fashionably late to steal a little thunder. The outfit's $2.5 million AquilionONE outdoes Philips' iteration by doing 320-slices instead of "just" 256, enabling doctors to see the entire heart while making patients hold their breath for merely "a second or two." Put simply, the machine should allow for heart disease to be spotted in its earliest stages without putting individuals through a lengthy tribulation, and the ultra high resolution 3D images it produces will allow medical personnel to quickly determine if there are any problems that need to be dealt with. Currently, the system is being tested at Toronto General's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, but word on the street has the unit being readily available next summer.

[Via Diagnostic Imaging, thanks lmwong]

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Toshiba one-ups Philips with AquilionONE CT scanner originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aquilion OneAquilionOnectCT scannerCtScannerhealthmedicalmedicinetoshibax-rayxrayWed, 28 Nov 2007 12:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung brags about new digital X-ray detector]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/27/samsung-brags-about-new-digital-x-ray-detector/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/27/samsung-brags-about-new-digital-x-ray-detector/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/27/samsung-brags-about-new-digital-x-ray-detector/#comments
Being the 800-pound gorilla that it is in the TFT-LCD biz, we're not too shocked to hear that Samsung is quite pleased with its newfangled flat-panel digital X-ray detector. Reportedly, the creation is the "world's first" (ahem) to use thin-film transistor technology, which translates into sharper images and cost savings for the end user. Sammy claims that its new FPXD setup can produce "ultra-high definition images" to the tune of 3,072 x 3,072 pixels, and executive vice president Yun Jin-Hyuk even insinuated that this development would "help the X-ray detector market become completely digitized within a few years." Of course, we're sure that folks in this segment will indeed be thrilled to hear that "no film or development process is needed" in the new system, and better still, it should be ready to rock in Q1 of next year.

[Via Yahoo / AFP]

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Samsung brags about new digital X-ray detector originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philips unveiled a new ultra-high-res 256-slice CT scanner called the Brilliance iCT at the Radiological Society of North America yesterday, a unit the company says not only produces higher quality 3D images using less radiation than previous scanners, but does it far more quickly -- a full body scan takes only a minute. The speedup is achieved because the rotating X-ray element spins some 22 percent faster than other models, hitting four revolutions a second at top speed. Getting in and out of the machine that much faster also cuts radiation exposure some 80 percent from a traditional X-ray machine, and Philips says the machine is accurate enough to capture a complete image of the heart in less than two beats. Metro Health in Cleveland is the first off the line with the new gear -- check the read link for a video of it in action.

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Philips super high-res CT scanner shows you from the inside originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brilliancebrilliance ictBrillianceIctctct scannerCtScannerhealthmedicinephilipsx-rayxrayMon, 26 Nov 2007 13:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Powerful "light scope" used to unearth ancient texts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/13/powerful-light-scope-used-to-unearth-ancient-texts/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/13/powerful-light-scope-used-to-unearth-ancient-texts/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/13/powerful-light-scope-used-to-unearth-ancient-texts/#comments
According to the BBC, scientists at the University of Cardiff have developed a method of reading ancient, highly-sensitive texts (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls) by projecting beams of light ten-billion times brighter than the sun into the parchment. The new technique combines a powerful X-ray-like device called the Diamond Synchrotron (no, seriously), and a computer algorithm that pieces together layers of text to create a three dimensional, readable images of an iron-inked document. Professor Tim Wess, lead researcher on the projects says, "We've folded up a real piece of parchment and then done a process of X-ray tomography on it. We've been able to recover the structure where we can see the words that are written inside the document." The scientists now plan on using the process to explore ancient texts which have been heretofore unreadable due to fear of damage, including 18th century fire-damaged scrolls, and the previously mentioned Dead Sea Scrolls.

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Powerful "light scope" used to unearth ancient texts originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient textsAncientTextsdiamond synchrotronDiamondSynchrotrondocumentsresearchsciencescrollsuniversity of cardiffUniversityOfCardiffx-rayThu, 13 Sep 2007 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport puts omniscient X-ray to use]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/26/phoenixs-sky-harbor-airport-puts-omniscient-x-ray-to-use/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/26/phoenixs-sky-harbor-airport-puts-omniscient-x-ray-to-use/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/26/phoenixs-sky-harbor-airport-puts-omniscient-x-ray-to-use/#commentsWe don't envision very many people enjoying the idea of having TSA employees seeing every curve their body has to offer, but unfortunately for those who fail the primary metal detector test at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, you could be in for such a treat. While airport shoe scanners have already garnered sufficient criticism for holding up the show rather than helping things out, the "backscatter" X-ray machine is officially being trialed in Arizona as a means of snuffing out hidden "explosives and other weapons" that can't be detected by other means. While the technology allows the viewer to see just about every follicle on your body (and any stray .500 Magnums adorning your person), there is still currently a workaround if you're not entirely comfortable with going full-frontal before boarding your flight. A TSA spokesperson proclaimed that the process is completely voluntary, as folks who get dinged by the metal detector can opt for a standard pat-down in order to clear things up. Interestingly, the officials operating the machine have reportedly "adjusted the equipment to make the image look something like a line drawing" rather than detailing all your 2,000 parts, but critics suggest that altering the image also hampers the chance of discovering contraband in the first place. Still, unless this causes some serious uproar in the near future, it looks like it's there to stay, and folks traveling through LAX and New York's Kennedy Airport will likely face a similar beast (if they so choose) before the year's end.

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Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport puts omniscient X-ray to use originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airplaneairportbackscatterexplosiveshomelandimagingPhoenixprivacyscannersecuritysky harborSkyHarborterrorterroristtsaweaponsx-rayMon, 26 Feb 2007 08:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Colorado researchers edging closer to tabletop X-rays]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/26/colorado-researchers-edging-closer-to-tabletop-x-rays/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/26/colorado-researchers-edging-closer-to-tabletop-x-rays/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/26/colorado-researchers-edging-closer-to-tabletop-x-rays/#commentsAlthough improvements on the typical X-ray are being made quite frequently of late, a team of researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder is hoping to make a huge leap forward in the way we're forced to handle these traditionally burdensome machines. In an effort to reduce the size required to install and utilize your average X-ray machine, the crew has purportedly developed a new technique to "generate laser-like X-ray beams" that avoid the existing need for such a "monstrous power source." The end goal is, of course, a tabletop device that can handle uber-high resolution imaging at a fraction of the cost and size of current units. It all starts by using "a powerful laser to pluck an electron from an atom of argon and then slam it back into the same atom," which then bypasses the typical problem of X-ray waves "not marching in step" by sending "weak pulses of visible laser light into the gas in the opposite direction of the laser beam generating the X-rays." The feeble beam reportedly "manipulates the electrons plucked from the argon atoms" in order to perfectly intensify the strength of the process by "over a hundred times." Essentially, the researchers have devised a more controlled way to perfect the timing of X-ray blasts, and are utilizing light to focus the process rather than using gobs of energy as it hopes enough undirected beams strike the intended area. Per usual, we've no idea just how close this idea is to becoming ready for the commercial world, but considering all the competition that's currently out there, we don't envision these Buffs wasting any precious time.

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Colorado researchers edging closer to tabletop X-rays originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biologicalcoloradohealthimaginginventionJILAmedicalsciencetabletopuniversityx-rayMon, 26 Feb 2007 01:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Mini-Z T-ray imaging device takes home the gold]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/mini-z-t-ray-imaging-device-takes-home-the-gold/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/mini-z-t-ray-imaging-device-takes-home-the-gold/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/mini-z-t-ray-imaging-device-takes-home-the-gold/#commentsWe're all about giving golf claps where they're due, and a healthy round is certainly in order for Mr. Brian Schulkin. The doctoral student in physics developed a breakthrough terahertz imaging device, dubbed a T-ray, that has already demonstrated its ability to "detect cracks in space shuttle foam, image tumors in breast tissue, and spot counterfeit watermarks on paper currency." The Mini-Z marks the first time such a powerful device has become portable in nature, weighing just five pounds and taking up about as much space as your average laptop. Taking home the first Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize ($30,000), Schulkin explained that this device didn't pose the same health risks as typical X-rays, and unlike ultrasound, terahertz waves can provide images and spectroscopic information without contacting an object. As expected, the patent-pending technology is already up for licensing, and has already received quite a bit of fanfare and commercial interest from larger companies. So while you may never personally encounter Brian's earth-shattering invention, we're fairly sure this young lad's working days are already drawing nigh if he so chooses.

[Via Physorg]

Mini-Z T-ray imaging device takes home the gold originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Feb 2007 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardelectromagneticexplosivesimagingLemelson-Rensselaermicrowavemini-znasapatentpatentedpatentsphysicsprizeradiationsciencesecuritysensingsensorsshuttlespacespectrometerstudentt-rayterahertzultrasoundx-raySat, 17 Feb 2007 06:05:00 EST<![CDATA[SET CounterBomber spies hazardous humans from a distance]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/03/set-counterbomber-spies-hazardous-humans-from-a-distance/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/03/set-counterbomber-spies-hazardous-humans-from-a-distance/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/03/set-counterbomber-spies-hazardous-humans-from-a-distance/#commentsHere's one that's just begging for a profiling fit to be thrown over it. While the CounterBomber won't deem you guilty for creeping through a deserted street or texting your boy while waiting at a stop light, it just might inform everyone in an airport that you're the next suicide bomber waiting to blow. SET Corporation is unveiling a machine that best sport an accuracy level untouchable by mere human instincts, as it plans to sit at major public venues and sporting events to spot potential bomb-toting humans "from up to 50 yards away." The first iteration of the machine will utilize "radar-imaging technology" to somehow "analyze and reveal" concealed objects without actually peeking through folks' clothing, but future versions are slated to incorporate a "gait analysis" bit that could further substantiate if some awkward weight balance is going on underneath the hoodie. Still, we can just imagine the uproar from an innocent young lad with a stiff knee getting carted off due to this gizmo (incorrectly) deeming him suspicious, but considering the CounterBomber could be making its debut within 6 months or so, we'll be sure to find out just how inaccurate it is real soon.

[Via CNET]

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SET CounterBomber spies hazardous humans from a distance originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysisbombbomberconcealedcopsCounterBombercrimedetectdetectionlawlegalmitpoliceradarsecuritysetsoftwaresurveillanceterroristwarningx-raySat, 03 Feb 2007 16:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Phoenix airport set to test all-seeing x-ray]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/04/phoenix-airport-set-to-test-all-seeing-x-ray/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/04/phoenix-airport-set-to-test-all-seeing-x-ray/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/04/phoenix-airport-set-to-test-all-seeing-x-ray/#commentsPhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport looks to have the distinct honor of being the first airport in the United States to put the controversial "backscatter" x-ray technology to use, the very same excessively-intimate inspection technique that made its debut at London's Heathrow airport a couple of years back. The airport won't just be taking a peek at everyone that passes through the gate, however, instead using the scanner as a backup to existing screening measures -- and, even then, individuals will have the option of a pat-down search instead of the picture postcard seen here. What's more, unlike earlier implementations of the technology, the Transportation Security Administration has reportedly sanitized the end results somewhat, with certain areas being discreetly blurred out, and no images saved after the person steps away from the machine. While the Phoenix airport gets to be first it, not suprisingly, won't be the last, with the TSA saying that a "handful" of other airports will be installing some scanners of their own sometime early next year.

[Thanks, Ben B.]

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Phoenix airport set to test all-seeing x-ray originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airportairport screeningAirportScreeningbackscatterscannertransportation security administrationTransportationSecurityAdministrationtsax-rayMon, 04 Dec 2006 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Plasma Focus researchers develop non-radioactive X-ray for metals]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/plasma-focus-researchers-develop-non-radioactive-x-ray-for-metal/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/plasma-focus-researchers-develop-non-radioactive-x-ray-for-metal/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/plasma-focus-researchers-develop-non-radioactive-x-ray-for-metal/#comments Cesar Moreno, who heads the "Plasma Focus" physics research group at the University of Buenos Aires, has co-developed a "non-conventional setup" for taking X-rays of metallic objects sans the need for nuclear hardware. Based on "plasma focus hard X-ray" technology, this newfangled approach differs from more traditional routes -- which require irradiating the items to be scanned with radioactive element -- by demanding only electricity and a rather large workspace. After seven years of toil (and potential exposure to incredible amounts of gene-altering radiation), he was finally able to display photos of a "camera, door lock, and a bolt fixated to a metal bar" as proof of a working machine. The device can reportedly take photographs that pass through any type of metal up to 25-millimeters thick (including moving objects) without a single "trace of radiation or heat generated during the process." Although Moreno has a lot of red tape to clear before we see his invention in radiography labs, the $10,000 prize he captured for his work should certainly provide adequate motivation to get things moving.

[Via The Inquirer]

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Plasma Focus researchers develop non-radioactive X-ray for metals originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 01:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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