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New developments in atomic clock technology beat accuracy records, may inspire Ke$ha's next hit
According to a recent Penn State study that uses a new way to calculate time-telling precision, the CsF2 cesium-based atomic clock at the UK's National Physical Laboratory is almost twice as accurate as originally thought -- meaning it will only gain or lose one single second over the course of 138 million years. This atomic clock isn't the only competitor for best-in-show, as researchers at the University of Tokyo have also announced a new record, claiming their optical lattice atomic clock observes atoms a million times faster than a traditional atomic clock -- achieving accuracy up to 18 digits in a one second measurement. Although researchers say the technology would gain or lose a second significantly faster than the cesium-based variety (31.7 million years), it could change the way scientists perceive time and space, giving us new insights into fundamental constants of physics. "Until now, clocks have been thought of as tools for sharing common time. But with clocks like this, conversely, we can understand that time passes at different speeds, depending on the time and place a clock is at," said Hidetoshi Katori of the University of Tokyo. Of course, both atomic clocks can help us stay timely, but they also have practical applications for everything from deep-space networking, to predicting earthquakes and GPS navigation. With this type of accuracy, looks like none of us will be getting away with showing up late to work anymore. Check out a video about the optical lattice clock after the break.
Megaframe Imager takes its one million frames-per-second capabilities to the medical world
The iconic Megaframe Imager has been kicking for a good while now, but gurus have been scratching their heads in an effort to figure out how to best take advantage of a sensor that can capture one million frames per second. A European consortium made up of the NPL, ST Microelectronics, the University of Edinburgh, and TU Delft have something in mind, and not surprisingly, it's in the medical realm. Researchers are currently looking to use this here device in "cellular / sub-cellular imaging; neural imaging; biochemical sensors; DNA / protein microarray scanning; automotive collision studies; and high-sensitivity astronomical observations," and for the first time, tests are proving that it could be a vital tool in the future of biosensing. Tangled in technobabble? Here's the long and short of it: a crew has demonstrated "detection of viral DNA binding events using fluorescence lifetime imaging at the very low target concentrations relevant in biosensing applications with acquisition times of less than 30 seconds," something that should be useful in disease screening, mutation and forensic analysis. So much for escaping the jargon, huh?
Researchers develop infrared vegetable harvesting robot, to the disgust of children everywhere
Researchers at England's National Physical Laboratory are working on a device that uses a modified microwave measurement system, terahertz and far-infrared radio frequencies, and a clever cauliflower detection algorithm to let robots "see" beneath -- and harvest -- crops that current technology cannot. So far, the imaging system has been successfully demonstrated in the lab, sparking the interest of at least one UK lettuce grower, and it looks like a product could be commercially available as early as next year. According to Dr. Richard Dudley, Project Lead at NPL, the team began by focusing on cauliflower crops because they're both "one of the hardest" to measure, and totally gross.
Nanotechnology challenge in Second Life
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is running the NanoLands Challenge in Second Life.The contest is design and build an exciting exhibit about nanotechnology in Second Life, on their NanoLands Island. There are full criteria available here, the attractive part: cash prizes of US$400 and 700 for successful entries. There is no closing date for this contest, they will simply assess each suggestion against the criteria and offer space and money to successful applicants until the money is all gone.[Information about this contest was sent to us by a variety of means, including directly from Troy McLuhan and via Nanowerk.]
