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7th-Grader Designs Three Dimensional Solar Cell

Hugh Pickens writes "12-year-old William Yuan's invention of a highly-efficient, three-dimensional nanotube solar cell for visible and ultraviolet light has won him an award and a $25,000 scholarship from the Davidson Institute for Talent Development. 'Current solar cells are flat and can only absorb visible light'" Yuan said. 'I came up with an innovative solar cell that absorbs both visible and UV light. My project focused on finding the optimum solar cell to further increase the light absorption and efficiency and design a nanotube for light-electricity conversion efficiency.' Solar panels with his 3D cells would provide 500 times more light absorption than commercially-available solar cells and nine times more than cutting-edge 3D solar cells.

Biological Sciences in LIGHT

The cross-faculty nature of LIGHT is represented by both the collaborations within Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre and the co-location of researchers from the Faculties of Medicine and Health and that of Biological Sciences in the LIGHT laboratories. This interdisciplinary approach, integrating basic science and clinical research, is a strong feature of the LIGHT laboratories. A number of research areas are covered by Biological Sciences staff in LIGHT in relation to the overall research strategy of the Institute and these are introduced briefly below.

Canon Increases Resolution But Lowers Noise with EOS 50D: Tech Test

Typically, boosting the number of megapixels in an imaging sensor without increasing the actual size of the chip itself results in more image "noise" (that is, more of those ugly colored flecks that often pollute low-light images). This is because the millions of individual pixels have to be smaller in order to squeeze onto the sensor, meaning they have less surface area for absorbing light. The result is unwanted noise when shooting in low light at high light-sensitivity settings as the camera's processor struggles to brighten a dark image. Canon says it has fixed this problem with its new 15.1-megapixel EOS 50D digital SLR. The camera employs larger microlenses over each pixel to funnel in extra light, and also features an extra-powerful processor that Canon claims helps keep images crisp and clear.

Universal Surface Scanner Detected

mcgrew writes to tell us that scientists at the University of California, San Diego, have created a new system that can test any surface for just about anything. "Their idea uses a thin layer of metal drilled with nanoscale holes, laid onto the surface being tested. When the perforated plate is zapped with laser light, the surface plasmons that form emit light with a frequency related to the materials touching the plate. A sensitive light detector is needed to measure the frequency of light given off. The team says devices using this approach can be small and portable, will work on very low power, and could detect everything from explosives to bacteria. All that needs to be done now is build a system able to decode the light signatures."

Hubble Heritage Celebrates 10 Years

The landmark 10th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope's Hubble Heritage Project is being celebrated with a 'landscape' image from the cosmos. Cutting across a nearby star-forming region, called NGC 3324, are the "hills and valleys" of gas and dust displayed in intricate detail. Set amid a backdrop of soft, glowing blue light are wispy tendrils of gas as well as dark trunks of dust that are light-years in height. NGC 3324 is located in the constellation Carina, about 7,200 light-years away from Earth. This image is a composite of data taken with two of Hubble's science instruments. Data taken with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) in 2006 isolated light emitted by hydrogen. More recent data, taken in 2008 with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2), isolated light emitted by sulfur and oxygen gas.

'Slow' Light To Speed Up the Net

JPawlak writes "Researchers believe that it may be possible to increase the speed of the Internet by slowing down certain parts of it by using metamaterials. Metamaterials could be used to replace the bulky and slow electronics that route Internet information, allowing for faster Internet speeds. As data nears its destination, the frequencies must be separated. The light must then be converted into electrical signals, which are stored, routed, and converted back into optical signals. The conversion not only adds significant cost and complexity to the process, but slows down the transmission as well. However, if the light signals could be slowed during the switching process, they would not need to be converted into an electrical signal. 'The ability to slow the light could be a tremendous force for telecoms that is sure to enhance speed an

Toshiba Announces New Photo-IC Ambient Light Sensor for Consumer Electronics and Computer Displays

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)* introduced the TPS859, a new ultra-compact device, to its family of photo-IC ambient light sensors (ALS). Developed by Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba) the new photo-IC sensor incorporates a photodiode, a current amplifier and a luminous-efficiency correction (LEC) function in a single chip that is ideal for use in flat panel displays and various home appliances, and is also suitable for use in cell phones, notebook PCs, PDAs, camcorders, digital cameras, and other equipment requiring luminosity adjustment. The sensor can be used to turn a keypad or LCD backlight on or off, or adjust the brightness according to the ambient light condition. The TPS859 provides ultra-high sensitivity with light current (IL) of 230microA(1) compared with 40microA(1) in t

Peacock feathers and butterfly wings inspire bio-templated nanotechnology materials

(Nanowerk Spotlight) Photonic crystals – also known as photonic band gap material – are similar to semiconductors, only that the electrons are replaced by photons (i.e. light). By creating periodic structures out of materials with contrast in their dielectric constants, it becomes possible to guide the flow of light through the photonic crystals in a way similar to how electrons are directed through doped regions of semiconductors. The photonic band gap (that forbids propagation of a certain frequency range of light) gives rise to distinct optical phenomena and enables one to control light with amazing facility and produce effects that are impossible with conventional optics.

Shine A Light DVD & Blu-Ray Disc

I truly enjoyed seeing Shine a Light as I feel that it displays the Rolling Stones as the real deal. This is a band that has endured for years, and they are still relevant and they can still put on a riveting live performance. Coupled with the fact that the presentation on this DVD is nearly perfect, Shine a Light is an amazing time capsule of one of the most important rock and roll bands ever. They may be old, but the Rolling Stones are definitely still able to play....

Building a molecular light emitter with a single carbon nanotube

(Nanowerk Spotlight) Carbon nanotubes are considered a promising material system not only for nanoelectronics but also for nanophotonics – the manipulation and emission of light using nanoscale materials and devices. By trying to understand the electrical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through their light emission, scientists are paving the way for CNTs' integration in optical applications.

Patent for making oxygen from light and water - early stage invention is advancement toward artificial lungs

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Ash Lawn Opera Festival And Red Light Management Partners To Restore Jefferson Theatre

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- Ash Lawn Opera Company and Red Light Management announced that they have reached an agreement in principle for the Opera Festival to lease the Jefferson Theatre for the months of June, July and August for 20 years beginning in the summer of 2010. The Jefferson Theatre was built as a vaudeville house in the early 1900’s, and in recent years has been used as a movie theatre. Renovation of the theatre is designed to produce a unique facility which can be used as a live music venue from September to May by Red Light and an opera house from May through August. The renovation project will have a cost exceeding $7.5 million. Major structural repairs have already begun. The full renovation will include restoration of the fly loft and balconies, adding an orchestra pit for a 50-member orchestra, i

Toshiba Announces New Photo-IC Ambient Light Sensor for Consumer Electronics and Computer Displays

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)* introduced the TPS859, a new ultra-compact device, to its family of photo-IC ambient light sensors (ALS). Developed by Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba) the new photo-IC sensor incorporates a photodiode, a current amplifier and a luminous-efficiency correction (LEC) function in a single chip that is ideal for use in flat panel displays and various home appliances, and is also suitable for use in cell phones, notebook PCs, PDAs, camcorders, digital cameras, and other equipment requiring luminosity adjustment. The sensor can be used to turn a keypad or LCD backlight on or off, or adjust the brightness according to the ambient light condition.

Battelle Scientists Named on Patent for Making Oxygen From Light and Water

Early Stage Invention is Advancement toward Artificial Lungs COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Astronauts, submariners, miners, and those suffering from lung ailments take note: Innovation is coming to the rescue. A group of scientists from Battelle has earned a patent for generating oxygen in a process that mimics photosynthesis. The technology creates oxygen and controls carbon dioxide using light energy and water without having to make electricity. The machine can operate on almost any light source -- solar or other -- to chemically duplicate what plants do when they absorb sunlight energy and convert it into useful chemicals. Known by the United States Patent Office as No. 7,399,717, Oxygen Generation using Photolytically Driven Electrochemistry (PDEC) Platform Technology, the patent was granted earlier this year.

Rocky Nook Publishes 'Digital Infrared Photography'

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- To record "invisible light" has always been an intriguing and fascinating experiment. The infrared part of the light spectrum is outside the range of what the human eye can see but, with a digital camera, we are able to record only this "invisible light" while blocking the "visible" part. The results are often unusual, yet beautiful, renderings of otherwise fairly common scenes, and Digital Infrared Photography (Rocky Nook, $24.95) from Rocky Nook will show you how.

Kenro Lightbox

Kenro has announced the UK release of a new Light Box that comes complete with a built-in daylight balanced flat-panel top light. This self-contained unit needs little or no additional light source and is the ideal studio accessory for small product shots.

Rocky Nook Releases Book on Digital Infrared Photography

Santa Barbara, CA - August 28, 2008 -- To record the “invisible light� has always been an intriguing and fascinating experiment. The infrared part of the light spectrum is outside the range of what the human eye can see, but with a digital camera, we are able to record only this “invisible light� while blocking the “visible� part. The results are often unusual, yet beautiful, renderings of otherwise fairly common scenes, and this new book from Rocky Nook--Digital Infrared Photography (Rocky Nook, $24.95) will show you how.

Rock Nook Releases Book on Digital Infrared Photography

Santa Barbara, CA - August 28, 2008 -- To record the “invisible light� has always been an intriguing and fascinating experiment. The infrared part of the light spectrum is outside the range of what the human eye can see, but with a digital camera, we are able to record only this “invisible light� while blocking the “visible� part. The results are often unusual, yet beautiful, renderings of otherwise fairly common scenes, and this new book from Rocky Nook--Digital Infrared Photography (Rocky Nook, $24.95) will show you how.

Light rail train hits bus near L.A.

Emergency responders walk between the wreckage after a light-rail train collided with an out-of-service bus near downtown Los Angeles on Friday.

Light touch: Controlling the behavior of quantum dots

Schematic of NIST-JQI experimental set up. Orienting the resonant laser at a right angle to the quantum dot light minimizes scattering. Image: SolomonNIST

Light touch: Controlling the behavior of quantum dots

Schematic of NIST-JQI experimental set up. Orienting the resonant laser at a right angle to the quantum dot light minimizes scattering.

Light Touch: Controlling The Behavior Of Quantum Dots

Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), a collaborative center of the University of Maryland and NIST, have reported a new way to fine-tune the light coming from quantum dots by manipulating them with pairs of lasers.

Light Touch: Controlling the Behavior of Quantum Dots

(Top) Cross-section scanning tunneling microscope (STM) image shows indium arsenide quantum dot regions embedded in gallium arsenide. Each 'dot' is approximately 30 nanometers long–faint lines are individual rows of atoms. (Color added for clarity.) Credit: J.R. Tucker (Bottom) Schematic of NIST-JQI experimental set up. Orienting the resonant laser at a right angle to the quantum dot light minimizes scattering. Credit: Solomon/NIST

Northern Light Launches First Enterprise Market Research Portal that Specifically Targets Government

Northern Light Launches First Enterprise Market Research Portal that Specifically Targets Government Procurement Opportunities

In Light of New Nevada Law Requiring Businesses to Encrypt Emails with Customers' Personal Information, a New Study from CertifiedMail and Osterman Research Finds that Data Privacy Faces Significant Risk

TMCNet: In Light of New Nevada Law Requiring Businesses to Encrypt Emails with Customers' Personal Information, a New Study from CertifiedMail and Osterman Research Finds that Data Privacy Faces Significant Risk

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