The Science & Technology News Thread

[Arioch]

A team including scientists from the DOE demonstrated an "Accelerator on a Chip" that is 10 times more efficient in accelerating electrons than the current method used in the SLAC accelerator.



http://phys.org/news/2013-09-chip.html

[fredgiblet]

Is there anything that lasers can't make better?

[Count Casimir]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Science is the best thing ever.

Lasers are a close and somewhat related second.

[Karst45]

Is there anything that lasers can't make better?

http://i.imgur.com/BOZ33.jpg

[Suederwind]

Not sure if those two articles fit here or in that real aerospace thread. However, as they are about nuclear batteries, their safety and plutonium, I think its more fitting to post them here.

NASA’s Plutonium Problem Could End Deep-Space Exploration

and

Titanium Bullets, Rocket Sleds, and C-4: How the U.S. Tested the Safety of Nuclear Batteries

[Arioch]

I'm not sure what practical use this would have, but it's cool.



http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/simp ... -1004.html

[Jakelope13]

I'm not sure what practical use this would have, but it's cool.
(video)

By all that's holy, we've invented REPLICATORS!!!
Nah, but it's an interesting concept. Maybe they can be used in construction somehow? Self-building cranes and whatnot

[Charlie]

I remember theses, the History Channel`s The Universe speculates that that a more advanced version of these will one day be Humanity`s explorers, when they can be made to build more of themselves.

[Karst45]

I'm not sure what practical use this would have, but it's cool.

Portal room?

I remember theses, the History Channel`s The Universe speculates that that a more advanced version of these will one day be Humanity`s explorers, when they can be made to build more of themselves.

Isnt that the main plot of X3:reunions? Humanity send those ship to explore and build jump gate, but they keep replicating and went to war with other species who saw them as treat, with a reason, disassembling a ship full of people to replicate yourself is quite a diplomatic faux pas.


But are that how borg cube are born?

[Mikk]

Let's not confuse modular robotics (individual robots assebling a bigger unit) with self-replication (most likely to implemented using 3D printing as a major technology), shall we? Creepy critter cubes those.

Edit: typo

[Arioch]

It irritates me when they mention self-replication in these articles, as that has absolutely nothing to do with this particular example.

[Jakelope13]

I wonder if you can use this modular, reconfigurable concept with sensors? It'd cut down on the number of probes we'd have to deploy (unless the area we want to explore is just too far out of range of previous probe launches).

[Absalom]

I wonder if you can use this modular, reconfigurable concept with sensors? It'd cut down on the number of probes we'd have to deploy (unless the area we want to explore is just too far out of range of previous probe launches).

The number of probes? What kind of probes are you even talking about? Satellites are usually launched when an old one dies/is likely to die, or coverage needs to be increased. Units that travel beyond geosynchronous orbit are relatively few, often unique, and aren't likely to have the ability to go anywhere other than where they've been shot off towards. Were you talking about interstellar probes? Those will either be crewed, "one-time use", or include automatic factories and refineries.

[Arioch]

Nothing mind-blowing, but I thought the presentation was cute.

[Arioch]

A cute demonstration of quantum levitation.

[Grayhome]

Hey check it out, bio suits might be coming online in the next decade or so.




https://newsoffice.mit.edu/2014/second- ... suits-0918

[NuclearIceCream]

I cant believe nobody posted this yet. http://sploid.gizmodo.com/lockheed-mart ... 1646578094

Fusion Ladies and Gentlemen, Fusion.

[icekatze]

hi hi

I might post it in ten years, assuming it works as advertised.

[Arioch]

The CRISPR gene-editing technique has been used in a human subject for the first time.

http://www.nature.com/news/crispr-gene- ... me-1.20988

CRISPR is a breakthrough technique that makes gene-editing quick and inexpensive to use.

[maethalion]

CRISPR is a breakthrough technique that makes gene-editing quick and inexpensive to use.

CRISPR is indeed pretty awesome.

This youtube video explains it pretty well (and the channel goes into depth a lot about space)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhjPd4uNFY