TFOT - The Future Of Things

USB 3.0 Unleashed - First Products - 2010

Anuradha Menon — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:34:25 -0600

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group released the USB 3.0 specifications at the first SuperSpeed USB Developers Conference in San Jose, California, held on on Monday, November 17th. The completion of the specification, the technical map for USB 3.0 - also known as SuperSpeed USB, will enable manufacturers to produce new USB 3.0 based devices for the market in about a year.

Special Operations Gets Hummingbird UAV

Janice Karin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:00:42 -0600

The United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is in the process of deploying its first Boeing A160 Hummingbird unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The new UAV, developed by Boeing in conjunction with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) looks like a traditional helicopter but it goes higher, stays airborn longer, travels farther, and runs more quietly than any helicopter in current use. Its biggest bonus - it doesn't have a pilot that could be shut down.

Space shuttle Endeavour lands

Iddo Genuth — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:09:52 -0600

Space shuttle orbiter Endeavour has landed at the Edwards Air Force Base in California, following a hugely successful STS-126 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). She'll now undergo initial deservicing activities at the Dryden Flight Research Facility, before a ferry trip back to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on top of the SCA (Shuttle Carrier Aircraft).

Microsoft in $20bn Yahoo Deal

Ehud Rattner — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:07:53 -0600

According to one report, Yahoo and Microsoft may once again be working on a search deal. The Times of London reported this weekend that Microsoft is in talks to acquire Yahoo's search business for $20 billion. According to the paper, former AOL CEO Jonathan Miller and fomer Fox Interactive President Ross Levinsohn are set to head the effort.

Hormones and Breast Cancer Don't Mix

Ehud Rattner — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:14:17 -0600

Breast cancer, the leading cause of death among women in France, is the most commonly occurring cancer in women. Sporadic breast cancer, which is non-hereditary, turns out to be the most widespread, representing 85 to 90% of all cases, but remains the least well-known. Researchers at CNRS and CEA (1), working with a team from Hopital Saint-Louis (2), have just discovered the cause of 50% of sporadic breast cancers.

Watch for a Vista Update in April 2009

Ehud Rattner — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:55:01 -0600

Microsoft will deliver Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) to manufacturing in April 2009, two months after it issues a final test version to users, according to a Web site that accurately predicted several Windows ship dates in 2008. TechARP.com, a Malaysian Web site that nailed the release-to-manufacturing (RTM) dates for Vista SP1 and XP SP3 earlier this year, said that Microsoft will post a release candidate -- the final test version -- of Vista SP2 in February 2009.

A Day in the Life of an Ant

Ehud Rattner — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:11:02 -0600

One of the most important developments in human civilisation was the practice of sustainable agriculture. But we were not the first - ants have been doing it for over 50 million years. Just as farming helped humans become a dominant species, it has also helped leaf-cutter ants become dominant herbivores, and one of the most successful social insects in nature. According to a recent study, leaf-cutter ants have developed a system to try and keep their gardens pest-free.

Europe Backs Mobile Roaming Cap

Ehud Rattner — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:59:39 -0600

European telecoms chiefs have backed plans to make it cheaper to access data while on a mobile phone abroad. The measures will slash the cost of sending a text while abroad and reform the way phone operators charge for data calls made when customers roam. The changes to charges are due to come in to force across the EU's 27 member nations from July 2009. Some nations and industry groups said the changes could mean higher charges for other services.

Space Shuttle Endeavour Set To Land Sunday

Anuradha Menon — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:12:47 -0600

The space shuttle Endeavour crew is expected to complete its mission to the International Space Station with a landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1:19 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 30. This will conclude a 16-day flight, 11 of which were spent docked to the station. The STS-126 mission began Nov. 14 and prepared the space station to house six crew members for long-duration missions. The new station cargo includes a water recovery system, additional sleeping quarters.

Mineral Gas Pump Has No Moving Parts

Anuradha Menon — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:06:56 -0600

Scientists have discovered that a type of hard mineral called zeolite can provide a high rate of gas flow in a micro-scale gas pump. Because the pump is based simply on temperature differences and has no moving parts, it could provide reliable and precise control of gas flow for a variety of applications, such as gas-sensing breath analyzers and warfare agent detectors. Mechanical engineers Naveen Gupta and Yogesh Gianchandani from the University of Michigan have published their study.