Bee Sniffing Technology Detects Dangerous Vapours

As far back as 1999, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Controlled Biological Systems Program funded a bee-training program to detect buried landmines, so that many thousands of acres of the world's land could be productively farmed without encountering landmines the ugly way.

A bee's natural instinct is to extend its proboscis when it encounters a desirable odour, anticipating the taste of a flower, let's say. But the bees used in the 1999 DARPA experiment were trained, via classical Pavlovian conditioning, to respond to the odour of TNT instead. Their reward when they responded with a Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER), was a taste of sweet syrup. Then, trainers attached small diodes onto the backs of TNT-trained bees and used handheld radar tracking devices to chart where the bees went.

Inscentinal Ltd. has been working on developing very unique sensing instruments that couple the biological performance of honeybees with the technology to translate bee response into an electronic response. Inscentanil's first proprietary design is a hand held device called the VASOR136, a trace vapour detection unit that is very versatile.

The VASOR136 contains 36 cartridges each containing one bee. Filtered in by a standard gas mask cartridge is a constant supply of clean air. When an operator presses a button on the VASOR, an air sample is taken from the environment that exposes the bees to ambient, unfiltered air. If the bees have been trained to respond to a vapour in that air, the bees will exhibit a PER response and the response will be translated by the VASOR into a simple result shown on the PDA screen display.

Read more at: http://www.physorg.com/news188894292.html

Cell phones that protect against deadly chemicals

Cell-All: Super Smartphones Sniff Out Suspicious Substances

What if, in the future, new functions on our cell phones could also protect us from toxic chemicals?

Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)'s Cell-All is such an initiative. Cell-All aims to equip cell phones with a sensor capable of detecting deadly chemicals. The technology is ingenious. A chip costing less than a dollar is embedded in a cell phone and programmed to either alert the cell phone carrier to the presence of toxic chemicals in the air, and/or a central station that can monitor how many alerts in an area are being received. One might be a false positive. Hundreds might indicate the need for evacuation.

"Our goal is to create a lightweight, cost-effective, power-efficient solution," says Stephen Dennis, Cell-All's program manager.

When a threat is sensed, an alert ensues in one of two ways. For personal safety issues such as a chlorine gas leak, a warning is sounded; the user can choose a vibration, noise, text message or phone call. For catastrophes such as a sarin gas attack, details—including time, location and the compound—are phoned home to an emergency operations center. While the first warning is beamed to individuals, the second warning works best with crowds. And that's where the genius of Cell-All lies—in crowd sourcing human safety.

To this end, three teams from Qualcomm, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Rhevision Technology are perfecting their specific area of expertise. Qualcomm engineers specialize in miniaturization and know how to shepherd a product to market. Scientists from the Center for Nanotechnology at NASA's Ames Research Center have experience with chemical sensing on low-powered platforms, such as the International Space Station. And technologists from Rhevision have developed an artificial nose—a piece of porous silicon that changes colors in the presence of certain molecules, which can be read spectrographically. Similarly, S&T is pursuing what's known as cooperative research and development agreements with four cell phone manufacturers: Qualcomm, LG, Apple and Samsung. These written agreements, which bring together a private company and a government agency for a specific project, often accelerate the commercialization of technology developed for government purposes. As a result, Dennis hopes to have 40 prototypes in about a year, the first of which will sniff out carbon monoxide and fire.

To be sure, Cell-All's commercialization may take several years. Yet the goal seems eminently achievable

Read more at: http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1268073038372.shtm

HEMTT A3

HEMTT A3: Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck:

The HEMTT A3 (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) is according an Oshkosh press release the first production-ready, tactical military truck powered by an energy efficient diesel-electric drive system, called ProPulse®, that can increase fuel efficiency by 20 percent or more, depending on mission profile. And the onboard generator can deliver more than 100KW of military-grade AC power for external operations.

The ProPulse system uses a unique, modular series-hybrid arrangement to simplify the transmission of power to the wheels. The diesel engine powers an electric generator, which provides direct power to the wheels, eliminating the torque converter, automatic transmission, transfer case and drive shafts. The system has no batteries, using ultracapacitors for energy storage instead.

This advanced vehicle can climb a 60 percent grade, thunder across the most challenging terrain and achieve 65 mph on secondary roads. In short, the A3 allows fuel, equipment and supplies to keep pace with forward units to ensure you arrive first in every situation. The ProPulse® diesel-electric drive system provides power to the vehicle as well as 100 kW of clean, exportable military grade AC power. So you can get equipment where you need with one chassis – eliminating the need for additional trucks or trailers to transport external equipment and perform emergency response, homeland defense or battlefield support roles.

Read more at: http://www.hybrid-vehicle.org/hybrid-truck-hemtt.html

Watch this video: http://www.oshkoshdefense.com/defense/A3_video.cfm

A cost-effective solution to make city buses cheaper and greener

Ultracapacitors Make City Buses Cheaper, Greener

Buses with ultracapacitors stop at recharging stations, which double as bus stops, to recharge in less than a minute. A fleet of 17 buses near Shanghai has been running on ultracapacitors for the past three years, and in October 2009 that technology came to the Washington, DC, for a one-day demonstration. Chinese company Shanghai Aowei Technology Development Company, along with its US partner Sinautec Automobile Technologies, predict that this approach will provide an inexpensive and energy efficient way to power city buses in the near future.

A bus with ultracapacitors uses 40% less electricity compared to an electric bus with lithium-ion batteries, and requires just one-tenth the energy cost of a typical diesel-fuelled bus, which would save about $200,000 during the life of the vehicle. Plus, the buses are environmentally friendly: "Even if you use the dirtiest coal plant on the planet, it generates a third of the carbon dioxide of diesel when used to charge an ultracapacitor," said Dan Ye of Sinautec.

The biggest advantage of ultracapacitors is that they can fully recharge in less than a minute, unlike lithium-ion batteries which can take several hours. The downside of ultracapacitors is that they currently have a very short range, providing a distance of only a few miles, due to the fact that ultracapacitors can store only about 5% of the energy that lithium-ion batteries can hold.

Although their short range makes ultracapacitors impractical for cars, city buses have to stop frequently anyway.

The two companies hope that this is just the beginning for ultracapacitor buses. The company that makes the Shanghai buses, Foton America Bus Co, based in Tennessee, plans to deliver another 60 buses to the Chinese city in early 2010. The new buses will have ultracapacitors manufactured by Shanghai Aowei that supply 10-watt hours per kilogram, compared with the current ultracapacitors that have an energy density of six watt-hours per kilogram. Other US cities, including New York City, Chicago, and some towns in Florida, have also expressed interest in trailing the buses.

A cost-effective solution to make city buses cheaper and greener

Ultracapacitors Make City Buses Cheaper, Greener

Buses with ultracapacitors stop at recharging stations, which double as bus stops, to recharge in less than a minute. A fleet of 17 buses near Shanghai has been running on ultracapacitors for the past three years, and in October 2009 that technology came to the Washington, DC, for a one-day demonstration. Chinese company Shanghai Aowei Technology Development Company, along with its US partner Sinautec Automobile Technologies, predict that this approach will provide an inexpensive and energy efficient way to power city buses in the near future.

A bus with ultracapacitors uses 40% less electricity compared to an electric bus with lithium-ion batteries, and requires just one-tenth the energy cost of a typical diesel-fuelled bus, which would save about $200,000 during the life of the vehicle. Plus, the buses are environmentally friendly: "Even if you use the dirtiest coal plant on the planet, it generates a third of the carbon dioxide of diesel when used to charge an ultracapacitor," said Dan Ye of Sinautec.

The biggest advantage of ultracapacitors is that they can fully recharge in less than a minute, unlike lithium-ion batteries which can take several hours. The downside of ultracapacitors is that they currently have a very short range, providing a distance of only a few miles, due to the fact that ultracapacitors can store only about 5% of the energy that lithium-ion batteries can hold.

Although their short range makes ultracapacitors impractical for cars, city buses have to stop frequently anyway.

The two companies hope that this is just the beginning for ultracapacitor buses. The company that makes the Shanghai buses, Foton America Bus Co, based in Tennessee, plans to deliver another 60 buses to the Chinese city in early 2010. The new buses will have ultracapacitors manufactured by Shanghai Aowei that supply 10-watt hours per kilogram, compared with the current ultracapacitors that have an energy density of six watt-hours per kilogram. Other US cities, including New York City, Chicago, and some towns in Florida, have also expressed interest in trailing the buses.

An ice-pack in your helmet to save your life

Brain-Cooling Motorcycle Helmet

An extraordinary new 'brain-cooling' motorcycle helmet could save thousands of lives each year. Called the ThermaHelm, the incredible piece of equipment comes with an inbuilt device that acts like an instant ice pack after a sudden impact. By cooling the brain it is thought the carbon fibre helmet can reduce the risk of long-term brain damage and save lives. The British creators will launch the £299 helmet in May this year.

Inventor and motorcycling enthusiast Jullian Preston-Powers said he has had an incredible response to the new design. Mr Preston-Powers. from Brighton, said he had an 'eureka' moment after sustaining an injury during a game of basketball.

After two years of developing the idea at the Sussex Innovation Centre, in Brighton, it is now set to hit the shelves this year. The helmet contains two lightweight chemical packs, which are built into the helmet lining. One pack contains water, the other ammonium nitrate. A sudden impact causes the two to mix and trigger a 'cooling' reaction. This reaction lasts up to 45 minutes, stabilising the temperature of the brain and improving the crash victim's chances of survival.

Combination locks that use letters instead of number

Todd Basche created an innovation in an industry that hadn’t seen much change for 150 years.

For many years numbers were Todd Basche’s number one enemy. The former Vice President of Software Applications at Apple just couldn’t remember number combinations. His innovation was born out of necessity, a snagged pair of swimming trunks, and a red face. e came up with a stunningly simple solution for his memory lapses – use words instead of digits on combination locks. The modern combination lock was invented by Linus Yale Jr in 1862, but had remained virtually unchanged since then.

With all the random series of numbers we have to remember for bank cards, cell phones and computer passwords, Basche knew that words would be far easier to remember. He also discovered 100 year-old patents, but the locks were large and unwieldy with 26 characters on each wheel. he letters just replaced the numbers. No one had gone the extra mile to make the locks spell out words. His patented lock has ten characters per wheel and he developed a computer algorithm that told him which letters should be positioned where to get the maximum number of words. There are 10,000 different options. The algorithm also filtered out many of the main curse words.

“We hand crafted prototypes by taking wheels to an engraver and having him engrave the correct letters in. We took the sample to schools and the kids said 'well that’s so much better.'”

During the first year the Santa Clara, California-based company was self-funded and based at the couple’s home. But then they experienced astronomical growth in 2008 and had to move to business premises and take on employees. By the end of the first quarter of that year Wordlock was in 900 stores, by the end of the second quarter they were in 1,200 stores.

There are a range of Worldlock products such as cable locks, bike locks, luggage locks, and utility locks which are sold in Target, Sears, Ace, and online stores such as amazon.com. Basche’s simple and brilliant invention has unlocked a massive revenue stream.

FireFound tracks your stolen computer

FireFound tracks your stolen computer, nukes your personal data

The worst thing about losing your laptop isn't the cost of replacing your gear; it's the loss of personal info and saved passwords. Firefox extension FireFound tracks your lost laptop's location and nukes your personal data in a few clicks.

Once you install the add-on for Firefox or its mobile version Fennec, FireFound uses geolocation to track where you are every time you open your browser, sending that information to a secure server (or your own server, if you prefer.) If your laptop is ever lost or stolen, log into FireFound's Web site from any computer and find out where your laptop's being used -- handy information to pass on to the cops, though not necessarily info that'll get your laptop back. You also can choose to nuke the personal data in your browser, including history and saved passwords, to protect it from prying eyes until you get your computer back.

FireFound lets you tweak several settings according to what level of security you desire, including the option to receive e-mail notifications if your computer is used more than a certain number of miles from its last location. The data protection feature instantly annihilates some or all of the personal information contained in your browser if someone can't provide a password to use it.

We've seen a fair amount of similar tools for Windows users on a whole in the past, but FireFound is the first Firefox-specific version we've seen, and it's got some solid features of its own.

Keep in mind that none of these tools are guaranteed to keep your data safe or recover your hardware, and remember that your best bet to safeguarding your data is encrypting your data. What other steps do you take to protect your laptop's data besides securing your browser? Talk about it in the comments.

Check their website: http://www.firefound.com/

Watch the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycPtD9eVgSQ

Medical emergency? Your bracelet will provide info to mmedics

MEDICAL ID: Wear it as jewellery- necessary in case of emergency!
Universal Medical ID UK was established to serve medical communities and people around the world by offering quality medical IDs which allow healthcare professionals to give prompt, precise diagnosis and treatment during an emergency. A medical ID provides information which could save your life in an emergency. With medical conditions, drug and food allergies, prescribed medicines and emergency contacts engraved onto the surface, a medical ID bracelet or necklace guides paramedics and doctors in giving you appropriate, timely diagnosis and treatment when you cannot speak for yourself.

Why are medical IDs critical?
• Medical IDs effectively communicate a person's needs during an emergency and can eliminate the guess work in treating a person who cannot communicate.
• If a person cannot speak for themselves, a brief description of medical facts engraved on a medical ID can ensure appropriate and timely care, eliminate trips to the hospital, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and prevent minor emergencies from escalating.
• Medical IDs empower those living with chronic conditions or allergies and those taking a number of different medications to take control of their health.
• Medical IDs can reduce medical errors and reduce medical costs.
• A medical ID serves the same purpose as an SOS talisman, bracelet or necklace.
Who should wear a medical ID?
Medical identifications can be an unexpected benefit in an emergency. Anyone living with chronic or rare medical conditions; people with allergies such as food, drug or insect; and those taking multiple medicines or blood thinners benefit from wearing a medical ID.
Below is a list of some of the conditions and circumstances that warrant wearing a medical ID:
• Diabetes
• Cardiac problems and implants (angina, atrial fibrillation, pacemakers)
• Treatment with anticoagulants (warfarin)
• Drug allergies
• Food allergies (such as peanut)
• Insect allergies (such as bee stings)
• Alzheimer's disease, memory impairments
• Hypertension
• Stroke risk
• Pulmonary conditions (asthma, COPD)
• Kidney failure
• Emphysema, breathing disorders
• Anaemia, blood disorders • Epilepsy, seizure disorders
• Hearing, visual or mental impairments
• Children with special needs (Autism)
• Tourette Syndrome
• Surgery, transplant and cancer patients
• Clinical trial participation
• People taking multiple medicines
• Rare disease/Blood Type
• Sickle Cell Anaemia
• Caregivers
• Gastric Bypass Surgery

Read more about this at: http://www.universalmedicalid.co.uk/uk/frequent.php

A Robotic Bat Built from Smart Materials

Robo-bats With Metal Muscles May Be Next Generation Of Remote Control Flyers
Researchers hope to use the tiny flying machine for surveillance.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a small robotic bat using "smart" materials.

Micro-aerial vehicles can maneuver in small spaces and could be ideal for surveillance tasks. Robert Wood at Harvard has worked for nearly a decade on a robotic fly, and researchers in Germany and England are building dragonfly robots. But designing and building such small flying machines is tricky. They tend to be aerodynamically inefficient, and it's hard to mimic movements like the flapping of wings mechanically.
To create their "robo-bat," the NC State researchers analyzed a bat's muscular and skeletal system, and then used rapid prototyping technologies and smart materials to recreate it.

Seelecke explains that the research team is also using smart materials for the muscular system. "We're using an alloy that responds to the heat from an electric current. That heat actuates micro-scale wires the size of a human hair, making them contract like 'metal muscles.' During the contraction, the powerful muscle wires also change their electric resistance, which can be easily measured, thus providing simultaneous action and sensory input. This dual functionality will help cut down on the robo-bat's weight, and allow the robot to respond quickly to changing conditions--such as a gust of wind--as perfectly as a real bat."
Read more at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090707093625.htm

Enhanced Fingerprints on gun after being wiped

Image via Wikipedia

English physicist John Bond has developed a technique for analyzing fingerprints on a gun after it's been wiped clean! Dr John Bond, who works with Northamptonshire Police, realised that because sweat corrodes metal surfaces, fingerprints could be 'seen' on bullet casings and other metal surfaces even after they were wiped clean. Bond applied an electrical charge and a fine carbon powder to a gun's corroded part, revealing a fingerprint pattern. Police are already using the four-month-old technology to reopen some cases.

An excerpt from an interview with him:
Reporter - How does your new technique work?
John - What we’ve been looking at is a phenomenon we’ve found that fingerprint deposits will tend to corrode metal surfaces. There’s some constituents in the fingerprint deposit that on metals like brass and copper will corrode the metal to an extent that even when you’ve then got rid of the residue totally you can sometimes actually see an image of where the fingerprint was in the metal or, where that’s not possible, we’ve developed a technique to actually enhance that corrosion and make the fingerprint become visible again.
Reporter - So how do you visualise the fingerprint in the form of its corrosion pattern on that surface?
John - We take the metal and apply an electrical potential to it at the order of 2500V. We then apply a very fine conducting powder, very similar to photocopying toner powder. What we’ve discovered is that that will preferentially adhere to the metal at the points where the corrosions occurred which are coincident with the original fingerprint ridge pattern. You get an image of where the fingerprint was in this black powder.

Read in greater detail: http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/926/