Super-Massive Black Holes Found

The ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS reported that there are four super-massive black holes.The scientists used the world's two largest optical/infrared telescopes,Keck,on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii to find these black holes or dying stars that are called active galactic. For the first time, the team observed a quasar with an active galactic nucleus,as part of the group of four black holes.Scientists believe that these active nuclei are powered by accreting super-massive black holes.The accreting gas and dust are especially bright in the optical and infrared regions of electromagnetic spectrum.

Paper Batteries To Power Laptops,Drive Cars

Scientists at Stanford University,USA,have reported that they have successfully turned a specific type of paper coated with ink made of silver &carbon nanomaterials into a "Paper Battery".There is a specific feature which helps ink stick to the surface of paper.The same feature also allows it to hold on to the single-walled carbon nanotubes & silver nanowire films.Taking advantage of the mature paper technology,low-cost & high-performance energy storage are realised by using conductive paper as current collectors and electrodes.this type of battery could be useful in powering electric or hybrid vehicles.The best part about the new battery is that in addition to being useful for portable electronics & wearable electronics,the paper supercapitators can also be used for all kinds of applications that require instant high power.

Washing Machine Reuses Water

Common washing machines wash the clothing and send the dirty wateer down the drain.This results in a huge waste of water.Mr.Klein Washing Machine treats water as a scarce item.It cleans all the dirty clothes and saves the water to be used again for another round.It uses a filteration system to do this job and the system takes all of the contaminants out of the water before reusing it.Though it still a concept,it is going to be available very soon.

Robots Clones To Imitate Human Beings

Kokoro,a premier Japanese robot manufacturer,has made possible one of the most enduring fantasies of the scientific domain,i.e.to produce robots that resemble human beings in such aspects as looks,voice,etc.Kokoro is initially making only two robot clones.Both are made of silicone.The robots can move only their upper bodies.The Actroid & Geminoid androids are powered by quiet air servo system that moves their upper bodies.They cannot walk.Both the robots are based on two real persons-one version of Actroid is based on a popular Japanese newsreader,& the Germinoid is based on the famous robotics from Osaka University,Japan.

Lawn Mower Scooter

Lawn moving is thought to be one of the most boring chores.And that is why Lawn Mower Scooter has been designed.The scooter can reach a speed of up to 6km/hr.The grass is collected inside it.There is a transparent window to see whether its inside needs to be emptied.It runs on liquid fuel.Designer VickyPetihovski is the brains behind this lawnmower scooter concept that we find rather interesting for bringing in the satisfaction factor where before it was just boring work with a conventional lawnmower.

The ride-on mower is powered by a small electric motor, which also activates the grass-cutting blades, so users can enjoy their lawn ride and get the chore done with the least of effort. It sure beats a conventional lawn mower.

Electric Car

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit unveiled the zero-emission electric car - Twizy ZE concept, at the inauguration ceremony of the Delhi Auto Expo 2010. The car has been designed by French auto maker Renault. The two-seater Twizy is one of four electric cars that Renault unveiled in September 2009, and is being displayed outside Europe for the first time. The concept model is currently on display at the auto show which will also display more “green cars” over the course of the expo.

Twizy Z.E. Concept is an innovative response to the challenge of urban mobility. With its four-wheel chassis, Twizy Z.E. Concept offers the driver and passenger – seated one behind the other – an all-electric means of transport which produces no CO₂ emissions. With its futuristic, pearlescent white bodywork, Twizy Z.E. Concept clearly belongs to a new era of urban mobility. As opposed to a conventional car, the body colour wheel fairings are not spherical but octagonal, and cover the tyres entirely. Along with the pearlescent white and blue hub caps, they form a pleasing, harmonious design in which the wheels can no longer be seen rotating. Instead, the only visible movement is that of the hub caps, so Twizy Z.E. Concept appears to glide gracefully and silently, along the road.

Twizy Z.E. Concept is powered by a 15kW (20hp) electric motor. This develops 70Nm of torque, and combines comfort with responsive performance at all engine speeds. Twizy Z.E. Concept can accelerate at a similar rate to a 125cc bike, and pulls away briskly from standstill. With a top speed of 75kph, Twizy Z.E. Concept will also be in its element in suburban traffic.

Synthetic Muscles To Let Paralysed People Blink

In a crucial breakthrough that may benefit thousands of people who cannot close their eyelids,scientists have showed that the artificial muscles(EPAM in fig;) can restore the ability of facial paralysis patients to blink.Illustration of left eyelid sling that is attached to the electroactive polymer artificial muscle device (EPAM) after passing through an interpolation unit that is implanted in the lateral orbital wall (note screw fixation). The power supply and artificial muscle are implanted in the temporal fossa. Conceptually, when the normal right eyelid blinks, the electrical sensor (green) sends a signal to the battery to activate the EPAM.

EPAM is an emerging technology that has the potential for use in rehabilitating facial movement in patients with paralysis. Electroactive polymers act like human muscles by expanding and contracting, based on variable voltage input levels.For patients who have one functioning eyelid, a sensor wire threaded over the normal eyelid could detect the natural blink impulse and fire the artificial muscle at the same time. Among patients lacking control of either eyelid, an electronic pacemaker similar to those used to regulate heartbeats could blink the eye at a steady rate, and be deactivated by a magnetic switch.

Scientists,however,are of the opinion that there are many ideas & concepts where this technology can play role.

Coming Soon:Breath-Controlled Mobiles

It will soon be possible to answer a call on the mobile phone without touching a button.Such phones are equipped with the revolutionary breath-controlled technology.The breath=controlled technology is called Sensawaft.It is developed by Zyxio,a US firm.Sensawaft is powered by microelectromechanical systems,tiny chips that can be embedded in other devices,such as a video games or hands-free-mobile phone headset.This new technology will be used by wide range of gadgets as possible,including aids for disabled people,as well as hands-free mobile phones.