Software tool allows programs to run faster without sacrificing security

Software tool allows programs to run faster without sacrificing security: "Protecting computer systems from malicious attack using complex software solutions is a constant, but necessary, struggle. As threats become more sophisticated, the technology used to fight them off can impact more and more on system perform"

Air New Zealand’s “cuddle class” seating gets off the ground

Air New Zealand’s “cuddle class” seating gets off the ground: "Anyone who has taken a long haul flight will know that getting some shut eye during the flight can be a bit of a challenge at the best of times. Dealing with crying babies or restless children is only compounded by being crammed into seats that become more and more uncomfortable as the hours go by."

Jet aircraft-inspired Chevrolet Mi-ray roadster concept

Jet aircraft-inspired Chevrolet Mi-ray roadster concept: "With General Motors last year announcing its intention to roll out Chevrolet across Korea, this year's Seoul Motor Show has seen the unveiling of a slick hybrid roadster concept developed by the GM Advanced Design Studio in Seoul to celebrate Chevrolet's 100-year heritage and showcase future design possibilities for the brand."

'Flying chameleon' simulates future flying wing aircraft

'Flying chameleon' simulates future flying wing aircraft: "'Flying wing' designs that offer reduced weight and drag when compared to traditional 'tube with wings and a tail' designs are theoretically the most efficient aircraft configuration. However, true flying wings are inherently unstable and difficult to control."

After 12 years and over 3.5 billion miles traveled, it's farewell to Stardust

After 12 years and over 3.5 billion miles traveled, it's farewell to Stardust: "NASA's comet trekking spacecraft Stardust has officially ended operations. Stardust sent its last transmission to Earth on March 24 having traveled an incredible 3.54 billion miles (5.69 billion kilometers) over a 12 year period to become 'NASA's most traveled comet hunter.'"

Single-shot, thumb-operated Palm Pistol set for 2011 release

Single-shot, thumb-operated Palm Pistol set for 2011 release: "The use of firearms for self-defense is a divisive issue, with weapons, especially concealable ones, being easily misappropriated for wrong-doing. While we're reluctant to suggest adding more guns to the equation, the newly developed single-shot Palm Pistol does have some worthwhile qualities as a defensive weapon for non-aggressors."

Foremay announces solid state drive smaller than a quarter coin

Foremay announces solid state drive smaller than a quarter coin: "Californian SSD manufacturer Foremay has announced a new addition to its OC177 storage family. Despite being smaller than a U.S. quarter coin, the company's first disk-on-chip (DOC) solution will be available in capacities up to 64GB, supporting both standard IDE or SATA host interface, in addition to complying with ATA-7 specifications."

Nexus takes the click out of the computer mouse

Nexus takes the click out of the computer mouse: "The clicking sound we hear when we press a mouse button is part of the device's switching mechanism, that has also become a kind of audible comfort cushion for computer users"

Happy World Backup Day!

Happy World Backup Day!: "With so many of our pictures, videos and documents now stored in digital format, the prospect of precious data disappearing forever in the misstep of a HDD read/write head or infection from a nasty virus is even more catastrophic."

Head-worn device uses sonar to rapidly diagnose stroke

Head-worn device uses sonar to rapidly diagnose stroke: "A team of radiologists and retired US Navy sonar experts have used technology developed for submarines as the basis for a new device which offers quick detection, diagnosis and monitoring of stroke."

Your mobile phone is watching you ... closely

Your mobile phone is watching you ... closely: "While most of us know it is theoretically possible for our movements to be tracked by detecting which tower our mobile phone is connected too, it might come as a shock to see just how much of a digital footprint we leave as we go about our daily lives."

Fruit fibers used to create 'green' plastic for cars

Fruit fibers used to create 'green' plastic for cars: "A research team from Brazil has developed a new form of plant fiber-based plastic that is claimed to be stronger, lighter, and more eco-friendly than plastics currently in use. Team leader Alcides Leão says that some of the so-called nano-cellulose fibers can be almost as stiff as Kevlar, but that the plastic differs from many in widespread use because the source material – such as pineapple and banana – is completely renewable."

Samsung announces world's first mass produced transparent LCD panels

Samsung announces world's first mass produced transparent LCD panels: "When it comes to display technologies nothing says 'cool' like a transparent display. While we've seen a number of prototypes, such as TDK's flexible OLED display, pop up at trade shows in the last couple of years, Samsung has announced it has already started mass production of a 22-inch transparent LCD panel."

Amazon launches Cloud Drive and Cloud Player

Amazon launches Cloud Drive and Cloud Player: "Amazon has announced the U.S. launch of new cloud storage and media playback services that allow users to securely store and access files and music from any web-connected PC or Mac, or Android phone or tablet."

T-box concept to capture wind energy from trains

T-box concept to capture wind energy from trains: "As anyone living near railway tracks will tell you, speeding trains generate quite a bit of wind as they whoosh past. Industrial designers Qian Jiang and Alessandro Leonetti Luparini have come up with a device that's installed between the sleepers on a track, and as the train passes overhead, the wind drives a turbine to generate electricity."

Nano-brick packaging allows foods to last longer

Nano-brick packaging allows foods to last longer: "We've already heard about new types of packaging that use things such as sorbic acid and silver nanoparticles to keep food fresh for longer, but this week scientists from Texas A&M University announced the development of a 'nano-brick' film that utilizes yet another substance to achieve the same purpose. That substance is montmorillonite clay, which is one of the ingredients used to make bricks. The film is about 70 percent clay (with the rest of it made from various polymer materials) and when its structure is viewed through an electron microscope, it actually even looks like bricks and mortar."

Kansas City is first city chosen for Google's fiber-to-the-home rollout

Kansas City is first city chosen for Google's fiber-to-the-home rollout: "Last year Google announced plans to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the U.S. that will deliver Internet speeds of one gigabit per second (1 Gbps) via a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service. After receiving submissions from nearly 1,100 cities, the Internet giant has now revealed it will build its first ultra high-speed network in Kansas City, Kansas"

QinetiQ provides unmanned robotic systems to aid in Japan's recovery efforts

QinetiQ provides unmanned robotic systems to aid in Japan's recovery efforts: "In the aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated Japan on March 11, 2011, the country faces a massive cleanup and rebuilding effort that will take years."

New Porsche Panamera Turbo S packs 550 hp and 800 Nm of torque

New Porsche Panamera Turbo S packs 550 hp and 800 Nm of torque: "Porsche has unveiled the top dog in its Gran Turismo line. The new Panamera Turbo S raises the four-door sports car bar with a 4.8 liter, V8 biturbo charged engine that delivers 550 hp (410 kW) , which is 50 hp (37 kW) more than the engine found in the Panamera Turbo."

Student-designed Solarball creates drinkable water

Student-designed Solarball creates drinkable water: "When he set out on a trip to Cambodia in 2008, Industrial Design student Jonathan Liow had no idea it was going to be a life-changing experience. Upon seeing the poverty and poor living conditions in that country, however, he decided that he wanted to build things that could help people."

StrongArm helps load boats onto cars

StrongArm helps load boats onto cars: "Sea kayaks are quite possibly one of the finest things ever created by mankind, but they can be rather difficult to load onto the top of one's car – this is particularly true for people who are trying to do the job single-handed, or who have a tall vehicle. Australia's Steve Scott identified this problem as an opportunity, and invented the StrongArm Kayak Loader."

Partially-biodegradable plastic made from waste bone meal

Partially-biodegradable plastic made from waste bone meal: "Creepy as it may sound, for decades one of the key ingredients in cattle feed was meat and bone meal (MBM), made from by-products of – you guessed it – slaughtered cattle. Sheep, farmed deer, elk and bison were also unknowingly eating their own kind. With the onset of the Mad Cow Disease scare in 1997, the U.S. and other countries banned the use of MBM-containing feeds, as it was believed that the disease could spread via the ingestion of infected animals' body parts."

PreVue would offer parents a live 4D baby watch window during pregnancy

PreVue would offer parents a live 4D baby watch window during pregnancy: "Checking the health of a baby inside the womb using ultrasound has been going on for a good many years and can be a useful tool for detecting problems early."

Wysips technology can turn any surface into a PV power plant

Wysips technology can turn any surface into a PV power plant: "Mobile phones sporting photovoltaic panels are nothing new but thanks to some lens wizardry, a French company recently showed off a prototype phone where the touchscreen display itself housed the solar-soaking cells."

Microwaves utilized to convert used motor oil into fuel

Microwaves utilized to convert used motor oil into fuel: "It has been estimated that over 8 billion US gallons (30.3 billion liters) of used motor oil are produced every year by the world's cars and trucks. While some of that is re-refined into new oil or burned in furnaces for heat, neither of those processes are entirely environmentally-innocuous."

MESSENGER sends back historic first image of Mercury from orbit

MESSENGER sends back historic first image of Mercury from orbit: "After reaching orbit around Mercury on March 17, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft has sent back its first image of our solar system's innermost planet. The historic image, which was captured at 5:20 am EDT (U.S.), is the first ever captured from a spacecraft in orbit and is dominated by the rayed crater named Debussy."

HondaJet achieves maximum speed in flight testing

HondaJet achieves maximum speed in flight testing: "Honda's first light business jet has exceeded its projected top speed just three months on from its maiden flight. Michimasa Fujino first sketched the HondaJet with its distinctive over-the-wing engine-mount design in 1997."