Next Big Future

Presbyopia Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-20T13:34:00-08:00

PresbyLASIK is a surgical technique for presbyopic visual correction using Excimer LASER ablation.

Singapore and India offer the treatment now and Canada and the USA have advanced clinical trials, which are showing promising results.

PresbyLASIK treatment uses the principles of LASIK surgery to create a multifocal corneal surface aimed at reducing near vision spectacle dependence in presbyopic patients. Among the presbyLASIK techniques, the Excimer LASER ablation creates a central area, which is hyperpositive for near vision leaving the midperipheral cornea for far vision

Presbyopia describes the condition where the eye exhibits a progressively diminished ability to focus on near objects with age.

During recent clinical trials using modified monovision with PresbyLASIK, 91.3 percent of all patients no longer needed to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. Among nearsighted (myopic) patients, 92 percent no longer needed glasses or contact lenses. Of those who were farsighted (hyperopic), 89 percent were spectacle-free.

This study involved 75 patients with myopia and 28 with hyperopia; average age was 53.3 years. Standard wavefront-guided LASIK provided monocular (single vision) distance vision in the dominant eye, and presbyLASIK for vision at multiple distances was used to correct the nondominant eye. Results are after 1.2 years to 3.9 years of followup. Statistics apply to use of both eyes together, or binocular vision. (Reported July 2008 in Journal of Refractive Surgery.)

If you develop cataracts after multifocal LASIK surgery, you will still be able to have cataract surgery. But changes made to your cornea during the LASIK procedure make it a bit more challenging for your cataract surgeon to determine the correct power for your intraocular lens to give you a perfect visual outcome after cataract surgery.

It's possible you may need to wear eyeglasses after cataract surgery or you may need additional corneal refractive surgery to regain acceptable vision for driving and/or reading without glasses.

Finally, there is no guarantee that results of your multifocal LASIK surgery will be permanent. If your eyes change as the years go by after your LASIK surgery, future surgical enhancements may be needed. Another possible complication associated with the procedure can include an inability to see as well as you once did, even with the help of glasses or contact lenses after surgery

Myostatin Inhibiting Gene Therapy Success in Monkeys

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-20T13:12:28-08:00

One person in a million has natural myostatin inhibition genes

Work was done on Macaque monkeys. Commonly scientific work is on rhesus macaques.

Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital have shown that a gene delivery strategy that produces follistatin -- a naturally occurring protein that inhibits myostatin, a growth factor expressed specifically in skeletal muscle -- directly to the quadriceps of non-human primates results in long-term gene expression with muscle enhancing effects, including larger muscles with greater strength. The muscles were 15% bigger, 78% stronger and the effect lasted for the 15 month study with no negative health effects. The treatment produced no obvious negative side-effects and human clinical trials are expected to start next year.

Myostatin inhibition occurs naturally in about one in one million people. Studies with mice indicate myostatin inhibition is four times more effective than high doses of steroids. Myostatin inhibition can have various health benefits and not just performance enhancment. It can be used to counter the muscle wasting in old people and help old people stay mobile longer. Mobile people stay healthier longer. Another potential benefit is help people with weight control and reduction of obesity. Muscles consume more calories than fat so someone with Myostatin inhibition should find it easier to manage their weight. Having fewer obese people should improve public health and could also help with national medical costs.

A previous study of myostatin inhibitors on mice has shown protection against obesity and hardening of the arteries

Obesity increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which accounts for 75% of all cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes. The mice with deleted myostatin gene had much less body fat and 30 percent lower fasting blood sugar and 80% lower fasting insulin levels, showing a reduction in obesity and a strong resistance to developing diabetes, the authors reported. They also had 50 percent lower low-density-lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol and 30 to 60 percent lower levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides (fats in the blood), respectively. These results indicate protection against the development of atherosclerosis.

So safe (potentially health improving) and very effective muscle enhancement appears to be close. At the end of this article is other option which is already being used by people now (SARMs - produce a steroid like effect that only goes to the muscles).

Estimates are that 7 million people take steroids to boost their muscles (in spite of the health risks) and most do it for enhanced appearance and not for sports.

Steroid like effects with no health risks and potentially health benefits would seem likely to be very widely used. If the protection against obesity and artery hardening holds up in human trials then it would make sense for everyone to have the myostatin inhibition treatment to protect and cardiovascular disease and death which is the number one cause of death. Abut 30% of all deaths are cause by heart disease

This more recent study produced similar results in non-human primates, in a translational study to demonstrate efficacy in safety in a species more closely related to humans. Non-human primates that received the injection of the follistatin transgene experienced pronounced and durable increases in muscle size and strength. Muscle growth occurred for 12 weeks after treatment, after which time the growth rates appeared to stabilize and were well tolerated, with no adverse events noted over the course of the 15-month study.

"Our studies indicate that this relatively non-invasive approach could have long-term effects, involve few risks and could potentially be effective in various types of degenerative muscle disorders including multiple forms of muscular dystrophy," said the study's corresponding author, Brian Kaspar, PhD, principal investigator in the Center for Gene Therapy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Times UK has more info

After the treatment, the monkeys’ leg muscles grew steadily, and were 15 per cent bigger in circumference on average after eight weeks.

Using electrical muscle stimulation, the scientists showed that the treated legs were also significantly stronger than the untreated legs. In one monkey, the treated leg was 78 per cent stronger. .

The enhanced size and power were retained 15 months after the treatment and caused no apparent health problems.

Follistatin Gene Delivery Enhances Muscle Growth and Strength in Nonhuman Primates

Antagonists of myostatin, a blood-borne negative regulator of muscle growth produced in muscle cells, have shown considerable promise for enhancing muscle mass and strength in rodent studies and could serve as potential therapeutic agents for human muscle diseases. One of the most potent of these agents, follistatin, is both safe and effective in mice, but similar tests have not been performed in nonhuman primates. To assess this important criterion for clinical translation, we tested an alternatively spliced form of human follistatin that affects skeletal muscle but that has only minimal effects on nonmuscle cells. When injected into the quadriceps of cynomolgus macaque monkeys, a follistatin isoform expressed from an adeno-associated virus serotype 1 vector, AAV1-FS344, induced pronounced and durable increases in muscle size and strength. Long-term expression of the transgene did not produce any abnormal changes in the morphology or function of key organs, indicating the safety of gene delivery by intramuscular injection of an AAV1 vector. Our results, together with the findings in mice, suggest that therapy with AAV1-FS344 may improve muscle mass and function in patients with certain degenerative muscle disorders.

Supplemental Material

Supplemental material in a 6 page pdf

The treatment did not cause sperm or menstrual cycles to go outside of normal ranges.

Fig. S1. MCK-FS causes myofiber hypertrophy and predominantly affects fast-twitch type 2 myofibers in the quadriceps muscle.
Fig. S2. Morphological effects on sperm from male cynomologus macaques treated with AAV1-FS344.
Table S1. Menstrual cycles in untreated control and AAV1-FS344–treated cynomolgus macaques.
Table S2. Sperm motility and morphology of untreated control and AAV1- FS344–treated cynomolgus macaques.
Table S3. Primer and probe sets used in quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) for vector genome quantification.

Seperate Product/Method for Potentially Safe Muscle Boosting
Steroid like effects that are theorized to be safer are available online from SARMs.

SARMs work similarly to testosterone but in a more targeted way. "They are effective by binding to the steroid receptor in only specific tissue, like muscle," says Evans, who is also a scientific advisor to GTx, a company developing the drugs. "They are not steroid drugs, but they produce the anabolic effect of the steroids." GTx, based in Memphis, TN, has shown in a clinical trial that one compound being developed for muscle wasting and bone loss can significantly boost lean muscle mass in older people.

Expectations

The current black market use of SARMs (before clinical trials are done, phase 3 clinical trials not started) via online purchase and the online sale of fake myostatin inhibitors and fake SARMs shows the massive demand that will be there for the real thing. Especially after they do clear clinical trials for Muscle wasting diseases. I expect to be having some type of myostatin inhibitor treatment within ten years. Maintain muscles before getting too hold and maintaining as I get older, less risk of falling and breaking a hip later, heart health, weight control. do not care about the sports aspect. The real sports competitors will doing this and ten other riskier things. I had LASIK done over ten years ago and have not regretted it. Was able to get 20-15 vision (so better than the old good vision standard of 20-20).

The "clean" sports leagues will look like childrens little league compared to the open enhancement leagues.

2020 expectation:
SARMs and Myostatin inhibition widespread (tens of millions)
20-5 vision common from advanced LASIK and other treatments
Next generation cognitive enhancement drugs
robotic and cyber enhancements
Augmented reality vision (goggles/visors)
Mind machine interfaces

The next level after those will be transgenic (gorilla strength, 40 mph speed, super leaping, cognitive remodelling - stem cells, gene therapy, superdrugs 300IQ-1000IQ and may more), molecular nanotechnology enhancement. Although the performance enhancement is interesting, it will be the enhancements for
- super immune systems
- life extension and health enhancement
- radiation and other resistence
- cognitive enhancement
- regeneration

that will be the big impacters of civilization.

FURTHER READING
human enhancement overview

whole body gene therapy progress

Japanese create transgenic monkeys

Transgenic genetic engineering update

Future Colliders

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-20T09:00:39-08:00

The New Scientist looks at the future of particle colliders beyond the Large Hadron Collider Regardless of what is found particle wise (Higgs or no Higgs Boson) there will be new physics to investigate or models of the universe to refine (standard model or something else, supersymmetry or string theory).

Super Large Hadron Collider (sLHC)

The sLHC would be a massively upgraded LHC. If all goes to plan, it will come online in around a decade (2018, about 1 billion euro) after upgrades. The beams would be 10 times as bright, which would involve increasing the number of protons in each beam by a factor of 10, and result in 10 times as many collisions per hour.

The International Linear Collider (ILC)

If the project receives financial backing after technical reports due in 2012, the ILC would be a 35-kilometre-long straight accelerator.

Complete in the 2020s for about $8 billion.

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC)
The CLIC would be a positron and electron linear accelerator like the ILC - and is also yet to be approved - but it would be shorter and have collisions at higher energies. 2020s and cost about ~$10 billion. Equal to an ILC 140 kilometers long.

Other proposals include the Very Large Hadron Collider, which would have a collision energy of 40 to 200 TeV and would have to be built from scratch. Muon colliders, and an LHeC - smashing an electron beam into a proton beam - are also being considered

Plasma Acceleration Could Transform the Future of Colliders

Plasma acceleration is a technique for accelerating charged particles, such as electrons, positrons and ions, using an electric field associated with an electron plasma wave. The wave is created either using electron pulses or through the passage of a very brief laser pulses, a technique known as laser plasma acceleration. These techniques appear to offer a way to build high performance particle accelerators of much smaller size than conventional devices at the expense of coherency. Current experimental devices show accelerating gradients several orders of magnitude better than current particle accelerators. For example, an experimental laser plasma accelerator at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory accelerates electrons to 1 GeV over about 3.3 cm,[1] whereas the SLAC conventional accelerator requires 64 m to reach the same energy. A recent experiment performed by a team at SLAC achieved an energy gain to 42 GeV over 85 cm using a plasma wakefield accelerator

It is hoped that a compact particle accelerator can be created based on plasma acceleration techniques or accelerators for much higher energy can be built, if long accelerators are realizable with an accelerating field of 10 GV/m.

Plasma acceleration is categorized into several types according to how the electron plasma wave is formed:

* plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA): The electron plasma wave is formed by an electron bunch
* laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA): A laser pulse is introduced to form an electron plasma wave.
* laser beat-wave acceleration (LBWA): The electron plasma wave arises based on different frequency generation of two laser pulses.
* self-modulated laser wakefield acceleration (SMLWFA): The formation of an electron plasma wave is achieved by a laser pulse modulated by stimulated Raman forward scattering instability.

Design considerations for a Trillion Electron Volt (TEV) laser plasma accelerator Lasers need to keep improving to enable really powerful laser plasma accelerators.

Plasma Afterburners for Linear Colliders

Plasma wakefield acceleration can sustain acceleration gradients three orders of magnitude larger than conventional RF accelerator. In the recent E164X experiment, substantial energy gain of about 3 − 4 GeV has been observed. Thus, a plasma afterburner, which has been proposed to double the incoming beam energy for a future linear collider, is now of great interest

Presentation from 2004 With Technical Details

Advanced Accelerators Near and Far Future Options -

Petavolt Accelerators

Here is an older paper on a path to petavolt colliders.

Very large hadron collider (not a petavolt design but up to 200 Tev) design documents

Gigahertz Dynamics of a Strongly Driven Single Quantum Spin

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-19T23:51:10-08:00

UC Santa Barbara researchers have demonstrated the ability to electrically manipulate, at gigahertz rates, the quantum states of electrons trapped on individual defects in diamond crystals. This could aid in the development of quantum computers that could use electron spins to perform computations at unprecedented speed. Using electromagnetic waveguides on diamond-based chips, the researchers were able to generate magnetic fields large enough to change the quantum state of an atomic-scale defect in less than one billionth of a second. The microwave techniques used in the experiment are analogous to those that underlie magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology.

Two-level systems are at the core of numerous real-world technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging and atomic clocks. Coherent control of the state is achieved with an oscillating field that drives dynamics at a rate determined by its amplitude. As the strength of the field is increased, a different regime emerges where linear scaling of the manipulation rate breaks down and complex dynamics are expected. Employing a single spin as a canonical two-level system, we have measured the room-temperature "strong-driving" dynamics of a single nitrogen vacancy center in diamond. Using an adiabatic passage to calibrate the spin rotation, we observe dynamics on subnanosecond time scales. Contrary to conventional thinking, this breakdown of the rotating wave approximation provides opportunities for time-optimal quantum control of a single spin

.

13 pages of supplemental material

Real SARM Steroids Are Available for Online Purchase

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-19T15:09:35-08:00

MIT Technology review reports that a group from the German Sport University Cologne in Germany detected the real SARM (selective androgen receptor modulators)in a product called Andarine, available online for $100 and labeled as green tea extracts and face moisturizer.

Selective androgen receptor modulators have steroid effects but are believed to be safer, without many of the harmful side effects of steroids.

SARMs work similarly to testosterone but in a more targeted way. "They are effective by binding to the steroid receptor in only specific tissue, like muscle," says Evans, who is also a scientific advisor to GTx, a company developing the drugs. "They are not steroid drugs, but they produce the anabolic effect of the steroids." GTx, based in Memphis, TN, has shown in a clinical trial that one compound being developed for muscle wasting and bone loss can significantly boost lean muscle mass in older people.

Analysis of the solution revealed the presence of S-4 at approximately 150 mg/mL with equal amounts in each container, yielding a total of 4.5 g of the SARM

The research appears in the current issue of the journal Drug Testing and Analysis.

Various anecdotal reports from body building discussion boards are indicating effective muscle building results from SARM S4

There are some posted logs and journals where people track the results of their SARM S4 usage.

There is a lot of fake SARMs being sold as well.

Intel invests in Europe exascale computing center and Reviewing Big Numbers and Unit Prefixes

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-19T16:05:25-08:00

Goal is supercomputers with 1 one million trillion (a quintillion) instructions per second [IEEE had an error with a terascale trillion instructions per second]

The Exascale Computing Research Center will integrate multi petaFLOPS systems, develop advanced performance optimization techniques, and collaborate with end users to optimize supercomputer performance in areas such as energy, seismology, computational fluid dynamics and health care.

The lab will employ about a dozen people initially and is expected to eventually grow to about three times that number.

Names of large numbers and unit prefixes of large numbers


trillion    10^12 terascale
quadrillion 10^15 petascale 
quintillion 10^18 exascale
sextillion  10^21 zettaascale
septillion  10^24 yottascale
octillion   10^27

A list with a few more number names

Commodity Company Estimates China and India Per Capita PPP Income

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-18T23:40:39-08:00

Rio Tinto, mining company, projects the per capita GDP of India and China and other countries

The nearly $20,000 per person PPP in China in 2025 translates to an overall economy of about $30 trillion PPP in China.

Estimates of Rising Urbanization and Electricity Usage

Quantum coupling for Super-efficient conversion of heat to electricity

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-19T00:05:20-08:00

link to 242 page paper on the Quantum-coupled single-electron thermal
to electric conversion scheme.(a PHD thesis)

Quantum dot coupling is to restrict number of states and increase efficiency. Columb coupling is to avoid the blackbody limit.

This is a follow up of

Getting Thermoelectrics four to nine times more efficient than current 10% efficient commercial systems

Another recent 9 page research paper on micro gap thermal conversion

The current quantum-mechanical resonant-coupling model confirms the predictions of both n2 and “beyond n2” enhancement, which removes a major limitation in thermophotovoltaics. Not only can the efficiency of TPV converters be increased, the emitter radiative efficiency can also be improved because energy that would otherwise be lost (in the form of long-wavelength light or heat) is recycled and selectively coupled into a resonant TPV converter. This selectivity further allows a reduction in the temperature of the emitter, while maintaining useful overall system efficiencies. A key feature to remember is that the new energy-transfer mechanism does not depend only on release of the blackbody radiation trapped within the emitter (as does the classical n2 effect). The additional energy source is the non-propagating photon modes that are normally dissipated in self-excitation of the emitter atoms and in resonance-coupling effects. This means that the blackbody law of power emission (which pertains only to the propagating modes) is not violated. We can not get more power out than we put in. However, we can extract energy more rapidly and more selectively at any emitter temperature. Therefore, with microgap coupling and a given thermal-energy input, the emitter can be kept at a lower temperature and still operate at a higher efficiency than previously possible. This is important in that it opens the possibility of selecting emitter materials and structures that would not survive higher temperatures.

Uranium to 2020 Update

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-19T22:32:40-08:00

world uranium production by country up to 2008

The Ux Consulting Company (UxC) has the Uranium Suppliers Annual. This is a report that nuclear industry businesses pay money to get.

They are projecting Kazakhstan increasing their uranium production to about 40,000 tons/year. Kazakhstan will continue its growth until 2015-2017. Kazakhstan is producing about 12,500-13,000 tons in 2009. In 2008, Kazakhstan produced 8521 tons.

UxC is projecting large gains in new mines in Africa, Canada, Russia and Australia.

Canada has had some delays because of some water flooding problems at the Cigar Lake mine. Also, the Midwest mine in Saskatchewan was shelved until uranium prices are higher. Currently uranium is at $45/pound.

target=blank>Canada's production does look to be back up from 2008. Cameco (which produces most of Canada's uranium) production at the end of the third quarter of 2009 was 9.3 million pounds U3O8 compared to 8.5 million pounds over the same period in 2008. We continue to expect our share of production to be 13.1 million pounds in 2009.

the first 9 months are up 2700 tons of Uranium. Canada should be up 3000 tons from 2008.

Another attempt is being made to dewater the Cigar Lake mine

The inflow on the 420 metre level that forced suspension of dewatering on August 12, 2008 has been remediated by remotely placing an inflatable seal between the shaft and the source of the inflow and subsequently backfilling and sealing the entire development behind the seal with concrete and grout. The 420 level is not part of future mine plans.

It is currently expected to take six to 12 months to dewater and secure the mine depending on what conditions are found in the shaft and the underground workings

Michael Dittmar has been getting some notice around the internet about a claim that uranium supplies cannot/will not be increased from uranium mines around the world Many people who are using his report do not have time to read through more than the highlights and assume that his work is thorough.

Dittmar is biased. Problems and errors with his four papers have been pointed out to him and he ignores it. Also, his work as a particle physicist is not very good either as he is willing to be scientifically dishonest and misinterpret research papers even when the authors are in the room during his presentation and telling him he is wrong.

The link being one of the top ten that comes up when we search his name. dittmar's particle physics presentation

The Dorigo presentation (PHd, works at Tevetron and Harvard)

[dittmar physics talk] most definitely places a strong claim on the prize of the most obnoxious talk of the year. Unfortunately for all, it was just as much an incorrect, scientifically dishonest, and dilettantesque lamentation, plus a defamation of a community of 1300 respected physicists.

He ignored the interpretation of the people who wrote the papers he quoted in a presentation he was giving. He had a predetermined point of view and interpreted things to substantiate that view.

Namibia's Valencia mine is expected to produce 1,000 tU/year. It is expected to open in 2010, which is a delay from 2009.

A previous look at a mining forecast until 2020 There have been some delayed projects and the low price is a factor ($45/lb). A lot of new uranium capacity is being brought online and the resources from delayed project

The Malawi Kayelekera began exporting uranium on Sept, 2009 It will be producing 1269 tons per year.

On Oct. 29, 2009, Paladin Energy Ltd announced that is to conduct an optimisation study at Kayelekera whereby it intends exploiting some additional resource by extending the west wall of the current planned pit. This study will be targeting an increased production rate of 3.8 Mlb U3O8 [1,462 t U] pa (from current 3.3 Mlb U3O8 [1,269 t U] pa) with minimal capital requirement (estimated at US$10-$15M) by utilising existing excess capacity. It is expected this production rate will be achieved by mid calendar 2012.

Paladin Energy: delays to an upgrade at the Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia and the replacement of equipment at the Kayelekera venture in Malawi meant production rose at a slower-than-anticipated pace. The Australian miner said it plans to more than double output from its African operations during the next five years by spending as much as $365 million on expansion.

The Olympic dam mine in Australia is expected to be expanded. A decision will be made by the Australian government July 2010

There was an accident at the Olympic dam mine, but production will be fully restored by the third quarter of 2010.

Niger is heading to 10,000 tons per year of uranium production (around 2012-2014). They are finding quality uranium mines in Niger using $5 million per year in exploration spending.

In Niger, Areva should invest 1.2 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in the Imouraren project, scheduled to come on stream in 2012. The project is already delayed a year because of political turbulence in the country. "We will decide in 2011-2012 whether we should scale it for 2,000 tons or 5,000 tons or even 7,000 tons," Sébastien de Montessus, director of Areva's mining business unit said. The current uranium price (US$ 55 / lb U3O8) wouldn't be enough to make an investment of $500 million to $1.5 billion profitable, De Montessus said. "The market price has to go up to $70 to $80." Bloomberg June 23, 2009

Details of the new mine results and exploration at Rossing (Namibia)

We believe a total resource of 500 Mlbs (250,000 tons) is achievable from targets already defined. The Company is now well advanced with the Rossing South Feasibility Study on Zones 1 and 2 and the project is shaping up to be one of the world's largest uranium mines, capable of producing 15 Mlbs of U3O8 per year. (7500 tons per year)

Namibia is mining friendly. Paladin commissioned Langer Heinrich in 2007 on time and on budget, and continues with the process of ramping production to what could amount to 3000 tons of uranium a year, at a cash cost of USD 25/lb, by the second half of 2010.

Namibia's more recent potential was startlingly highlighted by the August 2007 purchase by French transnational Areva for USD 2.5bn of Uramin. Trekkopje will be a big mine.

Berkeley has 26m pounds of 450 parts per million uranium oxide at its Spanish projects; analysts familiar with the company reckon this resource will potentially triple in 2010 as Berkeley moves onto the Toronto Stock Exchange, and into production at around 1000 tons a year by 2012.

Berkeley's Salamanca project would be the restart of an old mine, one shut down in 2000 by Spanish state company ENUSA following sustained low uranium prices. Relative to other projects with a similar deposit base, Salamanca rates as very low cost on capital expenditure, with operating expenditure likely to be around USD 30/lb.

Rossing and Trekkopje will be expanding and ramping up production over the next few years.

Energy Resources (Rio Tinto Subsidiary) reported uranium production for the first three quarters of the year was 4,100 tons, up 11% on 2008. [over 400 ton increase]

Jordan has discovered some shallow easy to mine uranium deposits

Jordan already had a lot of uranium in phosphate deposits. China National Nuclear Corporation General Manager Kang Rixin expects that the first batch of uranium from Jordanian resources will be transported home in 2010; the total quantity probably will be 700 tons. (Caijing Magazine July 5, 2009). It has been expected that the uranium from Jordan phosphate would scale to 2000 tons per year.

Russia is developing the Elkon mine

Russia is developing the Gornoe mine (600 tons) for 2010-2012.

2009 should have 48,000 tons of production

2010 should have 54,000-56,000 tons of production
another 3000 tons from Kazakhstan, Valencia in Namibia, Full year of Malawi production

The world is going to over 100,000 tons of uranium per year in a business as usual mode before 2020. A lot more than the IAEA/OECD projection seem likely from Kazakhstan and less from Canada until Cigar Lake gets sorted out and depending upon which projects proceed based on uranium prices.

Backstopping regular mining is the large supplies of HEU, LEU in Russia and the US (75,000 ton surplus at the DOE). Another backstop is the depleted uranium.

Eventually prices will go up and some deferred projects like 2300/t per year Midwest mine in Saskatchwan, Canada and full scale up Imouraren in Niger will occur (smaller scale opening likely)

In part 1 of Dittmars uranium doom prediction he offers a bet

For those interested, I am offering a bet that the 2009 and 2010 numbers will not be higher than 45,000 tons and 47,000 tons, respectively.

I am willing to take those bets as stated. I would win and be correct if the 2009 world uranium mining production numbers come out to 45,001 tons or higher and the 2010 production numbers to 47,001 tons or higher.

As indicated, I think 2009 and 2010 should come out much higher even with some delayed projects and the accident at Olympic Dam.

I also predict that Cigar Lake will be producing 4000 tons per year or more before 2020.

Africa and Kazakhstan will be where most of the new uranium production is added leading to 2020. Increases from Canada, Australia, Russia, Jordan and other places as well.

Beyond the highly enriched uranium that Russia is supplying (downblended from decommissioned nuclear bombs or unmade bombs.) The US Department of Energy (DOE) also has 75,000 tons of uranium. Shortfalls in uranium mining from delays can be made up for by nuclear utilities being willing to pay Russia enough or to make arrangements with the DOE. The million tons of depleted Uranium can also be enriched to make several tens of thousand tons of fuel.

Highly enriched uranium can be downblended to be about 18 times as low enriched reactor fuel

There will be no problem powering nuclear reactors with fuel before 2020 and there is plenty of time for prudent steps to be taken. Around 2012-2013 there will be price increases in uranium which will make some of delayed mines profitable.

Hyperion Power Generation Reactor Design

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-18T13:13:39-08:00

Here are 18 pages of slides, 8 pages on the Hyperion Power Generation Uranium ~~Hydride~~Nitride Reactor (H/T Idaho Samizdat)

Fuel will be enriched to between 15-19.6% because this small reactor needs more highly enriched fuel to get power levels to point of economic value. Fuel is a uranium nitride alloy. No fuel has been fabricated or tested so far. A system engineer at Hyperion said in an interview INL’s ATR is an option for testing fuel.

Hyperion Power Generation Press Release
It has been changed from uranium hydride to uranium nitride-fueled, lead bismuth-cooled, fast reactor for their 'launch' design.

The design that Hyperion Power intends to have licensed and manufactured first will include all of the company's original design criteria, but is expected to take less time for regulators to review and certify than the initial concept created by Dr. Otis "Pete" Peterson during his tenure at Los Alamos National Laboratory. "We have every intention of producing Dr. Peterson's uranium hydride-fueled reactor; it is an important breakthrough technology for the nuclear power industry," noted Deal. "However, in our research of the global market for small, modular nuclear power reactors – aka SMRs – we have found a great need for the technology. Our clients do not want to wait for regulatory systems around the globe, to learn about and be able to approve a uranium hydride system. A true SMR design, that delivers a safe, simple and small source of clean, emission-free, robust and reliable power is needed today – not years from now. As we construct and deploy this launch design, we will continue to work towards licensing Dr. Peterson's design."

Kept quiet until today, this initial design for the company's small, modular, nuclear power reactor (SMR) is the first of several that have been under co-development with staff from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Hyperion Power's market goals include the distribution of at least 4,000 of its transportable, sealed, self-contained, simple-to-operate fission-generated power units

The Design
Overnight costs are estimated by the firm to be $2,000 - $3,000 per KW capacity. The market goal is to generate electricity for < ten US cents per kWh anywhere in the world.

The reactor is intended to meet requirements for dedicated power by hospitals, factories, foundries, government centers, water treatment, or irrigation and desalinization. Resource intensive uses at remote sites include mining and oil production & refining. Military facilities that cannot compromise tactical readiness relative to having enough electricity may find the small footprint of the reactor and ease of transport to be of interest.

Four Times Current Efficiency for Converting Waste Heat to Electricity

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-18T12:28:14-08:00

In experiments involving a different new technology, thermal diodes, Peter Hagelstein (MIT) worked with Yan Kucherov, now a consultant for the Naval Research Laboratory, and coworkers to demonstrate efficiency as high as 40 percent of the Carnot Limit. Moreover, the calculations show that this new kind of system could ultimately reach as much as 90 percent of that ceiling. Current commercial thermoelectric devices only achieve about one-tenth of the Carnot limit.

Hagelstein, Wu and others started from scratch rather than trying to improve the performance of existing devices. They carried out their analysis using a very simple system in which power was generated by a single quantum-dot device — a type of semiconductor in which the electrons and holes, which carry the electrical charges in the device, are very tightly confined in all three dimensions. By controlling all aspects of the device, they hoped to better understand how to design the ideal thermal-to-electric converter.

Hagelstein says that with present systems it’s possible to efficiently convert heat into electricity, but with very little power. It’s also possible to get plenty of electrical power — what is known as high-throughput power — from a less efficient, and therefore larger and more expensive system. “It’s a tradeoff. You either get high efficiency or high throughput,” says Hagelstein. But the team found that using their new system, it would be possible to get both at once, he says.

A key to the improved throughput was reducing the separation between the hot surface and the conversion device. A recent paper by MIT professor Gang Chen reported on an analysis showing that heat transfer could take place between very closely spaced surfaces at a rate that is orders of magnitude higher than predicted by theory. The new report takes that finding a step further, showing how the heat can not only be transferred, but converted into electricity so that it can be harnessed.

A company called MTPV Corp. (for Micron-gap Thermal Photo-Voltaics), founded by Robert DiMatteo SM ’96, MBA ‘06, is already working on the development of “a new technology closely related to the work described in this paper,” Hagelstein says.

Micron gap thermal photovoltaics was covered here in January, 2009

The 1000 times greater heat transfer was covered here at the end of July, 2009

DiMatteo says he hopes eventually to commercialize Hagelstein’s new idea. In the meantime, he says the technology now being developed by his company, which he expects to have on the market next year, could produce a tenfold improvement in throughput power over existing photovoltaic devices, while the further advance described in this new paper could make an additional tenfold or greater improvement possible. The work described in this paper “is potentially a major finding,” he says.

DiMatteo says that worldwide, about 60 percent of all the energy produced by burning fuels or generated in powerplants is wasted, mostly as excess heat, and that this technology could “make it possible to reclaim a significant fraction of that wasted energy.”

While it may take a few years for the necessary technology for building affordable quantum-dot devices to reach commercialization, Hagelstein says, “there’s no reason, in principle, you couldn’t get another order of magnitude or more” improvement in throughput power, as well as an improvement in efficiency.

Why Thermoelectrics Are Huge for Energy Efficiency
Industrial waste heat is 7 quads in the USA. There is more waste heat from power plants and from cars. Applying thermoelectrics to our current power plants would be like adding 10-30 nuclear power plants and 150-375 coal plants and 500-1500 natural gas plants that would not use any more fuel because it would be from more efficient use of existing power plants.

Heat flows in a car and using thermoelectrics to tap the waste heat. The standard combustion engine is about 30% efficient, but regular diesel engines are about 38% efficient. New diesel engine and free piston engines can reach 50% efficiency or more. The energy for cooling can also be reduced using thermoelectrics.

The 30% energy efficiency is triple the efficiency of todays common thermoelectrics and double most advanced systems and would get to range of using solid state thermoelectrics to replace refrigerators [thermoelectrics can help cool as well as convert heat to electricity] and many small car sized engines. Typical conversion systems become less efficient as they are scaled down to small size. This means there is a crossover point: below some power level thermoelectric technology will tend to be more efficient. Increasing ZT will move the crossover point to higher power levels, increasing the range of applications where thermoelectrics compete. Thus the ZT of 3 to compete with current best car size and refrigerator mechanical systems.

Past coverage of thermoelectrics and refrigerators.

Thermoelectric Figure of Merit
The primary criterion for thermoelectric device viability is the figure of merit given by:

which depends on the Seebeck coefficient, S, thermal conductivity, λ, and electrical conductivity, σ.

High temperature thermoelectrics and ZT, figure of merit

The New Research Paper

Quantum-coupled single-electron thermal to electric conversion scheme

Thermal to electric energy conversion with thermophotovoltaics relies on radiation emitted by a hot body, which limits the power per unit area to that of a blackbody. Microgap thermophotovoltaics take advantage of evanescent waves to obtain higher throughput, with the power per unit area limited by the internal blackbody, which is n^2 higher. We propose that even higher power per unit area can be achieved by taking advantage of thermal fluctuations in the near-surface electric fields. For this, we require a converter that couples to dipoles on the hot side, transferring excitation to promote carriers on the cold side which can be used to drive an electrical load. We analyze the simplest implementation of the scheme, in which excitation transfer occurs between matched quantum dots. Next, we examine thermal to electric conversion with a lossy dielectric (aluminum oxide) hot-side surface layer. We show that the throughput power per unit active area can exceed the n^2 blackbody limit with this kind of converter. With the use of small quantum dots, the scheme becomes very efficient theoretically, but will require advances in technology to fabricate.

IBM Has Achieved Cat Scale Brain Simulation Which are 15 times the scale of Previous Rat Brain Simulations

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-18T09:55:15-08:00

The Cat is Out of the Bag and BlueMatter

Today at SC 09, the supercomputing conference in Portland, Oregon, IBM is announcing progress toward creating a computer system that simulates the way the brain works. (Brain Emulation) Two major milestones indicate the feasibility of building a cognitive computing chip: unprecedented advances in large-scale cortical simulation and a new algorithm that synthesizes neurological data. This work is on track to human brain scale simulations in 2018.

12 page pdf on IBMs cat brain emulation

IBM simulated a model with 0.9 * 10^9 neurons and 0.9 * 10^13 synapses, using probabilistic connectivity and a simulation time step of 1 ms, only 83 times slower than real-time per Hertz of average neuronal ring rate.

In the quest for cognitive computing, we have built a massively parallel cortical simulator, C2, that incorporates a number of innovations in computation, memory, and communication. Using C2 on LLNL's Dawn Blue Gene/P supercomputer with 146,456 CPUs and 144 TB of main memory, we report two cortical simulations { at unprecedented scale { that e®ectively saturate the entire memory capacity and refresh it at least every simulated second. The first simulation consists of 1.6 billion neurons and 8.87 trillion synapses with experimentally-measured gray matter thalamocortical connectivity. The second simulation has 900 million neurons and 9 trillion synapses with probabilistic connectivity. We demonstrate nearly perfect weak scaling and attractive strong scaling. The simulations, which incorporate phenomenological spiking neurons, individual learning synapses, axonal delays, and dynamic synaptic channels, exceed the scale of the cat cortex, marking the dawn of a new era in the scale of cortical simulations.

The cat brain has 15 times as many neurons as a rat and 50 times as many as a mouse. The cat has 13 times as many synapses as a rat and and 35 times as many synapses as a mouse. The new simulations are 4.5% of the size of human cortex simulations. They need to be sped up to full speed (they are 83 times slower than real brains.)

Cognition and computation arise from the cerebral cortex; a truly complex system that contains roughly 20 billion neurons and 200 trillion synapses.

Weak Scaling of C2 in each of the three Blue Gene/P modes: SMP (one CPU per node), DUAL (two CPUs per node) and VN (four CPUs per node). The plots show that in each mode, as the number of MPI Processes is increased (x-axis), a proportionately larger size of the model, quanti¯ed with number of synapses, can be successfully simulated (y-axis). Both axes are on a logarithmic scale (with base 2) and the straight line curves have a slope of 1, demonstrating a doubling of model size with doubling of available CPUs. This is nearly perfect weak scaling in memory. The overall model size is enlarged by increasing the number of groups of neurons: for every 1024 nodes added to the simulation, the number of neuron groups was increased by 32,768. This choice of number of neuron groups allows a good degree of load balancing, and also allows the group sizes to be uniform across all the models. The horizontal lines are provided for reference and indicate the number of synapses in the cortex of various mammals of interest (see table in the introduction). On a half-rack system with 512 nodes, we were able to simulate at a scale of the mouse cortex, comparable to our prior work on 2 racks with 2,048 nodes, we were able to simulate at a scale of the rat cortex, comparable to our previous report. Representing previously unattained scales, on 4 racks with 4,096 nodes, we are able to simulate at a scale of the ultimate objective of the SyNAPSE program; with a little over 24,756 nodes and 24 racks, we simulated a 6.1 trillion synapses at the scale of the cat cortex. Finally, the largest model size consists of 900 million neurons and 9 trillion synapses, in 1,179,648 groups of 763 neurons each. This corresponds to a scale of 4.5% of the human cortex.

Using a state-of-the-art Blue Gene/P with 147,456 processors and 144 TB of main memory, we were able to simulate a thalamocortical model at an unprecedented scale of 10^9 neurons and 10^13 synapses. Compared to the human cortex, our simulation has a scale that is roughly 1 to 2 orders smaller and has a speed that is 2 to 3 orders slower than real-time. Our work opens the doors for bottom-up, actual-scale models of the thalamocortical system derived from biologically-measured data. In the very near future, we are planning to further enrich the models with long-distance white-matter connectivity [35]. We are also working to increase the spatial topographic resolution of thalamocortical gray-matter connectivity 100 times { from hypercolumn (» 10,000 neurons) to minicolumn (» 100 neurons).

What does BlueMatter mean?
BlueMatter is a highly parallelized algorithm for identifying white matter projectomes written to take advantage of the Blue Gene supercomputing architecture. Hence, the term BlueMatter.

Can you please provide more details on BlueMatter?
Our software, BlueMatter, is able to provide unique visualization and measurement of the long range circuitry (interior white matter) that allow geographically separated regions of the brain to communicate. The labels or colors of the fibers represent divisions of these fibrous networks that we are measuring. The colors and names are as follows:

Red - Interhemispheric fibers projecting between the corpus callosum and frontal cortex.
Green - Interhemispheric fibers projecting between primary visual cortex and the corpus callosum.
Yellow - Interhemispheric fibers projecting from corpus callosum and not Red or Green.
Brown - Fibers of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, connecting regions critical for language processing.
Orange - Fibers of inferior longitudinal fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus, connecting regions to cortex responsible for memory.
Purple - Projections between parietal lobe and lateral cortex
Blue - Fibers connecting local regions of the frontal cortex

Immortality Inc

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-18T09:35:29-08:00

Reason.com Ronald Bailey covered the Manhattan Beach Project. Over the weekend Maximum Life Foundation president David Kekich gathered a group of scientists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to meet for three days with the goal of developing a scientific and business strategy to make extreme human life extension a real possibility within a couple of decades.

How much cash is needed to get a good start on the goal of stopping aging by 2024 and demonstrating that it can be reversed by 2029? Kekich crunched numbers to come with a figure of a mere $63 million to jump start a future of perpetual youth. Of course some avenues are already being explored by well-funded biotech and pharmaceutical companies, e.g. calorie restriction mimetics like sirtuins. After batting around a few ideas, the group finally focused on a proposal by Bill Faloon to create a public life extension research company. The goal of the corporation would be raise money to invest specifically in companies that research technologies aiming to stop and reverse aging, not just treat diseases. The Manhattan Beach Project participants would seek to raise an initial $5 million before bringing the company to the public. Faloon and another participant committed a million dollars to the project. One idea was to call it MaxLife Capital, but my favorite proposed corporate moniker was Immortality, Inc.

* University of California, Riverside biochemist Stephen Spindler reported on his research seeking caloric restriction mimetics. He presented early results that show that some compounds, like cholesterol lowering statin drugs and the immune suppressant rapamycin, do seem to increase mouse lifespans. However, Spindler added that more is not necessarily better. Mice receiving combinations of compounds are not living any longer. The good news is that several major pharmaceutical companies are working on calorie restriction mimetics known as sirtuins.

* Michael Rose has produced fruit flies that live four times longer than normal, the human equivalent of being healthy at age 300. The Methuselah flies are more fecund and better at handling environmental stresses than are normal flies. Since fruit flies and humans share many similar genes, insights garnered from the genomics of long-lived flies are being used by Genescient LLC to develop anti-aging supplements for people. The company plans to release its first product in 2010. “In my world biological immortality is possible,” said Rose.

* William Andrews, head of Sierra Sciences (motto “Cure Aging or Die Trying”) talked about his company’s project to identify compounds that lengthen telomeres. Why do that? Telomeres are repeated sequences of DNA that cap the ends of chromosomes to keep them from unraveling and to keep them from binding to other chromosomes. At conception, telomeres are about 15,000 repeats long. Each time a cell divides it loses about 100 repeats, growing ever shorter. When the repeats get short enough, cells generally receive a signal that tells them to die. Andrews argues that telomeres control aging in cells and thus control aging in us. A new study this month reports that centenarians have longer telomeres than controls do.

* The goal of Sierra Sciences is to develop compounds that will reactivate telomerase in somatic cells to stop telomere shortening. After screening more than 160,000 compounds, Sierra has come up with 33 that activate telomerase and lengthen telomeres. “This would be the biggest thing to hit the planet, if we can turn these into drugs,’ said Andrews. Also represented at the summit was TA Sciences which manufactures a telomerase activator as a supplement called TA 65, which is derived from the astragalus plant. Cost? A mere $8,000 for a six month supply.

* Former biotech company founder Robert Bradbury proposed that the accumulation of misrepaired double strand breaks in the DNA that makes up our genes as a significant cause of aging. By age 70, each cell averages several thousand double strand breaks. However, some cells are unscathed by these breaks. Bradbury is developing techniques to identify these “pristine stem cells” which he believes may be used to grow new organs and tissues to replace damaged or old ones.

* Theoretical biogerontologist, Aubrey de Grey, the founder of the SENS Foundation and the Methuselah Foundation, is the energizer bunny of anti-aging scientific research and advocacy. SENS stands for Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence, which De Grey defines as “an integrated set of medical techniques designed to restore youthful molecular and cellular structure to aged tissues and organs.”

finFETs Could be Smaller and at least Five Times Faster than silicon Transistors

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-18T00:34:22-08:00

Researchers are making progress in developing new types of transistors, called finFETs, which use a finlike structure instead of the conventional flat design, possibly enabling engineers to create faster and more compact circuits and computer chips. The fins are made not of silicon, but from a material called indium-gallium-arsenide, as shown in this illustration. (Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University)

Purdue University researchers are making progress in developing a new type of transistor that uses a finlike structure instead of the conventional flat design, possibly enabling engineers to create faster and more compact circuits and computer chips.

The fins are made not of silicon, like conventional transistors, but from a material called indium-gallium-arsenide. Called finFETs, for fin field-effect-transistors, researchers from around the world have been working to perfect the devices as potential replacements for conventional transistors.

The Purdue researchers are the first to create finFETs using a technology called atomic layer deposition. Because atomic layer deposition is commonly used in industry, the new finFET technique may represent a practical solution to the coming limits of conventional silicon transistors.

In addition to making smaller transistors possible, finFETs also might conduct electrons at least five times faster than conventional silicon transistors, called MOSFETs, or metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors.

"The potential increase in speed is very important," Ye said. "The finFETs could enable industry to not only create smaller devices, but also much faster computer processors."

Paper:
First Experimental Demonstration of 100 nm Inversion-mode InGaAs FinFET through Damage-free Sidewall Etching

The first well-behaved inversion-mode InGaAs FinFET with gate length down to 100 nm with ALD Al2O3 as gate dielectric has been demonstrated. Using a damage-free sidewall etching method, FinFETs with Lch down to 100 nm and WFin down to 40 nm are fabricated and characterized. In contrast to the severe short-channel effect (SCE) of the planar InGaAs MOSFETs at similar gate lengths, finFETs have much better electro-static control and show improved S.S., DIBL and VT roll-off and less degradation at elevated temperatures. The SCE of III-V MOSFETs is greatly improved by the 3D structure design. The more accurate Dit estimation from the S.S. is also presented.

Missile Delivered UAVs

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-18T00:16:13-08:00

The US Army is funding Missile Delivered UAVs amongst dozens of other projects



A10-006   Missile Delivered UAV
A10-010   Real-time Visualization Tool for Distributed Intrusion Detection System Data
A10-011   Intelligent Agents for Improved Sensor Deployment and Surveillance
A10-012   Coordinated Responses through Knowledge Sharing in Mobile Agent-Based Intrusion Detection Systems
A10-013   Intrusion Detection System (IDS) With Automatic Signature Generation for Self Healing Networks
A10-014   Spoofing Network Architectures in Response to Hostile Reconnaissance
A10-015   Linearity Improvement of MMIC Power Amplifiers at Reduced Output Power Backoff
A10-016   Wideband Multi-Carrier Digital Up-Converter
A10-017   Indium Surface Preparation for Improved Flip-Chip Hybridization
A10-018   In-Vacuo Passivation of High Aspect Ratio HgCdTe Surfaces
A10-019   Electronically Switchable infrared Beam Splitter Technology 
A10-020   Advanced Molded Glass Lenses 
A10-021   Lightweight, Wide Field-Of-View Wave-guided Head-mounted Display
A10-022   Innovative Annealing Apparatus for Mercury-Based, Compound Semiconductors
A10-023   Untethered Real Time Low Cost Head Tracking
A10-024   Real-Time Vis-SWIR Multispectral Sensor for Day/Night Operations
A10-025   Large Format Dual Band FPA ROIC for Low Flux Environments
A10-026   A Viable Method for Metal Nano-Coating of Graphite Microfibers 
A10-027   Improved Methods of Explosively Disseminating Bi-Spectral Obscurant Materials

A10-028  Innovative and Novel Concepts for Eye-Safe Wavelength High Power Fiber Lasers for Increased Performance
A10-029  Flux Compression Generators
A10-030  Electromagnetic Attack Detector
A10-031  Lightweight Nanosatellite Propulsion System to Enhance Battlespace Awareness and Battle Command Capabilities
A10-032  Information Security and Trust in a Space Communications Network

OBJECTIVE

To develop innovative concepts to provide near real-time situational awareness on the battlefield with the possibility of providing a quick response attack.

DESCRIPTION

ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) platforms delivered from missiles can potentially provide battlefield information that is only seconds old when transmitted from long ranges. This information is particularly valuable since it is so current. It provides the potential for striking a very mobile enemy before he has time to alter his position. In addition, it also offers the possibility of a deep strike by the platform itself.

Among the potential ISR platforms that have recently been proposed/developed/built are a large number of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and LAM (loiter-attack missile) concepts. Some of these concepts have the potential of being packaged in a missile and carried for long distances from their launch point. Obviously, the quicker the missile arrives in the vicinity of the targets, the more valuable the information being transmitted to the war fighter for use in targeting the enemy and/or providing situational awareness and/or providing battle damage information. The use of any existing components for this system obviously is important since the cost of the system is directly affected.

PHASE I: This solicitation seeks innovative concepts to deliver an ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) platform that reports back in near real-time and provides the possibility of a long-range strike mission at the end of the ISR mission. Technical approaches formulated in Phase-I shall place emphasis on minimization of the delay in providing battle field information and attacking the enemy target complex. Phase-I concept development shall include simulated fly-outs of the system to determine flight parameters of interest (area-time coverage, maximum and minimum range, dispense altitude, operational altitude, etc.) and, thus, establish the potential for Phase-II success.

PHASE II: The technical approach formulated in Phase-I will be developed and refined for full-scale flight simulation. The contractor shall pay particular attention to the dispense of the ISR platform from the missile accounting for any aero-propulsion interference between the platform and missile. The contractor will also pay particular attention to the missile proposed for delivery of the ISR system to insure there are no incompatibilities between the delivery mission and the original operational requirements of the missile (center-of-gravity, angle-of-attack, flight velocity, etc.). The critical flight phase of the concept shall be refined and the dispense of the ISR platform planned for a test in a full scale, Government owned ground test facility using instrumented tunnel models at a fidelity level deemed appropriate at that time. Tunnel time will be provided as GFE; tunnel models will be developed under Phase-II.

PHASE III: If successful, the end result of this Phase-I/Phase-II research effort will be a validated concept and set of validated research tools for the dispense, by AMRDEC, of a ISR platform from a tactical missile. The transition of this product will require additional upgrades of the software tool set for a user-friendly environment along with the concurrent development of application specific data bases to include the required input parameters such as vehicle geometries, aerodynamic and aero-propulsion properties, and performance parameters.

For military applications, this technology is directly applicable to the battle field awareness provided from UAVs and other ISR platforms. Currently, this information is near real-time and is not provided for any long range battle field situations. There are no known commercial applications for this technology at this time; however, it is conceivable that search/rescue and wild fire control operations that have a very short time line could benefit directly from this technology product.

The most likely customer and source of Government funding for Phase-III will be those service project offices responsible for the development of battle field situational awareness specifically using UAV ISR platforms. Indeed, the expansion of UAV capabilities and missions throughout the armed services continues as one of the most promising areas of research as evident in Reference 1 which forecasts a combined service and industry near term investment of over $20 billion.

A10-004 Modular, rapid, common hardware-in-the-loop framework development

Reduce latency in a multi-node communication architecture and lead to a modular and re-usable communications architecture for the hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) test environment.

A10-008 Synthesis of Sulfide Nanopowders for Durable Optical Ceramics

Develop processes to produce multi-kilogram quantities of high purity nanometer sized sulfide powders suitable for producing fully dense bulk nanocrytalline optical ceramics.

Multimode sensors are being employed on missiles to maximize their modes of operation and target engagement. The dome or window used to protect the internal components must be transparent to all sensed wavelengths of the internal sensors. Very few materials are sufficiently transparent at both the semi-active laser wavelengths and long-wave infrared wavelengths (8-12 microns). The current benchmark material is multispectral ZnS, but it lacks the physical durability to survive in severe rain, sand, or shock environments. It has been demonstrated that reducing the grain size in oxide ceramic materials can improve mechanical properties. Long-wave infrared transmitting materials also should greatly benefit from reduced grain size.

Optical nanomaterials enable a new way of optimizing the mechanical properties without sacrificing optical properties. For long-wave infrared applications, sulfide based nanomaterials are required. The wavelengths of interest in these materials are visible through LWIR. In order to fabricate nanocrystalline sulfide optical ceramics using suitable powder consolidation techniques, extremely fine, pure sulfide powders with narrow powder size distribution are required. The powders must be minimally agglomerated, have an average particle diameter of 35 nm to 50 nm with no more that 10% less than 10 nm and no more than 10% greater than 70nm, and a maximum particle diameter of 100 nm. Spherical powders are more desirable than powders having higher aspect ratios. The sintering characteristics and optical properties of ceramic powders are highly influenced by residual impurity levels. It is desirable to synthesize nanosized sulfide powders with minimum impurity content. The target sulfide purity is 99.99%. Impurities must be less than 10 ppm oxygen, less than 10 ppm carbon, and impurity transition metals less than detectable levels by GDMS. It is also desirable that the powders remains free flowing, resistant to agglomeration, and have good sintering kinetics.

The Army is seeking the following: (1) inexpensive, robust, and scalable method(s) for synthesizing nanosized (i.e., 10 – 100 nm) high purity sulfide powder with the characteristics described above; and (2) an inexpensive, robust, and scalable method to mass produce the nanosized sulfide powders. The process must produce repeatable powder characteristics such as particle size, chemical properties, and physical characteristics. The cost goal for this effort is less than $500/kg.

DARPA Will Build and ground-test a 750 kilogram 150kilowatt laser in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-17T23:59:57-08:00

DARPA intends to award a 24-month contract to either or both of the HELLADS developers - General Atomics and Textron Defense Systems - to build and ground-test a 150 kilowatt laser compatible with the requirement for a weapon-system weight of 750kg.

High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS)

The goal of the High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS) program is to develop a high-energy laser weapon system (150 kW) with an order of magnitude reduction in weight compared to existing laser systems. With a weight goal of < 5 kg/kW, HELLADS will enable high-energy lasers (HELs) to be integrated onto tactical aircraft and will significantly increase engagement ranges compared to ground-based systems. The HELLADS program has completed the design and demonstration of a revolutionary subscale high-energy laser that supports the goal of a lightweight and compact high energy laser weapon system. An objective unit cell laser module with integrated power and thermal management is being designed and fabricated and will demonstrate an output power of >34 kW. A test cell that represents one-half of the unit cell laser has been fabricated and used to characterize system losses and diode performance and reliability. The test cell is being expanded to a unit cell. Based on the results of the unit cell demonstration, additional laser modules will be fabricated to produce a 150 kW laser that will be demonstrated in a laboratory environment. The 150 kW laser will then be integrated with an existing beam control capability to produce a laser weapon system demonstrator. The capability to shoot down tactical targets such as surface-to-air missiles and rockets will be demonstrated.

Flowing Galactic Clusters and Massive Voids Could be Parallel Universes

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-17T17:55:06-08:00

New Scientist reports that there is something big out there beyond the visible edge of our universe. That's the conclusion of the largest analysis to date of over 1000 galaxy clusters streaming in one direction at blistering speeds.

Last year, Sasha Kashlinsky of the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and colleagues identified an unusual pattern in the motion of around 800 galaxy clusters. They studied the clusters' motion in the "afterglow" of the big bang, as measured by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). The photons of this afterglow collide with electrons in galaxy clusters as they travel across space to the Earth, and this subtly changes the afterglow's temperature.

The team combined the WMAP data with X-ray observations and found the clusters were streaming at up to 1000 kilometres per second towards one particular part of the cosmos.

Their latest analysis reveals 1400 clusters are part of the flow, and that it continues to around 3 billion light years from Earth, a sizeable fraction of the distance to the edge of the observable universe (arxiv.org/abs/0910.4958). This is twice as far as seen in the previous study.

(15 page pdf) A new measurement of the bulk flow of X-ray luminous clusters of galaxies

We present new measurements of the large-scale bulk flows of galaxy clusters based on 5-year WMAP data and a significantly expanded X-ray cluster catalogue. Our method probes the flow via measurements of the kinematic Sunyaev-
Zeldovich (SZ) effect produced by the hot gas in moving clusters. It computes
the dipole in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data at cluster pixels,
which preserves the SZ component while integrating down other contributions.
Our improved catalog of over 1,000 clusters enables us to further investigate possible systematic effects and, thanks to a higher median cluster redshift, allows us to measure the bulk flow to larger scales. We present a corrected error treatment
and demonstrate that the more X-ray luminous clusters, while fewer in number,
have much larger optical depth, resulting in a higher dipole and thus a more
accurate flow measurement.

Our recent discovery of a coherent large-scale flow of galaxy clusters with significantly larger amplitude than expected out to ' 300Mpc (Kashlinsky et al 2008, 2009 – KA-BKE1,2) represents a challenge to the gravitational instability paradigm. Such a ”dark flow” could be indicative of a tilt created by the pre-inflationary inhomogeneous structure of spacetime (Turner 1991, Grischuk 1992, Kashlinsky et al 1994, KA-BKE1) and might provide an indirect probe of the Multiverse. Various explanations for the flow have been put forward, including that the flow points to a higher-dimensional structure of gravity (Afshordi et al 2009, Khoury & Wyman 2009), or that it reflects the pre-inflationary landscape produced by certain variants of string cosmology (Mersini-Houghton & Holman 2009, Carrol et al 2008). Making use of an expanded cluster catalog and deeper WMAP observations, we have worked to verify, and expand the Dark Flow study.

Nosey neighbours : A Related but Separate Research
(8 page pdf) ’Tilting’ the Universe with the Landscape Multiverse: The ’Dark’ Flow

The theory for the selection of the initial state of the universe from the landscape multiverse predicts superhorizon inhomogeneities induced by nonlocal entanglement of our Hubble volume with modes and domains beyond the horizon. Here we show these naturally give rise to a bulk flow with correlation length of order horizon size. The modification to the gravitational potential has a characteristic scale L1 ≃ 103H−1, and it originates from the preinflationary remnants of the landscape. The ’tilt’ in the potential induces power to the lowest CMB multipoles, with the dominant contribution being the dipole and next, the quadrupole. The induced multipoles l ≤ 2 are aligned with an axis normal to their alignment plane being oriented along the preferred frame determined by the dipole. The preferred direction is displayed by the velocity field of the bulk flow relative to the expansion frame of the universe. The parameters are tightly constrained thus the derived modifications lead to robust predictions for testing our theory. The ’dark’ flow was recently discovered by Kashlinsky et al. to be about 700km/s which seems in good agreement with our predictions for the induced dipole of order 3μK. Placed in this context, the discovery of the bulk flow by Kashlinsky et al. becomes even more interesting as it may provide a probe of the preinflationary physics and a window onto the landscape multiverse.

Was our universe once entangled with a neighbour? The observation of "dark flow" in galaxy clusters was predicted in 2006 by Laura Mersini-Houghton of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and colleagues. She proposes that the effect occurs because our universe was once influenced by neighbouring domains (arxiv.org/abs/0810.5388).

Mersini-Houghton reasoned that if a force exerted by other universes squeezed ours, it could generate a repulsive effect that would impede the shrinkage of matter into clusters but not leave an imprint on smaller scales. "This skews the distribution of lumps so they are not the same in all directions," she says. "There is a preferred direction - the dark flow."

She also predicted in 2006 that there should be two "holes" - regions with fewer galaxies than expected. Sure enough, there does appear to be a hole - the so-called "cold spot" identified by the WMAP probe. The hole is a very large region of space where the afterglow is cooler than average. However, its cause - and even existence - is disputed, and Mersini-Houghton's hypothesis remains controversial.

Kazatomprom Uranium Mining

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-17T17:35:49-08:00

Total uranium production in Kazakhstan for the 9 months of 2009 amounted to 9,535 tU. Thus, the target was exceeded by 3%. The increase, as compared to the corresponding period of 2008, made up 61%, while a gain of U3O8 output in comparison with the corresponding period of 2008 was 50%.

Full 2009 production should be about 12,700 tons. 3000 tons of uranium production is to be added in 2010.

Kazatomprom, the Uranium mining company of Kazakhstan is on track to deliver 15,000 tons of uranium per year in 2010.

Two sulfuric acid plants are currently under construction: one - in Zhanakorgan district, Kyzylorda region (capacity is 500,000 tons per year, project cost is US$ 216 million, operation to be started in 2011, with design capacity to be reached in 2012), and the other - in Stepnogorsk (capacity is 180,000 tons per year, project cost is KZT 8.8 billion, operation to be started in 2010)

XFlex Bomb Proofing System

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-17T13:10:23-08:00

X-FLEX is constructed of scrim and film to provide both strength and ductility. It features a dynamic peel-n-stick adhesive which affords exceptional bond performance to diverse and rough surfaces. The unique adhesive system is designed to absorb significant energy during a blast event in conjunction with the overall flexibility of the material system.

Nextbigfuture covered x-flex over one year ago, but now we have some videos.

*X-FLEX weighs approximately 6.11oz/sqyd.
*( A 48” x 36lf roll of X-FLEX will provide protection to approximately 120sqft (i.e. a 10ft x 12ft wall area).
* What happens if there is a cut, tear or hole in the X-FLEX?
A: The immediate area around the tear will be weakened, but should not prevent X-FLEX from working.
* It has not been ballistics tested, but is not intended as a ballistic-proof protection and may not stop all shrapnel.

Popular Science has an article.

Two layers are strong enough to stop a blunt object, like a flying 2x4, from knocking down drywall. During our tests, just a single layer kept a wrecking ball from smashing through a brick wall. The wallpaper’s strength and ductility is derived from a layer of Kevlar-like material sandwiched by sheets of elastic polymer wrap. The combination works so well that the Army is now considering wallpapering bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Civilians could soon start remodeling too—Berry Plastics plans to develop a commercial version next year.

Petrobakken Latest Drilling Economics and Results in Canadas Part of the Bakken Oil Field

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-17T11:43:21-08:00

Petrobakken reveals the latest economics and results of improved drilling techniques in Canada's portion of the Bakken oil field

The results are 10% better than the nearest competitor and are currently showing slower decline in production.

Petrobakken also announced the commissioning and commencement of air injection at our Kerrobert THAI (Toe Heel Air Injection) heavy oil project. This project applies the THAI technology in a conventional heavy oil reservoir at Kerrobert, Saskatchewan.

Kerrobert heralds a new era for fast track heavy oil projects in Canada.

- July 9, 2009: Regulatory approval received only 54 working days after filing the application.

- September 7, 2009: Drilling and completion operations completed.

- September 8, 2009: Plant construction initiated and completed in six weeks.

- September 12, 2009: The pre-ignition heating cycle ("PIHC") commenced (in the vertical wells only) and we have now started air injection.

The PIHC performed as expected, allowing us to achieve the necessary injectivity into the reservoir zone. The horizontal wells have temporary downhole pumps which were turned on at low rates to achieve a slight drawdown pressure across the horizontal well prior to air injection. Air injection has been initiated at a rate less than 10% of designed volumes to establish the in-situ combustion zone. Currently, we expect to begin producing through the plant in the next twenty-four hours. Once combustion gas is consistently produced from the horizontal well, we will cease pumping and ramp up air injection to allow the wells to flow. We will then increase air injection rates and oil production volumes are expected to increase concurrently.

This project will highlight the applicability of the THAI technology in Saskatchewan's conventional heavy oil resource base. We believe that a significant portion of the Province's estimated 20 billion barrels of unrecovered conventional heavy oil resources can be commercialized using THAI

Here is an 8 page pdf that looks at simulations of Toe Heel Air Injection (THAI) THAI simulations show it will work under different geology conditions and work better than other underground combustion techniques.

22 Nanometer Lithography Coming from Extreme UV or Advanced Immersion

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-17T10:46:58-08:00

Nanotechwire reports SEMATECH engineers and the industry at large continue to make progress in developing the infrastructure that will enable 22 nanometer lithography for cost-effective manufacturing around 2013.

EETimes reports Toshiba Corp. has said it has developed a photoresist suitable for use with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and proved its viability in the world's first 20-nm generation process technology.

Extreme UV Lithography

During this year’s EUVL Symposium, steady progress was reported for EUVL including:

Experts from Cymer reported laser produced plasma (LPP) sources generate 50 watts at intermediate focus (IF). This compares with a system requirement of 180 watts needed to expose 100 wafers per-hour in high-volume manufacturing.

SEMATECH researchers and research partners highlighted the key role the consortium has played in achieving significant advances in EUV resists, specifically through achieving 20 nm resist resolution images for chemically amplified resists and addressing the challenges of simultaneously meeting resolution, line edge roughness (LER), and sensitivity targets in a systematic way.

With EUVL moving closer to pilot line introduction, mask yield has become a critical focus and several chip manufacturers as well as consortia are using wafer printing and/or actinic aerial image review to characterize mask defects. Those printability studies show that the number of printing mask blank defects increases with decreasing feature size. About 50 percent of all inspected mask defects – mask blank defects, absorber defects, and pattern defects - print at the wafer level.
Lastly, the EUVL Symposium Steering Committee identified at the conclusion of the conference three remaining focus areas that the industry needs to work on to enable EUVL manufacturing insertion:
1. Availability of defect-free masks, throughout a mask lifecycle, and the need to address critical mask infrastructure tool gaps, specifically in the defect inspection and defect review area
2. Long-term source operation with 100 W at the IF and 5 megajoule per day
3. Simultaneous resist resolution, sensitivity, and LER

Advanced Immersion

Key progress indicators outlined at the Immersion Extensions Symposium, include the following:

Immersion lithography has been extended to the 22 nm using a variety of approaches.

A wide variety of techniques including spacer, double etch, resist freezing processes, litho etch-litho etch, and source mask optimization were all demonstrated as viable double patterning approaches.

Invited speaker David Medeiros, of IBM, emphasized the explosion of masking at 22 nm using double patterning in his presentation entitled “Lithography on the Edge.” Sam Sivakumar of Intel predicted that future lithography processes will combine multiple approaches rather than a single winning technique in his presentation entitled “Technical and Manufacturing Challenges and the Prospect for HVM using ArF Pitch Division.”

Although progress is being made towards enabling the 22 nm node, the conference highlight was that the cost of ownership is of greater importance than the technical solution itself.

Idaho National Lab Achieves 19% Burn for Nuclear Pebbles

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-17T10:00:27-08:00

The fuel pellets contain a kernel of enriched uranium surrounded by carbon and carbide layers that act as a containment boundry for the radioactive material.

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) scientists have set a new world record of 19% burn with next-generation particle fuel for use in high temperature gas reactors (HTGRs).

INL researchers say the fuel experiment set the record for particle fuel by consuming approximately 19 percent of its low-enriched uranium — more than double the previous record set by similar experiments run by German scientists in the 1980s and more than three times that achieved by current light water reactor (LWR) fuel. Additionally, none of the fuel particles experienced failure since entering the extreme neutron irradiation test environment of the ATR in December 2006.

INL has been working with Babcock and Wilcox Inc., General Atomics, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to establish standards and procedures for the manufacture of commercial-scale HTGR fuel. The overarching goal of the AGR Fuel Program is to qualify coated nuclear fuel particles for use in HTGRs such as the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP). Developing particle fuel capable of achieving very high burnup levels will also reduce the amount of used fuel that is generated by HTGRs.

The Next Generation Nuclear Plant Program aims to use a high-temperature gas reactor to produce high-temperature process heat and hydrogen used by many industrial facilities in daily operations and to support the broader goal of developing the next generation of nuclear power systems that provide abundant carbon-free electricity on a 24/7 basis. Excellent fuel irradiation performance must be demonstrated before high-temperature gas reactors can be licensed and co-located with these complementary industrial facilities. Reaching this world record peak burnup of 19 percent without any particle failure demonstrates the robustness of this particle fuel design.

China has begun building a 200 MWe High Temperature Pebble bed reactor that they expect to complete in 2013 and then factory mass produce by the dozen. Future versions of the Chinese pebble reactor could shift to the more advanced INL type pebbles. China would license INL technology or develop comparable technology on their own.

There has been advanced theoretical designs which indicate that future advanced pebbles could achieve 65% burn.

The New York Times has coverage of the INL work to develop advanced pebble reactors

Nuclear Energy Bill for 100 Nuclear Reactors by 2030 and India Nuclear Power Target of 40 GW by 2020

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-17T00:29:10-08:00

1. Two U.S. Senators on Monday unveiled bipartisan legislation aimed at doubling nuclear power in 20 years and increasing funding for research into low carbon sources of energy.

Sponsored by Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander and Virginia Democrat Jim Webb, the bill would provide $100 billion in loan guarantees for carbon-free electricity projects, adding to the existing $47 billion loan guarantee program.

Although the additional loan guarantees would not be limited to nuclear power, the nuclear industry would likely be the major recipient of the extra money because it is one of the most established low carbon energy sources.

The lawmakers' energy bill would cost up to $20 billion over 10 years.

In addition to the loan guarantees, the bill would provide $750 million annually for 10 years to research and development of: carbon capture and storage, advanced biofuels, batteries for electric cars, solar power and recycling used nuclear fuel.

2. Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Anil Kakodkar said India would be able to achieve the target of 40,000 MW of power by 2020

Says 10 units will come up by the year 2015 or 2016

Construction will be at 24 places and new projects would begin at about eight sites.

“In the next two-and-half to three years, an additional 3,160 MW will be produced. With this, our nuclear power generation capacity will cross 7,000 MW.” Four more units would be ready in five years from now.

With international civil nuclear cooperation, 10 units would come up by the year 2015 or 2016. Two units, in collaboration with Russia, were planned in Koodankulam, two with French collaboration at Jaitapur and similarly in Haripur, Gujarat and Orissa.

Singapore Has Ultra High 5 nanometer Resolution Electron Beam

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-17T00:04:50-08:00

Ultra-high-density data storage is now a step closer thanks to an advance in device fabrication achieved by Bao-Yu Zong and co-workers from the Data Storage Institute of A*STAR in Singapore. Devices for data-storage applications are created by depositing a ‘resist’ material onto a substrate, which is etched into a pattern using an electron beam and then used as a guide for depositing the device materials before being washed away. Zong and co-workers mixed metallic nanoparticles into commercially available resists to make them semimetallic; this enabled the resists to be patterned at a much higher resolution than achieved previously.

They coated the surfaces of their 1–3 nanometer-diameter metallic nanoparticles with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. Consequently, when the particles were mixed into the resists, they were individually attracted to the resist molecules without forming clusters. This approach is suitable for upgrading almost all commercially available electron beam resists, according to Zong, because the approach exploits the chemical similarities among resist types.

Whilst electron beams commonly used for patterning resists can be focused to a spot size as small as 1 nanometer, the patterns often fail to reach this resolution because such small resist patterns—particularly when they are long and thin—do not adhere properly to the substrates. The lack of conductivity in resists also causes problems: they become highly charged by the electron beam, causing them to detach from the substrate.

Using their semimetallic resists, the researchers created patterns with dimensions of 5–50 nanometers and in shapes that were at least twice as long as they were wide on a variety of substrate types including silicon and metal. “The high-resolution patterning is possible because the 1–3 nanometer metal particles can reduce resist charging during electron-beam exposure by increasing its conductivity, as well as increasing the resist strength and adhesion to the substrate,” explains Zong.

The researchers also demonstrated that the resists could be used to make the complex patterns required to fabricate magnetic tunnel junction nanosensors, which are used in the read heads of magnetic data storage devices. They were also able to make nanosensors as small as 13 nanometers wide. This level of miniaturization will be vital for the ultra-high-density data storage that is keenly sought by industry.

A General Approach to Semimetallic, Ultra-High-Resolution, Electron-Beam Resists

Commercial electron-beam resists are modified into semimetallic resists by doping with 1-3 nm metal nanoparticles, which improve the resolution, contrast, strength, dry-etching resistance, and other properties of the resist. With the modified resists, fine resist nanopatterns from electron-beam lithography are readily converted into 5-50 nm, high-quality multilayers for metallic nanosensors or nanopatterns via ion-beam etching. This method solves the problem of the fabrication of fine (<50 nm) metallic nanodevices via pattern transferring.

24 pages of supplemental information

Green Life Competition

noreply@blogger.com (bw) — 2009-11-16T23:11:24-08:00

Designboom had 3709 designers from 96 different countries participated in the green life competition. This was the second place winner. 'shelf' by leon zhu from china won second place netizens' choice award.

'shelf' can not only shield your car from long exposure to sunshine, but also can convert solar energy to electricity to power the air-conditioner and let you enjoy cool environment any time. the film of solar cell is stored inside the rear wing; when the engine is started. 'shelf' can be used as rear wing to improve the stability of car at high speed. when the car is parked outside, the solar cell board unfolds becoming a sunshine cover. the energy collected by the board can provide for the air-conditioner, tail light and other electronic equipment.

Next Big Future: Concentrated solar power balloons [pics] [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-04-22T14:04:02-07:00

Next Big Future: Electric and hybrid motorcycles and scooters available now and soon [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-04-22T14:03:03-07:00

$153 million thin film dome can be made with todays tech, provide nuke bomb protection, high speed communication and other benefits [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-04-15T16:39:36-07:00

Intel forecasts Moore's law to continue until 2029 [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-04-07T16:35:46-07:00

Ma of the KMT wins the Taiwan Presidency - better relations with China ahead [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-03-22T08:09:52-07:00

Explaining how Star trek is the pursuit of financial gain and the Federation is not fascist [pics] [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-03-21T13:50:15-07:00

Accelerating Future » Is Star Trek a Fascist Society? [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-03-20T15:44:32-07:00

They indicated that is where they got the anti-transhumanism, because of Khan Noonien Singh. Eugenics Wars Julian Bashir, a main character on DS9, is the enhanced individual who turned out good

Singularity lite: one to two levels of faster technological change [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-02-04T09:09:43-08:00

More autonomous robot through new instantaneous 3d freezeframe LADAR [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-01-23T08:16:54-08:00

Glasses with displays projected into your retina ? Old school. Now contact lens with displays [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-01-17T16:43:37-08:00

Lithion ion batteries and ultra capacitors enable 150 mpg plug in hybrid SUV and 250 mpg sedans [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-01-17T09:26:47-08:00

Graphite transistors could be the replacement for silicon [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2008-01-17T09:25:05-08:00

A new drug ACE-031 has four times the muscle growth effect as high doses of steroids without side effects [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2007-10-23T09:31:38-07:00

Kitegen wind generators could make 20 times the power (5 gigawatt designs are being planned) in the land area of an existing wind farm and use 8 times less concrete and steel [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2007-10-17T11:16:13-07:00

United States Navy is planning a lot of robotic unmanned surface and subsurface vessels that will help control the areas around larger manned ships and perform other missions [del.icio.us]

advancednano — 2007-10-15T08:47:13-07:00