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puts it all together
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Researchers
have made all manner of microfluidic machines,
but have yet to come up with cheap, mass-producible
biochips for handheld medical and environmental
testing. A simple plastic chip puts the necessary
pieces together. The seven-dollar device tests
blood samples for the presence of E. coli
bacteria.
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DNA
assembles nanotube transistor
Scientists have caused a transistor to self-assemble
from a test tube concoction of DNA, proteins, antibodies,
carbon nanotubes and minuscule specks of silver
and gold. The feat shows that it is possible to
assemble the smallest of machines and electronic
devices by harnessing some of nature's skill at
building things molecule-by-molecule.
Software
paraphrases sentences
Humans have many ways of expressing a given idea,
but paraphrasing is a serious challenge for literal-minded
computers. A system that learns by tracking news
stories from several sources is able to paraphrase
at the sentence level. The ability could go a long
way toward making computers understand and produce
natural-sounding language.
Chaotic
lasers lock messages
Researchers have taken a shine lately to using the
chaotic fluctuations of certain laser beams to encrypt
messages. But no matter how tough an encryption
code is, a message is only as secure as the method
used to distribute the requisite decryption key.
Chaotic lasers, however, could also hold the answer
to the classic key distribution problem.
Briefs
Nanotubes
detect nerve gas... Microneedles
give painless shots... Layers
promise cheap storage... Molecule
makes two-step switch... Spin
material handles heat... Carbon
boosts plastic circuits.
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