Assorted science and tech stories
May. 26th, 2008 09:44 amCanada designing robotic miner - Yes, as in mining, not as in a child. Canadrill is a project focused on developing an automated or remotely-controlled space-qualified dry (doesn't require the drill to be lubricated) drilling system for performing mining in hostile environments with in space or here on Earth. Found on Quirks and Quarks.
The Phoenix has landed - The Phoenix Mars lander achieved the first successful "soft" landing since the Viking probes in the 1970s. At 7:53 EDT, the lander signalled Earth that it was now safely parked on a flat section of the Martian arctic. The probe will soon begin digging into the permafrost to analyze the soil and frozen water for, among other things, signs of life. For those who are interested, there are a couple of videos of available online: one from space.com, and another at NASA's apod site (thanks to![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lyanna_beth for sending me the link). The latter is a raw simulation of the landing, the former combines clips from the simulated landing with interviews and additional details.
Groups claims WiFi should be banned for health reasons - not to mention cell phones and other sources of electromagnetic fields. The group says that the city of Santa Fe is discriminating against them on the basis of their (as yet unproveable) sensitivity to EM fields when they added WiFi to public buildings. Lawyers are currently examining the case but, as one councilor pointed out, the area is already saturated with EM fields so adding more WiFi transmitters will have little effect. Found on Slashdot.
Testing of new space propulsion system is a blast - and, unfortunately, that is not what was supposed to happen. The new thruster functions by developing a charge that would, when passing through a planet's magnetic field, set up a propulsive force, known as the Lorentz force. In theory, this would allow a spacecraft to move without requiring a propellant; however, initial tests of the system resulted in microscopic arcing which lead the solder to explode. No injuries were reported.
Canadian teen discovers key to biodegrading plastic bags - A 16-year-old Waterloo teenager has won the top prize in the Canada-wide Science Fair for isolating bacteria that can consume plastic bags in as little as three months. In particular, he discovered that the key is not a single strain of bacteria but two strains that complement each other, as well as the optimal conditions to achieve the maximum rate of decomposition. Found on Slashdot.
The Phoenix has landed - The Phoenix Mars lander achieved the first successful "soft" landing since the Viking probes in the 1970s. At 7:53 EDT, the lander signalled Earth that it was now safely parked on a flat section of the Martian arctic. The probe will soon begin digging into the permafrost to analyze the soil and frozen water for, among other things, signs of life. For those who are interested, there are a couple of videos of available online: one from space.com, and another at NASA's apod site (thanks to
lyanna_beth for sending me the link). The latter is a raw simulation of the landing, the former combines clips from the simulated landing with interviews and additional details.Groups claims WiFi should be banned for health reasons - not to mention cell phones and other sources of electromagnetic fields. The group says that the city of Santa Fe is discriminating against them on the basis of their (as yet unproveable) sensitivity to EM fields when they added WiFi to public buildings. Lawyers are currently examining the case but, as one councilor pointed out, the area is already saturated with EM fields so adding more WiFi transmitters will have little effect. Found on Slashdot.
Testing of new space propulsion system is a blast - and, unfortunately, that is not what was supposed to happen. The new thruster functions by developing a charge that would, when passing through a planet's magnetic field, set up a propulsive force, known as the Lorentz force. In theory, this would allow a spacecraft to move without requiring a propellant; however, initial tests of the system resulted in microscopic arcing which lead the solder to explode. No injuries were reported.
Canadian teen discovers key to biodegrading plastic bags - A 16-year-old Waterloo teenager has won the top prize in the Canada-wide Science Fair for isolating bacteria that can consume plastic bags in as little as three months. In particular, he discovered that the key is not a single strain of bacteria but two strains that complement each other, as well as the optimal conditions to achieve the maximum rate of decomposition. Found on Slashdot.