NEWS ON Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Superfast Switching of Quantum Light Sources
Superfast Switching of Quantum Light Sources
Sep. 27, 2013 — Usually, an
elementary light source -- such as an excited atom or molecule -- emits
light of a particular color at an unpredictable instance in time.
Recently, however, scientists from the MESA+ Institute for
Nanotechnology of the UT, FOM and the Institute for Nanoscience and
Cryogenics (CEA/INAC) in France have shown that a light source can be
coaxed to emit light at a desired moment in time, within an ultrashort
burst. The superfast switching of a light source has applications in
fast stroboscopes without laser speckle, in the precise control of
quantum systems and for ultrasecure communication using quantum
cryptography.
Human Robot Getting Closer: iCub Robot Must Learn from Its Experiences
Human Robot Getting Closer: iCub Robot Must Learn from Its Experiences
Sep. 27, 2013 — A robot that
feels, sees and, in particular, thinks and learns like us. It still
seems like science fiction, but if it's up to University of Twente (UT)
researcher Frank van der Velde, it won't be. In his work he wants to
implement the cognitive process of the human brain in robots. The
research should lead to the arrival of the latest version of the iCub
robot in Twente. This human robot (humanoid) blurs the boundaries between robot and human.
Do Black Holes Have 'Hair'? New Hypothesis Challenges 'Clean' Model
Do Black Holes Have 'Hair'? New Hypothesis Challenges 'Clean' Model
Sep. 30, 2013 — A black
hole. A simple and clear concept, at least according to the hypothesis
by Roy Kerr, who in 1963 proposed a "clean" black hole model, which is
the current theoretical paradigm. From theory to reality things may be
quite different. According to a new research carried out by a group of
scientists that includes Thomas Sotiriou, a physicist of the
International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) of Trieste, black
holes may be much "dirtier" than what Kerr believed.
3D Printed Toothbrush Tailored to Your Teeth
3D Printed Toothbrush Tailored to Your Teeth
Forget electric toothbrushes — using 3D printing, engineers have developed a new kind of toothbrush tailor-made to fit a person's mouth. All a person must do to brush is bite down.At first glance, the "Blizzident" looks a bit like a hairy pair of dentures. The brush's makers say it cleans teeth completely within six seconds, though independent studies have not yet verified its efficacy.
To tailor the brush to a person's mouth, dentists take a digital scan of the teeth (or take an impression that is later scanned). The makers of Blizzident use that scan to determine the optimal placement of 600 bristles by simulating biting and chewing movements. The bristles resemble normal toothbrush bristles but are much finer and tapered to reach under the gumline better.
the brush itself. They use the dental scan to create a computer aided design (CAD) model of the brush, which is converted into a 3D object using stereolithography, a method in which liquid plastic is cured into a shape with an ultraviolet laser. The bristles are then painstakingly attached to this object
To brush with the Blizzident, a person simply bites down on it and grinds his or her noshers for about six seconds. This biting motion achieves the effect of the Modified Bass technique (in which the brush is positioned at a 45-degree angle to the teeth roots and brushed back and forth), and the Fones technique (in which the brush is held at right angles to the teeth and brushed in large circles), the Blizzident makers say.
The tailor-made toothbrush, available online or from some dentists, currently costs a hefty $299. But the brush's makers stress it could actually save people money in dental costs, as well as time spent brushing their teeth.
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