"Money doesn't grow on trees" — another myth busted (podcast)

Synchrotron images of leaf discs reveal traces of gold.
Credit: Dr. Melvyn Lintern/The Australian

http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/10/23/3874913.htm?site=melbourne

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2471826/Australian-scientists-traces-gold-eucalyptus-leaves.html /cold hard cash gold researchers CSIRO CSIRO's Earth Science and Resource Engineering division found visible gold particles biological material study published online scientific journal Nature Communications discovered dry conditions Eucalyptus trees search moisture 35m below ground gold deposit precious mineral absorbed root system into the canopy leaves provide new way to locate gold deposits researcher research researched researching Melvyn Lintern collected field samples Australia Western Australia's gold mining town of Kalgoorlie from South Australia conducted greenhouse experiments experimentation experiment moisture in the ground interact with gold deposits dissolve small amounts Dr Lintern roots picking gold up absorbing gold ions ion into charged particles particle roots root moving water flow within the tree through continuum water going up through tree into the foliage replace water lost through transpiration breakthrough able actually see particulate gold particle particles magic equipment called Australian Synchrotron leaves leaf first gold occurs leaves visible particle biological material Melbourne based Australian Synchrotron accelerates electrons speed of light size of microns much smaller than a human hair study research team state confirmation biological biology geology geological biogeochemical absorption gold promotes confidence emerging technique may lead future exploration success maintain continuity of supply better able explore hidden gold deposits because hidden beneath sediments lower exploration costs reduce damage environment drill Australian companies company sponsored project sampled leaves obtained confidential results /

Google buys Flexycore, creator of a “10x speed boost” app for Android (video)

Credit: Flexycore/Ars Technica

This is looking likely to be the means to provide the performance improvements promised for Android 4.4 (KitKat).

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/google-buys-flexycore-creator-of-a-10x-speed-boost-app-for-android/

http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/22/google-buys-flexycore-to-make-android-more-buttery/

http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/22/google-flexycore/

Video:

http://youtu.be/Bduk--UTcf4

http://youtu.be/tEAz9fRoDmA / compile compiler compiling byte code interpreter interpret French site L'Expansion report reported reporting Google complete completed year-long acquisition company Flexycore Flexycore's most prominent product droidbooster app claims claimed claim claiming Android device run ten times faster claim company reputable reputation profile ARM partner site founder former head of R&D research and & development Texas Instruments 10 x 10x speed boost generate generated generation generating heavily optimized ARM binaries Android's normal Dalvik code Droidbooster claimed to increase battery life because sped-up device spend less time processing more time low power low-power state Flexycore's website down YouTube account still works watch a demo video extremely old droidbooster tech running on a Froyo-equipped Nexus One. Indeed, FlexyCore doesn't seem to have done anything on the Internet for the last two years actively promoted its product release releasing released releasing 11 videos one-year span then just stopped Dalvik Virtual Machine Android applications application applications run VM execute executes Dalvik bytecode byte code byte-code compiled programme programmes program programs written Java language syntax Dalvik VM Java VM JVM lack of recent activity unclear Flexycore continued develop developing developed development most pressing question speed boost worked 2010 Android 2.2 function today FlexyCore working work worked works significant Google company worth purchasing purchase purchased $23.1 million Gigaom reports report reported receive received confirmation purchase Google company's company companies statement FlexyCore team strong expertise building software optimize Android device performance great fit our team FlexyCore's employees absorbed into Android team Google significant strides smoothing out Android performance Project Butter L'Express Mountain View €16.9 million $23.1 million software increasing battery drain Android teams optimize performance Android mobile devices device release released Android 4.4 KitKat operating system OS compete competitive competitiveness modern modern-day smartphone smart phone platform /

Toq smartwatch (video)

Toq in its WiPower LE wireless charging base/earphone case.
Credit: Qualcomm/Cnet

Another take on the smartwatch from Qualcomm. This one has:

• reflective colour screen using low power Mirasol technology
• touch screen
• stereo Bluetooth headphones
• wireless charging of both watch & headphones using WiPower LE through a supplied cradle-cum-earphones holder

Qualcomm website:

http://toq.qualcomm.com/

Cnet:

http://reviews.cnet.com/watches-and-wrist-devices/qualcomm-toq/4505-3512_7-35827147.html

YouTube:

http://youtu.be/G2tnjzuadNk

http://youtu.be/YzTrqifCOhs

http://youtu.be/kJwVPWel-eg

About WiPower wireless charging:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiPower / color Fitbit Force Flex Pebble Samsung Galaxy Gear Sony smart watch Kickstarter crowd funding source sourced sourcing wrist firmware update SMS text email color TXT hardware loaded software features useful usability never use company’s company modern smartwatch display sharp resolution processor wrist strap microphone calls Bluetooth smartphone connection glanceable notification incoming calls texts messages alerts clever integration smartphones so when you take the phone out of your pocket messages message instantly appear big screen virtual assistant dictate text messages set alarms create calendar entries hands free hands-free speakerphone voice connection contact paired smartphone user phone’s phone lock unlock sleep wake Qualcomm low-power /

Skully Helmets shows heads-up display for motorcycle riders (video)

Credit: Skully Helmets/Oh Gizmo

We may be looking at a new class of device, the "smart helmet".

It has a Head Up Display (HUD) with vision from a 180 degree rear view camera, turn-by-turn GPS navigation & voice control of telephone & music. Sounds pretty smart to me.

At the rear is an aerodynamic tail which reduces buffeting as well as housing the electronics.

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2013/10/21/slick-motorcycle-helmet-with-an-hud-could-eliminate-blind-spots-provide-gps-guidance-and-make-your-friends-jealous/





Manufacturer's Web site
https://www.skully.com/ / DOT ECE European department of transport standard electronics smart phone smartphone Global Positioning System heads visor voice dialing dial turn-by-turn turn by turn navigation directions voice rear-mounted rear mounted view LiIon lithium ion battery 9 hours run time hour safety standards /

New iPhones score well with "Consumer Reports", but display & battery "no match" for Android competitors

Credit: Laptop Mag

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/16/new-iphones-score-well-with-consumer-reports-but-display-and-battery-no-match-for-android-competitors/

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/10/iphone-5s-and-5c-score-highly-in-consumer-report-ratings/index.htm

http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-note-3-iphone-5s-comparison-reveals-slo-mo-not-really-720p-20131021/

http://www.wirefly.com/iphone-vs-android/ / Google Apple Android iOS OS operating system screen resolution Droid Motorola Samsung mobile cell phone smartphone smart 3G 4G apps app application /

Robot blocks magically turn themselves into absolutely anything (video)

Credit: MIT

http://www.dvice.com/2013-10-8/robot-blocks-magically-turn-themselves-absolutely-anything / cube cubes robot robots buildings MITcolour color colourful colorful blocks M-blocks mblocks reconfigure reconfiguration reconfiguring arrangements configure configuration arrangement create modular robots essentially indestructible Terminator block flywheels flywheel inside move rotate revolve 20,000 revolutions per minute stop within 10 milliseconds angular momentum cube flip magnet magnets sides cube stick to each othe moving cubes around possible create different shapes cubes powerful low amount of energy roll forward intermediate amount of energy might cause it to climb a wall highest amount energy jump MIT roboticist Kyle Gilpin M-Blocks arrange themselves cool patterns future hold great applications product help build temporary bridges structures move themselves over hard-to-navigate hard to navigate terrain smaller more capable won't form tkiller robot travel goes back in time destroy destroys all humans. /

1000 mile battery

Flow batteries have been around for some time in stationary applications. For vehicular use, they have the attractive qualities that they can be recharged, not only by plugging into a charger at home, but by replacing the electrolytes. Replacement of electrolytes is about as fast as filling a tank with petrol (gasolene).

Electrolytes removed from the battery can be recharged & reused indefinitely.

So why aren't flow batteries used in vehicles? To date, flow batteries have been restricted to stationary applications because of their size & weight.

Batteries of many types are now undergoing intense development. Lithium ion has had the most success to date. However, even the best solutions remain a balancing act between cost, range, size, & weight, with recharge times remaining the Archilles heel. If similar development efforts could overcome the size & weight problems, the recharge options would make flow batteries an ideal energy source for electric vehicles.

http://evworld.com/focus.cfm?cid=181 / electric vehicle automobile EV car recharge charge driving range gasoline model refueled minutes time long driving trip home overnight fuel fueling petrol gas filling station researcher research flow batteries reported breakthrough Illinois Institute of Technology IIT chemical battery fuel cell electrolyte fluids rich metallic ions ion vandanium chromium exchange ion ions across membrane generate generating electric current replace the fluids recycled indefinitely electricity electric grid reverse process charge charging research groups technology Massachusetts MIT University of Michigan Fraunhofer Institute Germany Argonne Labs IIT technology bulky low energy density by volume lithium ion LiIon lithium-ion battery 150-200 Wh/liter litre energy Vandanium flow battery might be 20-35 Wh/liter power density 60-100 W/L versus 275 W/L for lithium University of Southampton in England experimented experiment prototype hybrid car lithium early Vanadium flow battery, weight mass volume success of a flow battery transport transportation grid energy storage working fluid accommodate more ions water breakdown voltages 1.2V Volt Volts Stanford University research paper technology disruptive innovation order of magnitude increase energy power density critical limiting factor solubility electroactive species electrolyte solution team researchers Argonne National Labs IIT $3.4 million ARPA-E research grant U.S. Energy Department nanoelectrofue disruptive innovation industry technology nano-scale materials ions lithium safe to handle liquid hydrogen ammonia recycle recycled environmentally benign methanol ammonia /