Category: Science & Engineering

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From Google Reader: Microrockets Can Zip Around the Human Stomach, Powered by Hydrogen Bubbles

Microrockets via PhysOrg

Tiny machines that can enter our bloodstreams and do work inside of our bodies are a staple of both science fiction and real-world biomedical science, as MEMS and other micromotor devices become increasingly small and effective. A team from the University of California, San Diego, is taking the idea even further by creating what it is calling “microrockets”: tiny self-propelled motors that can zip around an acidic environment, like the human stomach, without the need for any external fuel.

The microrockets are the first known example of a chemically-powered micro-machine that powers itself without carrying some kind of fuel, like hydrogen peroxide, onboard. Rather, the UCSD team’s microrockets are powered by hydrogen bubbles produced by a reaction between an acidic solution–like that present in the stomach–and the zinc that the microrocket itself is made of.

When the microrocket is immersed in that acidic environment, hydrogen bubbles quickly start to build up inside the rocket and–depending on how acidic the environment–propel it up to speeds of 100 body lengths per second. That’s about 1,050 micrometers per second for a 5-micrometer diameter microrocket (they are generally about 10 micrometers wrong, and between two and five micrometers in diameter). Depending on the rate of zinc dissolution, the lifetime of the microrockets once introduced to the acid solution can be anywhere from two to 10 minutes.

They are also controllable using a magnetic field. By placing a magnetic coating on the exterior of the microrockets, the UCSD team has demonstrated that the rockets can be guided through a solution and even be used to pick up and deposit cargo as they go, all by manipulating a magnetic field.

The biomedical applications here are pretty obvious. Aside from being able to do rudimentary pH sensing in the stomach, such microrockets could be used to non-invasively target drugs within the body–at least in the acidic parts–or to assist in imaging of certain parts of the body. They could also be used in industrial processes like semiconductor processing.

[PhysOrg]

from Popular Science – New Technology, Science News, The Future Now

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Boeing’s CCDev Wind Tunnel Test on Discovery Canada!

Link to the Show Clip

Well, I knew it was coming and it is here!  As some of you know, I was in California for total of a month on working the Boeing’s CCDev wind tunnel test at NASA Ames Research Center’s Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel.  What I hadn’t told you guys was that Discovery Channel Canada came to do an interview to do 5 minute short on this test!  I was on the night shift and they came to do the interview and video taping during the day.

Well, I am glad to see my co-workers and our very own project on TV!   :D  Watch the clip if you haven’t already!

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Exposure on Radiation – Pun Intended


*Source: xkcd.com

With the Japanese nuclear power plant leaking radiation, many are concerned how that would affect us.  We ourselves and many families will be traveling to Japan and are concerned how that would be.  Rest assured that it’s not nearly as bad as most of us tend to think.

As Popular Science explains, we are exposed to far more amounts at other unsuspecting sources like using old CRT monitors and the insane amount on a flight from NYC to LA!!  Yikes.  So unless you walk into a nuclear plant, we have not that much to worry about.  Oh and there’s a rather great note at the bottom of the blue chart that states that cell phones generate ZERO radiation!!!

 

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Missionary that built a Flying Car!

Flying car and the inventor
Flying car and the inventor

Source: CNN

I know… the title of the post seems… unbelievable!  But it’s true… this missionary wanted to be able to reach the indigenous tribes in Ecuador easily and so sought out to solve the problem himself!  Not only that, powered by a 250-hp Subaru engine, this baby will do 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds!

I salute you, Mr. Saint (yes, that’s his name!), on a job well done!  His non-profit group I-TEC will build and sell this puppy at $80,000 and hopes to build about 100 per year!  Wish I had one!

I found a man who not only has heart for missions but also the innovation to make it happen!  My hero of the year!

Video can be seen here.

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Are you an overprotective parent or a neglectful dad?!

New Scientist Article

I just read this article and learned that the kids with over-protective parents and/or neglectful fathers grow up with slow brain growth!  😮  Wow… we all want to protect our kids… but with something like this, it does bring up a good counter point of when is a parent too protective?!

To think that my being overly protective can prohibit or slow my kids’ brain growth and development is shocking to say the least!  In the end, I am sure as a parent, we would want to choose safety over intelligence but if we can balance that well and not bind our own kids, we should make conscientious choice to do so… even if it’s only half true!

While I understand that many will display concern to avoid blame game, it does raise up a good point that when you overprotect a child, that child will become less and less involved in decision making process, let alone thinking for themselves… that’s the biggest factor/danger that any parent should be aware of…

Again, as a parent, if I had to choose between safety of my kids and their intelligence, I’d choose safety hands down… but if I can help it, I need to also learn to let go and let them start “walking on their own” whenever I can.

All of us Asians have gone through much of this in our childhoods, mine included, but since most of us came out decently (or so I tell myself :P), surely it isn’t the end of the world… 

It is however, very shocking to learn that NEGLECTFUL FATHTERS have equal impact on inhibiting the children’s mental development!! o_O I am more concerned about that…  Time to spend more time with my kids!!!!

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Super-critical Fuel Injection!!

Now we are talking!!  Innovative and (relatively) inexpensive way to increase fuel efficiency and cut CO2 emissions?!  Sign me up!!

Video Link

According to this startup company called Transonic Combustion, they created a way to make conventional engines at least 50% more fuel efficient!!  Sign me up!!