May 23, 2012
Good Morning,
British scientists have developed what is called ReRAM, a new type of computer memory that can store more and work 100 times faster than current technology. Check out the first article for the details on this revolutionary development.
Until Next Time,
Erin
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Faster memory chips can store more dataLONDON - A new form of super-fast computer memory can offer more storage capacity than current technology such as flash memory in USB sticks, British scientists say. The new memory is known as Resistive RAM (or 'ReRAM') based on materials, most often oxides of metals, whose electrical resistance changes when a voltage is applied and can then "remember" this change even when the power is turned off, researchers at University College London reported. "Our ReRAM memory chips need just a thousandth of the energy and are around a hundred times faster than standard Flash memory chips," Tony Kenyon of the university's electronic and electrical engineering department said. The researchers said they've developed a novel structure composed of silicon oxide that performs the switch in resistance much more efficiently. Unlike other silicon oxide chips currently in development, they said, their chip does not require a vacuum to work, making it potentially cheaper and more durable. "The fact that the device can operate in ambient conditions and has a continuously variable resistance opens up a huge range of potential applications," Kenyon said.
Report: Earth sciences face challengesWASHINGTON - Earth observation sciences in the United States face considerable challenges because of economic downturns and federal budget deficits, a report says. The report by the American Meteorological Society said Earth observations, science and services, or Earth OSS, are vital to virtually all economic sectors and institutions underlying modern civilization. Earth OSS supports agriculture, energy, transportation, water resource management, public health, emergency response, insurance, national security and other foundations of society, an AMS release said Tuesday. The observations of weather events, surface conditions, ecosystems, agriculture, the environment and urban areas are fundamental to efforts to meet basic human needs such as providing food, shelter, energy, health and safety, the society said. These assets, unless maintained, will not be capable of meeting future societal needs, its report said. "Given the nation's growing reliance on weather and climate information, efforts to expand our Earth OSS capability are virtually certain to broadly benefit the United States economy," Paul Higgins, associate director of the AMS Policy Program, said. "We need strong and effective Earth OSS in the years ahead. That will require thoughtful national policies, improved collaboration among the public, private, and academic sectors, and robust funding for key Earth OSS resources."
Calif. passes 'self-driving' cars billSACRAMENTO - California's Senate passed a bill to create guidelines for autonomous vehicles' -- self-driving cars -- to be tested and operated in the state, officials said. The bill will now go to the state Assembly for consideration next month, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. The passage in the Senate comes as Google Inc., Caltech and other groups are busy developing vehicles that use radar, video cameras and lasers to navigate roads and drive in traffic without human intervention. By law, self-driving cars must have a person behind the wheel, ready to take over control in case of a malfunction. Several lawmakers test-drove Google's prototype autonomous Prius and "came away convinced that fostering this technology is the right direction for California," the bill's sponsor, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, said. "Human error is the cause of almost every accident on the road today. If autonomous technology can reduce the number of accidents, then we also reduce the number of injuries and fatalities on California's roads," Padilla said. "For me this is a matter of safety." Nevada signed similar legislation into law last year and Arizona, Hawaii, Florida and Oklahoma are all considering autonomous-vehicle legislation, the Times reported.
New frog colors scientists' hands yellowFRANKFURT, Germany - German researchers say they've found a new frog species in Panama that dyes the fingers of researchers handling them a bright yellow. Reptile and amphibian specialists at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt, Germany, discovered it in 2010 in the Serrania de Tabasara mountains of western Panama, a highly understudied part of the Panamanian central mountain range, the institute reported Tuesday. "When we finally caught the first individuals by hand, we noticed that it dyes ones fingers yellow when it is handled," researcher Andreas Hertz said. "The scientific name (Diasporas citrinobapheus) of this new frog refers to this characteristic and means yellow dyer rainfrog." The new frog, less than three-quarters of an inch long, belongs to group of frogs that lack a tadpole stage but develop directly as little frogs inside the egg, researchers said. Considering the possibility that the yellow stain produced by the frogs may be poisonous, the scientists performed an analysis of the skin secretions. "We cannot say whether the dye is any good as a predatory defense, as we could not find any poisonous components," Hertz said. "Maybe the color is just easily washed out and has no particular function. However, for now, this peculiarity of the new species remains enigmatic."
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