Technology News for November 6, 2007

Toddlers become friends with robot
A study involving 18 to 24-month-old toddlers suggests that robot technology has of late reached very close to achieving the target of robot-human interaction and socialisation. ANI

Rare bearded monkeys discovered in Kenya
Rare bearded monkeys have been discovered in Kenya. ANI

Setting stars reveal planetary secrets
Watching the stars set from the surface of the Earth may be a romantic pastime, but when a spacecraft does it from orbit, it can reveal hidden details about a planets atmosphere.The technique is known as stellar occultation. ANI

New technology to automate silicon chip debugging
Engineering researchers at the University of Michigan they have developed a new technology to automate post-silicon debugging.FogClear, as the new method is called, uses puzzle-solving search algorithms to diagnose problems early on and automatically adjust the blueprint for the chip. It reduces parts of the process from days to hours. ANI

Earliest birds acted more like turkeys than common cuckoos
The earliest birds acted more like turkeys than common cuckoos, according to a new report in todays issue of Current Biology. ANI

Fibres from sea cucumbers may help create artificial corneas
Biophysicists at the University of South Florida have developed a design for artificial corneas using tiny collagen fibres extracted from sea cucumbers, which may prove a boon to people whose corneas have damaged. ANI

Earth in middle of sixth mass extinction, half of its species could be wiped out by 2100
Chances of humans benefiting from nature are receding, as natural habitats are becoming less productive due to the gradual extinction of plant species. ANI

Now, computers turn art connoisseurs
Researchers at the University of Haifa have developed a mathematical program that can enables computers to detect whether or not a piece of art has been created by a particular famous artist, as claimed by its seller. ANI

Experts identify 21 key areas in Indian subcontinent for healthy tiger conservation
A study of 157 wildlife reserves throughout the Indian subcontinent, comprising India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, has found that 21 of these protected areas meet the criteria needed for promoting large healthy tiger populations. ANI

Sparrows navigation skills come with experience
Princeton University researchers have shown that birds brains become acquainted with an entire continent after a year of migration, indicating that their navigation skills come with experience. ANI