Technology News for December 23, 2008

Soon, Quantum dots to restore clear vision to people with damaged retinas
People suffering seriously impaired vision due to damaged retinas will soon be able to see clearly. Thanks to a new method developed by a scientist at the University of Colorado Hospital-Quantum dots- nanoscale specks of semiconductor. ANI

Molecule that sparks the formation of bacterial community unveiled
Scientists have found that a single molecule, known as surfactin, triggers isolated bacteria to suddenly aggregate into intricately structured communities called biofilms. ANI

Military contractor accused of exposing US troops to harmful toxin in Iraq
The controversial military contractor firm KBR is being accused of putting U.S. soldiers at risk from inhaling a chemical at their facilities in Iraq, which is believed to have caused lung cancer in many soldiers. ANI

Ancient Americans loved to gorge on Stone Age tortillas!
Two new studies have revealed that ancient rock piles were used by early Native Americans in the Stone Age as earth ovens for cooking their own version of tortillas. ANI

Shade coffee farms can play major role in tropical forest regeneration
A study has found that shade coffee farms, which grow coffee under a canopy of multiple tree species, are beneficial for native birds, bats and other creatures, maintain genetic diversity of native tree species, and, can act as focal points for tropical forest regeneration. ANI

New mechanism found for making common electronic materials emit laser beams
A team of researchers has discovered an entirely new mechanism for making common electronic materials emit laser beams. ANI

WiFi tops best technological innovation poll
Surfing the net has become a lot more easier since wireless internet has come into being, and now Wi-Fi has rightly topped the poll for the greatest technological advance of the last decade, according to a survey. ANI

Volvo to unveil worlds first accident-proof car next month
Car giant Volvo is set to unveil its first ever accident-proof car, which will drive itself in traffic by using radar to control the distance. ANI

Genetically modified plants could be key for producing eco-friendly biofuel
A new research has suggested plants that are genetically modified to ease the breaking down of their woody material, could be the key to producing a cheaper and greener way of making biofuels such as ethanol. ANI

Quantum computing comes closer to reality with experts chasing key maths problems
Super-fast computers based on quantum mechanics may have come closer to reality, with mathematicians chasing some of the major mathematical problems. ANI

NASAs next Moon mission successfully completes thermal vacuum testing
NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which is the agencys next mission to the Moon, has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing, which simulates the extreme hot, cold and airless conditions of space. ANI

Bizarre squid sex rituals revealed
Scientists studying the sex lives of deep-sea squids have come across some of its bizarre mating techniques. ANI

Now, juice up your sex life with Control A Woman, Control A Man remotes!
Couples can now spice up their sex lives this Christmas at the touch of a button - thanks to the latest Control A Woman and Control A Man remote controls. ANI

Chinese hackers may be jailed for 7yrs under proposed law
Hackers who steal data or manipulate large number of computers may be jailed for up to seven years, according to a proposed amendment to the Chinese Criminal Law. ANI

Even blind people can navigate obstacle courses sans collision
For the first time, researchers have shown that people can navigate an obstacle course even after brain damage leaves them with no awareness of sight and no activity in the visual cortex. ANI

British inventors tunable glasses soon to be distributed in India
A British scientist has designed a unique pair of glasses that can be adjust by a wearer without any opticians help, and one million pairs of which will soon be distributed in India. ANI

Government buildings in Britain emit more CO2 than all of Kenya
A new analysis has revealed that public buildings in England and Wales are pumping out 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year, more than Kenyas entire carbon footprint. ANI

UKs biggest trade union wants govt bailout for Tata owned Jaguar before Christmas
Britains biggest trade union has backed Tata owned Jaguar Land Rover to get British Governments financial support before Christmas. ANI

Oxfam ends Indian Ocean tsunami relief response
Oxfam, the International charity, has decided to end its relief response to the people affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, four years after the disaster struck. ANI

Malaysia launches plan to double its wild tiger population by 2020
Malaysia has launched a national plan to double the countrys wild tiger population by 2020, which has fallen from 3,000 to 500 in the last 50 years. ANI

Honeybees can serve as bodyguards to plants
A new research has suggested that honeybees can serve as bodyguards to plants, by buzzing off invasive caterpillars that would otherwise munch on the plants undisturbed. ANI

New species of plants evolving 3 times faster in biodiversity hotspots
A new research has determined that new species of flowering plants called proteas are exploding onto the scene three times faster in parts of Australia and South Africa than anywhere else in the world, creating exceptional hotspots of species richness. ANI

Unbreakable cell phone covers come closer to reality
Unbreakable cell phone covers may soon be available in your neighbouring markets, thanks to researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who have made a significant progress in understanding why some specific metallic alloys can form glasses while others cannot. ANI

Sting operation recovers looted ancient treasures in Iraq
Ancient treasures stolen from museums in the aftermath of the United States-led invasion of Iraq five years ago have been found in Basra, in one of the biggest recoveries of the loot through a sting operation by investigators. ANI

Life on Earth jumped up in two leaps by factor of a million
In a new study, scientists have determined that life on Earth jumped up from bacteria to blue whale in two leaps, both of which were a million-fold. ANI

Shakespeares sweet smelling rose given different smell by scientists
Shakespeares suggestion that calling a rose by any other name would not change its sweet smell may not be true anymore, for scientists say that the flowers fragrance can be modified by altering the shape of the molecules that generate it. ANI