NEWS : TECH (NFPC)

Electrical Current Releases Happiness

Totally trippy: A group of neuroscience researchers succeeded in releasing natural opiate-like substances from the brain using a constant low electrical current. This gives self-medicating a new meaning.

A group from the University of Michigan, Harvard, and CUNY led by senior researcher Alexandre DaSilva and Dr. Jon-Kar Zubieta, experimented with an application called "transcranial direct current stimulation" or tDCS. They studied a patient with severe chronic facial pain, first administering a radiotracer and then applied electrodes that stimulated a specific area of the skull with a very small current for 20 minutes.

Brain in a Dish Flies Plane

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That current released the brain's natural painkillers known as endogenous opioids. One session improved the patient's pain threshold by 36 percent, according to an article (full article link) the researchers published recently in the journal Frontiers in Neuropsychiatric Imaging and Stimulation. A PET scan during the session showed what was happening.

While that first session didn't alleviate the clinical pain, the researchers think that repeated sessions would have a lasting effect. According to Michigan University's news service, another study on more patients was just completed and initial results showed that more tDCS did help.

Brain stimulation might have crazy uses beyond treating pain. The BBC's Tom Feilden reported last year that tDCS has the potential to enhance overall cognitive performance, depending on where the current is applied. Try that one on for size.

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For now, though, I think it's good that scientists are focusing on tDCS for people who have mind-melting pain. Imagine being able to book tDCS sessions instead of taking strong medications, which have all kinds of side effects and can be addicting. Maybe our brains already contain the cure.

Photo: An example of a positron emission tomography (PET) brain scan. Credit: TRIUMF Lab

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These Cuffs Will Shock The Hell Out Of You

These handcuffs are truly shocking. And that's only a fraction of what they're capable of.

According to U.S. Patent Application 20120298119, Scottsdale Inventions, LLC of Paradise Valley, Arizona has invented a pair of high-tech handcuffs that appear to be a Swiss Army knife of torture restraint.

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For starters, the cuffs are capable of administering high-voltage, low amperage shocks that will immobilize uncooperative detainees. Inspired by invisible fence technology that not-so-subtly reminds dogs where their boundaries are, these cuffs are a part of a programmable system that uses radio transmitters to corral prisoners. Step beyond the designated perimeter and the cuffs could issue various warnings, such as audible signals, vibrations, a flashing light or a mild electric shock, before a more severe zap would restore order.

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As well, the cuffs could include an accelerometer, inclinometer, potentiometer, location sensing device, microphone, camera, a biometric sensor or a combination of devices that would allow guards to more closely monitor their prisoners.

If there's any mercy to be found, the cuffs do include safety cutouts to prevent fatal jolts. However, developers also envision the cuffs being able to release gases, liquids, dyes and even sedatives that could be injected into the prisoners. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, syringe-equipped handcuffs.

But wait there's more. If you're still not convinced that these cuffs are the most fully loaded, less-lethal weapon this side of Joel Braun's little ray of sunshine, Scottsdale Inventions wants to remind you that this system could also be incorporated into ankle cuffs, restraining belts, straitjackets, harnesses, facial restraints, helmets or neck collars.

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I don't know about you, but if the image of an inmate writhing in agony, compliments of his or her shock collar and/or facial restraints, is enough to send you to the dark and troubled side of life, feel free to join me. I'll be hanging out with the Carters on the bright and sunny side. As our current news cycle continues to seethe, I think we could all use a little Vitamin D.

via Gizmag

Credit: USPTO

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Deadly Tesla Lightning Battle: Gotta-See Video

Superheroes like Iron Man make their way to being super through technology, and now we have some of those powers today.

This video shows two people battling it out using electricity. They're throwing lightning bolts at each other while doused in red and blue lights. The whole choreographed show took place on the streets of Belfast, Ireland and though the fun starts at about 1:40, these guys are workin' it the whole time.

Tesla coils at high amperage allow electrical current to jump through the air through conductive material. Human bodies DO conduct electricity but these performers are wearing special suits to protect their fragile human forms.

If only science gladiators could battle it out like this...via dVice

Want to recommend a video? Tweet it to @Discovery_News with the hashtag #GottaSeeVideos.

Don't miss today's Must-Read DNews Nuggets and you can watch Discovery Curiosity video here.

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Flooding Hinders NYC Power Restoration

New York City got hit with widespread power outages in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, with some 793,000 in the metropolitan area without power, according to a Con Edison spokesperson.

Getting the power back won't be easy, largely because of the flooding. It will probably be at least a few days before power can be restored. "We're focusing on damage assessment," the spokesperson said. Con Edison Senior Vice President for Electric Operations John Miksad told CBS New York that it was the biggest storm-related power outage in the company's history.

Con Edison serves 3.2 million people in Westchester County and New York City. In Westchester, some 180 roads are closed by downed trees, so crews are going to have a tough time getting to places where trees have hit power lines.

Anatomy of a Power Outage

The utility company cut power for customers south of Wall Street at 7 p.m. on Monday. The same thing was done in parts of Brooklyn. Deliberately cutting the power was necessary as it's more dangerous to have current flowing through equipment that gets flooded -- it can cause short circuits, fires, and other damage.

Con Edison has an outage map showing areas that are currently without power.

In New York City, the water has to be flushed out of the flooded areas first before power equipment can be checked to be sure it's safe to run current through. And the current to damaged equipment has to be shut down before repairs can be made.

Odds are, if your area is served by underground lines, the power should be back in four days; it will be a week or so for those served by telephone poles. But those timelines are approximate; a lot will depend on what the situation is locally. Anyplace there is standing water and downed power lines is dangerous; there have been 10 fatalities in New York City and Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a press conference that a few were the result of people stepping into puddles near live power lines.

While it's certainly inconvenient, there is also another logic to cutting the power in certain areas. When power is suddenly cut off in one part of the system, it increases the current flowing through other parts of the grid. That can overload the system causing more damage and an even wider power failure.

Could A Smart Grid Curb Blackouts?

Another twist for some Manhattanites is losing the steam heat system. In New York, many buildings are heated by a system of steam pipes from a central plant. Con Edison had to shut down the system in some areas because if water hit the pipes, the temperature difference would weaken the metal, which could lead to explosions. The loss of the steam system means that some people will be without heat and hot water.

At about 8:30 p.m. last night a power plant explosion on the eastern shore of Manhattan was caught on video, though a Con Edison spokesperson said it wasn't clear whether it was caused by flooding or flying debris. After the explosion, power was out south of 39th street. The substation served about 250,000 people.

Photo, top: The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel floods after a tidal surge from Hurricane Sandy (Allison Joyce/Getty Images); bottom: Downed trees in lower Manhattan block streets (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis)

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Drone Missile Kills Electronics, Not People

As modern warfare continues to be fought behind key boards and monitors, last week Boeing successfully tested a missile capable of making screens go blank. Boeing says their Counter-electronics High-powered Advanced Missile Project known as CHAMP may one day change modern warfare by knocking out electronic targets with little or no collateral damage.

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Here's how Boeing described the event:

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CHAMP approached its first target and fired a burst of High Power Microwaves at a two story building built on the test range. Inside rows of personal computers and electrical systems were turned on to gauge the effects of the powerful radio waves.

Seconds later the PC monitors went dark and cheers erupted in the conference room. CHAMP had successfully knocked out the computer and electrical systems in the target building. Even the television cameras set up to record the test were knocked off line without collateral damage.

In one hour, seven test-range targets were hit and all electronics inside the buildings were degraded and defeated.

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"This technology marks a new era in modern-day warfare," said Keith Coleman, CHAMP program manager for Boeing Phantom Works. "In the near future, this technology may be used to render an enemy's electronic and data systems useless even before the first troops or aircraft arrive."

So, uh, al Qaeda, you know those Sexy Tanja videos you like to make and watch in your free time? Heads up.

via io9

Credit: Boeing

 

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Kinetic Charger Makes You a Power Source

Just the other day, I read yet another article about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle. I was sitting while I read it. Don't judge. Obviously, being active is good for our health, but what if it was good for our gadget's battery life? A concept device from design studen Toby Blake uses movement to power up your phone.

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The Kinetic Charger is a colorful little clip-on that uses a technique called reverse electrowetting to turn mechanical movement into electricity. Essentially,a microfluidic device pushes nano-droplets of liquid through channels embedded in a thin film. The movement of the droplets through the film produces an electrical current. This same process was used in a pair of electricity-generating shoes we covered last year.

The charger can store up to 4 watts of generated energy. And when one device is connected to another, the charging capacity doubles. Phones and other electronic devices connect to the charger through a USB cable.

It's a tiny package, but it packs alot of tech. Too bad it's just a concept for now. Until then, put your charger on the other side of the room, at least that forces you to get up and walk.

Credit: Toby Blake

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Magnetic Floating Centerpiece: Gotta-See Video

Levitation is a hot topic, from maglev trains to quantum trapping. YouTube and DiscoveryNews are full of stories on levitating various objects. In this case, scientists are levitating a giant metal plate.

The video isn't actually about levitation, but instead about the creation of the electromagnet as a means of induction. Not only does the plate here float, but creates heat and light as well! The ideas are wonderfully simple, and seemingly magical. You gotta-see this. via The Verge

Want to recommend a video? Tweet it to @Discovery_News with the hashtag #GottaSeeVideos.

Don't miss today's Must-Read DNews Nuggets and you can watch Discovery Curiosity video here.

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Solar Power Morphs Into Cones and More

All of a sudden everyone seems to be getting funky with the solar cells. From glass for balconies to spinning cells shaped like ice cream cones, solar power is looking slicker and holding more promise than ever.

An LA-based company called V3Solar just made a splash with designs for sapphire blue "Spin Cells" that it says can produce 20 times more electricity than traditional flat, static photovoltaic panels. A cone containing triangular PV cells spins underneath a static shell lens to concentrate the solar power, Ubergizmo's Latif Salman explained.

Wind Power Without the Blades: Big Pics

This YouTube video shows a prototype in action. "Like a spinning discoball, we make the photons dance," the video says. While the cost per watt wasn't readily available, the company's CEO has said that he thinks removing the inverter and increasing efficiency will lower the overall cost of ownership.

DNEWS VIDEO: IS IT FUTURE YET?

Sharp recently came out with interesting solar cells as well. In a Japanese press release, the company said it created semi-transparent black glass photovoltaic panels that could be used as a green building material. A series of 4.5 feet by 3.2 feet thin panels could add a heat barrier and privacy to balconies in high rise buildings. The panels went on sale in Japan this week.

Although Sharp's panels have a maximum output of 95 watts with a conversion rate that seems lackluster, they are commercially available and see-through, CNET's Christopher McManus pointed out. We've got to start somewhere.

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Meanwhile, Dow's Powerhouse Solar Shingles, which protect houses from the elements and offset electric costs, were just named one of the top 10 tech breakthroughs of the year by Popular Mechanics.

Dow's solar cells are made from copper indium gallium diselenide and covered in glass. They can be nailed right into a roof, just like normal shingles, Rachel Z. Arndt of Popular Mechanics noted, except they happen to be photovoltaic. According to Dow, the shingles are available from authorized dealers in central Texas, Northern California and Colorado.

All this new solar power tech makes me think that the hardware store is going to be an even more exciting place to visit in the future.

Image: A rendering of V3Solar's cone-shaped spinning solar cells. Credit: V3Solar via Ubergizmo

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Shoot Me With a Tesla Cannon: Gotta-See Video

Remember that Tesla Museum we told you about? Matt Inman, the man who creates the online comic The Oatmeal, has a 10,000-volt Tesla cannon.

Yes, this is as awesome as it sounds.

Inman convinced his friend Matt Harding (the guy who dances around the world) to play target practice for science. They got the whole "experiment" on film. Needless to say, Harding dances.

The cannon seems to be a portable tesla coil, so the electricity jumps from the coil to Harding's body, following a path of least resistance. Before the current dissipates in the floor, however, we get an added bonus. In Harding's right hand is a fluorescent bulb which lights up with the current.

This video is eerie, funny and educational all at the same time! via YouTube

Want to recommend a video? Tweet it to @Discovery_News with the hashtag #GottaSeeVideos.

Don't miss today's Must-Read News Nuggets too!

Watch Discovery Curiosity video!

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Solar Panels Light Up the NFL

 

The next time you sit down to watch a NY Jets home game, take a minute during those overhead shots to look at the MetLife Stadium's ring of colorful lights. Those are solar panels, part of a renewable energy push from the NFL to make stadiums more energy efficient.

The 1,350 panels change colors from green to blue, depending on who is playing. The panels aren't just for looks, though. They generate 350,000 kilowatt hours of power, about 10 percent of what the stadium needs on a typical game day, and 25 times the electricity needed to power the LED lights that illuminate the stadium.

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According to National Geographic, the power sector-focused company NRG Energy is responsible for this effort and many other renewable energy projects in sports. This includes a solar canopy still under construction at the New England Patriots' sports complex called Patriot Place and the 8,000-panel project in the parking area of the Redskins' FedEx Field in Maryland.

David Crane, CEO of NRG Energy, told National Geographic that projects like these are a good way to bring attention to sustainable efforts and building fan's team pride. He said that he understood fans weren't going to football games to look at rooves, but that when they do see the panels “fans will look at them and say, ‘my team is doing the right thing.’ It’s really about raising awareness with the fan base.”

via National Geographic

Credit: NRG

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