Transportation

When good companies do bad things

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/27/2009

The more prominent and financially successful a corporation becomes, the more likely it is to break the law, according to a new study that challenges previous research.

NASA satellites detect unexpected ice loss in East Antarctica

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/26/2009

Using gravity measurement data from the NASA/German Aerospace Center's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, a team of scientists from the University of Texas at Austin has found that the East Antarctic ice sheet-home to about 90 percent of Earth's solid fresh water and previously considered stable-may have begun to lose ice.

Chemists get custom-designed microscopic particles to self-assemble in liquid crystal

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/26/2009

Chemists and physicists have succeeded in getting custom-shaped particles to interact and assemble in a controlled way in a liquid crystal.

• Custom-Designed Microscopic Particles Self-Assemble In Liquid Crystal - Red Orbit
• Chemists get custom-designed microscopic particles to self-assemble in liquid crystal - Physorg
• See the 4 articles on the same subject

Virtual streams created to help restore real ones

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/26/2009

Researchers have developed a unique new computer model called the Virtual StreamLab, designed to help restore real streams to a healthier state. The Virtual StreamLab demonstrates the physics of natural water flows at an unprecedented level of detail and realism.

New computer cluster gets its grunt from games

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/26/2009

Technology designed to blast aliens in computer games is part of a new GPU (graphics processing units) computer cluster that will process research data thousands of times faster and more efficiently than a desktop PC.

• New computer cluster gets its grunt from games - Eurekalert

New chameleon species discovered in East Africa

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/23/2009

A new species of chameleon has been discovered in a threatened forest in Tanzania. Researchers first spotted the animal while surveying monkeys in the Magombera Forest when they disturbed a twig snake eating one.

Switchgrass produces biomass efficiently

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/23/2009

A new study concluded that 50 million US acres of cropland, idle cropland, and cropland pasture could be converted from current uses to the production of perennial grasses, such as switchgrass, from which biomass could be harvested for use as a biofuel feedstock. Economically viable production of a perennial grass monoculture from which substantial quantities of biomass are removed annually is expected...

Rosetta Bound For Outer Solar System After Final Earth Swingby

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/13/2009

This morning, mission controllers confirmed that ESA's comet chaser Rosetta had swung by Earth at 8:45 CET as planned, skimming past our planet to pick up a gravitational boost for an epic journey to rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014.

Improving Security With Face Recognition Technology

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/10/2009

A number of US states now use facial recognition technology when issuing drivers licenses. Similar methods are also used to grant access to buildings and to verify the identities of international travelers. Historically, obtaining accurate results with this type of technology has been a time intensive activity. Now, researchers have developed ways to make the technology more efficient while improving...

Oxygen Exchangers Increase Propene Yield

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/04/2009

A Dutch researcher has shown that the yield of propene can be increased by adding cerium oxide during the production process. Propene is an important raw material for the chemical industry and its uses include the production of medical equipment. However, it is difficult to produce.

North America Automobile Sector Bottom Of 'World Sustainability League'

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/04/2009

North American car manufacturers have come bottom of the league in the largest ever international study of the global automobile sector's sustainability performance.

• Asian brands on top in sustainable value, new study shows - The Irish Times

Engineers Strive To Make Algae Oil Production More Feasible

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/04/2009

Engineers are assessing systematic production methods that could make the costs of algae oil production more reasonable, helping move the U.S. from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy replacements.

• Engineers Study Surface Texture, Algae Growth - Red Orbit
• K-State engineers strive to make algae oil production more feasible - Eurekalert

New Theory On Fairness In Economics Targets CEO Pay

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/04/2009

Chief executives in 35 of the top Fortune 500 companies were overpaid by about 129 times their "ideal salaries" in 2008, according to a new type of theoretical analysis proposed to determine fair CEO compensation.

Liquid Granite: Building Material Of The Future Unveiled

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/04/2009

Scientists have developed a new building material that is fire resistant to temperatures in excess of 1100 degrees Celsius, is made largely from recycled material and is as versatile as concrete.

Industry Support Of Academic Life Science Research May Be Dropping

Science Daily (Free subscription) | 11/03/2009

While more than half the academic life science researchers responding to a 2007 survey indicated having some relationship with industrial entities, the prevalence of such relationships -- particularly direct funding for research studies -- appears to be dropping. Results of the survey also suggest that interest in commercial applications of research appears to be growing, even among investigators without...