5:44 PM
UK-built Zephyr UAV completed 2 weeks on non-stop flight above a US Army range in Arizona before being commanded to land. The solar-powered UAV could have continued to fly, but Qinetiq said that it had nothing further to prove. Northrop's Global Hawk had the previous record of 30 hours and 24 minutes and the Zephyr flew for 336 hours and 24 minutes without refuelling:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10733998
USC researchers have produced flexible transparent carbon atom films that have great potential for a new breed of solar cells. Their technique appears to be a big advance in physical flexibility for organic photovoltaic cells. The low-cost and flexible nature of their design could make it possible to make solar-power-generating clothing:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-07/uosc-gop072210.php
BP was accused today of trying to buy the silence of scientists and academics to protect itself after the Gulf oil spill. The contract that BP offers to scientists offers research money in exchange for scientists not publishing ANY of the research they do for BP and they cannot speak about their data for at least 3 years or until BP gets final approval for their restoration plan:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iaPUwOYMnxVuzFNn41rcgwm3nlmg
Georgia company is conducting home trials of its CareBot system--a programmable human-sized robot that can interact with people in the home and alert caregivers if aid is needed. An onboard camera lets family members or other caregivers see what the CareBot sees and even speak to the person through the robot's speakers:
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/2010/07/sprint_nextel_service_connects_home-care_robots_relatives.html
NASA's Kepler spacecraft has found 706 candidates for potential alien worlds and the new estimate is that there are 100 million habitable worlds in the Galaxy:
http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/07/nasa-kepler-space-telescope-has-700.html
India has launched a $35 tablet that will be made available to students going to primary schools all the way to Universities. The India Ministry is looking to bring the price down to $10 per tablet and has begun discussions with global manufacturers to start mass production of the world's cheapest laptop:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/The--35--laptop--is-finally-here/650540
Samsung is so confident in its Galaxy S smartphone that they are sending FREE ones to existing iPhone users in the UK so they can decide if they want to keep their iPhone or switch to the Android-based phone. Some UK iPhone 4 owners have had problems with repeated dropped calls and have had a sudden unexplainable inability to make or receive calls or send texts, so Samsung must see an opening for their top-of-the-line smartphone:
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-07/23/samsung-galaxy-s-iphone