5:00 PM
Pratt & Whitney was awarded a DARPA contract to design part of the Transformer--a flying Humvee. The Transformer will have folding wings that pop out from the side of the vehicle and have helicopter-like rotor blades. It will be robotic without any pilot or driver. AAI also has a DARPA contract for its piece of the design and Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the flying Humvee:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-flying-humvee-20101020,0,2017785.story
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/10/darpas-flying-humvee-goes-diesel/
China controls more than 95% of the global market for rare earth elements, which are essential for flat-screen TV, lasers, hybrid cars, etc. China is cutting rare earth exports by up to 30% next year and all 31 Japanese companies handling rare earths have reported disruption to shipments. China denies suggestions that export cuts were aimed at encouraging foreign companies to move their manufacturing to China, but limited exports of rare earths have forced companies from Japan, Korea, US, and Europe to move their production facilities to China:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hXasHtGPjXWnNDfXrsTBYK1p-u3w?docId=CNG.ebe1370d5b04284bfd73b740cea78e82.581
From 1965 to the mid-1980s, the US had at least half of the world's production of rare earths and did not have to get any from any other country due to the mine in the Mojave Desert. The US company that owns the mine announced a plan to raise production to meet up to 1/3 of the world's demand within a few years--this could be crucial for the future of the economy in the US and will keep a secure supply of the elements needed for high-tech systems:
http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/10/rare-earth-embargos-and-supply-problems.html
Astronomers have assumed that hot spots on planets face their suns, but they discovered a planet that has its hot spot *80 degrees* offset from where it should be under that assumption...the hot spot is over to the side of the planet instead of directly under the glare of the sun!
http://www.asdnews.com/news/31265/Astronomers_Find_Weird%2C_Warm_Spot_on_an_Exoplanet.htm
The Hubble captured the first snapshots of a possible asteroid collision:
http://www.asdnews.com/news/31142/Hubble_Captures_1st_Images_of_Aftermath_of_Possible_Asteroid_Collision.htm
Spray-on skin product moves towards commercialization. Donor skin cells that are grown in a lab can be applied to burn wounds and speed up healing and reduce the need for costly secondary operations to treat scar problems. Right now that product is applied via sheets when people have surgeries, but the spray-on product will enable it to be used by many more people:
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/video/spray-on-skin-moves-towards-commercialisation/1005592.article
Environmental scientist found that prison inmates make great research long-term assistants. The prisoners have time, space, and have been good at observing and recording plant growth data:
http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/science_nation/sciencebehindbars.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_196
The US-Mexico border appears to be more secure now--some people say that is because of increased border patrols and some say that the struggling US economy has discouraged illegal immigration:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130657048
Clearwire has reached 90 Mbps download speeds in its initial testing of LTE! Clearwire's WiMAX network has a max speed of 10 Mbps and average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps...and they get 90Mbps from LTE right away? 30 Mbps LTE upload speed is also impressive:
http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/clearwire-details-results-initial-lte-testing/2010-10-20#ixzz12vJzECDv
Samsung will be using the same software platform for their TVs and smartphones:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69J0GP20101020
Wireless Design & Development had an article about Acorn's HellaPHY:
http://www.wirelessdesignmag.com/ShowPR.aspx?PUBCODE=055&ACCT=0000100&ISSUE=1010&RELTYPE=IN&PRODCODE=00000&PRODLETT=CK&source=&CommonCount=0
Study found that 70% of students who attend California community colleges do not get their degree and do not transfer to 4-year colleges...70% drop-out rate is pretty sad:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1020-community-colleges-20101020,0,6320186.story
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-flying-humvee-20101020,0,2017785.story
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/10/darpas-flying-humvee-goes-diesel/
China controls more than 95% of the global market for rare earth elements, which are essential for flat-screen TV, lasers, hybrid cars, etc. China is cutting rare earth exports by up to 30% next year and all 31 Japanese companies handling rare earths have reported disruption to shipments. China denies suggestions that export cuts were aimed at encouraging foreign companies to move their manufacturing to China, but limited exports of rare earths have forced companies from Japan, Korea, US, and Europe to move their production facilities to China:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hXasHtGPjXWnNDfXrsTBYK1p-u3w?docId=CNG.ebe1370d5b04284bfd73b740cea78e82.581
From 1965 to the mid-1980s, the US had at least half of the world's production of rare earths and did not have to get any from any other country due to the mine in the Mojave Desert. The US company that owns the mine announced a plan to raise production to meet up to 1/3 of the world's demand within a few years--this could be crucial for the future of the economy in the US and will keep a secure supply of the elements needed for high-tech systems:
http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/10/rare-earth-embargos-and-supply-problems.html
Astronomers have assumed that hot spots on planets face their suns, but they discovered a planet that has its hot spot *80 degrees* offset from where it should be under that assumption...the hot spot is over to the side of the planet instead of directly under the glare of the sun!
http://www.asdnews.com/news/31265/Astronomers_Find_Weird%2C_Warm_Spot_on_an_Exoplanet.htm
The Hubble captured the first snapshots of a possible asteroid collision:
http://www.asdnews.com/news/31142/Hubble_Captures_1st_Images_of_Aftermath_of_Possible_Asteroid_Collision.htm
Spray-on skin product moves towards commercialization. Donor skin cells that are grown in a lab can be applied to burn wounds and speed up healing and reduce the need for costly secondary operations to treat scar problems. Right now that product is applied via sheets when people have surgeries, but the spray-on product will enable it to be used by many more people:
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/video/spray-on-skin-moves-towards-commercialisation/1005592.article
Environmental scientist found that prison inmates make great research long-term assistants. The prisoners have time, space, and have been good at observing and recording plant growth data:
http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/science_nation/sciencebehindbars.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_196
The US-Mexico border appears to be more secure now--some people say that is because of increased border patrols and some say that the struggling US economy has discouraged illegal immigration:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130657048
Clearwire has reached 90 Mbps download speeds in its initial testing of LTE! Clearwire's WiMAX network has a max speed of 10 Mbps and average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps...and they get 90Mbps from LTE right away? 30 Mbps LTE upload speed is also impressive:
http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/clearwire-details-results-initial-lte-testing/2010-10-20#ixzz12vJzECDv
Samsung will be using the same software platform for their TVs and smartphones:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69J0GP20101020
Wireless Design & Development had an article about Acorn's HellaPHY:
http://www.wirelessdesignmag.com/ShowPR.aspx?PUBCODE=055&ACCT=0000100&ISSUE=1010&RELTYPE=IN&PRODCODE=00000&PRODLETT=CK&source=&CommonCount=0
Study found that 70% of students who attend California community colleges do not get their degree and do not transfer to 4-year colleges...70% drop-out rate is pretty sad:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1020-community-colleges-20101020,0,6320186.story