January 2009 in science

[edit] January 31 2009 (Saturday)

Tornado, a brand new £3 million main line steam locomotive makes its first passenger journey in the United Kingdom (BBC)

Microsoft is charged by the European Commission for anti-competitive practices by including Internet Explorer with Windows. (BBC)

Using new software scientists have designed a metamaterial that bends a large number of frequencies. (TechReview)

A methane burst of 21,000 tons occurred on Mars in late summer of 2003. This could be from rocks or microbes. (AP)
The GEO 600 is experiencing noise that lends evidence to the hologram universe theory; where smooth space-time we perceive breaks down into "grains". (NewScientist)

Simulations show having more than eight multi-cores decreases speed as they compete for memory bandwidth and memory bus. (PhysOrg)

Seventeen radio telescopes will coordinate to make a telescope the size of the Earth to observe three quasars; achieving 100x better resolution than optical telescopes. (PhysOrg)

A list of the "TOP 25 Most Dangerous Programming Errors" is released by security experts. (SANS.org)
Magnetic resonance force microscopy captures the first three-dimensional image of a virus. (NYTimes)

A case study shows how Memristors could be used to create low cost, high density memory. (ArxivBlog)

An artificially made RNA molecule self-replicates and evolves. (NewScientist)
Using the mathematical tool Morse-Smale complex a new algorithm has been made to extract and visualize patterns in exponentially growing data sets. (Physorg)
A scaled up test will be done with coal-digesting microorganisms converting coal into methane for electricity or to power vehicles. (TechReview)
Therapeutic hypothermia is becoming more common in hospitals greatly reducing the death rate of cardiac arrest. (PopSci)

Microsoft releases Windows 7 beta as a free download for testing. (Wired)
A repulsive Casimir effect has been measured between nano-materials in a bromobenzene solution. This could be used to lubricate or create ultra-low static friction for nanomachines. (NewScientist)
The Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) protocol will be implemented on .org and .gov domains initially to eliminate infiltration by malicious websites. (TechReview)

The Milky Way appears to be as large as the Andromeda Galaxy, with revised data showing our galaxy has 50% more mass than previously thought. (AP) Also, the sharpest infrared image of our galaxy was released, showing 200 new massive stars. (NewScientist)
A new "nanohoop" molecule may allow much longer and higher quality carbon nanotube manufacturing. (PhysOrg)
Celebrity Twitter accounts were hacked. (CNet)
The Perspex globe will simulate how insects see, navigate and learn; but it can also be used for surveillance, lighting and robots. (PhysOrg)

University of Michigan research has found that being in an urban setting can have significant negative impacts on memory, mood, self control and concentration; and that even brief encounters with natural settings can lead to improvements. (Boston)
Nanodiamonds indicate comet impacts on Earth created a sudden cooling period 12,000 years ago, making large mammals like mammoths extinct and starting a new ice age. (SciAm)
Samples as small as 75 nanometers in diameter can be trapped or moved using light. This could be applied to lab on a chip applications. (PhysOrg)