Latest Inventions/Discoveries

Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno

MAT-Science Student

Robot that Makes

Discoveries on Its Own
Scientists at Aberystwyth University
and the University of Cambridge in
the UK managed to create world's
first robot that can carry out its own
experiments, produce hypotheses as well as make scientific
discoveries. Researchers dubbed their latest invention Adam.
Working on its own, the robot-scientist already managed to find new
functions for several genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known
as brewer's yeast.
The lead-researcher of the project is Ross King, a computational
biologist at Aberystwyth. He says that up till now Adam made modest
findings, but all the discoveries were real. Their latest invention
consists of a room equipped with different laboratory instruments. It
includes 4 personal computers that work as one brain. In addition,
Adam has robot arms, a number of cameras, liquid handlers,
incubators and more.
Performing the Experiment
Scientists gave their latest invention a freezer with a collection of
mutant strains of yeast where individual genes were deleted. The robot
was also provided with a database that contained information on the
yeast genes, enzymes and metabolism, as well as a supply of hundreds
of metabolites.
In order to find which genes coded for which enzymes, the robot
cultured mutant yeast that had a specific gene deleted. Then it
analyzed the way mutant grew without a certain metabolite. In case
the strain was spotted to grow not very well, Adam registered new
information about the function of the deleted gene.
It is worth mentioning that Adam is able to perform over 1,000 similar
experiments daily. So far, the robot came up with and tested 20

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

hypotheses about the coding of genes for 13 enzymes, from which 12

were confirmed by researchers, who carried out their own experiments.
Partner for Adam
Currently scientists are developing a new robot, the goal of which will
be to discover new drugs. The new robot will be dubbed Eva. With
robots' help scientists will be able to focus on complex studies, leaving
robots to carry out routine and time-consuming tasks. At the same
time robots will have the possibility to conduct their own, completely
independent experiments, reports New Scientist.
Artificial Intelligence
According to Will Bridewell, an artificial intelligence researcher at
Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, the robot, created by
scientists from Aberystwyth University, carried out its studies on the
level of a graduate student. Nevertheless, this latest technological
invention continues to make steps towards an artificially intelligent
machine, able work together with other researchers and register their
results in natural language. "That's probably far off, but it seems likely
that we will get there. This is yet another step on the way," said Mr.
Bridewell.
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Invisible Shield
The latest science invention is a spray-on invisible thin glass coating
that sterilizes, protects and strengthens surfaces.
The coating also repels water, dirt, stains, mildew, fungus, bacteria and
viruses.

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

A liquid coating invented at the Saarbrcken Institute for New Materials

in Turkey and patented by Nanopool GmbH of Germany, is a flexible
and breathable spray-on glass film approximately 100 nanometres
thick (500 times thinner than a human hair) that has multiple
applications and uses in numerous fields.
The coating is environmentally friendly (Winner of the Green Apple
Award).
It can be applied within seconds to
make any surface very easy to clean
and safe from anti-microbes (Winner
of the NHS Smart Solutions Award).
The special glass coating known as
"SiO2 ultra-thin layering" protects
practically any surface against water,
uv radiation, dirt, heat, acid, stains,
mildew, fungus. bacteria and viruses.
Trials by food processing plants in
Germany
have
concluded
that
surfaces coated with liquid glass only need hot water for cleaning. In
fact, the coating provided higher levels of sterility than surfaces
cleaned with bleach or other chemicals.
A year long trial at a British hospital in Southport, Lancashire is to be
published soon with very promising results for a wide range of coating
applications used on medical equipment, implants, catheters, sutures
and bandages.
Trials for in-vivo applications are confidential, but Neil McClelland, the
UK Project Manager for Nanopool GmbH, describes the results as
"stunning". "Items such as stents can be coated, and this will create

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

anti sticking features. Catheters and sutures which are a source of

infection, will also cease to be problematic," he says.
Colin Humphreys, a professor of materials science at Cambridge
University, commented that liquid glass appears to have a wide range
of applications and that the product 'looks impressive'.
The applications for this latest science invention seem endless buildings, vehicles, appliances, clothing etc. can have dirt and germ
free surfaces without using toxic coatings or chemicals.

Sources: nanopool.eu
dailymail.co.uk

Building Human Organs

Oganovo is a company based in San
Diego, California.
Their latest science invention is a
technology (novogen) which allows
living tissue cells to be assembled into
patterns and complex structures, such
as organs.
Organovo has partnered with Invetech. a company based in Australia,
to develop a bio-printer.
The device prints (places) human cells in a three-dimensional matrix to
construct human tissue.

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

"Building human organs cell-by-cell was considered science fiction not

that long ago," says Fred Davis of Invetech.
Currently, the bio-printer can grow blood vessels.
It is anticipated that within five years the device will construct arteries
and by 2020 sophisticated organs will be built by the device.

Source: organovo.com
Photo: Organovo

Glass Nanobots Absorb Toxins

A nanobot particle made from glass is being
developed that can absorb pollutants from
contaminated water.
The glass particles act like sponges by
attracting and binding contaminants to
themselves and expanding eight times in size
during the process.
But unlike a sponge, these nanobots are
hydrophobic, meaning they don't absorb
water.

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

Scientists claim this new technology could be used to clean petroleum

spills or other hazardous chemicals from our waterways. After the
particles are dropped into the water, they collect pollutants and then
rise to the surface when fully expanded. The particles are then
skimmed from the surface, cleaned and placed back into the water to
repeat the process.

Source: absmaterials.com

Water Drop Lens

Physicist and inventor, Bruno Berge, has
created a liquid optical lens.
Using a process known as electro-wetting, a
water drop is deposited on a metal substrate and covered by a thin
insulating layer. When a voltage is applied to the metal, it modifies the
angle of the liquid drop.
The liquid lens is comprised of two liquids, water and oil, one is a
conductor while the other is an insulator. A variation in the voltage
causes a change to the curvature of the liquid to liquid interface, which
changes the focal length of the lens.
The use of liquids allows for low cost construction. There are no moving
parts and electrical consumption is extremely low. The lens has a large
inverse focal length range, quick response, high optical quality and can
operate in a wide temperature range.

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

Source: varioptic.com

Batteries That Operate With Any Liquid

Chungpin Liao, a professor at the Graduate School of Electro-Optic and
Material Science of National Formosa
University in Taiwan has invented an
organic battery that creates electricity
when wet.
The "organic" battery generates a charge
within 10 seconds and will last anywhere
from two days to a week depending on the
liquid. It works with water, beverages or
even urine.
Although it will only produce half the strength of traditionalbatteries,
the organic battery has a storage capacity greater than water-powered
fuel cells and is very cheap to manufacture.
"Plus it contains no toxic substances and does not pose an
environmental hazard" says Chungpin.
Liao received his degree in nuclear engineering from National Tsing
Hua University in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He earned his Masters and Ph.D
degrees in plasma science and fusion technology from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, United States.

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

Source: www.nfu.edu.tw/eng/

Bionic Eyes
As our population ages, impaired vision
caused by damaged retinas has increased.
A new invention ideas is to use silicon
chips that can stimulate the retina to
respond to light, which improves vision.
But these chips are large and can tear or
otherwise damage surrounding eye tissue
over time.
Jeffrey Olsen, of the University of Colorado
Hospital, has invented light amplifying
"quantum" dots. This use of nanotechnology increases the light
received by the retina so that images are brighter.
The "quantum" dots fluoresce when hit by photons so the images are
more visible to functioning light sensitive cells.
The dots act as semiconductors and are implanted into the retina. They
are much smaller than silicon chips.
To appreciate the miniature world of nanotechnology, it helps to get an
idea of the sizes involved. A nanometer (nm) is the unit of
measurement on the nanoscale. A nanometer is smaller than the
wavelength of visible light or a hundred thousand times smaller than
the width of a human hair.
On the nanoscale, atoms are assembled to make the latest science
inventions - such as light amplifying "quantum" dots.

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

Source: www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2008106605

Viral Micro-batteries
Researchers at MIT have created the
world's first batteries constructed from
microscopic viruses.
Viruses are genetically engineered to
attract specific anode and cathode
materials, molecules like cobalt oxide from
a solution, which form wires packed
together to create electrodes smaller than
a human cell.
Batteries consist of two opposing electrodes, anode and cathode,
separated by an electrolyte.
"Once you do the genetic engineering with the viruses themselves, you
pour in the solution and they grow the right combination of these
materials on them," says professor Angela Belcher.
The team is working on practical applications for this new invention
idea, which include fiber configurations, smaller than a human cell,
spun like silk and integrated into textiles providing a wearable power
source. Nano-films could also be printed or laminated to electronic
devices for the same purpose.
The research is being funded by the Army Research Office Institute of
Collaborative Biotechnologies, the Army Research Office Institute of
Soldier Nanotechnologies, and the David and Lucille Packard
Foundation.

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

Source:
batteries.html

web.mit.edu/mitei/research/spotlights/cell-

Power Leap
Elizabeth Redmond of Chicago is using
the law of thermodynamics to create floor
tiles that compress to generate and
distribute electricity.
The tiles convert kinetic energy into
electrical energy from the pressure
exerted by people walking on them.
They are intended for high traffic areas
such as sidewalks, public transport platforms etc.
"Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. This project is exactly
about that," says the 23 year old inventor.
The innovative flooring system is a solution to wasted human kinetic
energy by harnessing it from pedestrian foot traffic to generate
electricity for the community.
Source: powerleap.net

NanoTube - Hair-Thin Loudspeakers

Shoushan Fan, Kaili Jiang and Lin Xiao, scientists at Tsinghua University

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

in Beijing, have invented a super-thin

loudspeaker (one thousandth the width
of a human hair).
The material is flexible, transparent,
stretchable - uses no magnets or
moving parts - and produces sound
quality as good as conventional
speakers.
An audio frequency current is sent through a sheet of carbon nanotube
to generate sound by vibrating surrounding air molecules.
The sheet of film experiences rapid temperature oscillations from the
current causing pressure oscillations in the surrounding air, which
creates sound pressure waves.
The film doesn't vibrate or move and can produce sound while being
flexed or stretched, bent or even when partly damaged.
The applications for this new invention idea appear limitless.
Combined with wireless technology, the nanotube film could be
incorporated into textiles converting your favorite sweater into an
wearable ipod.
The film can be laminated to a computer or television to replace
conventional speakers. It can be attached to any surface - ceilings,
walls, doors, car interiors - anywhere you wish to create acoustical
sound.
Source: http://news.tsinghua.edu.cn/new/eng/index.php

Solar Foil - The Future of Solar Energy

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

Anil Sethi, chief executive of the Swiss company Flison, holds a dark
polymer foil. A paper-thin foil 200 times lighter than glass solar
material. So light, it can be stuck to the sides of a
building. So light, it can be mass-produced in rolls
like packaging material.
This is solar film. This new invention idea is made
from a semiconductor compound that is embedded
into polymer foil. A compound that absorbs light by
freeing electrons, which can generate electricity for
heating, lighting and air-conditioning.
Just a small piece can power a mobile phone or
laptop.
It will even work on a grey, cloudy day and it should
be commercially available by 2010.
"We don't need subsidies, we just need governments to get out of the
way and do no harm. They've spent $170 billion subsidizing nuclear
power over the last thirty years," says Sethi.
The solar industry is expected to surpass wind power.
According to Michael Rogol, a solar expert with Credit Lyonnais, the
industry will grow to $40 billion by 2010, especially in Japan and
Germany where green energy laws have forced utitilies to purchase
surplus electricity from households.
Solar foil technology is accelerating so fast that the cost for electricity
per watt could be 70 cents within a few years and around 30 cents
within a decade.
"This is a very powerful technology," says Mike Splinter, chief executive
of the U.S. based semiconductor company Appied Materials.
Populations across Asia and Africa that do not have networks of
electrical grids, could jump into the solar age with this technology,
similar to how they jumped into wireless phones.

Latest Inventions/Discoveries
Submitted by: Joanne M. Nazareno
MAT-Science Student

Electrical utilities in Japan and Germany have already seen diminishing

profits.
But Jeroen Van de Veer, chief executive at Shell Oil assures us that oil
will be around for awhile, "We have invested a bit in all forms of
renewable energy ourselves and maybe we'll find a winner one day.
But the reality is that in twenty years time we'll still be using more oil
than now."
Sources: flisom.ch; appliedmaterials.com