Today’s Science… Tomorrow’s Future

Things are STEAMing Up!

scitechspec — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:00:44 +0000

Pittsburgh is hosting an exciting exhibition this week that firmly establishes artists at the crossroads of a new form of artistic-scientific-technological expression.

What is the most interesting to you?

Where the Cool Is!

scitechspec — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:46:59 +0000

The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is always the ‘future’ of cool technologies to come, and five Pittsburgh Companies joined the action!

Quality of Life Center (QoLT)

Which do you think is the coolest?

Sun Cleans Your Clothes – Without Water!?

scitechspec — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:02:08 +0000

Yes, the sun may now clean specially coated cotton fabric – no water needed!Scientists in China have developed cotton fabric that uses sunlight to get rid of stains and smells on clothes . This special coating includes photocatalysts which trigger chemical reactions in light. One of these called titanium dioxide helps sunscreen block the sun and it is also used as tattoo ink. Another photocatalst, called silver iodide, is now used for developing photographs.

What do you think?

Smartest Hot Toy for 2011 From Right Here in the ‘Burg!

scitechspec — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:03:27 +0000

Here is a ground-breaking new game and toy, Mechatar – one of the hot new toys for 2011 (says CNN Money).

The Pittsburgh robotics toy maker Bossa Nova approached Schell Games to develop a unique new concept in gaming – never tried before – two-way game play. Players not only play and battle with a toy, but transfer the game to a virtual world!

Who do you know who would love this?

Another Multidisciplinary Field – Social Neurosciences!

scitechspec — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:25:39 +0000

Over the past two decades, social neuroscience emerged as a field ranging from physicists to psychologists, epidemiologists to neurologists, philosophers to neurobiologists, and entomologists to zoologists, that have begun to work together in interdisciplinary teams using animal models, patient studies, and research on normal individuals to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying social interactions. Some neuroscientists describe this emerging field as addressing one of the major problems for the neurosciences in the 21st century. Large interdisciplinary teams are now the rule. The obstacles of geographic and disciplinary boundaries among scientists are really diminishing.

What other fields should go multidisciplinary? …or, what fields have ??

PA Company Wins $1.35 Million NASA Prize!

scitechspec — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:41:11 +0000

State College, PA company wins NASA $1.35 million prize for a very efficient airplane powered by electricity.

This company actually doubled the fuel efficiency requirement of the competition.

What do you think is next?

NEW footprint research!

scitechspec — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:21:18 +0000

New research!

… suggests that people can be identified with a very high degree of certainty just by looking at the pressure signature of a individual’s foot made on the ground as they walk.

Does this seem possible to you?

Check out the articale and see what’s happening.

Students Design NEW App to Diagnose Malaria

scitechspec — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:00:21 +0000

Lifelens is the App which could be could be especially useful in Sub-Saharan Africa – where malaria kills thousands of children each and every day.

Right now, the only malaria tests given in this region consist of cotton swabs that change color when in contact with infected blood. This current method results in about a 60% false positives, so billions of dollars are spent/wasted yearly medicating those who are not sick!

What would you create an App for?

It’s a Go!

scitechspec — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:05:43 +0000

and…it’s a launch! (Watch the live shuttle launch.)

Exploration can be seen to provide the foundation of our knowledge, technology, resources, and inspiration. It seeks to answer questions about our existence.

So what should be next?

Your thoughts.

…Did you get to see the launch??

Flying Car Takes Off!!

scitechspec — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:03:03 +0000

Flying car is cleared for use.

Really it is more a driving plane than a flying car.

Do you just have to have it?