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Coolest University Tech Lab Projects in the Works

Posted by timothy on from the tuition-begets-intuition dept.

NW writes "While universities like MIT, Berkeley and CMU don't tend to shout as loudly about their latest tech innovations as do Google, Cisco and other big vendors, their results are no less impressive in what they could mean for faster, more secure and more useful networks, computers, etc. Here's a good roundup of 25 of them, from studies on putting T-Rays to use in computers to advancing wireless to the next level to outsmarting terrorists on the Web."

4 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. Skull by Ruie · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Of course, for now you need to wear a funky headband to make it work (the headband "uses laser diodes to send near-infrared light through the forehead at a relatively shallow depth â" only two to three centimeters â" to interact with the brain's frontal lobe," according to Tufts.)


    2-3 cm seems to be rather large, especially since it has to go through the skull - can anyone comment on this ?

    1. Re:Skull by Grym · · Score: 2, Interesting

      2-3 cm seems to be rather large, especially since it has to go through the skull - can anyone comment on this ?

      I can believe it. In the area of the forehead they are discussing, there is a large hollow space known as the frontal sinus. Even a simple doctor's penlight (which is about as bright as a single LED) can be used medically in what's called "frontal sinus transillumination" to check for fluid or pus in this space. It seems quite reasonable that a much brighter light could penetrate enough to visualize even further.

      -Grym

  2. Re:55 saves gas by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Driving slower might have saved your 1972 Buick Skylark some gas, but driving 55 instead of 75 does little for new cars today.

    Just keep a steady speed.

    And if you really wanted to save gas you would demand that all cities re-design their traffic control systems to eliminate unneeded red light stops at night (main roads are always green, secondary roads are flashing red) and give up on the idea of comming to a complete stop. Stop signs are dumb in most cases - all thats needed is yield signs and strict following of the right of way combined with a general slowing that will allow you to stop if needed.

    If you elimiate the complete stop you will save much more gas (think of every car having the benifits of a hybrid here!!)

    And the next time you find your self at a read light where three of four directions are stopped with no one comming in the fourth open you window and yell "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"- then go throigh the light

  3. Re:55 saves gas by BKX · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Why do people always spout this crap? The most efficient speed will ALWAYS be the bottom speed of your top gear. In 90% of cars today this is, and likely always will be, 45-50 mph. Of course, this assumes you drive at a constant speed. Hypermilers will tell you that you should accelerate at 75% throttle (for most cars), in the manual recommended gear (automatics may require slightly less power or special tricks for correct upshifting) until you reach about 55mph. Then put in the clutch (or transmission into neutral) and coast until the bottom of your top gear. Then accelerate at 75% throttle to 55mph. Then coast again. Repeat. This the most effecient. Wind resistance prevents the most efficient speed from going higher than around 55mph, no matter what you do about gears.