The LROC camera system has taken its first images of the Moon, revealing detailed topography and subtle features. The instrument is performing exceptionally well, with a resolution of approximately 1.4-meters/pixel, and will soon begin mapping the lunar surface at 50-cm/pixel.
Researchers at CLEO/IQEC Meeting present advancements in electro-optics, lasers and light-based treatments for faster wound healing. Autonomous vehicle technology has made significant progress with futuristic sensors and computing capabilities, promising to revolutionize transportation and warfare.
Dr. Leo Lombardini is conducting a pioneering study on pecan roots to optimize tree maintenance and nutrient application. His research aims to discover ways to produce higher-quality, more nutritious nuts in an efficient and sustainable manner.
Researchers have discovered a series of distinct concentric zones in gecko eyes that enable exceptional night vision, leading to potential advancements in camera technology and multifocal contact lenses. The study, published in the Journal of Vision, also introduces a new method for gathering optical data from live animals without harm.
Researchers at Princeton University developed a new method that scrambles light to capture more detail in images. By leveraging nonlinear optical materials, the technique can create high-resolution images without sacrificing wide-angle perspective.
A new study examines how marketers can enhance target options by introducing unique categorical features, reducing the decoy's impact. The authors found that changes in destination, laptop computer type, and camera phone brand decreased the attractiveness of the decoy option.
The Deep Sky project develops a user-friendly database system and interface to serve high-resolution cosmic reference images to astronomers worldwide. This enables instant access to processed observations for analysis, facilitating research in various scientific disciplines.
A Rochester Institute of Technology scientist improved Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer calibration to enable high-precision polarimetry. This technique helps scientists study active galactic nuclei and proto-planets around young stars.
Researchers at Brown University have created a novel system where robots can follow humans at a precise distance without special clothing or environments. The team used computer programs and depth-imaging cameras to recognize human gestures and respond accordingly.
Researchers found that exposing consumers to product features from outside their initial category can increase awareness and improve evaluations. Hybrid products, such as phones with cameras or watch/cameras, often confuse consumers due to the single-category belief problem.
Cognitive neuroscientists successfully created an illusion of body-swapping by manipulating sensory impressions, allowing subjects to perceive a mannequin's body as their own. This discovery sheds light on how the brain constructs an internal image of the body and has potential practical uses in VR applications.
Researchers at NIST found that adjusting camera settings, using traditional cameras, and graphical overlays can significantly improve facial image quality. These steps can be easily implemented with existing facial recognition technology.
A team of researchers discovered that bee swarms are guided by high-speed streaker bees, which fly through the top half of the swarm at high speeds. The team filmed swarming bees with high-definition cameras and analyzed over 3500 frames to build a picture of the insects' flight directions.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have designed an adaptive liquid lens that captures 250 pictures per second and requires less energy than competing technologies. The lens uses vibrations to change the focus, allowing for high-fidelity miniature cameras.
Researchers at University of Illinois and Northwestern University develop high-performance hemispherical camera using stretchable optoelectronics. The camera's design is based on the human eye, with a simple lens and hemispherical detector, enabling broader field of view and improved illumination uniformity.
The new ASTM International standard assesses robot visual capability to determine if it can provide clear, easily interpretable images to operators and emergency planners. The test methods measure field of view, far- and near-vision acuity in various lighting conditions.
NASA has set a new target launch date for the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) on June 7, following additional time needed to resolve engineering concerns. The launch window remains unchanged, and details of the prelaunch news conference are planned.
An international team of astronomers has found 10 new 'extra solar' planets using a robotic camera technique that will revolutionize scientific understanding of how planets form. The newly discovered planets have masses between half the size of Jupiter to eight times its size, including exotic worlds with extremely close orbits.
A team of astronomers from Queen's University Belfast have discovered the nature of five supernova precursor stars using Hubble images. The study reveals that stars with masses as low as seven times the mass of the Sun can explode as supernovae, challenging current understanding of massive star collapse.
Researchers and volunteers have intensified the search for wolverine evidence in the Tahoe National Forest after a recent photograph was captured. Genetic analysis of scat and hair samples is underway to determine the animal's origin and sex, with potential implications for conservation efforts.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed a robot called El-E that can find and deliver everyday items using a direct laser pointer interface. The robot uses multiple methods to localize objects and grasp them, making it particularly useful for patients with severe mobility challenges.
The Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham achieved its first binocular light using twin side-by-side 8.4-meter primary mirrors, showcasing the telescope's power and clarity. The images reveal details of the spiral galaxy NGC 2770, including newly formed hot stars and older, cooler stars.
Researchers have developed a smaller endoscope that can take high-quality color pictures in confined spaces, potentially saving lives by detecting treatable conditions before they turn into cancer. The device is designed for low-cost screening and doesn't require anesthesia or sedation.
The MESSENGER spacecraft has captured high-resolution images of Mercury's surface, revealing detailed features such as the Vivaldi crater and ancient depressions. The images show craters as small as 1 kilometer in diameter, providing new insights into the planet's geology.
The Hubble servicing mission, scheduled for August 2008, aims to equip the telescope with new instruments, including the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and Wide Field Camera 3. These upgrades will enhance Hubble's capabilities to explore the universe, studying dark matter, dark energy, and planetary atmospheres.
Research by Diana C. Mutz suggests that televised political discourse can improve awareness of issue arguments but also leads to increased emotional reactions and decreased regard for oppositional views when incivility and close-up camera perspectives are used.
A new electronic system created by researchers from the University of Granada improves driving ability at night using information extracted from night visors. The system makes intelligent cars more sophisticated by informing drivers about obstacles on the road.
A Purdue University team aims to improve dietary tracking using cell phone cameras, expanding on existing techniques to evaluate portion sizes and nutritional content. The project, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, may help Americans make informed food choices and reduce health risks.
The University of Arizona's HiRISE team has released over 1,200 Mars images to the Planetary Data System, making them available to the public through a user-friendly viewer tool. The images reveal hundreds of important discoveries about Mars, including crater impacts and dust avalanches.
A study by Prashant Malaviya reveals that ad repetition can improve product evaluation through item-specific and relational elaboration. However, expertise-related consumers may perform relational elaboration without repetition, making it less effective for industry-specific trade publications.
Researchers at Kansas State University are developing a new laser-like X-ray source that can capture fast motion in the atomic world. The technology could be used to quickly determine if a suspicious package contains dangerous chemicals.
A recent study explores how consumers' self-assessment of skill level influences their purchasing decisions for professional-grade golf clubs. Participants who had attempted a shorter putt perceived themselves as better golfers and chose higher-end equipment.
Researchers at Bonn University have developed a software system called the Retina Encoder, which helps the brain interpret signals from retinal implants. The system learns to translate camera signals into a language that the brain understands, allowing blind subjects to perceive contours and orientation.
Research by Dr. Anders Garm found that box jellyfish rely on intensity contrast, not color contrast, for obstacle avoidance. The lower lens eye plays a crucial role in detecting and responding to obstacles.
The VISTA camera, Europe's largest infrared camera, will survey large areas of the southern sky at near-infrared wavelengths, studying cool objects, dust, and high-redshift galaxies. The camera's 67 million pixels will enable it to map the infrared sky faster than any previous telescope.
A team of Canadian scientists will gather detailed information about the northern lights using a network of Ground-Based Observatories and NASA satellites. The THEMIS mission aims to pinpoint the cause of brilliant explosions in the auroral displays.
The Cassini spacecraft has imaged the tallest mountains ever seen on Saturn's moon Titan, with peaks reaching nearly a mile high. The mountains are topped with bright, white material that may be methane or other organic 'snow,' suggesting a unique geology and potential for life.
A new study by Ann E. Schlosser found that virtual experiences improved people's memories of a camera's functions, but also increased false positives and created vivid internally-generated recollections.
Researchers designed a low-cost, lightweight wide-angle lens that produces virtually distortion-free images, ideal for security-camera systems and robot navigation. The lens has a field of view of 151 degrees and can be increased to capture even more space, making it suitable for various indoor applications.
A study by Cornell Food & Brand Lab shows that we tend to overeat due to cues around us, such as plate size and distractions. By using smaller plates or limiting food options, individuals can make easier changes to control their eating habits.
The HiRISE camera took a remarkable picture showing the entire 800-meter Victoria crater and the rover down to its tracks and shadows. The images reveal a distinctive scalloped shape to the crater's rim, layered sedimentary rocks, and sand dunes on the floor.
A new study by UC Berkeley vision scientists found that the human visual system is more effective at distinguishing a single person's actions when they are in sync with another individual. This ability is crucial for our social species, allowing us to interpret visual cues to determine emotions and intentions.
The D-SPECT camera reduces image acquisition times by an order of magnitude, provides better image quality, and enables simultaneous multi-isotope imaging for more versatile diagnostics. This technology also offers personalized diagnostics taking into account patient-specific physical information.
Researchers studied nematocyst discharge in Hydra using an electronic framing-streak camera at 1,430,000 frames per second. They found discharges as short as 700 nanoseconds and pressures of up to 7 GPa, allowing the cellular process to release kinetic energy with molecular spring mechanism.
TEEVE enables cost-effective cyberspace communication with full-body size views, suitable for training, entertainment, and healthcare applications. Researchers have tested the technology with dancers, achieving exciting results, and plan to expand its use in education, remote healthcare, and elderly care.
Using bird-mounted cameras, researchers can measure key aspects of a bird's flight with unprecedented accuracy. By analyzing the motion data from these onboard systems, scientists hope to gain insights into the intricate mechanics behind a bird's flight, including its control system and body motion.
A team of scientists and students captured data during a rare three-minute solar eclipse to study why the Sun's corona is millions of degrees hotter than its surface. The expedition used new electronic cameras and specialized filters to record images of the corona.
A research team led by Professor Eberhard Bodenschatz has experimentally tested two theories on how particles separate in strong turbulence. The results, which agree with George Batchelor's predictions but not the Richardson-Obukhov law, suggest that particles move more slowly away from each other than previously assumed.
A recent study recommends a large-scale test of speed camera networks in the US to curb road deaths. Small increases in travel speeds resulted in over 42,000 annual road deaths in the 1990s. Implementing speed control policies like those in the UK could have reduced US road deaths by 16-25%.
Researchers at Duke University captured the clearest video yet of lightning-generated sprites, revealing new details about their development and structure. The team's findings, published in Geophysical Research Letters, provide a better understanding of sprite dynamics and their possible effects on the upper atmosphere.
A new robot system developed by Dmitry Oleynikov and colleagues enables surgeons to visualize the abdominal cavity using minimal incisions, allowing for less trauma and potentially reducing scars. The device is controlled from a console and can be inserted through small incisions, allowing for more flexibility in surgical procedures.
The UC San Diego-Venter Institute partnership aims to create a community resource for metagenomic data, facilitating advances in marine microbial ecology and evolutionary biology. The project will develop a novel cyberinfrastructure to store, analyze, and draw conclusions from large-scale microbial genomic sequence data.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured the sharpest view ever taken of the Orion Nebula, revealing a tapestry of star formation and large-scale structures. The image showcases over 3,000 stars of various sizes, including possible young brown dwarfs and binary brown dwarfs.
Researchers at NIST have submitted recommendations for standardized performance guidelines for thermal imagers used in six critical emergency situations, including locating victims and pinpointing fire sources. The proposed evaluation methods will improve the selection process for life-saving devices costing $10,000 each.
A team from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) developed a multi-purpose sensor payload to collect video and infrared imagery of the target's boost, post-boost phases, reentry vehicle separation event, and SM-3 intercept. This provided scientists with the closest view of the intercept, enabling them to better und...
New findings from the Rosetta spacecraft suggest comets are composed primarily of dust held together by ice, contradicting the long-held 'dirty snowball' hypothesis. Cometary nuclei like Comet 9P/Tempel 1 exhibit dynamic and volatile properties, with impacts triggering outbursts of dust and gas.
Researchers are developing new techniques to detect deception using cameras and sensors, aiming to improve security at border crossings and buildings. The Rutgers team will employ image-based models and machine learning algorithms to analyze facial expressions and body movements, increasing accuracy over current polygraph technology.
Researchers report on the first 10 patients to undergo totally robotic laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, achieving comparable surgical times and complication rates with a short learning curve. The study suggests that robotic technology is feasible and safe for this procedure, potentially offering a superior alternative.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured dramatic images of comet 9P/Tempel 1 before and after a 820-pound projectile impact by the Deep Impact spacecraft. The collision caused a brilliant flash and increased the size of the inner cloud of dust and gas, which expanded outward in a fan shape at speeds of up to 1,200 miles per hour.
The UKIDSS survey will scour the sky with the world's most powerful infrared survey camera to study objects too cool for visible light, like failed stars and distant quasars. The surveys aim to solve existing conundrums, such as when galaxies first lit up, and discover new phenomena.