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Prolonged mobile phone use may be linked to tinnitus

A small study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that regular mobile phone use for at least four years may double the risk of developing chronic tinnitus. The prevalence of chronic tinnitus is increasing, with around 10-15% of people in developed countries affected.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine·DateJul 19, 2010

Wireless vs. wireless

Researchers found that 3G networks benefit from increasing Wi-Fi coverage percentage, particularly in densely populated areas. Conversely, Wi-Fi has an advantage when market penetration rates are high but coverage areas are limited.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Mobile Communications·DateJun 22, 2010

No link between early childhood cancers and living near mobile phone base station during pregnancy, says study

A study by Imperial College London found no association between mothers living near mobile phone base stations during pregnancy and their child's risk of developing cancer before age five. The researchers analyzed data from almost 7,000 children and estimated radio frequency exposures to mobile phone base stations over nine months of p...

Consequences of being rich

A new study found that wealth and population density are the primary factors driving invasive species in Europe, surpassing climate and geography. Human activities like trade and travel have led to a surge in introduced species, causing ecosystem disruption and native species displacement.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 16, 2010

Few drive well while yakking on cell phones

A small group of people with the ability to multitask have been found to be able to drive safely while using a cell phone. The study, conducted by psychologists Jason Watson and David Strayer, found that these individuals, known as 'supertaskers,' showed no impairment on their driving performance when also talking on a cell phone.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·DateMar 28, 2010

Call forwarding: New NIST procedure could speed cell phone testing

Researchers at NIST have developed a new method for simulating wireless signal environments, reducing the time required for testing cellular phones by hours. The new technique uses a reverberation chamber to replicate complex real-world environments, enabling faster and more accurate design and test of wireless equipment.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalIEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters·DateMar 4, 2010

The new ID card

The new ID card features an RFID chip, cryptography, and a six-digit PIN for secure access to personal data. It enables citizens to validate their identity online and use the eID function for various services like banking and shopping, promoting confidence in digital transactions.

Breakthrough for mobile television

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has developed a breakthrough technology for mobile television using Long Term Evolution (LTE), which offers higher performance capacity than UMTS. This enables seamless adaptive communication without disruptions, ensuring high-quality video streaming on the go.

Study: Cell-phone bans while driving have more impact in dense, urban areas

A new study analyzing the impact of hand-held cell phone legislation on driving safety concludes that usage-ban laws had more of an impact in densely populated urban areas with a higher number of licensed drivers than in rural areas. The study found lower fatal accident rates and personal injury accidents in counties with high driver d...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateFeb 8, 2010

Researchers develop new bushfire warning device

University of Adelaide researchers have developed a low-cost bushfire detection system that can be sent via SMS or mobile network, warning authorities and people living in fire-risk areas of impending bushfires. The system costs less than $500 to build and uses solar-powered energy, reducing running costs.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalInternational Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology·DateJan 20, 2010

No change in brain tumor incidence during a time when cell phone usage increased

A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found no significant link between increased cell phone usage and brain tumor incidence. The research analyzed data from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden over a 30-year period, concluding that induction periods may be longer than previously thought.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 3, 2009

New explanation for nature's hardiest life form

Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding the molecular characteristics of bacterial spores, discovering that they have entirely different properties than previously thought. The findings suggest that changes in the physical properties of spore water may be crucial to their heat resistance.

SourceSwedish Research Council·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 12, 2009

Teen smoking-cessation trial first to achieve significant quit rates

Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center developed a phone-based counseling intervention that recruited and retained adolescent smokers, significantly impacting six-month continuous quitting rates. The study found 21.8% of smokers in the counseling group achieved continuous quitting after completing nine personalized calls.

SourceFred Hutchinson Cancer Center·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateOct 12, 2009

Room's ambience fingerprinted by phone

Researchers at Duke University have developed SurroundSense, an app that uses phone features to create a unique fingerprint of a space. The system achieves an average accuracy of 87% when all sensing capabilities are used, allowing it to tell whether a user is in a bar or a Target store.

Mount Sinai researchers find phone assessment effective for evaluating cognition in the elderly

A new study by Mount Sinai researchers found that cognitive testing by telephone is as effective as in-person testing in evaluating cognition in elderly individuals. The study used well-established neuropsychological tests and involved 54 healthy women with an average age of 79.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·DateSep 15, 2009