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News by Date: November 2006 Nanochemical technology: a new field for Delft’s chemists 30 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The chemical engineers at Delft University of Technology are entering the new discipline of nanochemical technology. Building upon their solid background in chemical and process engineering, they want to build a bridge between the new fundamental concepts involved in nanotechnology and the process technology needed to turn them into practical applications. A recruitment campaign for three new academic chairs begins this week in Dutch and international journals. Research institutes present new driving simulator 30 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology TRAIL, the Netherlands Research School for Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics at Delft University of Technology, is to present a new and improved driving research simulator in conjunction with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research and the national Institute for Road Safety Research. The future belongs to cars that glide on a magnetic lane 30 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology High school design competition: fuTUre Design Delft, In the future, vehicles will be powered by means of electrical induction magnets. This is the vision of the future according to Maurits Kroese, winner of the fuTUre Design Delft design competition. During the final day of this design competition for Dutch high school students (VWO and HAVO), Kroese presented his IMP (Induction Magnet Propelled vehicle), a vehicle that glides in a magnetic lane and, owing to its aerodynamic design, has a low wind-resistance. Kroese's design won him a holiday by air. Vishay releases a trio of precision low-voltage monolithic CMOS analog switching ICs 30 November 2006 - Vishay Electronic Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. released a trio of precision low-voltage monolithic CMOS analog switching ICs that combine a wide voltage range, low leakage, and tight on-resistance matching for precision signal switching and routing. Sandia researchers solve mystery of attractive surfaces 30 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories Panel A shows the tip/substrate position just prior to cavitation, which is shown ~33 msec later in Panel B. Panel C shows the cavity meniscus, during tip retraction, one frame prior to its unstable collapse leaving a cavity “bubble” behind on both the tip and substrate. These bubbles, attributed to air supplied from water and the porous superhydrophobic surface, are unstable and readsorbed in approximately six seconds. In all frames the circular image at the bottom is the reflection of the spherical 150-µm diameter SH tip from the flat SH surface. Sandia’s Wind Energy Technology Department uses Labs’ device to determine how wind turbines operate 30 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories In West Texas, New Mexico, and other places around the world, wind turbines are used to generate electricity. But how can engineers determine their efficiency and health? Sandia work launched on space shuttle shows live cells influence growth of nanostructures 30 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories The sample devices are riding on the International Space Station (courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico, NASA and US Air Force) to test whether nanostructures whose formations were directed by yeast and other single cells can create more secure homes for their occupants, even in the vacuum and radiation of outer space, than those created by more standard chemical procedures. Sandia applies a surety approach in creating solutions to energy challenges 30 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories With concerns that energy use will rapidly increase over the next several years while fossil fuels diminish, Sandia National Laboratories is looking at a new way to meet growing energy challenges, energy surety. New Rohm and Haas dissolution testing equipment for enhanced oral formulations 30 November 2006 - Rohm & Haas Co Rohm and Haas has designed new equipment in support of its GI and buccal dissolution testing that give an excellent level A IVIVC for oral dosage forms. Easy to use, they need no mathematical model and results can be interpreted quickly and effectively at the bench. Virtual desktop management software enhances usability of Matrox graphics cards 29 November 2006 - Matrox VITE Matrox Graphics, the leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professionals, announces the release of Matrox PowerSpace, a new virtual desktop management software solution for financial, insurance and enterprise professionals. Matrox PowerSpace is ideal for individuals who work in multi-display computing environments and utilize numerous applications and documents simultaneously. Virtual desktop management software enhances usability of Matrox graphics cards 29 November 2006 - Matrox VITE Matrox Graphics, the leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professionals, announces the release of Matrox PowerSpace, a new virtual desktop management software solution for financial, insurance and enterprise professionals. Matrox PowerSpace is ideal for individuals who work in multi-display computing environments and utilize numerous applications and documents simultaneously. Get your home ready to shine and sparkle paint color and decorating tips 29 November 2006 - Rohm & Haas Co Crisp nights and shorter days are signals of the approaching holiday season. In preparation for seasonal entertaining, now is a great time to freshen up your living space with simple and easy painting ideas. E M Optomechanical, Inc. obtains license to produce products based on Sandia-developed technology 29 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories E M Optomechanical, Inc. of Albuquerque recently obtained a license from Sandia National Laboratories to produce products based on a Labs-developed technology, a new configuration for interference microscopy. Delft mathematician simplifies the search for oil 29 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Mathematical research at Delft University of Technology is making it easier to look for oil. Yogi Ahmad Erlangga has developed a method of calculation which enables computers to solve a crucial equation much faster. In the past, this stumped oil company computers. New innovation-oriented research programme photonic devices approved by Economic Affairs 29 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The Innovation-Oriented Research Programme ‘Photonic Devices’, an initiative of Professor Joseph Braat of the Imaging Science & Technology Department of the Applied Sciences Faculty, has been approved by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. It is the second programme to be granted funds by the ministry this year. Previously the ‘Self Healing Materials’ IOP of Professor Sybrand van der Zwaag of the Aerospace Engineering Faculty, also based in Delft, received ministerial support. Sandia fingerprinting technique demonstrates wireless device driver vulnerabilities 29 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories Wireless network drivers, say Sandia researchers, are easy to interact with and potentially exploit if the attacker is within transmission range of the wireless device. By role-playing the position of an adversary, Sandia has demonstrated a unique fingerprinting technique that allows hackers with ill intent to identify a wireless driver without modification to or cooperation from a wireless device. Sandia experimental package of piezoelectric films to be part of NASA space station experiment 29 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories For the past three years a Sandia research team headed by Mat Celina has been investigating the performance of various piezoelectric polymer films that might one day serve as ultra-light mirrors in space telescopes. Vishay Intertechnology Inc. announced the release of two new boost converter ICs 29 November 2006 - Vishay Electronic Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. announced the release of two new boost converter ICs designed to maximize the power available from single- or dual-cell NiMH or alkaline battery packs by providing 85 % dc-to-dc conversion efficiency and operating from battery voltages as low as 0.85 V. Internet services design still in its infancy 29 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Internet services offered by Dutch companies are poorly designed. Coordination with other sales channels, like the good, old-fashioned ‘shop’, leaves a lot to be desired. Luuk Simons, researcher at TU Delft, has devised a method to change all this. New research puts killer La Palma tsunami at distant future 28 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The volcanic island of La Palma in the Canaries is much more stable than is generally assumed, Dutch scientists working at the TU Delft have found. The southwestern flank of the island isn’t likely to fall into the sea (potentially causing a tsunami) for at least another 10,000 years, professor Jan Nieuwenhuis states in the September edition of the university’s science magazine Delft Integraal. Delft researcher makes concrete stronger 28 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Concrete is highly resistant to compressive stress but is considerably weaker when subjected to tensile stress. DUT researcher Ivan Marković has developed an innovative type of fibre concrete which overcomes this problem by using steel fibres of various lengths. Delft-designed heat shield a boon for spacecraft 28 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The ceramic heat shields used on craft like the Space Shuttle require huge amounts of maintenance. In theory, this makes water-cooled metal shields a better option. In 2007 the European Space Agency will be testing just such a shield, developed in Delft. Unobtrusive system designed as detect-to-warn measure, offers fast capability to event managers 28 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories The detectors used in Sandia’s Rapidly Deployable Chemical Detection System can detect a wide variety of chemical warfare agents as well as common toxic chemicals. Vishay's new RoHS-compliant SMD aluminum capacitors enable operation up to 125 °C 28 November 2006 - Vishay Electronic Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. announced the release of a new surface-mount aluminum capacitor series designed to provide capacitance values up to 680 µF and reliability at high temperatures up to 125 °C. The new 140 CRH RoHS-compliant SMD aluminum capacitor is both lead (Pb)-free and solderable under lead (Pb)-free soldering conditions. Sandia researchers tackle energy distribution at military bases 28 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque, New Mexico [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] A Sandia National Laboratories research team headed by Dave Menicucci has taken a Labs-developed model, Energy Surety, and applied it to U.S. Army military bases to try to improve energy generation and transmission. The Microgrid team envisions small generation units and storage closer to where people live, work, and use power, and sees less generation at big plants. Sandia serves as lead national lab in security system integration 28 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories For the past 12 months, Sandia National Laboratories has served as the lead national lab in Project Linking the Oil and Gas Industry to Improve Cyber Security. The project was created to keep U.S. oil and gas control systems safe and secure, and to help minimize the chance that a cyber attack could severely damage or cripple America’s oil and gas infrastructure. Sandia releases free to the public Acro 1.0 optimization software 28 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories Acro 1.0 optimization software, developed by a Sandia National Laboratories team led by Bill Hart, has recently been released to the public and is available at no charge. Phase diagram of water revised by Sandia researchers 28 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories The electrically conducting structure of metallic water occurs at a more accessible part of the water phase diagram than formerly thought. Here, a snapshot from a first-principles computer simulation demonstrates the atomic disorder. Red spheres are hydrogen atoms, white spheres are oxygen atoms, and the electron density from a partially occupied electron state responsible for the conductivity is shown as gold. Matrox EpicA complete multi-display hardware and software suite for thin computing 28 November 2006 - Matrox VITE Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professionals, is pleased to announce the availability of its revolutionary new Matrox EpicA series for thin computing, including the EpicA TC2-Lite, EpicA TC2 and EpicA TC4 multi-display hardware and Matrox PowerDesk EpicA software. This innovative new product line, designed expressly for thin-computing environments, will be showcased at the upcoming SIA show in New York. Plans to form a company to provide an extensive range of advanced wood treatment technologies 28 November 2006 - Rohm & Haas Co Rohm and Haas Company and Chemical Specialties, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rockwood Holdings, Inc., today announced their plans to form a joint venture company to provide an extensive range of advanced wood treatment technologies and services to the global wood treatment industry. Rohm and Haas to build a new manufacturing plant in Mexico 27 November 2006 - Rohm & Haas Co Rohm and Haas Company plans to invest approximately $19MM (US) to build a manufacturing facility in Querétaro, Mexico for the production of emulsion polymers and poly-acrylates, used in several markets including the construction, textiles, adhesives, sealants, industrial, household and personal care. Plant construction is planned to begin before year-end. The Company anticipates the multi-purpose plant will be commissioned in early 2008. Matrox EpicA complete multi-display hardware and software suite for thin computing now available 27 November 2006 - Matrox VITE Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professionals, is pleased to announce the availability of its innovative new Matrox EpicA series for thin computing, including the EpicA TC2-Lite, EpicA TC2 and EpicA TC4 multi-display hardware and Matrox PowerDesk EpicA software. Vishay's new 8-A, 600-V ultrafast rectifiers offer 25-ns reverse recovery and 150-ns forward recovery 27 November 2006 - Vishay Electronic Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. is adding to its portfolio of high-voltage Ultrafast rectifiers with a pair of new devices that reduce power losses in the switchmode power supplies for consumer, computer, and industrial products with their extremely fast reverse and forward recovery times and low forward voltage drop. Doctoral research reveals: hub-and-spoke more efficient than point-to-point in current situation 27 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The latest generation of hub terminals backed up by a transport system providing perfect support comes out top in this doctoral study. Unfortunately it remains difficult at the moment to run this kind of system at a profit. In order for the latest generation of hub terminals to be used optimally, rail freight transport needs a chain director. Delft University helps prevent damage to monuments 27 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Research at Delft University of Technology has shown that the combination of salt and fluctuations in relative humidity has a disastrous effect on the masonry and plasterwork of historic buildings. But that damage may be preventable by adding so-called crystallisation inhibitors. Like a snail through the intestinal canal 27 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The medical device currently used for intestinal research, the colonsope, causes patients great discomfort. At TU Delft, an alternative method has been developed, inspired by the way in which snails move. Researcher Dimitra Dodou received her PhD degree from TU Delft based on this research subject. Sandia fingerprinting technique demonstrates wireless device driver vulnerabilities 27 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories Wireless network drivers, say Sandia researchers, are easy to interact with and potentially exploit if the attacker is within transmission range of the wireless device. By role-playing the position of an adversary, Sandia has demonstrated a unique fingerprinting technique that allows hackers with ill intent to identify a wireless driver without modification to or cooperation from a wireless device. Sandia researchers solve mystery of attractive surfaces 27 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories Panel A shows the tip/substrate position just prior to cavitation, which is shown ~33 msec later in Panel B. Panel C shows the cavity meniscus, during tip retraction, one frame prior to its unstable collapse leaving a cavity “bubble” behind on both the tip and substrate. These bubbles, attributed to air supplied from water and the porous superhydrophobic surface, are unstable and readsorbed in approximately six seconds. In all frames the circular image at the bottom is the reflection of the spherical 150-µm diameter SH tip from the flat SH surface. Phase diagram of water revised by Sandia researchers 27 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories “Metallic water” alters characteristics of Neptune and impacts other physics. The electrically conducting structure of metallic water occurs at a more accessible part of the water phase diagram than formerly thought. Here, a snapshot from a first-principles computer simulation demonstrates the atomic disorder. Red spheres are hydrogen atoms, white spheres are oxygen atoms, and the electron density from a partially occupied electron state responsible for the conductivity is shown as gold. Body armor for cells might help disease, space research 27 November 2006 - DOE/Sandia National Laboratories Jeff Brinker discovered when he put cells in a liquid teeming with microscopic, living versions of Legos: The cells took the blocks and built themselves fortified homes. Combination of processes results in cleaner petrol 26 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The combination of two ‘old’ chemical processes enables the production of cleaner petrol on an economically interesting basis. This methods are Fluid Catalytic Cracking and Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis. Delft nanotransistor in Nature 26 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Researcher Pablo Jarillo-Herrero of the Delft University of Technology has produced a superconductor nanotransistor using a carbon nanotube. The research is not only important for its fundamental knowledge about carbon nanotubes and the further improvement of transistors, but also opens the possibility of testing an entire series of physics theories experimentally. Delft University helps prevent damage to monuments 26 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Research at Delft University of Technology has shown that the combination of salt and fluctuations in relative humidity has a disastrous effect on the masonry and plasterwork of historic buildings. But that damage may be preventable by adding so-called crystallisation inhibitors. Material solutions for ESD bins and boxes 26 November 2006 - Premix Oy Premix offers a range of materials to meet the different surface resistance requirements in injection moulded ESD bins and boxes. PRE-ELEC ESD grades now also food approved 26 November 2006 - Premix Oy PRE-ELEC ESD compounds have now also been evaluated by comparing their properties to the requirements of the German Foodstuffs and Consumer Goods Act. They meet BgVV’s requirements on cleanliness and can be used in direct contact with dry, moist or fatty foodstuff. This opens up totally new applications for example in the pharmaceutical industry and agriculture. Increasing amounts of DUREL DFLX electroluminescent lamps & drivers are designed into new cellphones 26 November 2006 - Rogers Corporation Rogers Corporation announced that increasing amounts of its DUREL DFLX electroluminescent lamps and drivers are being designed into new cellphones, as mobile phone manufacturers place greater and greater emphasis on reducing the size and weight of their handsets. Research team discovers potential link between ultraviolet vision & urine scent marks in rodents 26 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Humans and most other mammals cannot see ultraviolet light, whereas some rodents can. A Chilean-German research team has now reported UV vision in the South-American degu, a distant relative of the guinea pig. In a search for behaviourally relevant UV signals in the habitat of these rodents, the researchers found that fresh degu urine reflects the UV parts of the spectrum most strongly, while dry old urine has only marginal UV reflectance. Chaos in the Heart 26 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Scientists at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin and the University of Barcelona have discovered that chaotic behavior in chemical reactions and heart fibrillation can be selectively influenced and suppressed. Building block created for quantum-computing, secure communication and quantum Internet 26 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching, Germany have achieved unprecedented control over the creation of single photons. By using a tightly trapped single calcium ion, localized between two ultra-high reflectivity mirrors, and subjecting it to an external laser pulse, the scientists could emit photons one by one. The emission time and the pulse shape of each photon were completely user-controlled. New quantum state of matter revealed by scientists in Munich and Mainz 26 November 2006 - Max Planck Society There are two fundamentally distinct families of particles in nature: bosons and fermions. Being a boson or a fermion has profound consequences on the ‘social behaviour’ of a particle when it meets other partners. Whereas bosons tend to socialize and want to be as close to each other as possible, fermions are very independent and like to be on their own. The new single-bonded nitrogen phase could serve as a high-energy storage material 25 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Nitrogen, the major constituent of air, usually consists of inert molecules where two atoms are strongly triple-bonded. Now, researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry have synthesised a polymeric cubic form of nitrogen where all atoms are connected with single covalent bonds, similar to carbon atoms in diamond. Realization of quantum memory for light allows the extension of quantum communication far beyond 100 km 25 November 2006 - Max Planck Society In the macroscopic classical world, it is possible to copy information from one device into another. We do this everyday, when, for example, we copy files in a computer or we tape a conversation. In the microscopic world, however, it is not possible to copy the quantum information from one system into another one. It can only be transferred, without leaving any trace on the original one. A two-lane road to ruin 25 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Tumor cells or virally infected cells are a danger to our lifes, but fortunately killer cells of the immune defense system which are armed with different specialized digestive enzymes, called granzymes, eradicate these cells in many instances. The granzymes A and B, two of these proteases, are highly efficient triggers of intracellular cell death inducing (cytotoxic) cascades. Scientists have discovered elusive channel that converts mechanical energy into electrical signals 25 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Mechanical stimuli such as sound and movement are perceived by the specialized receptors of the inner ear. These mechanical receptors are called sensory hair cells because of a tuft of hairs or specialized processes present at the top of the cell. When sound or movement causes the hairs to shear or deflect, ions flow into the cells, thereby transducing the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Rogers Corp. receives new product innovation award 25 November 2006 - Rogers Corporation Rogers Corporation was one of two companies awarded recognition for the most innovative products in an awards ceremony at The Del Mar Electronics Show. This was the first of what will become an Annual Product Innovation Awards presentation for Del Mar Show exhibitors whose products represent the greatest technical innovation and cost value for the printed circuit board industry. Premix introduces unique new conductive compounds for ESD and EMI applications 25 November 2006 - Premix Oy Premix has recently extended its range of conductive compounds to cover also novel Inherently dissipative polymer compounds for use in clean room applications meeting the new ESD standards. The new PRE-ELEC ESD grades are washable, reusable, recyclable and colourable with surface resistance values permanently between 10e8 to 10e9 ohms. Since they do not contain carbon black, metals or antistatic additives, they are non-sloughing, low outgassing and low extractable plastics. The PRE-ELEC family of ESD compounds is currently available in PP, PE, ABS, PETG and PC/ABS. They can be processed with standard extrusion and injection moulding equipment. ESD Masterbatch for extrusion and blow molding of PE-HD/MD 25 November 2006 - Premix Oy Premix Oy has developed a new ESD masterbatch for extruded sheets and blow moulded bottles and canisters made out of PE-HD/MD to reach surface resistance value of even down to 2x10E10 ohm Cheaper and simpler keyhole surgery 25 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Endoscopic surgery brings many advantages for patients but is very difficult for the surgeon. Working at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, Joris Jaspers has developed two instruments which make this approach easier and also cheaper than with existing surgical robotics. First images of flowing nano ripples 25 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology TU Delft Researchers have shed new light on the formation of nanoscale surface features, such as nano ripples. These features are important because they could be useful as templates for growing other nanostructures. The scientific journal Physical Review Letters published an article this week on the research in Delft. Launch of new P2P technology for television 25 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The Workshop on Technical and Legal Aspects of Peer-to-Peer Television is being held in Amsterdam and deals with a revolutionary manner of distributing TV programmes via the Internet. The new peer-to-peer Tribler system, based on open-source software, will be launched in the course of this workshop. New Dutch invention: Varibel, the glasses that hear 24 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology A new and elegant hearing aid in the form of a pair of glasses was unveiled. These hearing-glasses are called 'Varibel' and offer older people the chance to stay active longer, free from the aesthetically unpleasing and technologically limited traditional hearing aids. TU Delft originally developed the hearing-glasses. Varibel developed these glasses into a consumer product in partnership with Philips, Frame Holland, the design agencies MMID and Verhoeven, and others. In mid-April, Varibel will be available to purchase at Beter Horen audio shops. BIOPOP: Young researchers stir up debate 24 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Last weekend close to 3,000 people attended the second annual BIOPOP event on the Markt in Delft, where they experienced the biotechnology of the future. About 50 young European researchers, including those from TU Delft, stood before the public armed with DNA from kiwis, cow cells and their own mucus. Using these DNA samples, the researchers engaged the public in discussions about the benefits and risks of DNA databanks, genetically modified food and gene therapy. Researching the behavioural patterns of people when using revolving doors 24 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology TU Delft Civil Engineering student Ramon Landman will record the behavioural patterns of people when using a revolving door. While enacting various possible user scenarios, 80 test subjects will use a revolving door that has been set up in a lab. The results, which Landman will compile tomorrow, will serve as the basis for a 'simulation tool' for revolving doors. TU Delft, in partnership with revolving door manufacturer Boom Edam Group Holding, is aiming to develop the 'Entrance of the Future'. ESD Masterbatch for extrusion and blow molding of PE-HD/MD 24 November 2006 - Premix Oy Premix Oy has developed a new ESD masterbatch for extruded sheets and blow moulded bottles and canisters made out of PE-HD/MD to reach surface resistance value of even down to 2x1010Ω Premix has recently launched a new HIPS based static dissipative compound, PRE-ELEC ESD 6100 24 November 2006 - Premix Oy The new material is easy to injection mould and co-extrude due to a high melt flow index (200 °C/5 kg = 5 g/10 min). Rogers Corp. new cushion mounting tape 24 November 2006 - Rogers Corporation Rogers Corporation will be exhibiting its R/bak SA 3000 Cushion Mounting Tape, a product that offers consistent print results, higher print quality and easier handling at this year’s LabelExpo Americas. This product is aimed at the 0.020” (0.51 mm) thin tape market, which is composed of primarily wide web flexible packaging printers. Addition of a new co-extrusion line to its production facility in Findlay 24 November 2006 - Premier Material Concepts Premier Material Concepts, a division of Rowmark, Inc., is proud to announce the addition of a new co-extrusion line to its production facility in Findlay, Ohio. Researcher in Cologne, Germany, unravel mechanism of resistance to fungal infection in Barley 24 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Powdery mildew is a typical fungal infection in crop plants and only the regular application of fungicides prevent huge yield losses in agriculture. Some crops, however, hold a natural resistance against powdery mildew like cultivars of the European barley with a mutation in the Mlo gene. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne have collaborated with colleagues from Great Britain, France and Denmark to solve the mystery of the resistance mechanism and to highlight the cultural history of plant. Technological breakthrough in silicon photonics 24 November 2006 - Max Planck Society A technique for tailormaking silicon nanocrystals on 4-inch wafers has been developed and submitted for patent (German patent number: DE 101 04 193 A 1) by Dr. Margit Zacharias and colleagues of the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Halle(Saale), Germany. Following a standard procedure in silicon technology, a thermally unstable silicon compound in the form of an ultra-thin layer (only two to five nanometers) is first deposited on a substrate. New insight into the cosmic renaissance epoch 24 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Using the ESO Very Large Telescope, two astronomers from Germany and the UK have discovered some of the most distant galaxies ever seen . They are located about 12,600 million light-years away. Seeing cells in multicolour 24 November 2006 - Max Planck Society The triangle in the picture is a microscope, and the little strands that look like strings, well, they're DNA, perhaps the single most important substance in your body for making you exactly who you are. You'd probably want to know, then, what your DNA looks like for real. Well, here it is. How a nose from Mainz Sniffed out water on Mars 23 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Water on Mars means, maybe, life on Mars. Now, as you know, we haven't found little green men on the red planet. But this year, a Mars rover took a small step on the planet's soil and made a giant leap for Mars exploration: very strong evidence that, in the past, at least part of Mars was 'drenched with water.' Scientists discover conditions under which cracks can propagate supersonically in brittle solids 23 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Glass breaks, rubber bursts, there are numerous ways in which materials can fail under extreme conditions. Many of the atomic mechanisms of materials failure however still remain a mystery. Some materials harden when they are stretched, others soften under large deformation. Important self-defence mechanism in the brain on the basis of cannabinoid receptors 23 November 2006 - Max Planck Society The cells of our brain intensively exchange information among each other using electrical and chemical signals. This is a prerequisite for the brain to work properly. However, if the intensity of this information exchange exceeds a certain threshold, 'stormy activities' can occur, as for example during epileptic seizures in humans. Together with colleagues from the University of Mainz and teams from Heidelberg, Naples and Madrid, researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich showed that the brain's cannabinoid receptors together with the body's own cannabinoids constitute a system which protects the neurons from such hazardous excessive activities. New models shed light on enigmatic explosions 23 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Researchers at the Max-Planck-Institute for Astrophysics have developed new relativistic models which allow predictions of so far unknown properties of short gamma-ray bursts. Their simulations will come under scrutiny by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer. Decorative sheet products prove ideal for innovative display solutions 23 November 2006 - Premier Material Concepts Premier Material Concepts, custom manufacturers of TPE, ABS, HIPS, PP and acrylics for thermoforming, POP display material, converters and custom fabricators, offers a family of decorative sheet products proven to be ideal for displays that must be unique and convey an impression of high quality. Rogers Corp. to present RO4450B-dx Bondply at EUMW 23 November 2006 - Rogers Corporation Rogers Corporation will be introducing its new RO4450B-dx Bondply, a high fill/flow version of the industry standard RO4450B High Frequency Circuit Material, at this year’s European Microwave Week. Latest developments in PRE-ELEC conductive compounds 23 November 2006 - Premix Oy PRE-ELEC ABS 1410 for chip carrier tape production. It can also be used for extrusion of mono- and multi-layer sheets for thermoforming. In addition to that, typical examples of use include injection moulded technical pieces. Interactive helpdesk benefits the disabled 23 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology If helpdesk personnel can view and click on the callers' screens, the callers problems will be solved faster and more efficiently. By helping disabled people and the elderly use their computers in this way, they can lead more independent lives. These are research findings of Joyce Beumer, who on April 25 received her PhD degree based on this research subject. Obedient plastic: Chair, moulds to you! 23 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology An airplane wing that changes shape during flight, a section of the floor that on command changes shape and becomes a chair, and a surfboard that adapts to the desires of the user. These are the research ideas that have been rewarded with a ‘Young Wild Ideas Award’. The Delft Centre for Materials regularly gives this award to students who come up with the most innovative ideas in the field of materials research. During a ceremony on April 25, the students will each receive 10,000 euro, to be used for trying to make their research ideas a reality. Delft scientist Gijsbert Korevaar on concentrated solar power on New Energy TV 23 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The Delft scientist Gijsbert Korevaar was interviewed by internet channel New Energy TV on 'concentrated solar power'. A product in itself is not interesting 22 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Inaugural address Prof. Cees de Bont, An industrial designer's skills are crucial for also developing successful products in the future. They are pre-eminently suited to integrate relevant knowledge from the various disciplines. As society becomes more complex, and with advances in technology, this is no sinecure. Producing bio-ethanol from agricultural waste a step closer 22 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Research conducted by Delft University of Technology has brought the efficient production of the environmentally-friendly fuel bio-ethanol a great deal closer to fruition. The work of Delft researcher Marko Kuyper was an important factor in this. His research in recent years has greatly improved the conversion of certain sugars from agricultural waste to ethanol. Kuyper received his PhD degree for his research into the subject. Biological motors sort molecules one by one on a chip 22 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Researchers from Delft University of Technology’s Kavli Institute of Nanoscience have discovered how to use the motors of biological cells in extremely small channels on a chip. Based on this, they built a transport system that uses electrical charges to direct the molecules individually. To demonstrate this, the Delft researchers sorted the individual molecules according to their color. Professor Hess of the University of Florida has called the Delft discovery 'the first traffic control system in biomolecular motor nanotechnology'. Great cost savings with PRESEAL thermoplastic EMI gaskets 22 November 2006 - Premix Oy EMI gaskets are predominantly used in cellular phones and their base stations. Silicone based materials dominate the market today. While providing good material properties the silicone based gaskets have certain limitations and drawbacks especially in regard to mass production friendliness. The PRESEAL thermoplastic gaskets offer huge possibilities in simplifying gasket manufacturing and assembling. Rogers Corp. introduces R/flex JADE series adhesive system for flex circuit designs 22 November 2006 - Rogers Corporation Rogers Corporation is introducing R/flex JADE series flexible circuit materials, which are the next generation of the industry-leading R/flex CRYSTAL epoxy adhesive system. Environmentally friendly, these materials meet flammability requirements without the use of halogens. They are also lead-free solder capable, meeting the environmental requirements imposed upon commercial applications worldwide without compromising the performance required for today’s demanding flexible circuit designs. Premier Material Concepts extrudes unique no-slip, no skid mat for step stool application 22 November 2006 - Premier Material Concepts Premier Material Concepts, custom manufacturers of TPE, ABS, HIPS, PP and acrylics for thermoforming, POP display material, converters and custom fabricators, has contributed to the success of an innovative step stool application by extruding a unique mat to function as a no-slip, no-skid top surface for the end product. The gears of your biological clock 22 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Your biological clock has no hands, no cuckoo, and it doesn’t chime on the hour. But it ticks, in its own way. In fact, it marks time with a more subtle system than the best Rolex, because it adjusts your body to your environment: for example, to the amount of light outside. Unlike any mechanical clock, your biological clock automatically gives you energy when you should wake up, and takes energy away at bedtime. NETs protect against pathogenic bacteria 22 November 2006 - Max Planck Society White blood cells can kill bacteria by trapping them in net-like extracellular structures, report scientists in Arturo Zychlinsky’s lab at the Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin. A new hope for heavy metal contaminated soils 22 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Heavy metal pollution resulting from mining, smeltering and military activities is widespread and poses a threat to drinking water resources, food chain safety and air quality. The clean-up of metal-polluted soils is thus of great interest economically as well as for the protection of human and environmental health. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam and at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Halle have now made pioneering progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that enable some plant species to accumulate metals specifically in their leaves while thriving on metal-polluted soils. Molecular probes for biology research and drug discovery 22 November 2006 - Max Planck Society While the field of genetics investigates and influences the life’s processes by modifying the genes themselves, the field of chemical genetics pursues this goal using chemical compounds that modulate the functioning of the gene and its products (proteins, RNA, etc.). Therefore, chemists, biochemists and biologists from six Max Planck Institutes will work together in the new 'Chemical Genomics Centre' in Dortmund in the search for small molecules that allow the study of fundamental life-science processes and the involved biological macromolecules. The Max Planck Society invests a total sum of 5 million euro. Hope for genetically defective hearts 21 November 2006 - Max Planck Society It’s a natural dream, given what scientists say about genes being the building blocks of life, the things that form our individual bodies and personalities. Genes even help decide what kinds of illnesses we’ll get. Germany starts clinical development of a new tuberculosis vaccine 21 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Federal-financed German research initiative organizes clinical testing of a highly promising vaccine candidate which has been developed in the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology. Researchers use nanotechnology to visualize cellular processes crucial for development of cancer drugs 21 November 2006 - Max Planck Society With the help of semiconductor nanocystals, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Goettingen, Germany, and their collaborators at the Universidad de Buenos Aires are now able to capture movies of signal transmission processes involved in the control of gene expression. This breakthrough is expected to speed up the development of new cancer-curing drugs. Quantum Dots can be used as nano-sized markers to visualize DNA sequences, proteins, or other molecules and track them in the cell. Institute for Infection Biology & MOLOGEN initiate development of new tuberculosis subunit vaccine 21 November 2006 - Max Planck Society A cooperation agreement to initiate the development of a new type of preventive DNA subunit vaccine against tuberculosis has been signed by the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology and MOLOGEN AG in Berlin. Subunit vaccines are composed of defined molecular immunogenic modules. Premier Material Concepts adds to extrusion line 21 November 2006 - Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association Premier Material Concepts, custom manufacturers of TPE, ABS,HIPS, PP and acrylics for thermoforming, POP display material, converters and custom fabricators, has expanded its production capacity by adding a third extrusion line and a “haircell” roll. A1 Nanoscience Goes Large 21 November 2006 - Q-Sense AB When science goes to the nanoscale it demands the involvement of many scientific disciplines to understand what is going on. Morten Foss from the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO) at the University of Aarhus and Aalborg, Denmark explains what he and his colleagues are doing to progress this new technological field and how QCM-D is involved. Read more » PRE-ELEC ESD dissipative compounds are now offered in wider variety 21 November 2006 - Premix Oy PRE-ELEC ESD 5200 PP based grade for fulfilling the cleanliness requirements (NVR, out gassing and ionics). TU Delft students test a new antenna for satellites 21 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology During a parabolic flight, a team of four Delft students tested for the first time an antenna they developed for micro-satellites. During the test flight, the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering's Cessna Citation II made 10 parabolic manoeuvres. During these manoeuvres, there was approximately a 12 second period of weightlessness inside the airplane that was comparable to the weightlessness experienced in space. Delft water-purification method promises radical improvement 21 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology TU Delft has discovered a method that within a few years will drastically change the way in which we purify water. TU Delft, in partnership with DHV engineering bureau, has developed a compact and environmentally-friendly purification method, in which aerobic bacteria quickly form sinkable granules. An important part of the project's success was the work of TU Delft researcher Merle de Kreuk, who will receive her PHD degree based on this research subject. Delft University of Technology discovers how to control nanowires 21 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Jorden van Dam, researcher at the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, has succeeded in largely controlling the transportation of electrons in semiconductor nanowires. Van Dam moreover discovered how to observe a divergent type of supercurrent in these wires. Nanowires have superior electronic properties which in time could improve the quality of our electronics. Van Dam will receive his PhD degree at Delft University of Technology based on this research. New broadband wireless communication technologies developed for commercial applications 20 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The novel low-noise amplifier for ultrabroadband communications designed in CMOS technology won the ‘Best Student Paper Award’ at the 2006 IEEE RFIC Symposium in San Francisco. The awarded paper, titled “A 1.2V Reactive-Feedback 3.1-10.6GHz Ultrawideband Low-Noise Amplifier in 0.13μm CMOS”, is co-authored by PhD student Michael Reiha, M.Sc. and Prof. dr. John Long of the Electronics Research Laboratory/DIMES, in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science at TU Delft. This year’s symposium exhibited over 125 papers from top research centres, 70 of which were eligible for the award. Dutch physicists get a grip on the spin of a single electron 20 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology Researchers of the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology and the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter have succeeded for the first time in the world in controlling the spin of a single electron in a nanostructure. They are able to rotate the spin to every possible direction and to record it accordingly. A silent, exhaust fumes-free scooter 20 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology A scooter that does not make noise nor emit harmful exhaust fumes, this was the research result of Crijn Bouman's graduation project. Bouman, an Industrial Design Engineering student at TU Delft, developed a working prototype of the ‘FHybrid’ scooter, which can be powered by hydrogen. Bouman will present his scooter to the media. Premix opens first North American compounding facility 20 November 2006 - Premix Oy Premix Thermoplastics, Inc. a specialty compounder of electrically conductive thermoplastics, announces the opening of its first North American manufacturing facility in Milton WI. Premix Thermoplastics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Premix Oy of Finland, a leader in conductive plastics technology in Europe. The 25,000 sq. ft. facility will have three compounding lines in operation by the end of 2003 with a capacity of over 5,000,000 lbs. In addition to production, the facility will also have development and sampling capabilities with a complete test laboratory. Eva-Carin Tengberg new CEO for Q-Sense AB 20 November 2006 - Q-Sense AB Eva-Carin Tengberg has lately been working with business development in companies affiliated to Gothenburg University and also Connect’s biomedical projects. Earlier, she has been head of Nobel Biocare’s subsidiaries in Canada and Germany and she has also been responsible for Volvo Trucks’ personnel abroad. Eva-Carin begins the 1st of Februari. The resigning CEO Anna Weiner will continue in Q-Sense AB as a resource in market related issues. Premier Material Concepts provides extruded TPE for reliable outdoor insulation system 20 November 2006 - Premier Material Concepts Premier Material Concepts, custom manufacturers of TPE, ABS, HIPS, PP and acrylics for thermoforming, POP display material, converters and custom fabricators, has developed a unique thermoplastic rubber material for providing reliable insulation protection from weather in outdoor applications. Researchers snare new cilia genes 20 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers have used a combination of brainpower and computer power to identify a multitude of new genes that control the formation of tiny, hair-like cilia that stipple the surfaces of many organs in a wide variety of creatures. Cannabinoids spell relief in colon inflammation 20 November 2006 - Max Planck Society The development of chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as Crohn’s disease and Colitis ulcerosa has not been understood yet, but medication to treat and alleviate these diseases are in high demand. In the current issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation a researcher team from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry and from the Ludwig-Maximilans-University Munich were able to show that mutant mice lacking the cannabinoid receptor are much more prone to experimentally induced colon inflammation as compared to wild-type control mice. X-rays have become laser-like 20 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Radiologists and biologists have been dreaming, ever since the discovery of lasers, of a compact laboratory source emitting X-rays in one direction in a laser-like beam. Such a source would permit X-ray images to be recorded with far higher resolution at vastly reduced dose levels, allowing early-stage cancer diagnosis at dramatically reduced risk. Reconstructing neural circuits in 3D 20 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Understanding how the brain processes and stores information depends in large part on knowing which neurons are involved in a particular process and how they're organized into functional networks. Each of the 10 billion or so neurons in the brain has thousands of connections to other neurons, sending (via axons) or receiving (via dendrites) the signals that allow us to think. Each neuron can transmit signals to both local and distant neurons, and it is by mapping these networks that neuroscientists can discern correlations between neural connectivity and physiological responses and ultimately unveil the computational algorithms underlying brain function. Max Planck scientists from Berlin, Germany discover a new immunotherapeutic approach against anthrax 19 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, headed by Prof. Dr. Stefan H.E. Kaufmann, have developed a new therapeutic strategy against anthrax using defensins, well known bacteriocidal defence molecules of our body. These investigations also revealed a novel biological function of defensins. Reprogramming stem cell research 19 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Stem cell research has, as you probably know, been filled with ethical controversy. Until now, it’s involved destroying a human embryo, a small one, of course, just a few hundred cells. But in nine months, that embryo could be a healthy human baby. Not everybody is going to agree that a scientist should be allowed to do that, even if it helps us develop treatments for cancer, paralysis, and heart disease. Newsimulation methods to observe single events of membrane fusion with molecular resolution 19 November 2006 - Max Planck Society The fusion of membranes is essential for many processes in the human body, for instance, in the communication between nerve cells. A single fusion event occurs on the nanometer scale and takes less than a millisecond. Using computer simulations, scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces have now been able to observe single fusion events with molecular resolution. Researchers measure velocities near speed of light in vicinity of cosmic mass monsters 19 November 2006 - Max Planck Society European astronomers succeeded for the first time to confirm the signatures predicted near Black Holes by Albert Einstein's theory of Relativity in the light of the cosmic X-ray background. The group of scientists led by Günther Hasinger, director at the Max-Planck-Institute for extraterrestrial Physics in Garching near Munich could identify the spectral fingerprint of iron atoms. They observed a strong, relativistically smeared iron line in the average spectrum of roughly 100 active galaxies, whose X-ray light had been emitted when the Universe was less than half of its current age. Max Planck scientists develop fundamentals for new microfluidic and nanofluidic devices 19 November 2006 - Max Planck Society The labs of the future will be 'labs-on-a-chip', i.e., integrated chemical and biochemical laboratories shrunk down to the size of a computer chip. An essential prerequisite for such labs are appropriate microcompartments for the confinement of very small amounts of liquids and chemical reagents. PMC provides unique TPE material for gasket and die cut applications 19 November 2006 - Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association Premier Material Concepts, custom manufacturers of TPE, ABS, HIPS, PP and acrylics for thermoforming, POP display material, converters and custom fabricators, provides a broad range of TPE gasket materials supported by an array of fabrication capabilities. New sheet metal CAD/CAM software from Radan 19 November 2006 - Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association Radan Delivers New Levels of Material Utilisation and Productivity Radan, the latest release of its world-leading CAD/CAM software for sheet metal applications, is now available from Radan Computational Ltd. Many of the software’s new features focus on maximising sheet utilisation, reflecting the continuing escalation of world-wide raw material costs. EMG press at Sifan Systems boosts production 19 November 2006 - Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association A 15 ton mechanical EMG press recently supplied by SMV Presses (UK) Ltd, the Coventry based power press and ancillary equipment manufacturer has very quickly boosted production at Sifan Systems Ltd, Witney, Oxfordshire, of motor bodies for fans used in domestic central heating systems. Greg Etter, Manufacturing Engineering Manager said. Harvard and Stanford becomes new reference centers for Q-Sense in the US 19 November 2006 - Q-Sense AB Q-Sense continues to expand its activities in the US and has reached agreements with the universities of Harvard and Stanford as new reference centers in the US. This enables two of the world leading academic institutions and a number of opinion leading scientists to use and participate in the further development of the QCM-D technique. Premix Rajamäki plant certified to ISO 9001:2000 Premix Rajamäki plant certified to ISO 9001:2000 19 November 2006 - Premix Oy Premix Oy plant in Rajamaki, Finland, has been certified to the ISO 9001:2000 international quality management system standards. The longer the DNA molecule, the faster it moves 19 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology In extremely small, liquid-filled channels, long DNA molecules flow faster than shorter ones. This observation could lead to new methods for sorting and separating biomolecules, like DNA, by length. TU Delft and the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter, published these research results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Wind turbines on apartment buildings a promising option 18 November 2006 - Delft University of Technology The built environment can also benefit from (small) wind turbines, according to TU Delft researcher Sander Mertens. On September 5, Mertens obtained his PhD degree based on this research subject. New polyacetal based conductive and dissipative compounds 18 November 2006 - Premix Oy Premix announces the addition of a full line of conductive and static dissipative compounds to the company's PRE-ELEC product portfolio. Based on copolymer polyacetal with carbon black or carbon fiber for conductive (<1x10e5 ohm) compounds and inherently dissipative polymer (IDP.s) alloys for static dissipative (1x10e8 to 1x10e11 ohm) compounds. Max Planck Institute of Polymer Research co-operates with Q-Sense 18 November 2006 - Q-Sense AB Professor Wolfgang Knoll decided to co-operate with Q-Sense to further explore QCM-D within his research interests and to become a Q-Sense reference center. The research will be carried out at National University of Singapore where Professor Knoll is distinguished professor. The research also involves people from the National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology in Higashi, Japan. Q-Sense has now formed a very strong network of prominent researchers to secure a long term successful development of QCM-D research instruments. Kostyrka fixes universal workholding problems 18 November 2006 - Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association The high costs, single purpose fixtures and long set-up times traditionally required for holding large, contoured and/or variable geometry parts and structures are a thing of the past thanks to Kostyrka Universal Holding Fixtures, available exclusively in the UK from Roemheld. Premier Material Concepts extrudes material that will stand up to continued industrial dishwasher use 18 November 2006 - Premier Material Concepts Findlay, Ohio, Premier Material Concepts, custom manufacturers of TPE, ABS, HIPS, PP and acrylics for thermoforming, POP display material, converters and custom fabricators, provides extruded material for products that need to withstand continued impact, abrasion and exposure to chemicals. Rdan backs Henderson Fabrications’ drive for flexibility and fast customer response 18 November 2006 - Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association Flexibility and responsiveness are two key attributes for any sheet metal work sub-contractor aiming to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace. Indeed, they have proved to be a winning combination for Northampton-based Henderson Fabrication, a 25-strong company which serves the requirements of customers throughout the electronics, data and communication, finance and music sectors. Researchers establish a new law allowing unlimited optical resolution in fluorescence microscopy 18 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Max Planck researchers have succeeded in overcoming the law postulated by Ernst Abbe in 1873 for diffraction limited resolution in light microscopes. Stefan Hell and his co-workers have established a new law that promises unlimited resolution in fluorescence microscopy. Future applications range from the imaging of cell interiors to the measuring of lithographic structures in microchip manufacturing, and substantial improvements in the quantification of the reaction kinetics of organic molecules. Researchers determine optimal parameters for biomimetic transport systems based on molecular motors 18 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Molecular motors are nanoscale engines which move along very thin rod-like filaments and, in this way, drive the heavy traffic of molecular cargo within biological cells. Both motors and filaments can be isolated from the cells and used to construct biomimetic transport systems. In order to increase the flux of the cargo transport, it would be necessary to increase the number of motors that contribute to this transport but, at the same time, avoid the build-up of traffic jams. European project started for the development of a new platform for walking in virtual worlds 18 November 2006 - Max Planck Society The development of a walking platform which will allow unconstrained movement in virtual worlds is the goal of the CyberWalk project, initiated by scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tuebingen, Germany, together with their colleagues from the Technical University Munich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland and the University Roma, Italy. Max Planck Researchers shed light on the immune defense behaviour of Microglial cells in the brain 18 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg and the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine in Goettingen (Germany) have uncovered the behaviour of microglial cells in the brain. In the current online edition of Science they report on the busy action of these immune defense cells in the normal brain and their rapid response to cerebral hemorrhage in the first few hours following injury. Their imaging approach is transferable to other models of disease, and monitoring microglia behaviour under such circumstances promises to substantially enhance our knowledge about brain pathologies. Algal protein in worm neurons allows remote control of behavior by light 17 November 2006 - Max Planck Society By introducing expression of a special green-algae gene into neurons of the tiny, transparent nematode C. elegans, researchers have been able to elicit specific behavioral responses by simply illuminating animals with blue light. The work paves the way for better understanding of how neurons communicate with each other, and with muscles, to regulate behavior in intact, living organisms. Max Planck Scientists discover unusual dynamic properties of activity patterns on scale-free networks 17 November 2006 - Max Planck Society The biosphere contains many scale-free networks. Prominent examples are provided by the functional networks within the human brain. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces have discovered that activity patterns in such biomimetic networks have unusual dynamic properties, which are controlled by a few, highly connected nodes. Scientists have found the optimal size with which viruses & nano-particles are able to enter cells 17 November 2006 - Max Planck Society The nanoscale size of many viruses may have evolved to minimize their time to enter cells via a process called receptor mediated endocytosis, according to new research conducted by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research and Brown University. While it has been previously assumed that the endocytosis of viruses is associated with the formation of clathrin coats at the cell membrane, recent experiments have shown that influenza viruses can enter cells even if the formation of clathrin coats are inhibited. Cutting through the clutter: How the brain learns to see 17 November 2006 - Max Planck Society Most of us don't have much trouble recognizing what we see. Whether it is a face in a crowd, a bird in a tree, or papers on a desk, our brains expertly distinguish the target from the clutter. It is a simple skill most of us take for granted, but object recognition is not hard-wired. New dynamics for space-conscious high performance computin