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While being more durable, energy absorbent and lighter than steel, Modumetal may also be less expensive to produce. Developed by a Seattle-based company of the same name, unlike supersteel, Modumetal is "grown" from nanolaminate structures, relying on acid treatments to dissolve and chemically combine nickel, iron and other metals. Its makers hope to use the metal for making bulletproof vests, aircraft turbines and vehicle suspension systems
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The recent development of silicon ink, which can be used to print integrated circuits, sensors or displays, marks a breakthrough in fabrication technology. Electronics manufacturing firm Kovio solved the silicon ink challenge by relying on a nanoparticle powder solvent. The company says silicon ink provides significant cost-savings because it "overcomes the inherent limitations of conventional silicon technology.
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The large, robotic All-Terrain Hex-Legged Extra-Terrestrial Explorer (ATHLETE) rover stands on six legs and is over four meters in diameter. This new exploration vehicle is designed for loading, transporting and manipulating payloads on difficult, undulating terrain. A significant step forward in extra-terrestrial durability, the ATHLETE is expected to play a significant role in resuming exploration missions to the moon
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While not officially on the lookout for alien life, NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, launched in March, is tasked with searching for potentially habitable Earth-like planets in distant star systems. Relying on powerful light detection equipment, the ambitious new telescope continuously monitors approximately 100,000 stars located between 600 and 3,000 light years away. Scientists hope it will find dozens of livable planets over the course of its multi-year mission.
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Computers have been getting slimmer for decades, but this year, tiny cutting-edge computers entered the general consumer market. The SheevaPlug system, a four-inch computer for platform developers, features as much computing strength as some full-size desktop models while only consuming a tenth of the power. It can serve as a replacement for PC-based home servers and comes at an affordable price