Posts Tagged ‘canada’
A Treasure Trove of Dinosaur Protofeathers, Trapped in Amber
some amazing photos of feathers trapped in amber.
Some other tidbits: The researchers can even tell if the feathers were colored or not, due to the amount of pigment cells preserved thanks to the amber. So far as they can tell, the feathers had a range of color, from solid to mottled to transparent. It's not immediately clear which feathers belonged to early birds and which to non-avian dinosaurs, but the level to which they're some modern birds like the relatively ancient grebe is pretty striking.
The study can be read in full in tomorrow's issue of Science.
Next Generation of Moon Rovers May Ride On Canadian Beanbag Wheels
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The "iRings" wheel (as in "iron rings," the symbol of Canadian engineering--this is not iPod-compatible) uses a chain-mail-type fabric encasing granular particulate material, which gives it some pretty fantastic properties. Engineers seem to be embracing the philosophy of the beanbag more lately, as seen in the coffee-balloon-handed robot--it allows strength and flexibility of shape at the same time. In the case of the iRings wheels, that translates to wheels that mold to the shape of the terrain, rather than bumping along above it, as traditional wheels would.
Even better, the beanbag wheels absorb shock far better than other types of wheels, reducing the need for a hefty suspension. On terrain as unforgiving as the moon's, that's invaluable. You can see in this video (warning: French video popup) that it's strikingly well-suited for tromping over rocks and such--it's even able to grip and then climb over objects taller than the diameter of the wheels themselves.
The project is funded by the Canadian Space Agency, part of an effort to build a light lunar rover for future lunar exploration. The final prototype is expected to be completed in the spring of 2012.
[McGill University via Engadget]
Optical Speedbumps Create Illusion of Little Girl Darting Out In Front Of You
The painting, like the one above, is being trialed by authorities in a West Vancouver school zone starting yesterday and will be removed after a week of evaluation. From a distance it appears as more or less a smudge, but at a certain distance the stretched image becomes coherent to the driver and appears to rise from the pavement in 3-D. The faster the car is traveling, the faster the image pops into view. A nearby sign bears a motherly admonition: “You’re probably not expecting kids to run into the road.”
It seems like there’s room for epic backfire here, something that reads in the Vancouver Sun like “Driver Runs Down 11 Schoolchildren on Sidewalk After Swerving to Miss Optical Illusion.” But it is an interesting way to trick drivers into thinking about the ramifications of their driving habits. Right after they pull their hearts out of their throats.
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Video: Computer-Controlled Bacteria Build a Miniature Pyramid
The trick was using a type of microbe known as magnetotactic bacteria. These critters have little internal compasses, and will follow the pull of a magnetic field. By manipulating a magnetic field, the researchers tricked the bacteria into forming a giant, computer-controlled swarm. In one experiment, the researchers had the bacterial swarm assemble a small pyramid. In another, they directed bacteria through the blood stream of a rat, like in Innerspace.
In the future, the researchers want to use the bacteria as a propulsion system for larger nanorobots that could deliver drugs, repair an organ, or assemble larger and more complex nanostructures.
But, as I mention with every video, don't take my word for it when you can check it out for yourself! In the video below, you can actually watch the bacterial swarm assemble a tiny pyramid:
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