Researchers are breeding fluorescent bacteria to uncover landmines

One of the many tragedies of war are the dangers that persist long after conflicts formally end -- dangers like abandoned minefields peppered with active, deadly ordnance. Buried landmines threaten the lives of ordinary people near former battlefield...

Alt-week 27.10.12: ancient texts, super-Earths and special-ops mice

Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days.

Altweek ancient texts, super earths and specialops mice

If, like us, you struggle to read the front of the Corn Flakes box of a morning, you likely gave up any hope of cracking ancient codes long ago. If you didn't, however, then your time might be now -- as one of the oldest scripts know to man is still up for grabs. Prefer just to observe? No problem, as we've got super-Earth-searching satellites, military mice and vertical farms, all for your viewing reading pleasure. If you hadn't guessed already, this is alt-week

Continue reading Alt-week 27.10.12: ancient texts, super-Earths and special-ops mice

Filed under: ,

Alt-week 27.10.12: ancient texts, super-Earths and special-ops mice originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Smartphone-powered mine detectors readied for field-testing in Cambodia (video)

Smarphonebased metal detectors

Red Lotus Technologies is now refining and pitching its PETALS technology for real-world use around the world. Short for Pattern Enhancement Tool for Assisting Landmine Sensing, the system connects acoustic sensors to smartphones, outputting a silhouette of what lies below onto the phone's screen. The company has expanded from an initial research project that paired mine-detecting sensors with the processing clout (and availability of) smartphones. It's now developed some tablet-based training equipment for de-miners and, working alongside the Landmine Relief Fund, aims to field-test the devices in Cambodia before launching them next year.

Filed under: , , ,

Smartphone-powered mine detectors readied for field-testing in Cambodia (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceRed Lotus Technologies  | Email this | Comments