Yet another inspiration from Mother Nature

A recent publication evaluates the latest advances toward using a protein called resilin in nanosprings, biorubbers, biosensors and other applications. This remarkable protein is rubber-like and enables dragonflies, grasshoppers and other insects to flap their wings, jump and chirp. Resilin could have major potential uses in medicine. R&D Daily July 31, 2013

ANY plant can fix Nitrogen now!

Nitrogen fixation, the process by which nitrogen is converted to ammonia, is vital for plants to survive and grow. However, only a very small number of plants, most notably legumes (such as peas, beans and lentils) have the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere with the help of nitrogen fixing bacteria. The vast majority of plants have to obtain nitrogen from the soil, and for most crops currently being grown across the world, this also means a reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. R&D Daily July 26, 2013

Solar Hydrogen Production "breakthrough".

Using a simple solar cell and a photo anode made of a metal oxide, scientists in Europe have successfully stored nearly 5% of solar energy chemically in the form of hydrogen. The significance of the advance is based on the design of the solar cell, which is much simpler than that of the high-efficiency triple-junction cells based on amorphous silicon or class III-V semiconductors. R&D DAILY July 29 2013

Ryerson University strikes partnership with Bombay Stock Exchange

A project that started in one room at Ryerson University three years ago will now be a bridge for Canadian start-ups looking to expand to India, as well as Indian start-ups looking to enter the Canadian market.
Canada-India Daily Newsbrief July 29,2013

Are you burning fat?

A simple portable device shows you (on your smatrphone if you like) more or less instantly whether you are burning fat or not.
R&D Daily July 18, 2013

New approach protects prion protein from altering shape

A mechanism has been identified that can prevent the normal prion protein from changing its molecular shape into the abnormal form responsible for neurodegenerative diseases. R&D Daily July 18, 2013.

Intelligent Scalpals

Dr Zoltan Takats of Imperial College London has invented a scalpal that can identify cancerous tissue instantly. R&D Daily July 17, 2013

Biometrics today and 3D TV Developments.

Here are two posts from the July 16 R&D Daily. I thought that they may be of interest

NEWS

Who are you? NIST biometric publication provides two new ways to tell quickly

A Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card is a government-issued smart card used by federal employees and contractors to access government facilities and computer networks. To assist agencies seeking stronger security and greater operational flexibility, NIST has made several modifications to the previous version of Biometric Data Specification for PIV cards. NEWS Researchers develop 3-D display with no ghosting for viewers without glasses With existing 3-D television displays, viewers must wear stereo glasses to get the effect of seeing images on the screen in three dimensions, while viewers without the glasses see a blurry image. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have developed a prototype for 3-D+2-D television that allows viewers with stereo glasses to see 3-D images, while viewers without the glasses see a normal 2-D image.