The World's First Carbon Nanotube Computer
“The Carbon-Computer-2” was built from transistors; it was made from single-atom-thick
straws of carbon, called carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes were only about 1 or 2
nanometers in diameter, but their fundamental electronic properties made possible to
send strong signals that were used in smaller transistors than the silicon ones. This means
that soon it will be possible to recharge our smartphones in less time and the battery will
can last weeks without charging again.
‘Minecraft’ Helps Residents Remake Developing Cities
Minecraft is an open-ended game that allows players to construct anything they can
imagine using textured cubes as their building material. Urban public spaces in different
countries were accurately recreated in blocky 3-D form in the game. Then, community
members young and old were using a computer mouse and were starting to build the
changes they wanted to see. Their models were given to architects and presented to local
governing bodies for consideration.
A Steady Spoon for a Shaky Hand
Enter Liftware, a battery-powered spoon that stays steady despite the user’s
shaking. A motion sensor and a tiny computer in Lift ware’s rechargeable base were
working together to analyze movement frequencies and distinguish unintentional
tremor from intentional movements like bringing the spoon to your mouth. Based
on that feedback, the utensil attachment compensates for the involuntary motion;
if the tremor was sending the base stabilizer to the left, the spoon head was
adjusting itself to the right. In clinical trials, Liftware effectively canceled tremors in
an average of 70 percent of cases.
4