(Wind tunnel Colorado (USA). Image: UGR.)

The U.S. government has launched a facility called the Wind Tunnel is unique in the world, the Colorado School of Mines (Golden, Colorado). The project has been responsible for the researcher of the UGR Jose Maria Terres Nicoli, who along with Tissa Illangasekare of Colorado State University (USA), worked 4 years at this facility. The funding has made ​​the Department of Defense U.S., the U.S. Air Force Office for Science Research (AFOSR) and the U.S. Army Research Office .

The new wind tunnel is the world’s first research system allows detection of land mines, responsible for many casualties in the military in humanitarian operations carried out around the world.

This tunnel is called the “boundary layer” and is similar to the UGR opened in late 2004. Has, however, a number of capabilities that make it unique. Among these we would highlight the potential for simulation of extreme weather conditions, to study the interaction of wind with the topsoil and the simulation of rain.

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(The new DNA sequencer. Image: Ion Torrent.)

The time and cost of DNA sequencing process have been reduced in recent years, and the holy grail of genomics, the $ 1,000 genome is getting closer. That is the goal to which scientists are directed reporting in Nature on a new sequencing technology.

More than 40 members of a U.S. biotechnology company signed a paper in which they present a sequencing device, unlike others, does not depend on optical media to capture the information in DNA, but instead uses a system of semiconductors or chips ion .

“Though far from a complete human genome sequencing for $ 1,000, together is a very positive development,” values ​​SINC Fernando Carrasco, technical director of the Center for Genomics Service of Molecular Biology “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM ).

Semiconductors detected protons (hydrogen ions with positive electric charge) emitted during chemical sequencing reaction. Applying this principle chips are used, the production scale is very cheap because they are disposable, inexpensive and do not require optical reading.

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Different types of cava vary in the amount of sugar is added to the expedition liquor after the second fermentation (which gives the carbon dioxide). So it is interesting to know the amount of sugar added, since this will determine the type of champagne produced.  To design an electronic tongue to dig, researchers at the Sensors and Biosensors Group at the UAB, led by Professor Manel de Valle, have carried out the identification of various samples of cava on the basis of voltammetric measurements. Through a combination of measurement systems and chemical processing advanced mathematical tools, have managed to mimic the human taste system and carry out a task of distinguishing between different kinds of champagne, obtaining a classification similar to that conduct a sommelier .
Furthermore, using the standard addition method of second order (SOSAM) has been possible to quantify the added sugars in the production process of the cava, which demonstrates the potential of these processing tools.  Language can now identify three types of champagne:

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What did the Neanderthals, who dominated Europe for 300,000 years and were reproduced and survived the cold temperatures suddenly disappear? A study published this week in the journal Science could offer an explanation to this question that has intrigued scientists for decades.

A team from the University of Cambridge (UK) has been determined by analytical methods detailed the invasion of the population of Homo sapiens , from Africa, was in some places up to ten times that of the Neanderthal himself. Numerical supremacy of Homo sapiens , its most advanced techniques and greater mastery of technique allowed more efficiently take advantage of scarce resources in dispute, and favored the “withering” of the Neanderthal disappearance.

“Our interpretation is that the ancestor of modern man living in larger towns and just flooded the Neanderthals. With this simple explanation, it was speculated for a long time, I did it myself in 1973, but until now we had no concrete data to support this theory.

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Until now, scientists had made ​​it clear that the capture of marine predators located at the top of the food chain has severe effects on species of lower trophic level. A new study now shows in the journal Science , where fishing of species at lower levels also hurts.

“Overfishing of species of the later levels have effects on other species in the food chain, especially predators dependent on these small fish. Fishing for these species compete with predators for the same food source, “Anthony explains to SINC DM Smith, author of the study and researcher at the Community Organization of Scientific and Industrial Research (Australia).  

The team reviewed five ecosystems around the world and found that fishing anchovies, sardines, herring and mackerel, even at sustainable levels, has impacts on marine mammals, seabirds, sharks and larger fish and commercially important.

“But not all species of higher levels are negatively affected. Some even increased their populations when small fish are overfished, “says Smith.

To reach their findings, the researchers put different fish species at various pressures lower levels of fishing. According to the study, the fish most abundant fish in an ecosystem, or those higher up the food web tend to have major impacts on ecosystems.

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The first major particle physics conference begins today in Grenoble (France). All presented results of the LHC experiments and is scheduled a news conference for Monday July 25. This conference follows a successful start of LHC operation in 2011, and the results are awaited with anticipation. “So far we have collected the amount of data planned for around 2011, which is a great achievement for the LHC,” said Rolf Heuer, general director of CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research). “While it is too early for major discoveries, experiments, interesting results have already accumulated.”

The LHC experiments will be presented more accurately measures up to the date of known processes of the present model of particle physics, the Standard Model. Also provide unprecedented measures and limits on phenomena and particles like the Higgs boson.

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(Female Asian tiger mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ) . Image: CDC)

An experimental study conducted in Sant Cugat del Valles and Ruby, coordinated by scientists at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), has evaluated the efficiency of a set of complementary strategies in reducing the population of tiger mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ) , started in February 2008. The research is based on counting of eggs in small traps and experimental researchers have observed for the first time the number has declined to implement the measures.

Strategies included, first, a program of visits by a team of reporters to the homes of the affected areas, to explain preventive measures and avoid standing water to accumulate in the vessels’ home gardens and patios. Second, treatment with insecticides in sinks, water tanks and sewage, to remove the larvae, and vegetation of the parks and gardens, to eliminate adult insects. Finally, cleaning trash and debris on the land that could support the proliferation of mosquitoes.

During the visit program, researchers have inspected over 3,000 homes and interviewed nearly 700 people. To demonstrate the effectiveness of actions to deal with the tiger mosquito, has been counting the eggs laid by females in traps consisting of a few simple pieces of wood inside the small vessel of water. These traps reproduce the conditions of the trunks of trees where the mosquito was played originally in the Asian jungles.

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(An engineer checks the James Webb telescope mirrors. Image: NASA)

After the window of a clean room in building 29 of the Goddard Space Flight Center (Maryland, USA), NASA engineers, clad in costumes like the movies, working on parts of the space telescope James Webb . It is the replacement for Hubble , the most powerful tool that astrophysicists have in their hands for decades to come. Official information on the walls hung announces he will be ready in 2014, but the grimace of the press officer says that in no way going to meet the deadline.

The initial budget for the James Webb Space Telescope ( JWST) was 5,000 million dollars and its launch was scheduled for 2014. In October 2010 an independent report prepared by John Casani at the request of U.S. government revealed that its final cost would be 6,500 million dollars and would not be ready until late 2015. Now there is talk of over 7,000 million dollars, NASA has stated that at the earliest, could put into orbit in October 2018, and that if extra funding.

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Radio stations are scrambling to gain a foothold in the more popular FM, at the expense of AM with a poorer sound quality. However, the bands below 30 MHz (AM) may have a new opportunity, with the help of digital terrestrial broadcasting. The international consortium Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is working on developing a universal system that would offer close to the clarity of FM, as well as other benefits such as multilingual program option or a power reduction of 40-50% .

The engineer Ivan Peña, who works with DRM by Treatment Group and Radio Signal UPV / EHU, has focused specifically on the study of the band of 26 MHz on her doctoral thesis Planning factors for digital local broadcasting in the 26 MHz band(Factors of planning for local digital broadcasting in the band 26 MHz).

Peña’s research is the study of propagation models and planning factors for the implementation of DRM services in the band 26 MHz for this purpose, tests carried out locally in countries like Mexico, Brazil and Germany. Specifically, Mexico and Brazil were the first made with this system in two countries. In addition, 26 MHz is a band that has rarely been used so far, so optimization would have a major impact. So Peña’s research and the group it belongs to have been well received at international conferences and in magazine IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, Who is ranked seven in the JCR telecommunications classification.

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Between the walls and ceilings of the building and energy use area is a buffer zone that are used in insulation. The innovative initiative aims to use organic materials for this function.

Daniel Valencia, a researcher of the R & D company explains that “until now used as insulation wool, but consider using organic materials with lower carbon Juella.” The company explained that currently 70% of emissions of greenhouse gases are generated in cities whose buildings are responsible for almost 40% of the total energy consumption. Acting on these buildings could reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

In this case, the researchers propose replacing conventional thermal insulation of wood fibers, cellulose, wool or cork.

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