A new use for coffee...

Cornell scientists use coffee grounds and a balloon to create a versitile gripper for a robot arm.

John Amend

The robotic gripper conforms to the shape of the item it is lifting. See more things it can pick up in a University of Chicago video.

Science Ink

Some people wear goofy scientific t-shirts, and some people prefer to wear their scientific passions on their flesh. If you happen to be one such decorated scientist, let Carl Zimmer know so he can include you in his forthcoming book of science tattoos, Science Ink. For the curious, his blog has a large collection of pictures that range from artful to humorous to downright geeky.

1000th Protein's Structure Worked Out

Today is a flag day in structural genomics: 1000 human proteins have had their structure determined. Many proteins have a complex 3D structure, and the functioning of a protein (such as enzymes, transport proteins, molecular signals and gene control mechanisms) is entirely dependent upon this structure. If we can figure out what a protein should look like we have a good starting place to try and work out what is happening when something goes wrong, such as in cancer and many other diseases.
The article heralding this milestone can be found here, and there is a slideshow that shows 10 of the most important discoveries along with details of why they are so important here.

The Pen That Never Forgets

This story from the NYT (click for the link) was sent to me by Paul Monheimer, and it ticks many of the boxes required for a good Coverslip post - science, technology, neuroscience, education etc.

Pens that record audio or use "e-ink" to link parts of written documents to computer files or to upload written notes onto your computer have been around for a while, and always struck me as rather gimmicky. It seems, however, that this latest incarnation has real promise for enhancing teaching and learning if used carefully (as with all technology, we should use it to enhance learning rather than as a novelty which quickly loses its appeal). It does, however, raise a question that I have often thought about - if we have all these devices doing our remembering for us, what is happening to our ability to store memories in both the short and long term? Whilst highly apocryphal and unscientific, personal experience leads me to suspect that I rely on technology in place of simply remembering things: how many phone numbers can you recall without referring to your phone? How many addresses do you know off the top of your head? Do you ever forget appointments if your planner doesn't beep at you? Perhaps it is simply down to aging, but I'm convinced I used to remember a lot more things before I had all these devices around me........

A Zorse?

Interesting article relevant to genetics and evolution - hybrid species!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/science/14creatures.html?_r=1

Sensitive robots in the not too distant future?

A new technology revealed today demonstrates the ability of an artificial skin that can detect the pressure of a butterfly landing - this opens up incredible possibilities for robot-controlled processes or even artificial limbs. The skin uses a polymer that, when compressed, changes the capacitance of the skin which can then be detected by a transistor. If an array of transistors is used, it can track differences in pressure applied to the skin.
The original Nature News article can be found here, and a layman's description on the BBC News site is here.

Spontaneous Combustion!

Check out this link about a plant causing a house fire:

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/296950