Superconductivity.

In the last few years, carbon nanotubes, buckyballs, nanofibre and other nanomaterials have been fueling a major revolution in materials sciences. Advances include everything from faster transmission of water molecules, to super durable, super lightweight materials, to capacitor-based batteries with unprecedented storage capabilities.

Now, "nanodot" technology may be clearing the way for perfected cheap room temperature superconductivity. This article discusses the technology, its potential and its pitfalls. The article mentions widespread frictionless maglev trains as a benefit, but the potential for superconductor technology goes way beyond the field of transportation. Warm superconductivity has been a holy grail of the physical sciences for some time now, due to benefits in energy efficiency which will allow us to accomplish all sorts of things that have never been possible before. This is truly exciting stuff.

Neuro Chip.

This article showcases a new method of using a computer chip to both send and possibly recieve signals from existing brain tissue. The technology is not yet implantable, and is currently damaging to the tissue. Still, it's a pretty hefty breakthrough in the field of direct input/output of signals to the brain.

Welcome to the future.

Computational Speed Increase.

Two recent advances promise increased computing power, while one displays advances in biological computing.

BigDog.

This is kind of old news, so I'm sure some of you have heard about it. DARPA has developed a highly advanced robotic mule which is capable of carrying packs for soldiers across rough terrain without falling over or getting hung up. I saw this video on the Colbert Report the other night. Some guy runs up and takes a flying kick at the thing, and it just staggers and keeps on trucking. Pretty sweet.

Brain Stitches.

Scientific American reports that scientists are now able to repair the brain of a hamster who has received extensive brain trauma. Such a treatment may be duplicable in human beings.

Thanks to Katherine for this one.

Genetics.

A great article on the subject of genetic influence upon human nature, culture and psychological disposition. Thanks to my friend Katherine for this one.

Update: Mental Typewriter.

Oh, it is ON. New Scientist has an article about the German "Mental Typewriter" unveiled at CeBit last week. The device is non-obtrusive, meaning that it doesn't require a surgical implant in order to operate. It's small, too. The last non-intrusive brain cap I saw was huge. This cap just looks like a funky hat with a wire ponytail.

The device is said to be easy to train, easy to use and more efficient than any previously known form of digital input. Ubiquity will tie this directly to the evolution of our species.

CeBit Surprise.

This article about the CeBit technology show contains a few key sentences:

"Meanwhile Germany's renowned Frauenhofer Institute and the neurology clinic at Berlin's Charite hospital are to unveil a 'mental typewriter' that will allow people incapacitated by injury or disease to communicate. Using 128 electrodes fastened to the cranium, the invention literally reads minds as the patient uses his thoughts to type out messages."

More details on this as I uncover them.