Computer that roll up like paper in the offing

                Ultrathin an lightweight computers that roll up like a piece of paper may be closer to reality, thanks to highly flexible organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) developed by Korean scientists. The OLEDs have excellent efficiency and make use of graphene as a transparent electrode. OLEDs, built upon a plastic substrate, have received greater attention lately for their use in next-generation displays that can be bent or rolled while still operating.

                Researchers led by Seunghyup Yoo from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Tae-Woo Lee from Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea used graphene as a transparent electrode (TE) which is placed in between titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and conducting polymer layers. This is an optical design that induces a synergistic collaboration between the high-n and low-n layers to increase the effective reflectance of TEs. Under this approach, graphene-based OLED devices remain intact and operate well even after 1,000 bending cycles at a radius of curvature as small as 2.3mm.

Invisible cloak closer to reality

In a first, scientists made an object disappear by using a composite material that can enhance an object’s surface properties, an advance that may lead to practical invisibility cloaks. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, presented a cloaking device that allows curved surfaces to appear flat to electromagnetic waves. The design is based on transformation optics, a concept behind the idea of the invisibility cloak.

World's first holographic flexible smartphone unveiled

On 5 May 2016, a group of researchers at the Human Media Lab at Queen’s University announced that they have developed the world’s first holographic flexible smartphone named HoloFlex. The device is capable of rendering 3D images with motion parallax and stereoscopy to multiple simultaneous users without head tracking or glasses.

Highlights:

•          The device features a 1920×1080 full high-definition Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode touchscreen display.
•          Images are rendered into 12-pixel wide circular blocks rendering the full view of the 3D object from a particular viewpoint.
•          It produces 160×104 resolution image that allow users to inspect a 3D object by rotating the phone.
•          It is equipped with a bend sensor, which allows the user to bend the phone as a means of moving objects along the z-axis of the display.
•          It is powered by a 1.5 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 2GB of memory.

4D tech offers hope for treating lung ailments

                Scientists have developed a four dimensional lung scanning technology that has the potential to transform treatment for people with lung disease. Developed at Monash University in Australia by Professor Andreas Fouras, the technology has been commercialized by his company 4Dx. Dr Rajeev Samarage , joint lead author from Monash’s Laboratory, said, “With this technology, not only will clinicians have a clearer image of what is happening in the patient’s lungs, but it is our aim to detect changes in lung function much earlier than in the past,” said Samarage. Fouras said the 4Dx pre-clinical scanner generates high-resolution images of lung-tissue motion and airflow throughout the lungs, which allows doctors to view and measure abnormal function in specific areas of the lung, before a disease progresses.

Nasa to launch a probe to study "Armageddon' asteroid

                NASA is planning to launch a probe to collect rock samples from an asteroid it fears could one day hit Earth. The asteroid, named Bennu, can be seen from Earth as it crosses the planet’s orbit every six years. Bennu, which is 500m in diameter at its equator and travels around the sun at 63,000mph, will pass between Earth and the moon in 2135. “That 2135 fly-by is going to tweak Bennu’s orbit, potentially putting it on course for the Earth later that century,” Dante Lauretta, professor of planetary science at Arizona University. “It may be destined to cause immense suffering and death,” he added. Mr. Lauretta, Nasa’s principal investigator in charge of the Osiris-Rex probe mission to Bennu, launching in September, said the probe will map the asteroid, pick up some rock samples and then head back to Earth. He said information on the asteroid’s size, mass and composition could be “vital data for future generations”. Osiris-Rex will arrive at Bennu in 2018 and will spend a year surveying the asteroid’s chemical makeup, mineralogy and geologic history. Information gathered during the observation will help scientists understand how its course is affected by absorbing and radiating sunlight as heat. The probe will then take a sample from the asteroid before heading back to Earth for 2023.

Lightest e-paraglider developed, weighs 49kg

                Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have successfully designed and built the world’s lightest electric paraglider trike, that can take off and land with wheels while carrying an adult pilot. The aircraft dubbed The Delta, has two rear-mounted propellers, horizontally arranged, each driven by a motor and is powered by lithium polymer batteries. It is the lightest aircraft that can take off and land with wheels while carrying an adult pilot and may provide a safe, clean and simple way to realize our dreams of flying.

                The Delta was built for the National Geographic Channel. “We had to find the lightest airfoil possible, a wing, blade or sail crucial for a flight, which we found in a conventional cloth paraglider,” said Rangaranjan Jegadeesan, of Design-Centric Programme at the National University of Singapore. “We had to find the lightest motor to provide enough thrust for The Delta to be airborne; and we had to build it so that it is light enough to fly yet sturdy enough to be safe,” said Jegadeesan.

                The Delta weighs 49kg, and is capable of carrying one person up to 75kg. It can fly up to a speed of 36km per hour under normal wind conditions, and has a typical flight time of 10 minutes on fully-charged batteries.

Scientists simulate N-explosion of Asteroid

                In a step that may help protect the Earth from potentially dangerous celestial bodies, scientists have simulated the nuclear explosion of an asteroid in a such a way that its irradiated fragments do not fall on our planet. With the help of supercomputer SKIF Cyberia, the nuclear explosion of an asteroid 200 meter in diameter was simulated. “The way we propose to eliminate the threat from space is reasonable to use in case of the impossibility of the soft disposal of an object from a collision in orbit and for the elimination of an object that is constantly returning to Earth,” said Tatiana Galushina, from Tomsk State University (TSU) in Russia.

                “Previously, it was proposed to aboligh the asteroid on its approach to our planet, but this could lead to catastrophic consequences – a fall to Earth of the majority of the highly radioactive fragments,” said Galushina. Scientists have offered another solution to the problem. It is known that the majority of dangerous objects pass close to Earth several times before the collision. Therefore, there is a possibility to blow up the asteroid at the time when it is farther from the planet. This measure will be much more effective and safer.

                For computer modeling, a celestial body was taken as a potential target, similar to the asteroid Apophis, which in 2029 will approach Earth at a distance of 38,000 kilometers. Calculations have shown that for the destruction of the object there must be the impact of a nuclear device with energy of one megaton of TNT equivalent. In this case, part of the asteroid turns into gas and liquid droplets, and some will break into pieces no larger than 10 meters. This is the maximum in terms of safety for the Earth.

 “Because the rocket catches behind the asteroid, almost all the pieces after the destruction will fly forward,” said Galushina. “In this case the orbit of the fragments will be significantly different from the asteroid’s orbit. For 10 years after the explosion an insignificant number of fragments will fall to Earth,” Galushina said. “Their radioactivity during this time will be reduced considerably.” Galushina added, “Nuclear explosion in the space are prohibited by international treaty, but in the case of a real threat to humanity maybe there will be an exception.”