Latest science news in Mathematics & Economics
Scientists use PlayStations to create supercomputer
Computer hobbyists and researchers take note: two U.S. scientists have created a step-by-step guide on how to build a supercomputer using multiple PlayStation 3 video-game consoles.
Nobel prize committees accused of bribery
Several Nobel science prize committees in Sweden are being investigated for possible bribery, a special corruption prosecutor told AFP on Thursday.
Fast Food Meals Are Smaller, Have Fewer Calories Than Food Served At Restaurants, Study Finds
A new study in the Review of Agricultural Economics compares fast food and table service meals at restaurants. Results show that both are larger and have more calories than meals...
Cap and trade policies limiting CO2 can increase value of some electricity generating firms
A new study in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management explores ways to target the compensation provided by the free allocation of emission allowances under a CO2 cap and...
'Smart' surveillance system may tag suspicious or lost people
Engineers here are developing a computerised surveillance system that, when completed, will attempt to recognise whether a person on the street is acting suspiciously or appears to be lost...
Is That Ocarina Music Coming From Your iPhone?
When Apple introduced the iPhone in June 2007, the company sought to test the limits of mobile communications and computing in a single, handheld device (handsomely packaged, of course). Software...
Cognitive computing: Building a machine that can learn from experience
(PhysOrg.com) -- Suppose you want to build a computer that operates like the brain of a mammal. How hard could it be? After all, there are supercomputers that can decode...
Laptop can tell you if router works
Q. I tried to set up a new wireless router to work with a desktop PC and a laptop. Although I followed the installation instructions, I'm unable to reach the...
Use Gmail for your to-do list
Free e-mail service Gmail just unveiled a new feature that lets you keep a list of tasks inside your inbox and even convert e-mails into items on your list.
More inexpensive holiday technology gift ideas
By the time you read this, your holiday shopping days are hitting the single digits so consider this my last column on inexpensive holiday technology gift ideas for the geeks...
Personalized spam rising sharply, study finds
(AP) -- Yes, guys, those spam e-mails for Viagra or baldness cream just might be directed to you personally. So, too, are many of the other crafty come-ons clogging...
AMD Athlon X2 7750 Black Edition 2.7GHz CPU
(PhysOrg.com) -- AMD has introduced a new dual-core desktop processors aimed at the value end of the consumer market. The new Athlon X2 7000 series, which is available now, are...
'Buy local' not the answer to smaller carbon footprint, professor argues
(PhysOrg.com) -- In 2006, certain cafeterias on U of T`s St. George campus began serving meals made from ingredients grown mostly in Ontario - an initiative undertaken with Local...
Cable companies to delay confusing digital switch
(AP) -- Cable TV operators say they'll voluntarily stop moving analog channels to more expensive digital tiers of service between Dec. 31 and March 1, to avoid confusing customers...
Semantic technology shopping is created
TOKYO, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Japanese scientists have created a technology that allows shoppers to record a product's barcode and receive instant buying advice based on Internet reviews.
NY gov proposes tax on drinks, downloaded music
(AP) -- Gov. David Paterson's first state budget threatens to affect just about every New Yorker. Even those online.
Motorola to freeze pension plans, cut exec pay
(AP) -- Motorola Inc., which has been struggling to revive its business in recent years, is freezing its pension plans and reducing executive pay in another set of cost-cutting...
Wal-Mart to sell iPhone in U.S. as of Dec. 28: report
Wal-Mart stores in the United States are scheduled to start selling Apple Inc.'s iPhone on Dec. 28 for regular price, rather than a discounted $99 US as rumoured, according to...
Real Christmas trees 'greener' than fakes
MONTREAL, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A Canadian sustainable energy company in Montreal says real Christmas trees have less of an environmental impact than reusable artificial trees.
Kidnapped senior needed IU-patented home security system
Family and friends of a 75-year-old California grandmother beaten and kidnapped from her home last week might have known of the crime within moments if a device patented by an...
We've Got Your Number: Consumers Choose Products With More Technical Specs
Many products have numbers attached: megapixels for cameras, wattage ratings for stereos, cotton counts for sheets. A new study shows that consumers are heavily influenced by quantitative specifications, even meaningless...
New System Can Improve Video-sharing Web Sites Like YouTube
As video sharing websites like YouTube continue to grow in popularity, so do challenges around proper labeling of videos and monitoring for copyright infractions. But one student from the University...
Women double fruit, veggie intake with switch to Mediterranean diet plan
In a new study led by the University of Michigan Health System, women more than doubled their fruit and vegetable intakes and dramatically increased their consumption of "good" fats when...
GREAT2 expectations as European industry prepares leading-edge semiconductor for space
ESA is investing significant levels of funding in order to establish a European supply chain for fabrication of space-worthy telecommunications and radar devices made from a high performance semiconductor.
Sprint Nextel Corp. to release dual-network modem
(AP) -- Sprint Nextel Corp. on Wednesday unveiled a new laptop modem that will allow users to switch between the company's normal cellular network and the new high-speed WiMax...
MIT's Huggable Robot Teddy Enhances Human Relationships
(PhysOrg.com) -- It's probably the most sophisticated teddy bear ever designed, but that doesn't stop MIT's companion robot called "the Huggable" from being pretty adorable, as well. The Huggable is...
Chipping away at credit card fraud
As part of their anti-fraud battle, major credit card issuers Visa and MasterCard are rolling out new cards across Canada that contain memory chips.
Euro MPs seal major climate deal
The European Parliament backs a far-reaching package to combat global warming, seen as a key EU initiative.