Rick C. Hodgin

Scientists are experimenting with nano construction techniques to engineer materials which do not occur in nature. The end result may be solar cells that are 3x as efficient as those seen today, that are able to convert water directly into hydrogen and oxygen, and many more similar conversion applications.

Research into static field magnetic application has demonstrated that there are potentially beneficial medical side effects of strong, localized magnetic fields. We may no longer need ice packs or heating pads after injuries.

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology is proving to be a viable alternative for electricity generation in remote areas. Powered basically by anything, these tiny power plants form colonies capable of delivering usable power to man.

Mars is now facing a 1 in 28 chance of being pummeled by a 160 foot diameter asteroid which will have its closest encounter with Mars on or about January 30, 2008. If it ends up being an impact, an orbiting satellite may be in prime position to take close up images of the impact.

Someone apparently pulled The Inquirer clan away from the pub long enough to think a clear thought about 2008. They've put together a top ten list of events they believe will happen. What are your thoughts? Is The Inquirer clan on the mark? Or off the wagon?

Light in the visible spectrum has been observed from an extra-solar planet for the first time. The team used special polarization techniques to hone in on only light reflected from the planet, and not its star.

The final satellites in a Russian GPS system are now in space. Today, the system is only operating at about 50% capacity. It's fully functional over all of Russia, and in 2009 it will be global.

Intel's recent minor slip of three quad-core processors from early in Q1'2008 to mid-to-late Q1'2008, coupled with some rumblings from under the surface, have caused a few to raise an eyebrow or two.

Ford Motor Company and UCLA have developed a new chemical compound which can safely store large quantities of hydrogen gas in a chemically dissolved form, making it safe for use in automobiles. While there is still research to be done, this research may help bring it mainstream much sooner.

Carbon is proving to be a very useful substance for many applications. A 2D, single atomic layer of carbon, called graphene, could provide the ideal, nearly transparent electrode material for future displays and solar cells, and one which will not further deplete our already scarce supply of indium.

The 20-hour notebook, 200 hour iPod, 80 hour cell phone, they could all be in our near futures thanks to silicon nanowire research into advanced Lithium-Ion batteries.

The coral reefs are providing early signs as to the perilous conditions of our oceans. Too much acid, too much salt, and too much CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere increasing the temperature. Changes need to be enacted soon to keep the coral reefs from dying by 2100, and an irreversible trend beginning.

A team of researchers has been able to do the math, tweaking the computer design phase of creating a CPU. While no other aspects of manufacturing change, the increase is delivering at least a 5% boost.

Imagine a CPU that can withstand 200C temperatures without damage. Such a thing may be possible with a new line of hybrid zero thermal expansion materials which are proving suitable for semiconductor use, as well as a new class of positive, negative or zero thermal expansion materials. Heat may soon be our enemy no longer.

An ancient magnetic mineral called lodestone is proving somewhat baffling to modern scientists. By using a new generation of nano-tools, researchers have been able to un-earth a new ability that could have applications in mass storage or computer memory.

While Gartner projects phishing and malware attacks will to become increasingly piercing through 2009, in 2007 the damage was done. 3.6 million U.S. adults lost $3.2 billion to phishing schemes.

A paid, professional DRAM industry forecaster see only one activity which could turn the DRAM industry's slump around, that of big corporate buying spree for the new year. Let's hope it's time to upgrade those machines.

The Super Pro class world speed record for an all-electric dragster was set on December 15th at Speedworld Motorplex in Tucscon, Arizona. How fast did the electric dragster go? Faster than Tom Slick's Thunderbolt Greaseslapper .

A new proposal to bring 4x faster speeds over FireWire 800 is approaching the final ratification phase. Beginning in February, 2008, a 3.2 Gbps FireWire could be standard fare for future machines, using the same cables and connectors.

A new genus of a massive dinosaur branch has been found in Antarctica. The inventive paleontologists named it Glacialisaurus Hammeri . They estimate it lived 190 million years ago, before global cooling reared its ugly head.

NASA prepares to park Spirit for the duration of the long Martian winter. Cold temperatures below -100C will consume all of Spirit's solar power as the crippled craft strives to keep itself warm enough not to harm vital electrical components.

Physicsts have developed a super-cool atom chiller, one which not only cools atoms allowing special polar molecules to be created, but also simultaneously traps them with a near perfect efficiency.

As the wise old Sage once told me, the answer is 2*pi/4. I'm here all week folks, don't forget to tip your waitresses.

A group of scientists are looking at the possibility of damming up an 18 mile wide section of the Red Sea. The result, 50 Gigawatts of clean, renewable energy, enough to power entire local countries.