The biggest black holes may feed just like the smallest ones, according to data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ground-based telescopes. This discovery supports the implication of Einstein's relativity theory that black holes of all sizes have similar properties, and will be useful for predicting the properties of a conjectured new class of black holes. »

Early-career engineers at Lockheed Martin who are also earning engineering degrees at Cornell broke the world amateur high-altitude balloon record in a recent near-space flight that exceeded 125,000 feet. The students' flight beat the previous amateur altitude record by nearly 5,000 feet. »

Nanotechnology is paving the way toward improved solar cells. New research shows that a film of carbon nanotubes may be able to replace two of the layers normally used in a solar cell, with improved performance at a lower cost. Researchers have found a surprising way to give the nanotubes the properties they need: add defects. Currently, these solar cells, called dye-sensitized solar cells, have a transparent film made of an oxide that is applied to glass and conducts electricity. In addition, a separate film made of platinum acts as a catalyst to speed the chemical reactions involved. »

Researchers have developed a technology for a plastic ferro-electric diode which they believe will achieve a breakthrough in the development of ultra low-cost plastic memory material. »

Physicists have developed a model to explain the mechanism behind computing's elusive Holy Grail, the single molecular switch. If born out experimentally, his work could help explode Moore?s Law and could revolutionize computing technology. »

Participants at the Group of Eight (G8) Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting in Japan have pledged to boost funding for research which will lead to the realisation of a low carbon economy. 'We are committed to increasing investment … »

For more than 400 years, astronomers have studied the sun from afar. Now NASA has decided to go there. The name of the mission is Solar Probe+. It's a heat-resistant spacecraft designed to plunge deep into the sun's atmosphere where it can sample solar wind and magnetism first hand. »

The so called "Creative economy" is an evolving concept based on the potential of "creative assets" to generate socio-economic growth and development, in a globalized world increasingly dominated by images, sounds, texts and symbols.  »

Wetenschappers van de TU Delft hebben geconstateerd dat er op het grensvlak van twee niet-geleidende zuivere organische materialen toch een geleidend laagje ontstaat. Dit opent in principe de weg naar een nieuwe klasse van organische elektronische systemen. De wetenschappers publiceren deze week over het onderzoek in Nature Materials. »

A professor on sabbatical in China has created a prototype of a sturdy, quick-to-build bamboo house designed to help the vast number of people made homeless by the May 12 Sichuan earthquake. »