Graffiti Research Lab’s [James Powderly] along with 9 other Tibet supporters were deported from China during the Olympic’s closing ceremonies. Detained on the 19th, the activists were to serve a 10 day sentence, but the Chinese government buckled under international pressure and deported them early. This brings the total number of deported activists to 53 since the start of the games.
Graffiti Research Lab is well known for its laser tagging research.
via: hackaday
Using lasers to spot troubled teethbeforecavities form, researchers hope to turn the dentist’s drill into a relic of the 20th century.
The technology, called “Raman spectroscopy” (RS), is not brand new. In fact, scientists in other fields have long been using it to distinguish between various chemicals, based on their unique molecular fingerprints.
But this is the first time RS has been used to identify teeth in the very earliest stages of decay, the British research team said.
“The technique we are working with can tell the difference between [healthy] enamel and decaying enamel, and so in the future, if this technology is further developed, a dentist could identify early decay using it,” explained study co-author Frances Downey, a graduate student with the Biomaterials, Biomimetics & Biophotonics Research Group operating out of the Dental Institute of King’s College London.
Laser Technology Spots Cavities Before They Start - washingtonpost.com.
Laser can cook coffee, laser can cut pizza.
via: Wired Blog
Drifting Off Into The Night, originally uploaded by simosean.
Rochester police have a new tool to solve crime. The city is testing a new 3D laser scanner. The scanner made by Leica Geosystems is on loan from the A & E Television Network. It is part of the Rochester Police Departments agreement to participate in the reality drama “Crime 360″.
Rochester is one of only six departments in the entire country to use the scanner. Basically, it allows police to take a 3D picture of a scene. “When you have a live scan and you can recreate the scene the way it was right after it happened, the chances of solving the crime increase,” said Sgt. Mike Coon, Rochester Police Department. More at News10NBC.com
ABC News: Forestry Tasmania has found laser beams can more accurately map forest terrain, to help identify which trees should be protected for their carbon stores.
radioactive margarita, originally uploaded by stewedman.
It is not so difficult to have your home laser show.
The idea of having your own laser show can seem a bit far-fetched, but just think about how cool it could be! It may sound hard to build, but an inventor named Geoff Milburn has come up with some easy instructions.
By using materials like a lab style laser, a diffraction grating, an old pair of headphones and a few electrical parts, the device can be fairly simple to put together. All you need to do is to be able to wire a few things here and there and also do a bit of soldering. But before you start, you should make sure to read up on laser safety.
via: Inventorspot
General Motors Corp. researchers are working on a windshield that combines lasers, infrared sensors and a camera to take what’s happening on the road and enhance it, so aging drivers with vision problems are able to see a little more clearly. More at CNN.com
