Earth buzzed by not one, but two asteroids today

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A newly discovered asteroid, 2012 XE54, and an old-timer, 4179 Toutatis, are buzzing Earth today. Asteroid 2012 XE54 was only discovered a few days ago (December 9) and passed between the Earth and Moon at a distance of 141,000 miles. In a rare event, it was also eclipsed by Earth’s shadow as it passed. The…

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U.S. Air Force secret X-37B space plane set to launch from Cape Canaveral

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The U.S. Air Force is set to launch its so-called secret X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle space plane from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Tuesday for the third test flight of the prototype space craft. The Air Force’s third Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3) mission is scheduled for lift off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force…

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DARPA expanding foam used to stop internal bleeding

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DARPA funded researchers have developed a new type of expandable foam that can stop internal bleeding long enough to get the soldier off the battlefield and into surgery. The foam chemical is injected into the chest as two separate chemicals. When the chemicals come into contact with each other, they expand, molding itself around internal…

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New contact lens technology allows for heads-up display (HUD) for wearers

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According to the Telegraph, Ghent University’s center of microsystems technology has developed a spherical curved LCD display which can be embedded in contact lenses and handle projected images using wireless technology. The technology allows the entire surface of the contact lens to be used for the display giving the wearer a true heads-up display (HUD).

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New fiber-optical thread doubles as solar power generator

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An international team of scientists have created the first fiber-optic solar cell that is thinner than a strand of human hair, flexible, and produces electricity using the same principles as a a flat-panel solar cell. They are hoping to provide the capability to weave the new fiber-optic thread into into fabrics of clothing to produce…

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NASA announces new evidence for water ice at Mercury’s poles

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Scientist have long speculated that ice existed on the planet Mercury. Radio waves bounced off the planet decades ago indicated many bright spots on the planet’s surface. Scientist were reluctant to conclude that the white areas were ice though. The white reflection could have been silicate, sulfur, or other highly-reflective substances. Today, a new analysis…

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