Science

Zen, Zune, Zeno. The last one may resemble an MP3 player but isn't one. It does, however, involve another "Z" word: zits. The "Zeno" supposedly zaps acne by stimulating "heat-shock proteins" that in turn cause pimples to self-destruct, according to a description on Coolest-Gadgets. We definitely would have given this a try in our teenage years but, at our advanced age, the idea of using a device designed to burn things off one's face doesn't seem quite worth it for some reason.

A robotic device designed to build a single house much like a computer printer might will be put to the test this spring, according to its creator Berok Khoshnevis, engineering professor at the University of Southern California.

His company, Contour Crafting, has created a layered fabrication technology that squirts materials like concrete, and thereby automates the construction of structures like a single home. It can even embed channels for electrical, plumbing and air-conditioning in each house.

According to a story in Livescience, Khoshnevis said: "The goal is to be able to completely construct a one-story, 2000-square foot home on … Read more

Presidential candidate and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson says energy is his No. 1 priority.

"What this country needs is a man-on-the-moon project--an Apollo project--that makes America energy-independent." His policy would involve heavy investments in research and development, subsidies as well as government investments in private companies. "I'm going to ask you to sacrifice to do something constructive for the country."

Energy imports make us vulnerable on a national security level, Richardson said. If countries like Iran, Venezuela and others acted together, they could deliver an oil shock that would make us vulnerable.

Asked about … Read more

This isn't exactly at gadget you'd want to purchase for your home (we hope), but trust us--you'll want to know when it's available. The University of Buffalo is leading research into dental work that can be done without drilling or anesthesia, based on a device that uses ozone to repair cavities.

The bacteria-killing ozone machine, which is being used in Europe, "fits over a tooth and forms an airtight seal in arresting tooth decay," according to Medgadget. Researchers say the technology is being tested now in the United States and, if approved, could be … Read more

Ford Motor will deliver 20 demonstration models of its Escape Hybrid E85 SUV to six states, the company announced in a statement Tuesday. Ford says the hybrid is the world's cleanest and most fuel-efficient small SUV, producing about 25 percent less carbon dioxide than its gas-fueled cousin, the Escape Hybrid SUV, which it showed off at the LA Auto Show in November.

The new E85 SUV will be on display at the 2007 Washington Auto Show, which starts Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Ford says the car can run on fuel blends with up to 85 percent ethanol. Deliveries … Read more

Another high school reunion is just around the corner. After the last one, you vowed to do whatever it takes to rid your body of the scourge of modern physiology: cellulite. Desperate times call for desperate measures--so enter the "CelluBike."

We honestly have no idea what to make of this monstrosity. It looks like some kind of futuristic flight simulator or MRI chamber. As we understand it, you peddle the bicycle while a "certified technician" points a bunch of infrared lights at your "problem areas." Then, according to its Web site, thermal energy "… Read more

Turns out that the microwave can clean your sink sponges while it nukes leftover pizza.

Scientists have found that in just two minutes, the microwave can kill 99 percent of living pathogens, according to research reported by Livescience.

It takes 4 minutes to zap bacteria spores known as Bacillus cereus, which are especially hard to kill with heat or radiation, according to the study, which was detailed in the December issue of the Journal of Environmental Health.

One note: the microwave should be on high heat.

Here's a thought for parents of young children: forget skiing lessons. Teach your kids to swim. The newest predictions on Europe's Alpine glaciers tell us they'll soon be much reduced. And there well may be serious flooding down at the bottom.

The World Glacier Monitoring Service in Zurich now says most Alpine glaciers could melt by 2037. One expert said, "The future looks rather liquid." He then said mountains less than fourteen thousand feet tall would lose all glaciers.

The thirty-one tallest European Alps could thus retain some permanent snow and ice. That includes the … Read more

About a month ago, we wrote about the HomeStar Pro Planetarium, which uses LEDs to project the night sky on your ceiling. Here's another one for the astronomy buffs: Laser Stars, a projector that beams star and cloud formations onto your wall or ceiling of choice with laser technology and holographics. For those of us who live in brightly lit cities where we can't really see any real stars at night, it's a cool idea.

The Laser Stars projector looks to be less for nuts-and-bolts astronomy buffs than for people who just like to look at a … Read more