To search for oil, companies typically employ teams of geological engineers and 3D mapping software, but two groups in Israel are trying to find deposits through biblical clues.

Zion Oil and Gas says it will drill for oil deposits in the north of the country, said Amit Mor, CEO at Eco Energy, an energy consulting and investment firm in the country. Part of the belief at Zion Oil is that Deuteronomy says it was there.

"And of Asher he [Moses] said, blessed above sons; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.&… Read more

Nanotechnology will play an important role in addressing many daunting technical challenges to hydrogen-based transportation, a highly regarded scientist and MIT professor said on Tuesday.

Mildred Dresselhaus, a professor of physics and electrical engineering at MIT, gave the keynote address at an MIT conference on nanotechnology and energy. Among other science management positions, Dresselhaus chaired a 2003 Department of Energy report called the Basic Research Needs for a Hydrogen Economy.

During her talk, Dresselhaus said there has been progress since the 2003 report was published, but there remain a number of challenges in hydrogen production, storage, and fuel cells , the … Read more

Stanford University's robotic wonder "Stanley" is a software-and-sensors powered Volkswagen that drove autonomously for 136 desert miles to win the landmark Grand Challenge last fall. Not to be forgotten, the robot will take the stage at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History this Wednesday through the summer.

Why such glory? Because Stanley "offers a glimpse into a future of 'smart' cars and automated highways," according to the Smithsonian's announcement.

Stanford's robot--wired with sensors, GPS receivers and AI computer systems--deftly beat 22 other bots to finish first in the 2005 Grand Challenge, … Read more

What would you rather do, navigate through the on-demand and TV listings offered up by your cable provider with a standard remote, or snap out your four front teeth with a pair of Vise-Grips?

Hillcrest Labs has come up with FreeSpace, a way to visually search music, movie and photo menus. The company's technology consists of two parts: a four-button remote shaped like a ring that lets you move a cursor around by pointing, and software that turns reams of TV listings into thumbnail menus. The company sells software, but makes the prototypes to encourage potential customers.

So instead … Read more

Following governments in Germany, Japan and a few states like New Jersey, a bunch of nations are jumping on the solar bandwagon. Italy and Cyprus has put together an incentive package to encourage homeowners and businesses to put in solar panels. (Electricity from solar actually still costs more than conventional electricity, so subsidies are necessary to get consumers to adopt it.)

And in August, Ontario Canada will start pushing solar. It's way up North, but a low outside temperature is optimal for solar panels, explains Ron Kenedi, general manager of solar systems at Sharp, which is the world's … Read more

Bluetooth will hold its own against wireless USB, say its backers.

Phone manufacturers will continue to insert Bluetooth chips into handsets, asserted a representative from the Bluetooth SIG. This came in response from Dino Vendetti at Formative Ventures , who predicted that wireless USB would begin to displace Bluetooth in cell phones.

In part, survival will come out of convenience. "Manufacturers want one-stop shopping for product certification and they want the devices they are creating today and tomorrow to be compatible with the millions of Bluetooth devices on the market and coming to market every day," the Bluetooth rep … Read more

Bluetooth is sort of like France. Winning a war is just not it's thing.

The wireless networking standard was touted years ago as a way to connect laptops (via a cell phone bridge) wirelessly to the Internet. It got creamed by WiFi.

Subsequently, Bluetooth backers primarily envisioned it as a way to connect phones to wireless headsets or PCs. Although not everyone that has a Bluetooth phone takes advantage of the capability, adoption has been picking up.

Unfortunately, Wireless USB is getting set to knock Bluetooth out in that role, according to Dino Vendetti, who just joined VC firm … Read more

We're all aware by now that the American educational system is in a state of serious decline, but we face another problem too: Wall Street pays people too much.

Too many U.S. college students are being pulled away into management, hedge funds and other similar jobs where the main function is servicing someone else's legacy, according to David Strohm, general partner at Greylock, at the Venture Capital Investing Conference taking place in San Francisco.

Engineering and science students still seem to have start-up fever. But outside of those departments, which are seeing declining enrollments, most students seem … Read more

Plasma screens are going big, according to Takeshi Uenoyama, director of the advanced technology research laboratories at Matsushita Electric.

Fujitsu has developed plasma tube arrays that are flexible and large and appropriate as large signs, he said at the Society for Information Display, an annual gathering of display scientists, taking place in San Francisco. A display with 1000 pixels by 700 pixels measures three meters by two meters. A 2000 x 1000 pixel display measures six meters by three meters.

Although competitors, Matsushita and Fujitsu are allies in promoting plasma technology. In the home, plasma TVs are not growing nearly … Read more