Tech Scrape

Wireless optical networks could provide gigabit-per-second data transfer. A wireless network that uses reflected infrared light instead of radio waves has transmitted data through the air at a speed of one gigabit per second–six to 14 times faster than the fastest Wi-Fi network. Such optical networks could provide faster, more secure communications and would be especially suitable for use in hospitals, aircraft, and factories, where radio-frequency transmission can interfere with navigation equipment, medical devices, or control systems. Another possible application is wireless networking for home theaters; a system that transmits data at 1.6 gigabits per second could broadcast two separate high-definition TV channels across a room, a capacity that exceeds the bandwidth of any existing radio system.

A new process could allow Air Force jets to run exclusively on domestically produced biomass and coal.

The aircraft will one day be used to circumnavigate the globe.

The best of the rest from the physics arXiv this week

The best of the rest from the physics arXiv this week

If a new technique for predicting crashes really works, a bold new experiment will measure how well.

How realistic is the google flight simulator as it relates to actually piloting a plane?
Vizzi-torr asked: I’m curious only because it seems to come extremely natrual and easy. Even taking off and landing. I’m only using a mouse for most of the controls but it seems as though the actual mechanical controls would make it [...]