Flexible Piezoelectric Remote Works by Bending & Twisting It

A new flexible remote control is being released that allows you to change channels and adjust volume levels by bending and twisting it. It's made out of a new type of piezoelectric sensor film that was developed my Japanese tech firm Murata Manufacturing.

The "Leaf Grip Remote Controller" has two handles with a transparent film between them. The film contains two layers of special piezoelectric sensors that create small amounts of electricity through bending and twisting motions. Experts say that the new film is a breakthrough because it doesn't suffer from "pyroelectric" problems, which involve changes in temperature adversely effecting a piezoelectric device.

Murata has also announced the release of a "Touch Pressure Pad" that can be used to control a computer. It detects finger movements and can gauge the amount of pressure being applied. It could lead to an entirely new class of electronic device controls.

We say: Very nice. Now just hurry up and make a bendy/twisty controller for our video game consoles!

Learn some mo': Piezoelectric Remote Control Changes Channels When You Bend It

Google Search Ads Get More Social With +1 Feature

Google added the +1 social voting feature to their search ads today in an attempt to personalize users' "ad experiences." It also may be a move to create a fresh monetization channel for their new, and increasingly popular, Google Plus social network.

According to Google's engineers, clicking on a +1 button has the same effect whether it's an ad, a search results page listing, or an individual web page. +1 buttons will also start showing up on Adsense for Mobile text and image ads within the next couple of weeks. According to the search giant, users will be able to opt-out of the +1 ad personalization system by updating their Google account/Gmail personalization options. Advertisers can also choose to opt out and not have the +1 buttons appear on their ad campaigns.

We say: This is a very interesting move by the Big G. Adding a social layer to their ginormous ad network allows for all kinds of possibilities. It will also certainly affect the Adwords "quality score" feature that already gives advertisers (especially spammers) nightmares. So it may have a big effect on search engine marketing and pay-per-click (PPC) ad buying as a whole. Overall though, this should lead to better, more useful, and more targeted ads... higher revenues for Google... and more GREAT free Google products. That's always a good thing! :)

Learn some mo': Google Puts +1 on Ads, Creates Google Plus Revenue Stream

Dark Chocolate Almost as Good for You as Exercise

Eating small amounts of dark chocolate high in cocoa can boost your health in ways similar to exercise, according to new research. Scientists from Wayne State University found that a powerful compound found in chocolate -- called epicatechin -- appears to stimulate muscle tissue mitochondria in the same way as vigorous exercise.

According to head researcher Dr Moh Malek:

"Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body. More mitochondria mean more energy is produced and more work can be performed... Aerobic exercise, such as running or cycling, is known to increase the number of mitochondria in muscle cells. Our study has found that epicatechin seems to bring about the same response - particularly in the heart and skeletal muscles."

In the study, middle-aged mice appeared to get the biggest benefit from the chocolate/cocoa supplementation. According to doctor Malek epicatechin supplementation combined with regular vigorous exercise may be a powerful combination for preventing/slowing muscle ageing. Experts say that more research is needed in order to confirm that chocolate provides similar benefits in humans.

We say: This is great! Now we have another excuse to buy pounds and pounds of dark chocolate at Trader Joe's! :D

Learn some mo': Chocolate 'as good for you as exercise'

("Broke") Las Vegas Schools Give Students iPad 2s

Southern Nevada's Clark County School District is giving nearly $800,000 worth of Apple iPad 2 tablet computers to 1,150 Las Vegas area students. It's part of a 1-year pilot program that's the biggest of its kind in the US. Schools receiving the ultra-portable computers include Silverado High School, Leavitt Middle School, Silvestri Middle School, and the Academy for Individualized Study, a special school for non-traditional students like Cirque du Soleil performers.

Each $687 iPad is pre-loaded with a special "interactive" Algebra 1 textbook application. The app -- called the Fuse Algebra textbook -- was developed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and teaches using touch-tab lessons and video tutorials. It also has powerful note-taking functionality.

According to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt the Fuse app is able to deliver "truly personalized instruction" that helps students learn difficult subject matter easier and more quickly. It apparently allows a student to learn at his or her own pace and to easily catch up on lessons if they miss school.

We say: We thought the Clark County School District was completely broke?!? First they spend a million on iPads for teachers last year. Now they buy a butt-load of iPad 2s for lazy high schoolers and middle school students? Does Apple have a mole planted inside the Las Vegas school board or what?

Learn some mo': In turnabout, teachers give students Apples, hope iPads boost test scores

16 "Super-Earths" Have Been Found!

Scientists have found a bunch of new planets outside our solar system, including 16 so-called "super-Earth" planets with masses as much as 10 times that of our own super-Earth. One of the newly discovered planets could, according to the science geeks, possibly sustain life.

The European Southern Observatory announced that they've found over 50 new extrasolar bodies. The most exciting is called "HD 85512 b" and it's nearly 4 times the size of Earth. It's just close enough to its own sun that it could potentially have liquid water... and even support some form of life!

Don't worry though, HD 85512 b is 35 light years away from our planet (a VERY far distance) so we probably won't be visited by aliens anytime soon. The discovery was made using some pretty powerful technology called the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) located at La Silla Observatory in Chile.

We say: This is great news! Now we just have to figure out a way to visit HD 85512 b because, who knows, they might have a roaring economy and some actual JOBS over there!!

Learn some mo': 16 'super-Earths' found outside solar system