The way described below seems to be an effective one while recovering fingerprints from clothing. This method works by placing the fabric in a vacuum chamber. Then a fine layer of evaporated gold is spread over the fabric, followed by an application of heated zinc. The zinc attaches to the gold layer where there are no fingerprints, allowing the fabric where contact was made to show through. The technique could be useful in targeting areas of clothing where a victim was grabbed or...

A new password system based on eye motion could one day lead to a secure security system that can be accessed with only a look. The system will be based upon the idea that no two people trace a path with their eyes in exactly the same way. By recording eye motions, the system will be able to analyze two features: fixation--when the eyes linger on an aspect of the screen, and saccades--the quick movements of the eye as it shifts between points. This information will be compared to...

Why not create a new material for bone implants to resemble more accurately the geometry and stiffness of bone? The material is to be designed using a technique known as topology optimization, which forms a three-dimensional scaffold. Metal powder is melted into the desired shape with a laser, creating an open pore structure that can allow the transporting of nutrients through the implant.

The fruit grader/selector can measure a fruit's weight as well as its sugar content and acidity, all at the same time. The unit uses optical sensors to measure sugar content and costs significantly less than current large-scale sugar content meters. Using just one unit with two fruit selectors, one person can process about 2000 tomatoes per hour. The unit is modular and easy to expand upon, including replacing the touch pad with a PC, and the team plants to add more sorting...

Why not create an application which will use camera equipped dashboard mounted mobile devices to let drivers know the best speed to maintain in order to avoid traffic lights? The application will collect traffic signal data as the car moves about and then will feed it back to a central system, which will allow a larger image of the traffic flow to be created. This information could then be used to tell the driver how quickly they are approaching the traffic signal as well as where...

The idea is to develop a thin film that can be rolled out to detect trace explosives underground, which could help in the location of the millions of active land mines buried around the world. The fluorescent nanofiberous film will be embedded with chemicals that can detect tiny amounts of explosive vapors as they are released from unexploded underground mines. The film will be lightweight enough to be rolled out to cover an area of suspect land without detonating the mines, where...

Why not invent the world's first permanent anti-fog coating able to stand up to repeated washings? The coating will be made permanent by the initial creation of a base of four layers of silicon molecules applied via an atmospheric plasma process. The layers will not only bond to each other, but also allow the anti-fog coating of polyvinyl alcohol to permanently bond to them, increasing the durability and hardness of the coating.

It was found out that chicken feathers could be used to create stronger and more lightweight plastics. Feathers are made up primarily of keratin, a tough and stable protein that can add strength while reducing weight in plastics composites. The idea is to develop a method to use chicken feathers as the primary ingredient in the composites, rather than just an additive, by adding methyl acrylate to processed feathers to create strong, thin films. The feather based plastics...

A new LED lantern will be powered by only water and salt. The lamp will be powered by a saline solution, which the user will mix in the dedicated water bag. The salt water will then act as the electrolyte, surrounding the magnesium and carbon rods that will serve as the negative and positive electrode. The magnesium rod has a lifespan of about 120 hours, but replacements will be available for separate purchase. The lamp can also be used to power USB devices, and will include...

I do like the idea of Tunnel Taxi and really want to share with you. Tunnel Taxi is designed for solving problems with traffic. It's a split bus style taxi with a pair of seats on each side that exit into a central tunnel. That central tunnel is there to allow people that ride bikes around the city to pass in the middle of the taxi without having to change lanes.