Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have demonstrated that liquids embedded with nanoparticles show enhanced performance and stability when exposed to electric fields. The finding could lead to new types of miniature camera lenses, cell phone displays, and other microscale fluidic devices.

"This study may open up a new vista for using nanofluids in microscale and nanoscale actuator device applications," said Theodorian Borca-Tasciuc, a professor of mechanical engineering at Rensselaer, who led the research project.

The manipulation of small volumes of liquid is critical for fluidic digital display devices, optical devices, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) such as lab-on-chip analysis systems. Most research into such systems has been conducted with regular liquids, but not nanofluids, which are liquids embedded with different nanoparticles.

A Glimpse of Secret Rove

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Mukasey Should Balk At Pitcher Probe

Let me count the ways ...

How about trying to figure out why violent crime rates in American cities increased so much during Alberto R. Gonzales reign of error at the Department?

How about figuring out ways in which rural and suburban law enforcement agencies can better respond to the drug crises that are sprouting up in Middle America - beyond the glare of the networks and cable howlers?

Not enough? Still want the feds to spend thousands of hours tracking down Jose Cansecos party guests? OK. Id rather have the Justice Department investigating how it came to pass that, under the Terrorist Surveillance Program, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ended up with all those private domestic e-mails they werent supposed to have. The more thorough that investigation would be, the less likely we would see such a mistake happen again, correct?

Or how about devoting more personnel to giving us answers the Justice Department promised when it comes to the U.S.

Official departs county position Employee cleared Rio work last year

Friday was the last day on the job for county employee Rick Maddox, whose rubber-stamp approval of questionable remodeling of the Rio ignited a safety controversy that resulted in criminal charges.

"The time that I was given was 18 minutes" for Maddox's stop at the Rio, said whistleblower Fred Frazzetta, who declined to name the source for his information. Frazzetta is an electrician who worked on the remodeling project and filed the complaint that triggered the inspector's trip to the Rio in February 2007.

Extra! UIdaho Student Found Shot to Death

I looked into the semi-open kitchen in amazement at the literally dozens of young kitchen workers running around in street clothes in a crazy panic to the tune of blaring hip-hop music. What were they all doing back there are they already getting that much business? Between the intricate dance of the sandwich makers and the loud thump of the bass, it genuinely seemed like there was a full-blown nightclub happening back there at 11 in the morning. It was like they were getting ready to audition for a touring company of the musical Rent or something. Wild.