Control systems already exist for individuals who are bound to wheelchairs. There are basic “sip and puff” systems where a person blows into a straw to control their chair and are are more sophisticated systems that track eye or neck movements. But all these systems are either limited in control options or become tiring after a short while. Eye tracking devices also have the potential of misreading the user's commands.

A new device created by researchers at Georgia Tech uses the tongue to control environmental conditions, including the wheelchair. Since the tongue is connected directly to the brain and not the spinal cord, this versatile muscle is usually not injured in spinal injuries that cause paralysis from the neck down. In addition to remaining effective, the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body and able to perform complicated tasks for long periods without tiring. By attaching a chip to the tip of the tongue and sensors near the cheeks, the scientists at Georgia Tech are realizing that there are almost limitless commands that can be associated with tongue movements.

Although it's not ready for sale just yet, Georgia Tech has acquired funding and grants to continue to research opportunities associated with this unique device in hopes of giving disabled individuals more control over their lives and their environments.

With thousands of products on the market claiming to reduce the signs of aging, a few scientists decided to test the theories of these substances to determine which ones actually worked. The results were recently published in The Archives of Dermatology and concluded that three common products were considered effective at reducing wrinkles. All of the treatments worked with the skin's own ability to produce collagen through fibroblasts.

The three products and procedures that are considered effective are: injecting hyaluronic acid, carbon dioxide laser resurfacing, and the use of topical retinol. Since sunlight affects the ability of fibroblasts to produce collagen, these treatments help restore fibroblast strength and therefore fight wrinkles from underneath the surface of the skin. The actual chemical processes of each of these treatments is not fully understood but they have had proven results in both lab experiments as well as positive results in the marketplace.

According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK, when an individual consumes alcohol, he or she finds other people more attractive. The study took 84 heterosexual students and gave them either a flavored alcoholic beverage or a drink that tasted identical but contained no alcohol. After consuming the drinks, the students were asked to rate the attractiveness of people in photographs. Those who had consumed alcohol gave higher ratings than those who had consumed no alcohol at all.

Previous studies have tried the same tests but too many variables made the conclusions biased towards a particular outcome. Based on this study, it seems that people really do look more attractive if you've had a few drinks first!

In 2002 US president George W. Bush asked for a series of tests and simulations to prove of disprove the impact of human activities on global warming. Environmentalists at the time accused the administration of delaying any policy changes regarding greenhouse gases since the Bush administration had denied the idea that humans had been involved in climate change. 21 tests were set up to be carried out over the course of a few years.

The tenth test, a computer simulation of climate change and human impact, just came back. The computer program proved to be an effective and accurate predictor of weather and small climate changes. When human activity was added to the equation, the computer simulation showed significant global warming as a result of the industrial revolution and other human activities.

The US Climate Change Science Program was created in 2002.

New designs in cell phones equipped with GPS has given gaming companies new ideas on how users can interact with games. My mixing real-world locations with mobile games on cell phones, users will soon be able to move inside their virtual world as they move about their real one.

The idea of GPS games mixes the already popular design of the Nintendo Wii with GPS technology. As gamers move around in the real world, their mobile devices will display simulated worlds and show targets or game goals based on their GPS location. Treasure hunts, chases, trivia, and hunts can all take place using this mesh between virtual worlds and real life locations. Some games will even allow you to see where other gamers are located. Although this technology comes with some risks, game designers are finding that gamers are willing to risk a little for the rewards of interactive game technologies.

Hotels in Europe are already featuring elements that make them more energy efficient and environmentally friendly but ones in America are slow to catch up. Smaller rooms that require less energy to light, heat, and cool use up less natural resources yet still allow patrons to remain comfortable. Not only are they designed to be more energy efficient, these rooms also feature a key entry AND exit which triggers a switch that turns off electricity for the room when the occupant has left.

American hotels have been slow to catch on. Most American travelers expect a certain degree of luxury when staying in hotels and end up leaving lights and televisions on when they are not in the room. Brian McGuinness, the vice president of the company Starwood that owns the hotel chains Westin and Sheraton, has expressed concern over energy savings and environmentally friendly hotel rooms. Having frequently travelled to Europe, McGuinness is beginning to adjust his line of hotels to meet the standards of a more environmentally conscious society and an ever-changing clientele.

Scientists with the Salk Institute have created a way to enhance muscle tone without excess exercise. These remarkable drugs, one called Aicar and the other GW1516, make muscles think they have been exercised when, in fact, they may not have done much at all.

Aicar, the first drug, has been shown to improve endurance in mice by 44% while the second drug, GW1516, gave mice a 75% increase. These drugs do, however, have to be combined with some degree of movement and exercise in order to be effective, but could have potential major medical uses. For example, patients too weak to move or diabetics who need to help maintain their illness through exercise might find hope with these drugs in helping to overcome or manage their disease.

According to a new study published in the journal Cell, genes that help in cell development and growth may also play a key role in aging. The study focused on a type of worm called Caenorhabditis elegans, a small worm that only lives for two weeks. Scientists found that certain genes that helped regulate the development of this tiny worm during the first parts of its life went unregulated in the later stages of life, ultimately causing cell breakdown through deregulation of other genes.

Scientists hope that this new study will not only help us understand why some animals live longer than others, but may be key in controlling the aging process in our own species. By learning how and why we age, there's a possibility that we may one day be able to extend life further than we ever thought possible.

A new study published in the journal Science uncovers some of the mystery associated with the Northern and Southern lights. A group of scientists working with NASA launched five satellites into the atmosphere in order to measure changes in solar output, magnetic fields, and aurora patterns. The group then analyzed the data in order to determine the trigger for the bursts of auroras and the “dancing” patterns that take place in the sky.

According to the study, the magnetic field around the earth “snaps” followed by auroras and then a current of charged particles sets off the dancing lights and subsequent energy change. Not only does the experiment predict the beautiful colors that appear in the sky in the polar region, but it can help forecasters predict magnetic bursts that interfere with electric currents and satellite output.

Lund and Company Invention, a toy manufacture near Chicago, has been making toy rockets for years. Their design gave users the ability to control the launch speed by adjusting the mixture of hydrogen fuel before ignition. The US army took notice and has now contracted the same company to design guns with variable speeds for bullets.

The design is based around the idea that soldiers need only carry one gun instead of multiple firearms. Instead of carrying one gun designed to wound and another to kills, this new weapon will have adjustments to turn the bullet speed up or down. The toy makers say that different bullets will be needed for each velocity, but it will ultimately save energy and time by combining all their tools into one.