Borrowing one of nature’s best designs, U.S. scientists have built an eye-shaped camera using standard sensor materials and say it could improve the performance of digital cameras and enhance imaging of the human body. According to the scientists, the device might even lead to the development of prosthetic devices including a bionic eye. "This is the first time we’ve demonstrated a camera on a curved surface to really make it look like a human eye," said Yonggang Huang of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, who reported his findings on Wednesday in the journal Nature.
Huang and his partner, John Rogers, developed a relatively simple solution to the long-running problem of transferring microelectronic components onto a curved surface without breaking them. "If you simply bend it, those materials are brittle like a ceramic bowl." Huang said in a telephone interview. To solve this, Huang and Rogers developed a mesh-like material made up of tiny squares that hold the photodetectors and electronic components. The squares are connected by tiny wires that give each component the ability to mold to a curved surface.

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Microsoft Live Search is rolling out Olympics-related features, which will all be live by the end of the day on Friday

•Olympics 2008 news scope, available in Live Search News at http://news.live.com gives readers up-to-date coverage with additional elements such as Olympics 2008 news images.

•Olympian xRank, available at http://xrank.live.com gives fans a way to track the popularity of their favorite athletes. For example, Michael Phelps jumped from number 19 to number one in the matter of 24 hours, yesterday to today.

•Olympics Videos are available at http://video.live.com when customers search “Olympics.”

•The Live.com Homepage will rotate Olympics images in the background for the duration of the games.

•Athlete Instant Answer will feature profiles of Olympians as searchers type in the first and last names of the athlete in search queries. For instance, fans can search “Shawn Johnson” or “LeBron James.”

•Medal Count Instant Answer will provide an “all up” medal count by country, sport, or by country and sport when searchers type in Olympics-related keywords in search queries. For instance, fans can search terms like “swimming” or “China gymnastics.”

All the features will be available in the US, while Athlete Instant Answer and Medal Count Instant Answer will be available in select countries and regions.

Federal prosecutors are gearing up for what they believe will be the biggest identity theft prosecution in U.S. history, after investigators broke up a major hacking ring allegedly responsible for stealing and selling more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers.
"As far as we know, this is the single largest and most complex identity theft case that’s ever been charged in this country," Attorney General Michael Mukasey said today at a news conference in Boston. Eleven suspects will face charges that include conspiracy, fraud and identity theft as part of the alleged scheme.
A federal grand jury handed down an indictment for Albert "Segvec" Gonzalez and prosecutors charged Christopher Scott and Damon Patrick Toey for allegedly hacking into wireless computer networks of several major corporations, including OfficeMax, Barnes & Noble, Boston Market, Sports Authority, Forever 21, DSW, BJ’s Wholesale Club and TJX Companies, which operates retail stores T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s. All three of the men reside in Miami.

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