Rudd unveils carbon research institute

AUSTRALIA has set aside $100 million a year for a new carbon storage technology research centre.

Monash developing medical micro-robots

MINIATURE robots are being designed to enter the human body and assist with surgical procedures beyond the reach of present technology.

Report offers advice to McCain, Obama on science and technology appointments

(National Academy of Sciences) The importance of research in solving many of our national challenges, including economic ones, was emphasized today in a new report titled "Science and Technology for America's Progress: Ensuring the Best Presidential Appointments In the new administration." The report, sent to John McCain and Barack Obama with guidance for whomever is elected president in November, provides suggestions on filling key science appointments after the election.

NJIT talk by South Bronx leader to focus on sustainability of Newark

(New Jersey Institute of Technology) Miquela Craytor, executive director of Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx), will speak Oct. 1, 2008, at NJIT about how green technology can meet the growing climate crisis and also benefit the nation’ s distressed urban centers.

Presidential science and technology appointments

(National Academy of Sciences) A new report from the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine, offers advice to presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama on filling high-level federal science and technology positions after the election.

NJIT physics professor directs effort to install 1.2 meter telescope in NJ

(New Jersey Institute of Technology) NJIT physics professor Andrew Gerrard hopes by the end of October to be able to peer through what will be the second largest optical telescope east of Texas. Under his direction, a 1.2-meter diameter, fully-steerable Itek optical telescope will soon be installed far from city lights atop Jenny Jump Mountain, Hope.

US Department of Justice awards NJIT $254,889 to continue developing gun technology

(New Jersey Institute of Technology) The Department of Justice has awarded NJIT $254, 889 to continue developing childproof child-safe gun technology. US Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez and US Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. earmarked the grant in last year's annual Congressional appropriation bill.

NJIT architecture professor opens Newark conference with challenge to revitalize Newark buildings

(New Jersey Institute of Technology) With a charge not to tear down Newark's older buildings, but to rehabilitate them, NJIT research professor Deane Evans, an architect and executive director of NJIT's Center for Architecture and Building Science Research will open Newark's Green Future Summit tomorrow morning at NJIT. Evans, an advocate of sustainable building practices, also said that in the process of fixing and repairing people learn trades, skills and knowledge about the science behind good buildings.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Film News: Design creatures worthy of its bigger budget -- Having won an Oscar for their work on "Pan's Labyrinth, " professional partners David Marti and Montse Ribe had more time and money for "Hellboy II." They also had more collaborators and less work to do.

Frost/ Nixon

Film News: Persuade Langella to use wig and makeup -- "Finding a happy middle ground was probably one of the most difficult things, " says star Frank Langella's makeup artist, David Anderson.

The Duchess

Film News: Be faithful to an 18th-century fashion icon -- Regency aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, subject of Saul Dibb's period drama "The Duchess, " is widely recognized as one of the first true influencers of fashion, her giant plumed wigs and sprayed-on gowns sparking copycat trends across 18th-century Britain.

Defiance

Film News: Find the right forest for its trees -- In "Defiance, " the Bielski brothers fight the Nazis from the Belarusian forests. Helmer Edward Zwick wanted the forest to be a central character in the film, since it's of paramount importance to the survival of the resistance fighters.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Film News: Blur the line between practical makeup and CGI -- To present Brad Pitt as a 6-year-old pipsqueak with the wrinkled skin of a septuagenarian, age makeups creator Greg Cannom and his team sculpted a series of head casts from young to old, which were then scanned for digital rendering.

Cloverfield

Film News: Simulate mass destruction on an intimate scale -- "Cloverfield" updated the monster movie with CG effects and a DIY sensibility, but when production designer Martin Whist had to design a destroyed apartment for a climactic scene, he found no substitute for old-fashioned demolition.

Changeling

Film News: Dress Jolie without sacrificing historical accuracy -- Working on roughly 3, 000 background costumes for "Changeling, " costume designer Deborah Hopper relied on historical photographs and a strong network of costume houses and vintage stores to provide her with suitable raiments.

Local pros reduce real-life risks

Film News: Problematic locations confront foreign filmmakers -- As filmmakers embrace compelling, globally themed stories, productions must penetrate parts of the world where "film friendly" is a novel concept.

Films merge old hammers, new pixels

Film News: Art directors collaborate with vfx supervisors -- Ten years ago, digital visual effects meant that a film could have an imaginary but almost realistic-looking creature dancing down the middle of the street. Today, the street itself may very well be computer-generated and nobody would know the difference.

Hollywood swag on the decline

Film News: Golden Globes to host a lighter gift of grab -- The economy is a real drag on swag. It's definitely the time of year for freebies, with at least six Golden Globes gifting suites scheduled over the weekend.