As Einstein's E=mc² is of importance to theory of relativity, so is Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in the world of quantum mechanics which not only is profound, but also popular among non-physicists. This principle states a fundamental limit on the accuracy with which certain pairs of physical properties of a particle, such as position and momentum, can be simultaneously known. In layman's terms, the more precisely one property is measured, the less precisely the other can be controlled, determined, or known.

But this principle appears in two formulations, which confuses many physicists. A team at the Vienna University prepared a stream of neutrons and determined two spin components simultaneously for each, violating Heisenberg's principle.

Heisenberg formulated his principle in 1927 as ε(q)η(p) ≥ h/4π, which says that in determining position, there will be an error in momentum, and vice versa. The same year Earle Kennard derived a different formulation which was later generalized by Howard Robertson as σ(q)σ(p) ≥ h/4π. This inequality says that you cannot suppress quantum fluctuations of both position σ(q) and momentum σ(p) lower than a certain limit simultaneously. The fluctuation exists regardless whether it is measured or not, and the inequality does not say anything about what happens when a measurement is performed.

Though I have studied several anodizing and metal coating processes before, Micro Arc Oxidation (MAO) was something new which interested me. I was unaware of this process until I heard Scott Croyle, Vice President of Design at HTC, at this year's Mobile World Congress that their new HTC One S comes with a tough aluminium unibody construction which was manufactured using MAO process. HTC is known for their unique aluminium unibody constructions which they implement in their smartphone devices.

Scott Croyle described the process in which they baked aluminium coated with microstratic particles in a plasma field, with temperature reaching higher than that of Sun's surface. Basically, Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation or Micro Arc Oxidation is an electrochemical surface treatment process to produce oxide coatings on metal surfaces. Though it is similar to anodizing, MAO involves considerably higher potential and generates discharges as a result of which plasma is produced, which modifies the surface of the metal. The coating provides high hardness, resistance to wear, heat, rust and also to electrical insulation.

Cars with electric motors running the show are few and far between, which is something we need to change -- that's why General Motors is finishing up a new plant in White Marsh, Maryland. The facility will be cooking up magnet and induction electrical motors to power GM's next generation of EVs. The first off the line will be the 85 kW (114hp) electric engine that'll sit inside the hood of 2013's dinky Chevy Spark EV. Peek after the break and you'll be rewarded with a cornucopia (that's the technical term for four, right?) of videos and a press release about the company's plans for electrical domination.

GM is focused on the development of permanent magnet and induction motors for a variety of applications. During a recent tutorial at the Wixom facility, news media were given the opportunity to hand build portions of a permanent magnet motor, the exact 85 kW (114 hp) permanent magnet motor configuration that will be used in the recently announced Chevrolet Spark electric vehicle to debut in 2013.

The White Marsh facility will produce electric motors for the Spark  and other future vehicles. Currently, GM uses electric motors as part of the propulsion system in nine vehicles including the Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet Malibu Eco, Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, Buick Lacrosse eAssist, Buick Regal eAssist, GMC Sierra Hybrid, GMC Yukon and Yukon Denali Hybrid, and Cadillac Escalade Hybrid.

Toyota and Parlee Cycles Team Up to Develop New Bicycle Based on Prius Design Principles

To commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the Prius and a decade of environmentally sustainable transportation, Toyota has teamed up with Parlee Cycles in an effort to create a bicycle based on Prius design principles. Both companies are known for their innovative approach within their own industries, but their goals are the same: to develop sustainable, cutting edge green design and technology.

Commissioned by Toyota, Parlee is developing this state-of the art, ultra efficient bicycle in an effort to encompass the best of both the auto and non-auto transportation worlds. To document and comment on the event, Parlee has reached out to cyclist and blogger John Watson, who has done a great job at giving us a first hand account of this exciting event.

Despite the fact that bicycle design has stayed relatively the same throughout the years, the design team decided to look at all the different possibilities, using inspiration from city, road, and touring bikes, and combining it with some Prius inspired concepts. The preliminary design sketches alluded to what the designers call an “areo road bike.

The bike frame was designed using carbon fiber tubing – a lightweight, aerodynamic, stiff and seamless material, perfect for racing – making for a good flexible bike. Although carbon fiber isn’t exactly recyclable, Parlee minimizes their waste by reusing all of their scraps in their design. The carbon fiber tubing is then covered with a raw black finish, giving it an elegant look. The mold is overlaid on the tubing along with resin.

The Japanese government has signaled Central Japan Railway "to proceed with construction" of its magnetically levitated train line between Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. On May 27 Transport Minister Akihiro Ohata directed the company, known as JR Tokai, to move forward with the 9 trillion yen project that has been in development since the 1970s.

In July 2009, Japan's Maglev Technological Practicality Evaluation Committee of Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism validated that the superconducting maglev trains are ready for revenue service. "The technologies of the Superconducting Maglev have been established comprehensively and systematically, which makes it possible to draw up detailed specifications and technological standards for revenue service," the committee said. The world's fastest trains, maglev trains travel without touching the ground. Instead, they run levitated above their guideway by using repulsive and attractive electromagnetic forces between superconducting magnets on board the vehicle and coils on the ground. Running at 505 kilometers (313 miles) per hour, the maglev trains will cover the distance between Tokyo and Nagoya in about 40 minutes. When the line is completed, maglev trains will travel the 514 km (320 mile) distance between Tokyo and Osaka in 67 minutes. The maglev trains are expected to start carrying passengers between Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027 and between Tokyo and Osaka in 2045.