Sensor applications that normally rely on battery power, especially wireless sensors, are limited by the battery's life or its need for recharging. Using power available from the environment, such as mechanical energy from vibration and wind, sunlight, or temperature differences, several companies are changing the rules for system design.

The phrase "from the lab to the fab" addresses a number of critical elements in the commercialization process for all technology, including MEMS and nanotechnology. It is also the theme of the panel discussion that forms part of the all-day MEMS and Nanotechnology pre-conference session on June 9, held as part of Sensors Expo 2008, June 9–11, in Rosemont, IL.

Automation professionals favor complete end-to-end solutions. But to meet the unique requirements of specific applications, engineers turn to tailored subsystems, which optimize the overall system, reduce commissioning time, and cut costs.

What do a mine text messaging service, a collaborative education resource, a jailed journalist, and social networking sites have in common? A surprising amount, as it turns out. All involve new ways of connecting with information and other people.

I don't know about you, but between rising gas prices, rising food prices, and rising prices for everything else, I'm rather more interested in energy conservation and affiliated topics that I was before. And, judging by the fact that the Smart Grid movement is gaining momentum, I'm not the only one.

This month we have a tool to prevent machine jitter, 3D imaging of magnetic fields within non-transparent materials, more material behavior weirdness at nanoscale, and a bat-inspired spy plane.

So, it's not just machines, factories, and fields that are getting networked these days. Courtesy of researchers at Imperial College London, the next stop is networking the body.

When specifying a sensor for an application, you can't just pick a product out of a catalog. A number of factors must be considered before you're ready to purchase a device. One area often forgotten is safety. The substance of these requirements comes from several sources—corporate standards; federal, state, and local mandates; and broadly accepted engineering guidelines, such as those provided by ISA. If you don't appreciate the imperatives of safety considerations, just wait. You will.

I recently read a fascinating article ("M2M: a phoenix rising") in Telecommunications Online on the future prospects of the M2M market. The article, an interview with an analyst at the Yankee Group's Enterprise Research group, talks about his predictions for the M2M market and its potential for growth.

This month, understanding bumblebees, detecting heavy metals, an NMR on a chip, a flexible touchscreen, and a necklace that checks whether you've taken your meds.