GT Spectrum

Three University of California at Berkeley researchers presented a hacking exploit based on a 10-minute audio recording of a user typing English text on a keyboard. Combining machine learning and speech-recognition techniques, the researchers built a keystroke recognizer that deciphers the letters a user is typing based on the sound of the keys.

The device recovers as much as 96 percent of the typed characters and even can decipher random text, such as passwords.

Mini Nuke Power

Russia's Federal Nuclear Energy Agency will build a floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) designed to serve energy-starved coastal regions. The plant -- the first of its kind in the world -- will produce roughly 1/150 of the power produced by a standard Russian nuclear power plant.

The small nuclear power station will cost about $200,000 and provide power to Russian communities adjoining the Arctic Ocean that lack centralized energy supplies. FNPP's offer an independent source of energy, a feature that is attracting attention abroad. Indonesia, Malaysia and China have all shown interest in the project. -- MosNews

Next-Gen Hydrogen

A Canadian man's invention, the Hydrogen Generating Module (H2N-Gen), might just solve the world's greenhouse gas emission problems. The device -- about the size of a DVD player -- reduces fuel consumption by 10 percent to 40 percent and cuts pollutants by as much as 100 percent, according to the inventor.

The H2N-Gen contains a small reservoir of distilled water and other chemicals, such as potassium hydroxide. A current is run from the car battery through the liquid. This process of electrolysis creates hydrogen and oxygen gases, which are then fed into the engine's intake manifold, where they mix with the gasoline vapors.

The process helps a car engine burn gas more completely, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions, the inventor contends. -- Montreal Gazette

Sun Shines on Indonesia

Indonesia's Ministry of Research and Technology will implement a Java Desktop System (JDS) on Linux as a national standard desktop.

The desktop software will form a major component of the new Indonesia Goes Open Source (IGOS) program targeted toward eliminating Indonesia's digital divide, according to the ministry and Sun Microsystems.

The ministry said it will develop its own IGOS-branded software stack using JDS on Linux as the base platform. The agreement with Sun -- for an unspecified number of years -- has the goal of installing copies of the open source-based desktop across Indonesia, beginning with its government-affiliated offices, the ministry said.

Sun will provide marketing and support services to the IGOS project. -- Sun Microsystems

Malaysian Idol?

Malaysia's science minister plans to make the country's space program a truly interactive experience: Members of the public will choose the country's first astronaut from a list and vote by text message.

Having seen the enthusiasm with which people vote in TV talent competitions, the government said it will apply the principle to the country's space program. Once its 11,000 would-be astronauts have been whittled down to a handful of candidates, their details and updates on their progress will be posted on the Internet.

Citzens will make their choice by text message, and Malaysia's space bosses will factor the votes into their final decision. -- BBC News