New plastic could make monitors cheaper

Researchers have developed an ultra-thin plastic that allows an electrical charge to pass through it at speeds never before seen, a discovery that could dramatically drive down the cost of flat-panel monitors and other devices.

The plastic, which resembles cellophane when applied to electronic components, could one day replace the chemicals used to manufacture monitors and so-called radio frequency identification chips, which are used to keep track of store inventories, fleets of trucks and herds of cattle.

Researchers have long searched for alternatives to the silicon-based material used in today’s devices. The plastic material, known as liquid-crystalline polymers, have been viewed as a key contender, but until now electrical charges haven’t been able to travel through it at speeds required by electronic devices.

But a team of scientists led by Ian McCulloch of Merck Chemicals in the United Kingdom, has found a way to boost electrical performance in polymers six-fold, putting the substance on par with so-called amorphous silicon.

The discovery, published online this week by the journal Nature Materials, could lead to new methods for making monitors and other types of electronic devices.

Instead of using a costly vacuum process to coat silicon on large panes of glass, manufacturers could spray a liquid polymer on tiny plastic parts, in much the way the nozzle of an inkjet printer sprays ink on paper.

“It’s a radically different manufacturing process,” said Michael McGehee, one of the study’s authors and a professor in Stanford University’s Materials Science and Engineering Department.

Online news more popular on broadband

Americans with high-speed Internet connections at home are far more likely than dial-up users to go online for news, a new study finds.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project says 43 percent of broadband users turn to the Internet to get news, compared with 26 percent for dial-up users. Broadband users are also more likely to read a national newspaper, but less likely to turn to local television.

“Local TV, in particular, takes a hit … when people start spending more time with online news,” said John Horrigan, Pew’s associate director for research.

Still, local television is the leading source of news, used by 65 percent of dial-up users and 57 percent of broadband users. National television and radio are also popular sources across the board.

Among dial-up users, the local paper is the next leading source, but among broadband users, the Internet has a slight edge — 43 percent vs. 38 percent. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for questions asked only of broadband users.

The study also finds Americans largely unwilling to pay for news — only 6 percent of Internet users have bought video clips, articles or other news items online — but more than half have registered at free news sites by providing information about themselves.

The study of 3,011 U.S. adults was conducted Nov. 29 to Dec. 31 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Discovery launches homework help site

The broadcaster Discovery Communications Inc. wants to help kids with their homework by selling them access to an enhanced home version of the video encyclopedia network already used by thousands of schools.

It has launched a site, called Cosmeo, giving students access to more than 30,000 video clips, interactive educational games and other tools.

Discovery says the resources were selected to comply with the curricula of all 50 states. Cosmeo will cost $12.95 a month.