integrated circuits

Sony could soon break even on manufacturing its PlayStation 3 video-game console, thanks to a new reduced-cost design. A teardown study by iSuppli found key changes in components from the last generation of PS3s.

Based on pricing in October, the latest version of the PS3 carries a combined bill of materials, manufacturing and box-content cost of $448.73. That's a 35 percent reduction from the $690.23 it cost to build the last-generation model, iSuppli reported. Of course, the firm added, the totals do not include other costs, such as software and royalties.

There are more than 700 products on the market today that are touched, worn and used -- ranging from cosmetics to electronics -- that involve nanomaterials. In the next decade a number of products, including food and medical therapies, will also be derived from nanomaterials.

There's not enough funding, leadership and research being conducted to study the health and environmental risks that might come with products made from nanomaterials, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Research Council (NRC).

Two research teams have independently developed methods to produce nanowires that could lead to a dramatic improvement in solar photovoltaic cell efficiency. In both cases, the basic concept is the same, to use nanowires for more efficient conduction of electrons from the collection surface of a solar cell to an electrode.