Highlights - August 2007

 A 3D Future for Canadian Industry Advantage

In late 2006, media around the world broadcast surprising information about Leonardo Da Vinci's world famous Mona Lisa portrait. For the first time, unseen details within layers of the painting were visible through the remarkable 3D scanning technologies developed by NRC.

 "Kryptonite" Confirmed: Superman Beware!

Superman's nemesis, kryptonite, is no longer the stuff of fiction. A new mineral matching its unique chemistry – as described in the film Superman Returns – has been identified by scientists at NRC and the British Natural History Museum.

 International Connections

This spring, NRC hosted international visits from Chile, Spain, France, China, the United States and Brazil, as well as a 42-member delegation of ambassadors representing numerous countries.

 NRC Spin-Offs a Good Bet

NRC spin-off companies are proving they're here to stay. Over the past five years, dozens of new firms created from NRC science and technology have continued to attract investment while adding to the bottom line of the Canadian economy.

 Helping Start-Ups Succeed

Life can be tough for new businesses: in Canada, two out of three firms fail before their fifth anniversary. And for small firms trying to bring an innovative technology to market, the going is even tougher. But NRC's "industry partnership facilities" (IPFs) can help.

3D Anthropometry Visualization Anthropometry is the study of human body measurements. NRC researchers created software for the visualization and analysis of body shape variability.