Newswise — The editors of IEEE Spectrum selected and reviewed 10 projects--five that use technology and software in brilliant ways, and five that missed their targets. There's also an opportunity for readers to cast online ballots for their preferred winners in commercial and humanitarian categories. For experts' comments on the current winners and losers, look for sidebar comments by technology watchers T. J. Rodgers and Nick Tredennick.

"Solving the Oil Equation"A team of geophysicists and computer scientists closes in on the ultimate seismic-imaging code for finding oil.

"Algae Bloom Climate-Change Scheme Doomed"Planktos's ploy to combat global warming by sequestering carbon in the oceans holds no water.

"The Ultimate Dielectric Is . . . Nothing" IBM packs wires in vacuum to speed chips and save power.

"Satellite TV Soccer Moms Will Hate"Sirius's Car TV may be great technology, but it will drive parents crazy.

"Make Your Own World with OLIVE"Forterra's software makes the business of virtual worlds real.

"Europe's Galileo Geopositioning System"Vaunted commercial bonanza is not going to materialize.

"Sprint's Broadband Gamble"A new cellular service will sell high-speed data access, instead of phones and phone calls.

"Social Networking Goes to the Dogs"A $200 RFID dog tag tells owners--and their neighbors--when their pets are alive, at home, and sniffing things.

"Restoring Coal's Sheen"Swedish energy company takes a novel approach to carbon capture.

"Still Waiting for Nanotube Memory Chip"Nantero's alternative to flash memory has reached its sell-by date.