In the wake of recent off-shore oil spills, and with the growing popularity of “fracking” — in which water is used to release oil and gas from shale — there’s a need for easy, quick ways to separate oil and water. Now, scientists have developed coatings that can do just that. Their report on the […]
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The Impact of Thermoelectric Properties
Thermoelectric materials can turn a temperature difference into an electric voltage. Among their uses in a variety of specialized applications: generating power on space probes and cooling seats in fancy cars. University of Miami physicist Joshua Cohn and his collaborators report new surprising properties of a metal named lithium purple-bronze (LiPB) that may impact the […]
Thermal Chips Give Darkness a Run for Its Money
New, low-cost chips for sensing thermal energy could lead to a raft of new night-vision products, engineers say, ushering in everything from smarter cars to handheld devices for spelunking. A new technology used by Raytheon, “wafer-level packaging,” dramatically reduces the cost of making these thermal sensors. The advances could – for the first time – put a […]
At Wal-Mart, Obama touts steps to deploy solar technology
Calling it the right thing to do for America’s bottom line, President Barack Obama announced new steps Friday by companies, local governments and his own administration to deploy solar technology, showcasing steps to combat climate change that don’t require consent from a disinclined Congress. Framed by rows of clothing and patio supplies at a Wal-Mart […]
Advance brings ‘hyperbolic metamaterials’ closer to reality
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Researchers have taken a step toward practical applications for “hyperbolic metamaterials,” ultra-thin crystalline films that could bring optical advances including powerful microscopes, quantum computers and high-performance solar cells. New developments are reminiscent of advances that ushered in silicon chip technology, said Alexandra Boltasseva, a Purdue University associate professor of electrical […]
Unified superconductors possible with improved materials
Superconductors are promising materials, with applications ranging from medicine to transport. Unfortunately, though, their use is for the time being limited to the very low temperatures (close to absolute zero) necessary for superconductivity to occur. Some materials, however, could be improved so as to obtain higher and energetically less “costly” critical temperatures. A team of […]
USABC Reissues RFPI for development of advanced, high performance batteries for 48-V HEV applications
The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), a collaborative organization operated by Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors, has reissued a request for proposal information (RFPI) for the development of advanced high-performance batteries for 48-volt mild-hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) applications. The RFPI, for consideration of contracts that will include a 50 […]
Solar Industry Seeks to Salvage Rebate Effort
Missouri’s solar energy industry is rallying to resurrect a popular rebate program created by a 2008 renewable-energy ballot initiative that was curtailed when the state’s largest utility said it had to cease participation to avoid rate increases capped by the voter-approved law. The Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association says its members will have to lay […]
Quadriplegic races ‘Vette with help from AF Performance Lab
Human performance technologies developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory, along with Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., were on display here May 6 as quadriplegic Sam Schmidt, a former Indy Racing League driver, got back behind the wheel once again. The test took place on the 7,500 foot runway just south of the National Museum of the […]
At Wal-Mart, Obama Touts Steps to Deploy Solar Technology
Calling it the right thing to do for America’s bottom line, President Barack Obama announced new steps Friday by companies, local governments and his own administration to deploy solar technology, showcasing steps to combat climate change that don’t require consent from a disinclined Congress. Framed by rows of clothing and patio supplies at a Wal-Mart […]