It’s an odd twist. For researcher to determine if a cell is functioning properly, they must destroy it. This is what happens in X-ray fluorescence microscopy when biological specimens are exposed to ionizing radiation, which provides images with a level of detail that conventional microscopes just can’t match. This exposure can change what is being […]
Power Electronic Tips
How Do You Build a Large-Scale Quantum Computer?
How do you build a universal quantum computer? Turns out, this question was addressed by theoretical physicists about 15 years ago. The answer was laid out in a research paper and has become known as the DiVincenzo criteria [See Gallery Sidebar for information on this criteria]. The prescription is pretty clear at a glance; yet […]
Photos of the Day: 2,800 Lead Glass Blocks Measure Particle Energy
The calorimeter was built to measure the energy of particles as they are created inside the target area and strike against lead glass blocks that make up the calorimeter. Upon striking the calorimeter, the particles will create a shower of light, which will then be digitized and used to measure energy of particles. In this […]
90W AC/DC desktop power supply boasts industry’s slimmest package
[[{“fid”:”37655″,”view_mode”:”default”,”fields”:{“field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{“height”:197,”width”:197,”style”:”float: right; margin: 5px;”,”title”:”PEAD90SLF Series”,”class”:”media-element file-default”}}]]Power Partners (Hudson, MA) announces the PEAD90SLF Series of single output AC/DC desktop switching power supplies, which provide up to 90W of power. The standard input voltage range of 90-264VAC (47 to 63Hz) converts to output voltages of 12VDC, 18VDC, 19VDC and 24VDC that require no minimum load for operation. […]
Superabsorbing Design May Lower Manufacturing Cost of Thin Film Solar Cells
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a “superabsorbing” design that may significantly improve the light absorption efficiency of thin film solar cells and drive down manufacturing costs. The superabsorbing design could decrease the thickness of the semiconductor materials used in thin film solar cells by more than one order of magnitude without compromising […]
Japanese Plan Keeps Nuclear as Key Energy Source
Japan unveiled its first draft energy policy since the Fukushima meltdowns three years ago, saying nuclear power remains an important source of electricity for the country. The draft presented Tuesday to the Cabinet for approval expected in March, said Japan’s nuclear energy dependency will be reduced as much as possible, but that reactors meeting new […]
Europe Rethinks Renewable Energy Standards
For the past decade or more, as Al Gore and the majority of climate-change scientists have insisted that the world is speeding headlong toward an environmental catastrophe of epic proportions, European countries have adhered to stringent emission controls in order to lessen their dependence on fossil fuels and replace them with renewable energy sources such […]
Portable hydrogen fuel cell unit to provide green, sustainable power to Honolulu port
LIVERMORE, Calif.— Clean hydrogen power that’s expected to lower emissions and reduce energy consumption will be coming to the Port of Honolulu in 2015 after the completion of a new fuel cell technology demonstration, one that could lead to a commercial technology for ports worldwide. The work comes on the heels of last year’s study […]
Seafloor Carpet Catches Waves to Generate Energy
What do champion surfers who gathered at last week’s Mavericks Invitational have in common with a UC Berkeley engineer? They all are looking to harness the power of big ocean waves. But the similarities end there. For assistant professor Reza Alam, an expert in wave mechanics, the seafloor “carpet” he is proposing will convert ocean […]
New, inexpensive production materials boost promise of hydrogen fuel
MADISON, Wis. — Generating electricity is not the only way to turn sunlight into energy we can use on demand. The sun can also drive reactions to create chemical fuels, such as hydrogen, that can in turn power cars, trucks and trains. The trouble with solar fuel production is the cost of producing the sun-capturing […]