Sep
26
A Big Improvement in Thermoelectric Material
September 26, 2013 | 2 Comments
Scientists at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Vienna) can now produce a new and considerably more efficient class of thermoelectric material. The new molecular structure of the material has a very special layout in connection an astonishing new physical effect with tiny cages within the crystal structure enclosing cerium atoms. The Austrian team reports […]
Sep
25
Close to a Fusion Breakeven Breakthrough
September 25, 2013 | 5 Comments
Researchers at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) say they have met many of the demanding challenges leading up achieving the highly stable, precisely directed implosion required for fusion ignition. The NIF, engaged in a collaborative project led by the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, reports that there is at least one significant obstacle […]
Sep
24
New Record Solar Cell Efficiency at 44.7 Percent
September 24, 2013 | Leave a Comment
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Soitec, CEA-Leti and the Helmholtz Center Berlin jointly announced achieving a new world record for solar cell efficiency. Using a new solar cell structure with four solar subcells the team surpassed all the competition after only over three years of research. The new record efficiency of 44.7% […]
Sep
19
Mining Exotic Animal Guts for Microbes
September 19, 2013 | Leave a Comment
There is an effort world wide to find microbes to breakdown cellulosic and lignin based vegetable matter for producing fuels. Ashli Brown, Ph.D., at Mississippi State University and her students are working at the gut microbes used to breakdown bamboo. Unlikely as it may sound, giant pandas Ya Ya and Le Le in the Memphis […]
Sep
18
Exoelectrogenic Microbes Hooked Up to Make Power
September 18, 2013 | Leave a Comment
Stanford University engineers have devised a new way to generate electricity from sewage using naturally occurring “wired microbes” as mini power plants. The exoelectrogenic microbes produce electricity as they digest plant and animal waste. The laboratory prototype is about the size of a D-cell battery and looks like a chemistry experiment, with two electrodes, one […]