Posts Tagged ‘alternative energy’
Nanospheres trap light and hold on longer
STANFORD (US) — Engineers have created photovoltaic nanoshells that harness a peculiar physical phenomenon to better trap light. Continue…
Thursday, February 9, 2012 13:25 - 0 Comments
Earth & Environment - Jan 27, 2012 14:27 - 1 Comment
Harvest biofuel algae with microbubbles
U. SHEFFIELD (UK) — Thanks to microbubble technology, harvesting algae for use as a biofuel could become easier and more affordable. (more…)
Top Stories - Jan 12, 2012 16:30 - 0 Comments
Radical new view of metal oxides
UC DAVIS (US) — Researchers have proposed a totally new way of thinking about the chemical reactions between water and metal oxides, the most common minerals on Earth. (more…)
Science & Technology - Dec 20, 2011 12:23 - 2 Comments
How to build a better wind farm
IOWA STATE (US) — A turbine only ten inches high is helping researchers understand how hills, valleys, and tower placement can affect the productivity of onshore wind farms. (more…)
Science & Technology - Nov 28, 2011 12:56 - 2 Comments
Electrode for durable batteries on the grid
STANFORD (US) — A new type of battery electrode could make large-scale storage for solar and wind power more feasible. (more…)
Top Stories - Nov 23, 2011 11:33 - 0 Comments
Stable liquid stores hydrogen
U. OREGON (US) — A new liquid material stores hydrogen safely at room temperature and is both air- and moisture-stable, a step forward in efforts to develop a carrier for hydrogen fuel. (more…)
Science & Technology - Nov 15, 2011 12:16 - 0 Comments
RiceNet: Better grain, new biofuel crops
UC DAVIS (US) — The first genome-scale model for predicting gene function in rice is expected to speed up development of new crops for biofuels—and improve the quality of one of the world’s most important food staples. (more…)
Top Stories - Nov 11, 2011 13:19 - 4 Comments
Tune E. coli to churn out biodiesel
STANFORD (US) — E. coli bacteria have what it takes to produce high volumes of biofuel cheaply and efficiently. All that’s needed, scientists say, is a tweak to kick E. coli into high gear. (more…)
Science & Technology - Mar 28, 2011 13:27 - 6 Comments
H2O cocktail fuels battery power
STANFORD (US) — A rechargeable battery that uses a mix of freshwater and sea water has the potential to supply about 2 terawatts of electricity annually—or about 13 percent of the world’s current energy consumption. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jan 26, 2011 11:46 - 4 Comments
Reactor converts sunlight into fuel
CALTECH (US) — A common metal found in self-cleaning ovens is the key component of a reactor that uses concentrated solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into fuels. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Jan 20, 2011 14:06 - 1 Comment
Wind turbines need more rotor room
JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — Wind farm builders should space their turbines much further apart to generate power more efficiently, wind tunnel tests and computer simulations show. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Dec 22, 2010 12:07 - 0 Comments
‘Green’ fuel from red seaweed
U. ILLINOIS (US) — Engineers have developed a strain of yeast that can make short work of fermenting galactose—and in turn make red seaweed a more viable option for biofuel. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Dec 20, 2010 14:57 - 1 Comment
Will turbines turn tides into electricity?
U. WASHINGTON-SEATTLE (US) — Two turbines, each 30 feet wide, are being deployed in Puget Sound to test the feasibility of feeding power from ocean tides into an electrical grid. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Nov 15, 2010 11:45 - 1 Comment
Is virus bad news for biomass?
U. ILLINOIS (US) — Researchers have confirmed reports of a new virus that affects switchgrass, a biomass crop being considered for commercial ethanol production. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Nov 11, 2010 16:32 - 4 Comments
Will oil run out 90 years too soon?
UC DAVIS (US) — At the current pace of research and development, global oil will run out 90 years before replacement technologies are ready, says a study based on stock market expectations. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Oct 13, 2010 12:25 - 2 Comments
Kinder, faster biodiesel conversion
BROWN U. (US) — Researchers have demonstrated a streamlined way to convert waste vegetable oil into biodiesel, eliminating the need for corrosive chemicals to perform the reactions. (more…)
Science & Technology - Sep 30, 2010 11:34 - 0 Comments
Material acts like hydrogen sponge
RICE (US) — A class of material known as metallacarborane taps the power of transition metals scandium and titanium to hold a load of hydrogen molecules—but not so tightly they can’t be extracted. (more…)
Science & Technology - Aug 10, 2010 11:04 - 0 Comments
Affordable, stable fuel cells from platinum
CORNELL (US)—Researchers have discovered that platinum nanoparticles could be the catalyst that make fuel cells more stable, cost-effective, and more resistant to carbon monoxide poisoning. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Jun 15, 2010 11:33 - 3 Comments
Climate change remains hot topic in UK
CARDIFF U. (UK)—Despite a decline in concern about climate change, the majority of the British public still believe the climate is changing and are prepared to act, a new survey shows. (more…)
