Posts Tagged ‘energy’
Algorithm finds 300 crystals to store methane
NORTHWESTERN (US) — A new algorithm automatically generates and tests porous crystals to quickly find the most promising structure for natural gas storage out of millions of possibilities. Continue…
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 11:41 - 0 Comments
Health & Medicine - Oct 21, 2011 6:40 - 0 Comments
Brain self-protects when running on empty
U. LEEDS (UK) — When running low on energy, the brain is able to protect itself from harm by triggering a protein that reduces the frequency of electrical impulses. (more…)
Science & Technology - Oct 12, 2011 12:02 - 1 Comment
What do pendulums and elastic film share?
U. CHICAGO (US) — A coupled line of swinging pendulums has nothing apparently in common with an elastic film that buckles and folds under compression while floating on a liquid, but scientists have discovered a connection between the two. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jul 26, 2011 15:48 - 0 Comments
Soft spheres jockey for bottom spot
PENN STATE (US) — Energy state, not speed, determines how particles in liquids separate and what eventually ends up at the bottom, according to a new study. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jul 25, 2011 11:05 - 1 Comment
Device scavenges power out of thin air
GEORIGIA TECH (US) — A new way to capture and harness energy from the air could lead to paper-based wireless sensors that are self-powered, low-cost, and able to function independently almost anywhere. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Jul 21, 2011 13:25 - 4 Comments
U.S. shale dulls Russian ‘energy weapon’
RICE (US) — Increased natural gas production from shale in the United States will slash Russia’s ability to hold power over European customers dependent on the country for their energy needs. (more…)
Science & Technology - Sep 28, 2010 12:55 - 0 Comments
Energy transport on the extreme nanoscale
MCGILL (CAN) — Conductive polymers hold promise to revolutionize a wide range of products including television displays, solar cells, and biomedical sensors. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Jul 12, 2010 10:59 - 7 Comments
How water helps us lose weight
VANDERBILT (US)—Ordinary water—without any additives—does more than just quench thirst. It increases the activity of the sympathetic—fight or flight—nervous system, which raises alertness, blood pressure, and energy expenditure. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jul 6, 2010 11:02 - 0 Comments
Food fight: brain vs. gut
EMORY (US)—The relatively larger human brain makes us the most intelligent of the primates. But if we’re so smart, why have we eaten our way into an obesity epidemic? (more…)
Science & Technology - Jun 7, 2010 8:34 - 0 Comments
Clever knifefish hunts by biomechanics
NORTHWESTERN (US)—The hunting strategy of a slender fish from the Amazon is offering insight into how to balance the metabolic cost of information with the metabolic cost of moving around to get it. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Apr 1, 2010 11:42 - 0 Comments
Parasites may threaten biofuel crops
U. ILLINOIS—Researchers have discovered widespread occurrence of plant-parasitic nematodes in Miscanthus and switchgrass, two plants used for biofuels. (more…)
Science & Technology - Mar 24, 2010 17:11 - 1 Comment
Tiny generators run on good vibrations
U. MICHIGAN (US)—Mini-generators could eventually produce enough electricity from random, ambient vibrations to power a wristwatch, pacemaker, or wireless sensor. (more…)
Science & Technology - Feb 18, 2010 9:51 - 5 Comments
‘Green’ prosthetic reduces effort for amputees
U. MICHIGAN (US)—An artificial foot that recycles energy otherwise wasted in between steps could make it easier for amputees to walk. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jan 29, 2010 12:36 - 8 Comments
Take a hike with energy-harvesting rubber films
PRINCETON (US)—Power-generating rubber films could make it possible to harness natural body movements—such as breathing and walking—to power pacemakers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. (more…)
Science & Technology - Dec 9, 2009 10:43 - 0 Comments
Nanotubes + ink + paper = instant battery
STANFORD (US)—Dip an ordinary piece of paper into ink infused with carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires, and it turns into a battery or supercapacitor. Crumple the piece of paper, and it still works. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Nov 16, 2009 17:35 - 0 Comments
Predicting when rogue waves will strike
TULANE (US)—Physicist Lev Kaplan is hoping to calculate the probability of where and when rogue ocean waves will form. A probability warning for a rogue wave would be similar to the “cones of probability” used in tornado and hurricane forecasting. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Sep 10, 2009 11:09 - 2 Comments
Midnight snacks pack on pounds
“How or why a person gains weight is very complicated, but it clearly is not just calories in and calories out,” says lead researcher Fred Turek.
Earth & Environment - Aug 31, 2009 11:52 - 1 Comment
Move over trees. Here comes the sun
Scientists are exploring new ways to tap the sun’s energy directly, without the help of plants, to create potential fuel sources. “The main problem with current solar power technology is that if the sun’s not shining, you’re out of luck,” says Tom Meyer. “Solar fuels give us the ability to collect and stockpile that energy.”
Science & Technology - Jul 30, 2009 14:41 - 0 Comments
Golden combo yields do-it-all nanotool
A quantum dot (red) encapsulated in a gold shell, combining two useful nanoparticles in one package. The total structure measures less than 20 nanometers across.
