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Yearly Archives: 2009
Innovative Powder Catalyst Used to Transform Methane into Methanol
Max Planck Institute for Coal Research and at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces have invented a material in the form of a powder than can transform methane into methanol, which is easier to transport and handle.
New System Using Microbes to Convert CO2 to Biofuels in a Single-Step Process
These microbes feed on solar power and synthesize both the alkane and olefin molecules. Although the hydrocarbon fuels have only been produced in lab quantities, the company plans a pilot demonstration for 2011.
Japan Plans to Deploy Space-Based Solar Power Station
JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, wants to compete with the United States' PG&E project for collecting solar power from outer space and beam it on Earth through clusters of lasers and microwaves.
BACS: Biodegradable Packaging Fabricated by Bacteria
Today's civilized society sometimes uses weird ways of doing things, like packing software serial numbers in cardboard or a lot of plastic. A project, named Bacs, is using bacteria to make an interesting cellulose material for green packaging.
Silicon Nanowires Anode Technology Promises Li-Ion Batteries 10 Times Stronger
Amprius, a start-up company from Menlo Park, CA, has invented an innovative type of anode for Li-Ion batteries. The material that they intend to use is made of silicon nanowires, that are said to store 10 times more electricity than graphite.
ETT: Intercontinental Vacuum-Based Transportation System Can Reach 4,000mph
ETT stands for Evacuated Tube Transport, and it is a new concept of a transportation system that makes use of vacuum pumps, tubes and cabins to take people from point A to point B with only 2 percent of the energy required otherwise to power an airplane, a car or a train.
GM to Research Shape Memory Alloy for Heat Recovery Systems
GM's R&D has to build a prototype of a thermo-mechanical waste heat recovery system using a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) heat engine to generate electricity from the heat in exhaust. Noticeable is the fact that GM was between the 37 other candidates that received the ARPA-E award.
Solar Impulse Aircraft to Make the First Solar-Powered Flight Around the World
The Solar Impulse aircraft, officially known as HB-SIA, successfully underwent its first engine run up on Friday at an airbase near Zurich in Switzerland. It is designed to make the first solar-powered flight around the world.
Lightnings Found to Produce 10% of Atmospheric NOx Greenhouse Gas
Every year, scientists learn something new about the power of lightning. With the helps of the satellites they have created a lightning map for the globe, which shows that Rwanda has the most flashes per square kilometer, while the flashes at the polar regions occur rarely. Every year, 1,2 million flashes occur around the world.
Swing Door WaveRoller Generates Up to 300KW of Energy in the Surge Zone
One of the simplest ideas of harvesting the ocean power was developed by Rauno Koivusaari, a fin diver who got inspired by exploring the depths of the seas and lots of shipwrecks.
