Experiments Archives – The Green Optimistic

Scientists Gene Edit Plants to Be Better at Capturing Carbon

Matias Prieto — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 19:33:28 +0000

It’s not enough for humans to pump less carbon into the atmosphere. To address climate change, many experts say we’re going to need to find a way to remove some of the emissions already polluting our air. While some scientists are focusing on mechanical solutions to carbon capture, researchers at the Salk Institute’s Harnessing Plants […]

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Monks apply space technology to make beer-brewing more sustainable

Effie P — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 11:30:07 +0000

The monks of La Trappe Abbey brewery in the Netherlands decided to renovate their factory and achieve more sustainable use of water in the beer-brewing process. In their quest for optimal measures, they turned to the suite of techniques developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). Their project secured funding from the European Union’s Horizon […]

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How Automation Creates Incredible Potential for Human Advancement

Nicholas Say — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 10:51:02 +0000

Human built robotics are becoming mainstream; the advent of self driving cars is a perfect example of this. President Trump has tasked his Secretary of Transportation with evaluating the regulations for self driving cars that were set out under President Obama. Unlike many of Trump’s policies, this action seems genuine. This may be because no […]

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Several Houseplants Can Clean the Indoor Air Pollution, NASA Claims

Ece Polat — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 10:47:03 +0000

NASA concluded that certain houseplants are highly effective in removing toxic chemicals from the air. In its research to improve air-quality in closed environments, NASA decided: “Both plant leaves and roots are utilized in removing trace levels of toxic vapors from inside tightly sealed buildings. Low levels of chemicals such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde […]

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New Eco-Friendly Hydrogel Will Change the Biomedical Industry

Ece Polat — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 16:24:07 +0000

Researchers from the Hokkaido University developed a material from hydrogel that can be used in biomaterials. This research, led by Professor Jian Ping Gong, resulted in the making of a material that is the strongest and most reliable material for long term use among biomaterials. The research was made in the Cabinet Office’s Impulsing Paradigm Change […]

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World’s Only Solid Hydrogen Piece Has Disappeared

Nicholas Say — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 10:49:16 +0000

It would appear the the first possible instance of solid hydrogen has disappeared, if it was ever there to begin with. In a terrible accident last week in his laboratory at Harvard University, Professor Isaac Silvera reports that while testing the solid hydrogen with a laser, something terrible happened. There was an audible “pop”, and […]

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The Honey Bee Drones Are Coming, But Why?

Nicholas Say — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 20:41:42 +0000

In a curious new study, researchers from The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan have announced the creation of a honey bee drone for the purposes of pollination. A chemist named Eijiro Miyako was the brains behind this project, and explained that he was, “emotionally motivated,”, by, “TV programs about […]

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New Energy Generation Technology Can Harness Power From Body Movement

Nicholas Say — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 20:10:39 +0000

In a new report researchers from the University of Oulu in Finland revealed some ground breaking research. The material that they have been working with is from the perovskites family, and it has some incredible potential for generating power. Perovskites are a subclass of minerals that have potential for use as energy generators. Some types […]

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New Imaging Technology Could Lead To Low-Cost Methane Detection

Nicholas Say — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 12:39:24 +0000

It turns out that a single pixel can make a big difference when it comes to detecting gases that would otherwise go unnoticed to the naked eye. “Despite methane gas being invisible to the eye, we have developed a method of color-coding this gas information and overlaying it onto a conventional camera image,” commented Dr. […]

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Scientists Produce Solid Hydrogen Superconductor

Nicholas Say — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:13:30 +0000

A study published in journal Science yesterday claims that for the first time in the history of mankind, solid hydrogen exists on earth. This solid hydrogen was created by squeezing the normally gaseous element with such force that it turned into a metal and if repeatable this process will be capable of producing an entirely […]

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New Materials Greatly Improve Solar Fuel Cell Peformance

Satya Sivani — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 18:59:40 +0000

Chemists from University of Texas at Arlington(UTA) have devised new materials of high performance for solar cells to split Carbon dioxide and water into fuels like methanol and hydrogen gas. “Technologies that simultaneously permit us to remove greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide while harnessing and storing the energy of sunlight as fuel are at the forefront […]

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Solar Powered Trike For The Disabled on The World Disabled Day

Satya Sivani — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 19:16:35 +0000

On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), we would like to present the idea of this Solar Powered Trike for all our physically disabled pals across the world. The United Nations has been observing 3rd December as the ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities’ since 1992. It estimates that there are around […]

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‘Super-Algae’ Identified by Scottish Scientists for Biofuel Production

Satya Sivani — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 19:04:29 +0000

The researchers of Scottish Association for Marine Science spotted the ‘Super-algae‘, which, they believe, would be useful for the production of bio-fuels for two-wheelers, automobiles, and aircrafts. A team of scientists from SAMS (Scottish Association for Marine Science), with an aim to identify the ocean-based algae strains that are highly rich in oil content, conducted a series of experiments on […]

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Student-Made 2098 mpg Car Won the SAE Supermileage Competition

Satya Sivani — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 07:12:33 +0000

2098 mpg is the mileage achieved by the Quebec’s Laval University team, which won the SAE Supermileage competition, this year. Living in an age of impending climate change and fossil fuel depletion, possible solutions are either we depend on renewable fuels like solar, wind, biomass etc., or use the available fossil fuels really efficiently. While many nations […]

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Solar Impulse 2 Finally Reaches Hawaii

Annika Tostengard — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:16:36 +0000

The world’s first solar energy plane landed in Kalaeloa Airport around six AM this morning after flying all the way from Japan across the Pacific. Andre Borschberg, the pilot, reportedly made the landing very gently. He has gotten almost no sleep this week, but he has just broken the record for the longest manned, solar-powered flight. Borschberg spent […]

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Evaporation as New Source of Renewable Energy

Satya Sivani — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 20:17:36 +0000

Evaporation is now becoming a source of renewable energy with the help of bacteria and the two new devices, Evaporation engine, and Moisture mill, invented by the Columbia University scientists. While solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, tidal, bio-energies are widely known, there are also other sources which are, now, less reliable as both research and technology in those […]

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The Secret Behind Biogenic Methane Discovered at Stanford

Satya Sivani — Sun, 31 May 2015 04:24:07 +0000

Stanford University researchers have taken a quantum leap in discovering how methanogens acquire electrons from solid surfaces, how hydrogen producing enzymes are important in Methanogenesis, how certain enzymes take up electrons and many other interesting facts. Methane, the main component (87%) of natural gas, a fossil fuel, which can be found both underground and under […]

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Extinct Species Could Be Restored Thanks to New Technology

Sarah Higman — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 18:11:57 +0000

A team of researchers have mapped almost the entire genome sequence of two Siberian woolly mammoths, a step closer to the possibility of bringing the species back from extinction. Evolutionary geneticist Hendrik Poinar, director of the Ancient DNA Center at McMaster University believes that the technology to reintroduce extinct species could only be few decades […]

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Propane-Fed Genset to Provide Power on the Battlefield

Ari Luis — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 18:06:05 +0000

We know that propane is used to propel cars and cook food, but provide our peacekeepers’ power requirements on the battlefield? Well, today’s soldiers are more dependent on technology than ever. They need an increasing array of gadgets to keep the peace and get the bad guys – from radios, to rangefinders, to night vision […]

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Microbial Battery Cleans Wastewater, Generates Energy

Mila Luleva — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 13:34:08 +0000

A team of US researchers have found a cost effective way to use a microbial battery for cleaning up wastewater discarded during oil and gas operations. With fresh water scarcity becoming more and more of a problem as we speak, any industry that pollutes the “liquid gold” or wastes it in any way, is the […]

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EV Fleet Makes Skies Clearer in Sunny California

Ari Luis — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 00:03:43 +0000

It’s not exactly Top Gun, but the top brass at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California are aces in my book. After the University of Delaware proved the concept that electric cars can be used as mobile storage for the grid last month, the air force base rolled out a vehicle-to-grid fleet […]

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A Cool Way to Play with DOLL

Ari Luis — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 02:28:46 +0000

No, we’re not talking about Barbie, nor are we talking about GI Joe. Oh, okay, GI Joe is not a doll, it’s an action figure. We get it. In either case, we’re not talking about toys but rather a lighting laboratory in Denmark. The Danish Outdoor Lighting Lab, or DOLL, has streetlights that brighten and […]

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Taxi Sharing Could Cut Down Emissions, Travel Time and Cost in NYC

Mila Luleva — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:13:52 +0000

If people are willing to share any type of public transport, why are there so many taxis travelling in the same direction, with only one passenger on board? This question is now even more relevant, after a team of scientists at the MIT estimated that a taxi sharing program could reduce travelling time, prices, and eliminate huge amount […]

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NOKIA’s Prototype Device Charges Cell Phones Using Sound

Mila Luleva — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 09:45:17 +0000

Powering your cell phone with sound is no longer the crazy idea that Korean Researchers decided to pursue some years ago. It is now getting much closer to realization than anyone has ever expected, as a team of scientists at NOKIA and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) managed to generate enough electricity from sound vibrations […]

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Research to Boost Biofuel Capacity of Switchgrass – Michigan State University

Benji Jerew — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 14:18:44 +0000

As a biofuel feedstock, switchgrass is fairly well-suited to the task of carbon sequestration, but it could be even better, says Michigan State University (MSU) As a biofuel feedstock, harvested switchgrass is fermented to produce ethanol (C2H6O), a type of alcohol. Ethanol can then be blended with gasoline, up to 85% for flex-fuel vehicles, reducing […]

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MIT Researchers’ New Device Generates Electricity From Air

Mila Luleva — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 07:09:02 +0000

Just because solar and wind power are making an incredible progress, it does not mean that the other renewable energy sources should be neglected and researchers should stop looking for alternative means for energy generation. This is why, researchers from MIT took on the task to see exactly how much energy they can produce from condensation. […]

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MIT Students 3D Print Ice Cream, But Is It Green?

Mila Luleva — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 09:31:51 +0000

Ever since 3D printing hype began to grow, scientists have been questioning the claim that the process is environmentally friendly. However, while this debate is still ongoing, 3D printing technology is bombarding us with incredible results. The technology holds a great potential to form the basis of a green industrial revolution. Initially used in manufacturing objects, […]

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Scientists Prove Net-Zero Homes Are Not Only a Futuristic Dream

Mila Luleva — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 10:16:30 +0000

If anybody tells you that having a net-zero energy home is impossible, do not trust them. They either live in denial or are simply very wrong. One year long test-trial, conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ended with energy to spare, even after a very harsh winter season. Exactly a year […]

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Saltwater Graphene Generator Discovered

Benji Jerew — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:09:10 +0000

Scientists and researchers are still coming up with ways to use graphene, perhaps the greatest wünder-material in recent memory. Graphene, an atom-thick single-layer two-dimensional lattice of pure carbon, has been known for decades, yet only recently has been getting the attention it deserves. So far, research into graphene has yielded, at least, prototype technologies in […]

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Climate Change, Warmer Spring, More Polar Ice Caps Melting

Benji Jerew — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:44:24 +0000

Previously, climate change scientists had calculated that warmer winters were contributing to fluctuations in the polar ice caps, but a recent discovery may change this perception. Lance Lesack, professor at Simon Fraser University, discovered an unexpected relationship between the ice breakup on the Mackenzie River, and spring and winter temperature variations. In recent years, attributed […]

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Harvard Scientists Propose Method to Capture The Energy Released by Earth’s Surface

Mila Luleva — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 20:40:28 +0000

When it comes to renewable energy, the Sun seems to be one of the most obvious sources, and this is why a lot of research and efforts are directed towards finding means to harness sunlight. But if we have to think of what would be the opposite of solar, or incoming light, then that would […]

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MS Türanor PlanetSolar Planning 2014 Solar-Powered Expedition

Benji Jerew — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 14:48:17 +0000

Over the winter, docked at the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly, in Lorient, France, the MS Türanor PlanetSolar solar-powered catamaran has been retrofitting for its new expedition in 2014. The MS Türanor PlanetSolar spent the 2013 season on two very important missions, but it might be hard to decide which was the more important […]

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“Portable” Hydrogen Fuel Cell to Reduce Emissions in Honolulu

Benji Jerew — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 19:17:37 +0000

In an effort to reduce idling ship emissions at port, a hydrogen fuel cell pilot project will provide power to ships, without burning a drop of fuel. Idling, from tractor-trailers to container ships, is simply a waste of fuel, generating emissions for now good reason. Unfortunately, the practice is ongoing, since onboard systems, such as […]

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Kinetic Energy Harvesting Closer to Ideal Thanks to New Zealand Scientists

Mila Luleva — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 05:28:27 +0000

Wouldn’t it be great if we can charge any electronic device that we carry as we walk to work, without having to carry fancy solar panels or heavy gadgets with us? For many years now, scientists have been trying to develop the ultimate way to make this possible. The goal of many has been to […]

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Evaporation-Powered Energy Generator, The Latest Renewable Energy Technology

Mila Luleva — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 20:39:42 +0000

If you thought that all means and potential of different sources of renewable energy have already been identified and tested on a large scale, you would be mistaken. Scientists keep finding new means to produce the precious resource, and it is only a matter of time before the next best technology takes over the market […]

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New Rice University Sensor Sniffs Greenhouse Gases

Danny Harper — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 07:11:26 +0000

A particularly difficult argument to have with those who do not have a background in environmental topics is one that involves the actual effects of greenhouse gases. You can drone on all day about the science and math involved, but without direct visual evidence, it is sometimes difficult to convince others. In general, we simply do not know […]

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Make Free Electricity by Pouring Water from a Can

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 11:42:33 +0000

Of all the science stuff I’ve ever seen, this free electricity experiment has caught my eyes and is by far the most simple and interesting. It uses a source of water, two cans and two recipients. Sounds simple enough? Professor Walter Lewin from MIT let us see how he does it: Presumably, this experiment involves the […]

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MythBusters’ Bubble Bike Reduces Emissions and Boosts Fuel Efficiency

Mila Luleva — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 16:27:04 +0000

We’ve got to love the MythBusters on The Discovery Channel. These guys have the incredible ability to break all, OK maybe not all, but most of our common believes, and they surely do it with flair. Considering the huge emphasis that governments and car manufacturers nowadays put on emissions and energy efficiency, as well as […]

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Loofah Extract, Waste & Bacteria Generating Cheap, Sustainable Electricity

Mila Luleva — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:53:26 +0000

Researchers from the Guangdong Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences in China have found a way to generate electricity from waste, by modifying traditional power-generating microbial fuel cells to function with much cheaper and more sustainable natural materials. Using loofahs, natural products extracted from the fruit of loofah plants, and carbon nanoparticles enriched with nitrogen, […]

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Graphene Synthetic Fuel Catalyst Developed by University of Illinois at Chicago

Benji Jerew — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 12:58:52 +0000

Synthetic fuels can turn practically any vehicle carbon-neutral, since the vehicle would emit the same carbon dioxide that was used to make the fuel in the first place. Actually, this is exactly the draw of biofuels, except that, with synthetic fuels, you don’t have to wait for the plants to grow. I guess you could […]

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MIT’s Genetically Modified Viruses Boost Lithium-Air Batteries

Danny Harper — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:28:39 +0000

Recently, lithium-air batteries have become popular amongst researchers for their potential to drastically increase power per battery weight, which could have profound impacts on electric cars and their overall range. But in order for this tech to become viable, it is essential that we find better, more durable materials for the batteries’ electrodes, while also […]

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World Record Electric Vehicle Ran 808mi on a Single Charge

Benji Jerew — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 17:45:14 +0000

On of the first complaints you might hear when considering an electric vehicle is limited range, but how much of that is our own fault? You can drive an electric vehicle long distance, but only if you’re very careful, much the same as you can maximize fuel economy by reducing your speed, not overloading the […]

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PNNL Fungus Study Could Speed up Biofuels Production

Benji Jerew — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 18:36:25 +0000

In theory, biofuels programs could gives us a ready supply of carbon-neutral fuels for use in everyday applications, but the process is expensive and inefficient. [On the other hand, is it really carbon-neutral?] Researchers have been looking for ways to improve biofuel synthesis, speed up the process, reduce energy inputs, and reduce costs. The feedstocks […]

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Climate Change Action Hampered by Shortsightedness, Schelling Was Right

Benji Jerew — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 12:15:18 +0000

Our ability to make decisions today, such as addressing climate change, for a future that we may not even live to see, better conditions for our children or even grandchildren, is hampered by the fact that our collective brains can’t handle that kind of reward. Ask someone today if they would give you $1 for […]

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How Thermophotovoltaic Solar Cells Could be 80% Efficient

Benji Jerew — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 20:08:20 +0000

Theoretically, single-junction photovoltaic solar cells can only achieve 34% efficiency, a theoretical maximum, since that’s pretty much all the spectrum they can absorb and convert to electricity. Currently, the most-efficient commercially-available solar cells are just % efficient, and some theoretical stacked solar cells up to 45% efficient. This is where thermophotovoltaic solar cells come in, […]

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New Technology By Disney Generates Electricity From Paper

Mila Luleva — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 13:34:45 +0000

Digital interactive media has become quite a big part of our entertainment. New devices are increasingly taking an active role in interaction, responding to hand movement or gestures. Of course, all these need some sort of power supply, either batteries, or a power outlet. Now, Disney Research has taken one step further, creating a new […]

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Nissan Leaf Granted Permit to Test Semi-Autonomous Vehicles on Japan’s roads

Benji Jerew — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 16:54:58 +0000

By 2020, Nissan expects to have fully-autonomous vehicles on the road but, in order to do that, Nissan will have to prove that they will be just as safe, or safer, than vehicles with human drivers. In the state of New York, once your get your driver’s permit, you need to drive with a licensed […]

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DUT12 – Electric Supercar Built by Dutch Students, Breaks Acceleration Record

Ovidiu Sandru — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 07:15:17 +0000

Once more in the history of racing, a “homemade” electric car developed by Dutch students at the Delft University of Technology has managed to break acceleration records. 2.15 seconds is the 0 to 60 MPH time that the team got from their electric race car resembling the 500 hp Ariel Atom V8, which is 0.15 […]

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Climate Change: “Clear Evidence for a Discernible Human Influence” – Science Speaks

Benji Jerew — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:49:29 +0000

For those who still doubt climate change, and there are many, it seems appropriate to note that scientists studying climate change, about 97% of them, agree that human activity is definitely having an impact on the planet’s climate. How can they come to such a conclusion so definite? Perhaps the simplest method of all, the […]

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City CarShare DASH Adds Thirty Scion iQ EV to Car-Sharing Fleet in Northern California

Benji Jerew — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:12:08 +0000

Business owners with a green streak, those located at Hacienda in Pleasanton, California, specifically, will be happy to note that City CarShare has added thirty Toyota iQ EV to the DASH car-sharing fleet. The Scion iQ EV, which is pretty much the same as the Scion iQ, but with an all-electric powertrain, unfortunately, is not […]

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Cheap Hydrogen Catalyst Found in Charcoal, But…

Benji Jerew — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 11:00:39 +0000

If we’re ever to move into clean and convenient hydrogen power, we need to find a clean and efficient way to generate hydrogen fuel. The current-best methods for generating hydrogen gas, including natural gas reformation and electrolysis, are still energy intensive. Depending on where that energy comes from, the benefits of carbon-free hydrogen fuel can […]

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E-City Bus Demonstrator Brings Electric Mobility to Public Transport Systems

Mila Luleva — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 18:43:12 +0000

The ultimate goal of any city government is to create a sustainable and at the same time functional public transport system. The easiest way to do this is to have buses with very limited fuel consumption characteristics, which run regularly but do not contribute to urban air pollution. An effective solution to this will be […]

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Biobulb Glows with Bioluminescent Life!

Benji Jerew — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 16:27:14 +0000

Thomas Edison, who tinkered with hundreds of items for the filament of the first electric light bulb, never considered bacteria as a source of light, as in the Biobulb. We may already be familiar with the humble firefly, angler fish, and even a host of other species that glow in the dark. The phenomenon is […]

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Sunswift Eve Solar Car Prototype Built in Australia

Benji Jerew — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 08:44:42 +0000

Solar cars, for the most part, have merely been test projects, nothing that anyone would actually drive anywhere. One small group in Australia thinks otherwise, and is planning to move into normal-car territory. University of South Wales in Sydney, Australia, has a team of students from all walks of academia, including engineering, business, science, and […]

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Self-Driving Vehicle Development Platform Sold by Japanese Company

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:02:53 +0000

Not long ago, Google started teasing the world with the idea of a self-driving vehicle. Now, a company called ZMP Inc released a development platform called “RoboCar MV2 Autonomous Driving Package,” which is a single seat electric vehicle meant to help car companies (like Tesla) get going with autonomous driving. Actually, the ZMP platform is based […]

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CO2 Capturing System to be Installed at Norwegian Cement Factory

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:57:45 +0000

A new and innovative CO2 capturing system is to be installed in Norway, at a Norcem cement producing plant in Brevik. Developed by Aker Solutions, the carbon capturing system is the first in the world to do this at a cement station. While most of today’s efforts only focus on capturing emissions resulted from coal-fired […]

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Plants That Glow In The Dark Might Replace Home Lighting Systems

Mila Luleva — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:10:25 +0000

The latest innovation in the field of genetic modification is set to create a unique kind of bioluminescent plants, which have the potential to replace home lighting installation systems, and why not even street lamps. A team of scientists based in California is trying to raise funding for their one a kind project. Their aim […]

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Graphene and Monolayers For More Efficient Solar Cells

Benji Jerew — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:45:11 +0000

With all the talk about nanomaterials making up more efficient solar cells, most of the focus has been on graphene and its unique properties. It’s easy to forget that other elements could possibly be manufactured similarly. It stands to reason that if you can make one element into a monolayer, then you should be able […]

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Hydrogen Fuel Generation – Breakthrough Catalyst Investigated in India

Benji Jerew — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:50:03 +0000

Hydrogen fuel used in hydrogen fuel cells, as a replacement for natural gas, or even in an internal combustion engine, burns clean and emits zero carbon dioxide. This is great news for those concerned about increasing carbon dioxide emissions, but the current-best method for generating hydrogen fuel isn’t very efficient. Electrolysis uses electricity to split […]

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Nanotech Hybrid Solar Cell Generates Electricity from Both Light and Sound

Benji Jerew — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:09:41 +0000

A new nanotech hybrid solar cell developed by Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology and Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea, generates electricity from light as well as from sound. “The best of both worlds” is a common term when it comes to combining two different technologies, such as electric motors and gasoline engines in hybrid vehicles. […]

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Honda Testing Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles With Vehicle to Grid Technology

Benji Jerew — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:34:09 +0000

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and plug-in vehicles are both essentially electric vehicles, but hydrogen refuels in minutes, compared to hours required to recharge a plug-in. Some electric vehicle makers and aftermarket companies have been producing vehicle-to-grid [V2G] technology, which enables an electric vehicle to serve as an emergency backup power source. In case of an […]

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Hyundai E4U Concept – Egg-Shaped Personal Electric Vehicle

Benji Jerew — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:33:48 +0000

Personal electric vehicles aren’t so new, and by now we’re probably used to seeing the elderly and infirm getting around on electric wheelchairs and scooters. When you let a bunch of engineers out of their little boxes, you never know what they’ll come up with, like the Segway, which has never really gotten out of […]

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Shell Eco-Marathon Americas Yields Super Fuel Efficient [3,587mpg] Reliant Robin

Benji Jerew — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:32:11 +0000

When we think fuel efficient, we might think hybrid or electric and this maxes out our brains at a little over 100mpge, so how does the 3,587mpg Reliant Robin strike you? The Shell Eco-Marathon Americas is a contest in which college and high school students compete to create the most fuel efficient vehicle. For the […]

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Tûranor Solar Boat Has a New Mission Studying Climate Change

Benji Jerew — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:05:18 +0000

What started as a proof-of-concept – PlanetSolar’s Tûranor solar boat recently circumnavigated the globe – is now setting sail again on a research mission in the Atlantic Ocean’s Gulf Stream. PlanetSolar wasn’t really sure what it was going to do with the 115ft solar boat once it had gone around the world completely on solar […]

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Synthetic Fuel from Carbon Dioxide by Tweaking “Pyrococcus Furiosus” Bacteria

Benji Jerew — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:33:17 +0000

Biofuels, synthetic fuels, are made from plants that use photosynthesis to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but what if we could remove the middlemanplant? Biofuels are essentially carbon-neutral, because they release the same amount of carbon dioxide that was sequestered by the plants that the fuel is synthesized from. Making synthetic fuel by this […]

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Learn to Curb Emissions and Win Free Gas in Toronto, Canada

Benji Jerew — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:13:48 +0000

In an effort to educate consumers to curb emissions and the benefits of cleaner transportation, the Toronto nonprofit, Summerhill Group, is giving away free gas cards and other prizes. Learning how to commute more efficiently doesn’t have to be painful and from last week until the first week of May, you can actually win free […]

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Commercially-Viable Renewable Algae Biofuel Developed by Teenager

Leigh Hutchens — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:08:43 +0000

Since 1998, Intel has been a sponsor of the 70 year old Science Talent Search, a competitive science fair that draws the best and brightest teenagers to compete for a top prize of $100,000. This year Sara Volz, a 17 year old from Colorado Springs, claimed the prize after winning with her efficient algae-based biofuel […]

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In Japan, Four Robo-Trucks See 15% Increase in Fuel Efficiency

Benji Jerew — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:36:22 +0000

In a recent experiment involving four robo-trucks in Japan, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization [NEDO] was able to realize a 15% increase in fuel efficiency. One way to increase fuel efficiency is to reduce drag, which is why design engineers put so much into smoothing out the lines on fuel efficient and […]

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Cessna Plane Runs on Fuel Derived from Recycled Plastic

Benji Jerew — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:50:16 +0000

In order to prove it, one Australian pilot, Jeremy Rowsell, is going to fly his Cessna from Sydney, Australia to London, England using only fuel derived from recycled plastic. Currently, the most abundant fuels on the planet are hydrocarbons, specifically petroleum which is extracted from underground, or undersea, reservoirs. Petroleum, when refined, doesn’t only end up as gasoline, […]

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Engineered Yeast May Lead to Gasoline Substitute, MIT Finds

Benji Jerew — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:14:05 +0000

Researchers at MIT used engineered yeast to produce alcohol in the mitochondria. The mitochondria produce the energy in the cell, making them more efficient. Yeast has been used over millennia for two basic purposes, bread and alcohol, both of which keep the belly full and the heart happy. Hopefully not too full and not too happy, […]

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Converting Heat To Electrical Power Efficiently Using Quantum Dots

Mila Luleva — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:39:02 +0000

Microcircuits might become much more efficient, with the development of a new type of nanoscale engine, which uses quantum dots to generate electricity. Professor Andrew Jordan, a theoretical physics of the University of Rochester explains that the system is simple and it is based on particular properties of quantum dots, which harvest heat. But simple, […]

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Nano-Antennae Promise 70% Solar Efficiency

Benji Jerew — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 01:09:33 +0000

Modern photovoltaic solar panels are not very efficient converting solar energy into electricity. They need to convert solar energy, which is inherently alternating current [AC], into direct current [DC], which then requires further electronics, an inverter, to convert DC back into AC to connect to the power grid. Seeing as solar panels today have maximum […]

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Teenager Builds Homemade Nuclear Fusion Reactor

Mila Luleva — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:59:37 +0000

If somebody told you that a teenager built a nuclear fusion reactor in his garage, it would take quite some convincing until you believe them. Well, it has happened. And it was not only this. Conrad Farnsworth of Newcastle, Wyom, built the reactor when he was only 16, but now, at the age of 18, […]

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DIYer Retrofits 1983 Mustang to Run on Water (Read: Hydrogen)

Benji Jerew — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:18:35 +0000

Since the beginning of time, there have always been Do-It-Yourself-ers, and sometimes all it takes is a great idea from a backyard inventor to make a great thing even better. Alternative fuels are no different, and some of the ideas on alternative fuels have come from such backyard labs. Case in point, Chris “The Doc” […]

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Ohio State Proves Their All-Wheel-Steering EV Prototype is Maneuverable and Safe

Benji Jerew — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:42:32 +0000

Most on-road vehicles today use only the front wheels to steer. Four-wheel steering is usually limited to heavy equipment, monster trucks, and off-road vehicles because they are extremely maneuverable. Really, vehicles that spend most of their time driving in a straight line don’t need to be that maneuverable anyways, but what about city cars? With […]

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Nanosize Silicon Found to Generate Hydrogen Efficiently

Benji Jerew — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 07:33:26 +0000

The science of nanotechnology, specifically nanomaterials, has grown by leaps and bounds in the last decade, and scientists are discovering more material characteristics than they ever could have before, just examining macromaterials. For example, when silicon [Si] oxidizes with water [H2O], it gives off hydrogen gas [H2], leaving a layer of silicon dioxide [SiO2]. While […]

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Nanowire Technology Used for More Efficient Solar Cells

Benji Jerew — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:43:39 +0000

Silicon solar cells currently are, at a maximum, between 19% and 50% efficient converting solar energy into electricity. The rest of that energy is lost to heat and reflection, as well as resistance in the cells themselves. Part of the problem is that silicon solar cells can only be made reactive to a certain part […]

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“Physical Internet” to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated With Logistics

Mila Luleva — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:09:45 +0000

Engineers at Virginia Tech University and the University of Arkansas conducted a study which shows that if businesses are linked together through a shared network, or “physical internet,” they will greatly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced during transportation of their products. According to the authors from the CELDi (Center for Excellence in Logistics […]

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Bio-Plastic Made Out of Freshwater-Loving Euglena

Benji Jerew — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:26:30 +0000

Most plastics start out from organic compounds, many of which are petrochemicals, that is, petroleum-based. In order to reduce the demand on petroleum reserves, and the pollution associated with them, there are many synthetic plastics being produced today. Japanese researchers recently developed a synthetic plastic based on an extract from the freshwater microorganism, Euglena, that […]

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Wet-Powered Thin Film Generates Electricity

Benji Jerew — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:57:59 +0000

Given the right circumstances, we’ve probably all seen a piece of paper curl up when wet. Could this motion be put to work, that is, generate electricity? Scientists have noticed this wet curling effect in various polymers, but never something that could be said to perform work, such as with polypyrrole. Robert Langer at Massachusetts […]

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Biofuel Production Could Benefit from New Nanobowl Construction

Benji Jerew — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 04:54:44 +0000

One of the issues in biofuel production has always been making it efficient. Various catalyst materials have been found to be very efficient, but short-lived. Under high-pressure, high-temperature, biofuel processing conditions, the catalysts start to break down and ruins their efficiency. Scientists hope to answer this problem by creating microscopic “nanobowls” to protect the catalytic […]

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10 Ideas to Generate Green Energy

Mila Luleva — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 22:00:05 +0000

We keep publishing stories on how to generate renewable energy, which tell us about investments worth millions. Scientific research, energy companies as well as governmental institutions come up with great solutions at very large scales. Of course, the materializing of all these projects and discussions might take a while, so let’s look into some interesting […]

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Influence of Solvent Mixtures on The Structure of Organic Solar Cells

Mila Luleva — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:44:06 +0000

Physicists from North Carolina State University claim that by controlling the way “mixing” occurs between the solar cell domains, we can boost their efficiency. According to new research, within a polymer-based solar cell, the speed of movement of energy particles towards the interface of the donor and acceptor domains of the solar cell can be […]

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U.S. Navy to Produce Jet Fuel from Seawater

Benji Jerew — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:49:13 +0000

The US Navy, each year, requires more than 600 million gallons of Jet Fuel [JP-5] for continuous operations. To meet the demand, fifteen US Navy Military Sea Lift Command fleet replenishment oilers are deployed worldwide to refuel Navy vessels at sea. The entire operation is expensive, dangerous, and often logistically difficult. Scientists at the US […]

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Gamera II Human Powered Helicopter Reaches (Unofficial) Record Height

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 11:15:05 +0000

Human-powered flying machines have been dreamed of ever since the Middle Ages, when Da Vinci sketched his ornithopter and his other flying concepts (that remained at that stage). A team from the University of Maryland has now achieved a record height in their Gamera II human-powered helicopter (with both hands and feet). Henry Emerson, the […]

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A Chemical Reaction That Could Level CO2 Emissions and Generate Power

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:24:23 +0000

A chemical reaction that turns carbon dioxide into a solid and on the top of it, releases energy, has been discovered by a Michigan Technological University researcher and could revolutionize how we sequester the powerful greenhouse gas to our advantage. So far, people trying to put CO2 molecules together did it by adding energy, which […]

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Sony's New Technology Generates Electricity From Shredded Paper

Mike Sandru — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:44:19 +0000

The Japanese electronics giant Sony has announced the development of a new technology that produces energy from shredded paper. At a fair about environmental products, opened in Tokyo, Sony invited children to make a little experiment. They introduced a paper into a mixture of enzymes and water. After a few minutes, the liquid has become […]

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Scientists Using Microwaves to Turn Waste Motor Oil Into Usable Fuel

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:34:51 +0000

British scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a method of converting waste motor oil into diesel to be used in any diesel engine. By using microwaves and a specially-designed material, they burn the oil in the absence of oxygen, a process called pyrolysis.

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Nanowires Could Enable Human Heart to Power Gadgets

Mike Sandru — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:15:49 +0000

Nanotechnology – the science of managing matter at a molecular level – has delivered its promises: if charging your iPod with your heart is not great, then what is? Yes, you read correctly: it is your own little human heart that could be doing the work of a charger, so that you can continue listening […]

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An Interesting Report on Solar Panel Efficiency in Near Space Conditions

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:17:26 +0000

You don't really have to be an accredited scientist to prove the world that you actually can do scientific experiments. All you need is passion, knowledge and a little financial effort. That's how a team of San Diego engineering students succeeded doing an experiment that involved sending a balloon, solar panels, cockroaches and anti-freeze Cucujus beetles into near-space.

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Vibration-Powered Magnetostrictive Generator Invented By Japanese Researcher

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:55:02 +0000

Vibrations can drive your watch and other small appliances more easily, as one researcher from the Kanazawa University in Japan has developed a possible replacement for button batteries. His device works on vibrations and could one day power even bigger stuff, if put in a serial configuration.

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Snowbird: Amazing Human-Powered Airplane Flaps Its Wings Like A Bird (video)

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:44:34 +0000

At first, when I saw the title on Ecofriend talking about a human-powered aircraft, I said to myself that's another hopeless, useless green achievement of somebody working hard for nothing.

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Sound Waves – A Different Kind of Power Source That Can Charge Your Cellphone

Mike Sandru — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:07:23 +0000

Researchers from Korea are working on a new technology that can power your cellphone with sound. They have turned zinc oxide (the main ingredient of calamine lotion) into a tiny material that converts sound waves into energy through piezoelectricity.

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Philadelphia To Recover Subway Trains' Brake Forces In Huge Battery For Reuse/Resale

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:39:53 +0000

Having a battery could someday be compared to having gold mine. Take Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, for example. They' going to use a huge battery and charge it from the subway's braking trains. The energy recovered thus will either be sold back to the grid or reused for acceleration.

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Green Algae Modified to Act as Photovoltaic Cells Power a Clock

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:02:06 +0000

Algae and photosynthetic bacteria could also be exploited to generate electricity, besides jellyfish. University of Cambridge researchers let by Adrian Fisher and Paolo Bombelli study how they could use the two fore-mentioned to actually generate usable energy.

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Jellyfish Protein Serves as Organic Solar Cell; Could Be Used in Health Implants

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:45:56 +0000

Recently, Zackary Chiragwandi at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, and his colleagues have developed a solar cell based on a green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria.

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Researchers Find New Way to Make Less Toxic Super-Fast Graphene Transistors

Mike Sandru — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:58:33 +0000

Graphene has a great potential to make electronic devices such as phones, radios and computers smaller and faster. The new graphene-based technology could play a key role in waste reduction and energy conservation.

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New Mitochondria Fuel Cells Could Generate Electricity From Sugar or Fats

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:08:18 +0000

Mitochondria, also called "the cells' powerhouses", may one day replace batteries as we know them. Scientists from the University of Missouri invented and developed a new fuel cell based on these also called "organelles" (the internal organs of cells). The fuel cell is able to feed on sugars and fats, just like mitochondria in the organisms do.

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Researchers Found An Enzyme That Could Get Gasoline From Thin Air

Mike Sandru — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:52:27 +0000

"This organism is a very common soil bacteria that is very well understood and has been studied for a long time. But while we were studying it, we realized that the enzyme has some unusual behavior", said Markus Ribbe, a scientist at the University of California.

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Mitsubishi Electric's New PV Cell Module has an Output of 200W

Mike Sandru — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:47:33 +0000

Mitsubishi has developed a new photovoltaic (PV) cell module that has an output of 200W and unlike conventional ones it uses monocrystalline silicon (Si) PV cells. For the moment, the PV cell module is targeted at residents of Japan, but the company plans to start offshore shipments from Oct 20, 2010.

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