Green Electronics Archives – The Green Optimistic

How to Beat the Agony of a Dying Phone Battery

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 14 May 2019 10:10:58 +0000

Phones and tablets are our main computers these days. We rely on them. Manufacturers limit the device’s performance once battery capacity has dropped below a certain threshold. And most of the time, people don’t realize that. Batteries are usually overlooked when we buy a new phone or tablet. They’re seen as the “fuel tank” that […]

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Top 5 Green Gadgets and Initiatives at the Consumer Electronics Show 2019

Mila Luleva — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 14:15:19 +0000

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is yet again very special for all green technology supporters. The show managed to gather the best of the best in the business of development of green gadgets. Of course, it would not be CES if the organizers did not put together the CES Green guide. […]

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Elowan is The First Ever Cyborg Houseplant

Mila Luleva — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 20:10:42 +0000

MIT researchers always manage to push boundaries. This time they created a cyborg plant hybrid, which augments the natural processes of the plant to power a robotic system. There is considerable amount of controversy when it comes to robots. The debate is certainly ongoing, and covers all sorts of possible scenarios: from robots stealing our jobs, […]

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Next-Generation Smart Devices Will Use Owner as Energy Source

Matthew Fiala — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 19:25:17 +0000

The next-generation mobile and portable electronic devices will use their owners as an energy resource using Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs). Along with human movements, TENGs can capture energy from common energy sources such as wind, wave, and machine vibration. TENGs contain many advantages over other energy harvesting technologies including simple construction, low cost, high power output, […]

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New Plasma Switch for More Efficient Long-Distance Power Transmission

Arsenij Percov — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 20:10:11 +0000

The General Electric (GE) company is developing an advanced plasma switch that will make a conversion of high-voltage DC to high-voltage AC more efficiently, enabling reduced-cost transmission of long-distance power. Additionally, substations along the power route will reduce the voltage of AC current to low-voltage before it reaches consumers’ devices. We use low-voltage alternating current […]

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Unbelievably Light Electric Bicycle That You Can Put In Your Backpack

Arsenij Percov — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 06:28:50 +0000

The Smartcircle S1 is a foldable electric bicycle that is small enough to fit into a backpack. The bike weighs 15.4 lbs and can be folded in five simple steps. The bike is perfect for taking on public transportation for a long distance travel. If the distance is long to walk but too close to […]

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Greenpeace Is Impressed How Apple Greenifies Itself

Arsenij Percov — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 11:16:45 +0000

Greenpeace, the international environmental advocacy group, has been keeping track of the tech companies’ progress on sustainability for more than a decade. That resulted in an increase of some companies’ efforts and interest in providing a greener future. The first annual “Guide to Greener Electronics” (the name of the report) by Greenpeace was released back […]

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Hugely-Efficient LEDs Now Use Quantum Dots

Arsenij Percov — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 20:27:31 +0000

Global warming and pollution are already impacting our lives. There are millions of deaths every year that are caused by them. For that reason, researchers from all over the world are looking for ways to make everything around us more energy efficient and use renewable resources. By implementing these strategies, we can reduce energy usage […]

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Stretchable fabrics power integrated sensors and wearables

Jose Aguilar — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 22:00:29 +0000

Last decade saw an evolution of fabrics to suit the body temperature`s rise under exercising. The effect is to help regulate temperature and disseminate sweating thus providing extra comfort. Enhanced durable fabrics to power electronic wearables Just recently researchers at the University of Binghampton, NY. looked into enhancing the basic features of stretchable fabrics to generate electricity, and […]

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Chinese Scientists Generate Electricity from Blood Flow

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 16:40:18 +0000

The conversion of kinetic energy to electricity has been appreciated and applied in huge hydroelectric power plants, water dams, and wind mills. Chinese researchers from Fudan University have recently shown that the same concept can be applied to electric power generation in bloodstreams for medical devices applications, which has been tested successfully with frog nerves. […]

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Twisted Carbon Nanotubes Yarn: A Promising Source of Renewable Energy

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 20:17:37 +0000

A special yarn made from carbon nanotubes has been developed to generate electricity when twisted or stretched, converting mechanical energy into electricity. This new technology could power wearable or small medical devices without the use of batteries. The twisted yarn has a sufficient number of twists in it such that when stretched out, the effective […]

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Quilo – An Innovative and Energy Efficient Evaporative Cooler Hits Market

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 08:55:01 +0000

Evaporative air coolers are a very good energy efficient alternative to classic, freon air conditioners. In fact, our own bodies are cooled by transpiration through the same evaporative cooling effect. A New Jersey startup named Quilo is launching these days the device that they say will revolutionize cooling energy efficiency. How Quilo Works Quilo is […]

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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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2016’s Most Promising Pollution Monitoring Project

Ovidiu Sandru — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 14:55:27 +0000

A project that we’ve been following for a long time, called uRadMonitor, is actively monitoring CO2, particulate pollution and harmful radiation worldwide, and is doing it in a right, networked way (their page is here). Magnasci, the company behind uRadMonitor is empowering its users to share pollution numbers registered at their locations. To be a part of […]

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Zero-Point Energy Nanomagnet Stores Data In Small Spaces

Courtney Lepping — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 05:56:41 +0000

The European research institution Jülich just released new information on “zero-point energy” and its effect on the stability of nanomagnets. If scientists can determine how to magnetically store data, information can be stored in extremely small spaces. Quantum mechanics becomes important when we’re talking about small spaces, such as nanometers. Magnetic moments are difficult to […]

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Lighty, the Smart Robotic Projector That’s Greener Than a TV

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 11:55:25 +0000

Electronic junk is renowned nowadays for being one of the worst pollution sources ever. People don’t recycle their old phones, TVs, radios and so on, and this is going to lead to bad things in the long run. TVs, in particular, are great power-sippers and a lot of materials go into making one. A young company […]

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New Material Promises Fast Energy Saving Electronics

Mila Luleva — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 20:29:56 +0000

Scientists developed a new one-atom thick material that allows fast movement of electrical charges. It can boost performance of electronics, while saving power. Scientists from University of Utah have developed a new type of 2D material, which has the potential to revolutionize electronics as we know them. The team claims that this new semiconductor allows charges to […]

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Smart AirVisual Node Shows How Polluted The Air Around You Is

Satya Sivani — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 21:57:42 +0000

AirVisual Node, a smart and portable air quality monitor, developed by Airvisual, a China-based startup, can be a smarter solution to find the degrees of pollution around you. HEADLINES Researchers say China air pollution kills 4000 people a day – Bloomberg AIR pollution responsible for killing roughly five MILLION people around the world each year, a […]

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GE Bets on Smart LED Lightbulbs, About to Ditch CFLs

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 20:17:31 +0000

GE, one of the world’s most important lightbulb maker, has decided that they need to shift to LED lighting already, in a decision that’s very detrimental to not-so-old CFLs. It’s now been long since I’ve seen people reinventing the lightbulb and betting on new tech like crazy. Each lightbulb technology has its pluses and minuses. […]

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How to Produce Electricity with Only Paper, a Pencil and Tape

Mila Luleva — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:24:46 +0000

Device made using a pencil, some paper and some tape, can generate enough electricity to power small electronics, courtesy of researchers from University of Tokyo. A group of scientists from University of Tokyo and the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, built a revolutionary power-generating device, out of every-day, easy to access, cheap stationary materials. Using […]

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Smart LED Street Lights Provide Efficient Lighting and Wireless Connectivity

Mila Luleva — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 19:20:09 +0000

Energy efficient smart LED street lights, integrating technology from Philips and Ericsson, will provide both light and 4G wireless to boost cellular data traffic. Philips and Ericsson, two of the biggest tech giants in recent years, have joined forces to upgrade regular street lights to “smart”. One hundred of their new generation street lighting systems […]

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Blue Marble – Solar-Powered Irrigation System Without Batteries

Mila Luleva — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 20:01:20 +0000

Blue Marble is a smart irrigation system, which waters your garden for 48 hours using only solar power even at night, yet it is completely battery-free. As temperatures continue to rise, crucial arable land is being lost. Drought poses an increasing threat to agriculture and irrigation becomes a dangerous issue in more and more regions […]

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SunPort: The Outlet Extender that Offsets its Carbon Footprint

Annika Tostengard — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 06:17:41 +0000

A crowdfunding campaign from a company called SunPort is seeking funding for an outlet extender that offsets the carbon footprint of whatever device is being powered. It looks like a typical converter for electrical outlets, but instead of making a two-prong outlet into a three-prong one, it records the amount of electricity that was used and […]

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NASA’s New Wi-Fi Reflector Chip Boosts the Speed of Wearables

Satya Sivani — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 09:21:06 +0000

The Wi-Fi Reflector Chip, which has been developed for wearable devices by the NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), together with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), reflects wireless signals instead of using regular transmitters and receivers. While wearable gadgets are finding their way into many sectors like health, security and entertainment, many new developments are […]

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3 Eco Friendly Gadgets for Music Lovers

Annika Tostengard — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 06:21:22 +0000

Sometimes it’s hard to keep the environment in mind when there are so many cool electronic devices now, and all with their own endless need for electricity. Luckily, modern technology has come to the rescue with some very cool eco friendly gadgets. Here are three carbon neutral ways to listen to music. With all three, […]

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Electronic Chips May Soon Be Made from Wood

Annika Tostengard — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 11:04:27 +0000

New research from the University of Wisconsin reveals that computer chips can be made out of wood, and without any reduction in performance. Electronic chips made out of wood would be biodegradable, and save the headache of deciding what to do with old, unwanted electronic devices. It would make a big impact on humanity’s ability […]

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Ginko Tree – The Eco-Friendly, Fast and Efficient Solar Charger

Mila Luleva — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 18:50:16 +0000

Ginko tree, a stylish solar power charger named after the beautiful Japanese tree, can charge two smartphones simultaneously in just two hours. Solar chargers are nothing new. Various gadgets that have built-in solar cells and batteries have been hitting the market for quite some time now, promising that little bit of no-plug energy that would […]

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Smart Palm Trees are the New WiFi Hotspots of Dubai

Satya Sivani — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 07:48:24 +0000

Smart Palm trees, being fully solar-powered, are sustainable, date palm tree shaped Wi-Fi hotspots that also offer gadget charging and weather forecast information along with seating and shade – now they ornament Dubai. Its usual that coffee shops, airports, railway stations act as WiFi hotspots. But Palm trees? Not the natural, but the hi-tech ones. […]

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PoWiFi Powers Devices Wirelessly, Eliminates Batteries

Mila Luleva — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 08:54:07 +0000

PoWiFi is a system that allows simultaneous wireless transfer of power and data to electronic devices using existing WiFi infrastructure, giving a glimpse of hope that batteries might soon be made redundant. Different technologies that allow wireless charging have been circulating the news for quite some time now, with gadgets and mats providing that ever-so-needed […]

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MIT Student Builds Electricity-Free Cooling Technology

Mila Luleva — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 17:52:09 +0000

Evaptainers is a portable cooling system, which runs solely on water and sunlight- no electricity or toxic chemicals needed. Keeping things cool is often considered kind of a given by many of us. Regardless of how many articles are written and appeals are filed in order to raise awareness of electricity consumption, pollution, and the effects on our […]

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Louisiana State University Solid State Refrigerator Could be More Efficient

Benji Jerew — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 12:39:53 +0000

Refrigeration has gone through various stages, each of them more efficient and more effective than the last, but the demand for refrigeration is set for a big expansion, something on the order of $8 billion more by 2018, says Louisiana State University physics professor and lead researcher Shane Stadler. This big expansion in refrigeration and […]

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Q: Panasonic’s New Spherical Fan Revolutionizes Low-Power Cooling

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 06:17:20 +0000

When talking about cooling a room, people always think of air conditioners. Panasonic has recently unveiled its plans to produce an efficient spherical air blower that ejects seven times the wind it absorbs. Well, that may sound like wishful thinking, but Panasonic’s spherical air blower actually uses smart physics to do that. They called it “Q.” […]

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Energy Efficient, Long-Lasting Graphene LED Bulb Hits the Market

Mila Luleva — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 09:07:13 +0000

The very first product made of graphene to hit the market is a highly efficient, energy saving and long lasting LED light bulb. The long wait for a viable product made of the ultra-strong, super-thin carbon nanosheet- graphene, is finally over. Scientists from University of Manchester, UK, the birthplace of the wonder material, designed a […]

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uRadMonitor – The Networked Radiation Detector Every Home Should Have

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 04:29:46 +0000

An EU-based software and hardware designer with a passion for nuclear physics has invented a background radiation detector for the little guy – inexpensive, easy to use, unobtrusive, and – the best of them all – networked. Have you ever wondered why some places are filled with healthy populations and incurable diseases such as cancer are rare? Part of […]

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PLAYBULB Smart Garden Lights Rock on Kickstarter

Mila Luleva — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 15:53:34 +0000

The Smart Color LED Solar Garden Light project is revolutionizing Kickstarter. The solar-powered PLAYBULB garden has exceeded their goal ten times, with just over two weeks still left. Here it is. The technology, which promises to bring up the spirit of your garden by giving you a light-show performance every evening. Meet PLAYBULB garden- the […]

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7 Incredible Green Computer Concepts

Mila Luleva — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:04:09 +0000

Green alternatives to anything should always be the preferred option. The market offers everything from energy-efficient appliances, LEDs, solar panels, EVs, all the usual suspects, the list is endless. Where it is slowly becoming more interesting, however, is the field of green electronics, and especially computers. Here is a compilation of a few eco-friendly computer concepts […]

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Top 5 Super Green Technologies at Consumer Electronics Show 2015

Mila Luleva — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:32:10 +0000

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 held this week in Las Vegas has provided a platform for numerous emerging inventors and established technology makers to showcase the latest green breakthroughs and innovative ideas. As it is every year, the annual event is seen as the place where the technologies of the future are introduced to the […]

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Smart Watch Made of Paper?

Ari Luis — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 15:16:04 +0000

The smart watch is seen as the next big thing. That is why Samsung, LG, Sony and Pebble beat Apple to the punch in introducing their respective Android-based smart watches, they tried to gain market share ahead of the Cupertino-based tech giant’s release of the Apple Watch. The early incarnations of the smart watches don’t […]

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Aquanta, the Device that Makes Your Water Heater Smart

Mila Luleva — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:17:50 +0000

Water heaters have just joined the continuously expanding family of smart appliances thanks to a new controller. Meet Aquanta, a smart attachment that learns the habits of household members and adjusts the functions of the water heater accordingly. All standard water boilers come with one big disadvantage, as soon as hot water starts running through the tap, […]

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The Perfect Green Christmas Gift- A Sprout Watch

Mila Luleva — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 09:07:10 +0000

Sprout Watch is another one of the great green wearable technologies that come cheep, look cool and contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment. The watch is made of recyclable materials and comes in numerous shapes and styles. It is that time of the year again, when everyone is rushing to the shops trying to find […]

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How To Make a 3D Printer While Reducing E-waste

Mila Luleva — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 13:42:48 +0000

The alarming rate of production of various electronics and high-tech gadgets, and respectfully the ever-so-growing amount of e-waste that is being generated, calls for immediate strengthening of e-waste recycling and reusing systems. Here is an idea, how about turning the old floppy drives into DIY 3D printers? I am a true believer that the best […]

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Next Generation LCD Screens Display 3D Images Without Electricity

Mila Luleva — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 09:56:43 +0000

Future LCD screens might not require continuous power to project and maintain images. What is more, the new technology might even allow display in 3D. Does it sound like a sci-fi story? Well, it isn’t. There is even a functioning prototype to demonstrate the feasibility. Thinking of what the technology of the future might look like, […]

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Homemade Pumpkin Battery, or How to Generate Pumpkin Power

Mila Luleva — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 10:30:30 +0000

Happy Halloween, everybody! It is that time of the year again, when we have stocked up on incredible amounts of pumpkin and facial paint. But, what can we do with all that leftover pumpkin that didn’t make it to a scary lantern? Here is an idea, turn it into a pumpkin battery. So, before we […]

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SOL Laptop – Solar Power Laptop Now Available

Benji Jerew — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 20:30:05 +0000

Communication is important to everyone, just as the sun is important to everyone, which outlines the reason for the SOL Laptop, a solar power laptop built for wherever you happen to be. Indeed, you are reading this article, perhaps in North America or Australia, maybe Africa, who knows? Your dear writer, on the other hand, […]

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Wanna Charge Your Smartphone – Sweat It!

Ari Luis — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 04:15:52 +0000

Isn’t it sad when your phone bonks on you? Thanks to a new device you don’t need to lug around a bunch of power banks to prepare for this eventuality. All you need is to move it. A new charger is coming out and it’s coming with you on your workout. The Ampy is a […]

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Power Cut? No Probem, Solar Powered Kit from WakaWaka Comes to Your Rescue

Mila Luleva — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 09:56:36 +0000

Do you think you need an emergency kit that can give you the much needed light and power during a power cut? If you think ‘yes’, then do not hesitate and check out the latest from the gurus in solar power gadgets invention, the WakaWaka Power company. Extreme weather events are predicted to increase in […]

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Top 5 Most Wanted Portable Solar Power For Your Gadgets

Mila Luleva — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 07:28:17 +0000

Yes, summer is over, at least for us in the northern hemisphere that is. But waving good-bye to the long warm days, does not necessarily mean end of hiking, camping or road tripping. In fact, chances are that you are much more likely to reconsider your favorite outdoor activity these days due to anticipated important […]

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Super Affordable and Compact d.light Solar Lantern Exceeds Users Expectations

Mila Luleva — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 11:49:13 +0000

All camping and hiking lovers know that one of the most essential gadgets that every backpack should contain is a good light source of some sort. Most such techs, however, are quite pricey, need a socket for charging or are well too bulky. But most, does not mean all. Check out the d.light S2 lantern, […]

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Is It Lack of Technology, or People Just Do Not Want to Recycle Old Phones?

Mila Luleva — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 10:53:45 +0000

Mobile phone technologies are emerging all the time, with better, thinner and shinier gadgets multitasking better than an average person. But can recycling technologies keep up? I guess it is human nature to always desire the best of the best, regardless of whether it is really needed. It seems like it was only yesterday that my […]

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The Environmental Impact of Our Connected Life

Benji Jerew — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:50:22 +0000

Have you ever thought about the environmental impact of our adoption of modern technology, such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops? It has been said that the world is getting smaller and, in a sense, it is. Thanks to modern technology, we can now communicate, in real time, with people halfway around the globe. Internet-connected devices […]

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Apple Stops the Use of Two Toxic Chemicals in Assembling iPhone

Mila Luleva — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 09:40:00 +0000

In recent years, the incredible over-production of bigger (and smaller) and better electronic gadgets, has triggered huge debates over e-waste dump sites and exposure of workers to toxic elements. A major target of criticism was Apple, as their technology has built-in elements that cannot be easily removed and recycled properly by the users. Now, they […]

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Scientists Turn Hemp Into Cheap Pseudo-Graphene for Supercapacitors

Mila Luleva — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 12:32:35 +0000

All these stories we hear about the miracle material graphene, and everything it can do especially when it comes to energy storage, somehow miss to tell us that it comes at quite a huge price. This is why finding an affordable alternative was the main goal of scientists from Clarkson University, New York, who not […]

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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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Move Over Giant Hard Drives, Scientists Store 1TB of Data in a Spoon of Liquid

Mila Luleva — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 12:42:45 +0000

Advances in the field of nanotechnology have managed to completely transform our portable electronic gadgets from what they used to be. The most fascinating part is, the new and improved technologies, are not only better, but also cooler. After all, who wouldn’t want to be able to store the entire content of their laptop, in a […]

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Google Street View Cars Detect Methane Gas Leaks In U.S. Cities

Mila Luleva — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 11:24:39 +0000

It does not matter which way you look at it, gas leaks are never a good thing. People’s lives are put at risk, as there is a higher chance of dangerous explosions, the environment is put at risk, as the concentration of gases in the atmosphere increases, and the gas companies are put at risk, as […]

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NEST and Samsung Make One Control System for All Smart Gadgets

Mila Luleva — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:53:22 +0000

Anybody, who is completely hooked on NEST and all the other smart technologies that control everything at home, would be able to tell you that there is only one limitation to the whole experience. You need a separate control for each individual component, which can become rather confusing if you have a couple of these […]

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Solar-Powered Autonomous Robot Monitors Agricultural Fields to Boost Yield

Mila Luleva — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:50:10 +0000

Maybe we do not realize it, but to have our freshly made salad on the dining table every day, many farmers have invested a lot of energy, a lot of resources and have taken quite a risk, considering the rapidly changing climate situation. To minimize risk, and optimize production, Australian scientists developed the Ladybird farm […]

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Low Cost Dust Sensor for Smartphones Monitors Air Pollution in Real Time

Mila Luleva — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 09:45:52 +0000

Our smartphones are increasingly becoming even smarter, simply because it is so much easier to carry an “all-in-one” pocket device, instead of ten different ones. So, would you be happy to know that your phone can generate an urban pollution map, with the help of a small attachable sensor, or would this be just another […]

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ASMO Smart Phone Charger Does Not Use Energy on Stand By

Mila Luleva — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 09:15:48 +0000

If there is one thing that wastes incredible amount of energy only by being plugged in and waiting to be used, that is the mobile phone charger. Thankfully, now there is ASMO, the first ever mobile phone charger that does not consume energy while on stand by. Everyone knows they have to unplug the charging […]

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Weird but Green: Donkeys Carry Solar Panels to Charge Shepherds’ Smartphones

Mila Luleva — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 17:59:11 +0000

To set the scene, currently Google and Facebook are arguing over who would own the technology that could one day provide wireless internet to the most remote areas of the world. At that same time numerous engineers and designers compete to make the best and most efficient, compact, easily transported, solar powered and preferably wireless charging […]

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Nokero’s N182 Solar Light Bulb Is World’s Brightest and Most Affordable

Mila Luleva — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:37:59 +0000

Some products are being invented with one and only purpose- to be the best of the best in whatever they are supposed to be doing. Just like Bugatti built their Veyron 16.4 only so it is the world’s fastest car ever made, Nokero International made their latest LED solar light bulb– N182 only so it is the world’s cheapest […]

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Pelty: Wireless Speaker Powered Only by Candle Light

Mila Luleva — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:34:55 +0000

Music is one of these magical things that can relax you to an extreme level (or drive you completely insane), in a matter of seconds. The rhythm, the volume, the sound, all these together can form a perfect harmony, transforming any situation into a memorable event. Of course, the better the speakers, the better the […]

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Energy Vampire Numero Uno is Your Cable Box!

Benji Jerew — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 05:52:10 +0000

The modern home is full of electrical and electronic devices, just about all of which are energy vampires, that is, they continue to use electricity even when you shut them off. The difference can be quite surprising, and energy vampires hide where you least expect it. We expect a refrigerator to continuously run, since it […]

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Next-Gen Microsoft Smartphones Come with Week-Long Lasting Battery

Mila Luleva — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 08:19:52 +0000

There is no single person (at least that I know of) that has not developed a special connection with their smartphone from the moment they first put their hands on it. Unfortunately, regardless of brand or a model, all of these precious gadgets have one limitation in common, and probably you all know which one […]

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Silicon Carbide Semiconductor Reduces Hybrid Vehicle System Size

Benji Jerew — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 15:18:12 +0000

Toyota is the undisputed leader in the hybrid vehicle market, accounting for some 75% of all hybrid vehicles sold on the planet, and is constantly improving its technology. One example of this, reflected in the Toyota Prius alone, is the improvement in fuel economy over the years. Toyota hybrid vehicles have exhibited steady improvement in […]

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Smartphone App Tracks Your Carbon Footprint, Gives You a NEST Thermostat If You Do Good

Mila Luleva — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 18:22:19 +0000

Everywhere we read about carbon footprint, and people telling us that we have to do anything and everything possible to reduce it. However, a surprisingly small number of people understand what carbon footprint actually means and how to measure it before they take any action to cut it down. Now, a new smartphone app called […]

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Viable Wireless Charging of Electronic Gadgets One Step Closer to Reality

Mila Luleva — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:30:29 +0000

Wireless charging of electronics has just been brought one step closer to becoming reality, thanks to researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, South Korea. The team managed to improve in the already widely known work by MIT scientists, and developed the Dipole Coil Resonant System (DCRS), a technology that can charge as […]

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‘Cold Pot’: A Bio Air Conditioner That Cools Down Air Using Only Water

Mila Luleva — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 18:37:00 +0000

Ever since IPCC released their report last week, warnings for rising temperatures and urges to switch to efficient and renewable energy sources, have flooded the news feeds. The recent drought that occurred in California last month could only serve as an eye-opener, as it gave us a sneak preview of what is very likely to […]

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New Technology Charges Our Gadgets While We Walk

Mila Luleva — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 06:35:07 +0000

With every new smart phone, or cool portable technology that comes along, the need for having a wireless charger at our disposal at all times, becomes greater. Scientists have long realized this, and they have also thought of the ultimate solution to the problem, although most work until now has been conceptual. I am referring […]

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Reter: The Gadget That Helps Monitor and Cut Down Energy Usage

Mila Luleva — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:24:02 +0000

We often hear about the “next best thing”, which can miraculously lower our energy bills. Smart blinds, advanced building controls, you name it. Shame that very often it is the case that the makers of most of these gadgets are simply selling hot air. Now, something, which looks quite promising, and might well cost you […]

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Project ARA: Google’s New DIY Mobile Phone Could Cut Down E-Waste

Mila Luleva — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:41:19 +0000

Earlier this week, Google finally gave details on their latest invention during an event held in San Francisco. Under the project called “Project Ara“, the tech giant is developing a mobile phone, which has the potential to solve once and for all the problem with dumping used mobile devices in landfills. The gadget will be […]

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Nanogenerator Could Make for Self-Charging Smartphones

Benji Jerew — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 15:01:13 +0000

Chances are, there are a couple places your smartphone might be, either in your pocket or purse, or on your desk. Today’s smartphones are more power-hungry than ever, and our desire for connectivity is energy-intensive. At home or at the office, you’re more likely to have your smartphone in a charging dock to keep it […]

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Electric Vehicles and Smart Meters Could Save the Power Grid

Benji Jerew — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:46:04 +0000

In most parts of the country, the power grid is woefully out of date, which makes many people wonder if more electric vehicles will simply put more strain on an already strained system. In many places, the power grid is decades old. While average consumption isn’t typically a problem for the grid, peak power demands […]

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New Artificial Graphene Might Change the Future of Electronics

Mila Luleva — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 14:43:40 +0000

If you think that graphene is the wonder material that can completely transform the future solar cells, electronic devices, and batteries, wait until you read this. A new, artificial graphene, has the same structure as the real thing but it can be modified in shape and size so that it improves the performance of any […]

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Solar-Powered Robots Control Traffic And Issue Fines In Congo

Mila Luleva — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:01:21 +0000

When a driver speeds through a red light risking not only his life but also that of others, there is not much anyone could do. Regardless of how high the fines are, there is always going to be someone, who thinks he is above the law and is allowed to sacrifice innocent people instead of […]

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New Solar Powered, Touch-Controlled MacBook Might Be Just Around The Corner

Mila Luleva — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 18:54:35 +0000

If you ever wondered when the time of solar powered laptops will come, or who would be the first tech giant to develop them, wonder no more. Apple has finally received their patent with the very humble title “Electronic device display module“, which allows them to be the one and only makers of notebooks with […]

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Everything from Smart Grids to Electric Vehicles Improved by Self-Powered Sensors

Benji Jerew — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:22:45 +0000

In everything from electric vehicles to smart grids, including your laptop, smartphone, television, and house, sensors keep track of changing conditions, but they have a couple of limitations. For the most part, sensors require their own network and power supply, which limits their utilization and capabilities. Implementing smart grids, for example, requires high-speed and high-resolution […]

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$70 Thermostat proves the power of open-source technology

Danny Harper — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 08:04:58 +0000

Although every big corporation and patent troll would tell you otherwise, the open source model is one of the surest paths to technological innovation and progress. By offering universal access to a product’s design, and then allowing improvements on said design to be redistributed to anyone who wants to continue polishing, open source democratizes the building process, […]

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World’s Smallest Laptop Adapter Could Increase Energy Efficiency

Danny Harper — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 07:33:39 +0000

The move to digital has been a win for the environment in many ways, but even with all the benefits that come with a reduction in many forms of traditional waste, electricity output per individual actually increasing. This makes the need for greater energy efficiency one of our most pressing concerns. The great minds at MIT are on […]

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Google Buys Nest Thermostat Company for Just Over $3 Billion

Mila Luleva — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 13:13:55 +0000

Google bought Nest, for $3.2 billion, an investment, which many are still not quite sure whether it is a smart one or not. But the tech giant hardly ever makes mistakes, and surely they have a very good reason for massively overbidding in order to claim property over the makers of the smart thermostat and […]

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New Power Generating Backpack Brings Together Energy and Exercise

Danny Harper — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:09:40 +0000

Want to stay healthy and active while creating usable energy? You may be able to have your cake and eat it too with new “wearable generator” technology. By bringing two differently charged surfaces into contact, and then separating them, Zhong Lin Wang and colleagues at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created what is called […]

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Apple Mac Pro’s New Energy-Efficient Tech Cuts Down on Greenhouse Emissions

Mila Luleva — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 20:27:36 +0000

Apple has done it. The new Mac Pro Desktop, although it will not come in green, will be the greenest product the company has [ever] made. The materials used to make the latest model are on average 80% less than these used in its ancestor, which saves huge amounts of energy, not only while being […]

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Belkin’s New Energy-Efficient Smart LED Light Bulbs Controlled From Your Smartphone

Mila Luleva — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 20:42:23 +0000

The guys from Belkin never fail to surprise us with their super cool new inventions in LED technology. The WeMo line turned quite a number of heads with the numerous products that not only guarantee energy efficiency, but are also super easy to connect and regulate. And now, the family of WeMo has a brand […]

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Kickstarter-backed SmartCharge LED Bulb may be worth the investment

Danny Harper — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 15:43:39 +0000

The crowd-funding site, Kickstarter, is revolutionizing the way the common man can invest in new and emerging technology. One such highlight that is currently in its funding phase is the SmartCharge LED Bulb. Promoted as the first of its kind, the SmartCharge is an intelligent LED light bulb that works in a similar manner as […]

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How to Make a Water Powered Flashlight in 5 Steps

Mila Luleva — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 19:34:28 +0000

A water powered flashlight can save you from virtually any situation where you need light but lack battery power. Every once in a while you may find yourself in a situation where light is limited, the battery of the flashlight is running out, and you think there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. […]

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Energy Scavenged from Wireless Signals More Efficiently Due to New “Special Materials”

Danny Harper — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 07:52:40 +0000

Think of it as an energy-producing Bug Zapper. But rather than enticing and systematically destroying curious insects, this harvesting device gathers unused wave energy (ala microwave, Wi-Fi, satellite signals) and tunes them for useful applications. While gathering energy in such a manner has been done before, researchers at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering have […]

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Have Your Cake and Charge It Too: A Pedal-Powered Laptop Desk

Danny Harper — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 14:01:38 +0000

Even with all the benefits of modern, everyday technology, it is certainly not making us any healthier. In fact, your heart really hates your laptop, and the sedentary lifestyle that commonly comes with it. But a new product attempts to find a middle ground between office work and that active lifestyle which almost everyone wants, […]

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Google’s Motorola Subdivision Develops an Open Hardware Platform for Modular Smartphones

Leigh Hutchens — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 02:21:54 +0000

On Monday, Motorola unveiled Project Ara, a hardware platform that will let consumers build their own smartphones by snapping modular parts into a frame. Owned by Google, Motorola is taking its parent company’s lead in innovative thinking and design. Motorola’s Project Ara aims to develop a “free, open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones.” […]

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Could Development of Efficient DC Power Grids be Spurred by New USB PD Standard?

Benji Jerew — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 21:06:13 +0000

It may not seem that the ubiquitous USB cable has anything to do with the power grid. It’s all a matter of current. The problem is that the universal standard power grid is alternating current [AC], while USB [universal serial bus] cables carry only direct current [DC], in addition to data, for powering devices. In […]

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Li-Fi Technology Could Provide Fast, Cheap and Energy-Efficient Internet Via LED Bulbs

Mila Luleva — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 18:22:50 +0000

Reading about new energy efficient technologies that can transform the world to a cleaner and greener place, with a lot less emissions and minimal air pollution, can never be tiresome and uninteresting. Probably this is one of the main reasons why scientists continue exploring and developing techniques and gadgets that can rely less on fossil […]

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NLiteN 2D-Lux LED Bulb Puts Conventional Bulbs to Shame

Benji Jerew — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 19:57:28 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about a new LED bulb that, thanks to unique manufacturing, is one of the cheapest and most-efficient light bulbs that exist. Even better, the dimmable and programmable, smart version, the NLiteN 2D-Lux is available for a few days at just $10. What started out as simple replacement bulb, […]

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NLiteN 2D-Lite Will be Cheapest LED Bulb at $3, Cheaper than CFLs

Benji Jerew — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 16:24:02 +0000

Thanks to its simplistic design, the NLiteN 2D-Lite could be the cheapest LED bulb replacement on the market, even cheaper than CFLs! LED bulbs are exceptionally efficient at lighting our homes. For example, the standard 100W incandescent bulb draws, well, 100W. Using the brightness, around 1,600 lumens, of the 100W incandescent as a standard, we […]

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Thin Nanocrystal Coating Makes Smart Windows Super Energy Efficient

Mila Luleva — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 17:03:06 +0000

The Universal Smart Window Project, heavily funded by the Department of Energy, has yet again amazed everyone with a striking innovation produced as a result of the hard work of researchers from Lawrence Barkley National Laboratory. The team developed a new window coating material made of nanocrystals, which boosts energy efficiency by modifying and controlling […]

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Graphene Closer to Becoming Suitable for High-Efficiency Electronics

Mila Luleva — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:11:46 +0000

Researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are one step closer to turning graphene into the most desired material for producing ultrahigh-efficiency solar cells and electronics. By examining the material at an atomic level, the team was able to establish the reason why the thin sheet of carbon cannot control the electron current. Ever since […]

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“Sol” Solar Powered Laptop Charges in 2h and Runs for 10

Mila Luleva — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 15:04:44 +0000

A solar powered laptop operating for nearly 10 hours after only 2 hours of charging is the latest technology from the Canadian company WeWi. The must-have gadget, called Sol is a Ubuntu-powered laptop equipped with unfolding solar panels and a chip instead of the ARM processor. The revolutionary laptop has all the features that anyone […]

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Scientists Found Means to Boost LED Efficiency

Mila Luleva — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 14:47:01 +0000

Researchers from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute established the reason behind the loss of efficiency of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The so-called “efficiency droop” causes as much as 20% greater electrical currents, preventing major improvements in LED lights for household needs. The study, published in the journal Applied Physical Letters, describes a phenomenon referred to as “electron leakage” […]

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Top 10 Green Gadgets You Need in Case of Emergency

Mila Luleva — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:56:35 +0000

Increasing intensity and number of storm events, sea level rise, flooding… It is incredible how every day there is at least one headline warning us to be prepared for any possible events that might occur as a result of the continuously changing climate and global warming. Currently, technology has advanced to such extent, that it […]

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How Can Modern-Day Technology Change The World?

Mila Luleva — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 12:38:18 +0000

Can modern-day technology change the world? This is the question that David Brin tackles in a remarkable piece published on the Red, Green and Blue website a few months ago. Entitled “Technologies that could change EVERYTHING”, the article provides an alternative prospective to what can be considered a “game-changing” invention. As the author moves from […]

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The U.S. On the Look For Rare Earth Elements to Fuel Cellphones

Mila Luleva — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 18:45:03 +0000

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), together with the Department of Energy, are conducting a nationwide investigation to find deposits of rare earth elements, the key component of every modern cellphone, television, wind turbine, MRI machine, and even regenerative breaks in hybrid cars. Their initial findings indicate that these elements might be deeply buried in […]

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Graphene the Magic Bullet for Extending the Life of Electronics

Leigh Hutchens — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 04:46:47 +0000

According to Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, the working temperature of a processor can be lowered up to 25% just by using one single layer or graphene. Keeping electronics cool is one of the keys to prolonging lifespan. The working life of an electronics system is halved by a working temperature of just 10 […]

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