Apr 12 2009
Invention Briefs 4-12-09
- New Way To Split Water Into Hydrogen And Oxygen Developed If only we could find a new and efficient way to extract Hydrogen and Water. This is one to root for!
- Viruses could power devices Engineered viruses to work as batteries! The research team used viruses to construct the negative electrode, or anode, of the battery. In the new work, the researchers engineered viruses for the positive electrode, or cathode. When the two are put together, the virus batteries should perform better than traditional lithium ion batteries and also be environmentally friendly.
- New Cold Fusion Evidence Reignites Hot Debate New evidence presented by U.S. Navy researchers of high-energy neutrons in a now-standard cold fusion experimental setup—electrodes connected to a power source, immersed in a solution containing both palladium and “heavy water.†If confirmed, the result would add support to the idea that reactions like the nuclear fire that lights up the sun might somehow be tamed for the tabletop. But even cold fusion’s proponents admit that they have no clear explanation why their nuclear infernos are so weak as to be scarcely noticeable in a beaker. Come on guys lets get this working!
- World’s Most Powerful Laser has the Energy of a Hydrogen Bomb At a cost of $3.5 billion and more than a decade of work, the 192 laser beams are billed as the most powerful in the world. The Energy Department is expected to announce that it has officially certified the National Ignition Facility, which would clear the way for a series of experiments which scientists hope will eventually will mimic the heat and pressure found at the center of the sun.
- ‘Star Wars’ Laser Kills Mosquitoes Physicists have created a laser weapon that targets mosquitoes. It is hoped that by finding an effective weapon against mosquitoes, the incidence of malaria could be reduced. Today, malaria kills about one million people every year around the world.
- New gel is stronger than steel Muscle-flexing robots with superhuman strength could become a reality thanks to a new expanding material that is stronger than steel. Scientists have created a gel that acts like muscle when charged with electricity but is far more powerful. The “aerogel” is almost as light as air, as stretchy as rubber, and stiffer than steel by weight.
