Proposed New Space Plan and Budget Are an Improvement

Transterrestrial has links and details on the new space plan and budget. Jeff Foust has initial budget numbers * Rand Simberg says and I agree – Whether or not they follow through, this is the most visionary space policy that the nation has ever had. * Simberg on Complainers – These people live in some …

Read more

Mach Effect Propulsion, IEC Fusion for Space and Heim Theory Updates and More at SPESIF Conference

H/T to the Talk Polywell forum for a conference that will present updates on Mach Effect propulsion and other advanced space propulsion research Conference – Space, Propulsion & Energy Sciences International Forum February 23-25, 2010 The agenda is here Abstracts are here Test for the Existence of Mach Effects With a Rotary Device James F. …

Read more

Eric Drexler Talks about Self Assembly at Metamodern and Chris Phoenix does the same at CRNano

Eric Drexler talks about the current state of self assembly and future possibilities in three recent articles. 1. Eric has been exploring some recent developments in chemical synthesis and self-assembly that suggest attractive possibilities for engineering robust self-assembling molecular systems. Boronate esters are involved in two ways. 2. Self-assembling nanostructures: Building the building blocks Eric …

Read more

Energy-harvesting rubber sheets could power pacemakers, mobile phones

Power-generating rubber films developed by Princeton University engineers could harness natural body movements such as breathing and walking to power pacemakers, mobile phones and other electronic devices. The material, composed of ceramic nanoribbons embedded onto silicone rubber sheets, generates electricity when flexed and is highly efficient at converting mechanical energy to electrical energy. Shoes made …

Read more

Building body parts using nanocellulose

Researchers from Chalmers University will build up body parts using nanocellulose and the body’s own cells Professor Paul Gatenholm at Chalmers is leading and co-ordinating this European research programme, which will construct an outer ear using nanocellulose and a mixture of the patient’s own cartilage cells and stem cells. The researchers will build up a …

Read more