electric bikes

Energy Harvesting output voltage increased from 7 millivolts to 1 volt will enable better wearable electronics

by

Piezoelectric materials such as ZnO, as well as several others, have the ability to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, and vice versa. “ZnO nanostructures are particularly suitable as nanogenerator functional elements, thanks to their numerous virtues including transparency, lead-free biocompatibility, nanostructural formability, chemical stability, and coupled piezoelectric and semiconductor properties,” noted Yoon. The key …

Read more

Russia will deploy innovative special ammunition for better penetration of fortification and armor

by

Russia’s intendsto modernise much of its military in the coming years. Russia will spend about $600 billion from now to 2020 upgrading tanks, planes, missiles and ships. The commander of Russia’s Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense (RBhBD) troops, Maj. Gen. Eduard Cherkasov, announced a focus on so-called ‘flame weapons’ – incendiary, thermobaric and fuel-air explosive …

Read more

China could be biggest global investor by 2025 and gain geopolitically

by

China is expected to invest $169bn in infrastructure in the UK between 2014 and 2025, according to a report by law firm Pinsent Masons. Most of this money, $70bn, will go into Britain’s energy sector, with property and transport expected to receive $58bn and $31bn respectively. The most likely investment route for Chinese capital is …

Read more

New Multicore Optical Fiber allows for 21 times more bandwidth

by

Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands and the University of Central Florida (CREOL) in the USA, have successfully transmitted at a record high 255 Terabits per second over a new type of fiber allowing 21 times more bandwidth than currently available in communication networks. This new type of fiber could be …

Read more

Scientists have synthesized first artificial yeast chromosome

by

Technology Review reports that scientists have synthesized an entire yeast chromosome, the first artificial chromosome for the kingdom of life that includes humans, plants, and fungi. Yeast with the artificial chromosome appeared to be just as happy as their “natural” counterparts, reports the team. The methods developed to create the designer genomic structure could help …

Read more

Hammers Slammers like Nuclear powered hovertanks would technically be feasible for the late 2020s and 2030s

by

Terrestrial energy is trying to develop integral molten salt nuclear fission reactors. These nuclear reactors would have about 20-200 times less volume than conventional nuclear fission reactors. The US, Europe and China are trying to develop supercritical carbon dioxide turbines that would have 100 times less volume than regular steam turbines. The Hammer’s Slammers Science …

Read more

Diefenbaker of Canada agreed to stop making major weapons in 1959 and wound down Canada’s military from 5% of GDP to about 2% of GDP over 6 years

by

Canada outsourced most of military to the USA starting in about 1957-1964 when defense spending went from about 5% of GDP to about 2.5% of GDP. It was the deal that the US pressured Canada into accepting in 1957-1964. Canada agreed. The US wanted to have the bulk of military spending and responsibility and wanted …

Read more

Russia unveils plan for 21 new nuclear reactors by 2030 and includes two BN-1200 sodium cooled fast reactors

by

The Russian government has approved a plan to build 21 new nuclear power generation units across nine power stations by 2030 as part of a regional and territorial energy planning scheme. via nucnet.org The plan, released in a document published by the government’s official online portal for legal information, includes the construction of five new …

Read more

Lithum Sulfur batteries good for 1500 charges are good enough for electric cars

by

Lithium Sulfur Battery could find use in mobile applications, and eventually, electric vehicles with 300-mile range. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have demonstrated in the laboratory a lithium-sulfur (Li/S) battery that has more than twice the specific energy of lithium-ion batteries, and that lasts for more than …

Read more

Why two European nuclear reactors will be 7 years late and triple the cost of the same Chinese reactors

by

The original contract between TVO and Areva-Siemens signed in 2003 envisioned the 1700 EPR nuclear plant would cost € 3.2 billion, with a completion date of 2009. This would have been about $4.3 billion which is a bit more than the $3.8 billion cost of each of the two EPR reactors in China. The chinese …

Read more

DARPA exosuit and European Exoskeleton strive to reduce injuries from carrying heavy loads

by

DARPA seeks to create a working supersuit prototype that significantly boosts endurance, carrying capacity and overall Soldier effectiveness-all while using no more than 100 watts of power. They want it to be somfortable, durable and washable. The garment would not interfere with body armor or other standard clothing and gear. In fiction like Iron Man, …

Read more