israel

Are there localized and transient bursts of nuclear reactions at Fukushima ? Unlikely but would not make things materially worse anyway

by

Ferenc Dalnoki-Veress, a physicist at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California, notes two unusual measurements that could indicate chain reactions in the reactors since their initial shutdown. Others doubt that this is the correct interpretation – and add that such bursts would not significantly worsen the radiation problem even if they …

Read more

Pinnacle Engines opposed-piston engine could have 30-50% more efficiency by 2013

by

Pinnacle engines is anther venture funded company with an opposed-piston engine that they claim will achieve 30-50% greater efficiency over existing engines Pinnacle Engines today unveiled plans to commercialize a breakthrough ultra-efficient engine by 2013. The new engine design enables significant reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions without increasing vehicle cost. Pinnacle also …

Read more

Fukushima AC cables connected to reactor buildings 1 and 2 – power systems may turn on tomorrow after safety checks

by

Brave New Climate has an update and analysis of the Fukushima situation Kyodo News report on earthquake and tsunami relief efforts (including the nuclear situation at the end as other relief efforts are more important)- TEPCO has now connected AC cables to the unit 1 and 2 reactor buildings, with hopes that powered systems can …

Read more

Grid issues causing a reduction of wind in Chinas Energy Plans

by

According to a report by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC), unused wind-generated electricity amounted to 2.8 billion kilowatt-hours in the first six months of 2010 due to insufficient transmission capabilities and grid connection. China needs extensive upgrades to its power grid to take advantage of the wind farms. Its wind-power resources are concentrated primarily …

Read more

Smallest Magnetic Field Sensor in the World by combining spin electronics and molecular electronics

by

Scanning tunneling microscopy (50 x 50 nm2) of organic molecules. Coloring indicates variable spin orientation. (Source: CFN) Researchers have now succeeded in combining the concepts of spin electronics and molecular electronics in a single component consisting of a single molecule. Components based on this principle have a special potential, as they allow for the production …

Read more

Day two results of Jeopardy between Watson and Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter

by

The results are in for the second day of the Jeopardy contest between Watson and Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Previously we compiled opinions from Ray Kurzweil, Stephen Wolfram, Hans Moravec on others on the importance of the competition and what will follow. Spoiler space Spoiler space Watson won day two. In today’s conclusion of …

Read more

First Atomtronic sensor from a bose-einstein condensate shaped as a doughnut

by

This doughnut of ultracold gas spins without friction, creating a current of atoms that could be used to develop the first “atomtronic” sensors. Physicists have developed a new type of circuit that is little more than a puff of gas dancing in laser beams. By choreographing the atoms of this ultracold gas to flow as …

Read more

A cheap engine using sound waves possibly commercial in 2012

by

Etalim, based in Vancouver, Canada, says its engine, roughly the size of a basketball, could improve the economics of electricity production for the cogeneration of power and heat in homes, and as a way to harness the heat produced at concentrating solar collectors. The company has ambitious goals. A first prototype, completed last year, demonstrated …

Read more

Yes there is still fighting in Egypt but Mubarak has won – chain of command unbroken

by

There is still fighting in Egypt A Foreign policy analysis explains why Mubarak is going to win by Robert Springborg is a professor of national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School While much of American media has termed the events unfolding in Egypt today as “clashes between pro-government and opposition groups,” this is not …

Read more

Configurations to scale Solar electric sails hundreds of times more power without using propellant

by

Solar electric sails could have their first prototype launched in 2012 The electric sail is a new space propulsion concept which uses the solar wind momentum for producing thrust. A full-scale electric sail consists of a number (50-100) of long (e.g., 20 km), thin (e.g., 25 microns) conducting tethers (wires). The spacecraft contains a solar-powered …

Read more