The shiny silver material of the five-layer sunshield that will fly aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is a complex and innovative feat of material science and engineering. Each layer is made from a unique composite material, each has a specific thickness and size, and they must be precisely separated in space. There are even …
China is in the process of ending the monopoly of state-owned power distributors, by allowing end-users to negotiate directly with generators: “direct trading will bring end-users benefits as low coal prices and power over-supply push down rates. Instead of fixed flat-rate pricing from the government, China will ‘re-commodify’ electricity, by allowing generators to sell via …
LiquidPiston built a functioning engine and has demonstrated it powering a Go-kart. Shkolnik says the engine could see its first practical application, in a drone, within a few years. The liquid piston engine weighed 4 pounds and replaced a 40 pound engine. Ultimately, the LiquiPiston engine will power exoskeletons, robots, drones, boats, electric cars, and …
Leiden theoretical physicists have proven that not only the genetic information in DNA determines who we are, but also DNA’s mechanics. Helmut Schiessel and his group simulated many DNA sequences and found a correlation between mechanical cues and the way DNA is folded. Watson and Crick When James Watson and Francis Crick identified the structure …
Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said Intel would be focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud and 5G as part of the company’s new “virtuous cycle of growth”. One of the key engineers of Krzanich’s plan is former Qualcomm executive Venkata “Murthy” Renduchintala, who joined Intel in November last year and has since been named …
The AP1000 is a nuclear power plant designed and sold by Westinghouse Electric Company, now majority owned by Toshiba. The plant is a pressurized water reactor with improved use of passive nuclear safety. The final module – the containment water tank – has been installed at the second AP1000 unit under construction at Sanmen in …
Many hollywood stars turn to injectable HGH (human growth hormone) and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) amid the ever-competitive world of looking great at any age. With its fountain-of-youth promise, HGH quietly has become the substance of choice for Tinseltown denizens looking to quickly burn fat, boost energy and even improve complexion. The drug costs up …
The US Air Force has denied any plans to purchase another tranche of Lockheed Martin F-16 or Boeing F-15 combat jets following reports it could seek bids for up to 72 new aircraft. According to comments attributed to a senior US Air Combat Command official at an international fighter conference in London last week, the …
Turkish warplanes shot down a Russian jet Tuesday after NATO-member Turkey says the plane violated its airspace on the border with Syria, a major escalation in the Syrian conflict that could further strain relations between Russia and the West. Russian officials confirmed that a Russian Su-24 fighter had been shot down, but insisted it had …
The invention of the world’s first white laser, which could revolutionize communications, lighting and displays, is being recognized as one of the top 100 breakthroughs of the year by Popular Science magazine. Nextbigfuture had covered the white lasers in August Arizona State University electrical engineering professor Cun-Zheng Ning worked on the problem for 10 years …
Starship Technologies, startup with Skype cofounders, is leading the revolution in local delivery. By introducing smart, friendly robots that travel the sidewalks, Starship is aiming to ultimately make the local delivery of goods free. Starship robots are revolutionary devices that can carry parcels or grocery bags (10 kilograms) within a 3 mile (5km) radius. Starship’s …