Quantum Dot solar cells could increase conversion efficiency over 25%

New quantum dot solar cells could increase the maximum efficiency of solar panels by over 25%, according to scientists from the University of Cambridge. The Cambridge team, led by Professor Neil Greenham and Professor Sir Richard Friend, has developed a hybrid cell which absorbs red light and harnesses the extra energy of blue light to …

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Nano-channels for molecule delivery – and atomically precise 3D construction?

Center for Responsible Nanotechnology – Nano-channels for molecule delivery – and construction? Chris Phoenix suggests extending recent research into a larger molecularly precise construction system. Molecules can be delivered through a tiny channel templated by one strand of DNA. Ohio State university uses electricity to “shoot” bits of therapeutic biomolecules through a tiny channel and …

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Mongolia may have 150 billion tons of coal and one million tons of uranium and China gold

1. Mongolia has inferred coal reserves of 150 billion tons. Preliminary and detailed exploration indicate 23 billion tons of coal reserves in Mongolia. The proven reserves are 12.2 billion tons of coal. 2. Mongolia says it holds nearly one million tons of uranium reserves. The 2009 Red Book world uranium report lists Mongolia with 49,000 …

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China Social Security System and its Social Security Fund

The social security system in China is based upon guidelines issued by the central government, although the specifics and administration of the system is managed at the local level. All over urban China social insurance is broken down into five distinct categories. These are: 1. Pension 2. Medical insurance 3. Unemployment insurance 4. Maternity insurance …

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Carbon Nanotube composite enables easy detection of damage for airplanes

Infrared themographic image of a nanoengineered composite heated via electrical probes (clips can be seen at bottom of image). The scalebar of colors is degrees Celsius. The MIT logo has been machined into the composite, and the hot and cool spots around the logo are caused by the thermal-electrical interactions of the resistive heating and …

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DARPA using holographic goggles as an interface for directing UAV attacks

Vuzix is an eyewear company, specializing in augmented reality specs. Wired – DARPA is using holographic goggles to direct UAV attacks in its Persistant Close Air Support project Right now, authorizing and targeting air strikes is a process that’s sometimes bureaucratic, and sometimes dangerous as hell. Bureaucratic as in the Stanley McChrystal phase of the …

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George Monbiot published his correspondence with Helen Coldicott

George Monbiot published his correspondence with Helen Coldicott where he asked for information supporting her claims made in a debate that they had on Democracy Now. Interrogation of Helen Caldicotts responses. This is supporting material for George’s article Evidence Meltdown If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or StumbleUpon. …

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Ford plans to have 10-15 percent electric cars by 2015

Ford expects to have five different electric cars on the market by 2012. In the longer term, he said, Ford plans for its fleet to be 10-15 percent electric — including hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles — by 2015, compared to one percent today. He added that Ford’s EcoBoost technology in conventional gasoline-driven cars …

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Graphene and other Ultracapacitors

Researchers at Nanotek Instruments in Dayton, Ohio, have now made graphene electrodes that could lead to ultracapacitors with more than five times the energy density of commercial devices. By using graphene–atom-thick sheets of carbon–Nanotek increases the surface area of the electrodes in the ultracapacitors, boosting the amount of charge that they can store. The company’s …

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Sprint will modernize its network to integrate wimax and CDMA and phase out Nextel

Sprint has separate equipment for its 800 megahertz and 1.9 gigahertz bands, and for the 2.5 gigahertz band it uses through its relationship with Clearwire Corp. for fourth-generation service. The upgrades will allow the carrier to use all three technologies and others on a single band. The improvements open the possibility for Sprint to incorporate …

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