Lifeboat Foundation

35 percent efficiency.

The cost of solar power is beginning to reach price parity with cheaper fossil fuel-based electricity in many parts of the world, yet the clean energy source still accounts for slightly more than 1% of the world’s electricity mix.

To boost global solar power generation, researchers must overcome some of the technological limitations that are preventing solar power from scaling up even further, which includes the inability to develop very high-efficiency solar cells – solar cells capable of converting a significant amount of sunlight into usable electrical energy – at very low costs.

Continue reading “New solar cell is more efficient, costs less than its counterparts” »

Click on photo to start video.

This waterproof speaker will upgrade your pool party

Continue reading “This Speaker Will Upgrade Your Pool Party” »

Soon, the machines really might be watching your every move — and, for the first time, independently making sense of what they see.

UC Davis has developed the KiloCore, a CPU that has 1000 cores suited for parallel tasks like encryption, crunching scientific data, and encoding videos.

Processor technology has certainly come far, with a host of different materials and techniques being implemented to increase speed and power. And now, we have a new kind of development. A team of scientists at UC Davis made the world’s first 1000-core processor.

The team has unveiled the KiloCore, a CPU that has 1000 cores and all the speed that come with that kind of power. The chip has a maximum computation rate of 1.78 trillion instructions per second and contains 621 million transistors.

Continue reading “The World’s First 1000-Core Processor Was Just Created” »

Is there another one of you out there in a separate, parallel universe? This video explains the science (and misconceptions) of parallel universes.

It’s called “The Pipe.” And if it works, it could change the calculus of our water problems.

This new computer system is 100 billion times more energy efficient than the most energy efficient conventional green supercomputer. Using only links and rotary joints, this “molecular mechanical computer” removes the need for parts that create friction and generate heat.

The trend for computing, and for technology in general, really consists of just one word: Smaller. Previously, technology that could fit on your desk was the rage. Then it became tech that fit in your bag. Then the palm of your hand. Now, scientists are playing with even smaller technology, down to the molecular size.

Scientists have developed a computer system that can, theoretically, be 100 billion times more energy efficient than the most energy efficient conventional green supercomputer. Using only links and rotary joints, this “molecular mechanical computer” removes the need for gears, clutches, switches, springs, and other parts that create friction and generate heat.

Continue reading “New Molecular Mechanical Computer Design is 100 Billion Times More Energy Efficient” »

An introduction to Google’s AI RankBrain and what it means for you.