Nov 3, 2015
Unbreakable glass that’s as strong as steel created
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in category: materials
University of Tokyo develops unbreakable glass that could revolutionise construction, manufacturing and dinner parties.
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Nov 3, 2015
Russian scientists successfully implant the first 3D-printed thyroid gland
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: 3D printing, biotech/medical
A thyroid gland printed last March by 3D Printing Solutions is now proven to be fully functional, and experts say the results will revolutionize medicine.
Nov 3, 2015
Researchers create lithium-air battery that could be 10x more powerful than lithium-ion
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: chemistry, electronics, mobile phones, solar power, sustainability, transportation
A new lithium-air battery created by researchers at the University of Cambridge points the way to the ultimate battery packs of the future, its makers say. With a very high energy density, more than 90 percent efficiency and the capability for more than 2,000 recharge cycles, the new test battery could prove an important stepping stone in the development of this essential technology.
If you’re getting tired of announcements about breakthroughs in battery technology, that’s understandable: as they’re so essential to modern life, many teams of scientists are busy working on the problem around the clock, but it’s an incredibly complex area of chemistry. Any new battery has to improve on what we already have, be safe to use in consumer gadgets, and be commercially viable enough to be affordable for manufacturers.
Those are difficult targets to hit, and that’s why many ‘miracle’ batteries have since fallen by the wayside – once the initial lab work is done, proving concepts and scaling up production is very difficult to get right. The potential rewards are huge though, not just for smartphones but for electric cars and solar power, where batteries are essential for storing energy to use when the sun isn’t shining.
Nov 3, 2015
The UK has just invested in a super plane that could fly anywhere in four hours
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: finance, transportation
It almost sounds like a dream: a new kind of hypersonic space-kissing jet that can take you anywhere in the world in just four hours. But the Skylon super plane being developed by UK aerospace firm Reaction Engines is very real.
The project took a big step forward this week with Reaction Engines announcing a new partnership with defence and aerospace giant BAE Systems, whose financial backing, along with a considerable investment from the UK government, will help Reaction develop its new class of aerospace engine dubbed SABRE (Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine) by as early as 2020, with test flights possible just five years later.
It’s thanks to the SABRE engine that the Skylon could theoretically take you to the other side of the planet for lunch, before dropping you safely back home in time for dinner.
Nov 3, 2015
New Star Trek Series To Premiere In 2017
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: entertainment, space
This is the best news you will read all day: Star Trek is coming back. The franchise will get a brand new series in January 2017, one year after it turns 50.
CBS made an announcement today, stating that Alex Kurtzman, who co-wrote the two latest Star Trek films will be the executive producer for the new series, which will be streamed over CBS’ on-demand online service, CBS All Access. You can watch the premiere on TV, but after that you’ll have to subscribe to the $5.99/month service in order to see more episodes. It’s a clever ploy to bring in subscribers, because, really, who doesn’t want to see the next Star Trek series?
A Star Trek television show hasn’t graced the airwaves since Enterprise ended its four season run in 2005. This news is likely utterly thrilling to fans of the series that have contented themselves with movies and binge-watching episodes from the original Star Trek series, The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, and Voyager.
Nov 3, 2015
Professionals, your time is up, prepare to be sidelined
Posted by Julius Garcia in categories: biotech/medical, law, robotics/AI
A new book, The Future of the Professions, argues that machines will soon do the work of lawyers, doctors, and others. Should babies be delivered by robots?
Nov 3, 2015
World’s Largest Nuclear Fusion Reactor
Posted by Josef Koch in categories: nuclear energy, supercomputing
This is the world’s largest nuclear fusion reactor launching this month in Germany. And it was designed by a supercomputer…
Nov 3, 2015
Skype founders invent self-driving robot that can deliver groceries for £1
Posted by Lily Graca in categories: business, internet, robotics/AI, transportation
The local delivery market is worth approximately £150bn in the UK alone. This includes parcel and delivery companies (20 pc) and personal shopping trips by people (80 pc). Starship said that robot deliveries are potentially five to fifteen times cheaper than current “human-powered” delivery services.
“It does not take the whole delivery chain from an Amazon warehouse to your doorstep, it only takes the last few miles. But right now the last few miles are the most difficult part for the delivery vans. They need to find parking spaces and so forth, so our robot is taking care of that,” said Mr Heinla.
“For the large e-commerce companies it helps to reduce the costs. For the local businesses it opens up new possibilities, allowing people to order deliveries over the internet rather than coming to the store physically.”
Nov 2, 2015
The Active Sun: US Unveils Plan to Deal with Space Weather
Posted by Sean Brazell in categories: energy, space
The U.S. government is getting more serious about dealing with the dangers posed by powerful sun storms.
On Thursday (Oct. 29), the White House released two documents that together lay out the nation’s official plan for mitigating the negative impacts of solar flares and other types of “space weather,” which have the potential to wreak havoc on power grids and other key infrastructure here on Earth.
The new “National Space Weather Strategy” outlines the basic framework the federal government will pursue to better understand, predict and recover from space-weather events, while the “National Space Weather Action Plan” details specific activities intended to help achieve this broad goal. [The Sun’s Wrath: Worst Solar Storms in History].
