Lifeboat Foundation

Do two promising structural materials corrode at very high temperatures when in contact with “liquid metal fuel breeders” in fusion reactors? Researchers of Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), and Yokohama National University (YNU) now have the answer. This high-temperature compatibility of reactor structural materials with the liquid breeder—a lining around the reactor core that absorbs and traps the high energy neutrons produced in the plasma inside the reactor—is key to the success of a fusion reactor design.

Fusion reactors could be a powerful means of generating clean electricity, and currently, several potential designs are being explored. In a fusion reactor, the fusion of two nuclei releases massive amounts of energy. This energy is trapped as heat in a “breeding blanket” (BB), typically a liquid lithium alloy, surrounding the reactor core. This heat is then used to run a turbine and generate electricity. The BB also has an essential function of fusion fuel breeding, creating a closed fuel cycle for the endless operation of the reactors without fuel depletion.

The operation of a BB at extremely high temperatures over 1,173 K serves the attractive function of producing hydrogen from water, which is a promising technology for realizing a carbon-neutral society. This is possible because the BB heats up to over 1,173 K by absorbing the energy from the fusion reaction. At such temperatures, there is the risk of structural materials in contact with the BB becoming corroded, compromising the safety and stability of the reactors. It is thus necessary to find structural materials that are chemically compatible with the BB material at these temperatures.

In remote desert locations, at least two things are likely to be lacking: an electrical grid, and a source of water for agriculture. An experimental new system addresses both problems, by combining photovoltaic panels with an absorbent hydrogel.

Developed by scientists at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the setup is known as the integrated water-electricity-crop co-production system – or WEC2P, for short.

It incorporates an array of connected photovoltaic panels, each one of which lies directly atop a layer of hydrogel. Both the panel and the gel form the lid of a downward-sloping metal box, which has a spout at the bottom.

Cookies are on the way out—but not enough is being done about browser fingerprinting. So what is it?

By the time our planet was four billion years old, the rise of large plants and animals was just beginning. Complexity exploded around that time, as the combination of multicellularity, sexual reproduction, and other genetic advances brought about the Cambrian explosion. Many evolutionary changes occurred over the next 500 million years, with extinction events and selection pressures paving the way for new forms of life to arise and develop.

65 million years ago, a catastrophic asteroid strike wiped out not only the dinosaurs, but practically every animal weighing over 25 kg (excepting leatherback sea turtles and some crocodiles). This was Earth’s most recent great mass extinction, and it left a large number of niches unfilled in its wake. Mammals rose to prominence in the aftermath, with the first humans arising less than 1 million years ago. Here’s our story.

Both quantum computing and machine learning have been touted as the next big computer revolution for a fair while now.

However, experts have pointed out that these techniques aren’t generalized tools – they will only be the great leap forward in computer power for very specialized algorithms, and even more rarely will they be able to work on the same problem.

Continue reading “What’s Inside a Black Hole? Quantum Computers May Be Able to Simulate It” »

Circa 2021

Israeli startup Redefine Meat has expanded throughout Europe and has debuted its plant-based ‘cuts’ of alternative meat that have been 3D-printed.

3D printed food isn’t limited to basic sustenance. Discover the world of 3D printed cakes, which could well serve to be the future of fancy pastries.

Because of their ease of use, functionality and material compatibility, 3D pens are becoming increasingly popular in the additive manufacturing market. Based on the FDM process, 3D pens are for some an alternative to desktop 3D printers, although the finishes are not as precise. Indeed, they allow users to manufacture all kinds of parts by letting their imagination and creativity run free, at a relatively affordable price. Polaroid has joined the market with its new 3D pen called “Candy Play”, which allows users to create candies from edible filaments.

With an elegant design and ergonomics, the 3D pen adapts to any hand shape according to the manufacturer. For example, the shape of Candy Play and the position of the buttons have been designed in a way to make the handling pleasant and natural. Additionally, its features mean that Candy Play 3D pen can be used by both right and left-handed people. As said before, Polaroid’s 3D pen does not use conventional thermoplastics, but edible filaments. And for those who are concerned about the sugar content of the filaments, it’s not a problem! Polaroid specifies that even if its filaments have different flavors, they are all sugar-free.

Process achieved at industrial scale in 120 litre reactor.

The 120 litre LanzaTech pilot plant that can convert carbon dioxide into acetone and isopropanol.

Continue reading “Reprogrammed bacterium turns carbon dioxide into chemicals on industrial scale” »