Lifeboat Foundation

An algae-powered computer: Researchers from the University of Cambridge and British tech company Arm have now demonstrated a different source of power for IoT devices: algae.

For their study, published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science, the team built a container about the size of a AA battery out of aluminum and clear plastic. They then filled it with water and algae that use photosynthesis to harvest energy from sunlight.

That process produces a small electric current. An electrode in the device uses that current to power a tiny computer processor commonly used in IoT devices.

Steam turbines could be replaced by pressurized carbon dioxide (CO₂) closed-loop systems to spin turbines.

Steam turbines in thermal power generation are today’s standard. But pressurized carbon dioxide (CO₂) in a closed-loop system could do the job. Supercritical CO₂ acting as both a liquid and a gas under extreme pressure would provide the impetus to spin a turbine. Using supercritical CO₂ may prove to be far more efficient than steam to provide emissions-free power to the electrical grid. Energy input coming from renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, as well as nuclear power, or even gas or coal-fired thermal energy power plants with accompanying carbon capture technology could be combined with this technology to be an effective addition to energy utilities.

Recently researchers at the Sandia National Laboratory Kirtland Air Force Base in the United States demonstrated a closed-loop Brayton Cycle engine technology as it delivered power to the electrical grid continuously. Sandia has been working with the Brayton Cycle technology for power generation for some time now because it is seen as having significant energy conversion advantages over conventional steam turbines by as much as 50%.

Biomedical researchers working with lambs got promising results from an experiment designed to prevent the health problems associated with premature births.

»»» Subscribe to The National to watch more videos here:

Continue reading “Artificial womb possibility” »

Visit our sponsor, Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/IsaacArthur/
Over the centuries humanity has tried many versions of government and many variations on each type, today we will examine how technology and space colonization might impact what types of governments we use in the future.

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net.
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur.
SFIA Merchandise available: https://www.signil.com/sfia/

Continue reading “Government Types of the Future” »

A mathematical shortcut for analyzing black hole collisions works even in cases where it shouldn’t. As astronomers use it to search for new classes of hidden black holes, others wonder: Why?

Mark Zuckerberg has announced Meta’s new VR headset that will cost around UDS 1,000.

While speaking to Joe Rogan in his podcast, Zuckerberg announced that the new headsets will be out this October.

Zuckerberg referred to the company’s Project Cambria, a higher-end VR and mixed-reality headset than the current Quest 2 that uses advanced eye-and facial-tracking features to more naturally represent the wearer’s expressions and body language.

Over the next decade teams will digitize DNA of the 1.8 million named species on Earth.

We have arrived at Aldous Huxleys Brave new world.

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have created model embryos from mouse stem cells that form a brain, a beating heart, and the foundations of all the other organs of the body. It represents a new avenue for recreating the first stages of life.

The team of researchers, led by Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, developed the embryo model without eggs or sperm. Instead, they used stem cells – the body’s master cells, which can develop into almost any cell type in the body.

Continue reading “Scientists Grow ‘Synthetic’ Embryo With Brain and Beating Heart — Without Eggs or Sperm” »