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Apr 7, 2018
NASA Simulates Their Orion Abort System. Now That Would be a Crazy Ride
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: space
Apr 7, 2018
Blue Sky Science: Are there wormholes that lead to other galaxies?
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: cosmology, particle physics, quantum physics, science
In principle, a wormhole-like scenario is possible, but a wormhole tends to close before objects or other matter could pass through it. As far as we know, it’s unlikely we could construct a wormhole that stays open long enough for us to get to a distant part of the universe.
That’s really the issue: Can you keep a wormhole open?
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Apr 7, 2018
5 Big Disruptive Trends to Watch in the Coming Decade
Posted by Bill Kemp in category: futurism
Apr 7, 2018
Sodium-ion battery packs a punch
Posted by Bill Kemp in categories: chemistry, solar power, sustainability
A new sodium-ion battery chemistry that shows superior performance to existing state-of-the-art sodium-based batteries could be the catalyst to enabling mass-production of the emerging technology for large-scale energy storage, such as in applications including storing solar power for industrial sites.
Despite sodium’s appeal as a low-cost, abundant and environmentally friendly building block for energy storage, it is a relatively new entrant in the field of battery technology research and development.
A key issue for sodium-ion batteries is that many of the active materials used in their chemistry are sensitive to air—exposure to even a few molecules of air can degrade the material and reduce battery performance.
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Apr 7, 2018
Researchers developing renewable energy approach for producing ammonia
Posted by Bill Kemp in categories: energy, food, sustainability
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are developing a renewable energy approach for synthesizing ammonia, an essential component of fertilizers that support the world’s food production needs. The Haber-Bosch process developed in the early 1900s for producing ammonia relies on non-renewable fossil fuels and has limited applications for only large, centralized chemical plants.
The new process, published in Nature Catalysis, utilizes a plasma—an ionized gas—in combination with non-noble metal catalysts to generate ammonia at much milder conditions than is possible with Haber-Bosch. The energy in the plasma excites nitrogen molecules, one of the two components that go into making ammonia, allowing them to react more readily on the catalysts. Because the energy for the reaction comes from the plasma rather than high heat and intense pressure, the process can be carried out at small scale. This makes the new process well-suited for use with intermittent renewable energy sources and for distributed ammonia production.
“Plasmas have been considered by many as a way to make ammonia that is not dependent on fossil fuels and had the potential to be applied in a less centralized way,” said William Schneider, H. Clifford and Evelyn A. Brosey Professor of Engineering, affiliated member of ND Energy and co-author of the study. “The real challenge has been to find the right combination of plasma and catalyst. By combining molecular models with results in the laboratory, we were able to focus in on combinations that had never been considered before.”
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Apr 7, 2018
How merit-based insurance can change clinics
Posted by Edward Futurem in categories: health, innovation
Welcome to Oxford longevity related conference, free of charge.
Munjal Shah, CEO & Co-founder of Health IQ, discusses lowering premiums for better behavior.
Innovation series by Steven Loeb March 23, 2018 Short URL: http://vator.tv/n/4b46
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Apr 7, 2018
Researchers develop device that can ‘hear’ your internal voice
Posted by Carse Peel in category: futurism
New headset can listen to internal vocalisation and speak to the wearer while appearing silent to the outside world.
Continue reading “Researchers develop device that can ‘hear’ your internal voice” »
Apr 7, 2018
The Making of ‘Pillars of Creation,’ One of the Most Amazing Images of Our Universe
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: space
Pretty Scientific is a new Gizmodo series where we explore how the best images in science were created and why.
Three pillars of gas and dust sit among stars like towers of billowing smoke. It would take several years for light to cross from the top to the bottom of these dusty columns. This striking image from the Hubble Space Telescope remains, to this day, one of the most well-known astronomical images ever taken.
Apr 7, 2018
How AI and Machine Learning Are Redefining Cybersecurity
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: business, cybercrime/malcode, mobile phones, nuclear energy, robotics/AI, transportation
We are now a connected global community where many digital natives cannot remember a time before the iPhone. The rise of smart homes means that we are increasingly attaching our lighting, door locks, cameras, thermostats, and even toasters to our home networks. Managing our home automation through mobile apps or our voice illustrates how far we have evolved over the last few years.
However, in our quest for the cool and convenient, many have not stopped to consider their cybersecurity responsibilities. The device with the weakest security could allow hackers to exploit vulnerabilities on our network and access our home. But this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Businesses and even governments are starting to face up to the vulnerabilities of everything being online. Sophisticated and disruptive cyberattacks are continuing to increase in complexity and scale across multiple industries. Areas of our critical infrastructure such as energy, nuclear, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing have vulnerabilities that make them a target for cybercriminals and even a state-sponsored attack.
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