Lifeboat Foundation

A study showing how electrons flow around sharp bends, such as those found in integrated circuits, has the potential to improve how these circuits, commonly used in electronic and optoelectronic devices, are designed.

It has been known theoretically for about 80 years that when electrons travel around bends, they tend to heat up because their flow lines get squished locally. Until now, however, no one had measured the heat, for which imaging the flow lines is first needed.

The research team, led by Nathaniel M. Gabor at the University of California, Riverside, imaged streamlines of electric current by designing an “electrofoil,” a new type of device that allows for the contortion, compression, and expansion of streamlines of electric currents in the same way airplane wings contort, compress, and expand the flow of air.

The research involved shooting laser beams thinner than the width of human hair on minerals found in an Australian diamond mine.

A collaboration between researchers in the UK, China, and Australia has found the elusive ingredient needed to turn diamonds pink in color, a press release said. This crucial information could help in finding more deposits of the rare precious stone.

It is widely known that the formation of diamonds happens deep inside the Earth. Diamond deposits and mines, however, occur at much shallower depths. This is made possible by the rapid transportation of these carbon structures by deep Earth volcanoes that bring them closer to the surface.

It’s not rocket science, but instead “carbon-neutral” jet-fuel science.

It’s simply a method for pulling carbon pollution and water from the air and using the sun’s energy to turn these into fuel for an airplane.

Continue reading “Revolutionary solar tower can create jet fuel out of thin air — and it may be the key to cleaning up the aviation sector” »

Japanese researchers hope that a made-in-Japan AI chatbot could help to accelerate science.

Best known for automobiles and consumer electronics, Japan has fallen behind on recent technology trends like artificial intelligence. Its scientists believe that as the country’s population shrinks, Japan will have a strong incentive to make great leaps in AI and robotics to maintain productivity.

Although ChatGPT is being used by Japanese municipalities to carry out governmental work, Japanese scientists say that the country needs to come up with its own version of ChatGPT.

Elon Musk’s hard-edged electric reinterpretation of the pickup truck excites his fans, puzzles auto experts and frustrates environmentalists.

Singapore’s first electric cargo vessel is due to start sea trials and launch in the fourth quarter, according to Yinson Green Technologies, part of a consortium chosen by the city-state to help electrify marine craft.

The Hydromover, developed by the Goal Zero consortium, is near completion, YGT Chief Executive Officer Eirik Barclay said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur this week. YGT will also be introducing an electric vessel for transferring crew — developed with Norwegian startup Lift Ocean AS — by the end of the year, Barclay said. That craft is called the Hydroglyder.

“We want to be part of all associated services with clean electric vessels, starting with Singapore,” Barclay said. YGT is a subsidiary of Malaysia-listed Yinson Holdings Bhd. Yinson shares have risen about 3% this year.

Looking to the past has made a more sustainable future possible in the shipping industry, with the latest wind-powered vessel taking to the seas for its first voyage.

The Pyxis Ocean from the Mitsubishi Corporation has been retrofitted with two “WindWings” sails — developed by BAR Technologies and produced by Yara Marine — on the cargo ship’s deck.

Continue reading “This incredible cargo ship can traverse the oceans with its massive, 123-foot sails — and it just took its maiden voyage” »

At a somewhat small and unassuming airport in Maribor, Slovenia, German hydrogen propulsion startup H2FLY has quietly been building up to a major milestone in zero-emission aviation over the summer. And all the hard work has come to fruition, with the successful completion of the world’s first crewed liquid hydrogen-powered flights.

Before any aviation history enthusiast out there goes “but what about the Tupolev Tu-155?” — yes, the Soviets did try out liquid hydrogen as fuel 35 years ago, but only for one of the three engines. In contrast, H2FLY’s HY4 has now operated using only liquid hydrogen (as opposed to the gaseous kind) as fuel, relying solely on the hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain for the entire flight.

THE future has finally caught up as the world’s first flying car has at last been unveiled nearly a year after the concept was announced.

Thanks to California-based Alef Aeronautics, a car that can fly is officially on the ground — and soon to be in the air.

Dubbed the Alef Model A, the technologically advanced concept car was revealed at the North America International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.