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New controllable infrared coating for windows developed

By Damir Beciri
10 September 2011

berkeley-lab-milleron-groupResearchers from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have unveiled a semiconductor nanocrystal coating material capable to control the amount of solar heat while remaining transparent. The technology is the first to selectively control the amount of near infrared radiation and it is based on electrochromic materials (which use… »

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IBM and 3M developing new types of adhesives to create 3D semiconductors

By Damir Beciri
10 September 2011

ibm-stacked-chipsIBM partnered with 3M in order to develop adhesives that can be used to package semiconductors into 3D semiconductors. In order to develop these densely stacked silicon “towers”, IBM will draw on their expertise in creating unique semiconductor packaging processes, and 3M will provide their expertise in developing and manufacturing adhesive materials. The joint research… »

Bionics| Tech»

Polymer extracted from seaweed may improve battery performance

By Damir Beciri
8 September 2011

brown-algae-kelpCollaboration between researchers at the Clemson University and the Georgia Institute of Technology resulted with a promising new binder material for lithium-ion battery electrodes. Known as alginate, the material is extracted from common, fast-growing brown algae, and it could boost energy storage, while eliminating the use of toxic compounds now used to manufacture the components…. »

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Full-duplex technology enables double wireless capacity without new towers

By Damir Beciri
6 September 2011

rice-university-full-duplex-technologyRice University engineering researchers have made a breakthrough that could allow wireless phone companies to double throughput on their networks without adding a single cell tower. Instead using two frequencies to send and receive data, Rice’s new “full-duplex” technology allows wireless devices like cell phones and electronic tablets perform this communication with cell towers while… »

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Simple templating technology allows stamping of biomimetic gecko toes

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments6 September 2011

geckoThe adhesive surface of gecko’s toes has inspired many research groups to try to mimic this ability in an artificial material. Researchers at the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering and co-workers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore claim that they came up with the closest biomimicry yet, and that their synthetic gecko toe… »

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Researchers developing a tougher and lighter wind turbine blade

By Damir Beciri
One Comment3 September 2011

wind turbineA Case Western Reserve University researcher has built a prototype blade that is substantially lighter and more durable compared to materials currently used in blades of wind turbines. He came up with a polyurethane blade reinforced with carbon nanotubes, which make the material eight times tougher compared to other materials which are currently used as… »

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Nature inspires lighter and tougher plastic components

By Damir Beciri
One Comment1 September 2011

fraunhofer-bionic-inspired-polyamide-printingCertain biological materials exhibit exceptional strength due to their complex structure which has been perfected through time. Inspired by the perfected structures found in nature, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute are collaborating on a project named Bionic Manufacturing. It aims to develop plastic products that are lightweight and strong, while being economic in their use… »

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Novel nuclear power plants developed for future extraterrestrial bases

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments30 August 2011

lunar-nuclear-powerplant-1Researchers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are cooperating in order to develop a technology that could be used as the first nuclear power plant for production of electricity on potential future extraterrestrial bases. Although far different from the familiar terrestrial nuclear power stations, they are… »