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Once a seafarers' scourge, the gribble could be biofuel hero

Once a seafarers' scourge, the gribble could be biofuel hero

Tiny marine isopods called gribbles were for centuries the bane of sailors, whose vessels were quickly devoured. Even today, piers and docks are rapidly gnawed away, and researchers have now been attracted to the enzymes in their gut, which can convert wood into sugars without the help of microbes.

A clean energy America…is it coming or not?

A clean energy America…is it coming or not?

Almost a year ago, the buzz during the downturn was that the economic stimulus will help boost jobs in a sort of national improvement program reminiscent of the 1930s. Our coal would be phased out. Our grids would get smart. Our cars would get hybridized.

Future of hydrogen may flow through NIST test facility

Future of hydrogen may flow through NIST test facility

To pave the way for a hydrogen fuel infrastructure, researchers at NIST Boulder Labs recently launched the largest hydrogen test facility in the U.S. for evaluating how component parts of such as system—such as this pictured piece of equipment—will react to exposure to this potentially corrosive gas.

Orange peels may lead to cleaner ethanol fuel

Scientists may have just made the breakthrough of a lifetime, turning discarded fruit peels and other throwaways into cheap, clean fuel to power the world's vehicles. Univ. of Central Florida professor Henry Daniell has developed a way to produce ethanol from waste products such as orange peels and newspapers.  

Fiber nanogenerators could lead to electric clothing

Fiber nanogenerators could lead to electric clothing

In research that gives literal meaning to the term "power suit," Univ. of California, Berkeley, engineers have created energy-scavenging nanofibers that could one day be woven into clothing and textiles.

Rethinking renewable energy strategies

Researchers at Queen’s Univ. suggest that policy makers examine greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions implications for energy infrastructure as fossil fuel sources must be rapidly replaced by windmills, solar panels and other sources of renewable energy.

Partnership to launch bright, liquid-free future for solar energy

Partnership to launch bright, liquid-free future for solar energy

P2i, a leading maker of liquid repellent nano-coating technology, has teamed up with U.S.-based to commercialize a new plasma process that dramatically reduces the surface energy of a material so that when liquids come into contact with it, they form beads and simply roll off.

Mini-gushers: Idaho Lab and BioFuelBox turn waste grease to fuel

Mini-gushers: Idaho Lab and BioFuelBox turn waste grease to fuel

Diesel fuel is the backbone of the U.S. economy, and most of it is imported and derived from petrochemicals. Biodiesel is a significant alternative, but refining it from food stocks is an ethical and economic hazard, and waste grease is rarely clean or convenient. But now, startup BioFuelBox is using an Idaho Lab catalytic process that may crack the bottleneck on this type of fuel.

Applied electric field can improve hydrogen storage properties

Applied electric field can improve hydrogen storage properties

An international team of researchers has identified a new theoretical approach that may one day make the synthesis of hydrogen fuel storage materials less complicated and improve the thermodynamics and reversibility of the system.

White roofs may successfully cool cities

White roofs may successfully cool cities

Painting the roofs of buildings white has the potential to significantly cool cities and mitigate some impacts of global warming, a new study indicates. The new NCAR-led research suggests there may be merit to an idea advanced by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu that white roofs can be an important tool to help society adjust to climate change.

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Lunar tires, space MRSA, and resonating microfluidics

Lunar tires, space MRSA, and resonating microfluidics

I typically attend the annual Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy each year in pursuit of specific coverage. This year, I sought out candidates for coverage in a vacuum technology article, and pulled together some instruments for a spectroscopy guide. But as busy as that kept me, it wasn’t all mass spectrometers and vacuum pumps on the show floor.  

A clean energy America…is it coming or not?

A clean energy America…is it coming or not?

Almost a year ago, the buzz during the downturn was that the economic stimulus will help boost jobs in a sort of national improvement program reminiscent of the 1930s. Our coal would be phased out. Our grids would get smart. Our cars would get hybridized.

Multimedia

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NuGard Coating Ashburn Hill

NuGard Coating Ashburn Hill

NuGard First Response Protective Clothing are lightweight coveralls, jackets, and pants that provide protection from heat and flame while keeping the wearers body temperature constant.

Multi-Touch Music Maker

Multi-Touch Music Maker

Professor David Wessel shows his multi-touch interface that uses computer technologies that allow him to experiment with fine controls to "caress" the instrument.

New To Market

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Submersible FlowCAM catches particle images and data in-situ and real-time
Submersible FlowCAM catches particle images and data in-situ and real-time

Fluid Imaging Technologies recently introduced its Submersible FlowCAM particle and cell imaging and analysis system at Ocean Sciences 2010 in Portland, Ore. The remote sensing platform can be used for continuous, unattended monitoring tethered to research vessels or autonomous submersibles.

Daytime running light has just two LEDs

The new OSTAR Compact LED from OSRAM has been developed specifically for use in vehicle headlights. Despite drawing just 5 W, the device provides 300 lumens of power and meets ECE/SAE color binning requirements for use on motor vehicles.

Tools & Technology

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TIRF microscopy objectives
TIRF microscopy objectives

Olympus continues to support scientists in their quest for knowledge about living cells with three new high-performance TIRF objectives.

Process pressure calibrator

The P100 gauge & Hand Held Pumps is an instrument that offers pressure calibration in an easy to use design with ranges up to 1000 bar.

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