Jellyfish Protein Serves as Organic Solar Cell; Could Be Used in Health Implants
Recently, Zackary Chiragwandi at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, and his colleagues have developed a solar cell based on a green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria.
Researchers Find New Way to Make Less Toxic Super-Fast Graphene Transistors
Graphene has a great potential to make electronic devices such as phones, radios and computers smaller and faster. The new graphene-based technology could play a key role in waste reduction and energy conservation.
New Mitochondria Fuel Cells Could Generate Electricity From Sugar or Fats
Mitochondria, also called "the cells' powerhouses", may one day replace batteries as we know them. Scientists from the University of Missouri invented and developed a new fuel cell based on these also called "organelles" (the internal organs of cells). The fuel cell is able to feed on sugars and fats, just like mitochondria in the organisms do.
Researchers Found An Enzyme That Could Get Gasoline From Thin Air
"This organism is a very common soil bacteria that is very well understood and has been studied for a long time. But while we were studying it, we realized that the enzyme has some unusual behavior", said Markus Ribbe, a scientist at the University of California.
Mitsubishi Electric's New PV Cell Module has an Output of 200W
Mitsubishi has developed a new photovoltaic (PV) cell module that has an output of 200W and unlike conventional ones it uses monocrystalline silicon (Si) PV cells. For the moment, the PV cell module is targeted at residents of Japan, but the company plans to start offshore shipments from Oct 20, 2010.
HighDro Power Produces Energy from High Buildings' Falling Waste
The device's working principle is very simple. "HighDro Power works by using the water discharged from appliances such as showers, toilets and sinks in high-rise apartments. The water goes down the pipe and hits four turbine blades that drive one generator."
New Thermally Elastic Metal Alloy Increases the Efficiency of Air Conditioners
A team of researchers at the University of Maryland have recently created a new "thermally elastic" metal alloy that will significantly increase the efficiency of refrigeration systems and air conditioners by up to 175 percent. This way, it is expected that the U.S. carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 250 million metric tons per year.
New Highly Efficient Heat Pumps to Reduce Heating Costs in Cold Regions Discovered
According to a new study, heat pumps are not so efficient in extremely cold climates, only being suited for moderate climates. These provide cooling in summer and heating in winter. Researchers at Purdue University have recently developed a new type of heat pump that allows residents in cold climates to halve their heating bills, due to its high efficiency.
Air-Purifying Concrete Paving Stones Remove Nitrogen Oxides from Vehicle Emissions
Researchers from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands claim to have invented a new type of paving material that actually removes some pollutants from the air as vehicles travel over the surface. Combined with concrete or normal asphalt, the new material is able to eliminate 25% to 45% of nitrogen oxides from vehicle gases.
Berkeley Researchers Advance In Studying How Magnets Can Be Used in Fridges
According to the researchers, in the future, our refrigerators could use magnets to keep the food cold. Besides the fact that one such refrigerator uses less power and runs quieter than a conventional fridge, it wouldn't contain any hydrofluorocarbons (HCF), gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect.
