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Clean power from waste heat

Siemens has developed a technology to use waste heat, which previously had gone unused, to generate electricity. The solution employs silicone oils, which have a lower enthalpy of vaporization than water, and is needed because waste heat produced in industrial plants or power stations often does not have enough energy to drive a turbine with steam.

Jun 4th, 2014

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Climate engineering can't erase climate change

Tinkering with climate change through climate engineering isn't going to help us get around what we have to do says a new report authored by researchers at six universities. After evaluating a range of possible climate-altering approaches to dissipating greenhouse gases and reducing warming, the interdisciplinary team concluded there's no way around it. We have to reduce the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere.

Jun 3rd, 2014

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Toxic computer waste in the developing world

As the developing world continues to develop, standards of living and access to technology increases. Unfortunately, as personal computers, laptops and mobile phones become increasingly common so the problem of recycling and disposal of such devices when they become technologically obsolete rises too.

Jun 3rd, 2014

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Cyborg plants as environmental biosensors (w/video)

By using the same sort of technology that measures brain and muscle movements in human beings, Dr Vitaletti and his team think we can better understand what is happening in the environment, and in plant-life as a result. He calls this blend of living tissue and digital sensors 'cyborg plants'.

Jun 3rd, 2014

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Energy saving strategies during production processes

New research suggests advantages of the smart analysis in energy consumptions of discontinuous production processes, all in terms of minimizing production costs. This research opens the door to improvements in the sequencing techniques and machine scale work assignment.

Jun 3rd, 2014

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Transforming hydrogen into liquid fuel using atmospheric CO2

Scientists have completed their solution for transforming hydrogen gas into a less flammable liquid fuel that can be safely stored and transported. Another possible application of their technology would be to use atmospheric CO2to synthesize a number of useful chemical products.

Jun 2nd, 2014

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Electromobility as privacy hazard

Consumers who charge an electric vehicle on a regular basis may leave a data trail. With each charging process, the system saves when and where it took place and which customer paid for it - a privacy risk, say researchers.

Jun 2nd, 2014

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The fuel cell for home

It converts chemical energy directly into electrical energy. Still, there hadn't been a market breakthrough for the fuel cell. The systems were too complex. Now, Fraunhofer and Vaillant have developed a simple device for home use.

Jun 2nd, 2014

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Solar modules embedded in glass

Organic solar modules have advantages over silicon solar cells. However, one critical problem is their shorter operating life. Researchers are working on a promising solution: they are using flexible glass as a carrier substrate that better protects the components.

Jun 2nd, 2014

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Torrefaction: the bioenergy newcomer

Torrefaction - the slow roasting of biomass material to improve its energy content - has been touted as part of a solution for the large-scale implementation of bioenergy. Experts, researchers and manufacturers gathered in Brussels earlier this month to discuss progress and prospects for torrefaction at the recent European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) conference.

May 30th, 2014

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