Science, Technology and Innovation to June 2012
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Science journal Nature Materials has reported that a consortium of scientists from the universities of Nottingham and Newcastle have collaborated with members from the Oxfordshire Diamond Light Source and the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Daresbury Laboratory have created a sponge-like material, known as “NOTT-202”. NOTT-202 works by absorbing gasses under high pressure and releasing most of them back out into the atmosphere again once the pressure becomes lowered. The crucial factor is how the ‘sponge’ retains harmful greenhouse gases, such as CO2, reportedly a leading component of climate change. The idea of using a metal organic framework to capture and store gases has been around for several years; however the difficulty comes from selectively targeting just CO2. In past examples which did successfully target CO2, it was found that the storage capacity wasn’t as high as hoped.
Scientists capture carbon dioxide with NOTT-202 - Manufacturing Digital
12 June 2012 Last updated at 06:42 ET Two interlocking but not completely overlapping structures leave room for gases UK researchers have developed a porous material that can preferentially soak up CO2 from the atmosphere.
New holey material soaks up CO2
Graphene could help build a new generation of electronic devices, such as touch screens, solar panels and superfast computers.
Harder than diamond, stronger than steel
Super-polluted city tries to clean itself with smog-eating paint
could also be one for Health and Wellbeing - I'll put it there too by May 25
I am totally amazed by this. Could have a huge effect if every building was painted with the stuff. Are there any downfalls? Not enough of a chemist to know. by May 25
Synthetic biology - no worries? (item 5)
News Alert Issue 288, 15 June 2012 Science for Environment Policy
25 Apr 2012: A State-by-State Roadmap To Climate-Friendly Automobiles The U.S.’s continued reliance on coal and natural gas to generate electricity makes efficient gasoline-powered vehicles a lower-carbon alternative to electric vehicles in most states, according to a new report by Climate Central . In an analysis of life-cycle emissions from vehicles, based on how electricity is generated in
A State-by-State Roadmap To Climate-Friendly Automobiles
A really important issue. If we are moving towards electric cars then we need to have an electicity supply that is clean enough to warrant the switch. by May 25
Wind turbine creates water from thin air
The turbine can produce up to 1,000 liters of drinking water every day, according to Eole Water.
Are Smart Phones Spreading Faster than Any Technology in Human History?
Today’s technology scene seems overheated to some. Apple is the most valuable company on earth. Software apps are reaching tens of millions of users within weeks.Cognitive software captures experts’ performance on flight simulators
Software learns the responses of the expert - helps to pass on tacit knowledge (stiff you can't explain, but just 'do') to others with less knowledge. A very interesting training technology. by May 25
Tata Motors enters second phase of air-car development
MDI compressed-air technology is being developed in India by Tata Motors (pictured is MDI's MiniFlowAIR urban 3-seater) Cars that run on compressed air sound like a fantastic idea on paper, but bringing this technology to the masses has proven, well, a difficult road to travel.(excluding 20% VAT) Date and Venue 27th June 2012, Aqua Enviro Event Suite, Wakefield
The Potential of Photosynthetic Microbes as a Source of Energy in the UK Water Industry
The report, "How Clean is Your Cloud? ," (1) shows a growing split within the tech industry between companies that are taking steps to power their cloud computing infrastructures with clean energy, like Google, Yahoo and Facebook, and companies like Apple, Amazon and Microsoft who lag behind by choosing to build their growing fleets of data centres to be powered by coal and nuclear energy. (2, 3)
Apple, Amazon, Microsoft choose dirty energy to power growing cloud computing Greenpeace report evaluates 14 global IT companies’ energy choices | Greenpeace India
26 March 2012 Last updated at 08:57 ET
Pond skaters' feet inspire buoyant new material
2 March 2012 Last updated at 03:28 ET By Neil Bowdler Science and health reporter, BBC News The prototype uses two separate technologies to generate electricity