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formaggio writes: Rawlemon just unveiled a giant glass ball called the Betaray that it claims can concentrate sunlight (and moonlight) up to 10,000 times — making it 35 percent more efficient than traditional dual-axis photovoltaic designs. The sphere can be fully integrated into the walls or ceilings of a building and it suffers no weather impact. And, because it's basically just a big crystal ball, it guarantees at least 99 percent transparency.
Taffykay writes: NASA's Curiosity Rover has discovered water on Mars, prompting scientists to question whether the red planet has ever supported life. The rover scooped up surface soil and then analyzed its contents using the custom built Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM), an on-board analytical suite that processes and tests its findings with a gas chromotograph, mass spectrometer and tunable laser. In addition to water, the soil sample contained carbon dioxide, oxygen and sulfur compounds.
oritonic1 writes: In the increasingly fast-paced race to create the most efficient solar cell possible, a team comprised of French and German companies has created a unique design that yields 44.7% efficiency, beating the previous record set by Sharp just three months ago. The multi-junction cell, created for use in concentrator photovoltaics, was developed in a little over three years, and its creators hope to reach 50% efficiency by 2015.
Taffykay writes: Science Fiction author Neal Stephenson has teamed up with Arizona State University engineers and scientists to design a 12.4 mile tall skyscraper that would be used to launch rockets into space. Part of Project Hieroglyph, which encourages scientists to dream big, the skyscraper would be 24 times taller than the current world record holder in Dubai — the 2,722 foot Burj Dubai — if it ever lifts off the ground.
Taffykay writes: People in developing countries who lack access to fresh, clean water, or conventional water purification technology, could benefit from using cilantro instead. Douglas Schauer, Ph.D claims that the leafy herb popular in Mexican food dishes effectively removes toxic heavy metals from water. Research conducted in Mexico supports this claim, and shows that this herbal purification technique may be more effective than activated carbon methods currently employed.
An anonymous reader writes: Researchers at MIT have created an advanced fog-harvesting material that is able to pull much more water from moisture-laden air than traditional systems. The Material is made from a mesh of stainless steel filaments with carefully controlled spacing, and it's dip-coated in a solution that decreases contact-angle hysteresis. The resulting material can improve water harvesting efficiency five times in mild fog conditions.
Taffykay writes: Rafael Viñoly’s distinctively curved ‘Walkie Talkie’ building in London creates a beam of concentrated sunlight that is not only uncomfortable for pedestrians below, but that left one man’s Jaguar XJ with warped side panels and a “smell of burning plastic” after being parked within the beam’s reach for just one hour.
Taffykay writes: Because it's very difficult to send large spaceships constructed on earth into space, Tethers Unlimited (TUI) has proposed to employ robotic 3-d printers that look like giant spiders to build the spacecraft — from space. The ‘SpiderFab’ would in theory enable in-orbit fabrication of large spacecraft components such as antennas, solar panels, trusses, and other multifunctional structures.
formaggio writes: The 2013 INDEX: Award council reviewed over 1,000 designs from 73 countries around the world — and after narrowing them down to 59 inspiring finalists they just announced this year's winners. From a street that can charge your EV as you drive to Copenhagen's concrete plan to combat climate change and packaging that makes food last four times longer, 5 winning designs will be splitting a €500,000 prize.
Taffykay writes: After messing around with mice brains for far too long, an Austrian scientist decided he wanted to work on real human brains in order to improve his research. Since it would have been somewhat unethical to use living subjects for the job, he grew some mini human brains instead — with stem cells.
Elliot Chang writes: What if floodwaters and storm surges could fight themselves? Sorg Architects' Water Dyke is a design that would basically be hidden until high tides begin to inflate it, thus creating a barrier that protects the shore against those same waters.
formaggio writes: The next-generation 2015 model of the Toyota Prius will feature wireless charging capability. It will also have at least a 55 MPG rating with a longer range than the current model.
An anonymous reader writes: At just about 7 inches long, the pacu has a mouth full of powerful, crushing teeth, and it loves to nibble on stuff that happens to be, uh, floating through the water. Animal experts in the region are warning men to be extra cautious.
An anonymous reader writes: Over time, solar cells wear down — just like plant leaves — due to degradation caused by ultraviolet light. A team of researchers from North Carolina State University revealed this week that they have created a new type of solar cell that can repair and reinvigorate itself by mimicking the functioning of organic vascular systems found in leaves.
