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Science

Morphing Metals 121

Posted by samzenpus from the forge-ahead dept.
aarondubrow writes "Imagine a metal that 'remembers' its original, cold-forged shape, and can return to that shape when exposed to heat or a magnetic pulse. Like magic out of a Harry Potter novel, such a metal could contract on command, or swing back and forth like a pendulum. Believe it or not, such metals already exist. First discovered in 1931, they belong to a class of materials called 'shape memory alloys (SMA),' whose unique atomic make-up allows them to return to their initial form, or alternate between forms through a phase change."

Comment Re:I mention this (Score 2, Funny) 581

by gregRowe (#30129882) Attached to: CERN Physicist Warns About Uranium Shortage

But what if we collect so much solar radiation that it affects global climate? If that radiation is no longer heating the surface of the earth but instead being converted to electricity won't that have an effect on the climate?

I doubt there's any one solution. The solution is to have a variety of energy sources. Man doesn't exist on Coca Cola alone (ok, some do but they aren't doing very well).
Patents

EFF Busts Illegitimate Subdomain Patent 96

Posted by kdawson from the method-and-device-for-breathing-in-then-breathing-out dept.
eldavojohn writes "Unlike a lot of community support protection programs, the EFF's Patent Busting Project is starting to bear real fruit instead of just leveling the finger at offenders. The USPTO is revoking an illegitimate patent granted in 2004 that sounds like automatically assigning subdomains. Sites like Wordpress, LiveJournal, or basically anyone with generated subdomains have been doing this for quite some time. If you have some extra cash, now's the time to pony up a few bucks so the EFF can carry on as one of the few organizations genuinely protecting your interests."

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