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New thermoelectronic generator

Researchers have developed a highly efficient thermoelectronic generator that can convert heat and solar energy into electricity without mechanical parts. The new design solves the space-charge problem, achieving efficiencies of up to 40%, paving the way for potential commercial applications in the renewable energy sector.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateDec 3, 2013
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Bronchial thermoplasty shows long-term effectiveness for asthma

A study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that bronchial thermoplasty reduces severe asthma exacerbations, emergency department visits, medication use, and missed workdays for at least 5 years. The treatment also shows stable rates of respiratory adverse events and respiratory-related hospitalizations.

SourceNational Jewish Health·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateDec 2, 2013
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Novel LEDs pave the way to cheaper displays

Researchers have developed a novel type of OLED that shows promise for high conversion efficiencies, potentially leading to cheaper displays. The new compounds can store electrical energy for longer periods, allowing for more efficient light generation and reduced heat production.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateNov 8, 2013

A thermoelectric materials emulator

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a novel approach to study thermoelectric materials by simulating the behavior of complex systems using ultra-cold atoms. The 'thermoelectric material emulator' allows for precise comparison between theory and experiments, shedding light on fundamental processes underlying thermoelectricity.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateOct 24, 2013

'Waviness' explains why carbon nanotube forests have low stiffness

New research reveals that waviness in vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes leads to reduced stiffness due to tiny kinkiness in their structure. This finding has potential applications in thermal interface materials and heat transfer, where the compliance of the nanotubes can help connect to silicon chips and copper heat spreaders.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalCarbon·DateSep 30, 2013
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Professor wins medal for graphene research

Professor Alexander Balandin receives MRS Medal for his groundbreaking work on graphene's thermal properties and development of a new materials characterization technique. His discoveries have led to major advances in understanding phonon transport and the application of graphene in heat removal and thermal management.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateSep 17, 2013

Researchers find new opportunites for waste heat

Physicists at the University of Houston have discovered a non-toxic material that can convert waste heat from vehicle tailpipes, industrial smokestacks, and power plants into electricity. The new compound, tin telluride with indium, shows promise in boosting vehicle mileage by up to 5% and power plant efficiency by as much as 10%.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 5, 2013

How quickly can a bacterium grow?

E. coli bacteria produce at most six times more heat than needed to meet thermodynamic constraints, suggesting they could grow faster and still obey the second law of thermodynamics. This finding has implications for synthetic biology applications and may support the hypothesis that RNA evolved before DNA.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateAug 27, 2013
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Deep Earth heat surprise

Researchers have successfully simulated pressure conditions in the deep lower mantle, measuring thermal conductivity and finding heat transfer to be lower than expected. The study estimates a total heat flow of 10.4 terawatts across the Earth, about 60% of human civilization's power usage.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 9, 2013

Improving heat removal qualities of graphene

Researchers at University of California, Riverside, have received a $360,000 NSF grant to study graphene's thermal properties and develop new approaches for removing heat from electronic devices. The team will investigate the effect of rotation angle on twisted bilayer graphene's thermal conductivity.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateJul 31, 2013

Off-grid sterilization with Rice U.'s 'solar steam'

Researchers at Rice University developed a solar-powered sterilization system using nanomaterials to kill microbes and viruses in human waste. The 'solar steam' technology has an overall energy efficiency of 24 percent, making it suitable for off-grid use and sanitation for billions of people.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 22, 2013
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Sydney's urban areas to be hit hardest by global warming

Researchers found that urban heat island effect combined with global warming could increase Sydney's temperatures by up to 3.7°C by 2050. Green spaces and bodies of water can help reduce the impact, with studies showing a marked effect on reducing the urban heat island effect.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalClimate Dynamics·DateJul 8, 2013

An unlikely competitor for diamond as the best thermal conductor

Researchers from Boston College and Naval Research Laboratory discovered boron arsenide's unexpectedly high thermal conductivity, rivaling that of diamond. The material's unique vibrational properties allow for efficient heat conduction at specific frequencies.

SourceBoston College·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 8, 2013
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Surviving fasting in the cold

Research shows that king penguin chicks' mitochondria adjust to minimize energy cost during fasting in the cold, conserving energy for vital functions. This adaptation enables them to produce heat without depleting their energy stores, increasing their survival chances.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology·DateJul 2, 2013

Quantum engines must break down

Researchers from University College London and the University of Gdansk found new laws governing microscopic systems, leading to fundamental limitations on extracting energy. Microscopic heat engines cannot be as efficient as their larger counterparts, with irreversibility playing a key role.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 26, 2013

Nano-thermometer enables first atomic-scale heat transfer measurements

A team of researchers has successfully measured heat transfer at the atomic scale, enabling insights into the relationship between heat dissipation and electronic structure in devices. This breakthrough could help overcome technological hurdles in creating smaller and more powerful electronics.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature·DateJun 12, 2013
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Physicists light 'magnetic fire' to reveal energy's path

New York University physicists have found that energy is released and dispersed in magnetic materials through a process akin to forest fires. By manipulating magnetic fields, they were able to control the speed of this process and understand how energy is sustained and spreads.

SourceNew York University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 13, 2013

Researcher construct invisibility cloak for thermal flow

Scientists at KIT successfully demonstrated a method to influence the propagation of heat around objects by using specially arranged materials. By creating an annular structure with copper and silicon, they can control how heat flows around hidden areas, making it ideal for applications such as microchips and machines.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 8, 2013

New ultra-efficient HPC data center debuts

The new HPC data center at NREL's Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) is the first of its kind, boasting an annualized average power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.06 or better. It achieves this by using warm-water liquid cooling and capturing and reusing waste heat to reduce energy consumption.

SourceDOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory·DateMar 19, 2013
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

PNNL rolls out its clean energy tech at ARPA-E

PNNL researchers are developing a range of innovative clean energy technologies, including thermal energy storage that can store solar heat for up to 10 times longer than traditional molten salts. Additionally, the lab has created lightweight fuel tanks for compressed natural gas vehicles and rare earth-free magnets for electric motors.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateFeb 22, 2013

Study finds energy use in cities has global climate effects

Researchers discover that urban heat generated by metropolitan areas can cause continental-scale surface warming in high latitudes, leading to remote temperature changes. The study suggests that the influence of energy consumption should be considered in computer models to predict future climate change.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJan 28, 2013

Cities affect temperatures for thousands of miles

A new study reveals that human activities in cities alter atmospheric circulation patterns, leading to significant warming in northern Asia and North America. The study found that the 'waste heat' generated by urban areas can widen the jet stream and increase temperatures across large distances.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJan 27, 2013

PNNL awarded $2.8 million to keep troops cool while using less fuel

The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will receive $2.8 million to develop a next-generation adsorption chiller that is smaller, lighter, and operates under extreme temperatures. The system could reduce diesel fuel use by up to 50% and save lives by reducing attacks on American soldiers.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateJan 24, 2013
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Using lysine estimates to detect heat damage in DDGS

Heat damage in DDGS compromises nutritional value, but researchers predict digestibility using lysine estimates. The study found that analyzing lysine or furosine concentrations improves prediction accuracy.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Animal Science·DateJan 14, 2013

How to treat heat like light

Researchers at MIT have developed a novel method to manipulate heat by employing engineered materials with nanostructured semiconductor alloy crystals. This approach enables the concentration of heat phonons within a specific frequency range, allowing for control over heat flow similar to light waves.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 11, 2013

Award-winning A/C uses old idea, new materials

Researchers developed a DESICCANT-ENHANCED EVAPORATIVE (DEVAP) system that works in any climate and achieves comfortable cooling while saving 40% to 80% of the energy use of conventional air conditioning systems. The system uses micro-porous membranes to separate desiccant from air, enabling efficient dehydration and cooling.

SourceDOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory·DateDec 18, 2012

Nature Materials study: Boosting heat transfer with nanoglue

A team of researchers developed a new method to significantly increase heat transfer rate across different materials by sandwiching an ultrathin layer of 'nanoglue' between copper and silica. The approach demonstrated a four-fold increase in thermal conductance, promising new innovations in cooling and energy applications.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalNature Materials·DateDec 4, 2012
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

New thermoelectric material could be an energy saver

Researchers developed a new thermoelectric material using common materials found in dirt, improving efficiency and reducing production costs. The material has potential applications in waste heat recovery from industrial power plants and conversion of vehicle exhaust gas heat into electricity.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateNov 27, 2012

Controlling heat flow through a nanostructure

A new study reveals that heat can travel like waves, not particles, through superlattices, allowing for precise control over heat flow. This discovery opens the possibility of creating materials with tailored thermal properties for thermoelectric devices and improved cooling of electronic chips.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateNov 15, 2012

Self-powered sensors to monitor nuclear fuel rod status

Researchers have developed self-powered sensors that can harness heat from nuclear reactors to transmit data, addressing a critical monitoring issue. The sensors use thermoacoustic technology, exploiting the interaction between heat and sound waves to operate without electronic power or moving parts.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·DateOct 23, 2012
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

World record holder

Northwestern University scientists have developed a thermoelectric material that can convert 15-20% of waste heat to useful electricity. The material exhibits a ZT of 2.2, the highest reported to date, and has the potential to recover high-temperature waste heat and turn it into usable energy.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateSep 19, 2012

Scientist finds new way to predict heat layer troublemaker

A new model developed by Robert Goldston predicts the size of a key barrier to fusion that could serve as a starting point for overcoming it. The agreement appears too close to have happened by chance, suggesting that the model's results are eerily close to data.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNuclear Fusion·DateAug 20, 2012

How heat helps to treat cancer

Researchers at Bangor University discovered a switch in cells that helps kill tumors with heat, which combines with an anti-cancer drug to treat localized cancers. The novel protein produced by heat modulates survival systems, and its discovery may improve heat-treatment of cancer for patients.

SourceBangor University·JournalJournal of Cell Science·DateAug 8, 2012

NASA successfully tests hypersonic inflatable heat shield

NASA successfully tested a hypersonic inflatable heat shield, surviving re-entry at 7,600 mph. The Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3) demonstrated the technology's potential for planetary entry and descent or cargo return from the International Space Station.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 23, 2012
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

IRVE-3 flight hardware test sounding rocket

IRVE-3 is the third in a series of suborbital flight tests for an innovative heat shield technology. The experiment aims to create an aeroshell using high-tech inner tubes and a thermal blanket, protecting a payload with camera gear, telemetry equipment, and steering mechanisms.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 19, 2012

Fighting obesity with thermal imaging

Scientists use thermal imaging to analyze brown fat reserves, which produce heat and aid in burning calories. The technique may help predict food labels' thermogenic index, aiding the fight against obesity.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateJul 18, 2012

Ancient effect harnessed to produce electricity from waste heat

Researchers have developed a 'pyroelectric nanogenerator' that converts waste heat into electricity using the ancient pyroelectric effect. The device has the potential to power applications such as wireless sensors, temperature imaging, and medical diagnostics, offering a new source of energy from environmental waste.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalNano Letters·DateJun 13, 2012
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Thermal conductivity of argon at high pressures and temperatures

Researchers used diamond anvil cells to apply extreme pressure to argon, heating it with microsecond laser bursts to 2,500 degrees K. The results confirmed kinetic theory as a better model for argon's thermal conductivity than Green-Kubo formalism.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateJun 5, 2012

Research maps the city's heat

Researchers in Sheffield have mapped a possible expansion of the city's district heating network, which could reduce CO2 emissions by 80,000 tonnes annually. The system, powered by waste and steel plant heat, provides low-cost heating to over 140 public buildings and 3,000 homes.

SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalEnergy Conversion and Management·DateMay 13, 2012

Not your grandma's quilt

A group of researchers at the University of California, Riverside developed a technique to lower hot spots in GaN transistors by introducing graphene multilayers, increasing device lifetime by a factor of 10. The new approach represents a transformative change in thermal management.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 8, 2012
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Mining for heat

A study by McGill University researchers calculates that each kilometer of a deep underground mine could produce 150 kW of heat, enough to warm 5-10 Canadian households. The team develops a general model for predicting geothermal energy potential in other mines.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateMay 2, 2012

With new design, bulk semiconductor proves it can take the heat

Researchers at Boston College and MIT have developed a novel nanotech design that enhances the thermoelectric performance of Silicon Germanium alloy semiconductors. The breakthrough boosts electrical conductivity while reducing thermal conductivity, resulting in improved figure of merit values up to 1.3 at 900°C.

SourceBoston College·JournalNano Letters·DateApr 25, 2012

Controlling heat flow with atomic-level precision

The researchers demonstrated that a single layer of atoms can disrupt or enhance heat flow across an interface between two materials. By adjusting the composition of molecules in contact with the gold layer, they observed a change in heat transfer depending on how strongly the molecule bonded to the gold.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Materials·DateApr 22, 2012

Save big on heating, cooling costs with efficiency controls

A recent report from PNNL estimates that US commercial building owners could save an average of 38% on their heating and cooling bills by installing a handful of energy efficiency controls. The estimated savings range from 28% to 67% depending on local climate and energy prices.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateApr 19, 2012
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Researcher finds faster, cheaper way to cool electronic devices

A North Carolina State University researcher has created a more efficient cooling method for electronic devices using a copper-graphene composite. The new material cools devices up to 25% faster than current materials and reduces costs by replacing expensive copper with graphene.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalMetallurgical and Materials Transactions B·DateApr 9, 2012

Not your average heat shield

Researchers have developed a 'thermal' approach to invisibility cloaking that isolates or cloaks objects from sources of heat. The method uses transformation optics to control thermal diffusion, allowing for the shielding of areas from heat and the concentration of heat in small volumes.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateMar 26, 2012

Liquid-like materials may pave way for new thermoelectric devices

Scientists have discovered a liquid-like compound that could lead to more efficient thermoelectric devices, which convert heat into electricity and vice versa. The copper-selenium material exhibits liquid-like behavior due to the flow of copper atoms through the selenium's crystal lattice.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 22, 2012
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Saving power, saving money

A team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University has developed a novel technique called fine-grained power gating, which can eliminate wasted energy in computer processors. This method reduces power consumption by up to 40% and also minimizes heat production, resulting in significant cost savings.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·DateMar 8, 2012