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Waste not, want not

Researchers in Japan investigate three technologies for heat recovery: latent heat, reaction heat, and thermoelectric devices. They find that high-temperature waste heat with adequate exergy value exists in many industries, offering effective ways to recover waste heat.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Exergy·DateApr 1, 2009

The continents as a heat blanket

Scientists from GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences developed a numerical model to calculate future continent positions. The continents function as a thermal blanket, causing heat accumulation and super-continent break-up., A self-regulating system develops, resulting in reorganization of mantle convection.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPhysics of The Earth and Planetary Interiors·DateJan 22, 2009

Energy-efficient water purification made possible by Yale engineers

Yale researchers create systems that harness the power of osmosis to harvest freshwater from non-potable sources and generate electricity from low-temperature heat. This innovative approach requires significantly less energy than traditional desalination methods, offering a sustainable solution for increasing global water supply.

SourceYale University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJan 14, 2009

Alternative energy hits the road

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have created a solar collector system that can harness heat from asphalt roads and parking lots to generate electricity and hot water. The technology has the potential to reduce urban 'heat island' effects and provide a cost-effective source of renewable energy.

Material may help autos turn heat into electricity

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new thermoelectric material that can convert waste heat from engine exhaust into electricity, with twice the efficiency of current market materials. The material is effective between 450-950 degrees Fahrenheit and has potential applications in power generators and heat pumps.

SourceOhio State University·JournalScience·DateJul 24, 2008

Feeling the heat

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a novel method to synthesize silicon nanowires with exceptionally rough surfaces, which exhibit high thermoelectric efficiency. This breakthrough technology could enable the widespread adoption of thermoelectric materials in various applications.

The physiology of champions

Researchers explore how genes, neurotransmitters, and brain function impact athletic performance and endurance. Studies reveal that certain genetic variations and mental state can significantly enhance physical abilities.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·DateDec 20, 2007

Energy from hot rocks

Researchers from UC Davis and international partners aim to unlock geothermal energy potential in Iceland and the US. By studying high-pressure conditions and heat transfer processes, they hope to develop more efficient methods for extracting heat from rocks.

Tectonic plates act like variable thermostat

A recent PNAS study found that the current Earth system has improved heat regulation compared to 60 million years ago when small tectonic plates existed. The research suggests that plate size and number significantly affect heat loss, with smaller plates leading to greater heat escape from the mantle.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 13, 2007

A sound way to turn heat into electricity

Researchers have developed small acoustic heat-engine devices that convert waste heat into sound and then into electricity. The technology shows promise for harnessing solar energy and cooling electronics, with plans to test the devices within a year at military radar facilities and universities.

On the (sound) track of anesthetics

Denmark's researchers claim anesthetics are based on sound pulses rather than electrical impulses. The membrane of the nerve is similar to olive oil and can change state with temperature, allowing concentrated sound pulses to propagate without heat.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateMar 6, 2007

Bumblebee house warming -- it takes a village

Researchers discovered that bumblebee workers specialize in tasks such as incubating young and fanning wings to cool the nest. The study found strong evidence for job specialization, with larger bees taking on foraging tasks, and smaller bees performing temperature-regulation duties.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateJan 18, 2007

Nanotubes act as 'thermal velcro' to reduce computer-chip heating

Researchers at Purdue University have developed thermal interface materials with carbon nanotubes that conduct heat more efficiently than conventional materials. The nanotube-based interfaces can reduce the temperature rise of computer chips by up to 5 degrees Celsius, improving overall performance and reducing the risk of damage.

SourcePurdue University·JournalInternational Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer·DateMay 2, 2006