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Vest helps athletes keep their cool

A new cooling vest has been developed to help athletes cope with sweltering summer conditions, such as the 2020 Summer Olympics. The vest, designed by Hiroshima University and a Japanese sportswear company, features ice packs and a cooling collar that can reduce heart rate and body temperature.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·DateJun 17, 2019

Pioneering 3D printed device sets new record for efficiency

Researchers at Swansea University have developed a 3D printed thermoelectric device that converts heat into electric power with an efficiency factor of up to 1.7, significantly higher than the previous best for printed materials. The breakthrough could boost energy efficiency in industries with high temperatures, such as steelmaking.

SourceSwansea University·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateJun 5, 2019

A new sensor for light, heat and touch

Researchers at Linköping University developed a sensor that combines pyroelectric and thermoelectric effects with nano-optical phenomena, enabling rapid and stable detection of temperature variations from warm objects or sunlight. The sensor is also pressure-sensitive and can distinguish between different materials.

SourceLinköping University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMay 14, 2019

Atmospheric scientists reveal the effect of sea-ice loss on Arctic warming

Research reveals that sea ice loss in the Arctic causes rapid warming, which will persist even after melting is complete. The study suggests that this phenomenon is more pronounced during certain periods, particularly during cloud season, due to seasonal sea-ice melting and its impact on atmospheric heat transfer.

Now you see heat, now you don't

Researchers have fabricated a film using DuPont Kevlar fibers and polyethylene glycol that absorbs heat and releases it slowly, making objects invisible to thermal cameras. The composite film performs comparably to other stealth films but is simpler and cheaper to make.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 27, 2019

Indecision under pressure

Researchers found that when compressed, cubic boron arsenide's heat conductivity improves initially but then deteriorates due to competition between different processes. This behavior has never been predicted or observed before and challenges conventional understanding of heat conduction.

SourceBoston College·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 19, 2019

New clue in curious case of cassowary casque

A team of Australian scientists has discovered that the cassowary's distinctive helmet-like structure acts as a thermal window to regulate body temperature. The research provides new insights into the bird's ability to cope with high temperatures, and may have implications for our understanding of dinosaur physiology.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 13, 2019

Supercomputers without waste heat

Researchers from the University of Konstanz have demonstrated that lossless electrical transfer of magnetically encoded information is possible, enabling enhanced storage density and reduced energy consumption in computing centres. This finding paves the way for novel functionalities in future energy-efficient information technologies.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 7, 2018

A bullet-proof heating pad

Researchers have created a wearable heater by modifying woven fabric with DuPont Kevlar fiber and nanowires, providing uniform heat and thermal insulation. The material is strong, flexible, breathable, and washable, making it suitable for use in cold-weather clothing.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalNano Letters·DateOct 31, 2018

Energy-insecure New Yorkers face multiple health risks

A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that nearly one-third of Washington Heights residents experienced energy insecurity, leading to breathing problems, mental health issues, and poor sleep. Energy-insecure households were more likely to have children under 18 years of age and lower household income.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalEnergy Research & Social Science·DateOct 5, 2018

A biofuel for automated heat generation

Researchers from Tomsk Polytechnic University discovered that straw, chips, sawdust, and peat can generate more heat than they consume during pyrolysis, a process that can be optimized for efficient energy production. This technology has the potential to make energy generation from biofuel more resource-efficient and environmentally fr...

$2 million award to reimagine US power grid

Michigan State University has been awarded a $2 million grant to develop new designs for long-duration storage on the US power grid. The project, called Scalable Thermochemical Option for Renewable Energy Storage (STORES), aims to create modular thermal storage systems that can store heat energy in the form of chemical energy.

Breaking down the Wiedemann-Franz law

Researchers at ETH Zurich explore the coupling between heat and particle currents in a gas of strongly interacting fermionic atoms. They found an order of magnitude below predictions of the Wiedemann-Franz law, indicating separation of mechanisms responsible for particle and heat currents.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 10, 2018