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.
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.
A new study by University of Exeter expert Richard Lowes found that lobbyists and campaigners were the most influential group in shaping UK Renewable Heat Incentive policy. Strengthening lobbying regulations could provide more visibility and control over their influence.
Researchers use graphene to improve loop heat pipes, essential for satellites and equipment in space. The Graphene Flagship project aims to integrate these devices into satellites and the international space station in the next few years.
A new microscopic theory describes heat transport in general ways, applying to ordered or disordered materials like crystals or glasses. The equation allows accurate prediction of thermoelectric material performance, which is crucial for efficient energy conversion and cooling.
A Stanford geophysicist discusses how a geothermal energy project in Pohang, South Korea, caused a magnitude 5.5 earthquake that injured dozens and forced residents into emergency housing. The study highlights flaws in common methods for minimizing earthquake risk when harnessing Earth's heat for energy.
Researchers developed a wearable patch that cools or warms a user's skin to a comfortable temperature, reducing the need for heating and cooling systems. The patch is powered by a flexible battery pack and can be integrated into clothing, promising to save energy on personal thermal comfort.
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.
Researchers at KAUST found that eddy-induced transport is more active in the central and northern Red Sea, influencing surface heat flux and salt dispersion. This mechanism balances fluctuations in both heat and salt, highlighting its role in the Red Sea's circulation.
A team of scientists successfully controlled induced seismicity during a deep geothermal stimulation in Finland using near-real-time monitoring. The approach allowed for prompt adjustment of pumping rates and pressure, ensuring the successful completion of the project.
MIT engineers have developed thin polymer films that conduct heat better than many metals, including steel and ceramic. The films, which are thinner than plastic wrap, exhibit high thermal conductivity due to the untangled molecular structure of polyethylene.
The Arctic Ocean's seasonal memory mechanism explains how atmospheric circulation causes the Eurasian Arctic to melt faster than the American Arctic. The researchers found that different seasonal patterns are at play depending on region, with the Eurasian Arctic losing ice in winter and the American Arctic only losing ice in summer.
Physicists at the University of Zurich have created a device that can cool objects to below room temperature without external power supply. The process involves oscillating heat currents and temporarily flows from cold to warm objects, increasing entropy over time.
Researchers studied L-carnitine's thermodynamic properties to optimize its transformation into a pharmaceutical agent. The study aimed to improve the production methods and dosage forms of this substance, which is popular among athletes due to its energy metabolism correcting effects.
A Pittsburgh research team has been awarded $500,000 by the NSF to develop a thermoelectric semiconductor using tungsten disulfide. The goal is to improve thermoelectric efficiency and pave the way for widespread use of these devices in various applications.
Researchers developed a new type of transparent wood that absorbs, stores and releases heat, potentially saving energy costs in eco-friendly homes. The material is biodegradable, strong and can bear heavy loads, opening the door for its eventual use in modern architecture.
Researchers at MIT have developed a material that can be tailored to reflect or absorb infrared radiation independently of its visible light properties. The new polymer material can be designed for various applications, including colorful, heat-reflecting building facades and light-absorbing covers for solar panels.
Scientists have observed a new mode of heat transport in graphite, known as second sound, which behaves like sound when moving through the material. At temperatures above 80K, heat travels through graphite as a wave, cooling points instantly and carrying heat away at close to the speed of sound.
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.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have successfully achieved solid-state thermochemiluminescence with crystals, a process that generates light through heat application. This fundamental discovery opens up unexplored directions in chemiluminescence research and has potential applications in solar energy harvesting technologies and sensing.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers develop new mathematical model to optimize geothermal heat exchanger design, ensuring energy efficiency and economic viability. The model avoids unrealistic assumptions, providing accurate predictions for long-term thermal response behavior.
Researchers developed an adaptive textile that self-regulates its thermal properties based on the wearer's body temperature and humidity. The textile, made from infrared-sensitive yarn, can passively cool the body through radiative cooling and alter heat radiation by up to 35%.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a fabric that can harvest body heat to power small wearable microelectronics, such as activity trackers. The fabric uses thermoelectric properties of everyday materials like wool and cotton to generate electricity.
Researchers have discovered a new class of half-Heusler thermoelectric compounds with a record high figure of merit, converting heat to electricity efficiently. The compound composed of tantalum, iron, and antimony demonstrated promising thermoelectric performance without using expensive elements.
A new study reconstructs ocean heat storage since 1871, revealing key changes in temperature history and circulation patterns. The findings suggest that up to half of mid-latitude Atlantic Ocean warming can be attributed to changes in ocean circulation since the 1950s.
Researchers used computer simulations to test the hypothesis that ankylosaurs' nasal passages acted as heat exchangers, warming and cooling air to regulate body temperature. The study found that the nasal passages could have provided energy savings of up to 84% during exhalation simulations.
Researchers from Osaka University developed a large-scale flexible thermoelectric generator module with high mechanical reliability and efficient power generation. The module achieved improved efficiency in recovering waste heat from curved heat sources, enhancing its mechanical reliability.
Researchers at Rutgers University have developed flexible, durable heating patches that are nearly 70% more efficient than similar patches. These patches use intense pulses of light to fuse silver wires with polyester, reducing energy waste and carbon footprint by selectively heating the human body.
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.
Researchers create long-lasting rewritable paper by layering blue dye and black toner, which remain legible for more than six months. The material can be reset by cooling it down to 14 F, allowing for over 100 reuse cycles.
Researchers at Ohio University are exploring a protein that naturally occurs in the body to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes. The protein, Apolipoprotein A-IV, is known to act as a satiation protein, telling the body to stop eating.
Researchers at MIT have developed a heat-rejecting film that can be applied to windows to reflect up to 70% of the sun's incoming heat. This innovative material could significantly reduce air conditioning costs and energy consumption, particularly in hot cities like Hong Kong.
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.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a thermally-functional material that can absorb high solar radiation to cool itself autonomously. This innovative material has potential applications in treating burn injuries and withstanding thermal stresses on spacecraft.
A Purdue University-led team developed a new material that enables more efficient solar-powered electricity generation by reducing the cost of converting sunlight into heat energy. The innovation could make solar power a direct competitor to fossil fuels in generating electricity.
A new compact fusion reactor design using high-temperature superconducting magnets can effectively shed excess heat, a longstanding challenge in fusion power plants. This approach makes it possible to open the device's internal chamber and replace critical components.
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.
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...
Researchers create high-performance exterior PDRC polymer coating with nano-to-microscale air voids, which reflects sunlight and radiates heat to the sky. The coating can be fabricated, dyed, and applied like paint on various surfaces, achieving cooling capabilities in both desert and tropical climates.
Researchers have developed a solar steam generator that approaches 100% efficiency for producing clean water from seawater. Inspired by origami, the device uses a 3D photothermal material to capture sunlight and evaporate water more efficiently than traditional flat devices.
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.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh discovered that tiny vibrations can be used to heat small amounts of liquid, potentially improving systems that prevent ice build-up on aeroplanes and wind turbines. The findings could also lead to more efficient drying of clothes in appliances.
New results show up to 100 times more heat can flow between nanoscale objects than predicted, with implications for solar cells and materials. The discovery could enable new ways to control heat in devices, such as heat transistors and diodes.
MIT researchers have developed a passive, solar-powered system to prevent ice buildup on surfaces, using a three-layered material that absorbs sunlight and spreads heat to melt boundary layers of ice. The system has been tested extensively and shows great promise for commercial use in various applications.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a low-cost actuation technology that can bend, fold or flatten specially prepared paper on command. The technology uses a thin layer of conducting thermoplastic applied to common paper, which can be heated to expand and cause the paper to change shape.
Researchers at UVA have invented a material with the ability to switch between insulating and cooling, making it suitable for applications such as smart fabrics and active wear. This technology has potential game-changing applications in various fields, including athletics and energy production.
Scientists have found a way to control spin currents using magnetic fields and temperatures, significantly improving the efficiency of fundamental spintronic components. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the design of storage devices like hard disks and create new technologies such as spin current switches.
Researchers investigated natural refrigerants as replacements for CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs in geothermal heat pumps to reduce energy consumption and operating costs. They found that ammonia and n-butane are the most economical and environmentally friendly alternatives.
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.
Researchers from EPFL and ENS Paris have discovered that highly pressurized water in the vicinity of an earthquake can reduce its intensity. This finding contradicts previous theories and highlights the importance of considering fluid pressure in geothermal models to accurately predict earthquake behavior.
A NASA scientist has mapped the heat escaping from beneath Greenland's ice sheet, revealing a thermal track that records the movement of a continent through Earth's history. This heat map exposes a diagonal scar of warm, dense rock below the surface, created by a mantle plume that has fueled volcanic eruptions.
Researchers found that urban areas stayed warmer than surrounding suburbs and country during a 2014 cold wave, with temperature differences greatest at night. The study suggests that heat released from buildings can help cities reduce heating demand and make being outdoors more tolerable during extreme cold.
The Parker Solar Probe will travel closer to the Sun than any mission before it, providing unprecedented observations of the corona. Despite temperatures exceeding a million degrees Fahrenheit, the spacecraft will withstand due to its custom heat shield and autonomous system.
Defect-free boron arsenide has a record-high thermal conductivity, drawing heat away from hotspots much faster than current materials. This breakthrough could improve performance and reduce energy demand in various electronic devices.
Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories have developed a tiny silicon-based device that can harness waste heat and turn it into DC power. The device, called an infrared rectenna, has the potential to power compact devices in space missions and hybrid cars.
A team from Aalto University creates a miniature 'heat valve' in a quantum system, enabling the controlled exchange of energy with external surroundings. This breakthrough aims to improve the efficiency of quantum heat engines and refrigerators.
Scientists have created high-thermal-conductivity crystals of boron arsenide that could help manage heat in computer chips. The new material's properties make it comparable to silicon, a key component of current chip technology.