A promissing tech that can make solar energy a competitor to conventional energy generating technologies.

A promissing tech that can make solar energy a competitor to conventional energy generating technologies.

Originally shared by Yes! Knowledge

New Ultra Thin Solar Solar Cells Are 1000 Times More Powerful

The general drive in the solar energy technology industry has been towards the development of higher solar cell efficiencies and lowered manufacturing costs. That’s exactly what new research from MIT is suggesting — that the development of extremely thin, lightweight solar cells has the potential to completely revolutionize the industry.

Such extremely thin and lightweight solar cells have the potential to greatly surpass “any substance other than reactor-grade uranium” with regard to the energy produced per pound of material.

Read More: http://bit.ly/127PqVn

#science   #sciencesunday

Well, some evolution here....

Well, some evolution here....

Originally shared by Electronic Frontier Foundation

The German Parliament recently eliminated software patents and urged all of Europe to follow.
https://eff.org/r.b7VP

Interesting discussion on the introduction of printing technology in building industry

Interesting discussion on the introduction of printing technology in building industry

Originally shared by Industry Tap

The Printer That Can Print A 2,500 Square Foot House In 20 Hours ➜ http://www.industrytap.com/the-printer-that-can-print-a-house-in-20-hours/9056

Interesting article. Great illustration from our galaxy

Interesting article. Great illustration from our galaxy

Originally shared by Stellar Eyes

Kepler's Search Area.

Kepler is studying over 150,000 stars in our neighborhood of our galaxy in the Cygnus and Lyra constellations. Most of these stars will be somewhere between 500 and 3,000 light years from our Solar System. The Kepler team has now identified 503 additional planet candidates in this small region of the sky. The telescope uses the transit method which involves observing repeated transit of planets in front of their stars, which causes a slight reduction in the star's apparent magnitude.

Although the Kepler spacecraft remains in its Point Rest State, scientist and citizens still have years of data to sift through.

-See more at: http://stellareyes.com/component/k2/item/29-kepler-finds-503-new-exo-planet-candidates.html#sthash.WkSTXcLu.dpuf

Nice simple tech idea.

Nice simple tech idea.

Originally shared by The Economist

Kone, a Finnish liftmaker, announced that it has devised a system that should be able to raise an elevator a kilometre (3,300 feet) or more. Since the effectiveness of lifts is one of the main constraints on the height of buildings, Kone’s technology could result in buildings truly worthy of the name “skyscraper” http://econ.st/196PsTk

Excellent article about the human genome. In the future we may be able to mold human behaviour (to the better i hope).

Excellent article about the human genome. In the future we may be able to mold human behaviour (to the better i hope).
http://discovermagazine.com/2013/may/13-grandmas-experiences-leave-epigenetic-mark-on-your-genes#.Ub4PZk6UGq8.google_plusone_share

Self healing materials is an interesting research and could open doors in space exploration.

Self healing materials is an interesting research and could open doors in space exploration.

Originally shared by Gary Ray R

Did Skin for the Terminator Just Get Invented? "Self-Healing Microvascular System"

I thought the post that Zaine Ridling made about self healing materials that use microcapsules that had contained a healing agent before rupturing. Upon rupture, the healing agent spread via capillary action into the fracture, where it encountered catalyst that had also been embedded into the polymer matrix.
was interesting. And then Tomo Owa commented about another self healing material. 
This one uses microvascular networks and was conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois.  This stuff is modeled on human skin.  In fact this could be the first model of skin for the Terminator. ;-)
Kidding aside this is an amazing material.  It will repair itself more than once. While the repeated self-healing of a microvascular system is a tremendous step over the microcapsule healing system, there are still areas for improvement. The repeated healing of a crack in a coating using a microvascular network is not limitless --- it is restricted by the finite supply of catalyst in the coating. While the fluid delivered through the network continues to fill the crack, access to the reactive catalyst in the crack plane decreases with each healing event.

The image below is the test rig for the material, using a four point beam.

Thanks to both Tomo and Zaine for sharing this fascinating research.

http://autonomic.beckman.illinois.edu/network_background.html