Video: MIT develops solar storage “nirvana”: energy crisis solved?

Posted on July 31st, 2008 in HiTechNews by admin

MIT is in a twisted, propeller-capped knot this morning heralding a new discovery it says will unleash a solar revolution. However, the "revolutionary leap" inspired by photosynthesis is not on the glamorous front-end of energy collection, rather, it's related to a simple, highly efficient and inexpensive way to store that energy when the sun doesn't shine. "This is the nirvana of what we've been talking about for years," says Daniel Nocera, MIT neomaxizoomdweebie who with Matthew Kanan developed the unprecedented approach to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using the sun's energy. The gases can then be recombined later inside a fuel cell. The key components to the process are a pair of catalysts (one consists of cobalt metal, phosphate, and an electrode; the other, platinum) which produce the O and H gases at room temperature and in neutral pH water (i.e., tap water). While similar solutions exist for industrial use primarily, these are very expensive and require specialized environments.

"This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind," said James Barber, a leader in the study of photosynthesis at Imperial College in London. "The importance of their discovery cannot be overstated since it opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production thus reducing our dependence for fossil fuels and addressing the global climate change problem." Nocera concedes that further engineering is required to commercialize the approach but hopes to see it implemented in household fuel cell systems within the next 10 years. Click through for the video breakdown.

Continue reading Video: MIT develops solar storage "nirvana": energy crisis solved?

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Leaf rolls out wide frame AFi 10 camera system

Posted on July 31st, 2008 in HiTechNews by admin

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It looks like those that found Phase One’s 60-megapixel P65+ camera a bit too much for them but Hasselblad’s 50-megapixel H3DII-50 somehow lacking may now finally have the answer they’ve been looking for, as Leaf has just introduced its new 56-megapixel AFi 10 camera system. This one’s main selling point is its 56mm true wide frame sensor that Leaf designed with DALSA, which promises to “take you to the edge of the medium-format frame.” Apart from that, you can expect a one frame per second capture time, exposure times up to a minute, light sensitivity from ISO 50 to 800 and, of course, some 171MB file sizes to impress your friends with. No word on a price and, quite frankly, we’re a little hesitant to ask.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

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Leaf rolls out wide frame AFi 10 camera system

Posted on July 31st, 2008 in HiTechNews by admin

Filed under:

It looks like those that found Phase One’s 60-megapixel P65+ camera a bit too much for them but Hasselblad’s 50-megapixel H3DII-50 somehow lacking may now finally have the answer they’ve been looking for, as Leaf has just introduced its new 56-megapixel AFi 10 camera system. This one’s main selling point is its 56mm true wide frame sensor that Leaf designed with DALSA, which promises to “take you to the edge of the medium-format frame.” Apart from that, you can expect a one frame per second capture time, exposure times up to a minute, light sensitivity from ISO 50 to 800 and, of course, some 171MB file sizes to impress your friends with. No word on a price and, quite frankly, we’re a little hesitant to ask.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

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ProvFlux V: urban adventures in psychogeography

Posted on July 31st, 2008 in DIY Technology by admin

provfluxbike.png

Similar to the popular Brooklyn festival Conflux, ProvFlux is an annual summer fun-time event in Providence, RI. From the site:

Part carnival and part conference, ProvFlux brings together artists, theorists, urban adventurers and the general public to share their visions of what the city can be, and to take action to make it a reality.

The simple premise behind ProvFlux is to create an environment of positive activity, and to continue expanding upon the ideas of what one can do in their city. It exists to invite people from all walks of life to meet on the common ground that is our city streets, in an unjuried, completely free and 100% participatory environment.

This year’s ProvFlux will take place August 7-11. Pictured above is a mobile performance bike from ProvFlux 2005.

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Ask Engadget: Best digiframe / alarm clock combo?

Posted on July 31st, 2008 in HiTechNews by admin

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Frightening though it may be, the fall semester is just around the corner. You know what that means? You’ll actually have to get up at — wait for it — an appointed time. Carissa, being the proactive student she is, posed this question:

“Going to school in the fall, I’m looking for the ideal alarm clock to beat the late nights and what not and noticed a few digital photo frames / alarm clocks. I want a decent alarm clock that has battery backup and good resolution on the screen for viewing photos. An auxiliary audio jack would be a major plus. Which one do you guys recommend that falls under the 200 dollar mark? Thanks a million!”

Look at that — you all even received a thank you in advance! For those who’ve mastered the art of waking up on time and pretending to be a real live adult, which alarm clock / digiframe hybrid have you found to be supreme? Oh, and you know that question you’ve been hitting the snooze on? Yeah, send it on over to ask at engadget dawt com.

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