Friday 8 August 2014

Highly efficient nanoparticles could bring down the cost of fuel cells

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Fuel cells are a promising, non-polluting way to power cars, but their platinum catalysts are so expensive that there’s no way current technology could be economically scaled up for widespread use. Now scientists at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the Technical University of Denmark have developed an alternative that would use just one-fifth as much of the pricey metal. Scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Technical University of Denmark have developed a new fuel cell catalyst that uses much less pricey platinum and is five times more active than platinum alone. If developed commercially, the new catalyst could bring down the cost of fuel cells for vehicles. (iStockphoto.com/gchutka)     The new catalyst is a mixture of platinum and a second, cheaper element, yttrium, formed into nanoparticles whose size can be precisely controlled. Electron microscopy and X-ray studies show that yttrium atoms leach out of the surface of these particles, leaving a thin, dense, sturdy crust of platinum atoms to enthusiastically promote a key reaction in the fuel cell that converts oxygen molecules into water. The results were published July 13 in Nature Chemistry. “We now have proof of principle that these nanoparticles work the way we had predicted,”

The post Highly efficient nanoparticles could bring down the cost of fuel cells has been published on Technology Org.

 
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Saturn Solar Eclipse Posters

Here's a great poster featuring a beautiful image from deep space


tagged with: space, astronomy, saturn, stars, planets, earth, cassini, sun, exploration, rings, moons

You may think that this is a fake image, but it is actually a real photo taken from the Cassini space craft of Saturn eclipsing the Sun. The rings glow brightly as the light filters through them and the reflect that light all the way around to the back of the planet creating a surreal effect. A special surprise in the photo is that, just to the left of the rings, that bright blue dot is Earth, where you're sitting right now. This is truly a fascinating and beautiful image. Courtesy of NASA and JPL.

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via Zazzle Astronomy market place

Why you should stop believing in evolution

Science Focus

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When people joyously discover on Ancestry.com that they're related to, say, a medieval archduke or a notorious Victorian criminal, evolutionary biologists may be permitted to snicker. Because in actuality, we are all related: Humans all share at least one common ancestor if you go far enough back. You are related to every king and criminal who ever lived, to Gandhi and Paris Hilton and Carrot Top. You are even related to me.

But buckle up — that's only the beginning.

Humanity, after all, is but one ugly branch on the big tree of life. Go back far enough, and you'll find an ancestor common...

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 » see original post http://theweek.com/article/index/265653/why-you-should-stop-believing-in-evolution
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VIDEO: Ebola drug 'poses ethics questions'

Science Focus

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Tarik Jasarevic from the World Health Organisation told the BBC that an experimental drug has been used. 
#science 
 » see original post http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28678650#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
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Why scientists can't kill HIV

Science Focus

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Humanity's war against the HIV has been a constantly shifting battle, thanks to the wily nature of the virus. But humans, being quite wily themselves, have persevered in the search for a cure despite setback after setback. Recently, scientists found a way to snip HIV's genetic code out from the genomes of infected cells. The technique's only been tried in cultured cells so far, but it could represent a powerful new weapon in the arsenal against AIDS.

But just what makes HIV such a formidable foe?

In most viruses, the genetic transfer of information mimics a host's: DNA is transcribed to RNA...

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 » see original post http://theweek.com/article/index/265250/why-scientists-cant-kill-hiv
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Researchers build first 3D magnetic logic gate

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(Phys.org) —The integrated circuits in virtually every computer today are built exclusively from transistors. But as researchers are constantly trying to improve the density of circuits on a chip, they are looking at alternative ways to build circuits. One alternative method uses nano-sized magnets, in which the magnets possess two stable magnetic states that represent the logic states "0" and "1."



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Spiral Galaxy NGC 6744

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Big, beautiful spiral galaxy NGC 6744 is nearly 175,000 light-years across, larger than our own Milky Way. It lies some 30 million light-years distant in the southern constellation Pavo. We see the disk of the nearby island universe tilted towards our line of sight. Orientation and composition give a strong sense of depth to this colorful galaxy portrait that covers an area about the angular size of the full moon. This giant galaxy's yellowish core is dominated by the light from old, cool stars. Beyond the core, spiral arms filled with young blue star clusters and pinkish star forming regions sweep past a smaller satellite galaxy at the lower left, reminiscent of the Milky Way's satellite galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud.

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Eye Galaxy Wall Decals

Here's a great wall decal featuring a beautiful image from deep space


tagged with: nebula, space, astronomy, galaxy, galaxies, creation, god, glory, bleu, orange, black, earth, yellow, wall, decals, posters, square

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

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via Zazzle Astronomy market place

Sleep deficiency and sleep medication use in astronauts

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In an extensive study of sleep monitoring and sleeping pill use in astronauts, researchers found that astronauts suffer considerable sleep deficiency in the weeks leading up to and during space flight. The research also highlights widespread use of sleeping medication use among astronauts.

via Science Daily

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White dwarfs crashing into neutron stars explain loneliest supernovae

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Astronomers and astrophysicists have found that some of the Universe's loneliest supernovae are likely created by the collisions of white dwarf stars into neutron stars.

via Science Daily

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White dwarfs crashing into neutron stars explain loneliest supernovae

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A research team led by astronomers and astrophysicists at the University of Warwick have found that some of the Universe's loneliest supernovae are likely created by the collisions of white dwarf stars into neutron stars.



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Stunning Aqua Star Cluster iPad Mini Cover

Here's a great iPad case from Zazzle featuring a Hubble-related design. Maybe you'd like to see your name on it? Click to personalize and see what it's like!


tagged with: cosmological, cosmos, space, hubble, telescope, magellanic, turquoise, aqua, blue, stars, outer space

A breathtaking blue and turquoise dance of heavenly clouds, Star Cluster NGC 2074 in the Large Magellanic Cloud as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

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