Tuesday 29 November 2016

Cause of visual impairment in astronauts identified

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A visual problem affecting astronauts who serve on lengthy missions in space is related to volume changes in the clear fluid that is found around the brain and spinal cord, according to new research.
via Science Daily
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New design of neutron spectrometer being tested for manned spaceflight

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The Fast Neutron Spectrometer (FNS) is now aboard the International Space Station. Neutrons contribute to crew radiation exposure and must be measured to assess exposure levels. The FNS uses a new instrument design that can significantly improve reliability.
via Science Daily
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Metallic glass gears make for graceful robots

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At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, scientists are building a better gear. Specifically, they are developing gears made from bulk metallic glass (BMG), a specially crafted alloy with properties that make it ideal for robotics.
via Science Daily
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NASA Saturn mission prepares for 'ring-grazing orbits'

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A thrilling ride is about to begin for NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Engineers have been pumping up the spacecraft's orbit around Saturn this year to increase its tilt with respect to the planet's equator and rings. And on Nov. 30, following a gravitational nudge from Saturn's moon Titan, Cassini will enter the first phase of the mission's dramatic endgame.
via Science Daily
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Graphene technology enables fully flexible NFC antennas

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Graphene is currently one of the most extensively studied materials in the world, both on a scientific and industrial level. The world’s first two-dimensional material, this single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice has a series of unique and outstanding properties. As well as being the thinnest, strongest and lightest known material, graphene is flexible, impermeable and extremely electrically and thermally conductive. All properties well suited for next generation NFC antennas.
via Science Daily

W5: The Soul of Star Formation

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Graphene Role in Next Generation Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

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Graphenea’s Business Development Director IƱigo Charola attended the IDTechEx Graphene Show in Santa Clara this November, where he gave a talk about the role of graphene in next generation sulfur batteries.

Lithium has been a preferred component for portable energy solutions due to its low cost and natural abundance. Lithium-sulfur batteries, compared to today’s lithium-ion batteries, hold potential to quadruple the specific energy stored, yielding substantially longer battery lifetime for all the world’s portable devices. Lithium-sulfur is leading the way for next-gen battery technology, due to initially simpler manufacturing, lower costs, and good performance. Moreover, lithium-sulfur batteries are technologically a step closer to lithium-air batteries that are expected to perform even better in the mid-range future.

The development of such new powerful batteries runs into challenges while using established electrode materials, because the new batteries require electrodes that support larger energy fluxes, to fully exploit the potential offered by the energy source itself. For example, the capacity of current electrode technology drops sharply when used with stronger batteries, so much that they offer only about 100 discharge cycles. Furthermore, cathode volume expansion and cathode cracking due to strong currents is a safety concern.

Graphene oxide (GO) offers an opportunity as a host in Li-S cathodes: S/graphene composites.  In GO/sulfur composites, graphene plays a significant role in improving the electronic conductivity of sulfur, inhibiting the shuttle effect of soluble polysulfides that causes cathode cracking in traditional cathodes. Graphene oxide based cathodes have shown to be more durable and efficient than traditional ones in lithium-sulfur battery technology.

Figure: Schematic S/graphene composite for battery cathodes. (Copyright: Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The annual IDTechEx Graphene Show is among the world’s largest graphene events, with over 3000 attendees, 200 exhibitors, and 250 presentations. Combined with the co-hosted Printed Electronics, Wearable Technology, Electric Vehicle and 3D Printing Events, it is the single largest end-user focused graphene event in the world, where companies get together to forge new business ideas and partnerships to propel the use of graphene in new directions and markets.


via Graphenea

First views of Mars show potential for ESA’s new orbiter

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ESA’s new ExoMars orbiter has tested its suite of instruments in orbit for the first time, hinting at a great potential for future observations.


via ESA Space Science
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/First_views_of_Mars_show_potential_for_ESA_s_new_orbiter