- Number 311 |
- May 10, 2010
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LLNL researcher aids in discovery of new species
Dan Farber of DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in collaboration with an international team has discovered fossils of a new species of hominid, Australopithecus sediba, thought to be at least 2 million years old in an area of South Africa known as the Cradle of Humankind.
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NREL finds a way to give LEDs the green light
Light bulbs that last 100 years and fill rooms with brilliant ambiance may become a reality sooner rather than later, thanks to a discovery by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
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New carbon composite holds promise for bionics
Mimicking the human nervous system for bionic applications could become a reality with the help of a method developed at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to process carbon nanotubes.
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New technique to form methane hydrate
Experiments at DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have shown that rapid formation of methane (natural gas) hydrate, and other gas hydrates, is possible. The rapid hydrate formation process is made possible by use of a novel (U.S. Patent application in progress) nozzle which allows almost instantaneous and continuous formation of methane hydrate.
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Artificial diamonds may make fuel cells more affordable
Using specialized cubic zirconia or artificial diamonds, scientists from Nanjing Normal University in China and DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory created a membrane that could drop the temperature inside solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Lowering the temperature means these cells could be built from less expensive materials. -
Laser "steam-cleaning" could help U.S. respond to terror attack
If terrorists ever pull off a chemical or "dirty bomb" attack on American soil, quickly and efficiently cleaning up the contamination would be critical. But cement and brick are difficult to clean because contaminants start inhabiting cracks and pores.
