On February 19th 2017, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Flight Center in Florida. The launch took place at approximately 9:40am Eastern Daylight Time, from the historic Launchpad 39A . 39A is the site of the last launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which took place on July 8th 2011. It was also home of the Apollo missions which included the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The Falcon 9 lifted off carrying with it crew supplies, spare parts, and other vehicle parts all totaling 5,500 pounds of cargo intended to resupply the International Space Station. Ten minutes after the second stage boosted the first stage into orbit, the booster stage made its return to earth. Two sonic booms preceded the booster's return for a successful landing at SpaceX's ground based landing area at Cape Canaveral.
The launch, originally scheduled for February 18th, was delayed due to a minor malfunction. It makes the second SpaceX success since the company's triumphant return to space with a launch on January 14th 2017.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Flexible Solar Cells
On February 1st 2017, an Albuquerque, New Mexico company founded by Sandia National Laboratories, announced that they had made a breakthrough in Microsystems Enabled Photo Voltaics or (MEPV). The new product is a flexible solar panel that appears to be a cross between metallic wrapping paper and a reflective sun shield used on automobile windshields. It is just the width of a human hair, and may one day power everything from satellites to consumer devices.
MEPV technology uses micro design and micro fabrication to miniaturize solar cells that are also know as "solar glitter." The solar cells are made from high efficiency silicon just like regular solar panels, but because the cells are so small, they can be interconnected. This makes them capable of bending without breaking. Andy McIlroy, Sandia's chief technology officer said that the lab has signed a license with mPower to market their new creation, which they are calling Dragon SCALES.
MEPV technology uses micro design and micro fabrication to miniaturize solar cells that are also know as "solar glitter." The solar cells are made from high efficiency silicon just like regular solar panels, but because the cells are so small, they can be interconnected. This makes them capable of bending without breaking. Andy McIlroy, Sandia's chief technology officer said that the lab has signed a license with mPower to market their new creation, which they are calling Dragon SCALES.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
The Dawn Of Inkless paper
On February 2nd 2017, scientists at the University of California, Riverside announced that they had developed a light printable paper. The project included researchers from Shandong University in China and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory. The research team says that the paper consists of a new solid state photoreversible color switching system, that uses ultra violet light to produce an ink free rewritable print.
Yadong Yin, Professor of chemistry at the University of California, Riverside says that the process incorporates conventional paper that is coated with low cost, environmentally friendly materials. For the research team's experiment, they used a combination of two nano particle layers. One layer is Prussian Blue pigment and the other is titanium oxide. The two substances can applied to the paper by soaking or spaying them on.
Once applied, the plain unprinted paper turns blue. To make text appear on the page, the paper is exposed to UV light. The light excites the titanium oxide particles which causes a release of electrons that are picked up by the Prussian Blue nano particles. This causes the blue layer to turn to colorless. It's easier to read blue text on a clear background, so the background is what gets printed by light.
After the paper is printed, the text will remain for five days before it fades back to solid blue. The paper can also be erased more quickly by heating it for ten minutes. Dr Yin says that their new paper is cost competitive with conventional paper. He said, "Our immediate next step is to construct a laser printer to work with this rewritable paper, to enable fast printing."
Yadong Yin, Professor of chemistry at the University of California, Riverside says that the process incorporates conventional paper that is coated with low cost, environmentally friendly materials. For the research team's experiment, they used a combination of two nano particle layers. One layer is Prussian Blue pigment and the other is titanium oxide. The two substances can applied to the paper by soaking or spaying them on.
Once applied, the plain unprinted paper turns blue. To make text appear on the page, the paper is exposed to UV light. The light excites the titanium oxide particles which causes a release of electrons that are picked up by the Prussian Blue nano particles. This causes the blue layer to turn to colorless. It's easier to read blue text on a clear background, so the background is what gets printed by light.
After the paper is printed, the text will remain for five days before it fades back to solid blue. The paper can also be erased more quickly by heating it for ten minutes. Dr Yin says that their new paper is cost competitive with conventional paper. He said, "Our immediate next step is to construct a laser printer to work with this rewritable paper, to enable fast printing."
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Scientists Create Knitted Exoskeleton
On January 25th 2017, a team of Swedish researchers at Linkoping University and the University of Boras, announced that they have created an electroactive "textile muscle," system. The researchers say that they have created actuators, or devices, that convert energy into motion, which can be used to turn fabric into artificial musculature. They believe that their technology could one day power a new type of exoskeleton.
The way that the process works, is that a lightweight fabric is first coated with an electroative material, just as though you were dyeing it. When the material is dry, a low voltage current is applied to it. This can be done by using a wearable battery. The current then changes the shape of the fabric, which produces force in a particular direction. This causes the individual threads to change volume, while the weave in the fabric amplifies and directs the movement.
Dr. Edwin Jager, associate professor at the Division of Sensor and Actuator Systems at Linkoping University, who led the research team said, "We envision these actuators to be integrated into items of clothing." He also said that the actuators would need to be attached to the body. He said, "This could be in the form of an elastic sleeve similar to the ones currently used to give support for injured joints."
The research team hopes to make adjustments to the fabric and coating that will enable them to design a soft exoskeleton suit that could be used to assist someone in walking. Dr. Jager said, "It is our dream to create exoskeletons that are similar to items of clothing that you can wear under your normal cloths."
The way that the process works, is that a lightweight fabric is first coated with an electroative material, just as though you were dyeing it. When the material is dry, a low voltage current is applied to it. This can be done by using a wearable battery. The current then changes the shape of the fabric, which produces force in a particular direction. This causes the individual threads to change volume, while the weave in the fabric amplifies and directs the movement.
Dr. Edwin Jager, associate professor at the Division of Sensor and Actuator Systems at Linkoping University, who led the research team said, "We envision these actuators to be integrated into items of clothing." He also said that the actuators would need to be attached to the body. He said, "This could be in the form of an elastic sleeve similar to the ones currently used to give support for injured joints."
The research team hopes to make adjustments to the fabric and coating that will enable them to design a soft exoskeleton suit that could be used to assist someone in walking. Dr. Jager said, "It is our dream to create exoskeletons that are similar to items of clothing that you can wear under your normal cloths."
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