Scientists who work with subatomic particles have achieved something they could previously only dream of: actually stacking two photons — particles of light — on top of each other, Lego-style. It’s an amazing breakthrough, considering that photons not only zip through the air at incredible speeds but disappear the moment they
solar energy
Could an innovative, lower-cost solar cell developed by, of all companies, IBM prove to be the technology that enables a sun-powered, clean-energy future? Researchers at IBM think so. They say their new solar cell offers several advantages over existing photovoltaics. One, it can be made with relatively abundant elements like
peak oil
Even if you’re not concerned about climate change, there are growing signs we’re in a race against time in making the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. The great looming question now is, “Can we shift to a low-carbon economy before oil becomes harder to get, unaffordable or
Haiti earthquake
A device that draws clean, drinkable water from the air is being used to support relief efforts in earthquake-stricken Haiti. Florida-based Aqua Sciences sent one of its atmospheric water extraction machines to Haiti on 28 January. Since then, the device has been operating around the clock at Port-au-Prince’s University
oil
Researchers with the petroleum company Saudi Aramco have found a way to use a laser to “fingerprint” oil. The innovation promises a number of benefits, including better quality control at refineries. The laser device takes mere nanoseconds to excite an oil sample’s fluorescence spectra, which is then analysed to
corporate social responsibility
Do you work for a firm that’s taking steps to be a socially responsible business? If so, we’d like to ask you a few questions in this brief survey. We’re interested in learning more about how much your organisation is spending on corporate social responsibility, who’s
Jurdy finds a better use for government paperwork …
global warming
The US government today unveiled a new web portal today that’s designed to meet a rising demand for information on how climate change might affect farming, public health, business and infrastructure. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Services site will serve as a one-stop shop for the
batteries
Could we one day see a battery-free future for mobile phones, electric cars and other devices? European researchers believe we can, and have just launched a €3.4 million project to develop a new material that could essentially allow phone housings and car bodies to act as their own power
lighting
Swedish and US researchers have developed a new lighting technology that could lead to innovations like illuminated wallpaper made entirely of plastic and cheaper, more easily recycled electronic devices. The secret, they believe, lies with using organic light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) to replace the organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs, that
Jurdy offers a reminder …
Editor’s note: The following is a guest commentary by Stanley Wootliff, chairman of jatropha grower Viridas PLC. Shell’s joint venture with Cosan highlights the strong positioning of Brazil as well as the burgeoning demand for biofuels. While this may have come as a surprise to some, it was
