Light-activated material stores potential energy for months or years

Researchers at Lancaster University have developed a new material that can store energy for months, and potentially years, at a time. The material can be activated by light, and then release the pent-up energy on demand in the form of heat.Continue Rea… Continue reading Light-activated material stores potential energy for months or years

Mean temperature of the universe is rising over billions of years

Earth isn’t the only place that’s heating up of late – the universe seems to be too. Astronomers at Ohio State University have taken the mean temperature of cosmic gas at different distances and ages, and found that it’s roughly 10 times hotter today t… Continue reading Mean temperature of the universe is rising over billions of years

Mean temperature of the universe is rising over billions of years

Earth isn’t the only place that’s heating up of late – the universe seems to be too. Astronomers at Ohio State University have taken the mean temperature of cosmic gas at different distances and ages, and found that it’s roughly 10 times hotter today t… Continue reading Mean temperature of the universe is rising over billions of years

Simple Induction Heater Helps with Homebrew Shrink-Fitting

Machinists have a lot of neat shop tricks, but one especially interesting one is shrink-fitting tools. Shrink-fitting achieves an interference fit between tool and holder by creating a temperature difference between the two before assembly. Once everything returns to temperature, the two parts may as well be welded together.

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Super-white paint reflects 95.5 percent of sunlight to cool buildings

Researchers from Purdue University have developed a new white paint that can reflect over 95 percent of sunlight, which can cool the surface even lower than the ambient temperature. Painted on a building, the new paint could help cut cooling costs and … Continue reading Super-white paint reflects 95.5 percent of sunlight to cool buildings

Smart windows darken and become solar cells when heated

Windows are great for letting in light, but in summer months that comes with an unwanted side order of heat, causing many people to run the air conditioning non-stop. Now, researchers have developed windows that can change color automatically when heat… Continue reading Smart windows darken and become solar cells when heated

Ultra-thin graphite films soak up heat to keep smartphones cool

Making every micrometer count is a key consideration for designers and engineers working on modern smartphones, and a new material could free up some valuable space. Scientists have developed a nanometer-thick form of graphite that helps keep electroni… Continue reading Ultra-thin graphite films soak up heat to keep smartphones cool

Super white paint leans on Teflon to reflect up to 98% of the Sun’s heat

Just like a tennis player might don a white shirt instead of a black one on warm summer’s day, researchers see great potential in dressing buildings in reflective white paints to keep them cool. A team of material scientists is reporting a major advanc… Continue reading Super white paint leans on Teflon to reflect up to 98% of the Sun’s heat

Arduino Reduces Heating Costs

While almost everyone has a heater of some sort in their home, it’s fairly unlikely that the heat provided by a central heating system such as a furnace is distributed in an efficient way. There’s little reason to heat bedrooms during the day, or a kitchen during the night, but …read more

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Risk of heart-related death may triple in extreme heat environments

People living in the hottest places on Earth could be up to three times as likely to die from a heart-related cause, according to a newly-published study. Global warming due to climate change has the potential to further worsen the heat-stress problem,… Continue reading Risk of heart-related death may triple in extreme heat environments