A team of engineers at West Virginia University (WVU) has designed and successfully tested a fuel cell that can switch between storing or making electricity and also generate hydrogen from water. Unlike similar technologies, the fuel cell can withstand the heat and steam generated when running at an industrial scale for long periods at high power. Additionally, it addresses the … [Read more...] about New fuel cell can stabilise power grid by making and storing energy
Materials
Engineers shake tallest steel-framed building ever tested on an earthquake simulator
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have shaken the tallest steel-framed building ever tested on an earthquake simulator. The ten-storey, 30-metre structure was subjected to simulations of real earthquakes, including the 6.9-magnitude, 1989 Loma Prieta temblor, as part of an effort to determine if height limits for buildings made of cold-formed steel could be … [Read more...] about Engineers shake tallest steel-framed building ever tested on an earthquake simulator
New alloy could enable exoplanet discovery
A unique new material that shrinks when heated and expands when cooled could help enable the ultra-stable space telescopes that future NASA missions require to search for habitable worlds. One of the goals of NASA’s Astrophysics Division is to determine whether we’re alone in the universe. NASA’s astrophysics missions seek to answer this question by identifying planets … [Read more...] about New alloy could enable exoplanet discovery
New methodology for 3D braiding machine design unveiled
Researchers from Donghua University in China and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver have introduced a novel design methodology for 3D rotary braiding machines, offering a significant step forward in the production of complex geometric textile composites. Their work details a programmable design approach based on circle-cutting and combination strategies that … [Read more...] about New methodology for 3D braiding machine design unveiled
AI can create climate-friendly cement recipes in seconds
Researchers in Switzerland have found a way to dramatically cut cement’s carbon footprint by redesigning its recipe. Their system simulates thousands of ingredient combinations, pinpointing those that keep cement strong while emitting far less carbon dioxide in seconds. The cement industry produces around eight percent of global CO2 emissions – more than the entire aviation … [Read more...] about AI can create climate-friendly cement recipes in seconds