World's first air-fuelled battery
The world's first battery fuelled by air -- with ten times the storage capacity of conventional cells -- has been unveiled. Scientists say the revolutionary STAIR (St Andrews Air) battery could pave the way for a new generation of electric cars, laptops, and mobile phones. The cell is much lighter than current batteries. The cells are charged in a traditional way but as power is used or "discharged" an open mesh section of battery draws in oxygen from the surrounding air. As the cycle of air helps recharge the battery as it is used, it has a greater storage capacity than other similar-sized cells and can emit power up to ten times longer. http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_articles/airfuelled_battery_lasts_ten_times_long_yes_please
How To Make Oil in Minutes
Chemical engineers at the University of Michigan hope to make fuel in minutes. They are applying heat and pressure on microalgae, exploring a method to create affordable biofuel that could replace fossil fuels. They also hope to use the byproducts of bio-oil production as feedstock for more biofuel. "The vision is that nothing would leave the refinery except oil. Everything would get reused," chemical engineering professor Phillip Savage said in a statement. "That is one of the things that makes this project novel. It’s an integrated process. We are combining hydrothermal, catalytic and biological approaches." "We make an algae soup," Savage said. "We heat it to about 300 degrees and keep the water at high enough pressure to keep it liquid as opposed to steam. We cook it for 30 minutes to an hour and we get a crude bio-oil. We are trying to do what nature does when it creates oil, but we do not want to wait millions of years."
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/04/university-of-michigan-bio-oil/
Bobble filters water as you drink
Move Collective's bobble is a patented water bottle that filters water as you drink. Bobble’s design removes chlorine and organic contaminants from municipal tap water. In doing so, bobble replicates the experience of drinking clean portable water without incurring the significant costs -- environmental and monetary -- associated with plastic water bottles. Bobble is made from recycled plastic. Bobble is reusable. It is intended to be an everyday accessory rather than an impulse decision. The low retail price of bobble and its filters is intended to mitigate the cost of regular bottled water consumption, which can run into the hundreds of dollars annually. A single bobble filter equates to at least 300 water bottles, which lessens the environmental impact that single-serve bottled water imposes. At first use, consumers should fill their bobble with water and squeeze it through one time; this gets rid of any loose carbon. The activated carbon filter requires no maintenance thereafter. It should be replaced every two months or after filtering approximately 40 gallons, or 150 liters, of water. Its recommended retail price is $9.95, and replacement filters are only $7.00.
Green detergents can cause asthma
Montreal's public health department is warning school boards across the city not to use biodegradable cleaning products. Dr Louis Jacques said such products could cause allergic reactions in children. "Based on studies, these products can cause asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and dermatitis. The most frequent health problem that was caused or aggravated by these products is asthma," Jacques said.
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/02/26/que-health-department-bans-green-cleaning-products.html
Latvian Innovation: Disposable Cardboard Potty
The Latvian company, SIA Inovativas Konstrukcijas, has developed a product that will delight family travellers: disposable toilet seats. Latvian business daily Dienas Bizness reports that the company will market the cardboard potties under the brand name Pipin.
Liga Braslina, owner of SIA Inovativas Konstrukcijas, developed the potty in cooperation with the local cardboard plant, Austra Pak. The cardboard potty can withstand a weight of up to 20 kg. Pipin's retail price in Latvia will be around LVL 0.50 (EUR 0.70) per potty. The company is looking for export markets as well. Ms Braslina has big hopes for her business. "We want to sell these products throughout the world. We believe that in 5-10 years, Pipin will become just as familiar as pampers," she told Latvia's Diena daily. http://nekrize.lv/jauns-bizness-jauna-tirgus-nisa/
