Lawrence Livermore scientists have recently developed a new approach to magnetically levitating high-speed trains that is fundamentally much simpler in design and operation (requiring no superconducting coils or stability control circuits), potentially much less expensive, and more widely adaptable than other maglev systems. The new technology, called Inductrack, employs special arrays of permanent magnets that induce strong repulsive currents in a "track" made up of coils, pushing up on the cars and levitating them.
Continue reading… “New approach to levitating trains”

Its maker, Italian fashion house Corpo Nove, calls it “memory metal.” We call it high-tech fashion. The Oricalco shirt, unveiled this year, is made from a lightweight half-titanium alloy that recovers any preprogrammed shape with a simple application of heat. Crumple it up, stuff it in your carry-on, fall asleep wearing it — a simple blast from a hair dryer ren-ders it wrinkle free. Of course, you’ll pay for such couture: $4,000 (that’d buy a lot of irons). The company is now working on a shirt that automatically rolls up its sleeves in hot weather. More Here
Continue reading… “Hot Shirt Smoothes Wrinkles”

Hydrogen warms the hearts in Colorado and fattens the wallets unexpectantly.

Primary personal energy investigator makes a stunning breakthrough over the Holidays. Miniature power sources that will enable smart clothes with heating, cooling and electric power generation from a renewable abundant fuel source.

Remarkably the fuel is transportated as innocent water and is converted to fuel on demand as needed.

A recent high altitude photo revealed a single line of investors snakeig across the continental divide with their black trench coats silouetted in the white snow, clenching check books in outstretched hands.

More on this enabling technology in our next issue with photos of the implosion pump from HydroLarc that powers this quantum leap in personal, wearable energy systems and the inexpensive alternative to challenge Fuel cells.
Continue reading… “Power Gets Personal and Upclose”

Cast your vote! Who do you think is the greatest inventor of all times?
Continue reading… “Inventor’s Survey”

When you have kids, you need eyes in the back of your head. Likewise, it helps if you have them in the back of your car too. The all-new Infiniti Q45 does — it’s the first car equipped with rear-view television. Shift into reverse, and a screen on the instrument panel — which doubles as the navigation display — shows what’s behind you so you don’t hit it.
http://www.popsci.com/bown/auto_57_infinitiq45.html
Continue reading… “Innovation We Get Behind”

A major reason you don’t drive a fuel cell car already: There’s nowhere to get a tankful of hydrogen. This infrastructure problem is not lost on General Motors engineers, who’ve found a new source: the local filling station. They developed a catalytic device that strips hydrogen from regular gasoline. It’s not as efficient as pure hydrogen, but it produces 50 percent better fuel economy. Demonstrated in a prototype Chevy S-10 this year, the advance brings fuel cells one step closer to the family car.
http://www.popsci.com/bown/auto_60_gmcfuelcell.html

Continue reading… “Fuel Cells Take a Big Step”

Not only are this plane’s wings made of plastic, they inflate like a balloon . . . in midflight. No, it’s not some daredevil stunt; it’s a NASA plane that may someday be dropped from spacecraft orbiting other planets. During a successful flight earlier this year, a nitrogen canister inflated the I2000’s 32-inch-long wings in a third of a second. It marked the first time an aircraft’s wings have ever been inflated in flight.
http://www.popsci.com/bown/aviation_51_wing.html
Continue reading… “Inflatables Catch Some Air”