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| November 20, 2013 |
 Spanish scientists are designing a robot for inspecting tunnels Madrid, Spain (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - Currently, maintenance and safety inspection of tunnels used for vehicular traffic is carried out by direct in situ observation. This process, which is slow and requires intensive labor, requires that traffic be stopped on entire streets or sections of the underground passageways, resulting in an inconvenience for users. "The automated ROBINSPECT system allows tunnel inspection to be carri ... more |  |
 Optimizing electronic correlations for superconductivity Houston TX (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - The decadeslong effort to create practical superconductors moved a step forward with the discovery at Rice University that two distinctly different iron-based compounds share common mechanisms for moving electrons. Samples from two classes of iron-based superconductors, pnictides and chalcogenides, employ similar coupling between electrons in their superconducting state, said Rice physicis ... more |  |
 Revisiting quantum effects in MEMS Heidelberg, Germany (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - Micro- and nano-electromechanical devices, referred to as MEMS and NEMS, are ubiquitous. These nanoscale machines with movable parts are used, for example, to trigger cars' airbags following a shock. They can also be found in smartphones, allowing them to detect how to adequately display the screen for the viewer. The trouble is that, as their size decreases, forces typically experienced a ... more |  |
 Overcoming Brittleness: New Insights into Bulk Metallic Glass Berkeley CA (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - From the production of tougher, more durable smart phones and other electronic devices, to a wider variety of longer lasting biomedical implants, bulk metallic glasses are poised to be mainstay materials for the 21st Century. Featuring a non-crystalline amorphous structure, bulk metallic glasses can be as strong or even stronger than steel, as malleable as plastics, conduct electricity and ... more |  |
A Superconductor-Surrogate Earns Its Stripes Berkeley CA (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - Understanding superconductivity - whereby certain materials can conduct electricity without any loss of energy - has proved to be one of the most persistent problems in modern physics. Scientists have struggled for decades to develop a cohesive theory of superconductivity, largely spurred by the game-changing prospect of creating a superconductor that works at room temperature, but it has proved ... more |  |
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Whither the teakettle whistle Washington DC (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - Despite decades of brewing tea in a whistling kettle, the source and mechanism of this siren sound of comfort has never been fully described scientifically. Acknowledging the vibrations made by the build-up of steam escaping through two metal spout plates is about as far as the explanation went - and was good enough for most people. But not for a team of engineering investigators at the U ... more |  |
SlipChip Counts Molecules with Chemistry and a Cell Phone Pasadena CA (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - In developing nations, rural areas, and even one's own home, limited access to expensive equipment and trained medical professionals can impede the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Many qualitative tests that provide a simple "yes" or "no" answer (like an at-home pregnancy test) have been optimized for use in these resource-limited settings. But few quantitative tests-those able to measure th ... more |  |
Scaling theory better predicts gas production in Barnett shale wells Austin TX (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a simple scaling theory to estimate gas production from hydraulically fractured wells in the Barnett Shale. The method is intended to help the energy industry accurately identify low- and high-producing horizontal wells, as well as accurately predict how long it will take for gas reserves to deplete in the wells. Using histori ... more |  |
 Mahindra EPC's Successful Comissioning Of Solar Projects In Tamil Nadu Mumbai, India (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - After the successful commissioning of over 80MW of solar projects across India, Mahindra EPC is pleased to announce the successful commissioning of its first solar projects in Tamil Nadu, which were executed in a record-breaking 40 days for some of India's leading automotive component manufacturers. It gives us immense pleasure to inform you that these captive consumption installations wer ... more |  |
Holston View Wins Solar Project of the Year Bristol TN (SPX) Nov 20, 2013 - Holston View Elementary in Bristol, Tenn., has won Solar Project of the Year from Solar Builder magazine. The 50kW solar pavilion system - consisting of 200 MAGE Solar AC modules powered by SolarBridge Technologies microinverters - was selected as winner of the Ground Mount category by Solar Builder readers. Ecological Energy Systems installed the solar canopy system featuring AC modules a ... more |  |
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 IAEA experts to revisit Fukushima to review shutdown plan Vienna (AFP) Nov 19, 2013 - UN nuclear experts will visit Japan again next week to review government efforts to shut down the devastated Fukushima nuclear plant and prevent further worrying leaks, the IAEA said Tuesday. "An IAEA expert team will visit Japan this month at the request of the Japanese government to review the efforts and plans to decommission TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station," the Internat ... more |  |
 Driven to distraction: carmakers mull gadget risks Los Angeles (AFP) Nov 20, 2013 - Talking on the phone while driving is illegal in a growing number of countries, but with the explosion of in-car technologies the potential for drivers being distracted is greater than ever. The dangers of gadget distraction were highlighted Tuesday in Los Angeles, where the LA Auto Show devoted a whole day to the opportunities in the so-called Connected Car, as well as the risks. Techno ... more |  |
Bolivia says it's on track to develop nuclear power La Paz, Bolivia (UPI) Nov 19, 2013 - Bolivia is on track to develop a national nuclear power program for peaceful civilian purposes that include building electricity export capacity in the country, official media reported. Ever since Bolivian President Evo Morales outlined plans in October for a long-delayed nuclear power generation program, officials in La Paz have been pursuing follow-up discussions with Argentina, a fut ... more |  |
Botswana says no fracking in premier wildlife park Johannesburg (AFP) Nov 19, 2013 - Botswana's government Tuesday said environmental protection was key in its search for natural gas, rejecting claims that fracking was already under way in the country's top wildlife park. "There are currently no fracking operations going on in the country except exploration drilling by various exploration companies," said a statement from the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources. ... more |  |
 Romania's Senate rejects Canadian gold mine Bucharest (AFP) Nov 19, 2013 - Romania's Senate on Tuesday rejected a controversial bill that would have cleared the way for a huge Canadian gold mine project that has sparked massive protests in the last two months. A total of 119 senators voted against the draft law, three voted for and six abstained. The House of Representatives will have the final say, however. Canadian miner Gabriel Resources, which is backed ... more |  |
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 Exxon to sell Hong Kong power company stake Hong Kong (AFP) Nov 19, 2013 - US oil giant ExxonMobil said Tuesday it had agreed to sell its stake in a Hong Kong power-generation firm, in a deal worth more than $3 billion. The largest US oil company reported an 18 percent decline in third quarter profits last month due to weaker refining earnings. "ExxonMobil Energy Limited has reached an agreement to divest its 60 percent shareholding in Castle Peak Power Company ... more |  |
Arab gulf states build up strike capabilities as U.S. relaxes rules Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UPI) Nov 19, 2013 - Amid mounting Arab concerns about a rapprochement between the United States and Iran, the Persian Gulf petro-monarchies that are Tehran's greatest opponents are looking to acquire precision-guided weapons and other advanced systems to enhance their strike capabilities. That has been their main focus at the biannual Dubai Air Show, one of the aerospace industry's major showcases in the r ... more |  |
Oil prices firm ahead of Iran nuclear talks Singapore (AFP) Nov 20, 2013 - Oil prices rose in Asia Wednesday after US President Barack Obama said he was not sure a deal could be reached this week on Iran's disputed nuclear programme. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for December delivery, was up 31 cents at $93.65 while Brent North Sea crude for January added 32 cents to $107.24. "We may attribute the rise of crude oil to a pent-up risk p ... more |  |
Tokyo Motor Show focuses on eco-friendly cars Tokyo (AFP) Nov 20, 2013 - Eco-friendly cars were in the spotlight as the Tokyo Motor Show opened Wednesday, with Toyota unveiling a new model and Nissan touting its aerodynamic BladeGlider for energy-conscious drivers. Toyota, a pioneer of hybrid vehicles, rolled out its FCV concept car, a four-seater sedan that has a range of 500 kilometres (310 miles) - longer than previous versions - and whose fuel cells can be ... more |  |
Bankruptcy seen looming for Finnish nickel miner Talvivaara Helsinki, Finland (UPI) Nov 20, 2013 - A temporary shutdown and reorganization petition filed by Finland's Talvivaara nickel mining company has brought predictions of its eventual bankruptcy. Debt-laden Talvivaara Friday announced the temporary suspension of ore and metals recovery operations at its northern Finland site and a decision to file for corporate reorganization. The halt in production took effect immediatel ... more |  |
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