Crumpled graphene and rubber combined to form artificial muscle

Crumpled graphene and rubber combined to form artificial muscle: "Despite its numerous wondrous properties, a propensity to stick together and be difficult to flatten out once crumpled can make working with graphene difficult and limit its applications. Engineers at Duke University have now found that by attaching graphene to a stretchy polymer film, they are able to crumple and then unfold the material, resulting in a properties that lend it to a broader range of applications, including artificial muscles"

'via Blog this'

Looking back on 40 years of the cell phone

Looking back on 40 years of the cell phone: "This year marks 40 years since the first public cellular phone call was made by Martin Cooper of Motorola. This mobile phone was a massive device by today's standards – weighing two and a half pounds (1.15 kg) and all of 10 inches long it could only be used for 20 minutes before the battery died."

'via Blog this'

Top 40 must-have Blu-ray discs | Fully Equipped - CNET Reviews

Top 40 must-have Blu-ray discs | Fully Equipped - CNET Reviews: "Apologies for being a little tardy on updating our long-running list of must-have Blu-ray movies, but here it is, refreshed for 2013. This month's updates entries include "Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection," "The Avengers," "Finding Nemo," "Jaws," "Lawrence of Arabia," and "Titanic.""

'via Blog this'

Ultra Cold Temperatures Change Boiling Water to Snow [Video] - How-To Geek

Ultra Cold Temperatures Change Boiling Water to Snow [Video] - How-To Geek: "If the weather is cold enough, it’s possible to toss a pot of boiling water in the air and be rewarded with a miniature snow cloud."

'via Blog this'

Snowpig: Golf cart gets pimped into an electric snow-blower

Snowpig: Golf cart gets pimped into an electric snow-blower: "Canadian eco-enthusiast Dan Baker is at it again, pimping a golf cart into an electric snow-blowing machine. Last year Baker home built the Firefly solar-powered boat from scratch and this winter he’s determined not to be snowed in."

'via Blog this'

Silicon nanoparticles could lead to on-demand hydrogen generation

Silicon nanoparticles could lead to on-demand hydrogen generation: "Researchers at the University of Buffalo have created spherical silicon nanoparticles they claim could lead to hydrogen generation on demand becoming a “just add water” affair. When the particles are combined with water, they rapidly form hydrogen and silicic acid, a nontoxic byproduct, in a reaction that requires no light, heat or electricity. In experiments, the hydrogen produced was shown to be relatively pure by successfully being used to power a small fan via a small fuel cell."

'via Blog this'

JAC< foldable electric scooter for urban commuters

JAC< foldable electric scooter for urban commuters: "LEEV Mobility, the Amsterdam-based company responsible for the Mantys electric golf vehicle, has gone from the fairway to the roadway for its second offering. The company's JAC< is an electric scooter that is designed to solve the first and last mile problem faced by urban commuters. A fully functional prototype has been constructed and LEEV has launched a crowdfunding campaign to get the JAC< on the road."

'via Blog this'

Earthereal: A Time Lapse Trip Around the Earth - How-To Geek

Earthereal: A Time Lapse Trip Around the Earth - How-To Geek: "This stunning video is a combination of dozens of time lapse sequences shot by astronauts aboard the International Space Station, all artfully spliced and set to a musical score."

'via Blog this'

Hot Tub Boat combines cruising and soaking

Hot Tub Boat combines cruising and soaking: "Can’t decide between lounging in the hot tub or going boating? Well, why not do both? People in and around The Netherlands can already do so, in a HotTug. Now, North Americans can also get in on the action, with the Hot Tub Boat."

'via Blog this'

Hennessey Venom GT sets new production car acceleration world record

Hennessey Venom GT sets new production car acceleration world record: "American tuning house Hennessey Performance Engineering is crowing after its own production car, the Hennessey Venom GT, set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest accelerating production car. To claim the record, the vehicle completed two runs in opposite directions within one hour of each other that averaged out to a time of 13.63 seconds to go from 0-300 km/h (186.4 mph)."

'via Blog this'

Crowdfunding push for EZ-EV open source electric kit car

Crowdfunding push for EZ-EV open source electric kit car: "Electrical engineer Gary Krysztopik has been driving his self-built, open-framed, three-wheeled electric "hotrod" on the roads and highways of San Antonio (TX) for over three years now, but folks still can't help staring as he zooms past. While also working on gas-to-electric conversions (including a VW Bug and a Porsche Carrera), he's been busy refining and tweaking the design for his "battery box on wheels" and is now preparing to release the EZ-EV car as open source plans, build-it-yourself kits and complete vehicles."

'via Blog this'

NASA team pushing towards thermal nuclear propulsion systems

NASA team pushing towards thermal nuclear propulsion systems: "Nuclear-powered rocket engines are not new. In the 1960s, both the U.S. and the Soviet Union developed and tested thermal nuclear rockets fitted with flight-worthy components."

'via Blog this'