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A Micro-Muscular Break Through

By Guest PostJanuary 13, 2014Scienceartificial muscles, berkeley lab, break through, carbon nanotubes, chromium, chun cheng, electronics industry, electrostatics, energy-efficient, helix, joonki suh, junqiao wu, kai liu, micro explosion, micro muscular, micro systems, milliseconds, motion, optical devices, pantheon of superstars, piezoelectrics, vanadium dioxide

Berkeley Lab Researchers Make a Powerful New Microscale Torsional Muscle/Motor from Vanadium Dioxide

Vanadium dioxide is poised to join the pantheon of superstars in the materials world. Already prized for its extraordinary ability to change size, shape and physical identity, vanadium dioxide can now add muscle power to its attributes. A team of researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has demonstrated a micro-sized robotic torsional muscle/motor made from vanadium dioxide that for its size is a thousand times more powerful than a human muscle, able to catapult objects 50 times heavier than itself over a distance five times its length within 60 milliseconds – faster than the blink of an eye. (more…)

For metals of the smartphone age, no Plan B

By Guest PostDecember 5, 2013Science, Technologybarbara reck, best substitute materials, cardiovascular imaging, catalyst, chromium, comprehensive analysis, copper, dysprosium, ermelinda harper, europium, flat panel displays, laser technologies, lead, lifecycle of metals, manganese, metals, modern products, no plan b, numerical rating, periodic table, permanent magnets, platinum group metal, rare earth elements, rees, rhodium, smartphone age, solar energy systems, solar panels, thallium, thomas e graedel, thulium, vehicle emissions, yale study, ytterbium, yttrium

Many of the metals needed to feed the surging global demand for high-tech products, from smart phones to solar panels, cannot be replaced, leaving some markets vulnerable if resources become scarce, according to a new Yale study.

In a comprehensive analysis, a team of researchers from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES) evaluated how all 62 metals or metalloids on the periodic table of elements are used in consumer products, and the extent to which each of those metals could be replaced if reserves dwindle or supplies become unreliable. (more…)

From Mercury to Morocco, and onward to Yale: a meteorite’s tale

By Guest PostNovember 27, 2013Scienceanthony j irving, asteroid, chromium, comet, csi solar system, derek briggs, earth, Germany, greenish space rock, magnesium, mars, mercury, meteor, meteorite, moroccan desert, morocco, natural history, northwest africa, nwa 7325, peabody museum, planetary meteorites, solar system, Space, stefan ralew, university of washington, yale

Talk about a precious stone — the largest piece of the only known meteorite from the planet Mercury has found its way to Yale, where it is now on display at the Peabody Museum of Natural History.

Known as NWA 7325, the fist-size, greenish space rock is a rarity among rarities: there just aren’t many verified planetary meteorites. Scientists know of about 70 from Mars and, until now, none from any of the other planets in Earth’s solar system. There are about 180 known meteorites from the moon. NWA 7325 is the first believed to be from Mercury. (more…)

Super-Strong, High-Tech Material Found to be Toxic to Aquatic Animals by Researchers at MU and USGS

By Guest PostAugust 27, 2012Scienceaquatic animal, baolin deng, carbon nanotube, chironomus dilutes, chromium, cnts, crustaceans, earth, Environment, epa, flies larvae, hao li, hyalella azteca, joseph mwangi, lumbriculus variegatus, mass production, metal, mussels, nickel, pure carbon, strongest material, tennis racket, toxic, united states, university of missouri, villosa iris, waste management, worms

Carbon nanotubes hold promise for industry but need monitoring, say researchers

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are some of the strongest materials on Earth and are used to strengthen composite materials, such as those used in high-performance tennis rackets. CNTs have potential uses in everything from medicine to electronics to construction. However, CNTs are not without risks. A joint study by the University of Missouri and United States Geological Survey found that they can be toxic to aquatic animals. The researchers urge that care be taken to prevent the release of CNTs into the environment as the materials enter mass production.

“The great promise of carbon nanotubes must be balanced with caution and preparation,” said Baolin Deng, professor and chair of chemical engineering at the University of Missouri. “We don’t know enough about their effects on the environment and human health. The EPA and other regulatory groups need more studies like ours to provide information on the safety of CNTs.” (more…)

Tag Archives: chromium

A Micro-Muscular Break Through

For metals of the smartphone age, no Plan B

From Mercury to Morocco, and onward to Yale: a meteorite’s tale

Super-Strong, High-Tech Material Found to be Toxic to Aquatic Animals by Researchers at MU and USGS