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Experts: Australia must take lead on climate change
Australia is more economically vulnerable than any other wealthy nation to the effects of global warming; new report says: “Australia would be a big loser — possibly the biggest loser among developed nations — from unmitigated climate change”
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Study: Costs of solar panels far exceeds benefits
There is growing interest in solar power, but the cost of solar panels still exceeds their benefits, a University of California economist says; even under the most extreme assumptions — a 5 percent annual increase in electricity costs and 1 percent interest rate — the cost of solar PV is about 80 percent greater than the value of the electricity it will produce
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BlastGard shows new airport security tool
A mobile suspect package removal unit with blast-mitigating bomb receptacle will help hold and remove suspected explosive packages until the bomb squad arrives; new system would make it unnecessary to shut down an airport for long periods, which is a good thing, since it is estimated that an airport incurs losses of approximately $150,000 for every minute it is shut down
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How to protect corporate secrets from outsiders -- and insiders
A secret can be lost in the blink of an eye, but getting information back under wraps can take forever; John Edwards offers a few useful tips on how corporations can become more secure
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Toshiba tests liquid sodium fast reactor
Toshiba notices the growing interest in nuclear power, and opens high temperature liquid-sodium test loop at its Yokohama Complex; company says it will enhance its sodium-related technology in readiness for future business expansion in this promising market
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Moth eyes inspire more efficient solar cell design
Moth eyes do not reflect light: They have orderly bumps on their corneas, and the the array of bumps creates a situation in which almost no reflection exists, thus keeping the defenseless moth hidden from nocturnal predators; researchers want to increase the efficiency of solar panels by emulating moth eyes, allowing the panels to absorb and utilize — rather than reflect and waste — more of the sun’s light
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New U.K. nuclear plants to fund eventual decommissioning
New U.K. nuclear power station operators will be required to set aside money for their eventual decommissioning and waste costs
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Maintaining security at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport
In 2006, Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport handled 9 million international passengers and 405,000 domestic passengers; it did so while being among the world’s most secure — if not the most secure — airports; two Israeli companies, Hi-Tech Solutions and Rontal, made their own contributions to achieving that level of security
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Solar energy conversion breakthrough
Scientists say that sunlight falling on only 9 percent of California’s Mojave Desert could power all of the U.S. electricity needs — if the energy could be efficiently harvested; this is a big “if,” since current-generation solar cell technologies are too expensive and inefficient for wide-scale commercial applications; Northwestern University researchers show a way to increase solar cell efficiency
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DOE, partners test commercial geothermal technology in Nevada
Geothermal energy attracts more and more attention, and for good reason: One cubic kilometer of hot granite at 250 degrees centigrade has the stored energy equivalent of 40 million barrels of oil
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Researchers: Computers' "secure" memory systems utterly insecure
Attacks on computer memory reveals vulnerability of widely used security systems; information stored in a computer’s permanent memory readily accessible to hackers; laptops especially vulnerable
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Bacteria and nanofilters -- the future of clean water technology
University of Nottingham researchers combine contaminant-eating bacteria with nanoscale filtration membranes to purify fouled water; additional side benefit: The waste products created by purifying water have a very high calorific value, and can be used as fuel
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Astrium’s Spanish expansion
With growing interest in exploiting space-based assets for observation and monitoring, Astrium collaborates with Catalan, Spanish companies to create Infoterra SGSA; new venture will be exclusive distributor of TerraSAR-X high-resolution radar data for the Spanish market
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Major security vulnerabilities in proposed World Trade Center complex
Security experts say that the proposed World Trade Center complex has major security flaws: Towers contain too much glass; they are too close to the street where thousands of uninspected trucks and cars will drive daily; and the buildings do not meet Department of Defense or DHS blast standards
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Cleaner water through nanotechnology
As global warming causes more and more countries to have less and less fresh water for human consumption and irrigation, the purification and re-use of contaminated water becomes more urgent; Aussie researchers offer a nanotechnology-based method to purify water which is more effective and cheaper than conventional water purification methods
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More headlines
The long view
Falling Space Debris: How High Is the Risk I'll Get Hit?
An International Space Station battery fell back to Earth and, luckily, splashed down harmlessly in the Atlantic. Should we have worried? Space debris reenters our atmosphere every week.
Using Drone Swarms to Fight Forest Fires
Forest fires are becoming increasingly catastrophic across the world, accelerated by climate change. Researchers are using multiple swarms of drones to tackle natural disasters like forest fires.
Strengthening the Grid’s ‘Backbone’ with Hydropower
Argonne-led studies investigate how hydropower could help add more clean energy to the grid, how it generates value as grids add more renewable energy, and how liner technology can improve hydropower efficiency.
LNG Exports Have Had No Impact on Domestic Energy Costs: Analysis
U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) exports have not had any sustained and significant direct impact on U.S. natural gas prices and have, in fact, spurred production and productivity gains, which contribute to downward pressure on domestic prices.