Tech : Science World Report

Oct 09, 2013 04:01 PM EDT

World Record Solar Cell with 44.7% Efficiency

A new world record for the conversion of sunlight into electricity using a new solar cell structure with four solar subcells has been achieved by a German-French collaboration consisting of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Soitec, CEA-Leti and the Helmholtz Center Berlin.

Oct 09, 2013 03:41 PM EDT

Major Leap Towards Transparent Graphene Contacts for Solar Cells

Graphene has extreme conductivity and is completely transparent while being inexpensive and nontoxic. This makes it a perfect candidate material for transparent contact layers for use in solar cells to conduct electricity without reducing the amount of incoming light - at least in theory.

Oct 09, 2013 03:20 PM EDT

Research Overview: Graphene Cleans, Drives, and Repels Water

Engineers and scientists are now studying how water interacts with surfaces and chemicals, and how we can engineer those interactions for the benefit of human health and world energy. Naturally, with its strong hydrophobic nature, graphene has found its own uses in water engineering.

Oct 08, 2013 04:55 PM EDT

New Object Recognition Algorithm Enhances Robot Vision

A neglected statistical tool could help robots better understand the objects in the world around them.

Oct 07, 2013 09:55 PM EDT

New Kind of Microscope Uses Neutrons

Device could open up new areas of research on materials and biological samples at tiny scales.

Oct 07, 2013 05:22 PM EDT

Sewage Mining System of Israeli Firm Extracts Useful Fibers, Lowers Cost

Israeli firm Applied CleanTech has developed a sewage mining system that picks out and recycles useful fibers from raw urban and industrial wastewater, increasing the efficiency of treatment plants and reducing the amount of unwanted sludge.

Oct 05, 2013 10:40 AM EDT

Giant Radio Telescope ALMA Receives its Final 66th Antenna

ALMA Observatory receives its final antenna , the 66th antenna for ALMA Project on Monday . The antenna is expected to be installed by the end of the year.

Oct 05, 2013 10:24 AM EDT

NASA Proceeds With MAVEN Mission Despite Federal Shutdown

NASA will proceed with its next mission to Mars scheduled to launch on November 18, despite the federal shutdown.

Oct 04, 2013 09:42 PM EDT

Turns Out 3D-Printing At Home is Both Cheaper And Greener Than Factory Products

Making stuff on a 3D printer uses less energy—and therefore releases less carbon dioxide—than producing it en masse in a factory and shipping it to a warehouse.