New pumping strategy could slash energy costs of fluid transport by 22%

Introduction In recent years, there has been an increased focus on finding ways to reduce energy costs and minimize environmental impacts. One of the most innovative solutions to this challenge has been developed by a collaboration between the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and the Polytechnic University of Milan, who have discovered that by using a technique known as intermittent pumping of fluids through pipes, energy costs can be greatly reduced. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how this technique works, the potential for cost savings, and how it can help reduce environmental impacts. What is Intermittent Pumping? Intermittent pumping is a technique used to minimize energy costs and minimize the amount of energy and resources used to transport fluids. This technique involves the intermittent operation of a pump in order to move a fluid, such as water or oil, through a pipe system. By varying the pump speed, the flow rate and pressure can be controlled, allowing the fluid to be transported in an efficient manner with minimal energy consumption. How Does Intermittent Pumping Reduce Energy Costs? The main benefit of intermittent pumping is that it reduces energy costs by allowing the pump to operate at a lower speed. This is because the pump is only operating intermittently, meaning that it is not running at full capacity for an extended period of time, which can be very costly. By operating at a lower speed, the pump consumes less energy and produces less waste heat, resulting in a lower overall energy usage. The ability to control the pump speed also allows for a greater degree of control over the flow rate and pressure of the fluid being transported. This can reduce energy costs further, as it allows the pump to be operated at a lower speed, while still providing the necessary pressure and flow rate. Environmental Benefits of Intermittent Pumping In addition to reducing energy costs, the use of intermittent pumping can also help reduce environmental impacts. By operating the pump at a lower speed and using less energy, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. This reduction in emissions can help to reduce the effects of climate change and contribute to a healthier environment. Furthermore, the use of intermittent pumping can help reduce water pollution, as it allows for more efficient use of the fluid being transported. By operating the pump at a lower speed and using less energy, less of the fluid is lost through evaporation and seepage, reducing the potential for the fluid to be discharged into the environment. Conclusion The collaboration between the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and the Polytechnic University of Milan has produced a groundbreaking technique for reducing energy costs and reducing environmental impacts. By using intermittent pumping of fluids through pipes, energy costs can be significantly reduced while still providing the necessary flow rate and pressure. Additionally, this technique can help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, reducing the effects of climate change, and can help to reduce water pollution by reducing evaporation and seepage of pumped fluids. Intermittent pumping is an innovative and cost-effective solution to energy and resource conservation, and it has the potential to benefit both the environment and the economy.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/new-pumping-strategy-could-slash-energy-costs-of-fluid-transport-by-22

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Development of a self-resonant smart energy harvester

Introduction The Internet of Things (IoT) is quickly becoming a reality. It is a network based on wireless sensor nodes that provide resources and information for various industries, from health care and retail to automotive and transportation. While these sensor nodes offer a wealth of data, their longevity is dependent on their battery life. For the long-lasting use of IoT devices, their batteries must be replaced, or a number of power line connections with complex wiring are required. This is particularly challenging when sensors are installed in geographically inaccessible areas. Replacing batteries or connecting long power lines is time-consuming, dangerous, and costly. The Need for IoT Solutions This is why there is an urgent need for reliable and cost-effective solutions for IoT devices. As the number of IoT devices increases over time, the need for these solutions becomes even greater. Solutions that provide reliable power sources for these devices must be found in order to get the most out of them. In addition, these solutions must be simple, safe, and cost-effective. Advantages of Renewable Energy Sources One of the most promising solutions is harnessing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. These sources are becoming more popular, as they are widely available, particularly in remote locations. Solar and wind power are the most popular renewable energy sources for powering IoT devices. Solar power offers the advantage of being able to be stored and used even after the sun has set. Wind power is also becoming increasingly more practical, as more wind turbines are being developed and installed. Harnessing renewable energy sources for IoT devices offers a number of advantages, including being cost-effective, cost-efficient, reliable, and safe. Solar and wind power are also renewable and clean sources of energy. This means they do not produce any pollutants that harm the environment. Additionally, solar and wind power require little to no maintenance, as they do not require any fuel to operate. Challenges to Harnessing Renewable Energy Sources While renewable energy sources have numerous advantages, there are also a few challenges that must be addressed when harnessing them for use in IoT devices. First, the cost of installing and maintaining these systems can be high. Wind turbines, for example, are expensive to install and maintain. Additionally, the amount of power generated by these sources is unpredictable and dependent on the weather. This can lead to power fluctuations and unstable power supply, which can be detrimental to IoT devices. Conclusion Harnessing renewable energy sources is a promising and cost-effective solution for powering IoT devices. Solar and wind power are two of the most popular renewable energy sources, as they are widely available, clean, and require little to no maintenance. While there are a few challenges to harnessing these sources, such as high costs and unpredictable power output, these sources still offer a number of advantages. With further development and research, renewable energy sources can play an important role in powering IoT devices in geographically inaccessible areas.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/development-of-a-self-resonant-smart-energy-harvester

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Spinal cord stimulation shown to instantly improve arm mobility after stroke

Introduction Neuroscience has developed leaps and bounds in recent times, and as a result, breakthroughs have been made in the treatment of paralysis due to stroke. Drawing on the collective expertise of University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University researchers, a neurotechnology has been developed to stimulate the spinal cord, proving to be a revolutionary breakthrough in the treatment of stroke patients. This technology has been reported in Nature Medicine and is set to lead the way in enabling people who were affected by moderate to severe stroke to regain their arm and hand mobility and go about their daily lives more easily. What is stroke and its effect? Stroke is a medical condition caused by an interruption in the blood flow to a certain area of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells in that area. This can lead to paralysis in the body due to temporary or permanent damage to the nerves, leading to loss of muscle control, movement, and coordination. It often affects the ability of a person to grab and hold objects, making daily activities a challenge. How does the neurotechnology work? The neurotechnology developed by University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University is uniquely designed to communicate with the spinal cord. It generates signals that activate the nerves in the spinal cord immediately, leading to enhanced mobility in the limbs that had been affected due to stroke. This device works by stimulating the spinal cord through an array of electrodes that are placed on the skin surface of the affected area. Those electrodes then send signals to specific points of the spinal cord, which activates the nerves and aids in restoring movement. Benefits of the neurotechnology The neurotechnology has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of stroke victims. It immediately improves the mobility of the arm and hand and helps enable patients to perform their daily activities more easily. It can also aid in the regaining of motor skills that have been lost due to stroke. Comparatively, existing treatments for stroke require months of physical therapy and rehabilitation before the patient can regain their motor functions and mobility of the affected limbs. This technology can help in reducing the time taken for recovery and enable the patient to regain their movement more quickly. Conclusion The development of this neurotechnology by researchers of University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University to help regain arm and hand mobility is truly a breakthrough in the medical world. It has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of stroke patients and enable them to quickly regain lost motor control and movement. This technology is a major step towards the betterment of lives of those affected by stroke.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-medical-news/spinal-cord-stimulation-shown-to-instantly-improve-arm-mobility-after-stroke

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Text generators may plagiarize beyond 'copy and paste'

Students may want to think twice before using a chatbot to complete their next assignment. Language models that generate text in response to user prompts plagiarize content in more ways than one, according to a Penn State-led research team that conducted the first study to directly examine the phenomenon.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/text-generators-may-plagiarize-beyond-copy-and-paste

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Super Bowl car ads sell Americans the idea that new tech will protect them

Super Bowl ads tend to kick off trends, and it looks like the automotive industry will ramp up its pitch for electric vehicles after giving them center stage. Even Tesla, which has never run a Super Bowl ad, managed to sneak its Model Y into a Popeyes commercial, while Ram boasted that its new electric pickup truck's smart technology solved the problems of "premature electrification" that left consumers unsatisfied.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/super-bowl-car-ads-sell-americans-the-idea-that-new-tech-will-protect-them

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Using the cuttlefish eye as a template for robot eyes that can see better in murky conditions

A team of roboticists from Seoul National University, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and Pusan National University, all in the Republic of Korea, has developed a new kind of robotic eye that can see better under uneven illumination conditions. In their paper published in the journal Science Robotics the group describes using attributes of cuttlefish as a template for their new design.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/using-the-cuttlefish-eye-as-a-template-for-robot-eyes-that-can-see-better-in-murky-conditions

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How to pull carbon dioxide out of seawater

As carbon dioxide continues to build up in the Earth's atmosphere, research teams around the world have spent years seeking ways to remove the gas efficiently from the air. Meanwhile, the world's number one "sink" for carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is the ocean, which soaks up some 30% to 40% of all of the gas produced by human activities.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/how-to-pull-carbon-dioxide-out-of-seawater

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New ultrafast water disinfection method is more environmentally friendly

Having safe drinking water is vital for public health, but traditional methods of disinfection cause their own environmental problems. Chlorine is cheap and easy to use in centralized water systems, but at the expense of harmful chemical byproducts.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/new-ultrafast-water-disinfection-method-is-more-environmentally-friendly

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Engineered wood grows stronger while trapping carbon dioxide

Rice University scientists have figured out a way to engineer wood to trap carbon dioxide through a potentially scalable, energy-efficient process that also makes the material stronger for use in construction.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/engineered-wood-grows-stronger-while-trapping-carbon-dioxide

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Ford halts output of F-150 Lightning through at least next week

Ford plans to suspend production of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck through "at least" the end of next week, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/ford-halts-output-of-f-150-lightning-through-at-least-next-week

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A bat-inspired framework to equip robots with sound-based localization and mapping capabilities

Bats have the innate ability to move around in the dark, even when they cannot visually perceive their surroundings. This fascinating ability is grounded in their emission of ultrasonic chirps, which produce unique patterns of echoes that offer information about the location of nearby objects of interest or obstacles.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/a-bat-inspired-framework-to-equip-robots-with-sound-based-localization-and-mapping-capabilities

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EU approves 2035 ban on new fossil fuel car sales

The European Parliament on Tuesday gave its final approval to a ban on new sales of carbon-emitting petrol and diesel cars by 2035, with a view to getting them off the continent's roads by mid-century.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/eu-approves-2035-ban-on-new-fossil-fuel-car-sales

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Electric utes can now power the weekend—and the work week

Four years ago, then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison famously claimed electric vehicles (EVs) would end the weekend. "It's not going to tow your trailer. It's not going to tow your boat. It's not going to get you out to your favorite camping spot," he said.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/electric-utes-can-now-power-the-weekend-and-the-work-week

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Efficient technique improves machine-learning models' reliability

Powerful machine-learning models are being used to help people tackle tough problems such as identifying disease in medical images or detecting road obstacles for autonomous vehicles. But machine-learning models can make mistakes, so in high-stakes settings it's critical that humans know when to trust a model's predictions.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/efficient-technique-improves-machine-learning-models-reliability

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Sexting chatbot ban points to looming battle over AI rules

Users of the Replika "virtual companion" just wanted company. Some of them wanted romantic relationships, sex chat, or even racy pictures of their chatbot.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/sexting-chatbot-ban-points-to-looming-battle-over-ai-rules

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