Soon, Fossilised Algae May Power Electric Vehicles

Scientists are developing inexpensive, energy efficient lithium ions batteries for electric vehicles by using silicon based anodes made from the fossilized remains of single celled algae called diatoms. The research at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) could lead to the development of ultra-high capacity lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles and portable electronics. The anode of lithium ion batteries is mostly made of graphite but the mineral’s performance is a limiting factor in making batter batteries and expanding their applications. Silicon, which can store about 10 times more energy, can be an alternative anode material, but its production is expensive. To change that, the team turned to a cheap source of silicon – diatomaceous earth (DE) – and more efficient chemical process. Using a process called magnesiothermic reduction, the group of scientists converted this low-cost source of silicon dioxide to pure silicon nano=particles. A significant finding in our research was the preservation of the diatom cell walls – structures known as frustules – creating a highly porous anode that allows easy access for the electrolyte.

A Toothpaste That Is Almost As Good As Statins

Specially-formulated toothpaste that identified where plaque is on the teeth could help prevent heart attacks. The toothpaste was found to remove twice as much plaque as normal toothpaste. It also helped to reduce inflammation levels by 29%, which is almost the same kind of reduction achieved by statins (37%) that are used to lower cholesterol. Reducing inflammation is important as people who have gum disease have higher rates of coronary heart disease, which can lead to a heart attack. It isn’t clear whether this is because of a direct biological link between the two – for example, that the process of inflammation of the gums directly affects the build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries – or because people who have gum disease are more likely to have unhealthy lifestyle habits, which would directly contribute towards coronary heart disease. Using the toothpaste is a fairly simple thing to do, yet it seems to have a big impact. And there are no side effects that researchers know of. We get the benefit of better oral health and potentially big heart benefits too.

Your Footstep Can Generate Electricity

Move over solar energy! Researchers have developed a novel, inexpensive and simple method that can convert footsteps into usable electricity. The method developed by researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US puts to good use a common waste material: wood pulp. The pulp, which is already a common component of flooring, is partly made of cellulose nanofibres – tiny fibers that, when chemically treated, produce an electrical charge when they come into contact with untreated nanofibers. When the nanofibres are embedded within flooring, they are able to produce electricity that can be harnessed to power lights or charge batteries. Because weed pulp is a cheap, abundant and renewable waste product of several industries, flooring that incorporated the new technology could be as affordable as conventional materials. Existing materials for harnessing footstep energy are costly, non recyclable and impractical.

This New Bike Lock Makes Thieves Vomit Uncontrollably

A new bike lock brings on immediate vomiting and trouble breathing for anyone who tries to break open it. Two inventors from San Francisco, irritated by seeing bikes stole, have created a new lock that makes anyone who tries to break through it be sick. The lock is triggered whenever it senses someone who tries to break into it – and when it is, it shoots out a burst of noxious spray, like a skunk, that has effects similar to pepper spray. The lock was created after the inventors kept seeing their friends have their bike stolen. The new lock doesn’t cause any lasting damage – but does induce horrible effects in anyone that tries to break into it.