Lifeboat Foundation

Researchers at Aalto University have discovered a new force acting on water droplets moving over superhydrophobic surfaces like black silicon by adapting a novel force measurement technique to uncover the previously unidentified physics at play. This force, identified as air-shearing, challenges previous understandings and suggests modifications in the design of these surfaces to reduce drag, potentially improving their efficiency and application in various fields.

Microscopic chasms forming a sea of conical jagged peaks stipple the surface of a material called black silicon. While it’s commonly found in solar cell tech, black silicon also moonlights as a tool for studying the physics of how water droplets behave.

Black silicon is a superhydrophobic material, meaning it repels water. Due to water’s unique surface tension properties, droplets glide across textured materials like black silicon by riding on a thin air-film gap trapped beneath. This works great when the droplets move slowly—they slip and slide without a hitch.

Battery prices are dropping significantly, leading to a future of cheaper electric vehicles, battery storage, solar energy, and cleaner air Questions to inspire discussion What is the impact of dropping battery prices? —Dropping battery prices will lead to cheaper electric vehicles, battery storage, solar energy, and.

EverestLabs is among a group of AI startups disrupting the waste sector by using 3D cameras, machine learning, and robots.

There’s a reason airlines won’t let you put your laptop in your checked luggage; the lithium-ion battery poses a serious fire hazard. But why? Lithium is incredibly reactive.

For instance, pure lithium violently interacts with seemingly innocuous water, releasing heat and forming highly flammable hydrogen. This reactivity, however, is exactly why lithium makes a great material for batteries, and why it is a critical mineral for the green energy transition.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric vehicles. Plus, they can store energy produced by renewable resources like solar and wind.

Tesla is set to roll out an awesome new feature with Sentry Mode, allowing owners to watch the video clip recorded by the car on their phone.

Sentry Mode is a security feature on Tesla vehicles that records instances and events that occur near the car. It has helped solve things as simple as petty vandalism, like keying, and even liability in accidents.

For years, it has been available on Tesla vehicles. Yet, people are still not aware of this capability and continue to commit crimes on the cars, not realizing they are being recorded.

I found this on NewsBreak.

Researchers in China have reportedly developed a new technology similar to hydropanels for harvesting water out of thin air that is powered by energy from the sun. The device could be especially useful in dry, arid areas where water — but not sunlight — is hard to come by.

Continue reading “Scientists make breakthrough with advanced technology generating water from thin air — and it could save millions of lives” »

I found this on NewsBreak: Elon Musk Says “There’s Nothing More I Hate, But it Must Be Done” as He Announces a Massive 15,000 Employee Tesla Job Cut – Adds “It is Very Difficult to Say Goodbye”

When we thought Tesla’s Optimus project was settling into a routine of shirt-folding chores and tasks, Elon Musk threw us a curveball. A new video, shared by the Tesla CEO on X(formerly Twitter), showcases Optimus in its new Gen 2 avatar in a state we haven’t seen before, walking but decidedly undressed.

But unlike the polished presentations we’ve seen before, this time, Optimus is bare-bones, revealing its intricate inner workings in all their unpolished glory.

Questions to inspire discussion.

What do rental car companies need to improve?
—Rental car companies need to improve their education and communication with customers about electric vehicles to prevent incidents like getting trapped due to running out of charge.