Bacteria normally found 30 kilometers above Earth have been identified as highly efficient generators of electricity. Bacillus stratosphericus — a microbe commonly found in high concentrations in the stratosphere — is a key component of a new ‘super’ biofilm that has been engineered by a team of scientists from Newcastle University.

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Stratospheric superbugs offer new source of power

Scientists have created a “designer slime” that can double the electrical output of existing microbial fuel cells. Bacillus stratosphericus — a microbe commonly found in high concentrations in the stratosphere orbiting Earth with the satellites — is a key component of a new ‘super’ biofilm.

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Superbugs from space offer new source of power

Could replacing coal-fired electricity plants with generators fueled by natural gas bring global warming to a halt in this century?

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Only the lowest carbon dioxide emitting technologies can avoid a hot end-of-century

A drastic switch to low carbon-emitting technologies, such as wind and hydroelectric power, may not yield a reduction in global warming until the latter part of this century, new research suggests. Furthermore, it states that technologies that offer only modest reductions in greenhouse gases, such as the use of natural gas and perhaps carbon capture and storage, cannot substantially reduce climate risk in the next 100 years.

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Low-carbon technologies ‘no quick-fix’: May not lessen global warming until late this century

Researchers in California report that they have significantly enhanced polymer solar cells’ performance by building a device with a new “tandem” structure that combines multiple cells with different absorption bands. The device had a certified power-conversion efficiency of 8.62 percent and set a world record in July 2011

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Engineers create tandem polymer solar cells that set record for energy-conversion

Scientists have found that a new type of battery has the potential to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar power.

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New battery could lead to cheaper, more efficient solar energy

Wind conditions at a fire scene can make a critical difference on the behavior of the blaze and the safety of firefighters, even indoors, according to a new report.

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Report on Texas fire urges firefighters to consider wind effects

Scientists have developed a new kind of tiny motor — which they term a “microrocket” — that can propel itself through acidic environments, such as the human stomach, without any external energy source, opening the way to a variety of medical and industrial applications. Their report describes the microrockets traveling at virtual warp speed for such devices. A human moving at the same speed would have to run at a clip of 400 miles per hour.

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Bubble-powered microrockets zoom have potential to zoom through the human stomach, other acidic environments

Scientists have developed a new kind of tiny motor — which they term a “microrocket” — that can propel itself through acidic environments, such as the human stomach, without any external energy source, opening the way to a variety of medical and industrial applications.

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Will bubble-powered microrockets zoom through the human stomach?

An online tool called “Impurities to Efficiency” (known as I2E) allows companies or researchers exploring alternative manufacturing strategies to plug in descriptions of their planned materials and processing steps. After about one minute of simulation, I2E gives an indication of exactly how efficient the resulting solar cell would be in converting sunlight to electricity.

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New tool for analyzing solar-cell materials