On February 11^th, 2010, NASA launched a new spacecraft called the Solar Dynamics Observatory [SDO], which was designed to give more knowledge and clearer images of the Sun than any other spacecraft that has been launched before for this purpose.

On April 21^st, 2010, the scientists of NASA have quoted their experiment with the SDO to be a success as they have received images which are almost 10 times clearer than the high-def TV. The spacecraft has also provided new knowledge on the sun’s dynamic process that will help scientists to know better about its solar activities.

The images were so clear that they could even see minute details of material streaming outward and away from sunspots. Some highly focussed images also showed the types of activity on the surface of the sun. The SDO is the first spacecraft to take high resolution measurements of all solar flashes in a small range of extreme ultraviolet wavelengths.

According to some scientist in NASA, they were able to bring up new assessments on the sun, which they have been researching on for the past 40 years. They also believe this discovery to bring a huge impact on science in the coming years.

Here is a picture taken by the SDO. It is a full disk multi-wavelength extreme ultraviolet image in which each colours [seen at different layers] represent different gas temperatures. The blue and green colours seen just outside the sun are of high temperatures in the range of 1 million Kelvin or so. The outside red colour is a little cooler than the others with a temperature of 60,000 Kelvin.

The SDO has been setup as a five year mission to get a better knowledge on the sun’s magnetic field and to get a clear understanding on its affect on atmospheric chemistry and climate.  The SDO tracks down the generation of the sun’s magnetic field and its geometric structure. It will also help in providing information about some basic and dreadful solar events like turbulent solar wind, solar flares and so on.

The most important work that has been assigned to the SDO is to predict the rapid change in weather conditions that are caused mainly due to the solar activity. Through this we can get a clear alert before the occurrence of natural phenomenon like Tsunami and so on and thus take necessary steps to save the victims.

The SDO sends almost 1.5 terabytes of data back to the earth, which includes all the information regarding various parameters and also latest images of the sun from various angles. The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager are two devices that are used in the SDO. They are used to map the solar magnetic fields and thus look beneath the sun’s opaque surface. This will help in getting better images within narrow bands of visible light.

There are also telescopic instruments that are used to take images of the surface of the sun and atmosphere. The instrument is specially designed to take pictures in almost 10 different wavelength bands, or colours, so as to get an exact idea of the solar activity.

Another parameter that is commonly noted by the SDO is the amount of fluctuations in the sun’s radiant emissions. As they cause variations in the Earth’s upper atmosphere the studies on them will help in making a better atmosphere.

All homes in this world have at least one electronic device and may be more. Some of them include computers, video games, mobile phones, printers, MP3 players and so on. When you buy a computer for the first time you use it as though it is the greatest gift in the world. When four or five years pass by you suddenly think of upgrading your system. The best option you seek out is replacing it with the latest model.  Thus your old PC becomes a waste and you will try to get rid of it. This same experience goes on with all other electronic circuits.

We either throw our used goods to the basement or just dump it outside. Little do we think about the hazards that can be caused by such an action. Leave the hazardous effects, we do not think about how worth our trash is to people who do not have money to buy them. Of course, some parts may not be working. But if you could replace some parts and refurbish it, it would be of great help for people who cannot afford it.

When dumping an electronic device, the problems that occur are given below.

• By the dumping of wasted goods, the area needed to store them also increases. Thus, the particular land will not be good for any use.
• All electronic goods have valuable resources like plastic, glass and also metal. Instead of dumping them the resources can again be reused for other purposes.
• The toxic waste that these devices produce will be absorbed by the ground. This may contaminate the air and also ground water supplies and thus cause people to fall ill. Some common toxic wastes are mercury, lead, and many other chemicals.

There are many choices you can make in order to prevent the goods from being wasted. One of them is to reuse. The device may not be working properly. Try to fix it and then reuse it. If you do not wish to reuse it, try to sell it to someone at a reasonable price.

Recycling can also be a good choice. All the main parts of the device can be collected and can be used for making some other useful devices. Since you cannot do it by yourself, there are centres for donating your goods. For example, you can donate your old mobile phone to the store where you are buying the new one. You may get an exchange discount if the device is worth. If not you will have to do it for free. Either way you can get rid of your device for a good cause. There are also a number of charities who will be willing to take your electronic goods. All you have to do is search the web for charities and donate to them. There are many charities that take these cell phones, repair it for a very low cost and distribute it to women who are prone to domestic abuse. The cell phone will help them to call the police at time of emergency. There are also schools for children, who will gladly accept the old computer that we give to charity.

There are also web sites where you can message people about yourself having computers or other devices that are not working properly. There are people who are interested in buying the parts for other purposes.

Though the process of recycling requires some energy dissipation, it is better when compared to throwing them to a landfill. The best way to know about the perfect recycling method of a particular electronic device is to check their own website. They will have connections with other recycling organizations that will help you to do the needed the easiest way possible.

Battery using body fluids

We cannot think of a world without batteries. We use batteries for our everyday use like mobile phones, digital cameras, remote controls and so on.  But still we cannot tolerate the fact that these batteries die with time. They may have to be either replaced or recharged. Some of them are even heavy as well as bulky that you cannot just carry around. A clear solution to all this is the introduction of batteries that can be charged and recharged with the help of our blood and sweat.

­Scientists from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [RPI] have lately created such a battery that can use human body fluids like blood, sweat and also urine as an electrolyte for the battery. According to their research, they prefer to distinguish such a battery as a bio-battery that run on organic compounds similar to body fluids.

The battery is essentially made up of cellulose and is thus defined to be a form of paper. The rest of it is made up of aligned carbon nanotubes. This will help the paper to obtain its conductive abilities and thus will also cause the battery to be light weight and also small in size.

As the electrolyte is available as long as humans are alive, this type of battery is also ideal for medical applications.  This battery can also be made in the shape of long sheets, which can later be designed in the shape of custom batteries. These long sheets can be joined together to provide power for medical equipments like pacemakers, and other advanced prosthetics. This will also be a stepping stone to a much more advanced artificial heart. Due to its small size, the battery can easily be setup under the human skin without much discomfort. The body fluids which are used for this battery includes blood, sugar and also human blood glucose.

As the ionic liquid used for these batteries work at higher and lower temperatures [from almost -100 degrees Fahrenheit to almost 300 degrees Fahrenheit], this technology is also applicable to mechanical innovations.

The RPI researchers also claim that their battery will be apt for higher energy applications. It can also be used as a super capacitor, a component which causes large, quick bursts of energy. As the composite of the battery are not any external chemicals, the battery is very much environmental friendly.

The researchers are trying to figure out the best possible way of production and are also trying to increase its efficiency. Hope, this new innovation will be a success and become a stepping stone for the upcoming technology boost.

We cannot think of a world without batteries. We use batteries for our everyday use like mobile phones, digital cameras, remote controls and so on.  But still we cannot tolerate the fact that these batteries die with time. They may have to be either replaced or recharged. Some of them are even heavy as well as bulky that you cannot just carry around. A clear solution to all this is the introduction of batteries that can be charged and recharged with the help of our blood and sweat.

­Scientists from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [RPI] have lately created such a battery that can use human body fluids like blood, sweat and also urine as an electrolyte for the battery. According to their research, they prefer to distinguish such a battery as a bio-battery that run on organic compounds similar to body fluids.

The battery is essentially made up of cellulose and is thus defined to be a form of paper. The rest of it is made up of aligned carbon nanotubes. This will help the paper to obtain its conductive abilities and thus will also cause the battery to be light weight and also small in size.

As the electrolyte is available as long as humans are alive, this type of battery is also ideal for medical applications.  This battery can also be made in the shape of long sheets, which can later be designed in the shape of custom batteries. These long sheets can be joined together to provide power for medical equipments like pacemakers, and other advanced prosthetics. This will also be a stepping stone to a much more advanced artificial heart. Due to its small size, the battery can easily be setup under the human skin without much discomfort. The body fluids which are used for this battery includes blood, sugar, sweat, and also human blood glucose.

As the ionic liquid used for these batteries work at higher and lower temperatures [from almost -100 degrees Fahrenheit to almost 300 degrees Fahrenheit], this technology is also applicable to mechanical innovations.

The RPI researchers also claim that their battery will be apt for higher energy applications. It can also be used as a super capacitor, a component which causes large, quick bursts of energy. As the composite of the battery are not any external chemicals, the battery is very much environmental friendly.

The researchers are trying to figure out the best possible way of production and are also trying to increase its efficiency. Hope, this new innovation will be a success and become a stepping stone for the upcoming technology boost.

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transformers

There are a lot of house hold electric stuffs that use transformers. For example, speakers, mobile or torch chargers, modems, cordless phones, radios and many more. Usually after their main use, e tend to keep them as it was, that is plugged. If you want to charge a mobile phone, you connect it to the charger and get it fully charged. Later you disconnect the mobile, but forget to switch of the plug. You may also do it purposely. But, little do we think about the amount of power these transformers consume. According to a recent study, there is a minimum of 4 transformers plugged in each home every minute of our life, either connected to the device or not. Not only do they cause power loss without the device connected, but it also happens while connecting the device.

When connected to the device, the transformer, apart from supplying the required power to the device, also emits power in the form of heat. You may think that the power loss may not be large. The transformer releases up to a maximum of 5 Watts. This may be a very small amount. But, what would be the added amount of power loss when about 5 or 6 of them are ON for the entire time. That means almost 30 Watts of power is wasted throughout. If 1 KWH costs you 10 cents, that means you are wasting almost 10 cents for 24 hours. That is equal to about $40 annually. This $40, when calculated for about 100 million households in one country alone costs 4 billion dollars!! If transformer connected components from all the countries are added together, you get almost $780 billion dollars. Just think how far the world could change with this much money.

So, take special care while using components. Never forget to OFF the switch or disconnect the device from the socket.

Save money, save power!!