Lifeboat Foundation

Researchers at Rice University have found a new way to improve a key element of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems, which convert heat into electricity via light. Using an unconventional approach inspired by quantum physics, Rice engineer Gururaj Naik and his team have designed a thermal emitter that can deliver high efficiencies within practical design parameters.

The research could inform the development of thermal-energy electrical storage, which holds promise as an affordable, grid-scale alternative to batteries. More broadly, efficient TPV technologies could facilitate renewable energy growth—an essential component of the transition to a net-zero world. Another major benefit of better TPV systems is recouping waste heat from industrial processes, making them more sustainable. To put this in context, up to 20–50% of the heat used to transform raw materials into consumer goods ends up being wasted, costing the United States economy over $200 billion annually.

TPV systems involve two main components: photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert light into electricity and thermal emitters that turn heat into light. Both of these components have to work well in order for the system to be efficient, but efforts to optimize them have focused more on the PV cell.

Artificial intelligence holds the potential to bring a commercial and economic rebirth for the United States and its allies. Yet the U.S. Congress is getting skittish. Its leaders are reportedly negotiating a lame-duck bill to regulate the AI industry.

As officials push and prod on the new technology, they should exercise caution.

Three semiconductor manufacturing Phoenix fabs will support the economy after a final agreement between TSMC and the Biden administration.

Could AGI be here by 2025? In a shocking new interview, Sam Altman — OpenAI’s CEO — just dropped some MAJOR revelations about their path to artificial general intelligence.

Unlike his usual careful corporate speak, Sam appears surprisingly confident about what’s ahead.

Continue reading “Sam Altman: ‘We Know How to Build AGI by 2025’ 🤯” »

Is it possible to heat the planet to dangerous levels and then cool it down later? Economic models charting the world’s path to net zero emissions say yes.

Supported, in part, by NASA and administrated by Resources for the Future, Kevin Boyle and colleagues from Moravian University, Penn State, and the University of Rhode Island have assessed the feasibility of implementing a smartphone app designed to convey cholera risk forecasts to households to mitigate the threat of cholera in Bangladesh. This forms part of early warning measures.

The research is titled “Early warning systems, mobile technology, and cholera aversion: Evidence from rural Bangladesh,” and it appears in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management.

For the research, the team developed CholeraMap, an Android-based smartphone application that conveys cholera risk forecasts to households. The app enables users to access risk predictions – from low to medium to high – for both their community and individual home locations.

I’m interested in what impact hydrogen cars will be on the economy, and what technological advancements we will see in the future The NEXO is a truly one-of-a-kind hydrogen fuel cell SUV that combines cutting-edge technology and futuristic design with fantastic driving range.

Fuel cell power and hydrogen make the Hyundai NEXO a highly advanced family-sized SUV.

Bitcoin Fog founder sentenced to 12 years for laundering $400M in criminal proceeds using his darknet mixer.

A US bank is warning customers of a security “intrusion” that may have compromised Mastercard account numbers and other financial data.

Maryland-based Eagle Bank says it has received a notice from Mastercard, stating an unnamed US merchant allowed unauthorized access to account information between August 15th, 2023, and May 25th, 2024.

The bank revealed the breach in a filing with the Massachusetts state government.