A machine that causes the rain

But not in every desert it can earn. From observations made during the experiment, it was found that this process can be started only when the humidity rises to 30 percent. This indeed is often the case in the United Arab Emirates, located on the coastline. But in the deserts like the famous Atacama in Chile, where the humidity is at 0 percent, above the lamp Chizhevskogo unlikely to be able to cause even a "mushroom" rain.


In addition, another disadvantage design is that it uses a lot of electricity. This, as you know, not a problem for the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, but hardly like "rain" of the machine can be operated in the African desert, because many of the state on whose territory they are located, are poor in energy resources. However, the developers can not exclude the possibility of modifying plants so that they worked on power plants, operated by the so-called alternative energy sources.


It is interesting that such experiments were immediately concerned with the different greens, who have decided that under constant irrigation of desert rainfall to climate may change, which entails the extinction of living there, unique animals and plants, the spirit of not tolerate high humidity. But the creators of the installation calmed fighters for the preservation of nature, stating that no one intends to keep the "rain" of the machine is constantly switched on, since it is not enough money even for rich United Arab Emirates. It is just about to call from time to time a rain, when it will take to local residents.


Despite the fact that between experts from different countries were received warnings that the experience of Swiss firms are required to be subjected to additional testing, the results were good reviews of colleagues, including the prestigious Institute of Meteorology of the Max Planck in Berlin. Developers were told that in two years maybe mass production of such "storm" of machines. Maybe it was then that the cherished dream of people finally be able to be realized.
It remains only to regret that Russian specialists whose efforts had the first lamp Chizhevskogo, and could not come up on it "rain" car. But such a setup would be very useful during the abnormally hot summer last year! It remains only to hope that they will be able to construct something like this in the near future ...

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Sand Glass - stoplight hourglass

In many cities, traffic on highways regulated by modern lights, which counts the time until the change of the signal. There are both audible traffic lights (they are most commonly used on pedestrian crossings, which facilitates the passage of streets for pedestrians with impaired vision), and digital versions, showing the electronic dials the number of seconds left before the regime change movement.
Recently there was yet another unusual idea of a traffic light, which is used to indicate the time of the hourglass model. It's - Sand Glass. In addition to the LED hourglass image of red, yellow or green on the main board of the traffic light is located and an electronic timer that displays seconds remaining in the figures. It is only at first glance, it seems superfluous and unnecessary luxury. Meanwhile, it is counting in the figures allows drivers as clearly as possible to know the time of regime change and prepare to stop or contrary to the motion - in advance.
Certainly, many of you have a question - how expensive to manufacture such a creative fun on the road? Cost Sand Glass is lower than that of any traffic on the LED matrix. Indeed, in the Sand Glass yellow (left developers, apparently as a tribute to tradition), in fact, is losing its relevance and, hence, production costs can be reduced. After deciding not to yellow, and there will be no need for a yellow light-emitting diodes. Agree, always a pleasure to enjoy comfort appliances, knowing that they are even cheaper than the old.

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Machine screw-rotor type

Since the invention of the first car of mankind constantly seeks to introduce a variety of auto-variation in the daily life in order to facilitate the most complex tasks. However, not all inventions are coming into production, as happened with the screw-rotor-terrain vehicles. Despite their potential utility, their use in the home was simply impossible, due to the fact that the support of such units was necessary not to track or wheels, and the sharp horizontal cylinders. On the one hand it is not possible to get bogged down a car or in a quagmire, no matter razmyakshem ground, or even in the overgrown underbrush coast shallow water. On the other hand, the cylinders with twin screws were absolutely useless on the asphalt. "Arhimetovy screws, located on the surface of the cylinder is simply slipped on the asphalt, uttering at the same time an eerie rasp, barely moving the car away.
However, not so long ago in St. Petersburg was created by the project "Transformable screws or Tesh drive. Its initiator and inspirer made inventor Alex Burdin, who as a result of numerous trial and error, managed to make the screw-rotor suitable for travel on public roads. Achieve this was made possible through the combined on one frame of wheel and spiral motion mechanism. Between the turns of the screw-rotor inventor placed the so-called element with variable geometry - rubber sleeve, which in the expanded state allows the vehicle to move in a rolling mode. In this mode, Tesch Drive can roll up until his path does not have any obstacles podvlasnye only screw mode. So, as soon as the route appears loose gravel, deep snow, or other water-ground obstacles, the driver is enough to transfer the car into screw mode. At the same time deflates, the sleeve is pressed against the body of the rotor, and the car starts to go sideways. " In addition, due to a water jet engine such auger has a high buoyancy and can force the major water obstacles.
Once again, the soil becomes sufficiently dense and smooth, we can again move the car in the rolling mode, and switching time is planned to be automated, making the operation of the car extremely easy and convenient. Meanwhile, the prototype switch is carried out manually.

Scope of this vehicle is extremely high. By maneuverability and high cross in both directions, it can be used rescue services, hunting and fishing, and even to take the conveyor as a military transport. After all, Tesh drive than any of the foregoing, features, and enhanced survivability. Even if the flexible element, placed on the cylinders, completely out of order - the vehicle retains the ability to move and leave the danger zone. Hopefully, the domestic industry interested in the invention earlier than the foreign engineers and investors.

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The evolution of the solar car in five generations

Polygon World Solar Challenge for 20 years is a testing ground for the latest ideas and technologies, engineers and scientists in the field of construction materials, tires, aerodynamics, traction batteries and solar panels of course. The main constraints are the capacity of the battery, envelope machines and space solar cells. Fills the battery with excessive sun on the slopes or during braking, and then helps accelerate the car or when clouds move. Capacity to a maximum of 5 kilowatt hours. Charge it fully only at the start, and fill it only from the sun during the race. Battery can not be changed, as credited time penalty.

Solnemobili externally all alike. The final shape of such a machine was formed in mid-1990: Body flat, the wing looks like, the entire surface of the free solar panels, cockpit pilot Delicate, almost to the ground wheel fairings. In such a machine three wheels: two in front and lead back, which is equipped with an electric motor built into the hub - the drive line. However, the creators solntsemobiley are many subtleties that distinguish their vehicle from a car rivals, since no matter where the winners come from? One of those winning teams Nuon Solar Team Technical University of Delft. In 2001, one hundred percent of their solar car Nuna was the fastest. Speed averaged 91.81 miles per hour. At the next race in 2003 Nuna2 won at a rate of 97.02 km / h. At the three-kilometer race in 2005 Nuna3 won at a rate of 102.75 km/h. Nuna4 won first place in 2007 with the result of the speed of 90.87 km / h, while it was entirely of its predecessor. This was due to race regulations, which decreased by 25% allowable area of solar panels. This happened due to the fact that the maximum speed on those sections of the route is 110 km / h on local traffic rules, and participants in the race to develop the already speed in excess of 130 km / h. Therefore, the organizers of the contest decided that the primary goal, ie, the emergence of a solar-powered cars has been achieved. Now the challenge for the participants of the other - to build in more severe conditions such as fast cars for daily travel. Nuon Solar Team in June 2009 presented officially solar car Nuna 5, the most advanced solar car in the world.

Vehicle weight 160 kg. Trehperehodnye solar cells based on gallium arsenide photovoltaic cells installed in 2120 on a new car. Battery Lithium-polymer is responsible for the conservation of energy. Body Nuna May around the cell safety of titanium is built, consists of panels created from aramid and carbon fibers. Made of lightweight materials and chassis: carbon fiber suspension arms, aluminum other elements on ceramic bearings, aluminum wheels. The front brake discs are ceramic, rear wheel only braking regenerative.

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On two wheels and Hydrogen

A new breakthrough in hydrogen energy: the other day a group of inventors in New York was presented moped engine which runs on clean fuel - hydrogen. One filling a novelty, according to the sponsors, enough for 160 kilometers, and soon after this miracle of technology they plan to create a hydrogen engine for the car, on which work is already underway.

The basis of the motor scooter is a miracle cartridge filled with sodium silicide and dense metal powders. In fact, this kind of battery, but with a different algorithm. It is necessary to pour water into the cartridge - and inside it starts a chemical reaction, which resulted in the generated electricity. Moreover, the fluid does not need to be clear: You can even use water from a nearby puddle! The principle of hydrogen batteries is fairly simple and understandable to all who remember their high-school physics and chemistry. It consists of a set of elementary cells, each of which has approximately 1 cm thick and consists of a pair of electrodes made of carbon with the addition of platinum catalyst. It should be noted that the inventors were able to significantly reduce the cost of construction, replacing the commonly used in such batteries platinum catalysts analogues made from an alloy of platinum with other, cheaper metals. Electrodes separated by an electrolyte, in which can act as a polymer or a solution. One of the electrodes of fuel supply (which is hydrogen), and the second - an oxidizing agent, which acts as extracted from the air oxygen. Electrolyte ions are missing, but does not transmit electrons. On the first of the electrodes (the anode) hydrogen splits into protons and electrons, the last pass through the electrolyte to the second electrode (cathode), where there is a connection with oxygen - water is formed. At the same time, electrons move to the outside of the cell, the electrical circuit is connected to the load - the electric motor.

To make this scheme work, it is necessary that hydrogen is continuously fed into the fuel cell. This is the basic problem of hydrogen engines in the world: where to find so much hydrogen, which, unlike oil and gas, you can not get out of the ground, you can only get an artificial way. Lack of hydrogen filling stations became one of the factors slowing the development of transport in this type of fuel. Do hydrogen moped shortcomings, in addition to problems with dressing? Of course there is, and one of them is called ... almost complete silence during the movement. Engineers are already thinking about how to add engine noise by artificial means, as silent vehicle can be dangerous to other road users. Developers hydrogen moped intending to solve the problem installing the "clappers", which will operate in urban environments, and while driving through the countryside it can be turned off. Perhaps, in quietness and ends with a list of new items of serious shortcomings, which are of practical value and can be a serious argument in favor of hydrogen technologies in the debate, which began in the 80 years of the last century. After all exhausts of internal combustion engines can not endlessly pollute the environment, not least because that oil and gas resources on the planet does not last forever! Hydrogen moped has all the chances of getting into production and will soon be available to buyers, so far only in the United States.

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Full Circle - Bicycle Concept for the metropolis

Jun-Tae Park, and Sanghyun Jeong from South Korea, following the eternal desire designer "invent the wheel" given its concept simple to transport and compact bicycle "Full Circle". They believe this model will be popular in large metropolitan areas, where people often change their modes of transport and to make long trekking between points transplant. Use for this purpose bike might be the most reasonable solution. But ordinary bike does not fit mobility in urban transport. A folding "Full Circle", the owner will take with him his office or easily protisnetsya in full subway car. Dominant idea, which allows the bike to lay down the simplest method - is the absence of chain transfer. The location of the pedals - directly to the front wheels as 3ehkolesnyh bicycles for children. This is a dubious decision does not seem very practical in terms of the accompanying physical effort. But compared with the usual pedestrian master "Full Cirlce" will still have an advantage. It should be noted that the model as a whole looks very original, and the impressions of a foreign blogger, in expanded form, like a lemur.

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The engine on the air

To date, a special interest turned to renewable energy sources and a variety of "green". At the same time work in these areas is developing steadily and without delay. Followed suit, and two scientists from India who have published work on the implementation engine for motorcycles, differing environmental friendliness.

Scientists study the possibility and efficiency of air turbines, which differ from each other by number and characteristics of the blades. The operation of all motor runs on compressed air. New development of scientists in the theory shows forty minutes of riding a motorcycle that left tested in practice. If all calculations are correct, then that invention will help reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere at times. It's worth noting that India has a lot of places, where the motorcycle is the most popular means of transportation. As told in an interview Bharat Raja Singh, one of the researchers, in some cases can reduce emissions by more than 50%!

But not yet resolved all technical issues, to introduce the concept of mass use. So far that has not yet devised a compact but capacious tank of compressed air, which is the fuel for a new type of engine. Motorcycles are used for long trips, so 40 minutes is unlikely to be sufficient time for travel. To date, there are tanks, instead of allowing the fuel only for the 30-kilometer trip, which greatly complicates the use of the engine. It is hoped that researchers can solve the problems of fuel storage to shortly motorcycles in India and around the world being refurbished into clean technology.

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Concept of bicycle path in the air

In an effort to quickly reach a specified part of the city, the road closes traffic jams. But like so without delay to go to a desired point that there is a desire to climb up and reach the goal, rushing to her nonstop. Martin Angelov, with its concept, possibly in the near future will embody the desire into reality. His project, titled Kolelinia, provides an opportunity to go above ground travel arrangements, using a bicycle. Itself to develop a system based on the principle structure of chair lifts, which are equipped with ski resorts. The author claims that it was studying building principle cableway gave rise to his project. The very idea is very ingenious and very simple to implement it. In this system the bike is set in a special chute and wheel attached to a rope. For the safety of cyclists, there is a strap that attaches to the rope. Unlike the developed system of aerial cableway in the fact that there has to make himself a cyclist in force for the movement. Martin Angelov refused to use electricians in your project, to reduce its cost.

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I believe - I do not believe - being treated

Experimentally proved that the placebo effect, in some measure, will appear even when the patient is notified that the pills that he takes it just a useless and harmless drugs (dummy pill). The placebo effect - a method of treating a patient, where as a medicinal drug use is completely safe and useless products (dummy pill), and the patient is convinced that taking the right medication and expects a positive effect from treatment. "Positive Thinking" - the basis on which underlies this effect. Get rid of a serious illness in the treatment using the placebo effect is very difficult, but still the cases are different. Widespread use of the placebo effect is when new developments come pharmacological drugs.

The statistics in the U.S. half of all specialists regularly prescribe useless reception of drugs, while patients did not suspect, and convinced that taking the right medication to cure. This fact is evidence that the placebo effect is really effective in the treatment of diseases. Recently, Professor Ted Kapchuk (Ted Kaptchuk) with his group of experimenters conducted the study: patients treated with placebo, while patients are aware that taking drugs disinterested. The results showed that even if patients knew about the pill-dummy, treatment effect did not disappear. For the experiment, selected group of patients, about 80 people, with a very common disease - irritable bowel syndrome (a pain), which has an unknown etiology. Patients were divided into two groups. The first group did not recognize any of the drugs. The second group of people assigned placebo, on a regular basis - 2 times a day. In this case, they were warned that any medical ingredients, tablets contain no data. On the package with the drug in large letters printed - "placebo". Patients were warned that rely on the placebo effect is useless, you just need to take medications provided.
The study lasted for three weeks. At the end of the experiment was the following fact: the number of patients emerged from irritable bowel syndrome with a "placebo" was 59%, with the group, whose products do not apply to rid itself of disease 35% of patients. The professor said that he did not realize that using the placebo effect can be achieved such results. The authors themselves, who conducted an experiment, consider that the data collected is not quite claim therapeutic properties "placebo effect" because the duration of the experiment was not large, since the number of people selected for the experiment. In order to finally bring the therapeutic effect of the pill, pacifiers, require more extensive research. Also, the authors are inclined to believe that in addition to the placebo effect, a significant contribution to the recovery of patients makes contact with the patient's physician.

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