How smoke detectors work

[youtube http://www.youtube.com?v=oFUUQcpGR3k] Bill takes apart a smoke detector and shows how it uses a radioactive source to generate a tiny current which is disrupted when smoke flows through the sensor. He describes how a special transistor called a MOSFET can be used to detect the tiny current changes.

What’s up with the Sea Level? Why aren’t we underwater yet?

What truth is behind the idea that our coastal cities are going to drown?  Yes, there has been a noticeable increase in the average sea level…  But that increase is huge, roughly an increase of 2.77 millimeters per year. So how long would it take to duplicate the history channel Armageddon week image? Well, let’s […]

Solar cells get two electrons for the price of one, efficiency bonus

It may still be a lab experiment, but still, this could led to eventual mainstream adoption of solar power… Photoelectric current as function of photon energy was measured on single crystal TiO2 coated with a monolayer of PbS nanoparticles. The experiments conclusively showed that multiple electrons were generated and extracted from the nanoparticles for each […]

Rochester International Airport Hydrogen Fire & Explosion

There was a hydrogen fire and explosion at a renewable fuel station used by government vehicles near Rochester’s airport. The nearby freeway and airport was closed resulting in diverted flights. This may the first major incident at a hydrogen vehicle refueling station. GM has their major fuel cell development center nearby, in the town of […]