The “What in the World” (WITW) program for fifth and sixth graders was started in 1996 by the Lancaster and Lebanon (PA) Science and Technology Alliance (LLSTA). I have personally been involved with it for the last five years. This vocational program is designed to help students understand why they need to study and do well in math and science.
The Frankfurt Auto Show earlier this month showed a wide range of electric cars, from small and affordable to high-powered sports and luxurious sports cars. Two noteworthy newcomers stood out. Students at Germany's Technische Universität München presented the Mute, a concept car with an light frame of aluminum and plastic.
Demi (aka Solar Demi), who comes from a very small village in the Philippines, came up with a solution to bring light to his village by turning a soda bottle into a light bulb.
With the rising cost of energy and increased government oversight of greenhouse gas emissions, reducing energy consumption is a key topic for chemical engineers. Christianto Wibowo, principal engineer at ClearWaterBay Technology, talks about ways to manage energy consumption in chemical plants.
Researchers at Rice University have announced a nanotechnology success that could play a significant role in making renewable energy more practical and could contribute to many electrical applications where weight is a factor. The breakthrough: researchers have created carbon nanotubes that are approaching electrical conductivities seen in metal wires, a goal that has been pursued since the 1980s.
