Objective article about physics/engineering in development

[KingNothing]

Well, I've been asked by a local newspaper to write an objective article about physics/engineering in development. Pretty broad, huh? Well, I live in a small town, so there's nothing here to talk about, other than the MINOS neutrino detector in my state. But it's supposed to be more worldy, I guess.

So, I ask you the most broad question ever: what interesting developments are being made in physics/engineering?

some things I thought of:
-new underwater 'fish lung' to replace O2 tanks?
- http://www.international-spaceplane-program.org/pages/1/index.htm ?

 

[NewScientist]

Just on a bit of a tangent why not use the MINOS neutrino detector as your start point, and talk around the duscoveries and parts of physics that that detector is linked to. Then also, as there are MINOS projects in Japan and Europe you could make links with those.

Jsut my 2 Cents!

1 question, the MINOS dectector is in Minnosota isn't it?

-NewScientist

 

[KingNothing]

Yeah. I read about it in the star tribune (biggest paper in MN) and I just thought "Hey, cool!"

 

[Ivan Seeking]

You might consider nano-technology. Here are a few links that I've used. You could look at "smart materials" as well.

Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0114_050114_solarplastic.html

...By working on the nanometer scale, Evident's quantum dots exploit the quantum properties of materials, helping to overcome the limitations of traditional semiconductor devices. In the case of PV solar cells, Evident's quantum dot semiconductors are unique in their ability to inexpensively capture a large percentage of the sun's energy while retaining great versatility of form quantum dots can be made into flexible sheets, put into liquid form, or made to be transparent. The relative low cost and high performance of quantum dots vis-à-vis bulk silicon semiconductor material and thin films allows dots to theoretically achieve the third generation goal of ~60% efficiency and $100 or less per square meter of paneling necessary to make PV solar cells economically competitive...

http://www.evidenttech.com/applications/quantum-dot-solar-cells.php

(May 18, 2005) The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released the report, The National Nanotechnology Initiative at Five Years: Assessment and Recommendations of the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel. The report is PCAST's first assessment of the Federal Government's nanotechnology research efforts in its role as the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel (NNAP). Among PCAST's findings are...

http://www.nano.gov/