Wednesday - February 27, 2008
SLAC Today is
available online at:
http://today.slac.stanford.edu
In this issue:
The March of the Carbon Nanotubes
People Today: Presenting the Past
Conservation Tip of the Week
WIS Seminar: Clutter to Clarity
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Wednesday - February 27, 2008 |
The work of Anders Nilsson (Left) and Anton Nikitin might pave future directions for alternative energy research.
The March of the Carbon NanotubesStanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL) researchers have surpassed by a surprising margin the Department of Energy's goal for storing hydrogen within a unique material called carbon nanotubes. The pioneering result, published in the American Chemical Society's Nano Letters, brings us one step closer to realizing hydrogen as an energy carrier. "We are trying to find a way to make hydrogen-power affordable," graduate student Anton Nikitin said. "Current vehicle prototypes cost over two million dollars. Sustainable developments will rise only from examining this problem piece by piece." Hydrogen—the most abundant element in the universe—is an attractive carrier of renewable energy. It can be used in fuel cells to produce electricity, with the only byproduct being water. However, developing safe and efficient methods of storing hydrogen remains a challenge. Read more... |
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Presenting the Past
SLAC Archivist Jean Deken is aware of only one archivist joke: Why is it good if one archivist marries another? The punch line: the older they get the more interested they'll get in each other. "Of course, the implication is that we're only interested in old stuff," said Deken, who just happens to be married to a fellow archivist. "It's typical for an archivist to be wrapped up in history. That's our story." Deken got wrapped up in history after taking a job at the Missouri Botanical Garden Library. In the corner of her building, she noticed a pile of materials that everyone tried to ignore. As the newest employee, Deken was the one sent to fetch materials from these piles. She soon discovered more; there were piles collecting dust in closets, piles being soiled in greenhouses and even piles being "bird nested" in a tower. "I thought this stuff was fascinating," she said. "There were manuscripts written by the garden's founder and scientific advisor, and hand-drawn blueprints of the garden's landscape." |
Conservation Tip
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cost-effective way to insulate your home is to add insulation in the attic. PG&E
is offering rebates on energy efficiency upgrades that may help pay, in part,
for your investment. Visit the 