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5 scientific breakthroughs that could change the world

August 22, 2014
Scientists and engineers are designing new and creative ways of reducing carbon emissions and creating clean, renewable sources of power.
It’s a low-carbon future where electricity supply isn’t constrained by the price and  availability of coal – it’s enhanced by innovative solutions that will change the way we  think about energy.

To coincide with National Science Week, here’s our list of the top five scientific advances that will change the world.

1. Super sensors way down under


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Sensor systems designed to operate 2 kilometres underground will make carbon capture and sequestration systems safe and functional. These highly resilient multi-point sensors operate effectively at temperatures as hot as 250°C and can withstand pressures above 10,000 psi, which would crush most technologies. These sensors will facilitate the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide in underground wells, an alternative to releasing it into the atmosphere.

2. Zero emission transportation


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By combining existing lithium battery and hydrogen fuel cell technology with sodium-nickel Durathon batteries, scientists have demonstrated zero-emission hybrid transportation systems could become a vital ingredient in logistics and transportation. Featuring a molten sodium-nickel core encased in a ceramic outer layer, the Durathon remains warm to touch on the outside despite oven-like temperatures inside. The result is a safe and stable option for low, or no-emissions public transport systems.

3. Whispering wind


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Scientists working with a high-performance supercomputer called Red Mesa have re-engineered every aspect of the huge blades used by turbines to create electricity. Teams of electrical engineers, physicists and materials scientists are working on whisper quiet, efficient blade designs. The key to their success is high-fidelity Large Eddy Simulation (LES) code that predicts detailed fluid dynamic phenomena, enabling highly efficient design which boosts the output while reducing the noise levels of windfarms.

4. Bricks from air


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An innovative technique called mineral carbonation will combine carbon emissions with soft rocks to create hard wearing building materials. The idea is to turn magnesium silicate, a soft but plentiful rock, into magnesium carbonate, a highly useful substance that can be used in everything from building materials to toothpaste. The ultimate goal is to use captured carbon emissions from industry to carbonate the soft rock, permanently trapping the gas and providing a useful new source of building materials.

5. Burnt offerings from the soil


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<a href=Biochar is a stable form of carbon that’s produced by heating organic matter to very high temperatures in a low oxygen environment. The result is a solid, carbon-rich substance that can be combined with soil to make it more fertile and enhance its capacity to absorb carbon from the surrounding environment. Scientists all over the world are researching this revolutionary material and finding creative ways of integrating it into farming practices, boosting soil fertility and taking carbon out of the environment.
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