Important Innovations

New Portable, Air Quality Monitor from Singapore Source:  NTU Singapore Real-Time Detection of Toxic Gases & Chemicals in the Air Researchers at Nanyang Technological University - NTU Singapore - have invented a sensor that can identify a wide range of airborne gases and chemicals instantly.  This includes gas leaks and pollution toxins both indoors and outside.  The prototype device is portable and made for rapid deployment by agencies to identify airborne hazards immediately. Seconds Fast Results Current technology can require up to a few days to identify specific toxins in the air.  This new sensor is made for emergency situations that require quick and ongoing analysis.  The device is composed of a chip made from a porous nanomaterial that traps gas particles.  A laser beamed on the chip interacts with the gas molecules to produce a lower energy light.  That light is analyzed by a camera to see if its spectroscopic signature matches known toxic gases.  It provides a

Self-Braking Shopping Cart Source:  Ford Europe No More Runaway Carts at the Grocery Store Runaway shopping carts pose a danger to cars and customers at grocery stores.  Ford has invented a self-braking shopping cart that stops automatically to prevent damage. Pre-Collision Assist System The cart has a version of Ford's Pre-Collision Assist system. In cars, the system has a forward-facing camera and radar to detect vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists on the road and automatically applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond to warnings.  The new shopping cart has a sensor to scan for people and objects and applies the brakes when a potential collision is detected. Ford says the self-brakeing cart can help prevent damage to cars, store shelves and customers.  They add it will help make grocery shopping less stressful for parents of little children. Prototype & Intervention Ford says one of the reasons they designed the cart was to demonstrate how important Pr

UCLA's Wearable Nanogenerator to Monitor Athletic Performance Source:  Stock Image of Extreme Ski Jump SnowTENG - First of its Kind Nanogenerator This small, inexpensive, slim device can be embedded in the bottom of a ski or the sole of snow boots.  It generates its own power and can monitor the athletic performance of skiers and others engaged in winter sports.  The device converts contact with snow into electricity, which the device harvests.  Developed by UCLA engineers in warm, sunny LA, it has tremendous potential to create the next generation of wearable devices to monitor athletes and to work as smart weather stations with no battery power needed. Best in Snow For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Electricity from Snow - UCLA First : First of its Kind Nanogenerato r:  SnowTENG Source:  UCLA Generating Electricity from Snow - New Wearables From sunny, warm Los Angel...