New Atlas

Computers Audio available

World's fastest supercomputer will heat up race to the exascale era

Michael Irving May 8, 2019

Supercomputers will take a huge leap forward when the “exascale” era kicks off in 2021 with the launch of Aurora. But now it looks like that world-leading machine will be usurped before it’s even set up. The Frontier system has been announced, which will boast the power of over 1.5 exaflops.

The Frontier system will be the world's fastest supercomputer, boasting the power of 1.5 exaflops

Telecommunications

Pocket-sized VLF antenna keeps comms open where conventional radios fail

David Szondy April 14, 2019

The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has developed a compact antenna that can transmit radio signals underwater, and even through solid earth. The new 4-inch (10-cm) antenna exploits the piezoelectric effect to generate Very Low Frequency (VLF) waves that normally require antennae miles long.

A new type of pocket-sized antenna, developed at SLAC, could enable mobile communications in situations where ...

Computers Audio available

Intel's next-gen supercomputer to usher in exascale era in 2021

Michael Irving March 18, 2019

Intel and the US Department of Energy will deliver the world’s first exascale supercomputer in 2021, boosting many different fields of research. Named Aurora, the new system will be a thousand times more powerful than the petascale generation that began in 2008 and is still in wide use today.

Intel's new supercomputer, named Aurora, will be the first of a new generation of exascale systems ...

Materials Audio available

Recycling tech actually improves on PET plastic

Ben Coxworth February 28, 2019

Lightweight and shatterproof, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic is recyclable, although most items made from it don't get recycled. This is because reclaimed PET (rPET) just isn't as good as the original material. A new "upcycling" process, however, is claimed to make it even better.

Samples of the fiber-reinforced reclaimed PET that were produced using the new technique

Architecture

Swiss efficiency wins the day at 2017 Solar Decathlon

Adam Williams October 17, 2017

The 2017 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon has come to a close in Denver. This year's winning house blends green design with a plan to encourage the surrounding community to get together and discuss ways to use less energy.

The NeighborHub is designed by the Swiss Team, which hails from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de ...

Around The Home

Ultrasonic clothes dryers set to shake up the laundry

Darren Quick April 20, 2017

Last year, ORNL scientists revealed they were working on ultrasonic clothes drying technology. At the time, they said they planned to implement the technology in a press dryer and a clothes dryer drum. A new video shows they've been true to their word.

In a step towards commercial availability, ORNL researchers have integrated their ultrasonic drying technology into a ...

Automotive

US national electric charging network to span 25,000 miles

Scott Collie November 4, 2016

The Obama Administration has announced more details about the electric charging corridor, a program designed to accelerate adoption of electric cars by expanding the charging infrastructure. We now know the Department of Transportation will create 48 corridors running along 55 interstate highways.

More details about the charging corridors to run across America have been released

Environment

Ultra-efficient ultrasound takes the heat out of clothes-drying

Ben Coxworth August 15, 2016

Scientists are looking at how ultrasound can be used to dry laundry. They've already developed technology that they say could make clothes dryers 70 percent more energy-efficient than they are now.

The new system utilizes vibrating piezoelectric transducers in place of heat

Environment

US to create nationwide network of EV charging stations

John Anderson July 25, 2016

The US government has announced “an unprecedented set of actions” to pump up the country’s plug-in electric vehicle market, including US$4.5 billion in loan guarantees to create a nationwide network of commercial scale and fast charging stations.

A 2020 vision for a national fast charging network is to be developed

Quantum Computing

Atom-thin 2D laser promises advanced photonics for quantum computing

Colin Jeffrey October 22, 2015

A team from the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has created a 2D laser just one molecule thick that promises to make significant advances in ultra-compact photonic components for the likes of quantum computers and the next generation of optoelectronic devices.

A single-molecule-thick 2D laser created by researchers at Berkeley Lab promises to significantly advance electronic photonic ...