Tech Universe: Monday 4 April

If the VASIMR VF-200 rocket works out it could take people to Mars in only 40 days. Photo / Supplied

ONE MONTH TO MARS: If the VASIMR VF-200 rocket works out it could take people to Mars in only 40 days. The thrust and performance will soon be tested on the International Space Station. The VAriable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) is an electric thruster. Two radio wave antennas turn a gas such as argon into superheated plasma while a magnetic field directs the motion of the plasma into a directed flow. The thrust it produces is small, but continuous. Rocket science just may be harder than you thought. More at The Register and video on YouTube.

FLYING TRUCKS: The Swiss are building a new power plant inside a mountain at Nant de Drance, 2,000 metres above sea level. It'll generate 600 MW from the water pressure differential caused by a 300 metre drop. The problem is they need some very heavy equipment to bui ld the plant but there are no roads. Access will be by a 5.6 Km tunnel that hasn't yet been completed. To bring in all the heavy equipment they're using a heavy duty cable railway, that 'flies' the machinery through in. I wonder if they fly in the workers too? More at RoadTransport.

PINEAPPLE CARS: Brazilian scientists can make tough plastics from pineapples, bananas and other plants. The strength of the nanocellulose fibres rivals Kevlar, but the fibres are renewable and the plastic biodegrades. Because the new plastics are around 30% lighter, but 3 or 4 times as strong they could be valuable for making cars, dramatically increasing fuel economy. But if it biodegrades so well, how long to the cars last? More at Wired.

POWER STEP: Wouldn't it be great if your heartbeat or footsteps could supply power for your phone or MP3 player? Researchers from Georgia Tech have announced a viable nanogenerator, with sufficient power to light an LED. The nanogenerator is a flexible computer chip. As it flexes the chip converts pressure into electrical energy thanks to zinc oxide nanowires which generate an electric current when strained or flexed. The researchers are still working on improving the power output but expect the chips to be on the market within 5 years. And the phone could monitor your heart rate at the same time. Details at iO9.

LIGHT PHONE: French company, Wysips, have created a screen overlay for your phone or tablet computer. But it's not just a standard screen protector. Instead it's a 100 micron thick transparent photovoltaic film. As the film is exposed to sunlight or other sources it turns the light into energy. The idea actually is to integrate the film directly into the LCD during manufacture. At the moment 6 hours of outdoor light should fully charge a typical cellphone, but improvements are on their way. Ideal for trampers and outdoor workers, I'd say. More at LaptopMag and video on YouTube.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz