Tech Universe: Wednesday 22 June

Nasa's Aquarius/SAC-D spacecraft. Photo / Supplied

ORBIT OF AQUARIUS: Together with partners in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France and Italy, NASA has launched a new satellite to collect environmental data, including the salinity of the oceans. Thermal microwave emissions that indicate surface salinity will be collected using radiometers. The Aquarius/SAC-D Observatory is intended to help scientists understand the ocean and the global water cycle. It will map the open oceans once every seven days for at least three years with a resolution of 150 km. Satellites are a great solution. More information
here and video here.

WHEEL FUN: The Edwards diwheel is a student project from the University of Adelaide. It somewhat resembles a wheelchair, with overgrown wheels and a seat slung between them. Computer controls give the machine added stability. Top speed is 40 km/h and it can climb a maximum 12° slope. Lead acid batteries give about an hour of use in playful mode. Don't eat lunch just before playing with this. More information here and video here.

TEEN SCREENER: US officials must check 35 million cargo containers that go through ports each year. Among other things they're looking for nuclear weapons and chemical warfare agents. One US teen, who built a nuclear fusion reactor when he was 11 years old, is now hoping to use that reactor to send neutron radiation into the containers. It's possible to determine the contents of a container by the radiation it gives off in response. He plans to do real-world field testing in the next few months. Ambitious much? PBS has more.

WIND BOUNCERS: Mention wind energy and you'll probably think of the giant arms of a turbine or of a sailing ship. But there's more than one way to catch the wind. Korean scientists have built a prototype that captures the power of the wind blowing through cables on bridges.
Two rods, the correct distance apart, cause and capture eddies in air currents, moving a magnet within a copper coil to generate a current.
This could generate sufficient energy to run sensors to monitor a structure's health. Self-sufficient bridges sounds good. Now, how about bouncing power cables? Details at New Scientist.

DRIVE CONTROL: Spanish researchers have developed a prototype device that could replace the controls in a car and make it possible to drive with only one hand. The device allows drivers to steer, accelerate, change gears and apply the brakes. Motors on the device give the same kind of feedback to the driver as they'd receive from traditional controls. Ah yes, keep one hand free for coffee - details
here.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz