Scientists from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Tsukuba built a solid-state cooling prototype that uses a shape-memory titanium-nickel film to convert heat directly into the mechanical motion needed to drive elastocaloric cooling, replacing the usual electric actuator. In tests, heating the actuator film to 86°C produced a 4.0 K temperature difference across the cooling device, and swapping in an external 130°C heat source still yielded a 2.2 K span, showing waste heat alone can power the cycle.
Experts at the Eighth Annual Tree Diversity Conference warned that Colorado's Front Range has unusually harsh growing conditions for trees—hot summers, cold winters, alkaline soil and a shortened growing season—and that climate models show these stresses intensifying, especially at higher elevations. Speakers noted that losses of ash and cottonwood trees, combined with rising heat-island effects from pavement and dense development, are weakening urban forests and leaving them more susceptible to pests and disease.
The streaming service that produced the hit drama 'Heated Rivalry' has released a new series called 'Slo Pitch,' a comedy centered on gay softball players. Unlike prior attempts to capitalize on 'Heated Rivalry's success, 'Slo Pitch' takes a distinctly different tonal approach, opting for sitcom-style humor over drama.
Sony's latest wearable air conditioner, the $260 Reon Pocket Pro Plus, uses the Peltier effect to chill a metal plate against the neck and upper spine, cooling blood flow near the surface of the skin. The new model cools two degrees Celsius more than its predecessor, a 20 percent performance jump, and ships with an adjustable exhaust attachment for different clothing styles.
A new study in Science Advances reports that roughly 560 million children under age 10 worldwide now experience at least one additional month of dangerous heat stress annually because of climate change. Researchers led by Rosa Pietroiusti at Vrije Universiteit Brussel used the WetBulb Globe Temperature threshold of 28°C, a standard combining heat, humidity, wind, and cloud cover, to measure how often conditions cross into risky territory for children's health.
Motorola has announced that its 2027 flagship smartphones will officially support GrapheneOS, a privacy-focused Android alternative. This marks a shift from the current situation where GrapheneOS installation is limited mainly to Google's Pixel devices.
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