Ever since the release of Pac-Man and Pong, a number of the world’s very first video games, computers have been the driving force behind the entire video game business. There has not yet been a video game that hasn’t utilized a screen to show the players what exactly is going on inside their virtual world. New technology is being developed that could entirely revolutionize the gaming business, creating a new approach to present the characters and make them look alive.
The standards for making video games have become uniform for awhile. You need to have a way for the players to chat with one one more and any 3D graphics ought to be produced as realistic as achievable. Even so there has not been a true revolution in the gaming business for several years and some feel that it has began to grow stagnant.
New study coming out of the Royal Society of Chemistry is showing that a revolution for gaming may possibly be on its way. As opposed to employing pixels to help show what exactly is going on inside the game, they are constructing basic video games that are in fact made out of living, swimming organisms. No more are folks stuck trying to generate photorealistic 3D models of their characters. These look like-like and act naturally because they’re alive and swimming.
These organisms aren’t swimming around doing whatever they want. A unique hand held controller can actually control these organisms and make them do exactly what you would like. It can be an incredibly new technology that could have a huge impact on the video game business. Certain issues, including on-line chat rooms, will almost certainly not make use of this technologies for awhile. Soon after all, they do not want improved graphics. Nonetheless other games might find that employing these microorganisms as characters could be a way to jumpstart their game and set it apart from the rest.
Filed under Science by on Apr 7th, 2011. Comment. 
Liquid hydrogen is the form taken when the gas is cooled below its critical point, where the change of state from a gas occurs. The gas is cooled to a fluid as a concentrated state of storage for its usefulness as a clean fuel. The possible applications as a source of energy make this a common choice for liquid fuel. In the future, this may become the basis for a clean fuel economy.
In studying the nature and properties of gases during the nineteenth century, chemists developed the process known as regenerative cooling to change gases into their fluid state before the advanced gasifier. Gaseous hydrogen, or H2, was first cooled into its fluid state, called LH2, by using a vacuum flask and regenerative cooling. A colorless fluid that liquefies at -423 Fahrenheit was the result.
This gas has two forms to its molecule known as the ortho and para isomers. Isomers are different structures taken by the same molecule. At normal temperatures, the isomers of this gas exist in the proportion of three ortho to every one para isomer. In order to store it in a stable form of liquefaction, this element must be over 99 percent parahydrogen to be in equilibrium. Otherwise, an exothermic reaction, or probable dangerous sudden release of heat, can occur at the critical point.
Storage of gases in their liquefied state is a practical approach that compresses them into a much more compact and convenient form. By expanding the surrounding space, the gas is cooled and it condenses. It is then pumped into a heat exchanger which compresses the gas while removing the heat.
When combined with oxygen and burned to release its energy as a fuel, the waste by product is water, unlike fossil fuels which produce toxic by products. So this gas is considered to have great potential for a clean burning fuel. Stored in the fluid form, it can cool rocket engines and condense the water vapor given off before being burned as fuel.
LH2 is being considered as an alternative fuel. Used as a fuel for internal combustion engines, the liquefied form works better than its gaseous state because of its lower energy density than gasoline or natural gas. This gas is somewhat more difficult to store than some other liquefied gases due to its extremely low temperature.
This substance is considered a good fuel storage choice for fuel cell technology and automobiles. Advances in alternative fuel car designs have successfully applied this approach. Several models of submarines also use this as fuel. Rocket engines which run on H2 and O2 use extra H2 so that some remains unburned in the exhaust. This helps to reduce oxidation of the engine parts and increase the momentum produced by the engine.
There is a movement to position liquid hydrogen as the fuel for an economy based upon that element. As a substance that needs to be produced from another energy source, this gas is classified as an energy carrier in contrast to a source with a compact gasifier. As an abundant supply to provide clean power, it could eventually replace fossil fuels.
Filed under Science by on Feb 24th, 2011. Comment.
areAstronomy is a serious professional business and enjoyed by enthusiasts. As with any other hobby there are tons of articles and a lot of information written for enthusiasts, but also to chronicle the happenings in the “professional” arena. Astronomy magazines can be a wealth of information including amazing imagery, and guides to help with home telescope use. Many of these magazines now also publish their information online.
A top astronomy magazine in the UK is “Astronomy Now”. It’s been around for 20 years and caters to both hobbyists and the pros. In addition to standard articles there are focus features that give the whole scoop on certain aspects of astronomy. Reader images, star charts and book reviews are standard in every issue of this magazine. Not only does the website include much of the same information, but the star charts there are in an even more useful format. The sky can be shown for any month, period of the month (early or late,) time and at various magnifications. It’s a real help to anyone with a telescope.
Sky and Telescope is another excellent astronomy magazine. It says it’s like having an astronomy professional by your side. Imagine if Carl Sagan could help you in your nightly gazing. Of course the magazine not only focuses on this important information, but includes stunning imagery of outer space objects and phenomenon. For example Sky and Telescope showed an image of a planet orbiting another star in November of 2008. If these images hold up, it would be the first time astronomers have taken images of a planet in another star system.
It’s likely that the first web site anyone finds when searching for information on Astronomy is that of the world’s best selling astronomy magazine subscription, “Astronomy”. The latest information presented by this publication, online via its web site, is truly stunning. The website for example carries images of the first ever solar system seen in visible light. There is also a detailed verbal description of the faraway constellation Cassiopeia. The site also has constant, permanent information such as a guide to the night sky for beginners, tips and information for kids who want to delve into astronomy, equipment guides, and guides to astronomy in an urban sky. Many people who visit the website also subscribe to the magazine.
Admitting to being cheap, the author admits to sticking to web sites instead of purchasing any astronomy magazine. But online or in print, these are priceless guides.
Filed under Science by on Oct 10th, 2009. Comment.