How are asteroids and planets formed from stony particles? This question is being explored in an experiment by scientists from the universities of Münster and Braunschweig. For the investigation, Fraunhofer researchers have developed beads made of a special type of glass. They form the composition of the rock particles as naturally as possible on a…
Reliably Detecting Irregularities In Aircraft Turbines
Even the slightest fault in aircraft engines could pose a safety risk. Until now, inspectors have relied solely on their well-trained eye to unmask defects on blade-integrated disks, known as blisks. In the future, they will be supported by an automatic control system that is the first to unite geometric measurement and surface inspection. Researchers…
On the Way to a Safe & Secure Smart Home
A growing number of household operations can be managed via the Internet. Today’s “Smart Home” promises efficient building management. But often the systems are not secure and can only be retrofitted at great expense. Scientists are working on a software product that defends against hacker attacks before they reach the building. Botnet. A term from…
‘EuropeanPioneers’ to Support 25 Startups
Over the next two years, the EU funding program “EuropeanPioneers” will support 25 startups and SMEs in the European Union with a total of 4.5 million Euros. The scheme targets businesses active in the fields of Smart City Services, Social Connected TV, Pervasive Gaming and E-Learning. The aim of the project is to boost media-sector…
Comfortable Climate Indoors with Porous Glass
Proper humidity and temperature play a key role in indoor climate. In the future, establishing a comfortable indoor environment may rely on porous glass incorporated into plaster, as this regulates moisture particularly well and keeps mold at bay. Almost nothing worries tenants and homeowners more than mildewed or moldy walls. The black spots are not…
Formula Calculates Thickness of Bombproof Concrete
A new type of steel-reinforced concrete protects buildings better from bomb attacks. Researchers have developed a formula to quickly calculate the concrete’s required thickness. The material will be used in the One World Trade Center at Ground Zero. Earthquakes and explosions produce tremendous forces. Pressures in the immediate vicinity of a car bomb are in…
Implanting Infection Prevention
Hospital germs can be fatal, since they are resistant to antibiotics. As a result, alternative methods of defense against bacteria are in demand. Fortunately, a German-French research team has been able to develop bone implants that keep the germs at bay. The figures are alarming: Hundreds of thousands of patients in German hospitals are infected…
Always Well Ventilated
Unpleasant odors, stuffy air or permanent drafts: A person who is regularly exposed at home or in the office to bad air doesn’t feel well. Odors from carpets, paints, varnishes and furniture, as well as mold, or air which is too dry, affect the indoor climate. “There are no materials without emissions and odors,” explains…
Deformable Mirror Corrects Errors
Very high power is needed to cut or weld using a laser beam. But this creates its own problem: the beam’s energy deforms the mirrors that are focusing it to a point. When this happens, the beam expands and loses intensity. A new type of mirror can deform itself so as to correct this unwanted…
Photo of the Day: Industry 4.0
Facilities will use a data network to communicate with one another. For these functions is indispensable: Secure access that keeps industrial pirates and saboteurs out. (Fraunhofer IPA) Read: No Chance for Industrial Pirates and Co. For more information, visit http://www.fraunhofer.de/
No Chance for Industrial Pirates and Co.
Though it looks like something straight out of a science-fiction film, it will soon become a reality in the production halls of the future: products along the production lines will know where they are, which steps they have already completed, and what they still need to become a finished product. View: Photo of the Day:…
Solar Cells Utilize Thermal Radiation
Thermal radiation from the sun is largely lost on most silicon solar cells. Up-converters transform the infrared radiation into usable light, however. Researchers have now for the first time successfully adapted this effect for use in generating power. There is more to solar radiation than meets the eye: sun- burn develops from unseen UV radiation,…