Computer That Produces Water and Electricity and Other Science

We decided to go ahead with another science mashup for today. As there’s a lot to cover, let’s get right down to the latest in science news today.

Computer That Produces Water and Electricity

We’ve seen hydrogen-powered cars that produce water as a byproduct, but a computer that produces water and electricity at the same time might seem like a hoax. However, one Italian entrepreneur has built a computer that he believes is essential in developing countries with no water, electricity or computers.

“Watly is the first solar-powered computer that purifies water from any source of contamination, generates electricity off-grid, and allows internet connectivity everywhere”, reads the company’s Indiegogo campaign page.

Called Watly, the computer uses thermal technology combined with solar panels to generate electricity, clean drinking water and internet access to more than 750 people with one machine installation. Although it is a large machine (40 meters long), however, the features offered are truly unique, including the ability to store excess electricity in a battery that can charge a variety of devices, a 3G/4G router, sanitization of more than 5000 liters of water daily, and providing a WiFi range of 500 meters.

In conjunction with a philanthropist who has agreed to share the costs of the machine, the company has launched an Indiegogo campaign. One system installation will cost $325000, and can provide clean water and electricity for 15 years straight.

Researchers Double WiFi Capacity with Half the Size

In 2015, researchers from Columbia University invented full-duplex radio ICs that can be implemented in a nanoscale CMOS with two antennas. Now, the researchers have improved their design by having only one antenna, thus reducing the size of the system, enhancing performance, and introducing newer features.

Okay, we have to admit that although this might get a bit too technical, the implications are, nonetheless, huge! We’ll let Mr. Krishnaswamy do all the talking.

“This technology could revolutionize the field of telecommunications. Our circulator is the first to be put on a silicon chip, and we get literally orders of magnitude better performance than prior work. Full-duplex communications, where the transmitter and the receiver operate at the same time and at the same frequency, has become a critical research area and now we’ve shown that WiFi capacity can be doubled on a nanoscale silicon chip with a single antenna. This has enormous implications for devices like smartphones and tablets.”

WHO to Totally Eradicate Polio in 2016

Polio is all set to be completely eradicated in 2016, according to the WHO. With only 9 cases being reported in 2015, Polio eradication efforts have paid off after an investment of $11 billion and the support of over 200 countries. The disease will be the second disease to be completely eradicated since the WHO announced the world was smallpox-free in 1980.

Read more at www.bit.ly/q3newsblog. Q3 Technologies is a large diversified technology company which develops custom mobile applications and software products for the healthcare industry including cloud applications, enterprise applications across all platforms and Rich Internet Applications (RIA).