Tech Briefs Insider » 2008 » November

Would you power your home with nuclear energy?

TechBriefs — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:37:42 +0000

This week’s question concerns nuclear energy. A company in New Mexico has started producing hot tub-sized nuclear generators they hope will soon provide communities throughout America with affordable energy. Powered by low-enriched uranium fuel, each Hyperion Power Module will reportedly produce enough clean, safe, and environmentally friendly energy to reliably power 20,000 standard American homes for 10 cents per watt. The units will be factory sealed, buried underground, and, of course, guarded for maximum security. According to the manufacturer, each module will produce a softball-sized amount of recyclable waste every five years, no greenhouse gases whatsoever, and there is no risk of meltdown because the fuel cools instantly if a module is opened. Sounds good, except, perhaps, for the part about having a small nuclear reactor in your backyard. What do you think? Would you power your home with nuclear energy?
Vote here.

Is it possible to drive a car at 1,000 mph?

TechBriefs — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:16:53 +0000

This week’s question concerns one man’s need for speed. A team of engineers in the UK, led by former land speed record holder Richard Noble, are building a rocket-powered car they hope will travel at more than 1,000 mph, which is faster than some speeding bullets. Called the Bloodhound SSC (supersonic car), the 12.8-meter long, 6.4-ton car will be driven by Royal Air Force fighter pilot Andy Green, who set the current land speed record of 763 mph with a car called the Thrust SSC in October 1997. To achieve their goal, Green would have to shatter his own record by an incredible 237 mph, not to mention the current low altitude speed record for aircraft, which is 994 mph. Some people question whether a land-based vehicle can even achieve 1,000 mph, let alone be controlled by a human being. What do you think? Is it possible to drive a car at 1,000 mph?

Vote here.

Should foreign companies be producing U.S. e-Passports?

TechBriefs — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:44:37 +0000

This week’s question concerns the new high-tech, e-Passports we will all soon be using. According to recent reports, critical parts of the new U.S. e-Passports are being manufactured overseas. The biometric computer chips that will hold personal data are being manufactured by Dutch and German companies in Singapore and Taipei, then being shipped to Thailand where another Dutch company adds RFID antennas and installs them in blank American passport covers. According to the General Publishing Office, no American firms were qualified to bid on the project, but there is no security risk because the foreign firms involved have been thoroughly vetted and are being monitored; the chips will only contain information that is printed on the passport; and the system’s security features will make it virtually impossible for hackers to access the information contained on the chips. What do you think? Should foreign companies be producing U.S. e-Passports?

Vote here.