Bolometers find and measure very small amounts of electromagnetic radiation. They are also referred to as actinic balances and measure electromagnetic radiation in radio, ultraviolet, and gamma ray forms. Since their first use, bolometers have been modified to detect other particles and to be used in physics experiments. Who Invented the Bolometer? Samuel Pierpont Langley invented the bolometer in the late 1800s. The first bolometer was used with a telescope in order to measure infrared radiation on the Moon and other astronomical objects. It consisted of two chambers with platinum Read More

As its name suggests, a laser level is a leveler that illuminates a horizontal plane using a laser. It was originally developed by an inventor named Steve Orosz. The laser level works by being stationed on a tripod. This projector also has a rotatable head with a mirror, so that the laser beam can also sweep across the vertical axis. It is adjusted through the many visually interpretable level vials and the numerous screws that must be manually adjusted by a human for correction projection. Then, a staff with an Read More

Spintronics is an emerging technology that deals with the intrinsic spin of an electron and the associated magnetic moment in solid-state devices. The technology is also referred to as magneto electronics or spin transport electronics. Current research is focused on the development of a new generation of spintronic devices that will be more robust and versatile than those currently contained in circuit elements and silicon chips. How does Spintronics Work? A spintronic device has a basic scheme. First, information is stored into spins as an orientation (i.e. up or down). Read More

Lightning can be described as a massive discharge of electrical energy that can reach the speed of 130,000 mph and can exceed temperatures of 30,000 degrees Celsius. Although we know a lot about this phenomenon, it is still unclear how and why lightning forms. We will mention some of the theories on how lightning is created. History In June 1756, Benjamin Franklin attached a silk string to a kite and launched it during a thunderstorm. He then attached the string to a key and tied it to a post. As Read More

A basal thermometer tracks temperature shifts in the body. Women mostly use it to chart their basal body temperature in order to predict their ovulation or fertile periods. Most basal thermometers come with blank basal body temperature charts and are digital in order to provide more accurate fertility predictions. How does a Basal Thermometer Work? A basal thermometer is accurate to the tenths place in Fahrenheit and reads temperatures in 30-60 seconds. Its sensitivity is important as this allows it to detect fluctuations in daily body temperatures. Digital types save Read More

Magnetorheological fluid or MR fluid is a special material used for building smart structures that can withstand earthquakes. The Magnetorheological fluid can change from liquid to solid and vice versa. It makes the buildings of which it is a component particularly flexible so they can adapt to external force that would have made other more rigid buildings snap. The Need for Smart Structures Traditional belief in structural engineering dictates that the more rigid a building is, the better it will be able to stand up to strong earthquakes and strong Read More

Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV) silicone is a rubber polymer used to create molds, prototypes, and sealant. It is extremely flexible and quite tear resistant. It is made up of two separate components: a base and a curative. RTV silicone can be poured, sprayed, brushed, or pumped onto a surface. Either moisture or heat dries it, depending on the specific product. How RTV Silicone is Made RTV silicone is made through a process known as vulcanization. This process involves mixing rubber polymers with additives such as sulfur in order to make Read More

Anthracite coal is a form of coal that is almost made entirely of carbon. Anthracite coal is much harder than other forms of coal such as bituminous, and is usually found in areas surrounding mountains or deep valleys. Anthracite burns much cleaner than other forms of coal due to its low pollutant content. In fact, anthracite may contain 91% to 98% pure carbon, leaving only 2% to 9% of other elements. Anthracite coal is difficult to ignite and burns with a blue, smokeless flame. Where does Anthracite Coal Come from? Read More

Specific gravity is a special case of relative density. That is, a substance’s density is divided by the density of water at 4 F (0 C). Since water has a density of 1 gram/cm3 and all of the units cancel, specific gravity is the same number as density, but without any units (dimensionless). Relative density is another dimensionless number that measures any substance’s density in relation to another. A relative density greater than 1 (one) means that the substance in the numerator has a bigger density than the one in Read More

British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the measurement for a unit of energy equivalent to the amount needed to heat one pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. A BTU is used as the standard measurement unit to express how much energy a fuel has and to quantify how much output any device that generates heat can produce. For example, dry wood is considered to have approximately 7,000 BTUs per pound. Other heat producing devices such as gas grills are measured by the total capacity of BTUs that can be produced Read More