SDFM The Business of Defense
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New battery materials developed by the Department of Energy\'s Pacific Northwest National Lab and a Maryland company could enable electric vehicles, power tools and even cell phones to recharge in minutes rather than hours. In collaboration with a Princeton University researcher, the Lab has demonstrated that small quantities of graphene - an ultra-thin sheet of carbon atoms - can dramatically improve the power and stability of lithium-ion batteries, while maintaining high energy storage capacity. The pioneering work could lead to the development of batteries that store larger amounts of energy and recharge quickly. Today, a typical cell phone battery takes between two and five hours to fully recharge. Researchers think using new battery materials with graphene could cut recharge time to less than 10 minutes.
July 21, 2010 -
The University of California San Diego along with General Atomics are about to begin work on developing a new kind of flow battery technology that pumps chemicals through a battery cell when electricity is needed. The development of the battery would revolutionize current century-old lead-acid battery technology - creating low cost, high efficiency and reliability needed for use on the smart electrical power grid. This project is receiving $2 million dollars in funding through the U.S. Department of Energy and APRA-E, the Advanced Project Research Agency devoted to Energy research. The goal is the production of a battery that can be scaled for grid-scale energy storage but which costs less and performs far longer than current technologies.
July 21, 2010 -
A Milwaukee-based company is about to begin research on an alternative form of refrigeration for cooling buildings, under a $2-point-nine million dollar energy research grant funded through the federal stimulus package. Using a solid state cooling technology, the privately held Astronautics Corporation of America will research a type of magnetic refrigeration that does not rely on a liquid-based refrigerant. Energy Department officials say, if successful, the breakthrough system could achieve significant energy efficiency, greatly reducing system operating costs compared to conventional compression systems, in addition to producing zero greenhouse gases. In all, $30 million dollars in grant money is being given to 17 different projects around the country that focus on a variety of novel approaches to air-conditioning.
July 21, 2010 -
Scientists led by the National Institutes of Health have discovered antibodies that will prevent most HIV strains from infecting human cells. Two potent human antibodies have been found to stop more than 90 percent of known global HIV strains from infecting human cells in the lab. Scientists have even demonstrated how one of the disease-fighting proteins is able to do it. They found the antibodies using a novel molecular device that homes in on the specific cells that make antibodies that fight HIV. According to the scientists, the antibodies could be used to design improved HIV vaccines, or could be further developed to prevent or treat HIV infection. Moreover, the method used to find the antibodies could be used to find therapeutic antibodies for other infectious diseases.
July 21, 2010 -
The Pentagon is feed up with leaks. \"Over the last two years I\'ve lost a first rate central command commander, and an outstanding commander of ISAF in Afghanistan due to their own missteps in dealing with the media, says Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. He adds\' \"if you\'re a Captain in a unit that has an embedded reporter\", be as open as possible within the guidelines and rules, but \"if you\'re a Captain working in this building on budget options, I expect you to keep your mouth shut.\"
July 20, 2010 -
A judge in Denver has ruled that a federal law making it illegal to lie about being a war hero is unconstitutional because it violates free speech. The Associated Press reported the ruling, came in the case of Rick Glen Strandlof, a Colorado man who claimed he was an ex-Marine wounded in Iraq and had received the Purple Heart and Silver Star. The military had no record that Strandlof served. Strandlof was charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it illegal to falsely claim to have won a military medal.
July 19, 2010 -
July 19th and 21st Hear from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Federal Environment Executive Michelle Moore, Dr. David Blumenthal on Health IT, Rich Haley on managing financial resources at the FBI, Professor Tom Davenport on analytics and making better decisions, and Alec Ross on using social media to advance U.S. diplomatic goals. All of this and more next week on The Business of Government Magazine show
July 16, 2010 -
July 12th and 14th Given our size, we have an obligation to embrace green ways of doing business. It\'s our objective to ultimately become known as a world class sustainability leader.
July 16, 2010 -
July 5th and 7th Successful partnerships are characterized by complementary equities, openness and transparency, mutual benefit, shared risks and rewards, and accountability.
July 16, 2010 -
The Army is no longer using the term \"psychological operations\" for the unit in tasked with changing minds behind enemy lines. They say it sounds threatening. Now it\'s going to be called Military Information Support Operations. A U.S. Special Operations Command spokesman says more the new name more accurately reflects the unit\'s job of producing leaflets, radio broadcasts and loudspeaker messages to influence enemy soldiers and civilians.
July 15, 2010 -
J. David Cox AFGE National Secretary-Treasurer John Rowan President, Vietnam Veterans of America Michael Castelle National Fair Practices Coordinator, AFGE Council of Prison Locals Phil Glover National Legislative Coordinator, AFGE Council of Prison Localsbr>
July 15, 2010 -
Is Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in good health? That question is being asked as he\'s again reportedly cancelled a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They\'ve postponed the meeting several times. Israeli media reported last week Mubarak has cancer. Mubarak reportedly went to Germany in the spring for what some describe as urgent treatment. Some sources say it the postponement many be due to political concerns.
July 14, 2010 -
A Yemeni man held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay for eight years has been sent home after a judge concluded he had no connection to al Qaeda and ordered his release, the Pentagon said Tuesday. Reuters reports, Mohammed Odaini is the first Yemeni sent home since U.S. President Barack Obama halted repatriations after allegations that a Yemeni al Qaeda affiliate was behind a failed attempt to blow up a U.S. airplane on Christmas Day.
July 14, 2010 -
Members of the armed services are being asked how they feel about certain situations involving people who are gay. The Pentagon sent out a survey to gauge their opinion ahead of a possible repeal of the \"Don\'t Ask, Don\'t Tell\" policy. Among the key questions are those about privacy issues and living quarters. Some critics claim parts of survey are biased against homosexuals, but the Pentagon claims it is fair.
July 13, 2010 -
The differences between federal workers and the private sector can be seen in the way they look at telework.
July 11, 2010