Researchers at Northwestern University have found one way to stop a leak: get rid of the liquid. A new variation on the Grätzel solar cell replaces a short-lived organic dye with a solid alternative. The molecular dye the solid substance replaces was corrosive, at risk of leaking and only lasted about 18-months — by replacing it, researchers plan to pave the way for a more affordable (and less toxic) alternative. Northwestern’s new design flaunts a 10.2-percent conversion efficiency, the highest ever recorded in a solid-state solar cell of its type — but that’s still only half of what traditional sun collectors can do. Researchers hope to improve conversion in the long run, but expect that the cost reduction alone will be enough to get the party going. It may not be the greenest solar technology we’ve ever seen, but who are we to judge?

Solid state solar panels are more affordable, say researchers, don’t leak originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 12:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solid state solar panels are more affordable, say researchers, don’t leak

When Mark “NASDAQ” Zuckerberg and his longtime belle Priscilla Chan got married earlier this month, we were surprised by how modest the billionaire bash was. It was in a back yard! Turns out, it still required major bank. More »

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Zuck’s Facebook Wedding Cost $7 Million [Facebook]

Oh boy, what does it say about me that I am a member of reddit, Digg, del.icio.us, and G+, but not Pinterest? I don’t know if you can actually say that “chicks rule” just because there are more of them on social networking sites. I don’t even know if there actually ARE more females on social networking sites, since Livejournal, Tumblr, myYearbook, Catster, and other sites are not represented at all, and since what is defined as a “social networking site” varies depending on who is defining. But here’s the data for these sites! If you need a larger version to read, see the full size chart at Information is Beautiful. Link -via Geeks Are Sexy

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Gender Balance on Social Networking Sites

Pop quiz: why does college tuition get more and more expensive each year?
Answer: because it can.

Jacob Goldstein of NPR explains the why the “sticker price,”
that is the full price colleges list in their brochures, keep
on increasing while the “net price” has stayed relatively
constant (the difference is attributable to scholarships and grants):
Link

But what happens if you don’t qualify for those scholarships and grants?
You have to borrow, which explains the crazy growth of student loans that
mirror the growth in college tuition.

Daniel Indiviglio of The Atlantic noted
that student loans have grown 511% since 1999 – that’s 6 times the
rate of the housing bubble.

Of course the big question is: will the student loan bubble pop just
like the housing bubble? Though there are parallels between the student
loan and housing, Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus of The Atlantic noted
one big difference:

With mortgage defaults, banks seize and resell the home. But if
a degree can’t be sold, that doesn’t deter the banks. They essentially
wrote the student loan law, in which the fine-print says they aren’t
“dischargable.” So even if you file for bankruptcy, the payments
continue due. Hence these stern word from Barmak Nassirian of the American
Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers. “You
will be hounded for life,” he warns. “They will garnish your
wages. They will intercept your tax refunds. You become ineligible for
federal employment.” He adds that any professional license can
be revoked and Social Security checks docked when you retire. We can’t
think of any other statute with such sadistic provisions.

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Why College Tuition Gets More Expensive Year After Year

Apple has announced that it’s getting involved in the free app game as part of its ongoing “app of the week” campaign. First up is Cut the Rope: Experiments, which is currently available as a feee download—making it the first paid app to be discounted to free by Apple. More »

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Apple Launches Free App of the Week Promotion [Apple]

Today at 9:56AM EDT (13:56 GMT) the robotic arm on the International Space Station successfully captured SpaceX’s Dragon capsule. It’s the first time a commercial craft has connected with the ISS, and the first time a spacecraft made in the U.S. has gone to the station since the retirement of the shuttle. The approach was delayed temporarily as engineers worked out bad sensor readings due to light reflected off the ISS’s Kibo laboratory. “To work around the problem, SpaceX narrowed the field of view for the laser sensor so that it wouldn’t pick up light from the offending reflector. Dragon then returned to the 30-meter checkpoint and moved in for the final approach.” If all goes well today, the capsule will most likely be opened tomorrow. Video of the operation is being broadcast live on NASA TV.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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ISS Captures SpaceX Dragon Capsule

SpaceX’s Dragon is rapidly approaching its historic meeting with the International Space Station. It’s due to begin its first docking procedure at 7:30am ET, and NASA is streaming footage from both the ground crew, the ISS and the private craft itself. Once within a safe range, the station will extend its robotic arm and draw the Dragon in to dock — with the hatch being opened tomorrow. We’ve embedded the video after the break so you can watch along at home, popcorn in hand.

[Image credit: SpaceX]

Continue reading PSA: Watch the SpaceX Dragon’s first attempt at docking right now! (video)

PSA: Watch the SpaceX Dragon’s first attempt at docking right now! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Watch the SpaceX Dragon’s first attempt at docking right now! (video)

Who knew the tears that we cry could be used to make a variety of different salts? The people at We Made This, that’s who!

They’ve bottled our pain, pleasure and culinary sacrifice and created a line of salts suitable for various occasions and functions.

Slap on a label with literary flair and flavor suggestions and you’ve got a product that’s perfect for a store called Huxton Street Monster Supplies, one of the 826 National Stores.

Not familiar with 826 National? Check out this LINK.

(previously on Neatorama-Huxton Street Monster Supplies)

Link –via Super Punch

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Salt Made From Various Types Of Human Tears

Afraid of needles? You may not have to be if a team of MIT scientists get their way. Researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering are developing a jet-injection device (similar to this one) that allows professionals to pump you full of meds without poking you with a needle. The key to puncture free pharmaceuticals is pressure — the device uses a Lorenz Force actuator to push medicine out of an opening about the diameter of a mosquito’s proboscis. The nozzle pulls liquids out just as fast and efficiently as it administers them, researchers say, and can even deliver powder-based drugs as if they were a liquid, thanks to a bit of supersonic trickery. This tech could be a boon to healthcare workers who get pricked on the job or patients who get daily insulin shots. Promises of painless inoculations piquing your interest? Hit the video after the break to see how its done.

Continue reading MIT’s needleless injections help you get drugs faster, doesn’t even hurt (video)

MIT’s needleless injections help you get drugs faster, doesn’t even hurt (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 04:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MIT’s needleless injections help you get drugs faster, doesn’t even hurt (video)