The Engineer articles from December 2008

The Engineer archives from December 2008

When tomorrow looks bleak, the past can inspire.
December 8, 2008... How to mark The Engineer's final issue of 2008, the year of the banking crisis, the incredible fluctuating oil price and, if you believe the worst predictions, the beginning of a particularly bleak period for the world's economy? ...

NEWS: Swift calculations.
December 8, 2008... #10m aerodynamics centre sets new benchmark for supercomputing in F1, claims Renault THE RENAULT Formula One (RF1) team has revealed details of how it will use one of the world's most powerful supercomputers in a bid to give its car...

NEWS: Tuned in for radio.
December 8, 2008... Paint embedded with wireless sensors may offer radio frequency identification for a wider range of applications Tiny radios embedded in paint could be used to pick up sound, detect whether wine or ice cream has been stored properly or even...

NEWS: Laser injection.
December 8, 2008... A laser-light syringe may aid drug research by helping to target cells more accurately Scientists at Scotland's St Andrew's University have developed technology to use non-diffusing laser light as a syringe to inject chemicals or DNA...

NEWS: Battery power.
December 8, 2008... A system based on high-voltage lithium batteries could offer a solution to electricity blackouts Major electricity blackouts such as the one that crippled the northeastern US and parts of Canada in 2003 could be prevented in the future...

NEWS: Crystal clear.
December 8, 2008... Sapphire sensor is claimed to take pressure readings at extremely high temperatures A micro-machined sapphire pressure sensor that works at temperatures higher than 1,000degC can monitor pulsations inside gas turbine combustion chambers...

NEWS: New spin on implants.
December 8, 2008... Surgical implants coated with nano-sized polymer fibres could help them bond with living bone and last the lifetime of the patient. The coating material is a product of a new surface engineering process developed at the Micro-Nano...

NEWS: Concentrated effort.
December 8, 2008... Researchers develop electrical system to remove harmful by-products in bioreactors more efficiently EKB Technology has developed an electrical system to remove harmful by- products from bioreactors, making the synthesis of therapeutic...

NEWS: Battle for Warrior upgrade.
December 8, 2008... BAE SYSTEMS has demonstrated its MTIP2 turret and Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS) as part of a wider MoD programme to upgrade the Warrior tracked armoured vehicle. The company and French partner Nexter developed the CTAS gun, which...

VIEWPOINT: Capital punishment?
December 8, 2008... Turmoil at the banks has left companies wondering where funding will come from, says Simon Keeling. But for the cash-rich there are buying opportunities In just 18 months the words 'credit crunch' and 'sub-prime loans' have moved from...

LETTER: High cost of nuclear.(Letter to the editor)
December 8, 2008... There is much to be welcomed in the new report from the Committee on Climate Change about how to cut emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. But it is wrong to suggest that nuclear power has any role to play. When environmental and...

LETTER: Combined harvester.(Letter to the editor)
December 8, 2008... The article 'Double take' (Insight, 24 November) highlighted the benefits of CHP - potentially the most efficient way to obtain energy from fossil fuels. But crucially, unlike renewables, CHP is always available at critical times. The...

LETTER: Nobody's darling.(Letter to the editor)
December 8, 2008... Our online leader article 'Oh, Darling' discussed who in the engineering, technology and construction sectors will benefit from the chancellor's pre-Budget report, and pointed out his missed opportunities. Here is a selection of your emails....

OIL-SAND: Black gold mine.
December 8, 2008... It's the biggest petroleum reserve on the planet but also the dirtiest. Can technology clean up the oil-sand industry? Jon Excell reports To its champions it represents a plentiful, secure source of fuel that could wean the West off its...

ENGINEERING RESTORATION: Pump in its prime.
December 8, 2008... Volunteers have helped restore one of the finest examples of Victorian engineering - the Prince Consort pumping engine that once helped power the capital's sewerage system. Stuart Nathan reports Of all the great feats of Victorian...

INSIGHT: Lunar lift.
December 8, 2008... A rocket engine being developed in California could help NASA's next Moon landing by providing power for delicate manoeuvres such as docking. Berenice Baker reports At an anonymous looking facility in Redondo Beach, California, engineers...

INTERVIEW: Benefit of experience.(Interview)
December 8, 2008... Sir Anthony Cleaver, chair of the Engineering and Technology Board, is drawing on his long and varied career to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Stuart Nathan reports AT FIRST SIGHT Sir Anthony Cleaver seems an...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Direct hit.
December 8, 2008... Philips takes camera pill technology one step further with an electronically-programmable device designed for precision drug release in the intestine. Siobhan Wagner reports Sufferers of serious intestinal disorders such as Crohn's...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - LUBRICANTS: Friction fighter.
December 8, 2008... German collaboration hopes lubricants made from liquid crystals will mean smoother operation for bearings and gears. Siobhan Wagner reports Lubricants made from liquid crystals similar to those used in flat- screen monitors could...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - AEROSPACE DESIGN: Back to basics.
December 8, 2008... Airline claims that its lighter, roomier seat design has cut maintenance costs and could lead to fuel savings. Siobhan Wagner reports Virgin Atlantic claims its latest seat design is not only more comfortable but has also significantly...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Shared logic.
December 8, 2008... Improved IT promises to make it possible for collaborating companies to communicate more effectively when developing new products, says Gerard O'Neill Innovation is the lifeblood of manufacturing. It is typically engineering-led, but...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - HYDRAULICS: Share the load.
December 8, 2008... Wherever large loads need to be moved simple, reliable and easily controllable hydraulic systems are often the most practical solution. Colin Carter reports The potential force of water power, which in certain parts of the world is to...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - ENVIRONMENT: Green payday.
December 8, 2008... Environmental measures can bring cost savings while failing to act could land directors behind bars. Julia Pierce reports With more than 85 per cent of companies questioned by government-funded sustainable business expert Envirowise...

CAREERS: Healthy demands.
December 8, 2008... Engineers and scientists working in the NHS need better training and career development options to bring the full benefits of innovative healthcare technologies to patients, the government has admitted. The health departments covering the...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Youthful innovation.
December 8, 2008... Cranfield University has hosted its first Educating Youth in Engineering and Science event aimed at inspiring innovation among students. More than 150 guests listened to speeches from clockwork radio inventor Trevor Baylis, representatives from...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Professional approach.
December 8, 2008... Twenty-six organisations representing the engineering community have met to discuss ways to improve professional development systems for engineers and their employers. A meeting hosted by the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) was given...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Gaining in popularity.
December 8, 2008... Exhibitors at the UK's largest engineering recruitment event, the National Engineering and Construction Recruitment Exhibition at the NEC, said the sector may see greater interest from graduates who would previously have chosen a career in...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Course control.
December 8, 2008... Manchester Metropolitan University has announced a one-day course covering the optimal design of networked automation and control systems. The course, running on 22 January, will focus on PROFIBUS and PROFINET technology, also covering Ethernet...

CARRERS: Full speed ahead.
December 8, 2008... With major expansion in both the UK's civil and defence marine sectors, the hunt is on for engineers with a range of specialist kills. Julia Pierce reports The UK's marine technology industry is thriving, with both the civil and defence...