Lemurs and Cryogenic Sleep | Keeping Balloon-Borne Telescopes Cool | Linde & Daimler’s Hydrogen-Fueled Truck | Long-preserved Human Embryos | Innovated Frozen Coffee Capsules
Hibernating lemurs may be the key to cryogenic sleep for human space travel
12/13/2020
Studying primates who hibernate may hold the key to cryogenic sleep on long space flights. Tiny mouse lemurs, among other animals, use snippets of RNA to prepare their bodies for hibernation. These microRNAs can shut down biological processes to conserve energy, slow cell growth, prevent muscle wasting from inactivity, and protecting the animal from freezing. Read more via The Conversation
Balloon-borne telescopes could keep cool with less
12/11/2020
This amazing picture from NASA is a helium transfer at 130,000 feet. It is part of a mission called the Balloon-Borne Cryogenic Testbed, or BOBCAT. The mission is designed to test a system that keep telescopes cool when they are lofted outside our atmosphere to study astrophysical phenomena. Liquid helium will keep the telescope cool, but current dewar/containers are too heavy. Traditional dewars are designed with thick steel walls so the vacuum space can be maintained in atmospheric conditions. BOBCAT features a helium dewar with walls as thin as soda cans. Read more via Physics World
Linde, Daimler Truck to collaborate in liquid hydrogen
12/10/2020
Linde and Daimler will work together to develop hydrogen refueling technology for heavy-duty trucks. The project will focus on subcooled liquid hydrogen for efficient energy storage. This will mean the vehicles can refuel faster and go farther without refueling. The Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck will have a range of more than 1,000 kilometers. The first prototype vehicle and fueling station are expected in 2023. Read more via Petrol Plaza
How long can human embryos stay frozen?
12/12/2020
Human embryos can be viable indefinitely when stored in liquid nitrogen at -320° Fahrenheit, according to Professor Barry Behr of Stanford University Medical Center. Cryopreservation of embryos has advanced since it was first used in the 1980’s. At that time, two-to-six-celled embryos were frozen more slowly. Modern freezing methods are faster, and embryos are frozen when they consist of 1,000 or more cells. Read more via Live Science
With Truly Innovative Frozen Capsules, Cometeer Achieves Liftoff
12/17/2020
The future of coffee is cryogenic. Cometeer sells coffee in cryogenically frozen capsules of coffee extract. They brew their extract from fresh-roasted coffee beans, and then dunk it in liquid nitrogen to flash freeze a disk about the size and shape of a puck. The consumer can make a cup of coffee using a compatible single-cup brewing machine, add hot water to the frozen coffee puck, or melt the puck and make iced coffee drinks. read more via Daily Coffee News
THIS WEEK’S FEATURE:
Liquid Helium Transfer Hose/Lines
The ultimate in efficient transfer of liquid helium, neon or hydrogen. Multiple configurations available.