Miscellaneous

Small Modular Reactors, commonly known by the acronym SMR, are one of the technologies gaining traction in the nuclear energy sector. With the growing energy demand and the urgent need for sustainable solutions to combat climate change, these modular reactors emerge as a more affordable and faster-to-build option compared to traditional nuclear reactors.

In this article, we will delve into the fundamentals of SMRs, how they work, their advantages and challenges, and their potential to play a crucial role in the energy transition towards a low-carbon future. While wind and solar energy are often the first options discussed in clean energy, SMRs offer an alternative that could complement the global energy mix.

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Napier’s Slide Rule is one of the most significant discoveries in the history of mathematics and engineering. This fascinating instrument was developed in the 17th century by John Napier, a Scottish mathematician who also created logarithms. It was an innovation that remained indispensable to scientists, engineers, and mathematicians worldwide for over three centuries.

In this article, we delve into the details of how this invention came to be, how it works, and why its impact is still felt in modern technology. From how engineers carried it in their pockets to its ultimate replacement by electronic calculators, you will gain an in-depth understanding of this tool that enabled quick and reliable calculations for centuries.

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The project of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently under construction in the arid Atacama Desert in Chile, represents one of the most spectacular advances in the history of astronomy. This telescope will be the most powerful ever built, featuring a segmented mirror 39 meters in diameter that will allow it to capture images of the universe with unprecedented clarity.

The ELT will not only be fundamental for the study of galaxies and exoplanets but will also mark a turning point in the search for life outside our solar system. With the promise of uncovering the deepest secrets of the cosmos, this instrument will be capable of observing details that have so far been beyond the reach of the most advanced ground-based telescopes.

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Gears are one of the oldest and most fundamental inventions in the history of engineering. Over the centuries, these mechanisms have evolved from simple wooden devices to complex systems for transmitting force and motion. From the most rudimentary applications to the most advanced, gears have played a crucial role in the development of modern technology.

In this article, we will break down in detail the theory of gears, their components, applications, and the different forces involved in their operation. From their geometric properties to the calculations necessary for their design, we will cover the most relevant aspects that allow gears to be used in multiple industries.

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The Stellarator is a type of nuclear fusion reactor that uses extremely complex magnetic fields to confine plasma and facilitate fusion reactions. This concept, often less known than the tokamak, has been the protagonist of recent advances that consolidate it as a viable alternative for fusion energy. The entire fusion process is based on the same reactions that occur in stars, hence its name: Stellarator, or “star generator.”

The challenge of containing and controlling a fusion reaction for sufficient time is colossal. Achieving efficient plasma confinement to maintain the necessary temperatures and pressures has been the main barrier, but thanks to developments in computing and magnetic field design, Stellarators have become a promising option in the race toward clean and almost infinite energy.

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ITER is one of the most ambitious projects in the history of science and technology, aiming to recreate on Earth the nuclear fusion process that occurs in stars like the Sun. This experiment seeks to demonstrate that it is possible to obtain fusion energy efficiently and sustainably.

The ITER project, whose name refers to the Latin term meaning “path,” brings together the world’s leading powers and is being constructed in Cadarache, in the south of France. The goal is to prove that this type of energy can be viable on a commercial scale, which would represent a major advance toward a future with clean and practically unlimited energy.

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