Graphite foam technology developed by James W. Klett, (SC A ’90) Ph.D., at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (TN) has been licensed to LED North America.
The foam component is inserted into LED lights and can increase efficiency and longevity by cooling the LED light components. The technology will next be tested in street lights in Oak Ridge, TN.
Read more about the technology here and about the licensing here
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The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on the 2010 summer heat wave and the history of air conditioning.
The term ‘air conditioner’ originated from engineer Stuart Gardner, however the initial patents “for a mechanism that controlled both indoor temperature and humidity, or dew point” was granted to engineer Willis Carrier, NY D 1901, in 1906.
The article also profiles the recent developments of air conditioners used as ventilating systems for super computers. Alfonso Ortega, (TX Q ’76) Ph.D., says “the hot new market for cooling power is the computer.”
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Ken Blackburn, NC A ’85, is an aeronautical engineer and the Guinness Record holder for time aloft of paper airplanes. He was profiled recently by The News Herald. Read the article
His world record was set in 1998, when he threw a paper plane that stayed aloft for 27.6 seconds. Ken works for Jacobs Engineering doing research with the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base. Learn more about Ken and paper airplanes here
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The Official Blog of Tau Beta Pi 
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