Time!

Thank you to John Shaffstall for alerting me to a fascinating article in the July issue of Popular Science, "German Scientists Measure How Fast an Electron Jumps, the Shortest Time Interval Ever Measured"

As John says, "A new record has just been set for the shortest measured event. Man has always thought electrons jumped from one orbit to the next, causing photo emission, was instantaneous or immediate. But, they were wrong. Using some sort of super duper stopwatch, they timed the jump of an electron at 20 attoseconds, or, 20 billionths of a billionth of a second. What I think is funny is that they are amazed at the time it takes for the jump to occur while I am blown away by the fact that they can measure something that fast. Incredible... "

And what the heck is an "attosecond"? Click here for the answer!

Now I have "Time Has Come Today" by the Chambers Brothers stuck in my head. Thanks a lot John!

Is there a Ford in your future?

The 2010 Ford Taurus ranked highest in its segment in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Initial Quality Survey.

The Ford brand placed fifth in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Initial Quality Study, which ranks brands on number of problems per 100 vehicles.  Porsche was 1st, followed by Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, then Ford.  Honda was number 6, Toyota number 22.

Did you ever think you would see the day when an American automobile company ranked higher than Honda and Toyota?  By the way, Toyota ranked lower than Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Buick.  Maybe we made the right decision with saving the US auto industry.

Full article "Domestic Brands Surpass Imports in Initial Quality for the First Time in IQS History, " J.D Power and Associates.

Energizing and Shocking...

"The Grid" – not a sexy topic unless you are an engineer.  But the poor state of our national electrical grid  is something that should be of concern to everyone.

The US electrical grid dates back to Thomas Edison and the construction of his Pearl Street Station in 1881.  Since then, experts say we are up to 1960s technology!

Today there are three quasi independent girds – Eastern, Western, and Texas Interconnections.  More than 150,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines carry power from 5,400 generating plants owned by more than 3,000 utilities.

Improvements underway include "smart grid" technology.  One example of smart grid technology is the "smart meter" at a consumers home.  I installed a smart meter at my home two years ago. The smart meter allows me to see what electricity really costs at different times of the day, and I can adjust my usage.

Read "The 21st Century Grid" in the July 2010 issue of National Geographic.  Comprehensive article with nice graphics.

No cell phone - the new status symbol?

Just read a fascinating article in Business Week about the ultimate power move – people who don't own a cell phone.  Warren Buffet, PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley, among others, believe that giving up the cell phone benefited their companies and increased efficiency.

According to the Federal Communication Commission, there are more than 280 million mobile subscribers in the United States.  How has this affected our behavior?  Are we addicted to mobile devices?  How many times have you been in a meeting and have colleagues glance at email or leave the room to take a phone call?  I have had candidates, during a job interview, stop and take a call or text message. This sends a message that the interviewer is less important than the person who called.

Ready to join the cell-free club?

Read "America's Most Exclusive Club" by Joel Stein in the August 9 issue of Bloomberg Business Week.

High Tech Rail? PTC!

Leading edge technology in a "hot" industry.  Positive Train Control is one of the most sophisticated systems in development today.  PTC combines a myriad of technologies and engineering disciplines – system architecture, algorithms, software, GPS, networking, automation, sensors, displays, electronics, mechanical design, the list goes on.  However, there is controversy with the business case for PTC.  RailwayAge has in-depth information on benefits and costs. 

For a good overview of PTC, read this article on the Federal Railroad Administration website.

Cold Physics - One Mile Deep

Testing the ingenuity of engineers and pushing the limits of reliable electronics, scientists are constructing the IceCube telescope more than a mile under the Antarctic ice. They hope to catch a glimpse of neutrinos.

Extreme low temperatures, high pressures and stress – inaccessible for repair.  I can't think of a more challenging environment for designing high reliability sensors, electronics and packaging.  Can you?

Read the EE Times article here – "IceCube telescope: Extreme science meets extreme electronics."

Disruptive Technology on Wheels

I just read a fascinating article, "Credit to the Bicycle," in the current issue of Mechanical Engineering.

A massive volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 led to the invention of the early hobby horse, which led to powered flight.  Just proves that one seemingly minor invention can led to a revolution in technology.

Did you know that you can ride about 1,000 miles at 15 miles per hour and use the amount of energy comparable to a gallon of gasoline?