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General News
STFC: UK neutron scientists are tackling the challenge of cosmic radiation and its damaging effect on sensitive microchips in the aviation industry in the drive to develop more robust electronic equipment. Accelerated testing of microelectronic components at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) world leading ISIS neutron research centre replicates the effect of thousands of hours of flying time in just a few minutes.
A microchip in an aircraft can be struck by a cosmic neutron every few seconds. When a neutron hits silicon, a nuclear reaction occurs causing an electrical charge shower that can interfere with the normal operation of electronic equipment. Results from this testing will allow manufacturers to mitigate against the problem and build triple redundancy into their electronic components.
Press release ~ Image - Transistor before ~ Image - Transistor after ~ Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) world ~ SPAESRANE (Solutions for the Preservation of Aerospace Electronic Systems Reliability in the Atmospheric Neutron Environment) ~ ISIS Second Target Station Project
DSA: The Driving Standards Agency has confirmed the driving test fee structure that was proposed last summer. Theory tests for car drivers and motorcycle riders from 1 April 2008 will be £30, while practical tests for car drivers will be £56.50 from that date.
When the new, more demanding, practical motorcycle test is introduced on 29 September, the fee for that test will be £80. A new off-road part is being introduced to the test before riders will be allowed to progress to the on-road element, which requires a new network of test centres to be constructed.
Press release ~ Response to Consultation Report ~ Book your theory and practical tests online: Directgov
DSTL: Butterflies are thriving on Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) land at Porton Down despite the floods last summer. The number & variety of rare species such as the heath butterfly, dingy skippers, marsh fratillaries and grizzled skippers have increased alongside common farmland butterflies.
The population surge is due to a reseeding programme carried out by Dstl where arable field margins were sown with combinations of seeds. In 2007, 1,145 butterflies of 24 different species were recorded, showing a significant increase on 2005 despite very poor conditions during the wet summer months.
Press release ~ Butterflies of Porton Down ~ Dstl - conservation ~ Wiltshire Wildlife Trust ~ UK Biodiversity Action Plan ~ British Nature - butterflies ~ English Nature PD
LDA: The solar panels on the roof of London's City Hall have been officially unveiled giving it a unique photovoltaic system designed to complement the rounded shape of one of London's most iconic buildings. The photovoltaic panels have a peak capacity of 67kW and are expected to generate about 50,000kWh of renewable electricity, saving up to 33 tonnes of CO2, each year.
To develop the glass-glass laminate array for the ‘eyelash’ all 46 photovoltaic panels were of different size and cell layout to adjust to the curved design of the building and changing pitch. The array includes some of the largest glass-glass laminated photovoltaic panels manufactured in the UK to date.
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