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Nuclear Reactor

Enrico Fermi and Leo Szilard invented the first nuclear reactor in which nuclear chain reactions are initiated, controlled, and sustained at a steady observable rate. In Chicago, Fermi oversaw the design and assembly of what was called the ‘atomic pile’, the code name given to a ‘nuclear reactor’ so as to not cause panic during peace-time.


With World War II raging in Europe, the ability to produce an atomic bomb was considered of the greatest importance, and so Fermi was assisted in the development of his nuclear reactor.

Being the world’s largest source of emission- free energy, generating nuclear energy needed a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction and so we have the Nuclear Reactor. Four distinct ‘Generations’ of nuclear plants have existed through time.

Generation 1 reactors were the first to produce civilian nuclear power. Generation 2 designs were commercial reactors, but had the disadvantage of needing manpower to operate and not functioning if the power was shut off. This brings us to Generation 3 reactors which can function by themselves hence addressing, to an extent, safety concerns of working in a nuclear plant. And finally, Generation 4 reactors which right now are still in theory but will supposedly surpass all other nuclear reactors.

Obninsk Nuclear Power Station, situated 100km from Moscow, was the first civilian nuclear power station in the world.

Infraded

Who’d have thought of measuring the temperature of light. But that’s how Sir William Herschel discovered infrared rays in 1800. Also known as thermal rays, they are beyond the visible range, below the red side of the spectrum (hence the name).


Probably application of infrared rays is in the remote control.  saving humanity the trouble of having to get up to flick channels on TV. They’re  also extensively used in mice, the ones connected to your PC, not the rodent variety. Its other applications are in the field of medicine, space and communication amongst several others. They are extensively used in night vision equipment to gauge distances, detect motion, and increase visibility in fog. Infrared equipment is used by the police and military as well as in fires fighting to enhance visibility. They are used in spectrometers used to test and study electronic systems.
Infrared imaging is used by satellites to monitor the weather, vegetation patterns, ocean temperatures and several other applications in astronomy

Sophisticated Fibers

It’s mind-boggling to think where mankind would’ve been without radical materials. From simple shoelaces to lighter trainers to stronger aircraft, advances in material sciences have literally transformed ordinary things forever. Some of these advances include Fibers. Take the case of Velcro; something that we take for granted today.





The fiber has a 1955 patent (in the name of George de Mestral) and was inspired by the way burrs (a prickly fruit) stick to the fur of animals. In the ‘60s Japanese researchers experimented with ways in which polymers can be infused with carbon fiber inventing strong and light composites, with never before seen strength-to-weight ratios. Everything from fishing rods to F1 cars and aerospace engineering benefited from this. In 1965 Dupont created a high strength para-aramid synthetic fiber called Kevlar. (Counter Strike players are probably nodding their heads right now). Kevlar is literally bulletproof.