| 
 
 | 
 
 | 
Toshiba's US nuclear unit files for bankruptcy protection![]() Washington (AFP) March 29, 2017 Toshiba's loss-hit US nuclear unit Westinghouse Electric Company has filed for bankruptcy protection, the companies said Wednesday, as the troubled division wrestles with huge losses and accounting fraud claims. The Japanese conglomerate's board approved the Chapter 11 filing in a US court in New York, a step that temporarily shelters struggling firms as they try to restructure their affairs and debts. Westinghouse technology is at the core of about half of the world's nuclear reactors. "Wes ... read more  | 
 
Japan high court rules nuclear reactors can restartTokyo (AFP) March 28, 2017 A Japanese appeals court on Tuesday ruled that a pair of nuclear reactors halted by a lower court order can be restarted, in a victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's energy policy. ... more  
Japan court rules government liable for Fukushima disasterTokyo (AFP) March 17, 2017 A Japanese court on Friday ruled for the first time that the government bears responsibility for the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and ordered it and the plant operator to pay damages, officials and news reports said. ... more  
Visualizing nuclear radiationKyoto, Japan (SPX) Mar 23, 2017 Extraordinary decontamination efforts are underway in areas affected by the 2011 nuclear accidents in Japan. The creation of total radioactivity maps is essential for thorough cleanup, but the most ... more  
Late US billionaire's record land gift lays Chile row to restSantiago (AFP) March 18, 2017 Douglas Tompkins's widow vividly remembers the suspicions the late billionaire raised when he started buying up land in Patagonia, the natural paradise at the bottom of South America. ... more  | 
 
 | 
| Previous Issues | Mar 29 | Mar 28 | Mar 27 | Mar 24 | Mar 23 | 
 
 | 
 
The EIC and Nuclear AMRC sign MoULondon, UK (SPX) Mar 13, 2017 Two leading organisations within the UK's nuclear industry, the Energy Industries Council (EIC) and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC), have signed a Memorandum of Und ... more  
New research urges a rethink on global energy subsidiesSussex, UK (SPX) Mar 15, 2017 The hidden toll that subsidies for electricity, fossil fuels, and transport have on social welfare, economic growth and technological innovation needs to be exposed through better research says a ne ... more  
Germany's E.ON next to turn face to low-carbon futureBerlin (UPI) Mar 15, 2017 German energy company E.ON said Wednesday it's been able to free itself from past burdens and was positioned for growth in a "new energy world." ... more  
Loss-hit Toshiba nosedives on fears about futureTokyo (AFP) March 15, 2017 Toshiba shares plunged Wednesday as fears grow about the future of one of Japan's best-known firms, hit by massive losses and accounting fraud allegations at its US nuclear unit. ... more  
German energy company RWE evolving for successWashington (UPI) Mar 14, 2017 German energy company RWE said it's "back on track" after retooling its footing in the market and riding on the success of its renewable energy arm. ... more  
Cancer-Causing Radiation Biggest Threat to Humans on Deep Space MissionsWashington (Sputnik) Mar 13, 2017 Researchers looking into the effects of deep space travel on the human body may have just discovered something that could jeopardize humankind's chances of a successfully colonizing Mars. With work ... more  | 
![]() Potential approach to how radioactive elements could be 'fished out' of nuclear waste  
For Japan's nuclear refugees, insults and rejectionHirono, Japan (AFP) March 10, 2017 Satsuki Sekine's home was destroyed in Japan's 2011 tsunami disaster and her family fled in the nuclear panic that followed. But crueller still were the insults and stigmatisation she faced in the community where she sought refuge. ... more  
Completion of dismantling of nuclear facilities at the Cadarache MOX plantParis, France (SPX) Mar 09, 2017 AREVA has completed clean-up and dismantling operations on the facilities belonging to the former MOX fuel fabrication plant in Cadarache (Bouches-du-Rhone). Around 60 emptied process areas have thu ... more  
UN nuclear chief set for third termVienna (AFP) March 8, 2017 The board of the UN atomic watchdog, which tracks Iran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, Wednesday backed Yukiya Amano to serve a third term as director general, the board's chairman said. ... more  
EU approves Hungary's Kremlin-backed nuclear plantBrussels (AFP) March 6, 2017 EU authorities on Monday approved a controversial nuclear expansion project in Hungary that is heavily backed by Russia. ... more  | 

| 
 Bochum, Germany (SPX) Mar 30, 2017  
Researchers at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum have analysed how green algae manufacture complex components of a hydrogen-producing enzyme. The enzyme, known as the hydrogenase, may be relevant for the biotechnological production of hydrogen. 
To date, little is known about the way organisms form this type of hydrogenases under natural conditions. Using novel synthetic biology methods, the team aro ... more Upton NY (SPX) Mar 27, 2017Chemists ID catalytic 'key' for converting CO2 to methanol  Jakarta (AFP) March 20, 2017Community in chaotic Jakarta goes green to fight eviction  Upton NY (SPX) Mar 21, 2017Study IDs link between sugar signaling and regulation of oil production in plants  | 
 Houston TX (SPX) Mar 27, 2017  
Rice University scientists have created an efficient, simple-to-manufacture oxygen-evolution catalyst that pairs well with semiconductors for solar water splitting, the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy in the form of hydrogen and oxygen. 
The lab of Kenton Whitmire, a Rice professor of chemistry, teamed up with researchers at the University of Houston and discovered that growin ... more London, UK (SPX) Mar 29, 2017Nanomaterials that makes harvesting sunlight easier  Stanford CA (SPX) Mar 27, 2017New Stanford study calls for US solar policy reform  Sydney, Australia (SPX) Mar 30, 2017First Solar to deliver 48Mw Manildra solar farm  | 
 | 
| 
 Washington (UPI) Mar 28, 2017  
 Danish plans to build one of the larger wind farms in European territorial waters are in line with competition and environmental goals there, a governing body said. 
 Denmark in February told the European Commission it was offering state-backed premiums for the price of electricity to support the Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm. Margrethe Vestager, the European commissioner in charge of  ... more Tokyo (AFP) March 29, 2017Japan scientist eyes energy burst from 'typhoon turbine'  Washington (UPI) Mar 17, 2017North Carolina offshore wind hailed as job creator  Washington (UPI) Mar 16, 2017North Carolina ready for offshore wind energy auction  | 
 Paris (AFP) March 28, 2017  
 Voluntary efficiency programmes - including one targeted for elimination by the Trump administration - have led to energy savings of up to 30 percent in commercial buildings in Los Angeles, researchers have reported. 
Describing their study as the first large-scale analysis of green certification schemes for big buildings, a pair of researchers from the University of California at Los Angel ... more Washington (UPI) Mar 24, 2017Energy demand metrics indicate strong U.S. economy  New York (AFP) March 26, 2017New York skyscrapers adapt to climate change  Washington (UPI) Mar 17, 2017Emissions flat for three years in a row, IEA says  | 
 | 
| 
 Seoul, South Korea (SPX) Mar 29, 2017  
Although most of our electronic devices, like mobile phones, laptops and electric vehicles use lithium rechargeable batteries, what is going on inside them is not fully understood. Researchers from the Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) succeeded in observing in realtime the ultrafast dynamics of lithium ions with femtosecond time resolut ... more New Haven CT (SPX) Mar 27, 2017Building a market for renewable thermal technologies  New Haven CT (SPX) Mar 23, 2017New gel-like coating beefs up the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries  Salt Lake City UT (SPX) Mar 21, 2017Non-toxic material that generates electricity through hot and cold  | 
 Paris (AFP) March 27, 2017  
 Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Monday unveiled a grand plan to clean up the French capital, putting teeth into the campaign by stepping up enforcement operations. 
The city will be "uncompromising with those who sully the public space," she said, addressing one of the main complaints of residents and tourists alike. 
The Socialist mayor said the squad of police handing out fines - dubbed the ... more Bogota (AFP) March 27, 2017Colombian town votes against gold mine, in vain  Basque Country, Spain (SPX) Mar 29, 2017Rocks that tell our industrial history  Los Angeles (AFP) March 29, 2017California prepares for war with Trump over environment  | 
 | 
| 
 Washington (UPI) Mar 28, 2017  
 The third production facility at the Gorgon liquefied natural gas facility off the Australian coast is now in service, the regional subsidiary of Chevron said. 
 "This is a key milestone for the Gorgon joint venture participants, our workforce, customers, government and all those associated with the project over its lifetime should be extremely proud," Nigel Hearne, Chevron's regional man ... more Washington (UPI) Mar 28, 2017Moscow sees Arctic oil as an option  Worcester MA (SPX) Mar 27, 2017Novel oil spill cleanup technology tested  Washington (UPI) Mar 28, 2017West Africa oil potential growing  | 
 Pasadena CA (JPL) Mar 27, 2017  
Opportunity is just outside the rim of Endeavour Crater, heading to the gully, named 'Perseverance Valley.' The large regional dust storm to the west of the rover's site has started to abate, although there is still a lot of dust in the atmosphere and rover energy levels are affected. 
On Sol 4672 (March 16, 2017), Opportunity drove over 141 feet (43 meters) to the south. Owning to the elev ... more Paris (ESA) Mar 29, 2017Final two ExoMars landing sites chosen  Pasadena CA (JPL) Mar 23, 2017Breaks observed in Curiosity rover wheel treads  Pasadena CA (JPL) Mar 21, 2017Mars Volcano, Earth's Dinosaurs Went Extinct About the Same Time  | 
 | 
| 
 Nairobi (AFP) March 28, 2017  
 The number of Kenyans needing emergency food aid has doubled in the past three months to three million, the Red Cross said Tuesday, as the impact of a devastating drought worsens. 
Kenya is one of several East African countries suffering from food crises, along with Ethiopia; South Sudan, where famine has already been declared; and Somalia, on the brink of its third famine in 25 years. 
Ou ... more Washington (AFP) March 29, 2017Trump moves to roll back Obama climate measures  Beijing (AFP) March 29, 2017China calls on US to honour climate commitments  Washington (AFP) March 29, 2017No decision yet on staying in Paris climate accord: US  | 
 Nuremberg, Germany (SPX) Mar 27, 2017  
Material researchers of Friedrich-Alexander Universitat Erlangen Nurnberg (FAU) have come a step closer to their goal of providing large diamond foils for practical applications. In a test reactor, they have succeeded in producing the world's largest diamond foil with a diameter of 28 centimetres. Diamond foils can be used as ultimate wear protection in industrial applications and for research i ... more Hong Kong (AFP) March 29, 2017'Pink Star' diamond set to fetch record price in Hong Kong  Washington (UPI) Mar 27, 2017Northern seas once pumped CO2 into Earth's atmosphere  Santa Barbara CA (SPX) Mar 17, 2017The carbon dioxide loop  | 
 | 
| 
 Washington (UPI) Mar 28, 2017  
 Britain and France have inked an agreement to share the the cost of a new cruise missile program lead by MBDA Missile Systems. 
 Under the terms of the pact, signed by British Defense Minister Harriett Baldwin and French counterpart Laurent Collet-Billon, each country will contribute roughly $62 million for the Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon program. 
 "We are launching today a maj ... more Washington (UPI) Mar 28, 2017Indian navy commissions first Mk IV-class Landing Craft Utility ship  Washington (UPI) Mar 27, 2017Australia modernizes Anzac-class frigate  Washington (UPI) Mar 27, 2017Norway orders autonomous mine-hunting systems  | 
 United Nations, United States (AFP) March 27, 2017  
 More than 100 countries on Monday launched the first UN talks aimed at achieving a legally binding ban on nuclear weapons, as Washington led an international boycott of a process it deems unrealistic. 
Before the conference had even begun, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, spoke out to reject the proposal in the light of current global security threats. 
"As a mom and a daughter th ... more Tokyo (AFP) March 29, 2017Japan ruling party urges strike capability amid N.Korea threat  Washington (AFP) March 29, 2017N. Korea could be in final preparations for nuclear test: report  Beijing (AFP) March 29, 2017China coal imports from North Korea surge in February  | 
 | 
| 
 Montreal (AFP) March 28, 2017  
 British and US bans on laptops and tablet computers in flight cabins are not sustainable in the long term, the head of the association representing airlines said Tuesday. 
"The current measures are not acceptable as a long-term solution to whatever threat they are trying to mitigate," said Alexandre de Juniac, director general of the International Air Transport Association. 
"Even in the s ... more Tehran (AFP) March 27, 2017IS releases video threatening Iran  Washington (UPI) Mar 27, 2017Smiths Detection tapped for airport security  Moscow (AFP) March 24, 2017Russian troops killed in IS-claimed attack on Chechen base  | 
 Washington (UPI) Mar 28, 2017  
 Saab received a $42 million contract from the Swedish government to perform operational and developmental support for the Gripen fighter throughout 2017. 
 In addition to the operation of rigs and simulators, the company will test, verify and validate Gripen C/D and Gripen E fighter aircraft systems. Gripen C/D planes will also receive operational support. 
 Work on the contract will ... more Washington (UPI) Mar 28, 2017Serbia to receive MiG-29 fighters from Russia  Washington (UPI) Mar 27, 2017Northrop Grumman gets contract mod for E-2D production  Washington (UPI) Mar 28, 2017Simulator for F-35 naval test pilots ready to use  | 
 | 
| 
 Ayr, Australia (AFP) March 29, 2017  
 Towns remained cut off in northern Australia Wednesday after being pummelled by a powerful cyclone that washed battered yachts ashore and ripped roofs off houses, as the military mobilised to help with the clean-up. 
The category four Cyclone Debbie slammed into the coast of Queensland state between Bowen and Airlie Beach on Tuesday afternoon, packing destructive winds and devastating some of ... more Washington DC (SPX) Mar 29, 2017Rising flood insurance costs growing will New York City  Dhaka (IANS) Mar 27, 2017Bangladesh to join India's South Asia Satellite initiative  Munich, Germany (SPX) Mar 27, 2017Extreme space weather: Protecting our critical infrastructure  | 
 Washington (AFP) March 26, 2017  
 Are robots coming for your job? 
Although technology has long affected the labor force, recent advances in artificial intelligence and robotics are heightening concerns about automation replacing a growing number of occupations, including highly skilled or "knowledge-based" jobs. 
Just a few examples: self-driving technology may eliminate the need for taxi, Uber and truck drivers, algorith ... more Boston MA (SPX) Mar 27, 2017Printable device points toward sensor-laden robot skin  Sendai, Japan (SPX) Mar 23, 2017Quadruped robot exhibits spontaneous changes in step with speed  Washington (UPI) Mar 22, 2017Kraken Sonar Systems gains funding for robotics project  | 
 
 | 
| Buy Advertising | Media Advertising Kit | Editorial & Other Enquiries | Privacy statement | 
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement |