Engineering a Fast Battery

This article is about the attempt of two MIT professors, Byoungwoo Kang and Gerbrand Ceder, to create batteries that would have not only a high energy density, but also a high power density. The most common batteries used today are lithium-ion batteries, which typically have very high energy densities, but low power densities. This means that they can store a lot of energy, but can’t deliver the stored energy very quickly. These two physicists have shown that by using particles with common electrode material, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), covered with a coating of ironed lithium phosphate, can increase the charging and discharging rates of a battery, meaning it can transfer energy faster and has a greater power density. The particles and coating are combined in a process that is actually fairly simple and only takes a single step. The two physicists say that by coating these particles with lithium phosphate, they can increase charge and discharge rates up to 100 times more than that of a normal lithium-ion battery.

Depression Screen Needed for Teens

The U.S. Preventative Task Force is now recommending that kids ages 12 to 18 should be routinely screened for depression even if they don't exhibit symptoms of the mood disorder.  Although the task force generally tends to be more conservative in its screening guidance, it has modified its 2002 assessment (when it said there was not enough evidence to advise such screenings) after concluding that antidepressants and psychotherapy  do help reduce depression in teens and that most teens who are suffering from depression go undiagnosed and untreated.  It is estimated that 5.9% of teen girls and 4.6% of teen boys are depressed, which could lead to an increased risk of suicide in these individuals.  To combat these statistics, it is recommended that pediatricians ask teens during their routine physicals about their mood, suicidal thoughts, and sexual orientation (some gay teens have increased risk of depression and suicide) as well as screen teens who are considered at risk of depression because of family situation or substance-abuse problems.  The task force emphasizes that it is not trying to encourage more use of antidepressant medications, which in some cases have been linked to an increased risk of suicide, saying that medication should only be prescribed when teens can be monitored for suicidal behavior and treated with psychotherapy.  

http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=depression-screens-needed-for-teens-2009-03-30

Salmonella alert: Don't eat pistachios

After having eating about 100 pistachios this weekend in many a-form, it seemed relevant to review this article.

This week the US Food and Drug Administration announced a recall (though voluntary) of pistachios packaged and shipped after September 1, 2008, by Setton Pistachio. Many cases of salmonella poisoning having already been traced to those batches. Salmonella, is a bacteria that causes diarrhea, and fever, and is usually not fatal except in cases involving small children, the elderly, or when the infection moves to the blood stream. The infection can be cleared up using antibiotics (if it has spread throughout the body).
On a homier note, the recall list included pistachios distributed all over the South-East, including Georgia. If you are concerned that you have a tainted bag, go to the FDA website, where they list all recalled items.

Safe eating!

Caffeine Cuts Workout Pain

A study in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Medicine discovered that consuming caffeine can be extremely beneficial to work outs because it strengthens one's endurance level.  In one experiment, bikers were given pills that contained 3 cups of caffeine and then took placebo pills (w/o caffeine.)  Afterwards, every biker felt less pain in his/her legs after consuming the pill with caffeine than the one without caffeine.  Apparently, caffeine's effect on reducing the "workout pain" is more significant than the effect of sugar.  In fact, there are many competitive cyclists and long-distance runners that drink coffee before a workout or competition in order to get that extra boost. 

http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=caffeine -cuts-workout-pain-09-04-01