Researchers at Ohio State University studying a new magnetic effect that converts heat to electricity have discovered how to amplify it a thousand times over - a first step in making the technology more practical. The research team's ultimate goal is a low-cost and efficient solid-state engine that coverts heat to electricity. This research could enable electronic devices to … [Read more...]

Val Patterson, 59, an electronic engineer from Salt Lake City, died of throat cancer July 10. He wrote his own obituary last fall, using the piece to confess to some actions he made in life: stealing a safe and not earning his Ph.D. The obituary was published in the Salt Lake Tribune. Patterson calls himself "a true scientist," and describes his upbringing and … [Read more...]