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Struggling with Bike Storage? Discover 13 Smart Space-Saving Solutions for Indoor and Outdoor Use!

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I have been rearranging my home lately and encountered issues common among cyclists: where to store your bike? According to research, around 5.5 million individuals in the UK would cycle more if they had the appropriate space to store their bicycles at home. Specifically, 23% of flat residents and 58% of those living in detached houses struggle with finding accessible storage locations.


Fortunately, there are numerous bike storage options available, ranging from simple floor anchors in small outdoor areas to high-security sheds and designated parking zones offered by local authorities. One innovative entrepreneur even won £100,000 on Dragons’ Den for his “Space Isle” concept. Below are some of the top storage solutions I’ve discovered, suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings.

Top Bicycle Storage Solutions

Outdoor

If your bike needs to be parked outside and security is a concern (as it should be), opt for products with a solid safety rating. This indicates that they have undergone thorough testing to resist theft.

Additionally, if you’re considering a shed, be cautious: metal can become extremely hot in the sun. Avoid letting parts of the bike that may melt (like the handlebars and tires) come into contact with metal during the summer. Either strategically place fabric between the bike and metal or consider insulation.

For Front or Rear Gardens

Fortress

£915 at Asgard

For those with access to a front or rear garden, Asgard’s sheds offer secure, aesthetically pleasing, and durable options. Prices for a two-bike shed start at £649. I trialed the Mammoth Annex Plus E (with E-Bike charging capabilities) in my front yard. It’s been police approved and certified by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) for security.

The Plus E can accommodate 3-4 bikes (make sure to check your bike size first). It also features optional plug sockets for charging, gear shelves, and hooks. For an additional cost, Asgard offers installation services. Initially hesitant to leave an expensive bike in my front garden, I found the shed to be incredibly secure, thanks to a five-point locking double door with two deadbolts.

The design includes ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and is spacious enough to conceal overflowing bins from neighbors. Weighing 176kg (27st 10lb), it’s quite a challenge to move.

Lifting Lid Shed

£629.99 on Shedstore
£629.99 with Buy Sheds Direct

Trimital’s bike sheds are robust and well-constructed but lack fixed design and LPCB rating, requiring individual padlocks to secure them when closed. The dimensions of the 6ft 4in x 2ft 9in (193cm x 88cm) model allow it to house up to three adult bikes, and it boasts a 25-year panel warranty. This model features a spring-assisted lid that lifts both the roof and front of the shed, reducing the need to duck while loading and unloading bikes. However, managing two padlocks can be tricky during rain or when you’re in a hurry; the floors are sold separately (£89.99).

For models like the Fortress shed, special metal anchors can be affixed to solid floors with the bike locked to it.

Simple Wooden Shed

£434 at Powersheds
£445 at Wicks

Numerous affordable wooden sheds start at £200-300, but investing in a higher-quality model is advisable. The cycle insurance company Bikmo recommends opting for a tongue-and-groove design, as overlapping wooden styles can warp and become vulnerable to both the weather and thieves. Internal hinges are preferable since they prevent burglars from easily removing the doors.

Positioned in the mid-range sector is Powersheds’ Apex Bike Shed, with the 6 x 2ft (183 x 61cm) model starting at £434. It can store two bikes, but remember to verify your bike sizes prior to purchase. Powersheds’ products come with a 10-year warranty, galvanized metal components, and easily accessible doors. However, the hinge is situated on the outside.

Elegant Wooden Shed

Starting at £1,512 by Bike Shed Company

The Bike Shed Company offers high-end wooden sheds that accommodate up to five adult bicycles, along with garden shelving and custom wooden builds. The most affordable model, the Pedalbase 2, fits two bikes (again, be sure to check your bike dimensions). Both the doors and roof open and stay lifted via gas struts, making it effortless to access. There’s even a model designed to fit beside your bay window. This wood is sustainably sourced from FSC-certified forests in the UK.

On-Street Solutions



 Photo: Nathaniel Noir/Aramie

While most councils do not provide public bike storage, and waitlists can be lengthy, we luckily share a cycling parking space on the street near our home. These Hemisil Shared Bicycle Huts are available in cities like London, Bristol, and Salford. Places like Brighton, Edinburgh, and Glasgow have efficient setups accommodating six bikes in the space of a single car. These bike storage spots are typically set up by councils and can be borrowed by residents. In London, one such spot averages £57.90 a year in 2022.

Their popularity is evident: Bristol introduced 40 new hangars that were nearly fully booked within 90 minutes. Waltham Forest currently has 4,305 individuals on its waiting list, with 150 new applications each month (the council anticipates offering 300 additional units next year).

You can join a waiting list or coordinate with your neighbors and local councils. If enough people express interest in CycleHoop, they may inform your council of the demand. There’s even a Jumbo Cargo Bike Model catering to non-standard cycles.

Time for Anchors!

For minimalist solutions in tight outdoor spaces like alleys, consider metal floor or wall anchors that can be secured into the ground and allow chains to loop through the bike. Check here for Safe-approved ground anchors currently available. You can also opt for a bike cover to shield your bike from the elements (details below).

Diamond Secure

£63.84 in Halford
£56.99 on Amazon

Hiplok’s ANKR is on the pricier side but carries a diamond safety rating, which is the highest security classification for bike protection. For your investment, you’ll receive maximum security steel anchors for both bikes and motorcycles. The rubberized cap ensures no damage to your bicycle’s frame and is backed by a 10-year warranty—ideal if a bike thief has a determined mission or comes equipped with an angle grinder.

Silver Secure

£25 at Argos
£19.99 on Amazon

Oxford Locks’ Anchor10 features secure silver-rated wall and floor anchors made from hardened steel. Its design includes bolts shielded by ball bearings, which are concealed when the locks are installed to thwart theft attempts. The manufacturer claims it undergoes a “5-minute attack test.”

Outdoor Bike Cover

Leaving your bike exposed to the elements is less than ideal, but may be necessary at times. Many Dutch cyclists do this year-round. Bike covers come in various styles and price ranges, providing an economical solution to reduce rust and wear. Budget options start under ten pounds, while premium covers for larger cycles can exceed seventy pounds. A mid-range option is often the best compromise.

Stylish Cover

£39.30 at Santa Fixy

The Bikeparka Stash is a chic, fitted cover that wraps around both the front and rear wheels of your bicycle, complete with cinch straps to prevent water accumulation. As a medium-sized bike user, I managed to fit two bikes beneath a single cover. Constructed from ripstop waterproof material, it boasts sealed seams, adjustable toggles, and brass eyelets to keep your bike snug and dry. Just be cautious on windy days—my bike once tipped over due to the cover acting like a sail, causing scratches. Additionally, there’s a cargo bike parka for £85.70 and a long-tail bike model with a seat cover priced at £79.95. For durability, using it primarily in the winter months will extend its lifespan by reducing UV damage. Bikeparka offers a one-year guarantee for sun exposure, and a colleague mentioned theirs has lasted for years outdoors compared to months of cheaper alternatives. To illustrate, think of it like leaving your tent exposed 24/7 while grappling with troublesome metal objects regularly.

Robust Skin

£60 for Stormskin
£60 on Amazon

Stormskin’s premium cover is robust and will adequately protect your bike; it withstands all weather except the most relentless horizontal rain. Reviewers have praised it as the best protective cover available (though it’s not particularly portable) and it features slits to allow securing directly to the bike lock. The material is up to nine times thicker than competing products and is made from 100% recycled fabric, showcasing a stylish palm print design that’s visually appealing. It does take some effort to fit all bikes under it.

Budget Options

£18.99 at Trets

The Oxford Aquatex cover is an economical choice while still being effective in shielding your bike from the weather. It comes in three sizes and can accommodate up to three bikes. Made from grade 100 polyester with double stitching, it is a straightforward option with a strong base. While spacious enough for larger bikes, this also results in more flapping in the wind. If you face issues with pigeons or similar problems, it could serve as a deterrent.

Indoor

There are plenty of hooks and shelving solutions designed to facilitate indoor bike storage. Treat your bike as a piece of art—it just may be! Many of the following options are also suitable for garages and sturdy wooden sheds.

Tire Hooks

£15 in Halfford
Hornitt for £15.99

The compact bike hook is simply a small piece of plastic constructed to hold your bike’s tire. The manufacturer suggests that while one wheel remains on the ground, installation is as straightforward as pushing a few screws into place. This clever and popular option permits you to line your bikes up like books on a shelf. Be sure to measure tire widths before purchasing from the five available sizes (ranging from 23-32mm to 70-81mm). Keep the tires inflated or the bike may tip. Another option could be the Clug Pro, which secures the wheel in place using strong, small threads and magnets. Mud pads can also be added to safeguard the wall.

Rubber Hook

£8.42 on Decathlon

For an affordable and versatile option that fully supports the bike, a rubber-covered hook is available at various price points. This option is recommended by this YouTuber. Attaching it to a wooden 2×4 or 2×6 baton, rather than directly onto the wall, enhances stability, longevity, and allows for more bikes within a meter, while also minimizing wall damage caused by the larger screws accompanying эти hooks.

No Drill Options

£149.99 on Cyclestore
£179.99 in Halford

Topeak offers several no-drill bike storage solutions. For a compact setup, consider utilizing dual touch wedges stationed between the floor and ceiling, using an adjustable pole with a clever foot pedal clutch. You can fit two bikes stacked vertically, but depending on your bike size and ceiling height, the maximum weight capacity can reach 72kg or 18kg.

The trick is to locate the joists in the ceiling, which can be done by referencing old photographs from before your kitchen ceiling collapsed. I found mine this way. My E-Bike step-through frame was oddly shaped and too bulky, resulting in an unstable hanging position; however, my hybrid and road bikes fit without issue. They also provide a freestanding version with tripod legs, requiring a little more floor space, which gained popularity at Bicycle Expo.

Laura Laker has written about cycling for over a decade. Her book, Potholes and Pavement: Rugged Rides to the UK’s National Cycling Network examines the state of cycling in the nation.




Source: www.theguardian.com

How Fat Storage Locations Impact Brain Function

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Our brain activity and health is influenced by various bodily events

Cavallini James/BSIP/Getty Images

The impact of body fat on our movements, emotions, and even the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease varies based on its location within the body.

While many studies emphasize abdominal fat due to its correlation with cognitive decline and heart disease, few have explored fat distribution in other regions, usually with limited participant numbers.

To broaden understanding, Qiu from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and her team investigated the effects of fat in the arms, legs, torso, and around internal organs on brain health.

The research team analyzed body composition scans and Brain Imaging data of over 18,000 adults with an average age of 62 involved in the UK Biobank Project. After taking age and other factors into account, they associated excess fat in different body regions with specific brain changes.

For instance, higher fat levels in the arms and torso correlated with thinning in the sensorimotor cortex, which is involved in movement. Increased arm fat was also linked to reduced hippocampal volume, a crucial area for memory that is traditionally affected in Alzheimer’s disease, potentially explaining why arm fat is associated with a higher risk of neurodegenerative disorders.

The researchers found that excess leg fat correlated with diminished connectivity in the brain’s limbic network, which is responsible for emotion and reward processing. This may be due to the fact that fat in the lower body releases leptin, a hormone that regulates hunger, with higher leptin levels connected to reduced limbic connectivity.

Conversely, visceral fat (around internal organs) was the type most strongly linked to functional changes in the brain, uniquely associated with white matter degradation—a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease—rather than its preservation.

This may arise from the fact that visceral fat produces more inflammatory substances compared to fat located elsewhere in the body, according to Sonia Anand from McMaster University in Canada, which can contribute to brain inflammation.

It remains unclear why arm fat appeared to have both protective and detrimental effects on the brain. “Observing such divergent impacts was intriguing,” noted Mikal Schneider Biary from Rutgers University, New Jersey. This complexity underscores the intricate relationship between body fat and brain health, she added.

The research only established correlations between body fat and brain function, so “we can’t infer any causal connections,” Biary cautions. Some brain changes may indeed influence the distribution of body fat. Moreover, the findings might not apply to the broader population, as there was a notable lack of diversity among participants.

Nevertheless, the study emphasizes that different types and locations of fat exert varying effects, according to Anand. This suggests that treatments focusing on reducing visceral fat could have a more significant impact on brain health than generalized weight loss approaches.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

DNA Cassette Tapes: A Storage Solution for All Recorded Songs to Date

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DNA cassettes resemble music cassette tapes

Jiankai Li et al. 2025

With a modern twist, the nostalgic cassette tape may be resurging in the form of DNA. Previously used solely as a medium for information storage, researchers have now fused the concept with the style of 1980s cassette tapes, leading to the innovation termed DNA cassettes.

Xingyu Jiang and his colleagues at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Guangdong, China, crafted these cassettes by printing synthetic DNA molecules onto plastic tapes. “The sequences can be designed in such a manner that the order of DNA bases (A, T, C, G) conveys digital information just like binary code (0 or 1) in a computer,” he remarks. This allows for the storage of all forms of digital files, from text and images to audio and video.

A significant challenge of earlier DNA storage methods was accessing the data. To remedy this, the team implemented a series of barcodes on the tape to simplify searching. “It’s akin to locating a book in a library,” explains Jiang. “You first identify the shelf corresponding to the book and then locate the specific book on that shelf.”

The tape is also treated with a protective coating dubbed “crystal armor,” made from zeolite imidazolate, which ensures the integrity of the DNA. This allows the cassettes to retain data for centuries without degradation.

While classic cassette tapes can hold around 12 songs per side, the new 100-meter DNA cassette can house over 3 billion pieces of music comprising 10 megabytes of songs. This results in an astounding total data storage capacity of 36 petabytes, comparable to a 36,000 terabyte hard drive.

However, Jiankai Li warns that if one were to place the new tape into an old-school Walkman, it wouldn’t produce sound. “Our tapes contain DNA molecules,” he notes. “It’s similar to trying to play a photograph on a record player—the formats simply don’t align.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Review of “Internet Storage”: Nick Clegg’s New Tech Book Lacks Substance

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Nick Clegg, vice president of Global Affairs and Communications at Meta, speaks via web broadcast from the Altice Arena during the 2021 Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, attended by approximately 40,000 participants. (Credit: Hugo Amaral/SOPA Images via Zuma Press Wire)

At the time, Nick Clegg, an executive at Meta, addressed the Technology Summit in Portugal in 2021.

Hugo Amaral/SOPA Images via Zuma Press Wire/Alamy

How to Save the Internet
Nick Clegg (Bodley Head (UK, Now, US, November 11))

There were moments when my brain struggled to engage with Nick Clegg’s new book, How to Save the Internet.

After a dull depiction of future families benefiting from artificial intelligence, I found myself flipping to page 131, encountering lengthy quoted segments, first from a Massachusetts tech professor, followed by an excerpt from an NPR article. Overwhelmed by monotony, I had to set the book aside.

However, Clegg, a former executive at Facebook’s parent company Meta and UK’s deputy prime minister from 2010 to 2015, prompted me to revisit it, sensing that valuable insights awaited.

During his tenure, Clegg experienced pivotal moments at Meta, including the two-year suspension of Donald Trump in 2021. His reflections on Meta’s policies are revealing. Despite rising authoritarianism, How to Save the Internet posits that Big Tech is responsible for shaping our online realities.

Yet, wisdom is scarce throughout the book, which is littered with passages from other journalists and researchers. When Clegg does offer his perspective, it often comes across as uninspired and bland: “If businesses can enhance productivity during work hours and glean insights swiftly, it will promote efficiency.” Hardly thrilling.

The book’s concluding chapter, where Clegg presents his grand vision to “save the Internet,” is equally underwhelming, claiming that the US should avoid business as usual while the Chinese AI model Deepseek caused significant market turmoil. He suggests a global agreement to counteract China, but fails to dive deeply into the implications.

What struck me more was Clegg’s explanation of Meta’s response after supporters of Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol, resulting in a presidential ban. CEO Mark Zuckerberg allowed Clegg to make a crucial decision regarding the suspension. This was significant for private firms, yet the process seemed unclear. We were informed of the events, but left without a thorough understanding.

Given Clegg’s background, I’m left wondering why the book lacks a lasting impact. His experiences as a politician and tech executive are evident, yet he shares little of himself, which diminishes engagement with his audience. Questions surrounding AI’s socioeconomic implications and its potential to deepen inequality are posed but left unanswered.

The core issue with How to Save the Internet is its failure to convey substantial ideas. Politicians often shy away from firm stances. The Internet’s origins stretch back to military ARPANET, AI lacks true intelligence, and while social media connects us, it also leads to toxicity.

This reads more like a post-dinner speech or a polished think tank report, adorned with flashy aesthetics. If you’re interested in saving the Internet, proceed with caution.

Chris Stokell Walker is a technology writer based in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

It Could Have Up to 90% Less Carbon Storage Capacity Than You Realize

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Icelandic geothermal power facilities engaged in the underground injection of carbon dioxide for extended storage

sigrg/carbfix

Recent studies indicate that the planet may exhaust its capacity for storing captured carbon dioxide within the next 200 years, revealing that our ability to retain CO.2 underground is significantly less than previously believed.

Government and industry advocates promote the underground storage of carbon dioxide as a viable solution to achieving net-zero emissions while still utilizing fossil fuels.

Previously estimated industry figures suggested a global geological storage capacity of about 14,000 Gigatonnes of CO.2. However, as noted by Jori Rogelj from Imperial College London, UK, this capacity was thought to be effectively limitless.

Through comprehensive analysis, Rogelj and his team discovered that the actual available storage space might be considerably lower. By assessing stable geological formations while excluding areas with significant risk factors, such as proximity to major urban centers, sensitive ecosystems, or regions prone to earthquakes, they concluded that only 1460 Gigatonnes of geological storage capacity is viable worldwide.

“From a situation where storage options appeared virtually boundless, we’ve transformed our perspective,” Rogelj explains. “The storage potential we can depend on requires careful management and represents a crucial asset,” he continues, emphasizing that the potential is now ten times more valuable than previously recognized.

Most climate projections indicate that adequate underground carbon storage is essential for the world to attain net-zero emissions. The extent of this storage relies fundamentally on reducing fossil fuel consumption. Researchers caution that if we continue to depend on geological storage to isolate significant emissions post-net zero, we could deplete carbon storage entirely by the year 2200.

Rogelj asserts that his findings suggest underground carbon storage should only be utilized as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted. He recommends relying on zero-emissions solutions whenever feasible, rather than capturing and storing emissions from fossil fuel power stations.

This strategy would preserve underground storage capacity for CO2 that could be utilized with technologies such as direct air capture (DAC), which extracts excess CO2 directly from the atmosphere. DACs, along with other “negative emissions” technologies, can potentially help the world achieve net negative emissions beyond reaching net zero, opening up pathways to effectively reverse climate change.

According to Rogelj and his colleagues, the 1460 Gigatonnes of accessible underground CO2 storage capacity could allow the world to counteract warming by as much as 0.7°C.

Nonetheless, Stuart Haszeldine from the University of Edinburgh warns that the actual usable geological storage capacity might be less than the industry’s 14,000 Gigatonnes estimate and suggests that these revised lower figures could still be overly optimistic.

He argues that the team’s approach to evaluating risk factors is “quite conservative,” pointing out that certain seismic regions, such as the North Sea, have been excluded from consideration but remain suitable for carbon isolation. “We understand enough about carbon storage and oil reserves. An oil field filled with oil, gas, or carbon dioxide can withstand quakes of magnitude 6 without any issues,” Haszeldine states.

He emphasizes that most analysts foresee carbon sequestration as an integral part of the transition away from fossil fuels. Therefore, he predicts that the volume of carbon injected underground yearly should diminish once net-zero emissions are achieved.

“[Carbon capture and storage] encompasses a wide range of climate pessimism and challenges, which have often been overlooked, explaining why we don’t really require a tremendous amount of joint CO2 storage capacity,” Haszeldine concludes.

Topics:

  • Climate change/
  • Carbon capture

Source: www.newscientist.com

Carbon storage might be only a tenth as effective in fighting climate change as previously believed.

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Recent research indicates that the ability to safely store carbon is significantly lower than earlier estimates, being only a tenth of what was initially predicted. This finding constraints its viability as a solution to the climate crisis.

New estimates, published in Nature, reveal that carbon capture could lower global warming by just 0.7°C, a stark contrast to the previously estimated 6°C.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO)2 from the environment or industrial processes, transporting it, and storing it deep underground to prevent greenhouse gas emissions.

The study cautions that many areas once considered suitable for CCS may pose significant risks. Concerns such as leaks, seismic activity, and water contamination could render numerous potential sites unsafe.

The researchers conducted an extensive analysis of local mapping areas for viable carbon storage locations. Their findings suggest that, in reality, CCS can store only about 146 billion tonnes of CO.2, approximately 10 times less than previously thought.

“Carbon storage is often framed as a solution to the climate crisis,” stated the lead author, Matthew Guido, a senior researcher at IIASA and the University of Maryland, USA. “Our findings indicate that its effectiveness is limited.”

“With current trends hinting at a potential rise of up to 3°C this century, even maximizing the available geological storage won’t suffice to limit warming to 2°C.”

Co-author Jori Rogelgi, a senior researcher and director at the Grantham Institute, emphasized that carbon storage should not be perceived as an endless solution for climate preservation.

“Instead, geological storage sites should be viewed as a precious resource that must be managed responsibly to ensure a safe climate future for humanity,” he remarked. “It should be employed to halt and counteract global warming rather than wastefully offset ongoing, preventable CO.2 emissions.”

Trees naturally absorb carbon, while carbon storage technology responsibly hides carbon deep underground – Credit: A. Martin UW Photos

The study also suggests that nations like the US, Russia, China, Brazil, and Australia, as major fossil fuel producers, might benefit from utilizing depleted oil and gas fields for carbon storage.

“This issue transcends mere technology,” remarked co-author Siddharth Joshi, a research scholar at IIASA. “It encompasses concepts of transgenerational and national justice.”

“Countries with the highest historical emissions should lead in utilizing this resource wisely as they hold the most practical carbon storage options.”

Experts not involved in this research are currently debating the accuracy of the paper’s figures and their implications for the future of carbon storage as astrategy to mitigate the climate crisis.

However, Professor Carrie Leah, a climate scientist at Cardiff University who was not part of the study, stated that the finite nature of carbon storage should redirect focus towards reducing fossil fuel usage.

“There is no solitary solution to climate mitigation,” Leah noted. “It’s akin to a pie comprised of multiple slices.

“This study illustrates that the CCS portion of the pie is significantly smaller than previously believed, highlighting the urgent need to address the larger slices of fossil fuel reduction.”

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Microsoft Probes Israeli Military’s Use of Azure Cloud Storage

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Microsoft is examining how Unit 8200, the Israeli military surveillance unit, utilizes the Azure Cloud Storage platform.

Top executives are quickly assessing the data that Unit 8200 stores on Azure following a Guardian investigation that disclosed how intelligence agencies can amass extensive records of intercepted Palestinian mobile communications through cloud services.

Collaborative inquiries with Israeli and Palestinian media outlets, including +972 Magazine and the Hebrew publication Local Call, found that Unit 8200 employs a specialized area within Azure that archives millions of daily calls from Gaza and the West Bank.

Sources linked to the investigation indicate that vast amounts of data from this cloud-based repository are being leveraged to pinpoint and identify bombing targets in Gaza.


The report, released on Wednesday, raised alarms among Microsoft’s leadership regarding whether some employees in Israel fully disclose their knowledge of Unit 8200’s use of Azure, according to insiders.

Insiders reveal that internal efforts are currently ongoing to evaluate the type of data stored in Microsoft’s data centers, alongside reconsiderations of how this information is utilized by Israeli forces in the ongoing conflict with Gaza.

In May, Microsoft acknowledged that a review of its military ties with the U.S. found that Azure “was used to target or harm people” in Gaza, with “no prior evidence” of this use existing. These findings reportedly relied partially on the assurances provided by Israeli staff.

However, some senior executives at the company’s U.S. headquarters have recently started to doubt the accuracy of the information provided by certain Israeli employees managing their military relationships.

A source familiar with internal discussions noted that management struggled to verify some of the claims from Israeli staff, questioning whether employees felt they were beholden to their military rather than their employer.

Using leaked documents, the Guardian discovered multiple employees associated with managing the Unit 8200 project, identifying them as reservists for the elite wiretapping unit, akin to the U.S. National Security Agency.

Despite the concerns raised by recent executives, Microsoft has yet to initiate official reviews of its collaborations with the Israeli military from earlier this year, which were spurred by reports highlighting the military’s reliance on Microsoft technology during attacks in Gaza.

A Microsoft spokesperson stated, “As indicated in a prior independent investigation, the company takes these allegations seriously. Upon receiving new information, we are committed to verifying it and taking appropriate actions.”

According to documents reviewed by the Guardian, Microsoft executives are aware of plans to transition a substantial amount of sensitive, classified intelligence data to Azure as the company collaborates with the unit to implement advanced security measures in its cloud services.

Nevertheless, the company claims that executives are not aware that Azure is utilized by Unit 8200 to retain the information from intercepted Palestinian communications. “There is no information concerning the data stored within a customer’s cloud environment,” the spokesperson remarked earlier this week.

In a statement following the investigation, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) remarked, “We value Microsoft’s support in securing cybersecurity. Microsoft ensures that it is not an IDF partner in data storage or processing and does not collaborate with us.”

Several sources within Microsoft have indicated that the IDF’s statement surprised the company’s leadership, as it is not a secret that they provide cloud storage to the military under a contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

After the disclosure regarding its reliance on Microsoft, a worker-led organization, called Apartheid Azure, issued a series of demands, including an appeal for the company to sever all publicly known ties with the Israeli military.

NOAA organizer Abdo Mohamed, who was terminated from the company last year, stated that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and other executives have maintained that “when entering this partnership in 2021, the company did not anticipate benefiting from the suffering of the Palestinian people.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Are Contact Lens Batteries the Future of Energy Storage?

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SEI 258681427

Faraday 2 battery developed by Superdielectrics

Superdielectrics

The innovative battery storage solution, utilizing SuperCapacitor Technology, may “jump” traditional lithium-ion batteries, transforming the landscape for renewable energy storage and use, according to its creator.

On July 8th, British firm SuperDielectrics unveiled its new prototype storage system, dubbed the Faraday 2, at an event in central London. Incorporating a polymer designed for contact lenses, this system boasts a lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries but claims numerous advantages, such as quicker charging, enhanced safety, reduced costs, and a recyclable framework.

“The current energy storage market at home is reminiscent of the computer market around 1980,” said SuperDielectrics’ Marcus Scott while addressing journalists and investors. “Access to clean, reliable, and affordable electricity isn’t a future goal; it’s now a practical reality, and we believe we are creating the technology to support it.”

Energy storage is pivotal for the global transition to green energy, crucial for providing stable electricity despite the intermittent nature of wind and solar power. While lithium-ion batteries dominate the storage technology market, they present challenges, including high costs, limited resources, complex recycling processes, and safety risks like overheating explosions.

With its aqueous battery design grounded in supercapacitor technology, SuperDielectrics aims to address these challenges. Supercapacitors store energy on material surfaces, facilitating extremely rapid charge and discharge cycles, albeit with lower energy density.

The company’s design employs a zinc electrolyte, separated from the carbon electrode by a polymer membrane. SuperDielectrics asserts that this membrane technology is cost-effective, utilizing abundant raw materials, thus unlocking a new generation of supercapacitors with significant energy storage capabilities.

During the event, the company’s CEO Jim Heathcote mentioned that the technology could outperform lithium-ion systems in renewable energy storage.

The Faraday 2 builds on the earlier Faraday 1 prototype launched last year, claiming to double the energy density. The Faraday 2 operates at 1-40 Wh/kg, allowing for faster charging times, which will harness fleeting spikes in renewable energy production, as noted by Heathcote.

However, Gareth Hinds from the UK National Physical Laboratory points out that the technology still lags behind lithium-ion batteries, which can achieve around 300 Wh/kg at the cell level. Andrew Abbott of the University of Leicester adds that the energy density now offered by SuperDielectrics is akin to that of lead-acid batteries commonly used in automobiles and backup power systems. “There are no immediate plans among leading manufacturers to transition,” he states.

Marcus Newborough, scientific advisor at SuperDielectrics, acknowledges that they are still “on a journey” to enhance the system’s energy density. “We are aware of our high theoretical energy density,” he mentioned, noting the company’s commitment to realizing this potential in the coming years, aiming for a commercial energy storage solution ready for launch by the end of 2027.

Despite the optimism, Hinds remains skeptical about the technology competing with lithium-ion batteries regarding energy density. “Clearly, it’s an early-stage development, and while they continue to push for higher energy density, achieving lithium-ion levels is a significant challenge due to strict limitations,” he comments.

Nonetheless, he suggests that there could be a market for larger storage solutions that provide lower energy density but at a much more affordable price than lithium-ion batteries and with a longer lifespan.

Sam Cooper from Imperial College, London, concurs: “If we can develop a system offering equal energy storage capacity to the Tesla Powerwall, regardless of size or weight, and at a cost of 95% less, that would represent a groundbreaking achievement.”

Source: www.newscientist.com

Declining Snowcover in Forests Poses a Threat to Carbon Storage

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Forests similar to Vermont’s Mansfield State Forest are experiencing snow loss

Douglas Rissing/Getty Images

Many forests are losing their winter snowpacks due to rising global temperatures, which can significantly hinder growth and diminish the capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Current predictions suggest that these expectations may overestimate future carbon storage, as they fail to account for the complexities linked to winter climate shifts, according to Emerson Conrad Rooney from Boston University, Massachusetts.

Rising temperatures generally promote growth in temperate forests by enhancing decomposition and nutrient availability during warmer seasons. However, the model primarily overlooks winter changes, especially snow loss.

“The diminishing deep and insulating snowpacks cannot merely be seen as a minor change,” says Elizabeth Burakowski at the University of New Hampshire. Her findings indicate that such changes impact water storage and the health of ecosystems, warning that deep snow days could vanish from much of the U.S. by century’s end.

To better understand these cold-weather impacts, Conrad Rooney and his team modeled the effects of a 5°C increase in global temperatures on the growth of red maple trees (Acer rubrum) in a New Hampshire experimental forest. Some plots were treated with buried cables to warm the soil during the growing season, while others had their snow removed in winter, which warmed the soil and created conditions for freeze-thaw cycles.

Over a decade, trees in both scenarios exhibited more growth than those left undisturbed. However, the areas devoid of snow experienced a significant reduction in growth, halving their typical increase. Researchers attribute this disparity to root damage from exposing the soil to temperature fluctuations without snow cover.

“Snow acts as an insulating blanket, keeping the soil from freezing,” explains Conrad Rooney. “Less snow means an increase in freeze-thaw cycles.”

When researchers projected similar outcomes for northeastern U.S. forests, they estimated an anticipated loss of snowpacks by the century’s end could result in a decrease in carbon storage by about one million tons annually, in contrast to models that do not incorporate the implications of snow loss.

“The fluctuating presence of snow throughout winter undermines the stable soil conditions essential for the long-term carbon storage needed by northeastern ecosystems,” states Burakowski.

However, it’s important to note that not all snowy forests react similarly to snow loss as the deciduous trees found in the Northeast. David Bowling from the University of Utah emphasizes the necessity for accurate modeling of different ecological responses, noting, “There are many changes occurring.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

This Magnetic Safe Offers Rapid Storage for the World’s Most Dangerous Substances

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Antimatter particles are fundamentally similar to their normal matter counterparts, differing primarily in their opposite charges and momentum.

Although extremely rare, physicists routinely generate antiparticles using particle accelerators. Additionally, anti-Dutters occur naturally in high-energy processes near the event horizons of black holes.

The question of how and why the universe is predominantly made up of normal matter remains unresolved.

Creating antimatter is a complex and costly endeavor. The European Institute of Particle Physics (CERN) plays a crucial role in this process. Using an anti-proton decelerator, a proton beam strikes a metal target, resulting in the generation of anti-protons.

However, this process only yields tens of thousands of particles.

One of the significant challenges with antimatter is that when it interacts with normal matter, it vanishes instantly, releasing energy. Therefore, the task of preventing its annihilation and storing it long-term poses a substantial technical hurdle.

Nonetheless, CERN engineers are working on methods to store and transport small amounts of anti-protons.

The challenge with antimatter is that it completely disappears upon contact with normal matter, releasing energy. – Image credits: Getty Images

To achieve this, researchers cool anti-protons to approximately -269ºC (-452.2°F) to nearly halt their motion. They then contain them in a high-vacuum enclosure to avoid contact with normal matter, using superconducting magnets to trap them.

This process must be managed while maintaining the capability to extract particles and introduce new ones into the enclosure.

Despite these challenges, CERN aims to develop “traps” capable of storing billions of anti-protons simultaneously. Recent techniques have been validated by transporting regular matter across the Swiss CERN facility.

With advancements in vacuum systems, antimatter storage and transport may soon become routine activities in the upcoming year.

This article addresses the question posed by Leighton Haas of Hamburg: “How is antimatter preserved?”

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Energy storage potential of batteries made from industrial waste

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A redox flow battery at a power plant in Japan. New process could replace rare metals in these batteries with industrial byproducts

Photo by Alessandro Gandolfi/Panos

Industrial waste has been reborn as a battery component that can stably store a large amount of electrical charge. Such batteries could serve an important function for the power grid by smoothing out the peaks and valleys of renewable energy.

A redox flow battery (RFB) stores energy as two liquids called an anolyte and a catholyte in a pair of tanks. When these fluids are pumped into a central chamber separated by a thin membrane, they chemically react to generate electrons and generate energy. This process can be reversed to recharge the battery by passing an electric current through the membrane.

Although such batteries are cheap, they also have drawbacks. They are bulky, often as large as shipping containers, and require regular maintenance because they involve moving parts in pumping liquids. It also relies on metals such as lithium and cobalt, which are in short supply.

now, Emily Mahoney and colleagues at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, have discovered a simple process that can turn previously useless industrial waste into useful anolyte. This could potentially replace these rare metals.

Their process converts triphenylphosphine oxide, which is produced during the manufacture of products such as vitamin tablets, to cyclic triphenylphosphine oxide, which is more likely to accumulate negative charges. When used as an anolyte, no loss of effectiveness is observed after 350 charging and draining cycles.

“Using an anolyte with a very negative potential increases the potential across the cell and therefore increases the efficiency of the battery,” Mahoney says. “But often the increased potential comes with stability issues, so it's exciting to have a stable yet highly negative compound.”

Mahoney said RFBs are designed to be safe and high-capacity, so they could potentially be used to store energy from wind and solar power, but their bulk makes them unsuitable for lithium-ion batteries in cars and smartphones. It is unlikely that they will be replaced.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Diamond storage breaks records by holding data for millions of years

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Diamond can store data stably for a long time

University of Science and Technology of China

The famous marketing slogan that diamonds are forever may be just a slight exaggeration for diamond-based systems that can store information for millions of years. Now, researchers have developed a system with a record-breaking storage density of 1.85 terabytes per cubic centimeter.

Previous technology used laser pulses to encode data onto diamond, but due to its higher storage density, a diamond optical disc with the same capacity as a standard Blu-ray could hold approximately 100 terabytes of data (Blu-ray). (equivalent to approximately 2,000 rays). It lasts much longer than the typical Blu-ray lifespan of just a few decades.

“Once the internal data storage structure is stabilized using our technology, diamond can achieve an extraordinary lifetime of millions of years of data retention at room temperature without requiring maintenance,” he says. Wang Ya at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei.

Wang and his colleagues conducted their research using tiny pieces of diamond, just a few millimeters long, but say future versions of the system could use rapidly spinning diamond discs. Their method used ultrafast laser pulses to knock some of diamond’s carbon atoms out of place, leaving single-atom-sized empty spaces, each exhibiting a stable brightness level.

By controlling the laser’s energy, the researchers were able to create multiple empty spaces at specific locations within the diamond, and the density of those spaces influenced the overall brightness of each site. . “The number of free spaces can be determined by looking at the brightness, so the stored information can be read,” Wang says.

The team then saved the images, including a colorful painting by artist Henri Matisse. cat with red fish And a series of photographs taken by Eadweard Muybridge in 1878, showing a rider on a galloping horse, maps the brightness of each pixel to the brightness level of a specific region within a diamond. The system stored this data with over 99% accuracy and completeness.

This preservation method is not yet commercially viable because it requires expensive lasers, high-speed fluorescence imaging cameras, and other devices, Wang said. But he and his colleagues hope that the diamond-based system can eventually be miniaturized to fit in a space the size of a microwave oven.

“In the short term, government agencies, research institutes, and libraries with a focus on archives and data preservation may be eager to adopt this technology,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Importance of Thermal Storage in the Expansion of Renewable Energy

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Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

It's now well established that to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, we need to get to net zero carbon emissions as quickly as possible, which means getting more of our energy from renewable sources and finding ways to store energy for long periods of time to overcome the intermittency of wind and solar.

Giant battery farms and green hydrogen (using surplus renewable energy to split water) are often touted as the most promising storage solutions, and clever new ways to store excess electricity are emerging all the time (see “Giant CO2-filled domes could store surplus renewable power”), but the potential to store renewable energy as heat is often overlooked.

When we think of renewable energy, we tend to think of electricity. But heat is also a valuable commodity in its own right. About half of the world's total energy demand is for heat, whether it's to heat our homes or to power industrial production of food, medicines and materials. What's more, stored heat can be used to generate electricity when the sun stops shining and the wind dies down.

The good news is that, as we outlined in our feature “How Incredibly Simple Technologies Can Accelerate the Race to Net Zero”, a range of thermal storage technologies are emerging. Collectively known as thermal energy storage (TES), many of these innovations are incredibly simple, from baked bricks to molten salt. Crucially, they're affordable: early estimates suggest that these technologies could be as little as one-fifth the cost per kilowatt-hour of energy storage using green hydrogen. In a recent report, the International Renewable Energy Agency said TES offers “unique advantages”.

The problem is that awareness of TES is relatively low, and investment even less. Private backers are starting to pour big dollars into pilot projects in the US and Europe. But for TES to live up to its promise as a relatively easy way to make a big impact on the problem of renewable intermittency, governments will need to step up. And if the price is as reasonable as it appears, there's no reason not to.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The process of memory storage in the brain during sleep

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Memory is a mysterious phenomenon. Some life events remain sharp in our memories no matter how long ago they occurred, while details from the previous day can quickly fade away.

A recent study published in the journal Science has uncovered the mechanism behind this phenomenon. Researchers have identified a system in the brains of humans and other mammals that determines which experiences are significant enough to be stored in long-term memory and which are forgotten.

Experiments conducted on mice demonstrated that specific patterns of brain activity called “sharp ripples” in the hippocampus, the area responsible for memory formation, occur during wakefulness. These patterns act as tags for important experiences, which are then transferred to long-term memory during sleep.

Although the study was carried out on mice, the lead author, Dr. Johnson, believes that the findings are applicable to humans as well, given the similarities in certain brain processes across mammalian species.

György Buzaki, the Biggs Professor of Neuroscience at New York University Langone Health, emphasized the unconscious nature of this memory consolidation process.

In the study, mice were rewarded with a treat after successfully navigating a maze, while their brain activity was monitored using implanted electrodes. The researchers observed that specific brain activity patterns observed during wakefulness were replayed during sleep, facilitating the conversion of important experiences into long-term memories.

This process highlights the crucial role that sleep plays in memory formation, as experiences deemed important during waking hours are transformed into lasting memories during rest.

According to the researchers, experiences that do not trigger the formation of sharp ripples are less likely to be stored in long-term memory.

To enhance the likelihood of memory retention, Dr. Buzaki suggests taking breaks after significant experiences to allow for the consolidation of memories.

Long-term memory requires relaxation

Research indicates that intentional pauses after experiences can aid in the formation of long-term memories. Dr. Buzaki recommends engaging in relaxing activities post-experience to facilitate the creation of sharp ripples in the brain, a process crucial for memory storage.

For example, after watching a movie, going for a leisurely walk can enhance the chances of remembering the film, as it allows for the encoding of memories.

Dr. Daniela Schiller, a professor of neuroscience and psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine, highlighted the study’s intriguing discovery regarding brain activity patterns during rest and their resemblance to real-life experiences.

Dr. Daphna Shohamy, director of the Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University, emphasized the importance of pauses and bursts of brain activity in memory formation, noting that these elements enhance the likelihood of experiences being stored in long-term memory.

In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the unconscious mechanisms behind memory formation and underscores the significance of rest and relaxation in preserving lasting memories.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Enhanced Energy Storage Capacity of Hybrid Supercapacitor Electrodes

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A breakthrough in hybrid supercapacitors was achieved by increasing the active material in the electrodes by a new method involving β-Ni(OH)2 and NH4F. This innovation leads to more efficient energy storage and opens new possibilities for advanced energy systems. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

New research enhances hybrid supercapacitors by creating more efficient electrodes, marking a major advance in energy storage technology.

Like batteries, supercapacitors are a type of energy storage device. However, whereas batteries store energy electrochemically, supercapacitors store energy electrostatically by storing charge on the electrode surface.

Hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) combine the advantages of both systems by incorporating battery-type electrodes and capacitor-type electrodes. Despite synthetic techniques that allow the active components of HSC electrodes to be grown directly on conductive substrates without the addition of binders (“self-supporting” electrodes), the proportion of active material in these electrodes remains subject to commercial requirements. remains too low.

Now, researchers have discovered a clever way to increase activity ratios and achieve dramatic improvements in key measures.

Schematic diagram of the device. Credit: Vinod Panwar and Pankaj Singh Chauhan

A breakthrough in supercapacitor electrode efficiency

“Hybrid supercapacitors integrate the advantages of high energy and power density, long cycle life, and safety, and are emerging as a promising frontier in electrochemical energy storage,” said the study’s lead author, a Chinese said Wei Guo, a scientist at Northwestern University of Science and Technology.

“In our paper, we propose a new mechanism to create a versatile two-dimensional superstructure family that overcomes the low active mass ratio of conventional free-standing electrodes.”

New methodology and findings

Here, the researchers studied β-Ni(OH)2, a type of nickel hydroxide. Addition of NH4F into the reaction solution replaces one hydroxide ion with a fluoride ion. The resulting Ni-F-OH plates were grown to a thickness of 700 nm and had a high mass loading (active mass per cm2) 29.8 mg cm-2– Up to 72% of electrode mass.

Advanced Light Source (ALS) Many theoretical and An experimental analysis was performed. It is used to understand the mechanisms underlying the new morphology.

As a result, adding F gives us– Ions tune the surface energy of the plates (a key factor in nanocrystal growth), while NH4+ Ions consume excess local OH–suppressing undesired β-Ni(OH)2 reformation. Additionally, based on the same methodology, researchers can produce other bimetallic superstructures and their derivatives, emerging a versatile new family of metal-based hydroxides for new energy storage systems to meet future demands. showed signs of.

Reference: “New layered hydroxide plates of record thickness to enhance high mass-load energy storage” Wei Guo, Chaochao Dun, Matthew A. Marcus, Victor Venturi, Zack Gainsforth, Feipen Yang, Xuefei Feng, Venkatasubramanian Viswanathan, Jeffrey J. Urban, Chang Yu, Qiuyu Zhang, Jinghua Guo, Jieshan Qiu, February 18, 2023. advanced materials.
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211603

Source: scitechdaily.com

Revealing the Ocean’s Secret Carbon Storage Capacity

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New research published in Nature It has been suggested that the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is 20% higher than previously thought, at 15 gigatonnes per year. This study focused on the role of plankton in carbon transport to the ocean floor. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Research has revealed that the ocean is storing 20% ​​more carbon dioxide than previously estimated, primarily due to plankton transporting carbon to the ocean floor. However, this new understanding will not have much of an impact on his current CO2 emissions crisis.

The ocean’s capacity to store atmospheric carbon dioxide is about 20% greater than estimates included in the latest IPCC report.[1] These are the research results published in the journal Nature Led by an international team including biologists from the CNRS, it took place on December 6, 2023.[2] Scientists investigated the role plankton plays in the natural transport of carbon from surface waters to the ocean floor.

Plankton absorb carbon dioxide and convert it into organic tissue as they grow. photosynthesis. When plankton dies, some of it turns into particles known as “marine snow.” Because these particles are denser than seawater, they sink to the ocean floor, where they store carbon and provide essential nutrients to a wide range of deep-sea organisms, from tiny bacteria to deep-sea fish.

Global distribution of organic carbon flux from the surface layer of the open ocean. Credit: © Wang et al., 2023, Nature.

By analyzing banks of data collected from around the world by ocean research vessels since the 1970s, a team of seven scientists was able to digitally map the flux of organic matter across the world’s oceans. The resulting new estimate of carbon storage capacity is 15 gigatonnes per year, an increase of about 20% compared to a previous study published by the IPCC in its 2021 report (11 gigatonnes per year).

This reassessment of the ocean’s storage capacity represents a significant advance in our understanding of carbon exchange between the atmosphere and ocean at the global level. The research team emphasizes that this absorption process takes place over tens of thousands of years and is therefore not sufficient to offset the exponential growth of CO.2 Despite emissions caused by industrial activity around the world since 1750, this study highlights the importance of marine ecosystems as a key player in the long-term control of Earth’s climate.

Note

  1. IPCC Climate Change 2021 Report, Fundamentals of the Physical Sciences, Chapter 5, Figure 5.12: Figure AR6 WG1 | Climate Change 2021: Fundamentals of the Physical Sciences (ipcc.ch)
  2. From Marine Environmental Science Research Institute (CNRS/UBO/IFREMER/IRD)

Reference: “Estimating biological carbon pumps based on decades of hydrographic data” Wei-Lei Wang, Weiwei Fu, Frédéric AC Le Moigne, Robert T. Letscher, Yi Liu, Jin-Ming Tang, François W. Primeau , December 6, 2023, Nature.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06772-4

Source: scitechdaily.com