Gizmodo Australia » oxygen

Much Cheaper Fuel Cells On The Way With New Prototype

Gizmodo US Edition — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Australian researchers have developed a new fuel cell prototype that could lead to much cheaper, more efficient fuel cell vehicles in the near future. Scientists at Monash University in Melbourne created a new cathode that could bypass the need for expensive platinum nanoparticles, which adds about US$3500 to US$4000 to the sticker price of current fuel cells.

The team says its new cathode, made of a conductive plastic called PEDOT, could be manufactured for just several hundred dollars. Even better, PEDOT is much more stable than platinum and doesn’t have platinum’s pesky clumping problems or aversion to carbon monoxide.

The researchers are now planning on building fuel cells with the cathode in 3D, to maximise the surface area available to generate a current. With this new breakthrough and the solar-charged process engineered by MIT scientists a few days ago, it’s been kind of an awesome week for fuel cell science. [ABC via Treehugger]

Ymup Oxygen Generating Backpack For Thin-Air Adventures

Sean Fallon — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:00:00 +0000

A Japanese company named Ymup is set to unveil what is being touted as the world’s first oxygen generating backpack. The generator itself is battery powered and should give climbers about 2 hours of O2 at a 30% concentration. It can even be operated via remote control should you need to remove your gear to negotiate a tight space. I don’t think that the Ymup backpack is ready for an Everest expedition just yet, but it could be extremely useful for less extreme climbs (especially if a solar panel was added down the line). The Ymup is set to be released on July 31st with price-points ranging from US$880 to US$1,150. [Ymup via Crave via Ubergizmo via Crunchgear]

Oxygen Dog House: An O2 Buzz for You and Your Pooch

Sean Fallon — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:30:00 +0000

We have heard about the potential health benefits of inhaling pure oxygen since the 90’s—but in Japan this fad is still going strong. In fact, they are getting their dogs involved with products like this new O2 Doghouse. Marketed as a “dog hospital” of sorts, the O2 Doghouse will deliver 100% pure oxygen to your sick pooch while he rests inside. And the best part is that you can hit the generator as well—so both you and your dog can relax side by side. Now that is what I call bonding. [Trends in Japan via DVICE]

Poseidon Mk IV Discovery Oxygen Tank Recycles Your Exhaust, Lets You Dive Stealthily

Jason Chen — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:32:27 +0000

Diving is fun until your oxygen tank runs out and you die, but this Poseidon Mk IV Discovery tank actually extends the time you can be underwater by recycling your carbon dioxide exhaust and turning it into breathable oxygen. The tank works its magic with its C02 scrubbers and oxygen cells, which is powered by a lithium-ion battery. And because it takes in the air you breathe out, you’ll be able to dive stealthily without your bubbles alerting people to your presence. Community pool, watch out! [Poseidon via Pop Sci via DVice via Geekologie]

Turn Your Dog into Michael Jackson with AirPress O2

Seamus Byrne — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:32:07 +0000

Slightly sad people who humanize their pets will be hyperventilating at the O2 Dog from AirPress. An oxygen chamber that is identical, apparently, to the ones used in beauty treatments for humans, except for the fact that it is dog-sized.

Oxygen therapy, apparently, reduces wrinkles. So I guess this means that if you put a Shar-pei in the O2 Dog, it will come out as something completely different. [Akihabara News]