Just outside of Hamburg, a monumental experiment is finally coming to life.
Named the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL), the 1.5-mile-long experiment has produced its first laser pulses, signaling that the project is nearly ready for its experimental debut.
According to reports by the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), which operates the laser, the XFEL has produced its first pulses of 0.8nm laser light at a single pulse per second. With this demonstration, the researchers believe that in the coming months they’ll be able to ramp up the lasers pulse frequency to its final state of 27,000 pulses per second.
"The European X-ray laser has been brought to life! The first laser light produced today with the most advanced and most powerful linear accelerator in the world marks the beginning a new era of research in Europe,” said Helmut Dosch, chairman of the DESY Directorate. “The European XFEL will provide us with the most detailed images of the molecular structure of new materials and drugs and novel live recordings of biochemical reactions."At the core of the XFEL is an electron beam generated by a superconducting linear accelerator. A 2.1 kilometer (1.3 mile) accelerator tunnel, accelerates electrons to relativistic speeds along the length of the passage.
The electrons then enter a 210 meter (689 foot) stretch of the experiment where X-ray generating devices built around 17,290 permanent magnets twist the beam. By taking the straight-line electron beam and giving it a rotation through forced magnetic pulses, the researchers are able to create short wavelength X-Ray particles.
These incredibly energetic X-ray pulses carry with them a high degree of luminosity and thus can be used for the various laser experiments that litter the XFEL experimental hallway.
According to DESY, once the laser is fully operation, in September, researchers will begin using it to make pictures and films of “the nanocosmos at atomic resolution.” Beyond biological and medical research, these films might also be capable of showing researchers what conditions within the interiors of planets might be like, lending better understanding of now frequently discovered exoplanets.
For more record-breaking engineering, learn about the World’s Largest Pool for Space Research.
| An Engineering.com release || May 16, 2017 |||
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand today announced the renewal of a reciprocal currency arrangement (swap line) to support the settlement of cross border transactions between New Zealand and Chinese businesses.
The arrangement, first agreed in 2011, aims to promote bilateral trade and direct investment for economic development between the two countries. The size of the swap facility is RMB 25 billion (NZD 5 billion) and it has a three year maturity which may be extended if both parties agree.
Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Grant Spencer said the bilateral currency swap line helps facilitate international use of the renminbi, and contributes to a strengthening of the China-New Zealand relationship.
| A RBNZ release || May 19, 2017 |||
Ha Noi, Viet Nam – Ministers and Vice Ministers from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore and Viet Nam met today to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade.
The Ministers reaffirmed the balanced outcome and the strategic and economic significance of the TPP highlighting its principles and high standards as a way to promote regional economic integration, contribute positively to the economic growth prospects of its member countries, and create new opportunities for workers, families, farmers, businesses and consumers.
The Ministers agreed on the value of realising the TPP’s benefits and to that end, they agreed to launch a process to assess options to bring the comprehensive, high quality Agreement into force expeditiously, including how to facilitate membership for the original signatories.
The Ministers tasked their senior trade officials to engage to take forward the preparation of this assessment. Ministers asked for this work to be completed before they meet in the margins of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting on 10-11 November 2017 in Da Nang, Vietnam.
The Ministers also underlined their vision for the TPP to expand to include other economies that can accept the high standards of the TPP.
These efforts would address our concern about protectionism, contribute to maintaining open markets, strengthening the rules-based international trading system, increasing world trade, and raising living standards.
| A Beehive release || May 21, 2017 |||
The build up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup presents a huge opportunity for any New Zealand tech firms considering the Japanese market as the passion for the All Blacks is huge in Japan, NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller says.
Muller has been in Japan this week on an economic and trade trip lead by Prime Minister Bill English.
Japan is a major trading partner with New Zealand with $6.4 billion traded between both countries last year. A large proportion of the $3.4 billion imported from Japan last year was technology, mainly consumer electronics.
"New Zealand is a trusted brand in Japan and the New Zealand government will be investing in and around the World Cup, which is closely followed by the Olympics, to help Kiwi businesses grow in Japan.
“The massive Japan market is often overlooked by many Kiwis looking past it to China. Japan is a huge, well organised and high wealth market that provides great returns for Kiwi companies that are prepared to take the long approach.
“Traditional firms like Fonterra, Zespri and ANZCO who have been operating in the Japanese market for decades continue to reap the rewards. Volumes may be lower but margins are much higher.
“Likewise, Kiwi tech firms operating in Japan like Shuttlerock and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare have taken a very long term view and continue to do well.
“Not known for technology, New Zealand’s biggest tech opportunity will probably come from agritech and partnerships with well entrenched traditional agri businesses like Fonterra and ANZCO who have deep relationships in the market.
“More and more Japanese tourists are coming to New Zealand and the best way to get Japanese businesses to understand our tech strengths will be to leverage this growing interest in New Zealand and bring them here to see our tech in action,” says Muller who arrives back in Auckland tomorrow morning.
Japan is New Zealand’s fourth largest goods export market worth $3 billion and Muller says he has enjoyed meeting Japanese tech leaders during the trip.
Technology is New Zealand’s third biggest and fastest growing industry and NZTech is the national voice of the Kiwi tech industry.
For further information contact NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller on 021 02520767 or Make Lemonade editor-in-chief Kip Brook on 0275 030188
| A MakeLemonade release || May 19, 2017 |||
Kaynemaile wins at NYCxDesign Awards for best Architectural Product
New Zealand company Kaynemaile has won Best Architectural Product at the NYCxDesign Awards announced today. Link to NYCxDesign Award finalists
Kayne Horsham, inventor of Kaynemaile, a revolutionary polycarbonate architectural mesh for building exteriors and interiors, accepted the award at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
In 2007 Horsham patented an award-winning technology that creates interlocked seamless mesh rings without any joins or gaps. Horsham began experimenting with the mesh while working as an Artistic Director of Creatures, Armor and Weapons at Weta Workshop. He worked closely with director Peter Jackson for four years, fabricating the costumes of the Academy Award-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Kaynemaile is currently exhibiting in the centre of New York’s Times Square with a 4.25 metre high, 40 square metre walk-though “touch and see” installation called #WaveNewYork. The one million interlocking rings forming the installation were created using Kaynemaile’s liquid state manufacturing process at its Petone, Wellington design studio and factory.
“We’re honoured to be in the heart of New York bringing the freedom and joy embodied in our design to over a million New Yorkers and visitors from throughout America and the world in Times Square,” says Kayne. “New York and New Zealand are global centres of innovation and leaders in design. The NYCxDesign Award for Best Architectural Product perfectly supports our U.S. market entry.”
Kaynemaile reimagines 2000-year-old chainmail and has applied to a variety of architectural structures including large scale building and carpark wraps, shading for rain, wind and sun, airport security screens, hotel ceiling systems, university walkways, office partitions, lighting fixtures, and kinetic art installations. Kaynemaile has been installed worldwide by building owners, developers, transit authorities, corporate headquarters, and shopping centers.
Kaynemaile is made from the same material to manufacture F16 fighter jet cockpits, astronaut helmets, and aircraft windows. Stronger and lighter than glass, Kaynemaile reacts extremely well with lighting, making Times Square an ideal location.
#WaveNewYork has been designed by Kayne Horsham and American artist and MacArthur fellow Ned Kahn, who are also currently working on a dramatic art installation in a high profile location, to be unveiled this summer in New York.
“#WaveNewYork by Kaynemaile is a highly visible and vibrant focus of the Times Square Design Pavilion,” says Ilene Shaw, director and curator of NYCxDesign. “The material is beautiful, the installation design is playful and interactive, and the concept has pure innovation at its core. It’s an honor to have Kaynemaile at Design Pavilion 2017.”
About KaynemaileKaynemaile was founded in New Zealand by CEO and inventor of the mesh and liquid state manufacturing processes, Kayne Horsham. The Kaynemaile seamless mesh is based on a traditional European chainmail assembly but produced via the world’s first liquid state assembling process, able to form a 3D impact-absorbing structure made up of solid rings with no joins or seams, is 100% recyclable (cradle to cradle) and has an extraordinary strength-to-weight ratio. Its patented manufacturing process is an award winning technology used to create, divide and protect building interiors and exteriors around the world. www.kaynemaile.com Instagram @kaynemaile hashtag #wavenewyork
About NYCxDesign
NYCxDESIGN, New York City’s official citywide celebration of design will run from May 3-24, 2017. Spanning all disciplines of design, NYCxDesign creates a collaborative platform for cultural and commercial opportunities, elevates established and emerging design practices and increases awareness of and appreciation for design by all audiences. Hosted in New York City, NYCxDesign brings together all the disciplines of design, commerce, culture, education, and entertainment with a full, varied program, including exhibitions, installations, trade shows, talks, launches and open studios. 2016, the fourth year of the celebration, featured over 500 events across the five Boroughs of New York City and included topics from graphic design to architecture, technology and urban design to fashion and product design, interiors to landscape, furniture to design thinking, and more. The program is overseen by NYCEDC together with a Steering Committee comprised of leaders and leading institutions across most design disciplines. www.nycxdesign.com
| A Kaynemaile release || May 21, 2017 |||
NZ log prices advance in 'humming' forestry sector, AgriHQ says
At 1:43pm today Kiwis finally stop working for the government
Company and director fined for incident that left a man a tetraplegic
Rocket Lab countdown: High winds delay launch
Fletcher Building snaps up roofing firm,
Portable operating theatres key for NZ hospitals
Tax cuts high on business wish list
Total lifetime tax bill for the average NZ household $1.48 million
Major leadership reshuffle at Linfox
Large blaze at steel factory in Otahuhu caused by car shredder
Wellington firm taking NZ products to United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabi