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Reebok Liquid Speed shoes use 3D drawing for a better fit
We've seen a number of limited release shoes built using 3D printing, but now Reebok is coming in with its own attempt to rethink the traditional molding process. Reebok's Liquid Factory draws the frame of these shoes in three dimensions, using a special "high rebound" liquid created by BASF. According to Head of Future Bill McInnis, this helps "create the first ever energy-return outsole, which performs dramatically better than a typical rubber outsole." Also, the Liquid Speed's winged frame wraps up and over the shoe, making for a tighter fit in all directions.
New hydrogen-making process could make fuel-cell vehicles cleaner than EVs
It'll be about two years yet until you're able to buy a hydrogen-powered vehicle, but one company is already making progress in ensuring those cars will be as gentle on the environment as possible. BASF, the world's largest chemical maker, has come up with a hydrogen-making process that would purportedly cut carbon dioxide emissions in half, making fuel-cell vehicles generally cleaner than EVs. Until now, the holy grail has been hydrogen produced without introducing oxygen, as that would mean avoiding carbon dioxide emissions. The problem is, that's meant cranking up the operating temperature, which means you're using more energy, which means, uh, you're looking at some carbon dioxide emissions. In this new system, though, BASF recycles heat more efficiently so that the company doesn't have to raise the temperature quite so high. Additionally, the company's cooked up some new catalysts it hopes will make the process more cost-efficient. No word on when or where this method will be implemented, but BASF is already hopeful it could be useful in other industries, like oil refinement, which similarly use lots of hydrogen.
BASF, Philips team up to create transparent OLED car roof
If you're the sort who wished your car had a transparent roof when the rain falls down but want some shielding when the sun's up (or, you know, vice versa) then BASF have good news for you. It's showing off the transparent OLED technology it developed with Philips that behaves like glass when inactive, turning opaque when activated. We're already familiar with the technology here, because it's the same kit that the chemicals giant showed off on its custom Smart Forvision it produced with Daimler back in September. As before, it's also been able to pair them up with transparent solar cells, for environmentally friendly sky watching: just remember that people will be able to see you pick your nose from all angles now, okay?
German labs set new mark for energy efficient white OLEDs
BASF and OSRAM ticked the OLED progress meter up one recently, with news out of Germany about new diodes that are both efficient (60 lumens per watt) and reproduce color accurately enough to meet international Energy Star standards. The most power sipping organic light-emitting diodes ever created they aren't, but the ability to keep their color under varying levels of intensity leads to the next step, producing stable deep-blue colored emitters for increased efficiency (100 lumens per watt or more) so they can start illuminating surfaces near you. Isn't it lucky, we know some folks in South Korea BASF might want to have a chat with.[Via OLED-Info]
