Device passively registers temperature, switches from heating to cooling

Enlarge / The shape-changing material in the process of unrolling in response to a change in temperature. (credit: Zhang et. al.) Recent heatwaves have struck areas like Northern Europe and the Pacific Northwest that have traditionally gotten by without much air conditioning. As people in those regions adjust to the new reality, we’ll likely see […]

Natural gas firms have a proposal to convert home heating to hydrogen

Enlarge / Natural gas meters are fixed to the outside of residential townhouses and apartments (credit: Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images) Three natural gas distributors issued a report this week detailing plans to convert the UK’s residential gas system to a hydrogen delivery system. UK firms Northern Gas Networks and Cadent, as well as Norwegian […]

As NATO starts its biggest military exercise in years, things are heating up closer to Russia

As NATO starts its biggest military exercise in years, things are heating up closer to Russia NOW WATCH: How Russia’s most advanced military equipment stacks up against NATO hardware See Also: NATO’s biggest military exercise in years just started, but Russia may be more worried about 2 countries that aren’t members of the alliance As […]

The battle between the beef industry and Silicon Valley’s lab-grown meat startups is heating up

Flickr / Marc Dalmulder In February, the US Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) filed a petition to the USDA arguing that lab-grown meat startups should not be able to call their products “meat,” since they do not come from slaughtered animals. But this week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) asked the USDA to regulate the startups as […]

Boiler central heating: This 30 second trick stops frozen pipes – do it NOW to beat snow

Boiler and central heating issues are common during cold weather, however, you could save yourself from frozen pipes with a quick trick. An expert has advised that taking just 30 seconds tonight to do this simple hack, which anyone can do, will significantly lower your risk of frozen pipes. It involves tending to plumbing pipes […]

Boiler central heating: Use THIS £5.10 item for pipes now to prepare for weekend FREEZE

Boiler and central heating systems can often play up in cold weather, and this is due to the effect the falling temperature has on your pipes. However, you can easily prevent problems before they even happen with a simple, cheap heating solution: pipe lagging. Pipe lagging is a type of insulation which can be purchased […]

Boiler central heating: Installing THIS £39 item could save you a third on your gas bill

Boiler costs and central heating bills can become expensive in wintertime, but save during this cold spell by installing a simple ceiling fan. Installing one of these fans in your home can save you as much 30 per cent on your heating bill, according to research from Lights.co.uk. Typically, ceiling fans are used for generating […]

Boiler central heating: What temperature should a house be? Should you turn yours up?

Your boiler will be working overtime during the winter chill, but what temperature should you set your central heating to when it’s cold? The ideal temperature for your house is 21 degrees Celsius, according to a government study. However, the average temperature of a UK home is set to be 17.7 degrees Celsius, which is […]

Central heating: Is it cheaper to leave it on all the time or turn it on and off?

Central heating is an issue on everyone’s minds right now as the weather gets chillier, but what’s the best way to heat your home? Some believe it is better to control your thermostat by turning it up and down during the day, or putting it on a timer. Others are convinced leaving it on all […]