Hydrochloric acid vapor leak in Frankfurt am Main – firefighters

Locals in Frankfurt am Main were told to keep doors and windows closed following a hydrochloric acid vapor leak in the city’s industrial area. The incident took place in Griesheim Industrial Park on Tuesday morning, according to firefighters. “Doors and windows in the area of Griesheim and [nearby] Nied are to be kept closed,” the […]

The Vapor Rub: Summer versus Winter Gasoline Explained

– Every September 15, as we resist switching to long sleeves and heated seats, fuel stations in all 48 continental states must begin dispensing winter-grade gasoline under strict federal deadlines. But topping off in Chicago isn’t the same tankful as in Boise. Enter the confusingly zoned world of winter and summer gasoline. – Starting in […]

Hello Tatooine! An unpowered device can harvest water vapor in a desert

Enlarge (credit: Evelyn Wang/MIT) Luke Skywalker may have been unimpressed with the life of a Tatooine moisture farmer, but a simple device that could economically harvest water from desert air would really be pretty exciting. According to Wookieepedia, the “moisture vaporators” the young Skywalker tended utilized refrigeration coils to chill air to the dew point […]

BMW recalls 19,000 i3 REx models for possible fuel vapor leak

The Basics: BMW is recalling 19,130 2014-2017 model year i3 REx range-extended EVs because of a possible fuel vapor leak. The Problem: The fuel tank vent line is routed near the ribbed wire protecting the battery-plus cable sleeve. The line can rub against the ribbed wire, and possibly wear through, creating a fuel vapor leak […]