Free Republic

A board coated in the new polymer paint stays significantly cooler than its surroundings, even in direct sunlight, as seen under ultraviolet lights. (Image courtesy of Columbia University.) ___________________________________________________________________ A team of engineers from Columbia University has created a polymer coating that uses nano-to-microscale air voids to reflect sunlight and cool down buildings. Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) is a phenomenon where a surface spontaneously cools by reflecting sunlight and radiating heat to a cooler atmosphere. PDRC works best if a surface has high solar reflectance—meaning that most of the sun’s radiation is reflected away—and a high thermal emittance—meaning that...

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Senate Transportation Committee will consider a bill on Wednesday that would allow slow-moving vehicles without motors to use reflective tape for safety purposes rather than the slow-moving vehicle signs. The bill by Sen. Ken Winters, a Murray Republican, and other senators, would also provide an alternative lighting system. The committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. On Tuesday, two state representatives, Johnny Bell, a Glasgow Democrat, and Ron Crimm, a Louisville Republican, spoke in favor of a similar measure in the House Transportation Committee. Crimm also has a bill that would allow use of lanterns on the...