Cold Facts Digital – The go-to place for Cryogenics and Superconductivity

In Memoriam: Dr. Roger W. Boom

It is with great regret that we report the death of Dr. Roger W. Boom, emeritus professor from the University of Wisconsin and mentor and inspiration to a great many leaders in the fields of cryogenic engineering and superconductivity. Dr. Boom’s career spanned more than thirty years during which he...

New Study Calls for US-based Electron Ion Collider

A new report, sponsored by the DOE and undertaken by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, argues that a domestic electron ion collider could unlock the scientific mysteries of atomic nuclei and maintain US leadership in accelerator science.

Hawaiian Researchers Choose Cryogen-free MRI to Study Kidney Disease

MR Solutions has installed a cryocooler-based, and thus cryogen-free, preclinical MRI imaging system at the University of Hawaii to help researchers improve the rate of kidney disease detection. One in seven residents on the island has chronic kidney disease, a figure far higher than normal among its residents of Japanese,...

Health Officials in NY County Ban Liquid Nitrogen Treats

The Clinton County Board of Health has banned the sale of food products adulterated by liquid nitrogen. The move followed a study of Dragon's Breath, a dessert composed of cereal puffs frozen with liquid nitrogen, discussed on a New York State Association of County Health Officials conference call.

The Rise and Rise of Cryogenic Electron Microscopy

Speaking at the 68th Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting in Germany, biophysicist Joachim Frank says that the field of structural biology is entering a new era with a bright future thanks to advances in cryogenic electron microscopy. Cryo-EM rapidly freezes molecular samples in solution and images them with an electron beam...

DARPA Completes Engine Tests for Experimental Spaceplane Program

DARPA engineers have completed a test series on the AR-22 engine, advancing toward the agency's goal of developing an experimental spaceplane (XSP) capable of rapid turnaround and on-demand launches.

Latest in Defining Cryogenics

Dewar

A dewar is a type of cryostat named after Sir James Dewar, the researcher who first developed the concept of a vacuum insulated container with silvered walls to reflect thermal radiation. Dewar was the first to liquefy hydrogen, and he created the device to store his discovery. The thermos bottle...

Stirling and Gifford-McMahon Cryocoolers

Stirling and Gifford-McMahon (GM) cryocoolers are two of the most commonly used cryocoolers in cryogenics. Both devices have a significant industrial base and operate at a wide range of temperatures and capacities. The thermodynamic cycles for both of these cryocoolers are quite similar. The Stirling cycle consists of a compressor,...

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

A significant commercial application of cryogenics is the liquefaction, transport and storage of natural gas. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is generally 95 percent methane with a few percent ethane and much lower concentrations of propane and butane. LNG liquefies at 111.6 K. Unlike many applications of cryogenics, the motivation for...

Latest in Cryo Central

History of Cryogenics

From the Fall 1999 issue of Cold Facts magazine Millennium Breakthroughs A variety of CSA members give different perspectives on the past millennium: What were the most significant breakthroughs in cryogenics during the past millennium? Prof. R.G. Scurlock, Kryos Technology, scurlock@soton.ac.uk (“Breakthrough” = way through obstacles — Oxford English Dictionary)...

Cryobiology

Andreas Sputtek Past President Society for Cryobiology sputtek@uke.uni-hamburg.de or http://www.sputtek.de/. The word cryobiology (from the Greek words “cryo” = cold, “bios” = life, and “logos” = science) literally signifies the science of life at low temperatures. In practice, this field comprises the study of any biological material or system (e.g.,...

Cryogenic Insulation

James E. Fesmire Cryogenics Test Laboratory NASA Kennedy Space Center james.e.fesmire@nasa.gov Introduction In today’s world, the use of cryogenics and low-temperature refrigeration is taking a more and more significant role. From the food industry, transportation, energy, and medical applications to the Space Shuttle, cryogenic liquids must be stored, handled, and...

Cryogenic Treatment of Materials

F.J. Diekman Controlled Thermal Processing, Inc. info@metal-wear.com Cryogenic Processing (also called cryogenic treatment, and incorrectly “cryogenic tempering”) is a process that uses cryogenic temperatures to modify materials to enhance their performance. Cryogenic Processing involves the slow reduction in temperature of the material to at least -300°F (-185°C) and holding the...

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