Power firm succeeds in injecting large amount of CO2 into coal beds

OSAKA — Kansai Electric Power Co said Monday it has succeeded in an experiment to inject a large amount of carbon dioxide into deep coal beds by using nitrogen for the first time in the world. The technology is able to fix some 6.6 tons of CO2 in coal beds per day, the same amount as absorbed by 900,000 cedar trees a day, the company said.

Without the use of nitrogen, which prevents each coal bed from swelling and thus reducing the room for absorbing the greenhouse gas, the amount absorbed drops by half. In addition, the technology enhances the recovery of coal-bed methane.

JapanToday

Sharp to launch thinnest-ever LCD TVs

A model shows Sharp Corp.'s new Aquos X series of liquid crystal display panel television sets during a presentation in Osaka on Jan. 24. The thinnest part of the display section is just 3.44 centimeters thick. The new 37-, 42- and 46-inch TVs can be mounted on the wall. (Kyodo)

Kyodo News.

Mitsubishi Heavy to sell radiotherapy machine that can pinpoint tumors

TOKYO — Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd said Tuesday it will soon market in Japan, the United States and Europe its new radiotherapy machine which it claims can target and attack cancer tumors with a greater level of precision.

"The precision of the new unit helps reduce side effects from radiation therapy and shortens the time necessary for the therapy," a Mitsubishi official said.

JapanToday.

Toyota to sell lithium-ion battery-powered plug-in hybrid by 2010

DETROIT — Toyota Motor Corp will market a lithium-ion battery-powered hybrid car that can be charged with electricity using a household outlet by 2010, the company's President Katsuaki Watanabe said Sunday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Toyota will thus challenge General Motors Corp, which has already announced that it will release a similar car by 2010, by becoming the first Japanese carmaker to launch such a model.

Toyota is currently conducting road tests for plug-in, hybrid prototypes powered by nickel-hydrogen batteries. The company now intends to use lithium-ion batteries in such cars because this type of power storage medium is compact and light and can be recharged an unlimited number of times with large amounts of electricity, Toyota officials said. Toyota's plug-in hybrid will run on gasoline after stored electricity runs out and the energy generated in the process of gasoline propulsion will be harnessed to charge the vehicle again with electricity, thereby boosting its mileage.

JapanToday.

Panasonic unveils world's largest plasma television

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Japanese electronics titan Panasonic unveiled the world's largest plasma television Monday at the opening of the world's biggest consumer electronics trade show.

The Viera brand high-definition television called "Life Screen" measures 150 inches, or some 12.5 feet (381 centimeters) diagonally.

"This stunning display allows you to display the elephant in the room in all its glory," Panasonic AVC Networks Company president Toshihiro Sakamoto quipped while showing it off during an opening speech at the Consumer Electronics Show.

"This gives new meaning to reality television. Can you imagine watching the Olympics on this baby?"

Panasonic crafted the colossal creation for digital theaters and other businesses, but expects it to "make its way into some luxury homes."