One of the basic truths learned in college thermodynamics courses is that no heat-activated cycle can be devised that is more efficient than a Carnot cycle operating between the same temperature ...

Refrigeration is commonplace in the modern era. We use it to keep our food from spoiling, to cool our homes and workplaces, and to keep our car cabins from becoming saunas. There are even specific ...

In the early years of the nineteenth century, steam engines were at work in a variety of practical uses. However, they were still imperfect in many ways. One particular problem were the boilers, that ...