Science in the Triangle

Bayer CropScience is on the hook for $1.5 million after a jury verdict, former Gov. Jim Hunt tries to stoke the Research Triangle area’s creative juices at this year’s Emerging Issues Forum and RTI International scientists dipped into their nanotech tool box to come up with a better lightbulb.

Nanofibers make a better lightbulb

Scientists at RTI International build a lightbulb that is five times more efficient by using a blue light emitting diode, or LED, and nanofibers.

The RTI lightbulb uses a material that is made from fibers much smaller than human hair. The fibers are then coated with photoluminescent material and mounted on a housing that contains a blue LED. But the light that the fibers reflect is white and more pleasing than other energy-efficient lightbulbs.

“Because lighting consumes almost one-fourth of all electricity generated in the United States, our technology could have a significant impact in reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions,” said Lynn Davis, director of RTI’s Nanoscale Materials Program, in a prepared statement. “The technology also does not contain mercury, which makes it more environmentally friendly.”

Funding for the project came from the U.S. Department of Energy. Watch an RTI video how the lightbulb is made here.

Bayer CropScience loses second case in GM rice dispute

A St. Louis jury sided with three farmers in Arkansas and Mississippi, who claimed Bayer CropScience was responsible for contaminating U.S. rice crops with a genetically modified strain it was testing. The jury ordered the German company, which has its U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park, to pay $1.5 million.

Four years ago, Japan and Europe restricted imports of U.S. rice after the GM strain was found in the U.S. food supply. Prices dropped and U.S. rice farmers suffered extensive losses. Thousands have filed claims against Bayer CropScience.

This is the second case the company has lost. Two Missouri farmers were awarded $2 million in December.

Forum aims to stoke creativity

The unemployment rate isn’t budging. In December, it was 11.2 percent statewide and 9 percent in the Research Triangle area. But speakers during the two-day Emerging Issues Forum in Raleigh had a few suggestions to help us get out of our funk.

The forum, which is a brainchild of former Gov. Jim Hunt, was all about creativity this year - from the role the arts play in economic development to ways that promote out-of-the-box thinking.

One interesting suggestion that came up during the forum that could have particular application in research and product development: Bonuses, organizational charts and patents stifle creativity. More on that here.