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An engine that is 30 per cent more efficient than a conventional gasoline engine has been designed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They developed a way to inject ethanol into the combustion chamber during acceleration. This cools the air-fuel mixture, making it possible to increase the compression ratio and add a turbo charger without causing damaging engine knock. That meant they were able to build a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine with the power of a larger one.

An intelligent switchboard that monitors workers’ activity and only lets calls through when they are free to talk is being…

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