Gas ovens may soon be equipped with a methane detector that sounds an alarm
well before a gas leak reaches explosive levels. The battery-powered sensor was
developed in France by engineers at the Atomic Energy Commission and the
National Institute of Industrial Environment and Risks. It contains a
platinum-coated filament that is heated intermittently to 800 °C for several
milliseconds. At this temperature platinum catalyses the combustion of methane,
which heats up the filament still further and triggers an alarm.
More from Â鶹´«Ã½
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Life
Remarkable fossils rewrite the story of how animals conquered the land
News
Earth
Waves reflecting off Earth's core shifted Japan after 2011 earthquake
News
Environment
Why El Niño’s impacts on the UK are hard to predict
News
Comment
Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World is still supremely relevant today
Culture
Popular articles
Trending Â鶹´«Ã½ articles
1
The secrets to keeping your brain sharp in old age
2
Has the answer to life's origins been hiding in our cells all along?
3
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
4
Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World is still supremely relevant today
5
Our brains have their first thoughts surprisingly early in life
6
Autism may have two distinct subtypes that vary by brain activity
7
Complex life on Earth may last 500 million years longer than expected
8
Cervical cancer deaths have plummeted thanks to HPV vaccine
9
Remarkable fossils rewrite the story of how animals conquered the land
10
Â鶹´«Ã½ recommends an excellent look at the future of work
