83567985
submission
MikeChino writes:
From May 7 to May 11, Portugal was powered entirely by renewable energy. During the 107 hours, the country drew on hydropower, wind power, biofuels, and solar. Progressive policies played a large role in the feat — feed-in tariffs, guaranteed prices for renewable producers, and paying host municipalities combined to help make renewable energy cost effective. Further, the government has taken steps like altering grid infrastructure to connect easier to home solar panels.
83256793
submission
MikeChino writes:
New research confirms what many scientists have theorized: a bacteria could help control the spread of the Zika virus. Researchers infected mosquitoes with a bacteria called Wolbachia and released them to mate with non-Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in the wild. Over a few generations, the virus levels dropped and became inactive, which means those mosquitoes cannot transmit the Zika virus to humans.
82973321
submission
MikeChino writes:
Scientists just discovered a new state of water molecules that displays some pretty unexpected characteristics. This discovery, made by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, reveals that water molecules “tunnel” in ultra-small hexagonal channels of the mineral beryl. Basically, this means the molecules spread out when they are trapped in confined spaces, taking a new shape entirely.
82446569
submission
MikeChino writes:
Zaha Hadid, one of the world's most visionary architects, died this morning at age 65. Hadid was known for her futuristic designs with sweeping curvatures, and earlier this year she became the first woman to receive the 2016 Royal Gold Medal in architecture. She was highly regarded as the greatest female architect of our time.
82420403
submission
MikeChino writes:
After receiving backing by Palo Alto startup incubator Y Combinator, Acre Designs is gearing up to start building Net Zero Energy kit homes throughout the country. They are on a mission to build better, more high-tech homes on a large scale that are both affordable and super energy efficient. And considering that the state of California is mandating all new homes to be Net Zero Energy by 2020, it seems that Acre Designs couldn’t have launched at a better time.
82236805
submission
MikeChino writes:
There are around one billion Apple devices in use, and with that comes “significant responsibility,” according to Apple CEO Tim Cook. That’s why Apple just unveiled Liam, a robot that quickly and efficiently disassembles old iPhones so that their components can be reused for other products (like solar panels).
82070783
submission
MikeChino writes:
The Elide Fire Ball puts out fires in a flash by unleashing a cloud of extinguishing chemicals that are safe to humans and the environment. Simply throw the ball at a blaze and it emits a loud alarm when it is about to activate. The ball can also be passively mounted near at-risk appliances for protection when no one is home.
81953445
submission
MikeChino writes:
Roll-Array has developed a high power photovoltaic array that rolls out like a carpet. The flexible system can generate up to 100kWp – 10 times more energy than other transportable solar panels on the market. Whereas a standard rigid solar field takes 22 hours of man-power to install, Roll-Array's thin, flexible sheets can be unfurled in just 2 minutes.
81756187
submission
MikeChino writes:
In the same way you zip up your jacket, the zipper truck quickly assembles tunnels and archways by locking together pre-made concrete blocks that fit tightly together. A quarter mile of tunnel can be constructed in less than 24 hours and can be used immediately, cutting costs and lengthy periods of curing time.
81593639
submission
MikeChino writes:
New samples taken from groundwater near New York's Indian Point nuclear plant show that contamination levels are 80% higher than previous samples, and experts say the leak is “a disaster waiting to happen.” The Indian Point nuclear power plant is located just 25 miles north of New York City, and it’s a crucial source of of power for the greater metropolitan region.
81568067
submission
MikeChino writes:
A week after the ruptured natural gas well in Aliso Canyon was finally declared sealed, we have a full account of the damage — and it doesn’t look good. In total, 97,100 metric tons of methane were released into the atmosphere over the course of 112 days — the equivalent greenhouse gas emissions of over half a million cars.
81344223
submission
MikeChino writes:
The California State Patrol has arrested two people in connection with the massive methane leak in Southern California’s Aliso Canyon. Instead of busting company executives and engineers, the CSP arrested protesters who draped banners on the headquarters of the California Public Utilities Commission. The banners highlighted the lax regulatory environment that enabled the spill.
81022891
submission
MikeChino writes:
New FCC filings suggest that Google is currently installing wireless charging systems for self-driving cars at its headquarters in Mountain View. The documents suggest that the systems will be installed by Hevo Power and Momentum Dynamics. Both companies offer technology that can wirelessly charge an electric car via plates that are embedded in the ground.
80840977
submission
MikeChino writes:
Japanese company SPREAD is preparing to open the world’s first robot-controlled farm. The facility is designed to produce 11 million heads of lettuce each year, and it’s expected to ship its first crop in Fall 2017. The new 47,300 square feet Vegetable Factory in Kansai Science City will also reduce construction costs by 25 percent and energy demand by 30 percent.
77791735
submission
MikeChino writes:
To celebrate the arrival of “the future,” Toyota just unveiled a special Mirai hydrogen car that looks like Doc Brown and Marty McFly's time-traveling DeLorean. The futuristic Mirai has gull-wing doors, a flux capacitor and a Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor mounted on the trunk.
