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Submission + - New Estimate: Billions of Milky Way Planets are in the Habitable Zone (sciencedaily.com)

Press2ToContinue writes: Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets using the Kepler satellite. By analyzing these planetary systems, researchers have calculated the probability for the number of stars that might have planets in the habitable zone. The calculations show that billions of stars in the Milky Way will have one to three planets in the habitable zone, where there is the potential for liquid water and where life could exist.

Submission + - The country that is running entirely on renewable energy (independent.co.uk) 1

An anonymous reader writes: Costa Rica has achieved a clean energy milestone by using 100 per cent renewable energy for a record 75 days in a row.

The feat was achieved thanks to heavy rainfall, which powered four hydroelectric plants in the first three months of the year, the state-run Costa Rican Electricity Institute said.

No fossil fuels have been burnt to generate electricity since December 2014, in the state which is renowned for its clean energy policies.

Submission + - Lenovo CEO Reportedly Posts Image Of Next Gen Moto 360 Smartwatch (hothardware.com)

MojoKid writes: When the Android Wear platform was unveiled last year, the star of the show was undoubtedly the Motorola Moto 360. With its stainless steel body and round display, the smartwatch looked futuristic while retaining styling that was somewhat familiar to traditional time pieces. However, it's been a year since the original Moto 360 was unveiled and there have been a number of round-faced Android Wear devices that have either hit the market or will in the coming months. Motorola, of course, is still pushing ahead with a second generation Moto 360 and it appears their new parent company — Lenovo — may have just leaked the design of the upcoming smartwatch. Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing posted an image to Weibo, which shows a number of smartwatches in various states of assembly. The image is interesting, because it provides us with two interesting bits of information. First, the new Moto 360 appears to adopt a traditional, exposed-lug design, which should make it easier for users to swap out the band that comes with the Moto 360 for a wider variety of third-party bands. Also, what you can glean from the photo is that, it appears that the "flat tire" display found on the original Moto 360 will carry over to its successor. The Moto 360 currently houses its ambient light sensor and display driver in the crescent-shaped cutout at the bottom of the display.

Comment Re:Bill Gates sponsors quackery (Score 1) 140

Your circumstitions.com website belongs with the anti-vaxers and flat earth societies.
Please, try a Google search and pick a reputable web site such as this:
http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/...
From the WHO:
"There is compelling evidence that male circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60%. Three randomized controlled trials have shown that male circumcision provided by well trained health professionals in properly equipped settings is safe. WHO/UNAIDS recommendations emphasize that male circumcision should be considered an efficacious intervention for HIV prevention in countries and regions with heterosexual epidemics, high HIV and low male circumcision prevalence."

Comment Re:Moving Infected People (Score 1) 140

I think they should model it on the Red Cross which has extensive protocols for equipment and people to respond to a disaster. They also have pre-positioned supplies in areas where they have a likelihood of disaster.
The WHO is not prepared or organized to do this but the Red Cross (just down the street in Geneva) is so perhaps the WHO could take a walk down the hill and learn from them.

Comment Re:Space for solar hasn't been much of a concern (Score 1) 437

Tesla is developing a smaller EV that they say will sell for about $35,000 in a few years. That may work for you.
Meanwhile, you seem to be making the argument that because we can't convert everything to electric right now (because of the grid, 18 wheelers, etc.) that we shouldn't try... at all. I hope that is not your thinking.
BTW, there's a Supercharger route from Virginia to Arizona.

Comment Re:Space for solar hasn't been much of a concern (Score 1) 437

It is a worthy goal to leave all of the oil in the ground but the reality is that it will take many years to develop alternatives to oil for all modes of transportation. However, cars use most of the oil now and there are good electric options for cars even at this early stage of the electric car industry so everyone should look at the options and it is best to consider TCO calculations.
Pure electric cars such as the Tesla are very simple mechanically and require virtually no maintenance and should run for a long time with the only expense being tires. The batteries have been shown to last for more than 500,000 miles in testing.
When you have a car with very low maintenance cost and very low fuel cost the TCO becomes quite favorable for cars even with a high initial cost. The all aluminum body and electric motor of the Tesla should easily last 30 or 40 years and over 500,000 miles with only minimal maintenance and fuel cost. Think of it like a solar panel where you pay the upfront cost and get free electricity for 25 years.
The issue of "5 minute recharge" is really a straw man. Most EV owners have sufficient range for daily driving and plug in at home or work so in effect have a recharge wait time of zero. They don't have to drive to the gas station... ever. It's only on the rare occasion of a long trip (more than a few hundred miles) where you have to wait to recharge on the road. In this case, since you've just driven for 4 or 6 hours, it might be a good opportunity to stop for a meal and rest your body and recharge.
Electricity infrastructure is ubiquitous. Many more electric outlets than gas stations in the world. Besides charging at home, I have about 15 places within a few miles which offer free electricity for EVs so I can conveniently drive for "free" anywhere.

Comment Re:Space for solar hasn't been much of a concern (Score 1) 437

"Your Tesla. Remember when I said, "Cheap?" I meant cheap."

Your Subaru is only cheap to buy. Not cheap to run or maintain. Not cheap when it comes to depreciation. My Tesla is less expensive than your Subaru when you consider TCO. Your cheap car is costing you a lot. (I bet you think those "free cell phone" plans are cheap, too.)

True, you can't buy electric vehicles today which cover the entire range of boats or locomotives or aircraft or 18 wheelers... but I thought we were talking about cars and for cars, there are a lot of good options even at this early stage of electric car (and battery) development.

Comment Re:Space for solar hasn't been much of a concern (Score 1) 437

"It doesn't need to power the car for the "average" needs of the "average" commuter, it needs to power the car for all the needs of all the current auto-buying public.

This is just wrong. You want one magic car that will have "the best" of everything (range, passenger capacity, cargo capacity, cost, speed, performance, etc.). Just as there is no "best" internal combustion car that will meet "all the needs of all the current auto-buying public", there is no "best" electric car. There are only cars that are "best" for specific uses.

When looking at specifics of your WRX car, my Tesla has better performance (0-60 sub 5 seconds), less charge time (I never have to drive to a gas station and fill up... just plug it in at home), and lower cost (gas is expensive, electricity is cheap) than your Subaru. Plus, it's just a much nicer, safer car.

Comment Re:Space for solar hasn't been much of a concern (Score 1) 437

You're just a troll so I shouldn't respond but someone else might be interested in a few facts from the real world:
- California has had a budget surplus for a few years now and a growing economy so we seem to have figured out how to "pay for things".
- California has a growing population and a growing economy and still manages to use less energy per capita and per unit of economic output that any other state.
A few other facts from the real world (from EIA http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=... )
Excluding federal offshore areas, California ranked third in the nation in crude oil production in 2013, despite an overall decline in production rates since the mid-1980s.
California also ranked third in the nation in refining capacity as of January 2014, with a combined capacity of almost 2 million barrels per calendar day from its 18 operable refineries.
In 2012, California’s per capita energy consumption ranked 49th in the nation; the state's low use of energy was due in part to its mild climate and its energy efficiency programs.
In 2013, California ranked fourth in the nation in conventional hydroelectric generation, second in net electricity generation from other renewable energy resources, and first as a producer of electricity from geothermal energy.
In 2013, California ranked 15th in net electricity generation from nuclear power after one of its two nuclear plants was taken out of service in January 2012; as of June 2013, operations permanently ceased at that plant, the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
Average site electricity consumption in California homes is among the lowest in the nation (6.9 megawatthours per year), according to EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey.

Thank you, California is doing just fine in the energy department (and also in paying for things).
If you are looking for problems, you might look at Kansas or Wisconsin which are run by right wing idiots and are going bankrupt.

Comment Re:Space for solar hasn't been much of a concern (Score 1) 437

I think you are ignoring the fact that you can buy an electric car today (from GM, Nissan, BMW, Tesla, etc.) which is insanely cheap to run (equivalent to gas at $0.40 a gallon). These cars cost a little more to buy up front but you save it in the long run with cheaper operating costs. No need for any new magic battery. We have the magic battery today. The faster people buy these cars, the better. We need to leave at least half of the "proven reserves" of hydrocarbons in the ground if we are to avoid climate catastrophe.

Comment Re:Space for solar hasn't been much of a concern (Score 1) 437

I assume that you are aware that there are electric cars that you can buy today for a reasonable price which include a "magic battery" which can power the car for the average needs of the average commuter. My electric car is powered by one of these magic batteries which I charge from my solar panels and drive everywhere I need to go at any time.
Welcome to the future, it is here now. No need to wait for the invention of some new magic technology. We have it today.

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