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Comment Energy from space will increase global warming (Score 1) 230

Taking energy from space that would have missed the earth, and beaming it down, will increase global warming. But how much? I've been hunting around for research on the effects on global warming of energy from space-based solar, nuclear power and the like, but haven't found much. I would appreciate it if anyone could point me at any information on this subject.

Space-based solar, and nuclear power, do have the advantage over fossil fuels that they don't generate greenhouse gasses. But they do introduce energy into our environment that wouldn't otherwise be there.

Truly renewable power systems (terrestrial solar, wind, hydro, tidal, biofuel) use energy already in our environment, so don't contribute to global warming.

It strikes me as ironic that the two major proposals for space-based projects related to global warming have opposite effects: spaced-based solar power will increase the amount of energy received from space, while the "solar sunshade" proposals would reduce it.

Comment Global warming (Score 1) 330

Any energy added to the earth contributes to global warming.

All electrical energy, when used, eventually winds up as heat. Adding energy to the earth from space (be it orbital power plants, or this scheme on the moon), or even by fusion power, will result in warming the planet.

Earth-based solar power installations use energy that is already heating the earth, so they don't contribute to the problem in the way orbital or lunar power installations would.

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Scientists Say a Dirty Child Is a Healthy Child 331

Researchers from the School of Medicine at the University of California have shown that the more germs a child is exposed to, the better their immune system in later life. Their study found that keeping a child's skin too clean impaired the skin's ability to heal itself. From the article: "'These germs are actually good for us,' said Professor Richard Gallo, who led the research. Common bacterial species, known as staphylococci, which can cause inflammation when under the skin, are 'good bacteria' when on the surface, where they can reduce inflammation."
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How To Have an Online Social Life When You're Dead 187

A wave of new companies are springing up to offer such things as virtual cemeteries, alerts to remind loved ones about the anniversary of your death, and even email services that send an alert to your sinful relatives in danger of being left behind when the Rapture carries you away. "People have a desire to perpetuate not only for themselves, but for their loved ones, the story of their lives, and technology has all these new great ways of doing that," said John McQueen, owner of the Anderson McQueen funeral home.
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Race Car Made With Veggies And Powered By Chocolate 83

IS4110 writes "A new racing car made with potatoes and carrots and powered with chocolate waste has been developed by the Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre of the University of Warwicks in the UK. The university's vehicle, called WorldFirst F3 project, has a steering wheel made of curran, a material derived from carrots, that is expected to replace glass fiber and carbon fiber. It also has a racing seat made of SoyFoam, a soybean oil-based, flexible foam material. Wing mirrors incorporate materials derived from potato starch, a bib made from flax fiber, and lubricants based on plant oils."

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