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Aug 6, 2018
Houston, We Have a Solution: Blockchain in the Space Industry
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: bitcoin, space
Blockchain is used both by NASA and startups hoping to democratize space.
Analysis.
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Aug 6, 2018
You Think The Tesla Model 3 Supercharges Fast Now? Just Wait …
Posted by Bill Kemp in categories: sustainability, transportation
We’ve shown that the Tesla Model 3 has the ability to Supercharge quickly already. Just wait until you see the impact of Gen 3 Superchargers.
Aug 6, 2018
Ammonia synthesis—the greatest innovation of the 20th century
Posted by Bill Kemp in category: innovation
In addition to being a well-known cleaning product, ammonia is essential in the manufacture of fertilizers. The chemical process to synthesize ammonia has hardly changed in 100 years, and is still essential, although scientists do not know how to mitigate its negative consequences on the environment.
When, during the summer of 1909, the German chemist Fritz Haber achieved the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen, little could he foresee the enormous significance of his innovation. Years later, his countryman Carl Bosch was able to produce it at industrial scale by using catalysts and high pressure reactors.
Haber and Bosch, who were awarded the Nobel Prize for their research, gave their names to the ammonia production process that been in use since then. In fact, the Haber-Bosch process is perhaps the most significant innovation of the 20th century.
Continue reading “Ammonia synthesis—the greatest innovation of the 20th century” »
Aug 6, 2018
Europe bakes again in near-record temperatures
Posted by Bill Kemp in categories: climatology, sustainability
Europe baked in near-record temperatures on Monday but hopes were for some respite after weeks of non-stop sunshine as people come to terms with what may prove to be the new normal in climate change Europe.
Here is a roundup of recent developments:
Aug 6, 2018
Here’s how many times you actually need to reuse your shopping bags
Posted by Bill Kemp in category: materials
The plastic bag ban by the major supermarkets (and Coles’ pivot away from its ban after backlash, then pivot back to the ban after a backlash to the backlash) has left plenty of people scratching their heads.
What are the best replacements for single-use plastic bags? Given that reusable bags are much sturdier, how many times must we use them to compensate for their larger environmental impact?
The simple answer is that there is no simple answer. However, a kind of research called “life cycle assessment” can help us work out the impact of common types of reusable bags.
Aug 6, 2018
Building the backbone of a smarter smart home
Posted by Bill Kemp in categories: habitats, information science, robotics/AI
The state of artificial intelligence (AI) in smart homes nowadays might be likened to a smart but moody teenager: It’s starting to hit its stride and discover its talents, but it doesn’t really feel like answering any questions about what it’s up to and would really rather be left alone, OK?
William Yeoh, assistant professor of computer science and engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis, is working to help smart-home AI to grow up.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Yeoh a $300,000 grant to assist in developing smart-home AI algorithms that can determine what a user wants by both asking questions and making smart guesses, and then plan and schedule accordingly. Beyond being smart, the system needs to be able to communicate and to explain why it is proposing the schedule it proposed to the user.
Aug 6, 2018
Power Worth Less Than Zero Spreads as Green Energy Floods the Grid
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: solar power, sustainability
Wind and solar farms are glutting networks more frequently, prompting a market signal for coal plants to shut off.
Aug 6, 2018
Quantum Computing Will Create Jobs. But Which Ones?
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: computing, employment, quantum physics
A new bill aims to support a growing quantum industry by training a new cross-disciplinary workforce.
Aug 6, 2018
New class of drug compounds puts cancer in a sleeper hold
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: biotech/medical
Cancer isn’t some foreign illness invading your body – it’s essentially just regular cells dividing out of control. Current cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy are designed to kill tumors, but they often take down healthy cells as well. An emerging technique could provide a more targeted approach, stopping tumorous cells from proliferating and effectively putting the cancer to sleep.