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Upcoming Technological Innovations

January 4th 2010 01:25
As the current decade comes to a close, Kiplinger asks "What will be the technological breakthroughs of the next decade?"
It appears that ms innovations will be from the energy and transportation sectors. Read the full list here.


Technological advances
Power from Space
Space based power plants are no longer just a science fiction fantasy. Pacific Gas and Electric aims to supply 250,000 customers from one by 2016. The California utility inked a deal with Solaren Corp. for 200 megawatts of electricity -- power to be generated by an orbiting solar cell plant and transmitted as microwaves to Fresno, where it will be converted to electricity.


Solaren, PowerSat, Space Energy and others working on orbital power are getting a lift from state laws requiring more use of renewable sources. And they figure they’ll have a steady customer in the Defence Department, which wants a means of getting power to troops in remote areas.


solar power paint
Power Spray
Spray-on solar cells will shake up the electricity market by 2015. University and private labs in the U.S., Australia, Switzerland and Canada are developing cost-effective plastic coatings containing microscopic particles of copper, indium, gallium and titanium. Painted on building rooftops and exteriors, they’ll absorb sunlight and produce electricity just as bulky solar panels do now.


One big plus: The cell coatings could generate power even on cloudy days, making this solar catcher up to three times more efficient than today’s solar modules. That’ll give them the potential to cut a company’s electricity purchases by 50% to 75% and even offer some companies the chance to sell power to utilities when their own needs ebb.


traffic control devices
Unjamming the Roads
New technologies to unsnarl traffic are on the horizon: Traffic management systems that combine video devices with computer logic will reduce collisions, reroute motorists and allow real-time adjustments to signals. They’ll be sorely needed to help ease major congestion that not only frustrates motorists but also slows business shipping and delivery.


cheap electric cars of the future
Budget Electric
Think an all-electric car is out of your budget range? Maybe not. A $25,000 model from U.S. upstart Aptera Motors is close to commercial rollout. You’ll know it when you see it -- a bullet shaped three-wheeler about the size of a Toyota Prius. The range: 140 miles. Buyers have already put down deposits on the first 4,000 to come off the assembly lines. Those orders will be filled by August 2010. It’ll take a year or so longer for General Motors, Nissan and Toyota to produce plug-ins, and they’ll cost more and have shorter ranges. GM’s Chevy Volt, for example, will sell for $40,000 after rebates and will go only 40 miles per charge.


thorium power station
Powered by Thorium
Ever heard of thorium power? You will. Thorium is a naturally occurring element, slightly radioactive, that is far more common in the ground than uranium. The first nuclear reactor fuelled by thorium will be built in about five years, with more to come.

Thorium has a lot of practical advantages over the more commonly used uranium, and it can churn out the same amount of emission-free electricity to power the U.S. Thorium is safer, produces less waste and is abundant here in the U.S. Plus it’s less likely to cause accidents and can’t be used by terrorists for dirty bombs.
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Wind Energy Pros And Cons

November 16th 2009 01:23
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind farms?
Do they have the potential to solve our energy problems in the future?
The infographic below provides a nice summary.


advantages and disadvantages of wind farms
click to enlarge




*Image source.
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Surface Area Required to Power the World
With zero carbon emissions and with solar alone.


Required area that would be needed in the year 2030 is shown and also as distributed around the world relative to use and available sunlight.

As a reference, also see the charts for wind power and 'other' forms..

Solar power surface area required
click to enlarge



*Areas are calculated based on assumption of 20% operating efficiency of collection devices and a 2000 hour per year nations input of 1000 watts per square meter striking the surface.
*These 19 areas distributed on the map show roughly what would be a reasonable responsibility for various parts the world based on 2009 usage. This would be further divided many times to reach a diversified and localised infrastructure.
*The large square in the Saharan Desert would power all of Europe and North Africa. Although very large, it is only 1/18 the total size of the desert.
*The definition of power covers the fuel required to run all electrical consumption, all machinery, and all forms of transportation.
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Running of the Bulls

July 27th 2009 11:32
The Running of the Bulls San Fermín festival in Pamplona, Spain.



Running of the Bulls. Pre Race celebrations
The Pre-Run 'Chupinazo' Fair


Running of the bulls. Pre-Race Fair
Pre-Run Celebrations


watching the running of the bulls from the balcony
Revellers run on Estafeta Street as people look on from the balconies during the run of the Alcurrucen fighting bulls at the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 7. Thrill seekers sprinted through Pamplona in a swift and relatively clean start to the running of the bulls. No one was gored on Tuesday, but four people were hospitalized with bumps, bruises or scrapes.

san fermin running of the bulls

Participants rin in front of Alcurrucen fighting bulls on the first day of the San Fermin bull run on July 7, in Pamplona, northern Spain. On each day of the festival six bulls are released at 8:00 a.m. to run from their corral through the narrow, cobbled streets of the old town over an 850-meter (yard) course. Ahead of them are the runners, who try to stay close to the bulls without falling over or being gored.

running of the bulls pamplona
Revellers run on Estafeta Street as people look on from the balconies during the run of the Alcurrucen fighting bulls at the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, northern Spain.

running of the bulls in Pamplona spain
A reveller is tossed by a young calf in the bullring after the first bullrun at the San Fermin festival.


*Information and pictures sourced from The Sacromento Bee and Life.com.
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Inside A Nuclear Power Plant

May 22nd 2009 10:43
Here are photos from inside a modern Russian nuclear power plant. It is difficult to receive permission to take photographs inside a station so these pictures are rare indeed.
This particular plant is located near Smolensk city and it can generate up and 3 Megawatts with three reactors. This is one of 10 nuclear power plants in Russia.
Nuclear power plant


The entrance to the station is protected by a few security levels including palm scans and weight checks.
security at nuclear power stations


These are the turbines.
Power station turbines


The main reactor hall, the reactor itself is in the concrete reactor cavity.
nuclear reactors


The main control point.
nuclear power plant control point



Nuclear power station control dials



*Info and images sourced from English Russia.
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Inventions That Changed The World

March 27th 2009 01:29
Thanks to news.com.au, these are the inventions which have had the largest impact on our lives. See the full list here.


[ Click here to read more ]
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1934 BMW R7 Motorcycle

March 16th 2009 01:28
After over seventy years languishing in a box the BMW R 7 has been restored to its former glory. Although the motorcycle, manufactured in 1934, was only ever a prototype and never went into production it is one of the most important, innovative and visually stunning motorcycles ever produced.


[ Click here to read more ]
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Gadgets Throughout History

January 23rd 2009 04:34
We all enjoy the convenience of modern technology, however sometimes it can be interesting to take a look back through time and trace how our modern gadgets developed. Thanks to the Chicago Tribune, here are various pieces of technology that once upon a time were cutting edge.


[ Click here to read more ]
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Possible Solutions to Global Warming

October 8th 2008 13:56
Global Warming - Cool our planet
How to counteract global warming. Click on the image to open a more readable version.


How to cool our planet.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Brain Scans

September 5th 2008 03:41
Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI scans can provide detailed images of the body from any angle making them extremely useful in the medical profession. A member at Flickr has published some MRI scans of his own brain. See some samples below:


[ Click here to read more ]
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Bugatti Veyron

June 25th 2008 12:09
Bugatti Veyron
Bugatti Veyron pictures

This car has an 8L V16 engine (Actually they are 2, 4L V8 engines which joined form an 8L V16), with 1001Hp @6000 rpm, 1250NM, 4 TURBO’s and a 7 speed gear box


[ Click here to read more ]
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Microphotography

March 26th 2008 13:10
A micrograph, microphotograph or photomicrograph is a photograph or similar image taken through a microscope or similar device to show a magnified image of an item. It's amazing what these tiny objects which can't be seen with the naked eye actually look like close up. There are a few more micro pictures here.

Microscopic pictures

[ Click here to read more ]
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Cruise Ships

March 3rd 2008 11:32
For many, many years, ships were the only way to travel. However, with the advent of large passenger jet aircraft in the 1960s, intercontinental travellers largely switched from ships to planes. Cruising voyages started to gain popularity again in the 1980s. At first these cruise ships were quite small, but they have been increasing dramatically in size over the years to the monster cruise ships traversing the seas today.

Today, several hundred cruise ships, some carrying over 3,000 passengers and measuring over 100,000 gross tons, ply routes worldwide. For certain destinations such as the Arctic and Antarctica, cruise ships are very nearly the only way to visit


[ Click here to read more ]
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Ford Mustang Saleen

December 14th 2007 12:15
Mustang Saleen

Saleen was founded by racer Steve Saleen in 1983, with the first model being a 1984 Saleen Mustang. The first Saleen's were mainly focused on looks, and used stock Ford engines. As the years grew, so did the performance. Saleen has won many races with his Mustangs, including the famous 24 hours of Le Mans, 24 hours of Daytona, and many SCCA championships. Saleen has many different versions of the Mustangs, all called the "S281", such as the S281 SC with a supercharged 4.6 Liter V8, making 465 hp (347 kW); and the S281-E Extreme, in which they have replaced the factory 4.6 liter with a Saleen-built V8 engine, increasing the power to almost 550 hp (410 kW).
2008 Ford Mustang Saleen Bullitt

[ Click here to read more ]
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