Larry’s 20-minute talk presents some insights into the Google worldview, both in terms of where the company invests its energy and how it is shaping the future. But his real message extended beyond Google’s accomplishments and aimed squarely at encouraging people to make bold dreams that take advantage of the amazing opportunities modern technology provides …
The Carnival of Space 249 is up at Riding with Robots Examiner – Is Newt Gingrich’s Moon Colony Idea Dead? Not Yet Despite the derision the moon colony idea received in some quarters, Gingrich’s vision did have resonance. Writing in Bloomberg, for example, Jeffrey Goldberg uttered the plea, “Let Space Shuttle Demise Awaken Gingrich Dream,” …
There was a Statistical Analysis of Life Expectancy across Countries that explained 87.7% of the differences in Life Expectancy. (from the year 2000) Life Expectancy at Birth = 62.9 years + (0.0001095 * GNP per Capita) + (1.4555274 * Annual Population Growth) + (-3.623246 * Fertility Rate) + (-0.066892 * AIDS) + (-0.016498 * Tuberculosis) …
To produce the maximum amount of energy, solar cells are designed to absorb as much light from the Sun as possible. Now researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, have suggested – and demonstrated – a counterintuitive concept: solar cells should be designed to be more like LEDs, able to emit light as well as …
Samson Motorworks is still developing the Switchblade three wheeled flying motorcycle * The current schedule, kit deliveries should begin first quarter 2013. * Target price of the kit is $60k without engine or avionics, resulting in an overall targeted price of approximately $85k. Much of this will be determined by the actual price of the …
Significance journal – How Usain Bolt can run faster – effortlessly Usain Bolt holds the current 100m world record, at 9.58s, and has been described as the best sprinter there has ever been, dramatically reducing his running times since he first won the world record in 2008. Bolt ran 9.58 seconds for the 100 meters …
New Journal of Physics – When an optical fiber is bent by more than 90 degrees, the light begins to leak away, posing a problem for fiber optics communications. But by using special lenses that can bend light by not only 90°, but also 180° (i.e., a U-turn) or 360° (i.e., a full loop), scientists …
1. How to build a space telescope for 1% of the cost: Fabrication of large space optics that are accurately shaped to better than a 1000th of the width of a human hair is an enormous challenge. Traditional space telescope fabrication methods require rigid and therefore heavy mirrors, expensive spacecraft and massive rocket launch vehicles. …
LA Times – Imagine a car that gets more than 40 miles per gallon in everyday traffic and 50 on the highway — and it isn’t an expensive hybrid and it doesn’t require special fuel. Get ready for a new generation of cars equipped with surprisingly powerful three-cylinder engines that, according to early reviews out …
Canadian regulators have cleared Unit 2 of the Bruce A nuclear power plant in Ontario to restart after a nearly two-decade-long slumber. Bruce Power said Friday it can complete final safety checks and prepare to synchronize the reactor, which has been out of service since 1995, to Ontario’s electrical grid. “A project of this magnitude …
Pioneer Natural Resources is now deepening its wells to include the Wolfcamp Shale and other, deeper zones that contribute additional oil reserves. Pioneer is also in the early stages of a new horizontal drilling program in the Wolfcamp Shale and has reported very encouraging results to date. Wolfcamp is below the Spraberry field and is …