Saturday, March 22, 2014
Propagate Skyscraper converts harmful greenhouse gases into usable building materials! It is a self-propagating structure whose growth is dependant only on the weather conditions and the quality of air surrounding it. Carbon dioxide is turned into a solid material that builds upon an existing scaffolding structure. This innovative project won 3 prize at this year’s eVolo Skyscraper 2014 Competition.
Propagate Skyscraper introduces the exciting prospect of converting air pollutants into building material. The approach builds upon existing research on capturing carbon gases through carbon-philic resins and transforming them into solid construction material that can create self-propagating structures. A scaffold facilitates the initiation of the process, while the actual pattern and growth of the structure is defined by environmental factors such as wind, weather and the saturation of carbon dioxide within the immediate atmosphere. The growing structure can extend into six directions and promises a possibility of flexible creation of built environments.
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A few years ago, when the economy took a nosedive, a majority of Americans decided for the first time since the 1980s that the economy was more important to protect than the environment. Fortunately, that trend has reversed itself once again. Gallup has released a poll which shows that Americans once again prioritize the environment over economic growth by a 9 point margin, with Democrats leading the shift.
When asked if “protection of the environment should be given priority even at the risk of curbing economic growth,” 50 percent of Americans responded in the affirmative. That’s a large contrast to the 41 percent of Americans who favor growth over the environment. Ever since the question was first asked in 1984, Americans have favored the environment until 2009 when growth trumped environment for the first time. Among those aged 18-29, the margin is even wider with 60 to 30 percent favoring the environment.
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Thursday, March 20, 2014
The United States Navy Research Laboratory has unveiled two modules they are testing to capture solar energy from space and divert its power to earth. The two designs would use reflectors to concentrate sunlight to a satellite that would project the power to a receiver on the earth’s surface. If the plans are approved, the components would be assembled in space by a team of robots.
The futuristic plans headed by Dr. Paul Jaffe comprise two different designs that could create enough solar energy to power a city or a military plant. The first is a sandwich module that keeps electrical components between one enormous square photovoltaic panel that faces the sun and a square base with an extending antenna that directs the powered collected toward the earth. The electronic system in the center transforms the collected solar energy into radio frequency that can be easily beamed to the receiver.
Related: 6 Space-based Solar Power Designs
Jaffe’s second model, which opens up the sandwich design, would be more effective. The zig-zag shaped module has more surface area that extends into a step design to collect more power from the sun, making it more energy efficient. The panels would receive more sunlight without overheating, making the design safer, as well as producing more energy to be directed by the antenna in radio waves. Although Jaffe has tested models of these designs in a space-like chamber, the actual designs would be a kilometer in diameter. The NRL is currently exploring launching Jaffe’s design, either in space or high in the stratosphere.
Via Daily Mail
Related: Japan Plans to Harvest Solar Power From Space by 2030
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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Chances are, if you have owned more than one mobile phone in your life there is a drawer in your home dedicated to a collection of defunct chargers. In order to cut down on e-waste, the European Parliament voted last week to require manufacturers to produce a universal charger. The Radio Equipment Directive is expected to cut clutter by 51,000 tons annually and reduce the amount of interference between radio devices.
While companies such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson, ALCATEL, Apple, Nokia, and Motorola have all signed agreements to manufacture a single model of USB charger, there are still those who feel that the EU legislation is a step in the wrong direction. Paul Nuttal, deputy leader of the UK Independence Party, believes that demanding one style of device will stifle innovation and put the market in the hands of regulators instead of consumers.
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