If Genetically Modified Trees Could Help Stop Climate Change Would You Support Them?
October 4, 2010 No Comment
photo: Luis Argerich / Creative Commons Some new research in Bioscience outlines different ways in which genetically modifying trees and plants to help them increase their carbon sequestration potential to fight climate change-… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Continue reading …NC State patents multifunctional smart sensors, looks to ‘revolutionize energy and communications infrastructure’
October 4, 2010 No Comment
Bold words coming from a program that choked in epic fashion this past Saturday in front of 58,000+, don’t you think? Thankfully for those who are actually involved in the global energy and communications infrastructure (not to mention depressed alumni ), NC State ‘s athletics department is far removed from its research labs, and the university’s latest development was born and bred in the latter. A team of researchers have managed to patent a new technology that is expected to enable the development of “high-power, high-voltage and high-current devices that are critical for the development of energy distribution devices, such as smart grid technology and high-frequency military communications.” The secret? Integrating gallium nitride (GaN) sensors and devices directly into silicon-based computer chips, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by any team prior. According to Dr. Jay Narayan , this newfangled integration has “enabled the creation of multifunctional smart sensors, high-electron mobility transistors, high-power devices, and high-voltage switches for smart grids,” and it also makes a broader range of radio frequencies available — something that’ll obviously be beneficial in the advancement of communications. Best of all, a US-based corporation is already in the process of licensing the technology, so it’s likely that we’ll see this in use in the not-too-distant future. An ACC championship, however, remains far more elusive. NC State patents multifunctional smart sensors, looks to ‘revolutionize energy and communications infrastructure’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Images via Yanko Would making your switches look adorable help you to conserve energy? A design by Zhou Yide, Euphe Mo, Hang Zhou & Christine Liu tests the theory. The switch is circular, and when you’ve turned it off, it looks like it is smiling joyfully at you. … Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Garmin updates GPS watch line with Forerunner 210 and 410, data-craving runners rejoice
October 4, 2010 No Comment
Runners love to tell you about their post-workout highs, but they rarely mention the mid-workout delirium that comes when muscles deprive your brain of blood, leading to doubts about how long you’ve been running, what your target heart rate should be, and indeed how to get home again. Garmin’s updated Forerunner 410 (above) can help you out with all those things, and the larger touch bezel means oxygen-deprived cardio hounds can easily scroll through data describing things like pace and heart rate, even when it’s raining — or you’re sweating excessively. Once back home and showered this $325 watch automatically syncs to a USB dongle via ANT+ , uploading data to Garmin Connect, just like its predecessor the 405 . Then there’s the $300 210, pictured below, a follow-up to this spring’s 110 and providing a more simple display of real-time distance and heart rate without a bunch of other confusing data. Both models will be on display at the upcoming Chicago and New York City marathons before pacing themselves into stores this fall. Update : The 410 can indeed help you find your way back home thanks to a simple navigation mode that will direct you from one waypoint to the next. Great for finding new routes — or new tactical insertions. Continue reading Garmin updates GPS watch line with Forerunner 210 and 410, data-craving runners rejoice Garmin updates GPS watch line with Forerunner 210 and 410, data-craving runners rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Image credit: 10:10 Campaign At times it’s seemed like the 10:10 Campaign has got the whole of Britain cutting its carbon . From football teams to corporations to schools, individuals and organizations have committed to 10% CO2 cuts in just one year. Even the new UK Government pledged to cut its own emissions 10% in 2010 . But 10:10 hasn’t been free of controversy—most notably facing Read the full story on TreeHugger
Continue reading …Valencia Design Week 2010: Rugs! Natural, Ethical and Beautiful. (Photos)
October 4, 2010 No Comment
Patricia Urquiola for Gandia Blasco. Image Credit: Gandia Blasco (more photos below) At this year’s Valencia Design Week in Spain, not a huge amount of companies convinced us about their products being truly good for our planet, in fact, we noticed a lot of greenwashing going on. However, a few local rug-designing companies stood out for both their commitment to people, planet and profit and their gorgeous designs…. Read the full story on TreeHugger
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C’mon, let’s all color ourselves shocked at once. It’ll be fun. We promise. If you’ve been calling the underside of a rock home for the past decade or so, you may have missed out on a Chinese outfit by the name of Meizu . For all intents and purposes, the company has done its darnedest to copy Apple in every respect , particularly with the software on its M8 and M9 smartphones. Strangely, we’ve never actually heard confirmation that Cupertino’s best lawyers were breathing down Meizu’s neck… until now. As the story goes, Meizu CEO Jack Wong’s forum postings have been rather tense of late, and one in particular seems to explain why: Apple’s all up in his grille. The details are hidden beneath a good bit of pent-up rage, but what is clear is a mention of Apple’s lawyers and their “unreasonable negotiation tactics.” In essence, Jack finds it absurd that Apple could claim rights to the touchscreen smartphone form factor, and while Apple could only serve a relative few in China, he (obviously) expects Meizu to serve far more. We won’t pretend to be sad on Jack’s behalf — we mean, the guy had it coming — but we can’t shake the looming depression when thinking of a world with no future Meizu devices to chuckle at. Apple’s lawyers finally going after Meizu, or so it seems originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Ireland’s Smooth-Hound Sharks Under Threat from Troubled Fishing Practices
October 4, 2010 No Comment
Photo via Edward Farrell The starry smooth-hound shark is considered an abundant species off the Irish coast, and they were thought to grow and reproduce quickly. However, new research shows that they actually take twice as long to mature as previously thought, and produce just one pup every two years. Knowing this, along with the fact that they’re a sought-after species on the European continent, means conservationists have a new species to worry about. … Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Samson Wireless has just outed a new little camcorder, the Zoom Q3HD Handy Video Recorder. This little guy, in addition to boasting 1080p capabilities (at 30 frames per second) and 720p at 60 frames per second, the cam boasts 4x digital zoom, a 2.4-inch color LCD, NTSC/PAL TV and HDMI outputs, and USB 2.0. Most interestingly, of course, the Q3HD Handy has built-in stereo microphones, so the camera should provide much better audio than your standard affair. There’s no word on availability or pricing yet. Zoom Q3HD Handy Video Recorder boasts 1080p and stereo microphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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