Forget the hose . . . firefighters of the future may be putting out fires with a wave of an electric wand Fire extinguishers may soon be a thing of the past: wave a magic electric wand at a flame and you can snuff it out in milliseconds, according to Dr Ludevico Cademartiri. In a paper presented to the American Chemical Society, Cademartiri’s Harvard University team reported that they had been able to extinguish an 18in flame merely by using an electrified metal wire. The beam of electricity came from a 600 watt amplifier, about the same power as a car stereo system; so, the firefighter of the future would only need an ultra-portable power pack and wire rather than a cumbersome hose and large quantities of water or foam. How does it work, though? It’s based on the observation made some 200 years ago that electricity can change the shape of flames. Previous experiments involved direct current, or DC. But Cademartiri’s team used oscillating AC voltage, and found that the effects were “completely different”: the electrical field charges the carbon particles (or soot) generated by the fire, creating an organised “flow” of charged particles inside the flame that literally pushes the flame away from the fuel source, putting it out. “Essentially, the [electrical field] separates the region that’s hot and burning from the unburnt fuel, so that fuel will not continue to burn,” says Kyle Bishop, a researcher who worked with the team. Cademartiri thinks the method could be a more sophisticated way of putting out fires “than just throwing water at them”. And he and his colleagues are looking at applications beyond firefighting: controlling flames at will in the combustion process could, for example, lead to far more efficient coal, oil and gas-fired energy production. Firefighters Jon Henley guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …World powers agreed Tuesday to consider further sanctions on Moammar Gadhafi’s regime but did not discuss arming the rebels who are seeking to oust him, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. (March 29)
Continue reading …Last year’s problem was a complete lack of standards on active shutter 3D glasses but now we might have too many, as Panasonic and Xpand have joined forces with several other companies to push M-3DI as a single spec for TVs, computers and theaters. Initial plans for the spec cover only IR sync, with the RF Bluetooth technology included on many 2011 3DTV models ( Samsung and Sony are notably missing from the list of participants) to “be considered” for the next step. We’ll wait to see some cooperation between this alignment (full list of supporters in the press release after the break) RealD and the CEA’s 3D Technologies Working Group — which, probably not coincidentally is expecting proposals by the end of this month — before believing the current 3D glasses mess will be resolved. Continue reading Panasonic, Xpand team up on M-3DI standard for active shutter glasses at home and in theaters Panasonic, Xpand team up on M-3DI standard for active shutter glasses at home and in theaters originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …As if risking their lives to work feverishly to avoid nuclear meltdown wasn’t grim enough, there’s no respite for the weary workers at Japan’s hobbled Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. A Japanese nuclear official who just returned from five days at Fukushima paints a picture of life on the inside, reports the…
Continue reading …Moammar Gadhafi’s forces today halted the Libyan rebels’ advance on Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte, driving them back a few dozen miles east of the city with the help of tanks and rockets. The rebels’ panicked retreat suggests that, even with the help of airstrikes from the US and its allies,…
Continue reading …Manslaughter charges may be coming down the pike for a handful of BP managers. Bloomberg spoke with three insiders who say federal prosecutors are considering whether to pursue the charges based on decisions made in the lead-up to the oil rig explosion that killed 11. Charging individuals would be an…
Continue reading …The England manager says he needs only 100 words to communicate with his players. Which other jobs could be done so succinctly? England manager Fabio Capello recently defended his limited grasp of English, saying he needed not more than “100 words maximum” to communicate with his players. Here are some other professions where 100 words of English might suffice. Teacher You sit quiet please everyone now enough gum tie shirt homework yes today excuses no book open page talking stop discipline noise courtesy while others trying learn warning first second final exam board bored absent detention suspend imagery Shakespeare GCSE mock coursework maths note paper whose phone confiscate yes I can speaking class assignment Tuesday read chapter important attention chair face this way why bother hours lack support pay cuts thankless bloody babysitter can’t control teach students ignore education why inspire nonsense thanks bunch Jamie fucking Oliver total waste think quit retrain landscape gardener maybe life coach shut it Callum. Health and safety expert No unsafe not improper unable misuse substandard prevent stop inadequate supervision insurance payment broken accident workplace issue risk assessment circumstances statistically liable beyond control checks scaffolding helmet harness handrail ventilation potential harm noise restriction comply glass signage conker licence venue security fire hazard guidelines slippery visibility sharp exposed danger radiation maximum capacity minimum requirement footwear injury strain repetitive tree masonry responsible adult caution fire electric shock loose lighting litigious compensate of course we’re all going die madam that’s hardly the point due care attention just doing job Daily Mail Littlejohn jerk blame culture lawyers all fun until someone loses eye. Public relations manager Hi very my special new really client clientele like great totally fantastic beautiful legendary iconic fabulous perfect match cutting-edge brilliant world-class true alternative surprising unique buzz angle help relationship synergy we proud partnership longstanding brand profile traditional discerning element visual identity exciting business contact media official press release embargo super idea showcase huge story meet mobile interview Google tweet contact team soon lunch forward look to hearing speak further hesitate don’t call email details host launch champagne reception celebrity A-list mwah RSVP please bring invitation with thanks best love bye Christ you quick coffee now fired idiot Taxi driver Where left right lights immigration stop roadworks traffic not being funny but come over here free council houses bloody liberty politicians all same lying sorry which terminal mate cheeky my right of way pillock anyway immigrants EU taxpayer whole country hell handcart Cameron Clegg Obama not racist bone in body but still Berlusconi hand it to him his age complete mess blocked off cops everywhere dunno go round high street this hour Friday night innit North Circular could do petrol Libya unemployment celebrities Amy Winehouse you’ll never guess who had back cab other day that Lionel Blair no me neither. Fabio Capello Tim Dowling guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Airport operator breakup moves step closer as Competition Commission asks interested parties to look again at ruling on BAA’s monopoly Ferrovial, the Spanish industrial group, could on Wednesday move one step closer to the break-up of BAA, the British airports operator it bought five years ago for £10bn. Almost exactly two years ago, the Competition Commission ordered BAA to sell Stansted, Gatwick and either Glasgow or Edinburgh, arguing that the group had a monopoly. BAA, backed by Ferrovial, successfully appealed on a technicality, but the competition watchdog overturned it and the court of appeal reinstated its original ruling. The Competition Commission will now ask interested parties if anything has changed in the intervening two years to make its ruling invalid. Ferrovial has spent the last two years selling off assets – including Gatwick – which has helped it avoid producing a second consecutive annual loss. Selling more BAA airports will boost the coffers further. Ferrovial is also in talks with potential investors to offload a 10% stake in BAA. The sale would take its current 56% stake below the crucial 50% level, allowing it to deconsolidate the debt, wiping €14bn of debt from its balance sheet at a stroke. Ferrovial may be best known in Britain as the owner of BAA, but it also builds roads, bridges, railways and other infrastructure, as well as large commercial buildings such as hotels and offices. Almost two-thirds of its revenues come from outside recession-hit Spain. It has been a torrid couple of years for Ferrovial. Its share price has slumped in over concerns about higher debt costs and slumping public spending on infrastructure projects in Spain in particular and, to a lesser extent, Britain. Construction activity has also severely contracted in Spain because of the economic downturn. Ferrovial president Rafael del Pino recently urged the Spanish government, since it had got the deficit under control, to loosen the purse springs for public investment in infrastructure, citing Brazil and Britain as examples to imitate. The Spanish government has announced a €70bn programme to kickstart the economy with new infrastructure projects, such as more high speed rail links bypassing the capital, in line with the trend for the increasing regionalisation of Spain. But these projects are a long way off. The government also recently announced as part of the privatisation of its airports that it will invite companies to bid to run two of Spain’s biggest airports – Madrid’s Barajas and Barcelona – which could interest Ferrovial. BAA Travel & leisure Air transport Transport Recession Tim Webb guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Only Good Morning America's Jake Tapper on Tuesday pointed out the relatively low public support for Barack Obama's military actions in Libya and the harsh criticism from both the right and the left. On NBC's Today, Chuck Todd parroted, “[Obama] also took the opportunity to rebut critics on the left and the right about how and whether to target Qadhafi with the military. In total the President used the framework of American values to make the case.” On CBS's Early Show, Bill Plante explained, “The President defended his decision to use military force in Libya, he said that when the interests and values of the U.S. are at stake, he has a moral obligation to act.” Good Morning America's Jake Tapper, on the other hand, highlighted both the economic cost and the poor poll numbers. Tapper explained, ” The public, too, is deeply divided. Less than 50 percent of Americans support the military actions and taxpayers are facing a heavy price tag.” Tapper, uniquely, added, “192 Tomahawk missiles at $1.4 million each. $10,000 an hour for each jet and the first week of military action alone? More than $600 million .” The ABC reporter featured clips of Republicans such as Sarah Palin, John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Democrat Dennis Kucinich criticizing the President. To be fair, McCain did appear on the Early Show. But, co-host Erica Hill did not mention the cost or the low poll numbers. Over on Today, Todd rather than quote or feature critics such as McCain, he merely summarized: “Despite this being a foreign policy speech, the congressional reaction is split harshly along partisan lines with Republicans upset about the lack of a time line for an exit strategy and even John McCain being upset that the President didn't want to use the military to dictate regime change.” A transcript of the March 29 GMA segment can be found below: JAKE TAPPER: President Obama described last night how a confluence of events compelled the U.S. to act. The U.S. having a unique ability to stop a massacre, a moral and strategic case to act and, of course, broad support for the action throughout the world. But, George, that did not stop the President's critics. The President said they were a special set of circumstances. BARACK OBAMA: The United States has worked with our international partners to mobilize a broad coalition, secure an international mandate to protect civilians, stop an advancing army, prevent a massacre and establish a no-fly zone. TAPPER: Also clearly informing his decisions were lessons from two previous presidents. Why would the U.S. not militarily seek regime change in Libya? OBAMA: To be blunt, we went down that road in Iraq. TAPPER: But, also the responsibility to prevent a massacre, as did not happen in the former Yugoslavia during Bill Clinton's tenure in 1995. OBAMA: As President, I refuse to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action. TAPPER: The critics quickly came out swinging. From the right- SARAH PALIN: That was a profoundly disappointing speech because it proved that President Obama doctrine is still full of chaos and questions. It's dodgy. It's dubious. SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ): We are now fighting on the side of the pro- the anti-Qadhafi rebels. We are paving the way for them. He should acknowledge that. SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): It was almost too late. If we had done this three weeks ago, it would be over. TAPPER: -and from the left. REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D-OH): People have to understand that we're sacrificing our domestic agenda here. TAPPER: The public, too, is deeply divided. Less than 50 percent of Americans support the military actions and taxpayers are facing a heavy price tag. 192 Tomahawk missiles at $1.4 million each. $10,000 an hour for each jet and the first week of military action alone? More than $600 million. By comparison in Afghanistan, it costs twice that each week. But that's a war with over 100,000 troops on the ground. And President Obama did not offer much by way of cost. That price tag for this action still remains elusive as does an end game. Although President Obama did say he anticipated Qadhafi would desperately cling to power, perhaps setting the stage for a long and protracted conflict. — Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter .
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