“Houston, we have a problem.”
Eagle this is Houston, what’s poppin? Over?
“Yeah, so.. I float over to where the cooler’s supposed to be, but in it’s place there’s this…I’m looking at this machine labeled “Urine Recycler”. Over.”
Don’t tell me it’s broken again! Dammit Timmy, I thought I told you to fix the Urine Recycler on the Endeavour!
“Houston, Houston: I don’t think it’s broken.”
What? So what’s the problem?
“The concept is the problem Houston. I have a problem with the whole freaking concept behind this machine.”
Eagle we spent $154 million on the Urine Recycler –
“And I spent half of my life training to do what? Drink my own — Jeebus Houston! How much does Gatorade cost nowadays?! How much for tap water?! What is this, Jackass? Am I being Punk’d or something?”
Eagle it’s not always urine; it also recycles moisture and sweat–
“I’m crashing the ISS on your ass in 3-2-1 you sadists.”
[via Scientific American]
Written by lambert v. on November 30th, 2008 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Science and Space and Technology and astronaut and future tech and nasa and recycling and strange and wonderful and urine and water.
MINI today announced that they’ll be giving up to 500 test drivers the opportunity to test drive the new no-carbon footprint electric MINI E before it’s released.
The diminutive 3-door MINI E is powered by a 100% electric motor (hybrids are for wusses), and still manages to go from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in about 8.5 seconds. While a top speed of 95 mph (152 km/h) isn’t going to break any world records, it’s plenty for anyone who doesn’t spend much time on the autobahn or the race track.
The car gets its juice from over 5,000 individual power cells, joined together to form a single composite battery. At peak, the motor can crank out 204-horsepower and 162 ft/lb of torque - not too shabby for an electric car.
With a cruising range of 150 miles (appx. 240 km), the MINI E should be fine for heading back and forth to the office, grocery, or any other short haul local destination.
If you live in Southern California, New York City or New Jersey, you could be selected to be one of the lucky early test drivers. For your chance to test out the new MINI E, head on over to MINI Space and fill out the form for more information on applying.
[MINI E Spec Sheet]
Written by technabob on October 18th, 2008 with no comments.
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Silicon is in every piece of electronic equipment we own. However, when Harvard physicist Eric Mazur discovered black silicon, the substance was found to be a whole lot more sensitive to light, which could spell serious improvements in consumer electronics and more.
Black silicon was discovered in the late 1990’s after a laser was shone on a silicon wafer that had sulfur hexafluoride on it. Once examined under an electron microscope, the wafer, which appeared black, had microscopic spikes all over it. This later proved to show an increased sensitivity to light. In fact, a “100 to 500 times increase in sensitivity to light compared to conventional silicon detectors,” was found and the technology is now being implemented in night vision systems.
Black silicon is being used in sensor-based chips and could eventually be used in video cameras and other consumer electronics. However, one area that could benefit largely is photovoltaic cells. The solar panel industry could potentially be forever changed by this. Another benefit is that the manufacturing process of making black silicon is completely comparable to the process used to make standard silicon wafers. An eventual change over would be seamless.
[via DailyTech]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on October 13th, 2008 with no comments.
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Ah, the marvels of science. Researchers at Keio University in Yokohama, Japan have happened upon something called the “spin Seebeck effect” which would mean big changes for our technological devices. Now, we’re still miles away from any product implementation here, but this is big news for what could be coming in the future.
This research indicates that heating up a magnetized nickel-iron rod on one side makes it so the electrons rearrange within the material based on how they spin. You can think of this as in bar magnets and the south-north magnetic axes.
This means that information transferring could be done by means of “flipping spins” rather than by means of an electric current. This is big news! The “spins” don’t generate heat so any device that would eventually carry this technology could run at a higher speed and in turn, lower consumption.
[via Engadget]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on October 9th, 2008 with no comments.
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Well, we may be one step closer to the ever-elusive flying car. But make no mistake, the Terrafugia Transition is still not exactly the “future” set forth in the 1950’s that we’ve all come to expect.
This plane has foldable wings that make it possible to drive on the street. With a pusher prop, four wheels and FAA and NHTSA certification, this drivable plane is a light airplane that’s street legal. You can even get it insured!
The Transition runs on gas and can go about 450 miles. Anyone can drive it as a car, however, you will need a key code to make the wings unfold. You can only get this key code if you have a pilot’s license, so that’s good for safety’s sake. The Terrafugia Transition will be making its debut next month and will be commercially available by the end of 2009. The cost is a pricey $194,000. Check out a CG rendered version of it below:
Click here to view the embedded video.
[via OhGizmo!]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on October 9th, 2008 with no comments.
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Solar panels are a well known source of alternative energy. However, they are often discredited for not being very efficient, in that they do not convert as much energy as they could. However, these cylindrical solar panels made by Solyndra generate more energy.
And really it all is in the form. Apparently, the cylindrical shape makes it so more solar cells are in a more compact area. They are, in fact, curved into a glass tube. This increases energy output substantially, especially when compared to the output of a standard solar panel, which is typically flat.
These solar panels would also be easier to install on roofs of homes and big business buildings alike. This is definitely a step in the right direction toward greater energy efficiency. It’s about time we start having more options on the table.
[via Ubergizmo]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on October 8th, 2008 with no comments.
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If you’re a lover of touch-based technology (and who isn’t?) you’ll love the latest design from Fraunhofer HHI, the iPoint Presenter. This tech utilizes a gesture-based interface to create an experience straight out of Minority Report.
The screen is projected and you would then interact with this screen. By using infrared, the user’s gestures with their bare hands can be detected on the screen. It’s pretty cool stuff, actually and it looks a lot like an iPhone on your wall.
You can pinch windows, move them around and more by just motioning with your hands. This technology can be used on “interactive POI/POS games, photo viewers, even Google Earth.” However, we’ll all have to wait a bit to see this one in actions. It’s just a concept for now. Why can’t the future be now?
[via Coolest Gadgets]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on October 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
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There’s nothing like future technologies and Richard Palmer’s d3olab has come up with a fabric-like substance that can seriously stand up to an impact. In fact, the rubber pads harden instantaneously from a gel to a shield when struck.
This protective equipment is lightweight and doesn’t have the typical bulky feel of kneepads, for instance. Professional sports franchises and high-end sports equipment are already utilizing the technology because D30-infused items can prevent bone breaks upon falling and also work to protect the joints.
However, d30 isn’t a substitute for a helmet. They do offer outer shells and even a wool hat for skiers from Quicksilver that can protect your noggin’ but it’s not recommended to go helmet-less. d30 is an interesting technology and will very likely be incorporated into more sports equipment in the near future.
[via Gadget Lab at Wired]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on September 29th, 2008 with no comments.
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